Musings and What-not

It is hard to find someone who is not familiar with the catchy, foot stompin', butt shakin', '90s tune by Right Said Fred .  You know the one... where the megalomaniac lead singer is prancing about the video talking about how he's too sexy for this and that? Well, the catwalk's got a new gig, and it is "shakin' its little tushy" for autism.

It is common for a person with autism to have certain food allergies.  And it is also common, within the community, for those individuals to be on very restrictive diets; the more popular being GFCF (Gluten-free Casein-free). Although, precautionary measures are taken to ensure one does not consume foods containing any triggers, some thought may not be given to whether or not the allergen-free foods are manufactured by companies who do not use genetically modified ingredients.

According to a recent article , 70% of doctors and nurses and 62% of health care workers do NOT receive this annual vaccination.  What's even more surprising is their reasons for not doing so: They didn't believe the vaccine would work They believed their immune systems were strong enough to withstand exposure to the flu They were concerned about side effects My son has never received the vaccine, and it's not because of the vaccine-autism "link".  I just never

With so many people and organizations trying to rid the world of autism, those of us who are do not think along these lines feel a sense of urgency for the greater need to raise positive awareness. While others are seeking for acceptance in how they were born, others simply want to ensure that autism is no longer part of their lives. To eradicate something that defines, in many ways, who a person is and how they interact with the world is what some scientists, researchers, and parents are attempting to do at an alarming rate.

Like autism, ADHD has become a common diagnosis among youth.  There are currently 5 million children in America living with the disorder, and the "symptoms" can be exacerbated due to lack of treatment (i.e. medication, dietary restrictions, behavioral therapy, etc.). And like autism, ADHD also affects boys more often then girls. What is ADHD? Almost all children have behavior issues from time to time. But, for children with ADHD, behavior problems are persistent and occur over a long period of time. For a child with ADHD, their symptoms can create challenges all day, every day.

A medical diagnosis, of any kind, can be life-altering.  A life that once offered some measure of stability would now be forever changed. In 2005, our family received two blows to our way of living.  That April, my son was diagnosed with autism, and a few months later, my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. What is very interesting about the two disorders is they both affect a person’s neurodevelopment; however, the affects are experienced at the opposite ends of a person’s life.  While autism affects the youth and how they interact with the world, Alzheimer’s typically affects the elderly (over 65) and, ultimately, their interaction with the world outside.

Traveling can be challenging. Enter your neighborhood airport, and you’ll be faced with long security lines, crowded concourses, uncomfortable waiting areas, and once you’ve dealt with that, there’s still the hustle and bustle of trying to get in your seat without being ran over by other passengers seeking to do the same. Now, if you’re a person with autism, the challenge is dealing with this seemingly chaotic situation without having a meltdown.

Autism doesn’t have a "look". Down Syndrome, Spinal Bifida, and Cerebral Palsy all have one thing in common. They have a "look". When you encounter a person with one of these different abilities, you can see their uniqueness. However, if you were to encounter a person with autism, you wouldn’t know that there was more to them than what you see, and for some observers, seeing is believing.

I am often asked about how Nicholas "deals with change", and my response regularly receives raised brows for he adjusts pretty well to the new and unfamiliar.  His hand flapping may be briefly exacerbated, but the smile never leaves his face. While traveling to California which happened to be nearly a 1,500-mile drive, unlike a neurotypical child, I didn't hear, "Are we there yet?' nor did I hear sighs of anguish for being stuck in a car longer than 2 minutes.  What I did hear was laughter, singing, or silence whenever I spied him in deep thought or simply taking in the scenery.

You're probably getting tired of me always plugging Twitter , but I can't help myself!  The place rocks! A couple of weeks ago, one of my Tweeps approached me to review an auditory calming system manufactured by his company, B-CalmSound.com ! I'm all for testing new gadgets, so I said, "Yes!" At first glance, the system just looks like your average mp3 player, but it's the sound tracks that deliver the gifts.

I have been very fortunate to have met some pretty amazing people on Twitter .  There is one person who I've only recently had contact with that I find extremely fascinating.  His name is Michael Riedel, and he is an adult living on the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Michael contacted me via my book site, and we've been communicating almost daily ever since.  He is 25, gainfully employed, and has many interests.

The odds of a couple living in marital bliss aren't as high when you're living with autism.  Reports have stated that the divorce rate is a staggering 80% . Some would say that the diagnosis is too overwhelming while others say that the marriage foundation wasn't solid to begin with, and autism was the catalyst to "part ways". My situation doesn't fall into either category as I was a single mother for years before I met my husband, and I was not married to his biological father.  Although, we have not been married long, we have, nonetheless, come to an impasse.

There's World Autism Awareness Day and National Autism Awareness Month , but for those of us living with autism, raising awareness is an every day thing. As the number of children being diagnosed with autism continues to rise so will the need to raise awareness. Autism is not just a disorder that affects only American children.   Autism is global! There are approximately 67 million people living with autism today, and this number only includes those who have received an official diagnosis.

