Autism Blogger - The Online Autism Support Group

MOTHER, Can you spare a dime? or rather £450.00?

autistmum — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:04:06 -0400

Autism Ulster/Autism NI together with an events company are organising an autism conference for July 2010 in Belfast (after a full month online, the link to the conference is today, inaccessible (under construction) - maybe AutismNI read this blog and are rearranging their fee schedule to make the conference accessible to parent/carers?)

If you have £450.00 to spare, you can attend this two day event. If you book early or if you are selected to present a plenary session you will save £100.00. I do not understand why AutismNI/AutismUlster with their 24 staff had to hire an events company to organise this conference as surely that many staff should be able to prepare a conference with ease. They are after all 'autism experts'. I expect that the fundraising efforts from parents like these (see: eyhttp://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/2617/Mum-tells-of-daily-battle.5280054.jp) will help AutismNI/AutismUlster pay the bills from the events company and more. read more »

$10 off Coupon for Adult Weighted Blankets at Cozy Calm

Cozy_Calm — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:21:14 -0400

$10 off coupon for adult weighted blankets at http://www.cozycalm.com

Good for any twin, long twin, double, or queen size. Yes, we have grown-up colors!

Expires July 31, 09

Discount Coupon Code: July10-A

Go to www.CozyCalm.com

I hope you like them!

--Eileen.

Sleeping

acorn2tree — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:24:59 -0400

I tried Issac on the melatonin and 1 mg at 10:30 gives him a bedtime of 12. 2mg at 10:30 gives him a bedtime of 11. Thane however is still getting up at 5:30. Since it is daylight, it is hard to argue with him, but man I wish I could. I do not know if giving him any melatonin at that time would work or not. And how long would he be asleep? Guess I will have to try it and find out.

The kids and I made a screen door yesterday. We built the wood frame and put the screen (actually it is a wire mesh) on and then installed a handle. We put it on the patio door because the boys have a hard time remembering to shut the door behind them there. This door swings shut just like a normal screen door. It works great. We had a good time making it.

Issac took the light out on my front porch, took it out in the grass and stepped on it. He then had to have 2 bandaids. I can't get him to stop breaking lightbulbs, or tearing up mattresses. I need to call the lady who is sewing up the mattress cover and ask her her estimate on when she will have that done. Hopefully soon. Issac tore up his jammy shirt last night and started on the mattress, but left it alone when I told him too. He got up this morning and tried again to tear into it. I moved it into Mallie's room and locked the door.

Nothing happened at Scott's court date. They have set another one for Sept. So, he's not in jail yet. He also hasn't moved yet. He is staying with a buddy in the town where he was living. That means he can take the kids for a day visit, but not overnight. Ironically, I kind of need the overnight to catch up on the sleep. read more »

Its Been Awhile...

shootingstars — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:24:12 -0400

So where to begin... I am not even sure when I last updated, which should be a slap in the face I know...

Michael is off medications. He has had two cholesterol tests come back abnormally high. What I do not understand is if they are so high, then why not talk about diet changes or medication to regulate it. Instead now they want me to go a full month with no Risperdal and test again. But the thing is, and they will not actually listen no matter how many times I repeat, Michael was not on the meds regulary enough to cause an impact...

The Specialty Clinic who sees him is trying to phase him out. He does not even have the next appointment set up. They have lost ALOT of funding and rumors about already being closed (which I know to be false) and going to close. My family doctor admitted he cannot see them being open in two years. So He has referred Michael to a place called Season's Center which deals with counseling and all sorts of that crap. He goes on the 17th. If I am still not happy then I will demand a referral to Iowa City.

I have a feeling my son will never get a diagnosis that adequately describes him. He is still on the Autism Scale, but climbing towards the top of the ladder. People are blown away when I tell them Feb 2008 he was considered non-verbal and now he seems like a regular annoying little boy. His language is still behind. At his evaluation for Speech, which was right at his 5th birthday, he tested on average about a 3 1/2 yr old. He still has emotional breaks, where the smallest thing can cause a tantrum and it is so hard for him to pull himself out of it. There are many concepts he still does not understand but he is doing better...

