by Pat on Mar 22, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Filed in autism support groups | Parenting Autistic Children
I'm just starting an autism support group & need ideas on what to call it. I am not that creative, although I have thought of Families & friends for exceptional loved ones--& so on, so on. Do you see my problem in getting stuck here? Personally, I think our kids our miracles, wonderful miracles & I would like that to be in the name somehow. Help, please? I'll take all ideas!!
by Pat on Mar 22, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Filed in Autism and Stress | Autism Family Facts | Parenting Autistic Children | Stories from Readers | Treatment for Autistic Children
I am the mother of three beautiful boys. Our middle son was born in february of 2001. He was a happy, healthy baby. He seemed to hit all of the milestones at the exact time all the baby books said he should. He smiled, laughed, walked, and began to talk, but at age 18 months he began to regress. He went from a 25 to 30 word vocabulary to 3 words, momma, dada, and baba. Everything else he wanted he would point and screem. His eye contact at this point was nonexistent and he began lining up his toys and other objects. I recognized the signs because I have a nephew who is severly autistic that is 2 and a half years older than my son. I contacted every organization I could find to get services for him. So at age 2 we started with speech, ot, and pt 3 to 4 times a week in our home. We were sent to specialists and at age 3 he was diagnosed. Since then we have struggled with acceptance by others, especially family. My husband and I do everything for our children. He is a stay at home dad because it is almost imposible to find childcare from someone who can deal with the emotional side of this disorder. I now work full time as a personal care aid for my severly autistic nephew. Our son is now in the 2nd grade. He is in a regular class and is doing well. He has a full time aid with him in school to keep him on track. But our hope is he will not need this for long.
by Pat on Mar 22, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Filed in Autism and Stress | autism support groups
My daughter was just diagnosed with Autism and I am having a hard time dealing with this.
I have been looking for support groups, can you help point me in the right direction?
by Pat on Mar 22, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Filed in Parenting Autistic Children | autism questions
My 3 year old daughter wakes up every night crying. Is that normal behavior for an autistic child?
by Pat on Mar 7, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Filed in Autism Family Facts | Parenting Autistic Children | Stories from Readers
I have an 8 year old son. He is going to be evaluated in April for Aspergers. I also have 3 year old boy/girl twins. My boy has been diagnosed with Autism PDD-NOS. I wrote the following piece and have sent it to my local newspaper to see if they will publish it. I plan to send it to some of my surrounding counties paper's as well. I'm sure I don't need to share with you the ugly side of society, this is for them.
I see the way you look at us and read your mind so well. Little brat or no control? It’s really hard to tell. I’ve seen the view from your eyes and thought the same things too. Please don’t judge too quickly, as next I could be you.
Have you ever?
Have you ever wished you could hold and receive affection from your child? Have you ever wished your child would look at you the fifth, sixth or seventh time you called his name? Have you ever wished he would call you Momma, Mom or Ma? Have you ever wished your 2 year old would tell you NO? Have you ever pointed to 8 different boxes of cereal to see which box he wants because he can’t tell you? Have you ever wondered why the things he does say, he says over and over? Have you ever been blessed with a smile from ear to ear because you understood what he meant the first time he tried to tell you something? Have you ever let him eat cereal all day long because that’s almost all he’ll eat? Have you fixed pizza ten or more times a week because he’ll eat that too? Have you ever washed that special plate and bowl 2 or 3 times a day because he has to eat off of them? Have you ever had to get up from the table twice in one sitting, to wash his precious hands because they got dirty and he won’t eat until they’re clean? Have you ever let your child wear the same shirt for 3 days in a row, thanking God at least he’s wearing clothes today? Have you ever taken his shoes off and put them back on 6 or 7 times, till they feel just right? Have you ever let him wear those shoes to bed, night after night? Have you ever wondered why he tiptoed all day long and could never sit still? Have you ever let him wear a sock hat all day and to bed because the pressure makes him feel a little better and covering his ears muffles a fraction of the night time noise? Have you ever wondered why out of all the toys he has to play with, he stares at the wheels of the car he rolls back and forth? Have you ever wondered why he doesn’t play? Have you ever had to draw the Wal-Mart star or spark twenty or more times a day? Have you ever had to ask the manager at Wal-Mart for a sign, so you wouldn’t have to draw it all day? Have you ever saw the joy on your child’s face to have that sign? Have you ever had to ask the manager at a restaurant if you could let him sneak a quick look at the kitchen before he’d sit down to eat? Have you ever had to get up and leave a restaurant as soon as your food hits the table? Have you been in the checkout line, with a cart full of groceries, when a major meltdown hits? Have you ever watched people stare at you and your child like you both have the plague? Have you then had to hold your head high and bite your lip for the sake of your child? Have you ever had to convince your pediatrician that something’s just not right? Have you ever had to sit through hours of intensive evaluations, scared of the unknown? Have you ever received the diagnosis of Autism for your child?
