More Than A Number

Dreams of a million dollars

2010-07-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

I have no clue what made me think of this idea, but I thought I would share what I would do if I won a million dollars and could use it on anything, tax free.
I’d give $10,000 to my church; I feel like they are family and show God’s love to others well. I find comfort and joy in attending and purpose; I really think they would put the money to good use.
I’d give $20,000 towards each of my siblings (4) college education. They all deserve a chance to pursue what they want, and this would help. It would be an investment in their futures, college educations would help them get careers.
$10,000 would go to the Autism Society of Tidewater. They help me and many others in the community. Also, they treat everybody with respect, whether you’re on the spectrum, a parent, a professional, or anybody else. I think they could use the money and I’d really like to see them be around for a long time.
I’d set another $100,000 aside for furthering my own education the rest of my life and training.
The rest I’d use to open my own autism center. I’d provide daycare/activities for all ages and levels of functioning at a sliding scale rate. I’d also like to employ as many people on the spectrum as possible, from everything from computer services to building to cleaning. I’d pay people to give lectures in some meeting rooms open to the public in areas of their interest. (not necessarily on an ongoing basis, but I think it would provide pride and show people in the community how people on the spectrum can be talented) I would also hire a staff for people to receive help from, ranging from therapists to OT to educational consultants at prices affordable to community members. I would also try to make a library area where people could go to relax and make it sensory friendly. I’d also hire people to work at a café there that served a delicious menu with GFCF options, so people could have jobs and families could have somewhere to eat when they have appointments. I’m not entirely sure *how* to do all this, but I think it would be nice.

(yes, yes, one can dream)

Good laughs found here...

2010-07-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

On The Spectrum webcomic

This webcomic makes me giggle; I can see myself as a kid in a few of the strips. It's by a dad of two autistic boys and he puts his life with his boys into the comic. I'm not posting a preview strip because I don't know if he would mind, but go check it out.

Things I don't say about autism but want to

2010-07-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

1. Please stop asking if I'm like Rain Man. No, I'm not. And I do not count cards.
2. I suck at math; savants are rare and I'm not one of them.
3. Staring at person who is obviously stressed out and are covering their ears is rude. (I thought *I* was the one who had bad social skills...)
4. On another note, quit staring at a parent with a kid in meltdown mode; if you want to say something; say "Can I help?".
5. Don't assume I can't hear you when I'm with somebody else. I can, and I'm an adult. Please address me, even if I seem "odd". Sometimes I just need a little help.
6. I'm not stupid; it takes me longer to learn some things.
7. When I hurt your feelings, tell me! I don't know I did.
8. Please, please don't pat me on the back; especially on my left side. It scares me, I can't see you and dislike it.
9. When I ask you to repeat yourself, I am trying to make sure I heard you correctly.
10. I try to say things that interest you, but can't tell if it's boring you. Say something, or I won't stop.

Kicking the Spectrum

2010-07-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

I heard about Kicking the Spectrum on Twitter and was interested right away: autism and karate? I was thinking it would be awesome if there was an autistic Karate Kid. Then I got lost in daydreaming about how the original movie would have differed. Anyways, after snapping back into focus, I asked the people at Kicking the Spectrum if they wouldn't mind an e-mail interview. They didn't mind at all, hooray! So we get to learn more about this program and the people behind it:

Background information-personal connection to the special needs community

Stephanie Silverman

Working with children with special needs has always been something I have been pulled towards. When I was in the 6th grade, I was asked to be a “helper” in the classroom for children with special needs one day a week. I loved it! The following year, my younger cousin was diagnosed with autism. I was intrigued. I started doing research and learned everything I could about autism. I would visit my family and sit in on my cousin’s ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) sessions and soak it all in. I knew that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I continued to volunteer with children with special needs in both my town’s summer school program and the local Challenger League, a softball league for children with disabilities. By the time I entered college at the University of Maryland, I knew without a doubt, that early childhood special education was going to be my major and when I graduated I would work with children with autism utilizing ABA. I had seen this methodology help my once non-verbal cousin become a high functioning individual in a typical classroom. Once, I graduated from Maryland, I found my way to an ABA classroom at a special needs preschool in Brooklyn. I worked there for two years and started my Master’s degree at NYU. During my time at NYU, I worked as an ABA therapist doing 1:1 therapy with children in their homes around NYC. Finally, I landed at the McCarton Center for children with disabilities, where I work as an ABA therapist.

Working with children with autism and other disabilities is not only a job for me, it’s a passion. I love the look in a child’s eyes when the “light bulb” goes off. Or when a parent witnesses their child have a breakthrough. It’s not often that a person loves what they do when they go to work everyday, I consider myself very lucky!

David Rosenberg

I started studying martial arts at 7 years old. It was recommended to my parents after I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Though I was unaware of the diagnosis, I took to martial arts. It helped teach me the focus that I needed in my everyday life. As time progressed my love for the sport increased and my desire to give back increased. At 15 years old I began to teach, mainly the younger students. My instructor, World Champion Tokey Hill, began taking me to do demonstrations with him; this was when I first was exposed to children with special needs. I was able to work at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children. St. Mary’s Healthcare System is one of only a handful of organizations around the country that is dedicated to providing intensive rehabilitation, specialized care, and education to children with special needs and life-limiting conditions. Subsequent to my encounters with St. Mary’s, I also worked with a child with Cerebral Palsy at a sleep away camp for 8 weeks.

I continued teaching throughout my remaining days in high school and through out college. I also have taught on and off through out the past few years and martial arts has never been far from my heart, however it hasn’t been until now that that spark has been reignited.

WHAT IS KICKING THE SPECTRUM?

It is a martial arts inspired program developed to teach and motivate students with special needs to combine fitness and wellness for life. This innovative program incorporates the fundamentals of Japanese Shotokan Karate. This unique program combines a martial arts instructor with an ABA (Applied Behavior Analyst) therapist in every class.

HOW WE CAME TO THE DECISION TO START KICKING THE SPECTRUM

The concept was formulated when David took a trip with his father (who is also a practitioner of the martial arts) to Ohio, for the Arnold Classic. This is a competition that is put on every year for many different disciplines, karate being one of them. While waiting for his dad to participate (yes at 67 he still competes), He had the privilege to watch several students with special needs participate in Kata. A kata is a series of movements that are choreographed patterns of movements.

Martial Arts is something David and his father did together for many years, so it was only fitting that David would take the trip with his dad when he decided to compete in this huge event. While at the Classic, David saw something that both intrigued him and energized him. He watched while children with special needs competed in this competition and he saw the look of pride on not only their faces but their parents as well. David came home and immediately told Stephanie what he saw and he thought it would be amazing to start a program to teach martial arts to children with special needs in NYC, specifically children with autism and other developmental disabilities. David excitedly told Stephanie how martial arts has been proven to help with focus and discipline and self-esteem. Having grown up with ADD himself, David felt that martial arts really helped him feel empowered and helped him learn how to focus and stay disciplined. These skills carried over to the classroom and helped him become a better student as well. However, David knew from Stephanie’s stories and from interacting with Stephanie’s cousin that children with these disabilities learn differently. Many conversations later, Stephanie and David came up with a program that was unlike any other program currently available. They would co-teach the martial arts classes, utilizing both a modified martial arts curriculum and the techniques of ABA that have been proven a very effective methodology in instructing children with developmental disabilities. This program would combine the passions of both David and Stephanie and would potentially help many families with children on the spectrum.

WHO IS WELCOME TO JOIN THE PROGRAM AND WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?

The program has been designed for children ages 4 and up, but exceptions can be made based on each individual. We are located on the Upper East Side of New York City.

WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND US ONLINE?
We can be found at www.kickingthespectrum.com however; the site is up but being worked on. We can also be found on twitter at http://twitter.com/kicknthespectrm Finally we can be found on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/Kicking-the-SpectrumTM/121299524553067

GOT ANY COOL SUCCESS STORIES?

At this point in time we are still in the early stages of the business. We have only been open a few months, but as time goes on we would love to share our success more with you and your readers.

We just want to say thank you so much for taking interest in our program. It has been a long journey to get this off the ground and we have high hopes that Kicking The Spectrum will be able to benefit the special needs community. If you ever find yourself in New York City you have an open invitation

Autism Speaks

2010-07-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

I'm sure this will be an unpopular post, especially among my autistic readers. Guess that's okay, it wouldn't be a good blog if I only said things people like.

Other autistics have questioned why I support Autism Speaks, both through Twitter and e-mails. I believe they deserve an answer, that took some thinking to phrase it correctly.

Autism Speaks has a rocky history with autistics, after all they used to be a group with the name of "Autism Speaks" while not having any actual autistic members. However, I honestly believe they are trying to change for the better, repair the relationship. They added John Robison, a well known autistic and author. As well as other steps and gladly answered an e-mail from me.

Here is the contents of the e-mail Q&A:
How do you think involving Mr. Robison in Autism Speaks has affected your organization?
John Robison joined Autism Speaks’ Scientific Advisory Board and Treatment Advisory Board earlier this year. He has been a great asset to our organization and in addition has posted some very insightful blogs on both our site and his own popular blog. John expressed his feelings about why research is important and what it means to him and the autism community – his insight has been great. We continue to be very pleased to have him onboard.

Has the response been overall positive or negative?
Overwhelmingly positive

What kind of actions is Autism Speaks planning or already doing to greater include people on the Autism spectrum?
Our new blog and facebook page has really opened us up to encouraging people to comment on all aspects of our mission. In addition, we invite family members as well as individuals on the spectrum to submit stories. John joined us this year at IMFAR and brought Wrong Planet’s Alex Plank, an adult with Asperger. They interviewed scientists, parents and organizers to learn more about the science. Alex has been posting portions of these interviews on his site. In addition, college student Kerry Magro has been hired by us to blog about events related to his major. He is on the spectrum as well and wrote about the Autism Speaks 400 in Dover, the NBA Awards event and many more. This has been a very natural progression for us as we hit our fifth year and it’s been very exciting to see this new collaboration within the community.
(e-mail exchange with Dana Marnane from Autism Speaks)

Are they perfect? No, of course not, they are a group of humans. I've yet to meet a perfect human. However, I think it would be in the advantage of the autism community to work WITH a large, well known group that seems to be reaching out to people on the spectrum. Realistically, I don't picture a parent of a nonverbal kid being very comfortable in a GRASP meeting or even relating much to it. However, they are likely to hear of Autism Speaks; because they do a lot of advertising. I'd really rather a parent go to them than go Google "autism treatments" and feed their kid some random snake oil. Or get so frustrated they do something they regret.

Autism Speaks is not my favorite group. I'm lucky enough to have a well developed Autism Society nearby who I can easily call or e-mail and get support from. (if you're in the Tidewater area of Virginia, that would be
Tidewater ASA ) However, I've heard from parents in other parents of the country that don't have a local Autism Society that they feel they can go to. (yes, my favorite group would be the ASA)

Autistics need to be a bit more tolerant of Autism Speaks; they aren't trying to be an enemy or exclude us; in fact they are trying to work with us.

(Comments are welcome, please refrain from cursing)

Neurodiversity or disorder?

2010-06-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

I get asked about my views on Neurodiversity every so often. Yes, I do believe it's wonderful that there can be different kinds of human brain wiring. The world would be a pretty boring (and unproductive) place if we didn't have different kinds of minds. However, I don't agree that we should just label Autism a "wonderful difference" and end the conversation.

We live in a world where sometimes Neurodiversity gets in the way. A child who has no way of communicating needs help. We can still value his/her differences while teaching him/her ways to communicate with others. Perhaps through speech therapy or ABA. If it isn't hurting the kid, I don't oppose treatment for those things that prevent somebody from having a good quality of life. Yes, the kid may be happy at the moment, but 20 years down the road, it would be terrible if the kid was now an adult in an institution because somebody decided "hey, he's neurodiverse, let's not change a thing". A kid who is self-injurious or hurts others presents a problem and NEEDS help for their sake and their family's sake. It's just not reasonable to "let the kid be" in a case like this.

There's a fine line between helping somebody and trying to make them somebody else, so it takes a bit of thinking on what to treat and what is just "quirky".

And surprise, there are people with Asperger's who WANT treatment. I don't want a treatment, I feel happy where I am. But it's not my place (or anybody else's) to deny a person the right to seek treatment for what they feel impairs their quality of life.

I do however want to point out, I greatly dislike snake oil salesmen and people suggesting dangerous/unproven "cures" for Autism. No, it's not okay to put anybody's life at risk to treat Autism. Please do plenty of research from valid sources before trying anything.

