Reaching for Home

Metanx, A New Hope?

2014-08-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

About 5 months ago we started our son on Metanx. It's not a drug so of course, insurance won't pay for it. It is a medical food that requires a prescription. Metanx contains the active form of folic acid, B6 and B12. It has been used to help diabetic patients for years and is said to heal the nervous system. Autism Spectrum Disorders have been defined as a nervous system disorder. This is not a commercial or advertisement for Metanx. It is my testimony that this little pill has provided us with a renewed hope for the future.

Within the last 5 months, our son has gone from freaking out when the different foods on his plate touch to eating a regular hamburger with all the trimmings on the bun! That might not sound like much, but for us that is phenomenal! He went from wearing the same shirt 4 days a week to wearing lots of different shirts of varying fabrics. He even wears shirts with tags now!

The biggest change however, has been in his ability to handle being around other people, sounds and smells. This 4th of July was a special occasion for us, not just because it was a holiday, but because it marked a series of firsts for our son. For the first time in his 12 years, he was able to watch fireworks up close. The booming sounds, the smell of smoke, the bright lights didn't freak him out! We didn't have to leave! Earlier that same day, he went with us to a carnival where he rode his first big kid ride!

We are excited by the leaps in technology, research and medication. We have a renewed hope for our son's future. I hope that this can help one of you.

From No More Melt Downs to Traumatic Tornados

2013-09-04T22:55:00.001-07:00

Just about every day I think, "Oh, I will sit down tonight when everyone else is asleep and post to my blog." Then life happens....and what do you know, it's a year later. So, I've decided to give this another go. I hope that if you are struggling or have a child who is struggling on the autism spectrum, that this blog helps you in some small way.

Almost 3 years ago, just after our youngest son was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, we moved from Moore, Oklahoma to Alabama. We discovered that there are tremendous resources here in Alabama, or at least tremendous compared to what we knew about in Oklahoma. We (actually, we usually means me) set out to find every therapy possible for our son. I bought and read every book I could get my hands on. We tried therapy on horseback, yoga, applied behavior analysis, bio feedback, counseling, and I even put together my own program for sensory therapy. Life was finally good. There were no more melt downs! Our son progressed so rapidly, in April of this year, we thought we might be able to take a break from some of these services. Then, the bottom dropped out!

The community we once called home, Moore, Oklahoma, was devastated in May by an F6 tornado. The elementary school our son had once attended, Plaza Towers, had been wiped out. Lives were lost. Fortunately, all of our friends were safe. But that was little consolation for our son, who wore his Plaza Towers shirt for days on end. I would like to say he took a few steps back after this traumatic event, but that would be an understatement. He took a nose dive! We were back where we were two years ago, at best.

I was devastated! I honestly can't yet describe the pain or the anxiety I felt for my son. We had to start over with overcoming his anxiety when it came to crowds, lights, some noises, certain fabrics and clothing, outings and activities, anxiety management and coping skills. We stopped counting melt downs.

One thing I discovered is that knowledge is everything! I started re-reading books, ordering books, reading new books and researching. One of the books I felt helped the most was, "The Out-of-Sync Child" by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.

We began some new therapies and re-started some old ones. We stopped one medication and added new supplements. We began the year homeschooling and started adding activities and outings, gradually. I discovered that everyday is different and offers both challenges and blessings. Some days, like today, there are a few more challenges than others. I hope to share some of these with you. And perhaps, I will even come up with some workable strategies.

The Invisible Disability

2012-08-20T15:06:00.001-07:00

This morning is our first day of school. It's a bit different for our family than it is for some of our friends. First, our son is on the autism spectrum. This takes a great deal of planning, scheduling special therapeutic activities and medical appointments, and purchasing special curriculum and learning tools as well as getting on a healthy schedule. I try to begin putting things together in June or July to prevent that stressful last minute rush to get it all done. Secondly, we homeschool. Our brilliant son, can't handle the noise of a public school or the distractions other children provide. The sound of a school bell or the clicking of a clock un-nerves him to the point he cannot concentrate and he is terrified of large groups of people.

