Musings and What-not

Barring any glandular problems, solving this major "issue", whose stats have tripled in the last 30 years, isn't as challenging as most people think. Back in my day, watching television was a treat. Chores had to be done, and I had to entertain myself  outside before I was even permitted to plop my hindparts on the sofa and veg out on whatever was happening on the boob tube. I was also only permitted an hour or two, if that. But times have changed...

Labels, labels, labels! As a species, we label everything. We label people, things, and experiences. Maybe (or maybe not) that's just how life is in a world of polarities . But, labeling people can often cause pain, frustration, anger, and even, resentment.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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}

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.

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 am humbled... and speechless by the author's review. I received my copy of Adonya Wong 's book In My Mind...The World through the Eyes of Autism in the mail today. The timing couldn't have been better. A rainy day, one child inside... Read on and you'll understand why.

This slide show does an amazing job explaining what took place on December 16, 2008!  I was proud to be part of it!  It was an amazing day! Thank you, PF Anderson, for putting this together!  Bravo! The rest of you... enjoy! [slideshare id=855621&doc=asdautismtwitterday-1229572866190311-2&w=425]

My son LOVES him some Bob Marley!  Seriously! Now, some of you probably turned your nose up when you read that, and that's okay.  I'm thinking you probably don't know much about Bob or his music, and that's okay too. Allow me to shed some light on that which you do not know... Bob makes my son sing... at the top of his lungs and with emotion! Bob makes my son sway to the beat! Bob encourages my son to read.  If there are lyrics in the album cover, my son can be found reading them. And I credit Bob for much of the spontaneous speech that my son has spoken this year. Here's a little more of that which you probably do not know. Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited for helping spread Jamaican music to the worldwide audience. The compilation album, Legend , released in 1984, three years after his death, is the best-selling reggae album ever (10 times platinum [ 3 ] ), with sales of more than 12 million copies. Mar...

I love perusing the net and discovering new "green" sites! Last night, hub and I were watching Focus Earth with Bob Woodruff on Discovery's Planet Green, and we learned about Enviromom.com and their green efforts. What a pair these two moms are.  Their blog is chocked full of amazing information!  They even offer a Master Recycler course which is worth exploring if you're just starting out. Living in Oklahoma, we lovers of the earth quickly discover that not all plastics are created equal.  A fact that frustrates me every time I put our recycling out. Now, you're probably thinking you're being pretty eco-friendly simply because you switched from petroleum-based plastics to corn-based, right? I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but corn ain't much better. In Enviromom.com 's own words... Corn-based plastics are still disposable products, which is pretty much the main reason neither Renee nor I like them. Here are some other reasons: Creati...