Autism Blogger - The Online Autism Support Group

YOU WHO TODD

Cindy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:22:35 -0500

For some reason my last post showed up twice, SORRY. I tried to remove it ugh.

HIT CLEAR AT THE GAS PUMP... came from a reliable source

Cindy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:22:00 -0500

A co-worker used her credit/debit card to purchase gas at the pump (like most of us do). She received her receipt like normal. However, when she checked her statement, there were 2 $50 charges added in addition to her purchase. Upon investigation, she found out that because she did not press the 'clear' button on the pump, the employee inside the store was able to use her card to purchase his/her own gas! To keep this from happening, after you get your receipt, you must press the 'CLEAR' button or your information will be stored until the next customer inserts their card. Be sure to tell all your friends/family so that this doesn't happen to them!

I MISUNDERSTOOD APPARENTLY

Cindy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:16:30 -0500

I thought they found that young man but I guess I was wrong =(

WWE and Jenny McCarthy SmackDown Autism

Todd Fugere — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:17:18 -0500

Jenny McCarthy and Generation Rescue will take their fight against Autism to a WWE ring during Saturday Night's Main Event(R: 70.21, -4.88, -6.49%) on August 2, 2008 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

"Many of our viewers have children or friends who are affected by autism and the WWE is committed to helping fund programs for families in need and advancing research that will help this generation of children," said WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.

Throughout the show, WWE Superstars will encourage viewers to donate their time and money to better educate themselves on the subject of autism. Beginning the week of July 21, www.wwe.com will offer news and information from Generation Rescue on autism and promoting autism awareness.

"I love the WWE and when Vince McMahon called me and said he wanted to join the fight and help families suffering with autism I was really excited," said actress and best-selling author Jenny McCarthy. "Who better to have on your side in a fight than WWE?"

Generation Rescue is a parent-founded, parent-led organization of more than 450 mentor families and leading researchers and clinicians from around the globe. Generation Rescue's mission is to continue to discover and share the truth with families about the potential cause of their child's neurological disorders so they can focus on effective treatments. Additional information about Generation Rescue can be found at www.generationrescue.org.

How Adults Cope With Autism In The Workplace

Todd Fugere — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:14:41 -0500

Alex Ashkar is a model employee at the Bull Run coffee roasters. And he has autism.

"You know, its one thing to have somebody who works well, but it's also something to have someone whom you like," said Bull Run owner Greg Hoyt.

At Bull Run, Ashkar's autism is a non-issue. He typically works in the packaging department putting stickers on the boxes of coffee and taping them shut.

For Ashkar, finding meaningful work has been a lesson in understanding his limits. His first job at a local retailer didn't work out.

"They had him in a situation where he ended up working in isolation, you know, just straightening the cans, making sure that they're all facing the right way," said Alex's father Sean Ashkar.

For Alex Ashkar, a true people person, it wasn't a good match. So his family turned to Partnership Resources Incorporated, a nonprofit agency helping people with autism and other developmental disabilities find work.

With autism rates on the rise, PRI finds they are helping a lot more people who have the disorder.

"In the old days, you maybe would have out of 10, one or two. And now today, in 2008, we have eight out of 10 are on the autism spectrum, and that presents a whole different set of challenges and opportunities for us," said PRI's Dan Reed. "There's absolutely no reason they can't be extremely successful and happy in the community."

Through PRI, adults with autism or other developmental disabilities are set up with a job coach whose only job is to see that the worker succeeds. The coach devises supports that help supplement their skills, such as the counting board Alex's job coach created to keep track of how many bags of coffee go in a box. read more »

Autism: Where's the Support?

Todd Fugere — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:12:30 -0500

There is a family down the street whom I envy.

I've never met them. They live in a two-story white house - a mother, a father and their grown son. Outside is a trimmed yard with rosebushes and a wooden arbor where the men work on weekends.

The dad, who looks to be near 60, pushes a wheelbarrow or carries a set of shears. The son could be 20 - the age of my oldest child - or 40. He is a short, egg-shaped man. He walks behind his father, carrying large shovels and bags of dirt and the like. He works tirelessly, from what I can see, and talks most of the time.

On weekdays, when I am taking my youngest child to school, I sometimes see him holding a cloth lunch bag and boarding a small bus. I imagine that at work he is as cheerful and productive as he appears to be with his father on Sunday afternoons.

The fact that this man has Down syndrome is clear. He has the telltale almond-shaped eyes and short limbs. I know that he could suffer from any number of medical conditions, from heart defects to epilepsy, and that his cognitive functioning is probably impaired.

Still, I envy his parents. read more »

My Greatest Fear

CJ — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:05:13 -0500

My son, Ryan, has followed a friend in running away and I have no way of contacting him. I am contacting any and all of my online communities in an attempt to get the word and pictures out every way possible.

This community probably understands better than any others how scary this is with an Asperger's child. I haven't gone over what to do if you find yourself in the middle of Montana, with no money, no cell phone, etc. I don't even know if he will apply what I have taught him to this new and probably chaotic environment.

If anyone has any ideas on how to push this news around the Internet more, please do it. I have so far done two news releases, they are at http://blackhillsportal.com/npps/story.cfm?id=2696 and http://blackhillsportal.com/npps/story.cfm?ID=2697.

Carolyn

HELLO DOLLY

Cindy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:14:56 -0500

Wont be long now.

DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER

Cindy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:50:30 -0500

My husband bought us a digital voice recorder the other day at Walmart for $35. This isnt it, I

got this pic off the internet. It's helping Marcel to babble more. Not bad for the money & it

holds something like a thousand hours of audio.

My Hubby Took This One - It Must've Been Especially for Cindy

Perseverence — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:00:37 -0500

"We must teach our children to dream with their eyes open."

Harry Edwards