On that note, make sure you read this if you are trying OSR#1, it is NOT safe: http://www.latimes.com/news/health/sns-health-illegal-autism-therapy,0,747838.story

Some resources to check out treatments before using them:
Alternative Medicine (MayoClinic)

Autism's Alternative Therapies

25 signs of a Quack

Collection of resources for sensory issues

2010-06-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

This post is a collection of resources for sensory issues; since many people with Autism have sensory issues.

General resources:
The Gift: A blog for caregivers of Sensational Children

Sensory Issues and Autism

Sensory Processing Disorder
Activities/ideas:

Homemade Sensory Diet for the Summer

99 Sensory Activities for Any Child

Sensory Intergration Activities for Children with Autism

College and Asperger's/Autism

2010-06-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

I just finished registering for classes at the local college and thought it would be a great time to write about college and Asperger's Syndrome/Autism.

For people uncomfortable with regular classes, many colleges now offer online courses; it is even possible to complete an entire degree online. Personally, I am taking college classes in person because I find not getting distracted while on the computer a bit tough! However, if the social anxiety is bad, it may be a good idea for a student with Asperger's/Autism.

Interesting enough, a nickname for Asperger's is "little professor syndrome" and CBS even had an article about college professors with Asperger's/Autism! So the idea of people on the spectrum at college is not at all strange, students can succeed with the right support.

One very helpful thing is for ASD students to get a chance to explore the campus before classes and have copies of a map. It helps with anxiety to already know where you're going without crowds and the pressure of getting to class on time. I'm already familar with the campus so that's one worry I don't have.

A good idea before picking a college would be to scope out whether they have disability services for students with Asperger's/Autism. Even if the student ends up not having many needs, it is important to have somebody to go to if needs arise.

Organization can be a huge problem for students on the spectrum. So, a wise investment is a planner for assignments and scheduling study time. College classes don't have a resource teacher asking "are you working on your project due X?" so it is important to write several reminders and break it down into steps. Perhaps even scheduling alerts in a phone would help.

Although it's too late to apply this year, there is a scholarship specifically for those with Asperger's/Autism:
http://www.researchautism.org/news/otherevents/Scholarship.asp

Other useful links:
Asperger's at College
Sending Your Child with Autism to College
College and the Autistic Student

Sensory friendly clothing

2010-06-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, first off, let me say I am not paid by, nor have actually owned these products. I am just trying to provide links to sites that look decent for sensory friendly clothing:
http://www.softclothing.net Soft Clothing has clothes ranging from the casual to more dressy, all intended for kids with sensory issues. Prices seem to range $15-$30.

You can also find them on Facebook

And they have a social network:
http://www.softsensoryworld.com/

Another site is here: Fun and Function Special Needs clothing
According to the site, their clothing provides all day sensory pressure. Sounds interesting and designs are cute:

Okay, yes, both of the above sites are child only, and of course their are adults looking for sensory friendly clothing too.

Forgive me, the only actual sensory clothing site for adults with SPD/ASD I could find was:
http://www.sensorycomfort.com/Clothing.htm

Sorry! If anybody has any suggestions, please feel free to comment or e-mail.

Teachers: Don't miss this!

2010-06-18T10:09:00.001-07:00

I found this great post through Autisable called Setting Up an Autism Classroom on a Budget that has pretty good and well explained tips on how to set up an Autism friendly classroom on a budget. I think it actually makes perfect sense to publish it now, as you need to have an eye out for yard sales and store sales over the summer.

Other useful articles on setting up a classroom for ASD children:
Autism Classroom Organization
12 Tips for setting up an autism friendly classroom

Just a few random thoughts of my own:
*For goodness sake, keep the globes out of reach when wanting ASD children/teens to focus! I mean, maybe it's just me, but when I'm around a globe, I don't give a darn about what a teacher is saying. Seriously, in preschool you probably found me playing with the globe. And what happened in high school when the teacher handed out globes? Yep, spinning! You see in the movies when people go "Ooo, shiny"? It's kinda like that, except "Ooo, spin!"

*What on Earth is with giving people the wrong size chairs/desks? If a person can't *sit* without discomfort, how do you expect them to get anything done? I've gone in classrooms where I've been offered a chair not close to the right size. I actually notice in both myself and the kids in Sunday School that beanbags are easier, but that's not always possible.

*I love when the teacher has a schedule. Even when I took dual enrollment English (basically, college English in high school) I loved having a syllabus to know what was happening, when. I wasn't great at creating my own schedules, but they were appreciated. (Even when I insisted I hated them, I needed them)

Autism and traveling

2010-06-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

I was REALLY impressed at the kindness and thought put into this hotel suite to make it "autism-friendly":

The only thing I would add it to it was a light dimmer, but I love his attitude! I wish more business owners would be more active in the autism community.

Anyways, there are other things you can do to make traveling easier with an autistic loved one (or even if you're autistic yourself) :

*Don't cram a lot into one day! Often a Neurotypical person wants to jam pack a vacation full of activities but somebody on the Autism spectrum is easily overwhelmed by too much activities, especially since they are out of their routine.

*Create a plan and try to stick to it. Of course you can't help minor changes, but having it predictable can go a long ways towards making it easier to cope with.

*Explain the plan and consider having a copy, whether you use social stories or visual schedules. After all, it gives a sense of security to know what happenes next.

*Look up ahead of time resturants that will have food that meet dietary needs. Whether it's a GFCF diet or a picky eater, it helps to know ahead of time a good place to eat. Why cause stress over food when you're on vacation for FUN?

*Don't forget the first aid kit. medications, and medical info! Anybody can get scrapes or worse accidents but it seems like us on the Spectrum are a little accident prone. (I am!) So just be prepared, better not to be 100 miles away and realize you need a daily medication or forgot medical info.

*Try to schedule things that are part of the normal routine if you can. Maybe you know that the hotel has Nicklodeon and plays THE favorite show or everyday coloring is a favorite activity.

*Bring along a "car/plane/train treat bag". Okay, it doesn't take much to go to the dollar store and stuff a bag with stuff that amuses a kid. Wouldn't you rather shell out $10 to make a kid happy during a ride than deal with a screaming one for hours? If your kid loves something like DS games though, maybe check out the used ones, which can sell for under $10 and provide entertainment.

*Consider bringing an MP3 player or earplugs to block out loud/annoying sounds.

Of course, there are some people who, well, jusr don't like traveling. (I'm one of them, my idea of adventure is a new store in the city) But these tips make it easier.

Inspiration and further ideas here:
TravelMuse Tips
CNN travel tips: Autism
Walt Disney World and Autism
Time.com Six Tips for Traveling with Autism

Curious whaf ABA looks like?

2010-06-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

I had never actually seen what an Applied Behavioral Analysis session looks like so I looked it up. Anyways, this is a pretty short video of an ABA session. (By the way, I'd love to hear any thoughts on if this looks similar to what you've seen if you're familiar with ABA)

I have to say, as a little kid I would have done pretty decently with a session like that, other than I didn't like M&Ms much.

Cool and Eclectic store

2010-06-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

I found an awesome store at Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach, VA but they also have a website: http://www.coolandeclectic.com

They have very unusual and interesting stuff at reasonable prices AND the person I talked to there is friendly (and patient). Generally no matter how much I like the items in a store I won't go back if it isn't friendly.

Anyways, whether you're looking for a piece of furniture or an accent to hang on your wall, it's a good place to check. I mean, I'd prefer a chair with a surprised crazy looking face than a plain one. If you're in the Hampton Roadss area or vacationing it's worth checking out. They do ship everywhere, so even if you're visiting from Oregon you can still get your items shipped to your front door.

Input from a parent on the Autism Spectrum

2010-06-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

I'm very grateful to Vicky (outoutout from the Autism Women's Network ) for answering a few questions about being a parent on the Autism spectrum.

1) What is this biggest challenge(s) of being a parent on the Autism spectrum?

For me, the biggest challenge is dealing with my children's need for my attention. Sometimes I just need to take a break from 'everything', all stimulation, and unfortuantely that's not always possible.

2) How do you overcome that challenge(s) ?
By taking frequent, short breaks - usually in the bathroom! I've also involved my children in some of my relaxation/stimming activities, such as listening to music and spinning. They do the same, and we all stim together.

3) What do you wish other people would know about parents on the Autism spectrum?

That we exist. That we are capable of being functional just like everyone else. We may not do things exactly the way the rest of the world does them, but we do them just fine.

4) Is it hard to relate to other parents not on the spectrum?

For me, it is. With parents of children on the autism spectrum, I often find myself sympathising more with the kids than the adults. If I tell the other parents that I'm autistic, too, I'm treated differently, so I feel I've got to hide it. It also doesn't help that many of the other parents are 'yummy mummy' types who like to gossip about men and fashion, two subjects I just cannot feign much interest in.

5) What do you think communities could do to support parents on the Autism spectrum?

Hmmm not really sure, to be honest. Perhaps a bit more understanding is in order. Understanding that we're competent people, too. Reach out to us. Talk to us.

Really? This is a good thing?

2010-06-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

Dr. Wakefield had a 'lovely' story at his anti-vaccine rally:
"About 15 years ago a mother from London approached him and said “Do not judge me too harshly Dr. Wakefield, but when I die I am taking my son with me. You see, I’m all he has. I’m the only one who loves him.”

“I didn’t judge,” said Wakefield. “I was moved by the love that a mother must have for her child that she would take his life rather than have him fall upon a society that really didn’t give a damn.”
(My deepest thanks and recommends to the
Autism News Beat for their post on his rally)

So....there you have it, Wakefield thinks it's a loving thing to kill your autistic child when you die. Why, oh why, do some parents have outrage over percieved dangers in vacciness but not their matryr flat out approving of killing autistics? The world is a tough place for autistics so we should improve it, not kill the autistics! Any decent human being, regardless of where they stand on the vaccine issues, should see how wrong it is to say this. Where's the outrage? It's one thing for a frustrated parent to say something at wit's end, it's quite another for a doctor to agree with them.

Short graphic novel online about Wakefield

2010-05-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

Ah, I love it. Want a review of the Wakefield case? (yes, it includes references too)

Check it out here by Darryl Cunningham:
The Facts In The Case Of Dr. Andrew Wakefield

Why I don't think Gary McKinnon should escape punishment

2010-05-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

Gary McKinnon is the man diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome who hacked into U.S. military and government networks. It seems many people think his Asperger's should let him avoid punishment. My opinion matches closely with what convicted hacker Adrian Lamo (who also has Asperger's) thinks:
"Lamo thinks while Asperger’s might explain his knack for slipping into corporate networks, Wired says that he scoffs at the notion that Asperger’s should mitigate the consequences of illegal behaviour.

He said that Asperger’s might help explain his success in hacking, but not his willingness to do it, he told Wired.

“If, in fact, the diagnosis is accurate, it had zip to do with my actions at that time,” he said."
(from TechEye )

I have a hard time believing Gary doesn't know what he did was wrong (and illegal). Letting him get away with hacking means he will probably do it again or disregard other laws. People with Asperger's are not stupid and are just as capable of being bad or criminals as neurotypicals. There's also wonderful people too on the Autism spectrum; but we have to accept some are not. It's not an isolated trend for Asperger's to be used as a defense in everything from murder to theft. The legal system and government needs to send a clear message that Asperger's is not a pass to ignore laws and commit crimes.

Fluffshop on Etsy

2010-05-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

Ack! I completely forgot to blog in April about this:

what is it? It's an awesome t-shirt design from Fluffshop on Etsy

They also have others, including:

Many many apologies to my friend at Fluffshop, it was unintentional!

Vaccine War: Love the show, hate the war

2010-05-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, I loved Frontline: The Vaccine War. I really fail to see why the anti-vaccine side is offended either, it had plenty of their side. Not really PBS's fault that their side has little scientific evidence to go on. After all, they are the ones who use Jenny McCarthy as an advocate; it is not like PBS picked an obscure person to feature for their side. Seemed to have most of the main players. I don't think anybody was censored, they even had J.B. Handley on with his *lovely* language. (happy they censored the actual language though, I can do without that, thanks)

You can watch Frontline: The Vaccine Wars yourself here:
http://video.pbs.org/video/1479321646/

However....the annoying thing to me is there still IS a vaccine war. Why? We've seen study after study about vaccines and autism: no link. There is only so much money and time for autism research and advocacy. Why are people wasting it on vaccines? So many other issues are pressing: education support, respite, communication devices, sensory issues, safety, faith community inclusion, bullying, and on and on.

