The Autism Retort Blog

Hi Everyone!

 My family and I are moving to the Dallas area the first week in July. We haven't rented anything yet because we decide where to move to. I was hoping to get some opinions. My son is 4 1/2  and his main issues are with speech, transitions, and concentration (in that order). We are looking at Plano, Richardson, Frisco, and McKinney. We want him to get the BEST public education he can. (we looked at park cities but can't afford anything there)...Which Dallas area city has the best special needs programs? Is it any of the above? Somewhere else? Let me know your opinion.

Thank you so much!

Heather

I have never blogged before, but after breaking down so much and desperately needing support and not having time to go to a group I decided to find a website. Heres a quick version of our story. My son is 5 years old and has autism. He was diagnosed a year and a half ago. and since we have had ongoing nonstop therapy, he has become less challenging since starting therapys. I would say my son has less severe autism, we also have 3 other children. Girls.  

Here is my challenge, I have no support from anyone except my husband and that is once in a while. Others, say oh he is just fine. i cant tell if they are trying to make me feel better or if they truely believe my son is neurotypical. i try to talk to people to vent my frustration and get feedback but i feel so alone. with all the children in the world diagnosed one would think connecting with another autism / aspergers parent would be easy. It is not.

I have been a stay at home mom since my son was born, he was the 3rd child and my paychecks would have ended up going towards childcare, so my husband and I decided on me staying home, since i have gone back to school and am now working part time, I feel so guilty about being away from my son. I feel that if I am gone he is going to regress. Has any working parent went through this? how did things go? We have a lady and her niece from church that babysits for us whenever we them to. she is the only one who will tollerate my son and the only one besides me that my son will stay with.

along with working, I am tending to my house and family, and still bringing my son to all his therapys. i am running on empty. I actually just got over a bout of shingles that is how stressed my body is.

along with my son having autism he also has a mild form of cystic fibrosis, which we have a lot of dr. visits for also and testing here and there.  read more »

My name is Heather Patin and I just recently launched a new company in Los Angeles to provide services for children with Autism. It is a unique company because it provides a variety of services, not just ABA, that are tailored to your child's needs. I do everything from behavioral therapy to play therapy. I encorporate occupational thereapy, speech therapy, school readiness, relationship development intervention, and more! I provide a potty training service, IEP support services, and I even do private swim lessons!

Please check out my website at http://www.abckinderspeak.com.

KinderSpeak was also featured on the news!
ABC7: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=8090181                                                                            
KTLA: http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/?watchId=89ea3abe-c398-4661-8ade-4d4f190d83cb

Newsletter: http://cl.publicaster.com/ViewInBrowser.aspx?pubids=8252|86|89513|87619&digest=sDOvG%2Fatvvxkw%2FvFVi+w4Q&sysid=1

A little late, but I just opened my newsletter from Safminds and received the news that Poul Thorsen, the principal coordinator of multiple studies funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used to deny a vaccine/autism link was indicted on April 13th on 13 counts of fraud and 9 counts of money laundering. The charges relate to funding for work he conducted for the CDC, which claimed to disprove associations between the mercury-based vaccine preservative, thimerosal, and increased rates of autism. It was shenanigans like this that prompted me to write my latest novel.

I am donating proceeds from the sale of the book back to Safeminds. Link is:

http://www.athinplacenovel.com/A_Thin_Place_Novel/Safeminds.html

Hello,

I am the mother of an autistic son, one undiagnosed Aspie, and have Asperger's myself.

I am trying find parents of Autistic children willing to donate pictures of "Autism Triumphs"--that does NOT mean that your child has to be a savant, or accomplish anything incredible....like Temple Grandin.  I'm looking for regular every day kids.  I remember the first time my son said "Mum" was the most wonderful day.  I'd need for you to be willing to give some back story as well--with both neg & pos clear images to show your child's progression.  The movie will be subtitled and I can either include or omit your names--it's completely up to you.  I've listed a link below for a video I just produced that was done in a similar fashion.  The title is a little brash, but it does get attention.  Another video I've produced has been picked up by a local web/news service, and another I edited for my company "Vintage Vixens" that shows the "smoke & mirrors" of Hollywood glam--has also been picked up by a Hollywood website.  Below is a link to both my video(s) and my website.

