Joy's Autism Blog

I have a few links I wanted to share that I’ve been emailed about this week.

This first link is about a young man who has Aspergers Syndrome, Zach Henry. He talks about some of his challenges and his family talks about some of their challenges and how they were able find joy in his goals for his future. So here is the link to that short 5 minute video.

Next I have a link from a young man who has Aspergers/PDD-NOS, his name is Scott Lentine and if his story doesn’t encourage you and uplift you about your child with Aspergers/PDD-NOS, nothing will. He’s a graduate of Merrimack College magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies with a Biology minor.He is currently an
office intern at the Arc of Massachusetts in Waltham, where he tries to persuade lawmakers to pass key disability resources legislation to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities. He’s a poet and a blogger so go check out his blog here!

Here is one of Scott’s poems for you to enjoy:

The Ode to the Autistic Man

Try to understand the challenges that I face

I would like to be accepted as a human in all places

Where I will end up in life I don’t know

But I hope to be successful wherever I go

I would like to expand my social skills in life

Making new friends would be very nice

Stand proud for the autistic man

For he will find a new fan

I hope to overcome the odds I face today

Increased acceptance will lead me to a brighter day

By the age of 20, I will have made tremendous strides

I know in the future, life will continue to be an interesting ride

I have made new friends by the year

I will be given tremendous respect by my family and peers

I hope to get noted for bringing the issue of autism to the common man

So that autistic people can be accepted in this great land

Stand proud for the autistic man

For he will find a new fan

I hope to overcome the odds I face today

Increased acceptance will lead me to a brighter day

And lastly I received an email from an autism podcast. I hadn’t heard of them before and I was excited to listen to them. The podcast is called All About Autism Podcast and you can listen here, the hosts are husband and wife and they are fun to listen to. You can also find them on twitter, so definitely check them out.

How to Talk to Your Newborn Baby This link gives tips from a speech pathologist about how to talk to your newborn. This applies to our family since we’ll be having a little one in February.

These next 3 links were shared with me and have some neat ideas too:

Helping Your Child Cope with his Sensory Needs

Building Communication in Your Child with Autism

The Power of Imitating Children with Autism

There is an iphone app that is normally $50 that is free today. It’s called Autism Track. I’ve downloaded it but haven’t looked at it too much yet.

I also saw a calendar called 30 Days of Action for Autism Awareness Month

I got an email this morning about this blog that I find very interesting called Around the Table and today they’re doing a guest post from a woman who has two boys on the autism spectrum. It was very good so check that one out if you have time.

So I got a call from the nurse yesterday morning. Our test results from Sanura and Adrian’s blood work came back from the Fragile X testing and our kids do not have Fragile X. I am very happy. I cried a lot yesterday, I guess just the relief and emotion from it all and I feel so good now. One less thing to worry about.

Today is Lincoln’s IEP. I’m feeling good about it. His progress has really been amazing. I usually get really stressed and sad about Adrian’s IEP meetings because naturally I’m worried. This one I’m just kind of excited about. I’m looking forward to what his teachers have to say about his progress and what they want his plan to be for the next year.

Adrian drew this picture the other day and I just think it’s adorable so I have to share:

And lastly I just have a link that someone emailed me that I found interesting so just passing it along:

10 Impressive Special College Programs for Students with Autism

Feeling left out of playdates because it’s hard to find people accepting of your child’s autism? Check this out Special Playdate while I’m all about inclusion and getting other people to accept our children I think it’s really nice that this could create an opportunity to befriend someone who really can understand what you’re going through and hopefully could create a great connection not only for the children but for the parents!

Grandin speaks of a life of challenges, achievement

Parents demand better care than institutions can provide for vulnerable

Study Backs iPad For Students With Disabilities

I’ve been doing some researching on facebook looking for some communities that might help people. They are absolutely endless but I’ve compiled a small sample of what’s out there:

Support, Discussion, Information Autism Facebook Groups
Autistic Playground
Autism Speaks
Autism:Spectrum Support
Autism Support Network
Friends on the Spectrum
Autism at About.com
Siblings of Autistic Kids
Autism Moms
Autism Support and Discussions
Autism Related Wandering Safety and Prevention
Autism Champions
Artists and Autism
World Autism Awareness Day
World Autism Awareness Day-Stand Up for Autism
The Autism File
We Care About Someone with Autism
Special Learning INC
Autism File TV
Autism Risk and Safety Management
Acoustic for Autism
Autism Understanding and Acceptance
Autism Spectrum Quarterly Magazine
Autism Society
Parenting Aspergers Children Support Group
Autism, Aspergers, & More Oh My!