Studies all around the world have shown no connection between autism and vaccines. People are dying and getting ill from not having vaccines. From June 3rd, 2007 to April 17th, 2010 there have been 509 vaccine preventable deaths and 57,309 vaccine preventable illnesses. So not only are we wasting autism money and time; we are risking lives.

Please, please, vaccinate your kids, encourage others too. And autism community, stop harping on vaccines, it is NOT an autism community issue!

If you agree, please sign my petition to end the vaccine war within the autism community and move on to more important issues:

End the Vaccine War

(friendly remminder: No hate speech/cursing allowed in comments, that you need to send to my e-mail. Love you anways)

Bad annoucement

2010-04-24T13:23:00.000-07:00

Okay...this is a bit of a low blow by somebody (not sure who) but somebody has gone into my Twitter account and deactivated it. So, well, my new Twitter account is AutisticLady

Honestly, am I that disturbing that somebody needs to do that? To whoever did it: Get a life and you can't make me go away.

Argh.

Interview with Liane Willey

2010-04-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was delighted that Liane Willey, author of the book Pretending To Be Normal agreed to do an interview with me for my blog. Liane is a wonderful women on the autism spectrum who works to improve the lives of other families living with autism.

1) How did you handle finding employment and keeping it? Are there some tips you could share with other people on the Autism spectrum (and their families helping them) struggling with job issues?

It was very difficult for me to go to job interviews, but I forced myself to do what had to be done. Namely, I made resumes, practiced having interviews with myself in the mirror, and I made sure I had a nice outfit to wear to the interview so that my appearance was neat and appropriate. I cannot say this was easy. There were times I would put off going to the interview for days on end. The key to making myself go was to find a job I was qualified for. When I was 16 I was only qualified for fast food restaurant work so I applied, and got a job at, McDonald's. I applied for my position as a professor after I had my doctorate degree. I did not get every job I applied for and I was often terminated soon after the job. By the time I was in my late 20s, I knew teaching was something I was good at, so I decided to pursue only jobs where I could monologue or teach. My advice is simple: find what you're good at, pick an area you enjoy so you will stay motivated to do what it takes to obtain and keep the job, study hard and gain as much educational or practical experience as your budget will allow for, get experience even if it is as an intern or volunteer, and practice interview skills. After you do get a job, work with a job coach or counselor to make sure your social skills are of the sort your new career will demand. Finally, there is no shame in any job. I often took jobs below what I thought were my academic and experience level, but I learned something in each job, so no job was ever a waste of time.

2) What is the biggest issue facing the autism community today and how would you like it handled?

This is a tough question to answer. If I have to pick one it would be to reach the ASD affected minority, low socioeconomic and elderly populations with both ASD awareness and support programs. I would love the media to join forces and broadcast free ASD educational programs geared toward teachers, caregivers, families, and individuals. A network devoted to nothing but special needs would be great and our ASD community could have a strong voice and presence in this programing.

3) Do you have any tips for managing autistic mannerisms, like rocking, spinning objects, etc.?

I never try to break a stim or habit without having something in mind to take its place. When making a replacement habit, I try to find something that is very similar, but that may look less like a stim. For example, I like to rock, but I rock side to side, rather than forward and backward because it looks more natural- like a mother rocking a baby. And I still afford myself plenty of opportunity to stim as I wish, in private. Private may mean the back of a grocery aisle where there is no audience or a public bathroom behind the closed doors of the stall, but usually it means in my own home.

4) What can people on the spectrum and their loved ones do to keep them safe? How can a person on the spectrum figure out if a situation is "safe" or a person is "safe"? What are some red flags that a situation is bad?

I am not sure a person on the spectrum will ever be 100% able to stay safe and avoid bad situations. Our poor theory of mind and our inability to read non-verbal communications and judge hidden social curriculums make it nearly impossible to always judge a person's intent or a situation's risks. I do know that it is comforting for me to have a trusted person or two I can call the moment I feel like I might be close to something unsavory. I give myself permission to call one of my trusted friends the moment I feel unsafe. Regrettably, I still walk into bad situations, so I would like to refer readers to autism safety expert Dennis Debbaudt. His contact information is http://www.autismriskmanagement.com
Email: ddpi@flash.net
Autism Risk & Safety Management now on FaceBook. Join us here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-Risk-Safety-Management/247829751467?ref=mf

5) When you're close to "melting down"; how do you handle it?

First of all, I had to learn by trial and error and many years of paying attention to my reactions, what would make me break down and how to avoid it. Now that I know what my personal buttons are, when I see the buttons are about to be pushed, I tend to go to the darkest part of my closet, close my eyes, shut out all noise, and concentrate on my breathing. If I don't' get myself out of the on-coming storm, I will surely get caught up in it and then I have to ride it out with either extreme amounts of anxiety, physical illness, or lots of tears.

6) What are some do's and not do's of dating? Is there any cautions you have? And what can a parent/caregiver do to help a person on the spectrum interested in dating?

In my perfect world, people on the spectrum would only date people they have been fixed up with by friends and family members! However, there are places and situations that are safer than others for making friends and building relationships. For example, don't toss a person with an ASD to a bar and expect the evening to go well. Family oriented centers like the YMCA rock climbing club or a local bowling league tend to be safer bets for meeting people who do not have ulterior motives in mind. That having been said, there are cruel people everywhere, so the person on the spectrum has to have a solid understanding of what constitutes good and inappropriate behavior and how to handle such behavior if it comes up. Remember that dating will often turn into something interpersonal, so don't underestimate the importance of sex education. Be direct in your discussions, leave nothing out. Discuss diseases, how they are acquired, pregnancy, the urban myths surrounding all the above, and the importance of knowing "no means no". Social coaching is a must in this area and at some point, I would bring in both males and females to talk as freely as possible about their issues, concerns, questions, etc. Let the person on the spectrum do as much self-analysis and questioning, and as much self-advocating and understanding as they can.

7) What is something about Autism that you wish everybody would know?
Yes. I wish people knew that everyone who has autism has a wonderful story to share. If people took time to really learn to listen to and learn from their autistic associates, I bet they would be surprised and delighted with what they learned from the person with autism.

8) Is there something you would like to tell parents/caregivers out there?

Take time for yourself. Shed any guilt you may have. Every parent/caregiver has moments of guilt over any human they tend to, so just know it's normal. Laugh as often as you can. Pick your battles. Know that things get better. Never underestimate the gifts your person with an ASD has. Keep the bar just high enough, and take care not to make it too low. Remember, the support you give is incredibly important and life saving. Without you, I shudder to think where folks on the spectrum would be.

Interview with an autism dad

2010-04-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you've seen his many Tweets as TannersDad ; Tim Welsh is the dad of a kid with autism. He works tirelessly to increase autism awareness and is respectful even when we disagree. I asked him if it would be okay to ask a few questions for my blog, and he agreed.

1)What was it like when you first got the diagnosis of Autism for your son?

Tanner was "Officially Medically" Diagnosed at age 5... We had gone through Diagnosis of Apraxia of speech, Educational Diagnosis of Autism, PDD-NOS, and finally Autism. It was a process but we had to go through all the stages of loss. We were in denial, Angry, revengeful, grasping for justification and much more. I am still frustrated at the lack of help or explanation. When he was talking, Then got vaccines, & Lost his voice... the timing is suspicious....

2)What do you think the biggest issue surrounding autism right now?

Boy that is a tough question... I would say that the general publics apathy & inaction when it comes to Autism. It is right up there with the lack of services & Support. So many of the Autism issues are inter-related to current issues Health Care reform, insurance Reform, Respect, Restraint & Seclusion laws, Housing, Employment, & Need for answers.

3)What is something you wish other people would understand about Autism?

It is what you do not see that is the issue... These Individuals are some of the most healthy looking & Beautiful... But the stress, Strain , and need for help is immediate. Studies have show families dealing with Autism are under as much stress as those suffering form PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

4)What do you wish autism organizations would do (or more of) ?

My dream & Vision is first & Foremost for all Autism Organizations to get on the same page... I started the twitter initiative #UWAC unity within Autism Community. We have much more that we agree on than disagree but sometimes arguments flood the airwaves. To me Awareness, Respect, Services, Employment, Housing, Human Rights, Respite, & Answers all need to be on the front burner.

5)What has helped your son the most?

Love from family. We have a great need for ABA therapy and pray one day that we will have the resources to provide that for Tanner. We are blessed that he has a personality akin to what I imagine Jesus to have. Calm, Happy, Loving... Just beautiful.
You can get in touch with Tim here:
Cell:217 260 3098
http://www.causecast.org/member/tanners-dad
http://www.twitter.com/TannersDad
http://www.linkedin.com/in/tannersdadtimwelsh
http://www.change.org/profiles/tannersdad
http://tinyurl.com/pfwpf7
http://www.autismone.org/users/tim-welsh
http://www.facebook.com/timothy.welsh1
http://tinyurl.com/m9r8ws
http://bit.ly/3tnFHa
#HDTJ #APE #FeelAutismYet #FAY #AutismABC #TAhml #Truthfirst #MTHA #BFH #1in58 #autism

RealTannersDad@Gmail.com
http://www.floral-n-flair.com

(Yes, he did give permission to give out contacts, don't worry!)

Through My Eyes - Thanh Bui

2010-04-06T05:00:00.001-07:00

No, Age of Autism, autism is NOT like cancer

2010-04-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

Amazed. Horrified.

These are both my feelings after a recent Twitter set of Tweets by the popular blog Age of Autism:
AgeofAutism: "Even if my girls WERE too old for an autism cure - I'd NEVER deny the possibility to another family. Would you? #AofA"
AspergersKitty: "@AgeofAutism My concern is how dangerous some "cures" are. I wouldn't get a cure myself;but if it was safe I wouldn't stop consenting others"
AspergersKitty: "@AgeofAutism Provided it's safe/science based; a cure is a deeply personal matter for the autistic individual and their family."
AgeofAutism "@aspergerskitty How dangerous is chemo for cancer? Risk/benefit based on severity of diagnosis. Of course safety 1st."
AspergersKitty:"@AgeofAutism Did you really just compare autism and cancer?! Wow. Well,not enough space here,but I will respond in my blog why that is WRONG"

Cancer is a deadly disease; autism is neurological condition that can cause both problems and benefits. I understand there are people severely affected by autism who need help. But risking death in order to treat autism is just not okay. Those with severe forms of autism are most in need of people's protection from dangerous therapies based on lack of scientific evidence.

It frustrates me when groups like Age of Autism and Generation Rescue have an attitude of promoting dangerous treatments. Of course they can say whatever they please, but ethically, there is a responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Both groups are in an incredible position of power by being trusted by parents. I wish I'd see them take a stand and say no to dangerous procedures. Just imagine how great it would be to see Generation Rescue, Age of Autism, Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, and GRASP working together to get support services like respite, speech therapy, occupational therapy, communication devices, and other safe treatments; while taking a stand and saying NO, it's not okay to risk lives with procedures like chelation.

My heart aches when I hear about innocent kids undergoing dangerous treatment. I feel like if I say nothing; it would be standing by while a child is being abused. Because, that's what it is. Risking a child's life on a treatment like chelation is abuse. I know I'll probably get angry mail about this; but why is it okay to do things like this to autistic kids? People would get arrested for doing it to a neurotypical child, why is it okay to do it to an even more helpless child?

One can wish for a world where children are safe from "professionals" and nobody justifies risking their lives for improving a neurological condition.

One can wish.

How to Spot the Signs of Autism

2010-04-04T18:34:00.000-07:00

A great, easy to understand video on how to spot the early signs of Autism:

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

Have a great Easter everybody!

Vaccine answers

2010-03-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

I know many people are concerned about vaccines and have lots of questions. I'm not a doctor but I can tell you that a celebrity or salesperson of a "alternative" treatment is not a good source of information. Vaccines are a big deal too, not a minor thing to skip. I recommend you visit http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org to find answers to questions like:
*Are they safe?
*Why should you follow the recommended schedule?
*What's in vaccines today?
*Do they cause Autism?

And other questions. The site is easy to read and navigate and even includes a video FAQ with videos like this one:
Research on vaccines and autism

Achoo!

2010-03-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

I was disappointed to hear one of the kids in the church class I help in was out because of bad allergies. I'm lucky that I don't have any allergies, but it seems like many people don't share my luck! So I figured I'd do a little research about allergies.