Summer school starts next week, and we have Speech Therapy twice weekly. And a new thing I have added to his schedules, trips to the library. I figured he was old enough to learn how to use a library, and it gives us something to do. read more »

how to light a burn out?

drheave — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:46:08 -0400

I need help, well not just me but this whole town. So many of these parents are seemingly burned out exhausted just from interacting with our children with autism. We all get the disgusted looks, we all get the whats wrong with your child looks, and the '"can't you shut your child up?". and i think the most demeaning is the look "You are an abusive parent because i see all the bruises on your childs head face and arms, DCFS here we come". How can i possibly help bring the moral up for all of us? the town wants to know what to do they want to help, i am doing the best i can, but all the public sees is how only my children behave not the full spectrum or age differences. I think about running for city council and worry it will be waisted effort to help educate the community. Please help? What helped you guys pull through every waking day and sleepless nights we all go through? Mine is for my children and my answere isn't good enough. so again i am begging for participation to help bring the moral up so that parents relatives and workers can see hope once again. to get the old spark going.

Sibling Fights! Argh!

Tamba88 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:31:26 -0400

Siblings

: tamba88; June 15th, 14:53

Jack (6, with ASD) and Abby (2, typical) have been fighting like there's no tomorrow lately and I'm going crazy! Every time I turn around, someone is hitting someone, or biting someone, or yelling or whining. I don't know what to do. It usually starts with them doing an activity together, playing outside, playing a game, watching a movie, etc. The little one decides to change the rules, cause she's two and she does that, and my son, who's a stickler for rules, schedules, lists, routines, etc.

weighted vests/blankets

abbylovestwins — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:37:47 -0400

Has any one ever made their own weighted vests and or blankets? If you have, was it hard to do? I want a vest for Kaylee for certain..not sure about Michael yet, he may use the blanket more, but he is so attached to his current blankie, I do not know if he will go for a new one. Anyway, thinking about trying to make a vest for Kaylee but have no idea where to start.

all day school

abbylovestwins — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:32:23 -0400

It has been brought to my attention, that though signed up for 1/2 day school, 4 days a week this fall, the twins are probably going to need all day school there....and this thought just petrifies me. I am a stay home mom, have been for all my kids till kindergarten time...the thought of the twins being gone all day, is just almost unbearable. Has anyone else felt this way or am I just a paranoid wimpy mom? I know we plan to take the kids up to school a couple times a week before fall, so they can toddle around the classroom and play on the playground, but the thought of leaving them all day just is the last thing I want to do. Yet, I know that if they really need it, I will have to let them go. If they weren't special needs kids, they would be home with me till they were 6 and starting kindergarten, august birthdays. I guess we will have to wait and see. They will start out the 1/2 days, but therapists and school say that I should be prepared for the whole day experience to get brought up a few weeks into school. I almost can not breathe when I think about it.

How internet blogging assists parents of children on the Autism Spectrum.

PaulaQUB — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:43:30 -0400

Hello Everyone

My name is Paula Johnston, I am a student from Queen's University Belfast and I am currently studying a masters in Autistic Spectrum Disorders. At present I am doing my Dissertation which is based on how internet blogging sites assist parents of children on the autism spectrum and so this website is of great interest to me. I realise everyone is very busy but would greatly appreciate it if you would be able to complete a short questionnaire or answer a few questions in order to help complete my dissertation. I plan to contact 60 participants in order to fully answer my question. If you are interested please let me know here so I can privately send you the questionnaire, or email me on pjohnston24@qub.ac.uk This is all completed with confidentiality and your information will be deleted after it has been used, no names will be used in the writing up of the dissertation and my topic has been approved by Queen's University, Belfast ethics committee. I look foward to hearing from you.

Thank you so much for your time!

Paula

county party for autism

drheave — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:27:28 -0400

Well I threw the party, three families showed up actually two and a half. The person that was supposed to help pulled a no-show, no-call. But you know what we all ahd fun anyways. We had one of the bubble machines the kids absolutely adored and a ball that acts like a sprinkeler. Im glad a brought food for a small party with the sandwich makings and drinks and a little bit of fruit. the other families brought chips and cookies. A tiny success but a success anyways. We are victorious and im still depressed. I wonder why to my self, don't these parents care anymore? have they truely given up hope for these children with so much talent we don't even know what to do? What am i doing wrong? Is it because im still new in this town that because i haven't establishe a name for myself that nothing comes about? My best isn't good enough for my own expectactions i guess. bummer. Well im not giving up. Now im trying to set stuff up so that some of these kids in town can do modeling with hair styles or clothes and toys or something. They have all these abilities they are so smart if only we could give them a chance to shine through...and i feel like so many parents here hold back for one reason or another. I feel like they almost are exploiting their child for some form of gain, "Woe is me and my children with disabilities, give me please". I think perhapse i am to harsh and i probably am.

wish i may. wish i might. may i have a wish tonight?

i wish that people knew how truely blessed we as people that have been and are touched by autism truely are!

Bonnie