Along with so many other children, our son suffers from an invisible disability. At first glance, he seems perfectly normal. But I can't begin to tell you the barrage of questions we get hit with. A few recent ones include:

Why doesn't your son tuck his shirt in?
Why does he have a game boy or nook with him constantly?
Why doesn't he look me in the eye when he speaks to me?
Why doesn't he play outside with the other children?
Don't you realize that homeschooling makes it difficult to socialize him?

Little do people realize that autism spectrum disorders are disorders of the nervous system. Some children, like my son, experience difficulty with fabric and the way clothes fit. This makes tucking in a shirt difficult and often painful. If he is in a crowd and starts to stress out from being around too many people, having a hand held computer device that he can concentrate on helps. It distracts him from the crowd . . . at church, at the grocery store, at any meeting or event where he may be safe, but surrounded by a large group of people.

Most children I have met on the spectrum have difficulty looking people in the eye. It makes them feel uncomfortable. And playing with other children outside often means playing by someone else's rules or having an amount of communication or contact with other children that is often difficult or painful for one on the autism spectrum. There are several disabilities acts of recent years that provide for and support modifications in activities like sports and cub scouts for children with such disabilities.

I'm not going to make this about homeschooling as I address the last question I mentioned above. What I will say is that we view the key to socializing our child with a quality as opposed to quantity approach. For example, he is not playing on a playground lightly supervised with fifty other children. Instead he is playing on a playground at a park with one other child, highly supervised by one of his parents and a friend's parent. He may not be in a classroom with 23 other children. However, he belongs to a homeschool group where he can enjoy the company of other children for a period of 1 to 3 hours a few times a month while on a field trip or experiencing a hands on learning approach.

I have a few questions of my own.

Why are people so oblivious to these invisible disabilities?
Where has their compassion gone?

Our children have a long and difficult road ahead. Our responsibility is to help them learn to cope as best as possible. That may not mean that they will ever be like everyone else. I hope it means that my child will learn to be unique while functioning within society.

What are your hopes for your child?

Lee County Autism Support Group

2012-08-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendar! The Lee County Autism Support Group will be hosting their first meeting of the year with a vendor fair on September 13th at 6:30 pm. at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Shelton Mill Road in Auburn. Childcare will be provided by The Learning Tree staff and the AXD sorority. This year we are inviting parents of children with any special need or disability.

832 Miles in a Car With An Autistic Child!

2012-05-31T23:20:00.000-07:00

Traveling with children is difficult as most of us know. When you add autism into the mix, any car trip takes on a life of its own.

Last month, I took off on a road trip with my two sons. The oldest is 21 and has made leaps and bounds in living with Asperger's Syndrome. Unless you really know him and are familiar with his habits, it is difficult to discern. My 10 year old is a different story. He has sensitivity issues when it comes clothing, food, and sounds. When eating out, his food is always a special order. Nothing is simple. Both of my boys have the special talent of making the most simple task very complicated. But that is the nature of their Asperger's Syndrome.

The trip was challenging, fun, insightful and a bonding experience. Fortunately, both of my boys travel well. Meltdowns were at a minimum. And together we came up with some wonderful tips to help you with your road trips.

Tips from the boys:

To give yourself more room in the car, don't pack more than you need.

Bring lots of snacks! Boys like to eat.

Put the snacks and drinks in the back seat with us so that you don't have to stop driving to get them.

Bring a game boy and lots of game cartridges.

Bring books on tape. They are a lot more fun than listening to the radio fade in and out.

Bring your own toilet paper for restroom stops. Recommendations: 1 roll per child.

Bring a flashlight or book light so that we can read or play on the game boy when you drive after dark.

Pick a hotel with a pool and free breakfast.

Tips from Me:

Put the snacks up front so that you can monitor what is eaten - especially if you pack cookies, candy or any item you don't want the kids to devour all at once.