I knew about the pollen count already; which is how much pollen there is in the air. (the higher it is, the worse allergy sufferers will feel) It did not occur to me that trees and grass could cause allergy problems, I just assumed it was flowers. Also, I didn't know the pollen count is lower on rainy days and worse on windy days.

There are many different over the counter treatments you can try:
-Antihistamines reduce sneezing, sniffling, and itching by lowering the amount of histamine (the substance produced during an allergic reaction) in the body.
-Decongestants clear mucus out of the nasal passageways to relieve congestion and swelling.
-Antihistamine/decongestants combine the effects of both drugs.
Nasal spray decongestants relieve congestion and may clear clogged nasal passages faster than oral decongestants.
-Cromolyn sodium nasal spray can help prevent hay fever by stopping the release of histamine before it can trigger allergy symptoms.
-Eye drops relieve itchy, watery eyes.

However, big note: It's still a good idea to talk to your doctor, to see what is best for your kid or yourself; they may even recommend a prescription medication.

There are natural options; but be very cautious before assuming a herbal remedy is safe because it says "natural". If you are on other medications, it can react badly with some herbal treatments.

One suggest from the WebMD site is nasal irrigation:
"Nasal irrigation with a combination of warm water, about a quarter-teaspoon of salt, and a quarter-teaspoon of baking soda may help clear out mucus and open sinus passages."
The pros and cons of nasal irrigation

One last interesting thing from WebMD was the suggestion of lots of spring cleaning; often. If you're the one cleaning and have allergies, wearing a mask is a help.

Of course I'm not a doctor (and you really should talk to one if it gets unbearable); but hopefully some of this can provide a bit of help.

My information from WebMD is from here:
Spring Allergies

Other links that may be helpful are:
-Weather.com guide on allergies
-Preventing Spring Allergies by Mayo Clinic
-Seasonal Allergies by Physician's Desk Reference

Why does the sun shine?

2010-03-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

"Why does the Sun Shine?" by They Might Be Giants (found the video on craftster.org )

Got something to say?

2010-03-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

In April I am making an effort to include all sorts of opinions and interviews about Autism. So if you have a story to share, an article you want me to post as a guest post, or feel like I should interview you, please let me know. There are two rules: it must be about Autism and you may not use obscene language. Please be reasonable about length too.

I won't edit any articles; although I will put a disclaimer about it being your opinion and not mine if it is something I don't agree with.

Also, if you have a question you'd like me to answer or address; let me know. (either in the comments or by e-mail) I'll make an effort to answer them.

Oh, and if your blog is blogging about Autism in April, I'll be happy to link to you.

I have lots of great stuff coming up for April; ranging from fascinating interviews (including one with Liane Holliday Willey; the author of Pretending to Be Normal); giveaways of autism themed products, reviews, and who else knows what else. I've been busy getting things ready!

Autism and why you shouldn't rush to conclusions

2010-03-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

GFCF can be yummy

2010-03-12T17:12:00.000-08:00

I'm not on a GFCF diet but I know many families out there in the autism community are. So I poked around the Borders Gluten Free section. I found recipes in the Enjoy Life cookbooks that are so delicious I wanted to go make some myself! (honestly, the company has no clue I exist but I feel like sharing their books with everyone!) One nice thing about the recipes in all of their books are about a page long including pictures, no huge complicated ones.

Here's a glipse at some of their books and recipes in them:

Allergy Proof Recipes for Kids by Leslie Hammond-Pancakes
-Several kinds of frosting
-Cakes, including "Cream"sicle Cake and carrot cake
-Homemade Marshmellows
-Many "meal" items besides desserts

Cookies for Everyone
-Gimme S'more Bites
-No Bake Cinnamon Rolls
-Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar
-Sensational Snickerdoodle Cookies
-and of course lots more cookies!

Cupcakes for Everyone
-Chocolate Chip Scones
-Chocolate-filled Vanilla Cupcake
-Blueberry Crunch Muffin
-more cupcakes and muffins

Hamster video

2010-03-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

This is not my hamster, just a video on Youtube I love. (and I have writer's block today)

Online resources for parents

2010-03-10T17:39:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to list a few sites that will help parents of special needs individuals:
http://www.hopefulparents.org/about
Special Mom Talk(dads can join too!)

and I'd like to point out that the Autism Women's Network always welcomes family members and friends of those on the autism spectrum.
Autism Women's Network

If there's a site you would like to share for other parents, please leave a comment, I'm sure others will appreciate it.

Book Review: Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet

2010-03-09T18:37:00.000-08:00

I literally liked this book some much I read it all in one day.

"Born on a Blue Day" is a memoir by autistic savant Daniel Tammet; who also has synesthesia. (synesthesis is when your senses are a bit crossed; like associating colors with numbers or hearing tastes)

I could relate to some of the things in the book, like prefering nonfiction over fiction; the tendency to hoard 'odd' objects, and the struggle to become independent. In fact, I'd love to be as independent as his is; where he has gone to many countries and runs his own language teaching website. I actually laughed when he mentioned his hatred of brushing teeth but doing it anyways. People don't talk about that much, but I can relate! I do get confused when he starts talking about math equations. (I'm terrible at math) However, I love how he puts this to good use. Since he had seizures as a child; he helped fundraise money for the National Society for Epilepsy by reciting 22,514 digits of pi, which beat the record for England. He does various other things to increase awareness and help out others.

He astounds me by his ability to not only learn over 5 languages but use them to express how his mind works.

Overall, I'd say it's a great book if you are an adult on the Autism Spectrum, want a good read, interested in savant syndrome, or are interested in adults on the Autism Spectrum.

You've got to see this!

2010-03-08T17:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, I was wandering around on YouTube and found this video, and wanted to share it. Make sure you watch it until the end, otherwise it's a depressing video.

Don't Forget!

2010-03-07T15:18:00.000-08:00

It's never too early to prepare for April, which is National Autism Awareness Month. There is many different activities you can plan for April. Here are a few suggestions:
*Hold a bake sale or car wash to raise money for your local Autism Society of America (they help people ALL year long, not just April!)
*Plan to write an article in your blog in April about Autism
*Call or e-mail your local Autism Society of America to see what events they have planned and see if they need volunteers
*Rent a movie about Autism to watch with your family and discuss (Some suggestions would be Miracle Run, Adam, or Mozart & The Whale)

You can find your local Autism Society of America through this site:
Find State

Or you could pass around this video:

The good and the bad of autism community meetings

2010-03-03T18:17:00.000-08:00

First, I'll say the bad; it does not actually involve me but makes me angry. You remember me recommended the blog Autism News Beat ? Well, it is run by a parent of an autistic person. So logically, you would think they would be welcome at a Talk About Curing Autism Now meeting after paying $50, right? No, they denied access to them because they were "disruptive" at the last meeting. Apparently, having a dissenting opinion about vaccines and autism is "disruptive". I fail to see what sense this makes, and besides, if TACA has solid proof of the "vaccine connection", wouldn't they jump at the chance to prove it to somebody who runs a well read site about autism?

Okay...

And the good: I was delighted to be invited to attend Virginia Beach's Autism Stakeholders Meeting. Basically, it is a group of people meeting to find out what resources are already out there in Virginia Beach and brainstorm what needs to be added and improved. I am just over the moon happy at how JoAnn Bryant from the Autism Society of America felt I would be a good contribution to the meeting. I have to say, everybody at the meeting was respectful to me and valued my opinions. I wish more organizations would try to include people on the Autism spectrum in important meetings like this.

I learned quite a few fascinating things, including that the public schools are teaching fourth and fifth graders about Autism in order to lessen bullying. I also learned a lot about different resources out there in Virginia Beach. I will be researching them in more detail and writing about them.

Also, if you are looking for resources in the local Hampton Roads area or in the United States, here is the link:

Want to attend church online?

2010-03-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

Do you want to attend church but just can't seem to find one that "clicks" with you? My church has started to put their 11am services online. It's a contempoary Baptist church, with entertaining services. Give it a try here:
http://www.coastalcommunitychurch.com

A few science/autism blogs I like...

2010-02-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

My blogging may be spotty for a while, so I thought I should share some of the places I like to read so you have something to tide you over:
Autism News Beat An autism news blog that also tends to cover items in relatively short posts and plain English. (a good alternative to the certain popular anti-vaccine autism news blog)

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/
Gets techinal, but good anyways and not all autism news.

Giveaway winner!

2010-02-07T17:18:00.001-08:00

The winner of the Lee's Crossroad Candles giveaway is...Rebecca Graham!

Sad cyberbullying story

2010-01-27T15:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583948,00.html
Police suspect cyberbullying may be the cause of 15 year old Phoebe Prince's suicide. Now here's the part that REALLY makes me mad...bullies continued to post insulting messages on Phoebe's Facebook page AFTER her death. Bullies had taunted this girl through Facebook, text messaging, and other media. Really, this story is sad and makes me pretty mad.

Facebook's page on what to do if you are being harassed/cyberbullied can be found here:
Facebook Help

You can find additional free help here: http://www.wiredsafety.org/

A video from them for kids/preteens about what to do to prevent and deal with cyberbullying:

Autism Women's Network

2010-01-23T15:37:00.000-08:00

There's a great resource out there for anybody concerned with issues of women on the autism spectrum. It's called the Autism Women's Network. I asked Sharon daVanport; the AWN's Executive Director &
Radio Show Host; if she would mind answers a few questions. She was more than happy to:

How would you describe what the Autism Women's Network is?

Our mission is to provide effective supports to autistic females of all ages through a sense of community, advocacy and resources.

The Autism Women's Network is a networking community of autistic females, their families, friends, and supporters who can share their experiences amongst a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment. Our website publishes wide variety of articles relevant to the autism community as a whole. Some of the articles are original stories and others are contributed to AWN from our members who originally posted them on their blogs or web pages. Please let us know if you are interested in submitting a story to AWN; we are always interested in reviewing material from Contributing Writers. You can reach us at: AWN Contact Form.

What inspired you to create the Autism Women's Network?

With a diagnosis of Asperger's, I made most of my initial contacts with the autism community through primarily Asperger's Groups. For the better part of 2009 I was continually challenged to raise awareness for all females on the spectrum as opposed to only those with AS. It didn't take me long to realize that I was better suited for a more inclusive environment.

In addition, an overwhelming consensus from females on the spectrum was their desire to be part of a non-judgmental networking community. They believed it was essential if they were to continue moving forward toward solutions and answers pertaining to matters specific to females. We looked hard at the issues which had not been working in the past, and we developed a strategy to move forward in a new and positive direction.

You must be very excited about the official launch of the forums! Who would you encourage to join the forums?
Most definitely females on the spectrum. In addition, family members, friends, educators, psychologists, and anyone in a supportive role to females on the spectrum.

Typically the males who join will pop over to the forum & say a quick hello with a brief introduction. It's nice to have a show of support from others in the autism community who may not intend on utilizing the forum personally, but will take the time to send their encouragement and well wishes our way.

What kind of topics are discussed on the forums?

AWN Forum topics are designed to inspire meaningful discussions which focus on issues relevant to females on the autism spectrum. It is our goal to successfully accomplish a portion of AWN's mission by building an interactive community whereby these discussions can take place.

Some of the forum topics are: Ask a NT, Special Interests, Art Gallery, Potpourri, Parent's Palace, Bullies and toxic People We Encounter, and many more. A few more topics which cover discussions on food, autism news, and relationships are:

Bon Appétit Share your favorite recipes, cooking tips, GF/CF info., & all things food related.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it... Autism news around the world.

Relationships A place to share your experiences, advice, & suggestions regarding family, dating, friends, & coworkers, etc.

An new addition which is coming soon to our forum is E-Mentoring. This will be under the leadership of AWN's International Director form Australia, Katharine Annear. E-Mentoring will give people the chance to have one-to-one support, advice and guidance from a volunteer who is independent from their ordinary life.

E-mentoring allows mentors and mentees to keep in touch by having conversations online, through a website. The mentoring relationship is facilitated by a safe and stimulating web-based environment (AWN Forum) which allows mentors and mentees to:
• Post messages
• Share information
• Discuss news items
• Access resources

** We are finalizing details on another Discussion Board for the Forum which will address issues of domestic violence, abuse, and the vulnerabilities of females on the spectrum as it pertains to these serious matters. Stay tuned for these additions to the Forum coming soon.

What is your online radio show about?

AWN Radio allows our organization to keep the lines of communication open pertaining to autism news, hot topics, authors, parents, educators, and individuals on the spectrum who come from all walks of life. AWN Radio allows us to reach a larger audience with participation from our listeners via the chat room and phone lines.