Autism Facebook Pages Connected to Blogs
Joy’s Autism Blog
Adventures in Aspergers
Autistic Globetrotting
SOS Research-Reaching Your Child’s Potential
Try Defying Gravity
Stimeyland
Autism Daddy
Big Daddy Autism
Stuart Duncan-Autism from a Father’s Point of View
Stark Raving Mad Mommy
Redefining Typical A Mother, A Son, A Journey with Autism

Embrace the Positive-article talking about embracing the special talents and skills of those on the spectrum.

Disaster preparedness for persons with autism

Autism Presents Greater Challenges After Graduation

I had never read about the first child diagnosed with autism and I was sitting here and thought to Google it so I thought I’d share what I’ve found. This was really interesting because normally when you hear about people diagnosed with autism from long ago you think about seclusion, institutions, and being shunned from the community. Donald’s story is filled with acceptance, happiness, and hope. It was very cool to learn about him.

The Atlantic: Autism’s First Child

The Atlantic Video about Donald Gray Triplett:

Good Morning America Discussion-Autism’s First Child:

Two more tragedies to remind us that we have to keep thinking about Wandering Prevention:

Muhammad Azfar
Adam Benhamama

Many prayers going out to their families, I just cannot imagine the grief. I am so sorry to have to share these links but it’s just the reality of dealing with autism and the symptom of wandering that goes with it.

Here is another story of a 23 year old man with autism who wandered 30 miles from his home! Can you imagine how scared he was and how scared his family must have been? I’m so glad he made it home safely.

I noticed that the Big Red Safety Box had their fund depleted because of the overwhelming response to receive the kits. I haven’t received our kit but I will be sure to share about it when I receive it. I went searching for some autism and wandering tips to share with you so check out these links about autism safety and wandering:

Autism and Wandering Prevention on Facebook

Autism and Elopement: 8 Tips for Parents

Summertime Safety Tips

Alzheimer’s and Autism Wandering Safety Tips

Pathfinders for Autism

As of right now we use Shoe ID Tags for Adrian, we use high locks on the doors, and cheap door alarms. Adrian isn’t incredibly prone to wandering but I don’t trust him not to either. As he gets older I’m sure I will have to implement new safety measures but this is what we do for now.

Did you hear about the study in South Korea that claims 1:38 children there have an autism spectrum disorder? If not here are some links with information about the study and the results:

Higher autism rate found in Korea, but what’s it mean for US?

Autism prevalence study raises questions about Asperger’s syndrome

Autism prevalence may be far higher than believed

S. Korea study suggests high autism rates

And the rest of about.com’s autism Mother’s Day articles:

What Does It Take to Be an Autism Mom?
Mother’s Day in the Autism World
“Being an Autism Mom is Like Running a Marathon”
An Autism Mom Is “Touched by Autism”
An Autism Mom’s Songs in the Key of Parenthood
On Being an Autism Mom
An Autism Mother Reflects on “Being Jay’s Mom”
A Unique Mother’s Day Gift
An Autism Mom Believes in Her Child’s Dreams
An Autism Mom on “Our Kind of Normal”

Spreading the word to end the word- Just a Word by Rob Rummel-Hudson (a couple cuss words so might skip it if that offends you.)

Don’t know how to crochet or knit for the 2012 Special Olympics Scarf project, no worries, look at the Special Olympics website to find out other ways that you can help!

How to Discuss the R Word with Others is script to give you some answers to some people’s lame excuses for using the R word.

Global Autism Convention India

Have you heard of Best Buddies? Definitely worth checking out.

Autism Ontario Removes outspoken worker-Sad news about an autism hero

Some ladies in Indiana are doing their part to spread autism awareness

People with Disabilities are Blending in on Reality Shows (not sure if this is a good thing LOL) Wow who knew?…people like disabilities are like everyone else in so many ways? Oh yeah I did.

New Book Helps Facilitate Transition to School

Autism Audit-Audio Interview

Pet Therapy for People with Autism Helps Develop Social Skills

If the word R word is hurting people, and it is, then let’s not use it. There are lots of great ways to say what you want to say without hurting people. There are just words in this language that we don’t say because it’s disrespectful and inappropriate to groups of people and we all know what they are. The R word is one of those words, if you don’t think so please watch this video of these kids with special needs explaining how the R word makes them feel:

And the more articles from About.com from Autism Moms:

An Autism Mom’s Tribute to Her Children

John’s Mom

An Autism Mom Reflects on “The Monotony of Love”

An Autism Mom Sees Her Son as Forever Labeled – “With Love”

Check out Spread the Word to End the Word, this is a campaign to end the use of the derogatory term “retard”, it’s not ok! So go make this pledge “I pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.” and see how you can get involved!