Books on tape really rock! We listened to the first Eragon book on tape. The kids were really engaged.

Bring toilet paper and wet wipes for road stops. Some of the bathrooms along the way can be really narley.

Be sure to bring your shopping cards like Kroger and Winn Dixie. Some offer money off gas and just because you are traveling doesn't mean you won't find a participating gas station.

Sign up for hotel discounts. A lot of chains like Best Western have discount programs where you not only get a cheaper rate but also earn rewards. They also offer a swimming pool and free breakfast.

Although you will probably use a GPS, stop at your local AAA Travel office and pick up maps for each state you will cross. The kids love to follow your route. And if your GPS goes out, you have a back up.

If you are going to a theme park or attraction, call ahead and ask if they have any special rates or programs for your children with disabilities. Disney and several other theme parks offer a special pass for children with Autism. With this pass, they don't have to wait in line as long.

If you are moving or taking two cars, purchase an inexpensive walkie talkie system so that the cars can communicate with each other without raising your cell phone bill and when you are not in a good area for cell phone reception.

Don't try to stick to a rigid travel schedule. With road construction, travel delays, bathroom breaks, and children, your schedule may not be anywhere near the real time frame.

Enjoy yourself! You deserve it.

LA Teen With Autism, Communicates Through Typing

2012-04-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

I ran across this article online and really wanted to share it with you. I hope you find it as inspiring as I did.

LOS ANGELES -- For the first seven years of Jacob Artson's life, his family believed the doctors who labeled their nonverbal son with autism as "mentally retarded."

And yet, just before Jacob's seventh birthday, a miracle happened. Jacob's social skills therapist told the family about facilitated communication, a method by which a facilitator attempts to teach individuals with a disability to organize and control their body and attention in order to communicate by typing.

Jacob's mother, Elana Artson, told The Huffington Post in an email that when she first heard about the method, she "didn't expect anything to come of it. Jacob couldn't read, so how was he going to type? But I figured that I would be able to say that we had tried before crossing it off our list of possible therapies."

So Elana took Jacob to see Darlene Hanson, a speech therapist who is now the director of communication services at Whittier Area Parents' Association for the Developmentally Handicapped (WAPADH) in Whittier, Calif. Elana described in an email what happened in the first hour Jacob was with Hanson:

"Darlene wrote eight words on a board -- shoe, bus, house, etc. -- and asked Jacob, 'Which one do you ride to school?, Which one do you wear on your foot?, Which one do you live in?' Each time, with her providing support, he pointed to the correct answer," Elana wrote. "She gave him a break, and he went to look at some model trains in the corner of the room (like many kids with autism, Jacob was fascinated by trains).

"Then Darlene took out a portable keyboard. She said one of those trains had 'Santa Fe' written on it. 'Can you type Santa Fe?,' she asked. Jacob typed 'Sants 4e.' I started to get excited -- if she was moving his hand, she wouldn't have let him overshoot the correct letters, right? Next question: 'What is the car on the back of the train called?' Jacob began to type h-e- (okay, deflate -- This wasn't real, I'm thinking to myself) -l-p-m-e. Then she asked him a series of questions and asked him to type Y for yes and N for no. 'Did you type Help me?' - Y. 'Do you need help spelling?' - N. 'Do you need help typing?' - Y. 'Is holding your hand helping?' - Y.

"What happened during that hour changed Jacob's life (and ours) more dramatically than I ever dreamed possible," Elana added.

To read more of this article, click here.

Autism Walk & Easter Egg Hunt

2012-02-25T23:36:00.000-08:00

Join Us for the 2012 Lee County Walk for Autism & Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 7 at 8:30am
Location: Town Creek Park, Auburn, AL

Join Us as a Sponsor, A Walker, The Team Captian of a Walking Team, or a Volunteer!!!

Lots of Wonderful Opportunities.

Corporate Sponsorship Deadline: March 2nd!