Though we strive to keep our programming consistent with our mission, we aren't exclusive to topics pertaining to only autistic females. We definitely have a diverse guest list which include males, females, autistics, and neuro-typicals.

Do you have any events coming up?

AWN is currently planning a few community events for April during Autism Awareness Month. Details will be posted on our website just as soon as the events are finalized.

Several AWN Directors will be speaking at conferences, workshops, and support groups throughout 2010. The Autism Women's Network will also be in attendance at numerous autism functions for networking purposes throughout the year.

Considering the statistics of only 1 in 4 autistics being female; do you think autistic women's concerns are taken seriously?

I believe we are slowly making progress in this respect; however, it is undeniable that we still have a long way to go.

AWN is dedicated to educating others about the unique qualities specific to autistic females. Recognized experts agree that furthering our knowledge specific to these issues will lead us to a greater understanding of the spectrum as a whole.

It would therefore benefit all of us to heighten awareness with regards to these matters. AWN is dedicated to keeping the focus on matters specific to females on the autism spectrum, and we extend an invitation for our community to join us.

Sensory Processing Disorder: Not Just Spirited book giveaway and interview

2010-01-22T18:19:00.000-08:00

Due to unexpected move and low entry count; this giveaway has been extended until JUNE 1st, 2010. Thanks for your understanding!

Today I'm delighted to bring an interview and giveaway from Chynna T. Laird, the author of "Not Just Spirited: A Mom's Sensational Journey With Sensory Processing Disorder". When I first found out about the book, I was interested, being as I myself have sensory issues and many on the autism spectrum do. Although my issues are related to Autism and Septo-Optic Dysplasia, I enjoyed reading the book. One thing I loved about it was it's 'real' but hopeful; and never suggests anything that could harm a kid. Anyways, on with the interview! (Giveaway details at end)

1) What inspired you to write "Not Just Spirited"?

Not Just Spirited started off as journal entries. I’ve always been someone who journals away anxieties or worries or simply to get thoughts down on paper. When you go through something where people around you either don’t ‘get’ what you’re saying or aren’t listening, you have to have a positive way to work through those emotions or they’ll eat you alive.

Whenever we hit a frustrating point I thought. “You know, there just have to be other parents out there going through this stuff. And that’s just not fair!” I swore that once we got over our major hurdles, I’d do what I could to help other parents get to the information they needed. That’s when I put the journal entries and stories into a book form. Our story isn’t the same as other peoples’ are—it’s our unique experience. But the emotions we felt as parents are fairly common—frustration, isolation, worry, stress, not understanding what was happening to our baby, etc.

If anything, the book can help validate those feelings and, at the very least, inspire parents to keep going on their path…to keep moving forward.

2) What were some of the signs of Sensory Processing Disorder you noticed?

As you know, there are many symptoms and no two children show the exact same ones. And it wasn’t until much later that we figured out what her odd behaviors meant. When we first brought her home from the hospital things weren’t as noticeable but she startled easily, cried a lot, turned her head away from us when we spoke to her and fussed when we held her in any way other than laying her on top of a pillow and walking around with her.

By the time she got to three months old, she cried most of her day. She was a terrible sleeper because every tiny noise woke her up. She needed to be in constant motion and not just gentle rocking. We had to go full force, almost like the motion where you’d be swinging them to toss them onto their bed or something soft, you know? As she got older, her signs got stronger:

she covered her ears all the time, even when noises weren’t that loud (eg: diaper tabs)
she gagged around new smells or actually smelled things that shouldn’t be smelled (eg: clothes, cooking utencils, etc.)
she fought us with every single hygiene task, like bathtime, getting dressed, brushing teeth or hair
she avoided playing with toys that were noisy, flashy, played music, popped out at her, felt funny or smelled.
She avoided playing with other children or people.
She was clutzy, held things too tightly, broke things easily (I can’t count the amount of crayons we went through!), or didn’t hold things tightly enough.
She often lost her balance or tripped on things that weren’t there.
She often scratched at her skin or eyes, pulled on her ears or nose, hit herself in the head, pulled out her hair, and actually tore clothing right off her body.

Later on, her need for routine was so rigid that she had to have everything in an exact place or she freaked out until it was. If we missed a step in a usual routine, she couldn’t go on until we re-did that task. Her sense of touch was so sensitive that it affected what she wore, who could come near her, what she ate and what she played with. She couldn’t seem to get her hands to do things the way she wanted them too (using a fork or spoon, doing fine detailed crafts, writing or games with tiny pieces.) And she needed visual cues or pictures when you taught her something new or explained something to her or she didn’t seem to ‘get’ what you were talking about.

It wasn’t the quirks she had that made us wonder. It was the severity of them, the duration of her fights when things bothered her and the fact that one day something that bugged her to the brink of a fit lasting hours one day didn’t even seem to phase her the next—some days it was hour to hour!

I was so relieved to finally figure out what it was so we could build from that understanding.

3) What were some solutions you found that worked?

It took a long time figuring this out but what finally worked was exposing her to things. Honestly! Now, I’m not saying we shoved her hands into pumpkin goo or made her touch shaving cream right off the bat! We learned that slowly exposing her to sensations then giving her the tools to cope with how those sensations made her body felt was the best solution for a girl with such a high sensitivity level and such a wide range of sensitivities.

Some days she still avoids things, which is fine. But we always encourage her ‘just to try’ then guiding her to a safe place to calm down.

Things that worked for Jaimie are frustration balls (we call them “squeezy balls), fidgets, chewy toys, hammock swings (we have three different kinds of swings to work with what her needs are at a given time), headphones, textured cushions, mini-tramps and deep pressure massage.

Another form of therapy that worked for Jaimie was Integrated Learning Systems, or iLs, incorporated into her SPD OT. Most importantly was sticking to a regular Sensory Diet, including balancing out her nutritional needs, and maintaining her routines.

We also have A LOT of calendars in our house that we use to work Jaimie through upcoming events, pictured charts to work her through new tasks and stickers for EVERYTHING to put up on calendars. It’s amazing how little things like that make such a huge difference. When she knows something is going to happen and understands the steps involved, she handles it so much better.

4) What did you try that didn't work?

Play Therapy worked with helping Jaimie learn to use play as a way to communicate because for the longest time, she wouldn’t communicate with us at all. She didn’t even try speaking until she was way over three. We realized later on that was because communicating with us meant we had to do it back to her and she wasn’t always able to handle that interaction. But after a year, it stopped working. It was because there was no focus on her SPD needs.

In home therapy was great with initial assessments and stuff but that wasn’t the right choice for Jaimie. There was no separation from her therapy and her safe place, you know? Once we chose therapy outside of our home she was much more receptive to practicing her Sensory Diet.

Psychiatric therapy and drug therapy were suggested right off the bat. Of course, they were just focusing on her behaviors, not the underlying causes of those behaviors. We were told to put Jaimie on anti-anxiety and anti-depressants when she was only three years old! We aren’t ‘anti-drug’ and know that it works with some kiddos who have additional problems but we refused to use drugs for a disorder when we had no idea how those drugs would affect her nervous system. We filed such treatments as a last resort after trying other holistic approaches.

‘Sterile’ therapies where Jaimie had to be in a hospital environment or ‘observed’ by several professionals all at the same time didn’t work either. Jaimie reacted best to one person in a warm environment working with what she was comfortable with then slowly introducing her to new things.

5) What were some reactions by doctors and professionals to the sensory problems?

This is a great question. In the beginning, all we wanted was for someone to just listen to our concerns, tell us what was going on then put us in the direction to figure out how to help Jaimie. But people weren’t understanding our concerns. We were told that she was ‘just spirited’ or ‘testing her boundaries’ and that everything would work out. It never did. It wasn’t until Jaimie had a sensory meltdown so severe that she injured herself, me and her baby sister at the time (not purposely but when you’re throwing yourself around with your eyes screwed shut and screaming, you don’t look around you.) that our pediatrician finally got on board with us. He’s an amazing doctor, very supportive (now) but it was a long, frustrating road.

After her initial assessment by an occupational therapist (OT), we were guided to a local community resource. At first she dealt mainly with a Play Therapist but the psychiatrist who headed Jaimie’s case was very “pro-drugs” and tried convincing us to consider drug therapy. We wouldn’t. She diagnosed Jaimie with severe anxiety (Separation, General, Social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD) stressing that for a child with her level of anxiety, she needed help in order to focus on the therapy at hand. We kept refusing.

After a couple more years, we found out about a fantastic SPD clinic here in our city (YAY!) and decided we were going that route. The psychiatrist wasn’t happy about our choice. She felt that Jaimie’s anxiety hadn’t gone away the entire time she’d been at the clinic and that if we ignored her anxieties, she’d only end up getting worse. Her exact words to us were, “Jaimie has severe anxiety, Chynna. Yes, she has sensory issues and the anxiety and those issues seem to work hand-in-hand—each one affecting and intensifying the other. But those SPD OTs only see the child through sensory lenses—everything is because of SPD. At some point, you will both have to realize that your child has a mental illness and that you need to get her proper care. Just be open-minded to drug therapy.”

Let’s just say that was the last session we had there. The point of me sharing that with you is that parents need to see their child as a whole and be sure that whoever treats their child sees her as a whole. If you don’t meet every angle of your child, she isn’t going to thrive. Once we ‘got’ that Jaimie had SPD but also needed help with her nutritional needs and anxiety at the same time, we focused on all areas and she started doing much better.

6) What should somebody do if they think their kid or themselves have Sensory Processing Disorder?

The first thing to do is write down everything—symptoms, triggers, what calms the child (or themselves)…everything. Then research places in his area who deal specifically with people who have sensory sensitivities or SPD. If you have trouble finding someone in your area, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association (www.aota.org) or the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (www.caot.ca) or even the SPD Foundation (www.spdfoundation.net) to find someone. It’s very important to find an OT who is specifically trained, for years preferably, with people who have sensory issues. If you’re looking for your child, find a person who has experience dealing with children or focuses mainly on pediatric OT.

Once you figure out your child’s, or your own, specific needs things can start getting better.

7) Do you have any other tips that could make life easier on someone dealing with sensory processing issues?

Even with therapy and the Sensory Diet in place it can still be a trying time helping our child cope with SPD. Basically, patience is key. Go with what works at a given time then change things up a bit when you notice your child isn’t using the same tools or exercises. My good friend, Lori, tells me to watch Jaimie with ‘sensory glasses’ on. That’s how you can tell when something sensory is going on that needs action or when she’s just being a grumpy seven-year old testing her boundaries. Because above all else Jaimie is just a little girl.

Parents, or adults with sensory issues, would do great connecting with other parents. That helps ease feelings of isolation or frustration. Sometimes just talking to someone who understands what you’re going through—whether on the phone or online—can be enough to make you feel better.

You can find Chynna's blog at http://lilywolfwords.blogspot.com/

I received a copy of the book to review, but also one to giveaway!

To enter, tell me anything about sensory processing problems. (whether it be a tip, an experience with your own child/you, a statistic, quote from a site, etc...)

Extra entries (please leave one comment per entry)
*Follow me on Google Friend Connect
*Follow me on Twitter (AspergersKitty)
*Follow Chynna on Google Friend Connect

Residents of U.S. and Canada are welcome; winner will be picked on noon March 1st, 2010.

To Write Love on Her Arms

2010-01-17T21:38:00.000-08:00

Wondering what that new item is on the side of my blog? It's by SocialVibe and by taking a few minutes to do easy things like answer a poll, it helps To Write Love on Her Arms.

To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.

Soon, To Write Love on Her Arms is opening an online crisis help site called ImAlive. Please take a minute and click on the SocialVibe box to help To Write Love on Her Arms

This is issue is so important, both to the autism community and bloggers.
If you are in need of help, here are some resources:
For Telephone support:
Here is a list of our hotlines in the US

(800)442-4673 .....1-800-442-HOPE -- same routing as 1-800-SUICIDE

(877)838-2838 .....1-877-Vet2Vet Veterans peer support line

(800)784-2432 .....1-800-SUICIDA Spanish speaking suicide hotline

(877)968-8454 .....1-877-YOUTHLINE teen to teen peer counseling hotline

(800)472-3457 .....1-800-GRADHLP Grad student hotline

(800)773-6667 .....1-800-PPD-MOMS Post partum depression hotline

For a list of hotlines outside the US go here:
www.befrienders.org

For email support 24 x 7:
jo@samaritans.org
It may take a few hours or more to generate a response

For online chat support now:
(none of these are 24 x7 but will tell you if online counselors are available)

http://newhopeonline.org/counseling/liveperson.html

http://www.realmentalhealth.com/chat/default.asp

You can also check the front of your phonebook for local numbers or even call emergency services.