Although I intend to use the song "Unwritten," as long as it isn't used for anyone's gain, monetary or otherwise, and just for 'charitable' purposes...there shouldn't be a problem.(in case you're wondering)  It will be posted to my YouTube account, just as my other videos have been without problem or complaint. They can be uploaded by anyone, as well as posted to websites.  read more »

Hi everyone,

This is a really wonderful event happening in NC that is highly recommended for parents and doctors. The coordinators are a group of wonderful people looking to offer tons of information on helping improve your children’s autism and offering support, information, and relaxation for parents. There will be everything from lectures by doctors, nutritional information and cooking, yoga, relationship workshops and more all in a beautiful picturesque surrounding in North Carolina. The event is early June and HIGHLY recommended for anyone one of you who can use a truly inspiring, uplifting experience that will give you productive new tools to help you in your day to day life.  Find out more at  yourhealingretreat dot com

   read more »

I recently got a question from a Twitter Follower: “Is there a specific reason you prefer ‘my autistic 12-year-old’ versus ‘my 12-year-old with autism’?”

Yes. "Thank you for the note," I replied. "I've long considered your point interesting, especially since I've heard that the adjective isn't viewed as positively as the phrase 'with autism'."

A pretentious beginning, but the right tone...

more is at jeffslife.tripod.com/alextheboy

This is my first day as a blogger (of sorts).  I have four children and the middle two are autistic.  Aubrey (my daughter) is four and has severe autism along with her other atypical autism diagnosis.  Zachary (my son) is two and has mild autism and is high functioning.  Both are speech impaired.  The realm of autism is still new to me and my wife.  It is hard to assilimate and difficult to adjust to.

*disclaimer: I am not criticizing the methods by which other parents discipline their children, only stating my personal philosophy and what works for us

I have learned over the years that the most effective strategies in managing Bennett's behaviors involve a lot - and I mean A LOT - of positive reinforcement and simply ignoring the "bad stuff." I also can see a situation escalating and know how to diffuse it with little attention given to the meltdown. Of course, this didn't happen overnight and has taken years and years of practice. One approach I have never embraced is corporal punishment. Why? Well, a child with limited social skills is taught that such treatment of another is somehow acceptable. I know another mom who routinely spanks her autistic son and I say nothing. Who am I to judge? I just know that yeah, he's only five now but wait until he's sixteen when he's bigger and stronger than most people who work with him. My worst fear is Bennett committing an assault without understanding the consequences and ending up in law enforcement custody.

So, I lavishly praise him when he's doing what I want, even something as simple as "Great job using your spoon!" or "Awesome sitting in your chair!" I try to rarely raise my voice and be hostile as I believe that feeds the cycle of negativity and only makes things worse. However, there is ONE SINGLE THING that will get me aggressively screaming six inches from his face, and that's when he hurts his little brother.

Which brings us to this afternoon. We were on our way home and he would not leave his little brother alone. Taking his juice, taking his book, unbuckling the seatbelt on his car seat, putting his hand over his mouth if he tried to talk (which is a whole other issue I'll probably talk about later in a different post) and finally, the last straw, pulling his hair and pinching him.  read more »

My 4 year old daughter seems to make the holidays more stressful and with Easter coming tomorrow we are going to my brother in laws for Easter. I know that within 30 minutes of being there she will be throwing such a temper tantrum that we will have to leave and I hate doing that to my other two children. But at the same time I know it's very aggravating to the entire family when she is throwing these fits and nobody wants to deal with it, I am the only one that does. Dad steps in when I ask him to, but I am the one that has the harder time with her so I try to do what I can without bringing somebody else into it. I feel like I'm the only one who knows what it's like to deal with her and the way she behaves, and it's like NOBODY, especially our family and friends, understands just how hard, draining, stressful and turbulent it can be. I feel like I'm vanishing half the time because I'm so stressed from it and tired constantly from fighting with her ALL the time. Is there anything I can do to make her behavior a bit better around the holidays?