For more information contact: ldsquires@hotmail.com.

How to Calm an Aspergers Child: 50 Tips for Parents

2012-01-25T11:27:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately there’s no such thing as anger-management classes specifically for Aspergers children – and you may find that not a week goes by without your youngster reaching Mach 4 on the rage and frustration scale.

Often times, this kind of aggression isn’t deliberate – it’s your Aspergers youngster’s way of asserting himself if he can’t find the right words to say how he’s feeling or what he wants. And anger is fine: we’re all entitled to feel it if things don’t go our way. But anger is a feeling, while aggression is a behavior – and your youngster has to learn that he can’t use it to solve his problems. You need to guide him in learning how to manage his emotions, control his impulses and express his anger with words.

Read more here.

What Shook Me To My Core

2012-01-12T06:47:00.000-08:00

I want to apologize for having waited so long since my last post. My confidence as a mother to a child with Asperger's Syndrome was shaken to the core. I needed time to analyze, re-group, and come up with new solutions that worked. Then I had to realize that although I have years of experience, a good education and have read almost every book published on Autism Spectrum issues, I just don't know it all.

What happened that was so disruptive to our lives?

Our wonderfully brilliant son became severely depressed. After we had experienced more than a year of progress and positive growth, depression and anxiety overcame him to the point he experienced a melt down more severe than ever before. He approached what I call the danger zone.

What Caused So Much Anxiety?

Perhaps it was a delayed stress reaction to our move from Oklahoma to Alabama, or the holidays without his grandparents and older brother. Perhaps it was stress over school work or recent difficulties with friends. The problem is that everyone experiences stress. Our children with autism spectrum issues simply don't have the skills to express or release stress that we seem to develop naturally as we grow. It takes extra effort on our part to help them learn to express their feelings in an acceptable manner.

How Did We, As A Family, Cope?

First, we rallied behind him. His father and I spent that evening and most of the next day just holding and reassuring him. I contacted his doctor and his psychologist. After medication change and several visits with the psychologist we developed new coping skills. I talked to other mothers in our autism support group. I mention that, because we as parents need support too!

My husband and I also realized that our son had been trying to repress feelings of inadequacy, anxiety and depression until he just couldn't do it anymore. As a mother, I realized that he needed to know it's okay to express those feelings daily. We just needed to come up with an acceptable way to do that.

Today, Several Months Later:

After the roller coaster ride, we have started a new routine that includes new suppliments, new medications, new activities and a different approach at the psychologist's office. Every day is not perfect, nor do I expect it to be. And I must say, I am more than a bit apprehensive when things seem to run too smoothly. I try to talk less and listen a lot more, remembering this is a long journey that requires patience and commitment and not a short trip with a sudden solution.

Our Asperger's Journey

2011-10-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

When my youngest son was little, he was one of those adorable children who got into everything. His energy was boundless and he was absolutely fearless. When he reached kindergarten, we noticed, he seemed to throw more fits than the other children and only liked to wear certain fabrics or cuts in clothing. When he wanted to play volleyball in a pee wee league, although he could serve well, he could not grasp the concept of team or what it meant to be a team player. In cub scouts, he had problems getting along with the other boys. Small things they did would bother him immensely. On the other hand, school assignments like math and grammar came easily to him as long as he wasn’t distracted.

Over the next two years we moved several times to accommodate my husband’s employment, my education and help my mother through breast cancer. My oldest son, now 21, stepped in to help with the younger son. We attributed many of his tantrums and odd behaviors to the fact that we had so much going on in our family lives.

When our youngest son reached second grade, his math scores were off the chart. However, he could not maintain personal relationships with his peers. At school he only wanted to play what he wanted to play. He had great difficulty taking turns and sharing. At recess, sometimes he just wanted to spin in circles or play by himself in his own imaginary world. In class, he was easily interrupted and distracted by noises and smells. When he got upset, he was unable to communicate properly and would have a melt-down. This made him a target for other children. My husband and I started blaming each other’s parenting skills. Our home was in turmoil.