A miracle in Haiti

2010-01-17T07:15:00.001-08:00

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6990530.ece
After being trapped in his collapsed home for 3 days, 2 year old Redjeson Hausteen Claude was reunited with his mother.

(photo by Gerald Herbert/AP)

Misunderstandings about me...

2010-01-16T19:05:00.000-08:00

I think there's some misunderstandings about me among people. I'd like to clear them up, because it really sucks when people think you're something you're not.

*I do not hate parents of autistics. Never have, never will. I have a bit of a hard time understanding them at times, because I more often can see their child's side than theirs. I do know having a special needs child or adult is very stressful. I see this in my own stepmom and father all the time.

*I do not oppose treating autism. It's when people want to do something that is dangerous that bothers me. Or when a company is cheating people out of money by selling a treatment that doesn't work. A person is better off autistic than dead. And the more money wasted on miracle snake oil is less that can be used to actually help anybody.

Vaccines, kids, autism, and Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition

2010-01-13T20:34:00.000-08:00

What a title! Now to explain it. One day while looking at things on Twitter, I came across the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition. I was impressed! People who know what they are talking about and work hard to get children life-saving vaccines? Sounds nifty! And to make the rest of the story short, I asked for and was given the chance to interview them by e-mail. So, without further delay....

What and who is the Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition?
The Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition (CCIC) is a state-wide independent, nonprofit organization that works to promote improved access, delivery and demand for childhood vaccinations to keep Colorado’s kids healthy.

Parents often have questions about vaccines. New parents want to know when their child needs to be vaccinated. Some parents need assistance in finding free or low-cost vaccines. Other parents have questions about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

CCIC is here to answer those questions with accurate, credible and current information about the vaccines that keep kids healthy. The organization welcomes all questions and dialogue about vaccines.

To learn more about childhood vaccines, become a CCIC member or make a donation, visit http://www.childrensimmunizaiton.org or any of our social media channels:
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/ImmunizeCOKids
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/ImmunizeCOKids
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/ImmunizeCOKids
Mom Blog – http://Coloradomom2mom.wordpress.com

Where does the funding come from?
CCIC and its membership are committed to avoiding conflict of interest or even its appearance in accepting financial support from corporations with vested interests in how consumers, the health care community, and education professionals regard their products. To assure that conflicts of interest do not occur, CCIC's Board of Directors has determined that acceptance of general or targeted gifts from any source, and CCIC's subsequent relationship to these donors, shall be governed by our Gift and Sponsorship Acceptance Policy. CCIC does not accept funds from businesses that manufacture or distribute vaccines. To see a full list of our supporters and read our annual report visit http://www.childrensimmunization.org/supporters.

What vaccines would you recommend infants receive?
We recommend that parents follow the CDC recommended vaccine schedule - http://www.childrensimmunization.org/vaccineschedule - for their child’s vaccination. Vaccines save lives and it’s important to follow this tried, tested and true schedule.

Are they safe?
Vaccines are among the safest things we do for infants and children. The United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccines in history. Vaccines are tested for years before they can be used by doctors. Once they are being used, vaccines are continually monitored for safety. We vaccinate to save lives and without them countless children would not have the gift of good health.

What is your opinion of the alternative schedule proposed by Dr. Sears?
The biggest medical problem with the delayed schedule is that it leaves babies open to disease for a longer period of time. If a baby is vaccinated by the CDC’s tried, tested and true vaccine schedule, that baby will have immunity to over 14 diseases by the age of two! With the CDC recommended schedule, babies visit their doctor five times in the first 15 months and receive protection against up to 14 diseases in as little as 18 shots if using combination vaccines, or as many as 26 shots if using individual antigens.

We immunize children so young against these diseases because infancy is the time period that kids are MOST vulnerable to life-threatening diseases. The people at greatest risk of dying from vaccine-preventable disease are the very young and the very old. We vaccinate to save lives.

On the delayed schedule, by 15 months of age children will have only received immunity against eight diseases. They miss out on measles, rubella, chickenpox, Hep A, and Hep B. By 15 months, children on this delayed schedule are given 17 shots and visit the doctor’s office 9 times - almost twice as many visits to the doctor as the CDC schedule.

Is there any scientific proof of vaccines causing autism?
No. I wish I could end there, but parents deserve proof.

We have been battling the false connection between MMR and Autism for over a decade. It all started in 1998 with Dr. Andrew Wakefield and his survey of 12 children in which he concluded that 6 of the 9 children’s parent or physician linked the onset of developmental regression with the administration of the MMR shot. This study set off the fire storm around the MMR vaccine and this study has been closely scrutinized and questioned.

It is to be noted that by 2004 10 of 11 of Dr. Wakefield’s co-authors had retracted the interpretation and just this year, the Sunday Times (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5683671.ece) reveled evidence that Wakefield fixed the data of his 1998 study.

As good stewards of science and holding public health as its number one priority, in fall 2000 the CDC and National Institutes of Health convened to examine the MMR vaccine to see if it did cause autism. After examination of the science behind the issue,
“they rejected the causal relationship between the MMR vaccine and ASD based on the facts that there was a lack of epidermologicic evidence and lack of biologic models.”

Other countries also examined this issue, trying to recreate Dr. Wakefield’s results. The JSPN article outlines numerous studies which have examined this issue. Here are a few highlights:

In 2002, scientists in Denmark studies over one million children and found no difference in the risk of autism between MMR-vaccinated and unvaccinated children.

To pile on more evidence, even through Japan has withdrawn the MMR vaccine in 1993, autism rates continues to increase there.

In February of this year, The US Court of Federal Claims found that “after reviewing 5,000 pates of transcripts, 939 medical articles, 50 expert reports and hearing testimony from 28 experts” that MMR and thimerosal-containing vaccines do not cause autism.

Just recently on September 22, 2009, the National Health Service (NHS) Information Centre found that autism rates are consistent among adults is identical the rates of autism among children -at about 1%.

Autism is a serious concern for America’s children. Autism is continuing to increase even though we’ve eliminated MMR as a cause. We need to put funding and attention to finding preventative measures and treatment for these children that goes beyond vaccines.

Wordless Wednesday: Silly brother

2010-01-13T05:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/

Glad to Give Baking program

2010-01-12T16:59:00.001-08:00

Glad to Give

I love to write about companies helping charity. Childhood cancer is a cause close to my heart after seeing my friend struggle with her toddler's cancer. So I was impressed after finding Glad's Glad to Give site. Glad helps you put together a bake sale for Cookies for Kids Cancer. Also, Glad matched all funds raised by Cookies for Kids Cancer in November and December 2009, up to $100,000. It may be too late for you to help in that part, but you can still hold a bake sale with the kit and give the funds to Cookies for Kids Cancer.

Cookies for Kids Cancer is a great charity. Here's a bit about them:
"Cookies for Kids' Cancer was created to raise awareness of and funds for pediatric cancer research. But it all started with a kid fighting cancer and his parents’ desire to help him and others.

When 2-year old Liam was diagnosed with a deadly form of pediatric cancer called Neuroblastoma, his family learned quickly it is a cancer that only about 30% of children survive. They were shocked to hear the reason for such terrible odds was directly related to how little money was being spent on research by both the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18. Why then is it not a priority to develop new and better treatments for the children of our nation and the world? It is this very question that prompted Liam’s mom and dad, Gretchen and Larry, to get involved and to do all they could to help save their son."

If you're not up to a bake sale or like me have no baking skill; you can buy cookies online:

The smell of a giveaway!

2010-01-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

Right now my room smells like Birthday Cake! It usually smells like hamster, but Lee's Crossroads Candles sent me a Birthday Cake reed diffuser to try! I think my family enjoys it as much as I do; considering they don't have to smell hamster in the hall. Lee's Crossroads Candles sells a huge selection of wonderful scented candles and reed diffusers. Reed diffusers can be a great alternative for somebody who is worried about fire. Other items Lee's Crossroads Candles sells areelectric candles, pillars, votives, primitive country candles, scented carpet fresheners, jelly jars, fixins, and even scented toilet paper. I love the selection of scents, they have so many to choose from. Some I think sound good are: Hot Chocolate, Apple Pie, Sugar Cookie, Fireside Embers...really, you should go take a look for yourself!

What's wonderful for my readers is Lee's Crossroads Candles is offering a giveaway here! You get your choice of item and scent from their site! So how do you enter? There's many ways (make sure to leave a different comment for each one) :

First (required) : Leave a comment of what item and scent you like best from Lee's Crossroads Candles along with your e-mail address.

Extra entries:
*Create an account at https://www.leescrossroadscandles.com/catalog/create_account.php
*Follow me on Twitter at AspergersKitty
*Follow me on Google Friend Connect

The giveaway will be closed on January 31st, 2010 at noon. The winner will be picked by random.org's random number generator.

Disclosure: I have received a free Birthday Cake reed diffuser and allowed to host a giveaway in exchange for this review.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/

One mom shares story of regret over skipping vaccine

2010-01-05T15:32:00.000-08:00

Warning: Very sad.

Paul Offit, Amy Wallace, and Conde Nast being sued!

2010-01-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/FishervOffit1.pdf<~~ Copy of suit
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=2716 <~~~ Blog article on Science Based Medicine blog about the suit.

Barbara Loe Fisher of the National Vaccine Information Center is suing Paul Offit, Amy Wallace, and Conde Nast (the publisher of Wired magazine).

Apparently, somebody publishing the truth and not bad science is grounds for being sued. What in the world? If they have such solid evidence of their vaccine theory, why do they feel the need to *sue* somebody for disagreeing with them? If their evidence is unshakable, why not publish that?

Really, this has me flabbergasted...

Check out Wired on the stands right now!

2010-01-04T17:06:00.001-08:00

The issue of Wired magazine on the stands right now has my letter printed in the Rants and Raves part!
Thank you for your article. I am autistic, and I am sick of the anti-vaccine movement. They waste time and money that could go toward helping autistics. I’d love to see Jenny McCarthy be as passionate about job training, respite care, social skill classes, and providing communication devices to poor families as she is about spouting anti-vaccine lies. It would be nice to see Generation Rescue replace its dangerous practice of promoting chelation with the practice of promoting proven safe treatments. Hopefully your article has gotten more people to understand how destructive the anti-vaccine movement is.
Brandy Nichole Wilson
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Wired Rants and Raves

Goodbye, Rain Man

2010-01-02T14:25:00.000-08:00

Laurence Kim Peek
Nov. 11, 1951 - Dec. 19, 2009
Kim Peek is best known as the inspiration for the character Raymond in the 1988 movie "Rain Man". Although the character in Rain Man is autistic, it was later determined Kim Peek is not autistic. He had savant syndrome as well a malformed cerebellum and missing corpus callosum. Kim Peek's memory amazed many in that he memorized over 10,000 books (including phone books) as well as what day of the week a date falls on. Despite his exceptional memory, tasks such as brushing his teeth and dressing himself proved to be daunting. When Kim was a baby; the doctors said he would never talk and his parents should put him away. Kim's father has spent years with his son touring to educate people about disabilities. I may not know Kim Peek personally, but I've known of him. I'm sad to hear he has passed, but I know he lived a rich life with a loving father taking care of him.

Want to win a HP 110 mini netbook?

2010-01-02T07:44:00.000-08:00

If you want to win a HP 110 mini netbook, you should go comment over at Multiple Blessings on this post:
Multiple Blessings
The netbook features Windows 7, intergrated wireless technology, a built in webcam, and so much more. It has a 10.1" display yet is 1" thin and weighs around 2.35 lbs.

The HP ll0 mini netbook costs around $329.99 but you could win one for free. Go check out the Multiple Blessings blog post to learn the details:
Multiple Blessings

The Mug & Tea Leaf interview

2010-01-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

I frequent the Online Sweepstakes message board and noticed one of the members has a shop called The Mug & Tea Leaf What really impressed me was The Mug & Tea Leaf is donating 100% of their January 2010 profits to St. Jude's and a local food bank! So I did a little Q&A to find out more.

Q: What inspired you to donate January's profits to charity?

A: We often donate to worthy causes (3, 4 times a year; around 1 time per quarter) - it is what our company is based upon - Being as green as humanly possible and charitable! We thought that to start the year off right and in positive form - why not donate the very first profits of 2010?

Q: Why did you pick St. Jude's and a food bank?

