Beyond Typical
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Thursday, May 9, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
A post from Iain!
Has people ever non about the candy sour keys they are sour they are juicy they have coulors and olsow they have flavors sour keys are the best candy i'v ever tasted i love it, if some people don't like it the people who like it mayde will hate the people who don't like it just kidding it's okay if the people don't like sour keys but i think most people like it don'ch you think it mom i hope you like it mom i hope you do i hope okay sorry i had sour keys yesterday they were awesome even more then awesome triple awesome is that better it is right it is so i had 20 sour keys yesterday it was in the beding musheen and no people had the sour keys isin't that werd that no people had it that is just werd very very werd wate actually i don't know if eneyone had it or not i don't think eneyone had it or not actually know one had it uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh dosen't eneyone love it or like it eneyone, i wood love if eneyone did if they did that wood be awesome, if eveyone did that wood be even more awesome, the end wate is it done okay it is by,
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
10 Reasons Why People with Autism ROCK.
By Jené Aviram This article is property of and copyright © 2011 Jené Aviram of Natural Learning Concepts. Reference of this article may only be included in your documentation provided that reference is made to the owner - Jené Aviram and a reference to this site http://www.nlconcepts.com Jené is an accomplished author and developer of education materials for children with autism and special needs. She is a co-founder of Natural Learning Concepts, a leading manufacturer for special education materials and autism products. Visit the Natural Learning Concepts website at http://www.nlconcepts.com or call (800) 823-3430 |
Friday, July 8, 2011
Crazy things you'll hear at my house
Here are just a few of the winners I've come out with over the last few days:
- "Please stop killing things." (This morning, in response to the genocide of ants on the porch, which horrified his older brothers.)
- "Put the bat down!"
- "We don't hit Mommy."
- "Please stop eating your clothes."
- "Sweetie, put down the knife!"
- "Please put your pants back on."
There are a million more. You probably have some gems, too. Feel free to share.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Growing Up Aspie
Anyway, my cousin made this statement last night that I have to immortalize here. He was telling us what it was like for him, growing up an Aspie in an affluent suburb of NYC.
"It was tough," he said. "Other kids were into sports and Star Wars. I was into car washes."
See why I love him so much?
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Autism, Hope, and Jenny McCarthy
I can tell you that my expectations for these books were not high. I had seen Jenny's article in defense of Dr. Andrew Wakefield, maintaining that there is a link between vaccines and autism. I had heard her incredible claims that kids were recovering from autism. And...she was Jenny McCarthy, a B-list celebrity and former Playmate. Why would I have anything BUT low expectations?
But, my curiosity got the better of me, and I used those bonus credits on Jenny McCarthy instead of Ayn Rand. (Seriously, that WAS my consideration set!)
And I have no regrets.
First, I'll say this: Jenny McCarthy is an awesome story teller. Don't let the blond hair and ginormous boobs fool you - this woman can write. She is passionate, funny, and surprisingly articulate. She had me hooked from the first minutes of "Louder than Words." (Credit must go to narrator Tavia Gilbert, as well - she's fab.)
The story of Jenny's struggle to recover her son Evan from autism is tragic, but inspiring. It had me counting my blessings - I'm so fortunate that our boys never suffered from seizures as Evan did. We never had to hospitalize them for anything relating to their autism. Apart from their asthma and Ig's chronic ear infections, our kids have been in good health. She had to watch her baby go into cardiac arrest before her eyes. I can't even fathom what that was like.
Question all you like Jenny's decision to pursue alternative biomedical treatments. She offers disclaimers left, right and center, and credits ABA, speech therapy and OT for Evan's improvements as much as anything else. It also has to be clarified that she is not anti-vaccine, although this has been broadly publicized. She questions the vaccine schedule. She questions the cookie-cutter approach we take to delivering all vaccines to all children on this accepted schedule. And she questions the use of thimerosal in vaccines. I'm not anti-vaccine, but I have to admit, I've questioned all these things too. Why are Gardasil and Chicken Pox vaccines mandatory in some states? How did the flu vaccine, which is predictive and has a history of quality control issues, become mandatory for preschoolers? And if thimerosal isn't problematic, why are there thimerosal-free vaccines (and why the hell aren't they covered by insurance?)
What I love about Jenny McCarthy is that she delivers hope. Sure, GFCF diets and B12 shots won't work for all kids with autism...but they might work for some. What's the harm in trying alternative treatments that are safe, non-invasive and inexpensive? Especially if you can get you pediatrician on board to help you monitor. Why not try to gain some control over something that's taken over your life and your child's, if it can only help?
Jenny McCarthy made me realize that I had accepted Ig's autism as inevitable. This is how he is. This is how he will be. We'll do ABA and speech, and OT if we can afford it. We'll try to get him into an appropriate school. Hopefully, this will help him improve. Then we won't have to worry about him running into the street or disappearing at recess if he's mainstreamed at school.
When I pictured Iain in the future, I saw someone who probably wouldn't be able function independently in the world. Ever.
I'd accepted. And in acceptance, I'd become complacent.
Jenny made me realize I don't have to accept. I can do more. I can change the outcome. I have power. I can help my little boy become typical - better than typical. I can help him put that bright little mind to use in a way that will help him achieve the greatness I know he can!
I don't know that we'll get into hyperbaric chambers and chelation.... but we're starting a GFCF diet soon, for Ig, his oldest brother and me, if not for our whole family. And I'm researching supplements, too. Baby steps...and we'll see how it goes, documenting every step we take.
So... you may think she's a quack, you may think she's a ditz, you may think she's the devil, but I owe a lot to Jenny McCarthy. She gave me hope I didn't even know I needed.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Ig's not feeling well
Mom: "You're not feeling well?"
Ig: "No."
Mom: "I'm so sorry, Sweetie! What hurts?"
Ig: "My feelings hurt. My feelings hurt, so I'm not feeling well."