It was at this point – just 2 years ago, that we had our son tested. His teacher thought that he might have ADHD. However, after both a physician’s examination and an intense psychological evaluation (including a family history review), it was determined that he had Asperger’s Syndrome. We started meeting with a counselor almost immediately, and home educating him soon thereafter.

Some of his behaviors include:

· Difficulty following directions that have more than 1 step

· Trouble coping with the emotional & social demands of group work, interactive play or team sports

· Stress when his routine or schedule is interrupted

· He is often inflexible and perfection oriented

· He is very blunt and often shares details that are not appropriate

· Takes statements too literally

· Critical of himself

· Has emotional outbursts

· Experiences sensory intensities that overwhelm him

· Obsesses about an incident or interest

Today, I wouldn’t say we have settled into a routine just yet, or that every day runs smoothly. But I will say that our son is learning, not just academically, but he is learning how to manage social situations, deal with his emotions, and cope with society. For example, he has developed his own method of coping with crowds at the grocery store. Instead of putting his hands over his ears, like he used to. He plays pretend. He is the child you will see hoisting an imaginary sword or talking into an imaginary walkie talkie instructing elite commandos at the grocery store.

He attends an Asperger’s play group, has joined a bowling league and attends therapy on horseback at Storybook Farm. At home we play games that concentrate on recognizing emotions and learning new things. He still has difficulty carrying on a conversation and is disturbed by certain smells, sounds and the feel of certain fabrics. He still has melt downs, just not as many. It takes a daily effort to navigate this journey.

-Patricia

Temple Grandin Interview

2011-09-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

While doing some research on methods of teaching to use at home with my son, I ran across this interview with Temple Grandin. Temple was diagnosed with Autism as a child. In this interview, she talks about how her mind works, the different learning styles and shares her ability to "think in pictures." She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.

This interview, provided by TED, was really an eye opener! I hope you find it as helpful and as enjoyable as I have.

To view the interview click here.

TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.

Child With Autism Failed By State & School

2011-09-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

This story really makes me angry! First, the state takes custody of the child away from the parents because they lightly tether him so that he will not run away. Then the school, "who in previous years placed a tether on him between classes," fails to keep an eye on him during recess and he squeezes between the bars of a playground fence. This poor boy, Joshua Robb, (according to Huffington Post) was lost in the San Bernardino Mountains for 24 hours. It is an absolutely a miracle this child was found alive and well. The title of this article could very well have been, "Parents Lost Custody For Using The Same Practice The School Had To Use On Their Child", or "Child With Autism Failed First By Mortgage Industry, Then State and Lastly School". So many variables were overlooked and this situation, although it turned out well, could have been devastating. Thank God Joshua's guardian angels were working overtime.

Read the full story about Joshua here.

Autism Risks For Siblings Are Higher Than Thought

2011-08-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO (AP) -- A new study suggests nearly one in five children with an autistic older sibling will develop the disorder too - a rate much higher than previously thought.

Researchers followed 664 infants who had at least one older brother or sister with autism. Overall, 132 infants or about 19 percent ended up with an autism diagnosis, too, by their third birthdays. Previous smaller or less diverse studies reported a prevalence of between 3 percent and 14 percent.

"We were all a bit surprised and taken aback about how high it is," said lead author Sally Ozonoff, a psychiatry and behavioral sciences professor with the Mind Institute at the University of California at Davis.

The highest rates were in infants who had at least two older siblings with autism - 32 percent of them also developed autism. Also, among boys with autistic siblings - 26 percent developed autism versus 9 percent of girls. Autism is already known to be more common in boys.