A:The economy has really taken a hit and people who were fine before have found themselves in dire situations. In our society, food is often taken for granted - as though our cabinets and refrigerators magically fill themselves at night. Food banks help those who need it with one of the most important necessities in life - healthier foods and temporary peace of mind. St. Jude's turns no one away as long as the child qualifies medically and they do not treat on the basis of the parent's ability to pay. I cannot imagine being in that position, whether or not I had the ability to pay. For a parent going through that, it must be a true beacon of hope.

Q: Could you explain the Green Tea Project?

A: The Green Tea Project is a project that started just after the company was formed. Upon buying and opening a ready-made salad at the store, we found plastic package after plastic package: one for the salad itself, one for the dressing, one for the croutons, and one for the cheese. It was a horrific waste of resources that will take eons to break down. So we formed the Green Tea Project. Basically, we made our products 100% Earth-friendly. Here are the details, starting with the outside and working in.

*Box filling - we use cute, shredded recycled lavender paper. This is very easily reused, recycled, or tossed in the compost bin.

*The box - the box your tea arrives in is attractive, durable, heavy card stock. We do not paste our name all over the box and it closes on its own - so after your tea is gone, it makes a perfect gift, keepsake, or storage box. No need to worry about it saying "The Mug and Tea Leaf" all over it - reuse it as many times as you want or use it to give a gift to someone else. If you really like our product, you won't need reminding via the box and, therefore, we've saved it from the landfill by making it 100% reusable.

*The package - the package that the tea is actually in is made of waxed paper, which easily breaks down, even in the compost heap. It keeps the tea fresh, but you don't have to worry about a plastic bag that will last forever in the dump.

*The tea bags - we believe simple is best, so our tea bags do not have a string, little tab at the end (as most do at the end of the string), or both of the staples that are usually included with the tea bag (one to hold on the string and one to keep the bag sealed). We use heat-sealable bags, making sure that extra cotton (in the string) isn't wasted, paper isn't wasted (the tab), and metals aren't wasted (or even near your tea!) using the pointless staples. Just drop in the tea bag, let sit, and retrieve with spoon or other utensil - easy peasy and a lot less waste.

*The tea itself - tea is delicious, but what do you do with it after it is done? Not only does it easily break down (it is plant matter, after all!) if you throw it away, but it is fantastic for the compost bin, potted plants, or just emptying the bags into the yard. The tea breaks down and provides essential minerals and nutrients to plants.

Q:What's your favorite product you sell?

A:My favorite product to sell is anything the customer wants to us to create. For example, a customer requested something herbal with a citrus twist and a hint of bite, so we created a lamb mint tea base with organic orange peel and a dash of black pepper. The pepper brought out the light tones of the lamb mint and the muskier tones of the organic orange peel.

Q: What made you decide to open your own business?

A:I decided to open my own business because I wanted to do something positive for the world. I did not really have dreams of being the biggest tea company in the world (they sell tea bags 100/$1, I cannot compete with that). I did want to create teas that people really enjoyed and instantly knew the quality. We painstakingly create, measure, and refine the teas to make sure you get exactly what you want. And by creating a product that customers would want, I would be able to take some of those profits and put them in the hands of the charities that truly needed them. With an eco-friendly bend, I was able to create a company that cares about both the Earth and the people that inhabit her.

Q: What is your advice for anybody else looking to start their own business?

A: If you want to start your own company - do it! People talk about writing books, losing weight, learning a new language and all that is wonderful as long as you take that first step. Be forewarned, it is hard work and it is easy to cut corners - but don't - they easily show. And do it the legal way - don't just throw up a store online and hope for the best; instead, form a company (sole proprietorship, LLC, whatever works best for you), and put all your efforts into it. Almost all the information you will ever need about business can be found online.

You can find The Mug and Tea Leaf at: www.themugandtealeaf.com
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/MugAndTeaLeaf

New year..new friend!

2009-12-31T19:20:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted! I promise in the new year to try to post more!

In the past couple of weeks, my little Hammie has gone to heaven. So...I found a new hamster friend!

His name is Brownie. He is spunky, cute, and finds paper to be tasty. Brownie is friendly and will settle down and sit with me after I play with him for a bit. I purchased him from Animal Jungle and was very impressed with the store. It was clean, the prices were reasonable, and the animals seemed happy and healthy. The employee I spoke to in the hamster section was helpful and knew a good deal about hamsters. I'd really recommend the store if you're looking into purchasing a hamster around the Hampton Roads area. (no, they did not pay me to say this, in fact they don't even know about my blog) Their website is here:
Animal Jungle

And another hamster picture just because he's cute!

Safe Sunday-What to do if your child is cyberbullied

2009-11-29T12:32:00.000-08:00

Cyberbullying is something that is serious to me.

And not just because of what is going on in the blogsphere. (scroll down to see that)

In high school, a teen who claimed to be my "best friend" ran a daily blog for 6 months that trashed me. I was so devastated when I discovered the blog that I attempted suicide.

Also, I have 4 siblings and I'd be furious to find out one of them was being cyberbullied.

What is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is...
*electronic bullying or online social cruelty, is defined as bullying:

* through email
* through instant messaging
* in a chat room
* on a website or gaming site
* through digital messages or images sent to a cellular phone

So, if you find out your child or teen is being cyberbullied; what do you do?

First, you need to gather proof. This means taking a screenshot, saving the e-mail(s), saving a log of the IM conversation, saving the text message; basically gathering as much of the proof of cyberbullying as possible. Talk in an supportive manner to your child/teen and get all the story you can from them. Reassure them this is not their fault and you will work together on this.

Now what? Well, if this is being done through school, many schools have policies against cyberbullying and will revoke computer use rights for students involved as well as possible suspension. So make an appointment ASAP with the principal and/or guidance department. Bring all of your proof.

If it is being done through Myspace, report it here: http://faq.myspace.com/app/home by going to the side and clicking "contact Myspace"

If it is on Twitter, ask your child/teen to contact the http://twitter.com/spam account.

If it is on Facebook, you need to e-mail abuse@facebook.com

If it is on a Wordpress blog, you need to report it through here: http://en.wordpress.com/report-spam/

Sadly, Blogger will NOT remove personal attacks without a court order.

If it is elsewhere, you need to look for a "report abuse" section.

Several sites I have read say is NOT a good idea to go the bully's parents first.

If your child or you are being cyberbullied and can't figure out how to report, please do e-mail me at autielady[at]live.com (replace the "[at]" with @) and I will try to assist.

Cyberbullying is not "ethical blogger" behavior!

2009-11-26T07:20:00.000-08:00

I don't normally get involved in blogger drama, but this just really irks me.

The blogger Trisha who is in charge of that shiny "Ethical Blogger" button you see apparently thinks cyber-bullying a teenager is okay. She took a "sneaky pic" of a random teenager at an airport and proceeded to insult her weight. Now I may be the one with social issues; but I'm pretty sure it's messed up and not at all ethical to be a 30 something year old making fun of a teenager.

I've been cyber-bullied as a teenager in high school and I can tell you it IS a big deal. It's not a laughing matter to a teenager. Don't we have enough teenagers doing this crap without an "ethical" mommy blogger doing it too?

Join me in boycotting MomDot. I've written to her sponsors and twittered (my twitter account is Aspergerskitty) with the hash tag #momdotsucks

ETA: Started a petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/102102/petition.html

Operation Beautiful

2009-11-14T18:48:00.000-08:00

I came across this and just have to share with my readers; it's awesome:
Operation Beautiful

Operation Beautiful is a mission to post positive post notes in random places to tell people they are beautiful. Why? Because the creator of the site is tired of Fat Talk and would like more people to have self esteem. I think it's great! The post its can say whatever but usually things like "you are beautiful"

It just takes a minute to put a post-it note somewhere, so why not?
Pic from their site

Wordless Wednesday: Ahhh...summer was too short

2009-09-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

World Alzheimer's Day

2009-09-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

Today is World Alzheimer's Day.

*According to the 2009 World Alzheimer's Report, newly released today from Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), there are 35 million people with Alzheimer's or another dementia.

Myths about Alzheimer's Disease:
Myth 1: Memory loss is a natural part of aging.

Reality: In the past people believed memory loss was a normal part of aging, often regarding even Alzheimer’s as natural age-related decline. Experts now recognize severe memory loss as a symptom of serious illness.

Whether memory naturally declines to some extent remains an open question. Many people feel that their memory becomes less sharp as they grow older, but determining whether there is any scientific basis for this belief is a research challenge still being addressed.

Myth 2: Alzheimer’s disease is not fatal.

Reality: Alzheimer's disease has no survivors. It destroys brain cells and causes memory changes, erratic behaviors and loss of body functions. It slowly and painfully takes away a person's identity, ability to connect with others, think, eat, talk, walk and find his or her way home.

Myth 3: Only older people can get Alzheimer's

Reality: Alzheimer's can strike people in their 30s, 40s and even 50s. This is called younger-onset Alzheimer's. In 2009, it is estimated that there are as many as 5.3 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. This includes 5.1 million people age 65 and over and 200,000 people under age 65 with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Myth 4: Drinking out of aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots and pans can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

Reality: During the 1960s and 1970s, aluminum emerged as a possible suspect in Alzheimer’s. This suspicion led to concern about exposure to aluminum through everyday sources such as pots and pans, beverage cans, antacids and antiperspirants. Since then, studies have failed to confirm any role for aluminum in causing Alzheimer’s. Experts today focus on other areas of research, and few believe that everyday sources of aluminum pose any threat.

Myth 5: Aspartame causes memory loss.

Reality: This artificial sweetener, marketed under such brand names as Nutrasweet and Equal, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in all foods and beverages in 1996. Since approval, concerns about aspartame's health effects have been raised.

According to the FDA, as of May 2006, the agency had not been presented with any scientific evidence that would lead to change its conclusions on the safety of aspartame for most people. The agency says its conclusions are based on more than 100 laboratory and clinical studies. Read the May 2006 FDA statement about aspartame.

Myth 6: Flu shots increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Reality: A theory linking flu shots to a greatly increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease has been proposed by a U.S. doctor whose license was suspended by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners. Several mainstream studies link flu shots and other vaccinations to a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and overall better health.

* A Nov. 27, 2001, Canadian Medical Journal report suggests older adults who were vaccinated against diphtheria or tetanus, polio, and influenza seemed to have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those not receiving these vaccinations. The full text of this report is posted on the journal’s Web site.

* A report in the Nov. 3, 2004, JAMA found that annual flu shots for older adults were associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes. The abstract of that report is posted on PubMed.

Myth 7: Silver dental fillings increase risk of Alzheimer's disease

Reality: According to the best available scientific evidence, there is no relationship between silver dental fillings and Alzheimer's. The concern that there could be a link arose because "silver" fillings are made of an amalgam (mixture) that typically contains about 50 percent mercury, 35 percent silver and 15 percent tin. Mercury is a heavy metal that, in certain forms, is know to be toxic to the brain and other organs.

Many scientists consider the studies below compelling evidence that dental amalgam is not a major risk factor for Alzheimer's. Public health agencies, including the FDA, the U.S. Public Health Service and the World Health Organization, endorse the continued use of amalgam as safe, strong, inexpensive material for dental restorations.

* March 1991, the Dental Devices Panel of the FDA concluded there was no current evidence that amalgam poses any danger.

* National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1991 funded a study at the University of Kentucky to investigate the relationship between amalgam fillings and Alzheimer's. Analysis by University statisticians revealed no significant association between silver fillings and Alzheimer's. The abstract for this study is posted on the Journal of the American Dental Association Web site.

* October 30, 2003, a New England Journal of Medicine article concluded that current evidence shows no connection between mercury-containing dental fillings and Alzheimer's or other neurological diseases. The abstract for this study is posted on the New England Journal of Medicine Web site.

Myth 8: There are treatments available to stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease

Reality: At this time, there is no treatment to cure, delay or stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. FDA-approved drugs temporarily slow worsening of symptoms for about 6 to 12 months, on average, for about half of the individuals who take them.

For more information and how to help (or to get help); visit the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org

Book Review: "Reasonable People" by Ralph Savarese

2009-08-28T00:49:00.000-07:00

I checked this book out from the local college library and boy am I glad I did!

The book is long (400+ pages) but fascinating. It's recommended by both Temple Grandin and Donna Williams.