Chances are, many of you answered no to those questions and think they are crazy. Truth is, it is crazy and it‘s real. I hold his hand until he falls to sleep each night, sometimes hours on end. I then thank God for the opportunity, to wake up and do it all again. I’m blessed to be part of his journey and wouldn’t change any of him for the world.
Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The prevalence of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
One more have you ever and then I’ll let you go, have you ever judged God‘s child, because you didn’t know?
by Pat on Mar 7, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Filed in Autism and Stress | Autism Family Facts | Christian Autism Stories | Parenting Autistic Children | Stories from Readers
As a mother of a child diagnosed with Asperger's at 2, two years later questions still go unanswered. After recieving a diagnoses, where to go from there fell completely on us. As if the doctors said "Your son has Aspergers" and we heard "Your son will live a hard life" and then we heard "Your bill is 50.00, thank you for stopping in". There was nothing in between there. I fell apart on the way back to work and heard my little 2 year old's voice say "Why are you crying"? I am sure at that moment is when I realized how challenging this road would be.
Axton has always been "quirky". Lining things up, an extreme love for trains and balls. He can memorize anything he hears or sees. His love for sports goes above the "norm" for kids his age. He has no fear of things that would normally scream Danger to others. He has no idea that his clothes are on backwards and could care less. He is very routined and scheduled. He expects the same things to happen just like clock work. He holds you to your word and doesn't like change. He is very black and white. There is no grey. When his teachers told him not to talk to strangers, he took her for that. He screamed out in Wal-Mart when someone said hello, "STRANGER, I CAN'T TALK TO STRANGERS". He is extremly smart and acts as a little grown up most of the time.
I knew from early on his screaming fits and loud screaming wasn't typical behavior for children his age. He didn't deal well with the everyday life at daycare. When he got old enough to walk and talk he seemed to be in trouble for hitting or hurting other children in class. When I moved him to a smaller Mother's Day out program and also was his teacher, the challanges followed us there. He ran out of the classroom, hit other children, refused to take a nap or stay on his bed, and I went home in tears most days. When I fianlly convinced our PCP that I just thought we needed to see someone for his behavior, I was excited. When I left the appointment it took months to get, my heart was broken and I wanted to go back to my life of being in denial.
For a few days time stood still. After the shock wore off and I stopped blaming myself, life went on. I live by, God does not make mistakes and Axton is my gift. Most days I feel as though he was placed on this earth to teach me. He now attends an intergrated school here in Little Rock. He has been recieving Occupational Therapy since right after his diagnoses. I worry about starting school next year, but I have to talk myself down from the fear. He has made tremendous progress in the almost 2 years since being diagnosed. The fits seem to be fewer each week. He doesn't leave his classroom as much when he is upset or overwhelmed. He is learning about his "Good and bad choices". His school, teacher's and therapist have been my life line. Without them, I am afraid of where we would be. Even in the moments, I feel sorry for myself or for Axton, I see God in his little face and remember it's not about me. I tell Axton on a daily basis how God made him special. He is not aware that he may be different from his peers yet and as selfish as it may seem, I pray that God helps him to never know there is one. He has a long road ahead of him, but I know he is up for the challange. I hope that in the future there will be more answers for parents like me. That they won't have to use guess work to understand the medical terms and to understand where to turn to. Life won't always be easy, but it will be well worth it, because I have the greatest son I could have ever prayed for right beside me!
by Pat on Mar 7, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Filed in Autism Family Facts | Stories from Readers
Dear Pat.I was very impresseed with the story of your sons,because I also have aspergers syndrome.I am 63 years old and eversince I was a child I had problems in school and getting along socially with people. My Parents were wonderful to me and I appreciated their support. My Dad was an attorney and my mother was the secretary in our firm.My Brother Mark is and attorney also and now works for the state. My Parents are deceased,but found out about my diagnosis from a psychologist at UAMS.I had seen a therapist at the mental health clinic and they missed diagnosed. I was very glad to know that my condition was treatable with my being able to talk with my doctor. Again, thanks for writing such good and informative article.Sincerely Audrey