To read more . . .click here

Give Yourself A "Back 2 School" Break

2011-08-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

Going back to school with Asperger's Syndrome can be a real challenge. If your kids attend public schools, the first few months of school can be filled with anxiety. As a parent, you may be concerned with I.E.P's, working with the teacher/s to make sure school programs meet your child's needs, and providing a safe place for your child to go when he or she feels stressed. Home educating is not that different. You may be concerned with choosing the right curriculum, or finding activities and social situations that your child will respond best to. One step we often overlook is to provide a stress free place for ourselves. Remember, you can't be the best for your child if you are not the best for yourself.

Being a type A personality and home educating a child with Asperger's, I can definitely relate to those who have a difficult time relaxing. So I have put together a few ideas for those of us who are driven.

Relaxation Ideas For The Most Ambitious of Parents:

Keep a journal
Scrapbook
Have lunch with a friend
Spend 20 minutes in a hot tub
Blog
Take a walk
Play tennis
Go for a jog
Get a chair massage
Take up yoga
Indulge in dark chocolate once a week
Sushi Therapy (my personal favorite)
Take up painting

- Patricia -

Autism Spectrum Resources

2011-07-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

Raising a child today is expensive. When you add a disability or difference of any kind, the cost skyrockets. With a child on the Autism Spectrum you might plan to pay for dietary suppliments, special diets, physical or occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical treatment, individual counseling for your child and yourself, tutoring, and other special therapies like horseback riding, art or music. It can be overwhelming!

To help with these difficulties I am providing some information on grants and foundations. If you are fortunate enough not to need this kind of help, you might consider making a donation to help others who do.

The Autism Relief Foundation provides autism therapy grants ranging from $300 - $1,800 to children and adults who have autism. The grants can be used to pay for medical treatment by a physician or naturopath; therapies - including speech therapy, occupational therapy, art therapy, music therapy and hyperbaric therapy; summer camp or social skills groups; and respite care services. To find out more, check out their website at: http://autismrelieffoundation.com/.

The Children's Charity Fund, Inc. provides grants to assist handicapped and disabled children with medical equipment and educational expenses. To find out more, contact the charity at 6623 Superior Ave., Sarasota, FL 34231 or e-mail ccf21c@aol.com.

Just remember to take time to enjoy life's special moments.

- Patricia

Ernie Els Speaks Out On Son's Autism!

2011-06-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Last week Ernie Els turned up with an "Autism Speaks" logo on his golf bag. According to the June 19th, Telegraph, Els recently chose to speak out about his five-year-old autistic son, Ben. Many of us can relate. To read this inspiring article click here.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

I would like to offer a wonderful Father's Day wish to all the Dads out there as well as all of the military moms who do dad duty and all of the single moms who fill the shoes of dads every day of the year. May you each be richly blessed!

Resource Guide for Families Dealing With Autism

2011-05-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

If you have a child or relative with autism issues you need resources. It is impossible to do it all yourself. I know, I have tried. Autism Speaks offers a huge database of resources by state. Just click on the link, choose your state and a list of categories will appear. Choose a category of interest and view your search results. Resource Link

Happy Hunting!

- Patricia

Autism Prevalence 1 in 38

2011-05-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

A study funded by Autism Speaks revealed startling new statistics for autism spectrum disorders in South Korea. It stated that 1 in 38 children between 7 - 12 years of age was found to have an autism spectrum disorder. One in 27 were male. The results of the South Korean study have far-reaching implications for U.S. statistics. For more information check out http://www.autismspeaks.org/.

Being A Mom Means . . .

2011-05-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

Thinking you're the luckiest person in the world.
You are a role model - this means watching what you say so that your live in tape recorder doesn't repeat the wrong thing at the most entertaining of times.
Being over protective - it's a genetic disorder.
Actually looking forward to sleep.
Making lots of lists and posting schedules.
Having eyes in the back of your head.
Being able to read facial expressions.
Velcro, superglue and wet wipes become your best friends.
Teaching your kids to respect themselves.
You are willing to be disliked by your kids.
Respecting yourself so that your children will learn to respect you.
Having the patience of a Saint, the Faith of Job, and the persistence of a bull dog.
Knowing how truly Blessed you are.