This is the title of a DVD by Abraham-Hicks .  The subtitle is Children in the Time of Awakening . A Twitter friend, @AffirmingSpirit , told me about this video by way of a DM (direct message).  I've enclosed it at the end of this post for your own viewing. After watching this excerpt, I became immediately interested in seeing the whole video, so I bought it.

There was a time in my life when I felt that I didn't need anyone ! I was raised to "think for myself" and "do for myself" which at the time seemed a bit harsh.  I mean was I really to go through life not accepting or even desiring the help of others? Well, it has taken me a huge chunk of this life to realize that 'that way' of thinking isn't always the healthiest way of thinking. I am stubborn, almost unrelenting in my stance, and this bad programing has, at times, caused me more harm than good.

If I wasn't in a constant state of "guarding my thoughts carefully, and only allowing loving & positive thoughts to come through", I would have something slightly unpleasant to say about the state that is listed on my birth certificate. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that insurance companies in California would have to pay for speech, occupational, and physical therapies.

This is the headline from an online paper. I am literally devoid of feeling right now.  My mind is completely blank, yet I am typing this post. I am at a loss for words and emotion because this story is so incredulous that it seems surreal.  This story reminds me of a  Twilight Zone or Tales from the Crypt episode... gone horribly wrong. However, I am very confident that justice will prevail.  It is my hope that the Bells will be able to find a

Although, I obtained my BA, I was never one for sororities.   However, life sure is funny because I now find myself part of a sorority I don't remember joining yet I am very grateful for the sisterhood. To You, My Sisters By Maureen K. Higgins Many of you I have never even met face to face, but I've searched you out every day. I've looked for you on the Internet, on playgrounds and in grocery stores.

Some Oklahomans won't ever get it, but here's hoping they will. I can understand some of their concerns, but it would have been really nice if these "lawmakers" had actually taken the time to hear the bill. It would have been nice if they had taken the time to review the laws of the states that have already passed similar laws. It would have been nice, but I guess nice isn't part of their vocabulary.

I haven't been taking the time to smell the roses lately, and life is quickly passing me by. Soon, my prince will be 8 years, and I don't want to be left wandering where the years went.  I want to be the parent who can account for practically every blessed moment. I have thoroughly enjoyed blogging, but I have also allowed this little activity to consume much of my time.  Although, I am an excellent mutli-tasker, I have let my online activities get the better of me.

Disclaimer: My son is homeschooled (son as in I only have one child).  I just found this video to be really funny since this is how most people in our society "see" homeschooling families. Thanks to @MrsChico for the heads up!

My husband and I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma as our health insurance provider.  Now, some of you may have groaned when you read that since BCBS isn't known, by some, as being the best provider. Then again, some of you may have cheered because you absolutely love BCBS, and you wouldn't leave your health benefits in some other provider's hands, so to speak. If you haven't been living under a rock, you've probably heard about parents demanding autism benefits from health insurance companies.  Just Google "autism health insurance", and you'll get 1.5M pages to check out.

As a mother to a child with autism, I am already very careful about what my son does and does not consume.  However, there was some recent news that I found deeply disturbing. I have often said that there is more to the extreme rise in childhood disorders these days, particularly autism, than just vaccines. You already know my stance on other contributing factors such as our severe environmental changes and other toxic and unnecessary food additives.

As you all know, I was pretty busy the last 10 days globe trottin' around the web all in the name of autism . I had the pleasure of "visiting" several blogs, forums, and organizational sites to not only promote my new book, In My Mind , but also to discuss life with autism. Hosts, from all over, took the virtual book tour as an opportunity to "interview" me and learn more about me.

Update: I know this is Wordless Wednesday, but I wanted everyone to know that this picture is the logo of a great blog called, you guessed it, Autism is beautiful !

Last night, I got all serious and what-not, I mean really serious, and I thought I'd keep the tone of tonight's post... light-hearted. I'd like to tell you more about an organization I'm involved with. No, it isn't some underground movement whose dastardly plan is world domination... although, that would be pretty cool. {wink}

Disclaimer: The quotes within this post are not for the sensitive. Another week has passed, and most of it seems like a blur to me now.   I've been so busy with my virtual book tour that it almost feels like I've been online, all day, every day of this week. Regardless, I still have blogging to do that doesn't have a thing to do with my tour. So, let's get on with it... shall we? This week's Freaky Friday post goes to a young woman named Tanja (Koch) Fleischer who, much to my chagrin, waged a flaming war against autism last summer.

Folks who know me pretty well know that I've been "searching" for ways to be "at peace" with my yesterdays of many days gone by as well as "searching" for ways that will alleviate my "need-to-know-what-is-yet-to-come" ... right now. I cannot tell you how many books or CDs or podcasts or web bookmarks I have that offer up the information I seek. I also cannot tell you why I have been unable to connect with this information that is so readily available to me.

