Does anyone know where I could take my son for swimming lessons? He would need someone who was willing to work with his high anxiety and also his coordination problems.

I would like help finding a school for my seven year old son who has pdd with autism. I am prepared this spring to sue the board education of nyc because they don't have a class for pdd and most of the children are pdd in special education .

Hi, As April is Autism Awareness Month, we wanted to share our latest Swingset Mamas video with your community. Below is a description of our band as well as a link to our latest video "Take A Walk In Someone Else's Shoes" for you to pass on and use as a teaching tool or in whatever way you see fit. We hope you enjoy it, keep in touch and let us know what you think. The Swingset Mamas are Lizzie Swan and Marlowe Bechmann, two rockin' moms whose award winning family music and videos have inspired an avid network of fans including children, parents and educators. As the mother of a child with autism, my family's experiences have inspired our latest song and video. It features people of all ages and abilities joyfully stepping into "someone else's shoes". The video incorporates American Sign Language and music to teach the powerful message of acceptance and inclusion of all people. Enjoy and please share with as many people as possible during April Autism Awareness month! - EVERY VIEW raises money for Autism Speaks -so please enjoy and share with your class (if appropriate) and/or friends and family in your community. http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/1569537 Marlowe & Lizzie Swingset Mamas www.Swingsetmamas.com 2008 Parents Choice Funstuff Winners 2008 iParenting Media Award Winners for Outstanding DVD 2008 NAPPA Award Winners 2008 Best of the Gold Coast Award for "Best Romper Rock"

I am a preschool teacher here in Ft.Pierce Florida. I was in a classroom setting about 2 years ago. I had a new child that came into my classroom. The parents wanted this child in a setting with other children. At the time the child was not speaking nor interacting with the other children or his siblings. One day after the child was in my class for a couple of days, I noticed that the child whenever we had our circle time, he would turn completely around and not even listen to our songs, stories etc. At the time I was enrolled in a disabality class for children with special needs. After me doing several different startigies. It came to my conclusion that the child had something wrong. At the age of 3 1/2 the child should be talking but he was doing nothing. He couldn't put together a puzzle. Never the less one day after bringing it to our director's attention, we had a conference with the parents and they were in total denial. After about 2 weeks of being in school, one day the father came in and saw his child was only sitting by himself and asked me if he was always like this and to make a long story short, the next day he was tested and was diganoised with Austism. The child is now in a special needs class and is trying to talk at the age of 5 years old. Jan

I just wanted to comment on your story. It's is very much the same as mine. My 9 year old boy does not tie his shoes or brush his teeth and does not have friends, he will do these things in time because God is good all the Time. I have a little tip to give, when my son is really in a bad mood and not behaving correctly he will make a mean looking face and be very serious, i have found a way to calm him down, when he is making this face i make a very , very funny,goofy face and he does not know what to think and breaks out with wonderful laughter and this seems to calm him down. Have you try anything like this to get your child out of a mad moood?

My son was diagnosed with (nonverbal) mild-moderate Autism Feb 15, 1995 at the age of 3 1/2 years. It took some time for my husband and our pediatrician to admit there was a problem. Of coarse I read everything I could get my hands on and "early intervention" was key. Wilmington TEACCH had a year long waiting list, our school system (a different couny) had a special needs class with 18 kids, 1 teacher and 2 assistants but 1 assistant was entirely assigned to one child. This would not do. A new Wilmington had a school with a classroom specializing in Autism. He would have to go there. I began my quest with the second in charge of the Exceptional Childrens Dept. I got nowhere. He politely told me that the classroom we had visited was all they had to offer. My next step was the Director of the EC Dept. and got the same answers. THEN GOD MOVED IN. TEACCH began a new program and wanted my child to start right away. The Assistant Director of EC moved away, the Director got promoted, fired, I don't care but she was gone. Into those positions, God moved people who came from school systems that new what Autism was and what needed to be done. Trevor was allowed to go to the special school in Wilmington and 3 years later began a regular first grade class with "out of class resource" 2 hours a day. By second grade he no longer left the class for resource. I called one day to thank the director of EC and tell her the difference her decision had made, only to find out that she had moved back to her old job in another part of the state. I hope she knows how God used her and I know she is being blessed for her obedience. I only wish that I could learn to watch for God to move instead of watching the storm. I totally agree that God gave us these children for a reason. I have learned so much from my son. God is so good!

When our second daughter was born, we went home to face the most difficult journey in life. Within a few days, she began crying nonstop. She was either sleeping or crying. We saw doctors and emergency room personnel, but nobody knew what was going on. I was unable to return to work due to her fragility, and we sunk into financial problems. We made necessary adjustments to make ends meet, but its never been the same. The cost have been enormous, financially and emotionally.

She was diagnosed at 21 months of age. We had placed her in a mom's day out at our local church and the teacher noticed that she didn't play with the other children. She stayed by herself and would babble quietly. She suggested we speak to our pediatrician about it. I scheduled a "developmental assessment" at 16 months of age. He sent us to Vanderbilt University to their child development center. A Team of professionals evaluated her and gave her her "label" for life: Autism. It has defined our lives in too many ways to list, but I'll try to give a few:
*Preschool programs wouldn't take her since she couldn't stay
focused on their program. It was too much work for the teacher.
*One church asked us never to bring her back since she couldn't
keep her shoes on.
*We had insurance struggles since they won't cover her "condition".
(my husband is considered self-employed).
*Since my husband is a pastor, churches always consider that he
has an "autistic child".
*People in public places always seem to want to share their evaluation
such as "she needs a spanking", or "your child is very rude". (she
stands to close to people or tends to jump line).

Even though her autism has been a very difficult aspect of life, there are blessings along the way. She couldn't speak until she was around 5 years old. When she did began using language functionally, we would celebrate every little acheivement. Developmental milestones are no longer taken for granted. It makes you more focused on life's little blessings. God has shown me His love for the helpless and broken. When she frustrates me, God reminds me that I do the same things but he still loves me and is long suffering with my frailities.

She is now almost 13. This has brought about a new phase of development that offers new challenges. She is in school, mostly inclusion classes except for math which is SPED. She is very bright and very artistic. She draws all the time. The teachers complain that she draws when she gets bored. I send a package of school paper every week. When I check her bookbag, half of the paper is used up with her cartoon like sketches. She does extremely well with writing, spelling and vocabulary, which is odd since her secondary diagnosis is language disorder.

She still spends a lot of time in her autistic world. She loves to use the computer to enjoy her interests. She loves to ride her scooter around the neighborhood and jump on the trampoline. She has no interest in boys. She thinks they are annoying and they smell bad. She does love children. We have a 2 year old boy and a 9 month old boy. She is very helpful with the children, and will rock the baby to sleep. I'm glad she has her little brothers to care for since this makes her step outside of her selfishness and think of someone else. People used to tell me to have no more children since they could have the condition as well. I thought the risk was worth it. Having a bigger family has had an advantage for her. She will have people to care for her (and love her) all of her life.

I am more optimistic about her future than I used to be. It's difficult to keep a positive outlook when the autistic child is small. There are so many challenges that's its tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But God has a plan for every child, and that has always been my hope. I keep a scripture close to my heart to remind me "For I know the plans that I have for you...A hope for the future. I now look forward to seeing that future.