It follows the life of Ralph Savarese and his adopted son, D.J. D.J. is a non-verbal autistic who learns to use facilitated communication. I have to admit, before I read this book I was very skeptical of facilitated communication. I figured it was a case of parents acting for the kids. Well, now I can see it isn't that in most cases. Facilitated communication isn't just somebody moving a kid's hand; it could be a simple finger on the shoulder. I really was rooting for D.J. as I read the book and was pleased that by the end he wrote a whole chapter of the book! D.J. was thought to be profoundly mentally retarded and by the end of the book he is making great grades in a regular school. I always wonder how many autistics who are labeled retarded are really just unable to communicate well enough to assess their I.Q. properly.

The other important part of the book is dealing with the abuse D.J. had from both his biological mom and while in foster care. It made me quite sad to read about this and also the attitude of the biological father. The biological father rejected D.J. because of his autism but took his "normal" sister. How sad!

I do need to warn potential readers there are parts that talk about D.J.'s abuse so if you are unable to handle stories of that it may disturb you.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this book. Perhaps it is in your local library!

Must you act that way?

2009-08-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/autism-rate-now-at-one-pe_b_256141.html
Okay, I'm fairly sure most of the readers of this blog know I don't believe in any connection between vaccines and Autism. I really didn't see anything shocking in the article. But that's not what I'm annoyed about.

Anyways, the thing that annoyed me is the attitude towards a diagnosis of Autism; especially from Lee Grossman of the Autism Society of America. Who is he helping by using such a negative attitude? I don't think the idea of more Autistic people is "terrible" or "unfortunate". What's wrong with Autistics existing? I can expect this attitude from Kirby, but a leader of an organization like the ASA should not act this way. (especially considering there are actual Autistic members of ASA)

The Master Baker

2009-08-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

Think of God as the Master Baker and us as cookies.

He has millions of cookie cutters, tons of different doughs, and infinite adornments. When He is making cookies though, he treasures even the odd pieces outside of the cookie cutter lines. He adorns these odd pieces lovingly and finds them as beautiful as the cookie cutter cookies. He never tosses out any cookies, they are all precious to Him.

Food for thought!

Specialisterne values Autistics as employees

2009-08-13T18:19:00.000-07:00

Thorkil Sonne has a son with Autism and he's the founder of a computer company. What do these have to do with each other? Well, his company Specialisterne has over 40 Autistic employees! This company acknowledges the fact that although Autistics aren't the best at interviews, they can be great employees. Also, they adapt to some of the problems facing Autistics in a workplace, like an upset in routine or sensory stimuli. Autism Europe says 62% of Autistic adults do not have jobs. Right now this company is only in Denmark, but I think it's a wonderful idea! Hey, maybe a computer company here will catch on...

Computer Company Opens Doors to Autistics

Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

Thief locks hamster in glove compartment...

2009-08-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

Hamster found locked in car of suspect in theft

Poor hamster, this idiot locked a wet, scared hamster in a 90 degree car glove compartment. The hamster was taken from treatment and the thief is being charged with cruelty. What in the world is wrong with this dude?

Prayers please!

2009-08-09T10:42:00.001-07:00

Please pray for my friend's little girl and her family. The little girl is under going experimental chemo for retinoblastoma (eye cancer). On the 12th they will know if the chemo is working. I am praying that the chemo is working, that there will be no long term side effects, and that the little girl remains the wonderful, sweet little girl she is. I'm not giving out too many personal details but I know every prayer is helpful and needed.

Also, I'd like to give a little information on retinoblastoma, so that others will know.
Retinoblastoma Info

What is it ~
Retinoblastoma is the most common eye cancer in children. It is a life-threatening cancer of the retina within the back of the eye. Retinoblastoma is generally discovered in babies between the ages of 6 and 24 months, although it can be found at earlier or later ages. Retinoblastoma occurs in approximately 1 in 15,000 live births, and it is estimated to affect approximately 250 to 300 children each year in the United States. Worldwide, about 5,000 children develop retinoblastoma
each year.

Who gets it ~
Retinoblastoma occurs equally in boys and girls and it is seen in all races. Retinoblastoma affects only one eye in about 70% of patients and it affects both eyes in 30% of patients. In some instances, there is a family history of retinoblastoma in a parent or relative, but in the majority of cases, there is no other member of the family affected with the tumor.

What causes it ~
The cause of retinoblastoma is unknown. It has not been related to nutrition, smoking, drinking, or any maternal problem during pregnancy. It is not related to environmental toxins. It can develop in an otherwise
healthy child despite a normal birth and
early development.

What does it look like ~
Retinoblastoma develops from a single affected cell in the retina and it is invisible at its inception. Later, a small white nodule is noted in the retina, but this is not visible to the parents and it does not affect the child at this point. With time, the tumor grows into a larger white vascular tumor that causes the child to painlessly lose vision and this can manifest with a drifting eye or an eye with a white or glassy-appearing pupil. At this point, the tumor is visible to the parents or grandparents and the child is typically taken to the doctor.

Autism quotes...

2009-08-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

“Autism is not a puzzle, nor a disease. Autism is a challange [sic], but certainly not a devistating [sic] one.

Autism is about having a pure heart and being very sensitive… It is about finding a way to survive in an overwhelming, confusing world… It is about developing differently, in a different pace and with different leaps.

Autistic beings develop and bloom if their spirits, talents and self-esteem are not destroyed by bullies, prejudice, ‘doggie-training’, and being forced to be ‘normal’.” ~Trisha Van Berkel

"If I could snap my fingers and be nonautistic, I would not - because then I wouldn't be me. Autism is part of who I am." ~Temple Grandin

Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen giveaway!

2009-08-05T18:46:00.001-07:00

I am pleased to announce a giveaway from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen! What lovely prize can you win, you ask? This:

What is it? It is Rebecca's handmade, cold process Big Lick Sea Salt Soap!
Here's some nifty facts about it:
*Great for both women and men
*Vegan
*Contains sea salt (known for healing)
*weighs 4oz. - 4.5oz.
*Contains an abundance of skin loving oils such as Olive and Rice Bran
*Contains both shea and cocoa butters

So how do you win this lovely prize?
*You MUST tell me what item you like best from Rebecca's Spa Deli at http://www.soapdelicatessen.com/

Extra entries:
*Grab my button (link please)
*Write a blog post about the giveaway (link please)
*Tweet about the giveaway (link please) (1 per a day)

Leave a comment for each entry!

This giveaway will end at midnight on August 31st, 2009.
If you e-mail address is not in your profile, please leave it in your comment like this: email[at]email.com

Wordless Wednesday: Alex, my sister's hamster

2009-08-05T12:27:00.000-07:00

On the lighter side...

2009-08-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

Figured with all the somewhat depressing posts, I should lighten things up with sharing some of my favorite humor blogs...

The newest one I found is Kitchen Retro; which I found through Entrecard.com Kitchen Retro has vintage/retro ads and hilarious commentary. Seriously, it's way more funny than I can explain. It's got everything from an ad for a thumb sucking prevention device that looks like a torture device to leg paint for ulcers.

Another blog I like is You Suck At Craigslist; which has an odd assortment of real Craigslist ads you wonder exactly what the people were thinking when they posted. I'd highly recommend checking out the blogs that are linked too, they are pretty funny.

Giveaway on Multiple Blessings

2009-08-04T11:45:00.001-07:00

Just a heads-up to people on gluten-free diets, my stepmom is holding a gluten-free baking giveaway on her blog; Multiple Blessings. Although we're not on a strict gluten free diet; we're experimenting with different gluten-free foods to see which ones are good tasting.

A little sad...

2009-08-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

I'm a little sad. September 1st the pet store I love and visit every week is closing at the end of the month. I really enjoy as part of my "going out" routine going there to see all the hamsters. Hamsters are my special interest and it was disappointing to hear the store is closing; the lady takes excellent care of the hamsters there. She's also friendly even though I'm sure I come across as odd and a little obsessed with hamsters. (I did tell her I'm autistic)

I hope the economy improves so more small businesses don't have to close, it is quite distressing when a store I like closes. I don't like changes in my routine.

I did pick up several books on autism at the college library; look for reviews in the weeks to come.

Measles mess, mumps misery, and rubella

2009-08-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

Here's information on what the MMR vaccine prevents. Now keep in mind by not vaccinating, these could all occur in your kid.

Measles

Symptoms usually begin 8 - 12 days after you are exposed to the virus. This is called the incubation period.

Symptoms may include:

* Bloodshot eyes
* Cough
* Fever
* Light sensitivity (photophobia)
* Muscle pain
* Rash
o Usually appears 3 - 5 days after the first signs of being sick
o May last 4 - 7 days
o Usually starts on the head and spreads to other areas, moving down the body
o Rash may appear as flat, discolored areas (macules) and solid, red, raised areas (papules) that later join together
o Itchy
* Redness and irritation of the eyes (conjunctivitis)
* Runny nose
* Sore throat
* Tiny white spots inside the mouth (Koplik's spots)

Complications:
Diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures, and death

Approximately 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complications. These complications are more common among children under 5 years of age and adults over 20 years old.

Measles causes ear infections in nearly one out of every 10 children who get it. As many as one out of 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, and about one child in every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis. (This is an inflammation of the brain that can lead to convulsions, and can leave your child deaf or mentally retarded.) For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die from it. Measles can also make a pregnant woman have a miscarriage, give birth prematurely, or have a low-birth-weight baby.

Treatment:
*No treatment, but can be prevented by the MMR vaccine
MedlinePlus

Mumps

Mumps is an illness caused by the mumps virus. Mumps causes

* Fever
* Headache
* Muscle aches
* Tiredness
* Loss of appetite
* Swelling of the salivary glands

Serious problems are rare, but can include deafness; swelling of the brain, spinal cord, testicles, breasts or ovaries; and pregnancy loss.
Treatment:
*No treatment but can be prevented by MMR vaccine
MedlinePlus

Rubella
Symptoms:
* Fever
* Headache
* Malaise
* Bruising (rare)
* Inflammation of the eyes (bloodshot eyes)
* Muscle or joint pain
Treatment:
*Patients can take acetaminophen to reduce fever.
No other treatment, but can be prevented by MMR vaccine
MedlinePlus

Oh goodie...

2009-08-01T15:29:00.001-07:00

Get out the pitchforks and torches if you're part of the anti-vaccine mob...

Mercury doesn't cause autism. But there's still a bunch of people who refuse to accept this. So...we're going to be hearing for years I'm sure about "The Swine Flu vaccine gave my kid autism!"

Yes, the new swine flu vaccine will have Thimerosal.
Swine Flu Vaccine Contains Thimerosal

The response should be "So?" but I'm sure it'll be mass hysteria for years.

Please people, be rational. Who is more likely to be telling the truth about mercury....doctors and scientists OR a supermodel, lawyers, and a discredited doctor? I'm going to go with the doctors and scientists.

Autistics might be...

2009-07-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

At the store, can you spot the autistic person?

They might be shopping with an aide for groceries...
They might be buying a gift for their daughter's first birthday...
They might be stocking the shelves...
They might be the owner of the store...
They might be buying their wife a 20th anniversary gift...
They might greet you warmly on your way in...

You just really don't know!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

Pets and Autism

2009-07-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

Animals and Autistics seem to be a match made in heaven. Now, I'm not saying every Autistic is going to be like Temple Grandin and have her incredible ability to understand cows and other large animals. But animals don't pose the same things that cause problems when Autistics interact with humans. Animals couldn't care less if you remember to say "Hi, how are you?". Animals have their own rules, but they are a lot easier to figure out than humans! For example, my best friend is this hamster:

It's easy to figure out her mood. If she's chattering her teeth and ears are flat; she's upset. If she's got her ears up and is running around; she's happy. Eyes closed mean she's sleeping. There's no complicated hidden agenda, she'll never bully me, and the worse thing she can do is bite me. (which she usually doesn't)

I felt very proud to follow instructions on how to add onto her cage and was pleased at the end result (mainly because it made her happy!)

For me, she is also a bit of a sensory outlet. I love to watch her run around; especially spinning in her wheel. I like the little noises she makes and her wheel's steady noise. It's wonderful to pet her and hold her. (I'll give warning though, hamsters are not always pets that like to be held; Hammie just happens to be one that does)

So, I think animals can bring a lot of benefits to anybody with Autism, just consider the person carefully and do your research on what kind of animal you are considering. Also consider if the animal might scare somebody, because I know large dogs can scare me.

New home..same blog

2009-07-26T19:11:00.000-07:00

This is the new home of More Than A Number. Why? Well, because WordPress is much harder to work with than Blogger. It's still the same blog, just new features.

You can see my old blog at:
www.morethananumber.wordpress.com