Folks who know me pretty well know that I've been "searching" for ways to be "at peace" with my yesterdays of days gone by as well as "searching" for ways that will alleviate my "need-to-know-what-is-yet-to-come" ... right now.

Some day, autism resources will be bountiful and waiting lists will be a thing of the past, and we'll gather 'round, holding hands, rejoicing and singing the Age of Aquarius while sun rays beam out of our butts. Until that day comes, parents like me will have to keep walking the walk! I had a brief conversation with @ CemeterySpot on Twitter this morning... he was curious about whether or not there was a list that compared autism services by state.  Excellent question for someone not living with it.

The title of this blog, which was also a groovy tune back in my heyday, rings loudly in my head whenever I read something about autism so incredulous that it makes the blood in my veins practically freeze. {Note to self... really need to get crack-a-lackin' on that meditation practice before said self kills over from those things that are not supposed to get to me.  Self?  Are you listening?  Breathe in... breathe out!} The other day, one of my internet autism buddies told me about another blogger's post that, for the first time since its debut, had brought up the subject of "autism".

There isn't a whole lot that I can say about the emotions I felt after watching this video. Every time I watch it feels like the first time. This song is just another way people are raising awareness for autism... in a positive way. The artist does not blame or point fingers... this song is just his way of sharing with the world how his life has been touched by autism.

I don't know why eyebrows raise whenever I mention that a portion of my book's proceeds benefit the Tulsa Autism Foundation . Apparently, donating a portion of one's royalty fundage isn't something you hear a first-time author doing.  And from the looks of things, most well-established authors don't partake in this little activity either. Why is that?

Wow, 40 years have come and gone!  Where did the time go? Although, I've only been 41 for two days, I feel as if I've reached a pivotal point in this journey called life.

This post is in response to an email I received from a friend! I've been asked about my thoughts regarding the passing of John Travolta's beloved first born, Jett, and I believe I was asked because there is broad speculation that he "had" autism.

As I strolled along the exhibit halls, admiring the impressive art collection of Thomas Gilcrease , the silence, that is prevalent in museums, was broken several times due to my son's scripting . One would think that a museum wouldn't be a ideal choice of parent to a child on the spectrum, but I feel that he deserves the same intellectual stimulation as the next person. We've visited several museums over the years, but it was today that I learned a very big lesson. After several "Shhhhhhh"s and "hands down", my husband decided to get him to read the labels associated with each art piece.  I noticed that his behavior was immediately calmer.  The scripting was gone as was the flailing.  Additionally, he was also actively engaged while viewing a short documentary about the "birth of the western film".  Something I didn't think would interest him in the least. I learn something new every day... thank goodness! Thanks to the Americans with Disab...

I am working on being a parent who educates first and reacts second. Too often, I read or hear about a parent apologizing for their child's disability/disorder, and I just want to jump on the nearest plane, fly to their town, and lay the smackdown on the person that messed with their child. Of course, it is only minutes later when I remember that this approach has and will continue to get us, the dis abled community absolutely nowhere. But I do wonder why parents feel the need to apologize, especially to people who are rude, condescending, and ignorant. I mean who really should be "apologizing"? The special needs child who may not understand that certain behavior could be deemed inappropriate and/or disruptive or the adult who is oblivious to the fact that they are not interacting with a neurotypical ( NT ) child? Or... Are apologies even warranted? Another thing I think too much about is discipline. As parents to special needs children, are we not to discipline them?  Is...

I don't know about you, but I used to love me some Bangles!

2009 is the year I've decided to add some flair to my blogginess .  People... I've decided to vlog. I feel that, sometimes, words get lost in translation when posting a traditional post, especially when the reader is unable to see the writer's body language or hear the intonations in their voice.  I figured vlogging would be a nice touch, and also allow you to get to know me... visually. Lordy, lordy!  Hope my visualness doesn't bust your monitor.  ;-) So, stay tuned, folks, for the first edition coming to a monitor near you... sooner than you think!

Join author, Adonya Wong, as she trots around the globe for autism , visiting various websites and blogs during her first-ever virtual book tour! She will be sharing her thoughts on living with autism, writing, getting published, and future works.  In addition to these interviews, you can read reviews of In My Mind and listen to an audio interview by Autism Hangout. Adonya's "Globe Trottin' for Autism" VBT begins January 19 and ends January 29. In My Mind creatively explores, through the form of a children’s picture book, the inner world of an autistic child… the world no one else seems to see.   From exciting adventures to silly games and conversations with a range of imaginary friends, the main character of the story, inspired by her son, Nicholas, brings readers into his world to demonstrate how a child with autism sees the world, and, in turn, how the world often sees a child with autism. Additionally, In My Mind isn’t about defining autism by her own experien...