Book of the Month

2011-05-06T00:33:00.000-07:00

"A Thorn In My Pocket" is a totally awesome story about the struggles of the mother of a very famous person with Aspergers Syndrome (you will have to read it to find out who). It is a story of one woman's journey to maintain her own identity while pursuing every available avenue to help her child thrive during the 1950's and 60's. After reading this book I felt truly inspired!

To Medicate or Not

2011-05-06T00:24:00.000-07:00

So often schools and doctors jump to the quick assumption that our children need medication to function at the level that is expected. I fought the public schools for almost two years on this issue before making the decision to home educate my son. His father and I thought that with the right environment he would thrive without any help from medication. We tried several types of therapy. We read stacks of books on Aspergers Syndrome and how to manage meltdowns. For a short time, our new found knowledge and the help of various therapies worked. However, we did not take into account the way our son's brain perceives stress or the way his receptors work.

A few weeks ago, we all endured several days of meltdown after meltdown. It wasn't just that we were unhappy or that the environment at home was tense. Our son could not cope with what we consider to be everyday thing - like putting up his clothes, talking to me about something he thought was unpleasant, or finish writing a sentence without a meltdown. I called my son's doctor in tears. "We are to the point where we need to look into an anti-anxiety medication," I told him. Later that day, I picked up a low dose, generic form of Celexa for our 9 year old son. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made for him.

This morning I awoke to hear my son whistling a happy tune while doing a math worksheet! When I asked him what he was doing, he smiled and told me he wanted to get an early start so that he could have more play time in the afternoon. Never before has he been so focused or happy! I must say, I have been truly amazed. And although medication is still not my first choice, I realize that sometimes it is the necessary choice.

Add A Game or Graphic Book To Your Child's Day!

2011-04-09T23:17:00.000-07:00

Life is so short, I simply refuse to spend it arguing about school work or listening to my child try to negotiate or strike a deal on how many pages he has to do. This month, we decided to use more games and graphic books and novels in our teaching approach. Some of these have included Scrabble apple, Comic Book Math, and Hardy Boys Graphic Novels. Adding these has decreased our challenges for the time being and increased our level of learning enjoyment. After all, isn't learning supposed to be fun?

Book of the Month

2011-04-09T23:09:00.000-07:00

I have been keeping late nights to catch up on my reading. Being the mother of a child with Asperger's Syndrome, I always feel like I need more information. One of the books I have found most helpful this month is, "Homeschooling the child with Asperger Syndrome, Real Help for Parents Anywhere and on Any Budget," by Lise Pyles. This book is packed with ideas and tips that I really found helpful.

April is Autism Awareness Month

2011-04-09T23:02:00.000-07:00

Because April is Autism Awareness Month, and this is an issue that is close to home, I would like to share some facts, figures and basic information about Autism.

According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, "Autism is a neurological disorder that robs a child of his or her emotional foundation, making it difficult for the child to communicate, even smile. That’s because there’s an issue with certain connections in the brain from neuron to neuron. It’s often associated with repetitive motor movements or obsessive behaviors."

Asperger's Syndrome is somewhere between what we conceive normal and autism.

About 1 in 110 children born today are autistic (1 in 70 boys are). In 1980, it was 1 in 5,000.

What Causes Autism?
According to Dr. Oz, "Nobody knows exactly why we’re seeing an increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism. Some of it has to do with the fact that we have a broader definition of what’s on the spectrum of autism disorders than we did, but that’s not the only reason.Today, there are three main theories as to what has contributed to the increase. They are:

Vaccines: There are studies showing there are no links between vaccine and autism, though a minority medical professionals also believe that the evidence isn’t conclusive.
Environmental factors: The theory is that a variety of things could play a role, such as exposure to pesticides and car toxins.
Age of parents: Studies have shown that with all other factors being equal, the risk of autism is greater when either parent is older. We’re not sure of a reason, but it could be due to hormones or even changes to the egg or sperm."