The Autism Resource

Thank You - From Eden Autism Services

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:18:00 +0000

Rise in Autism Diagnoses

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:58:00 +0000

Garden of Eden - Florida

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:17:00 +0000

Eden Dreams Present - "Dreams of Arcadia, The Search for Viridis"

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:17:00 +0000

www.edendreams.org

Takes us back to a time when the Earth was unspoiled,
when its rich beauty and natural magic surrounded us - -
and the endless cycle of Renewal touched every living thing.

Honoring Friends of Eden Guardian 2010 recipient

Christopher Tarr of Stevens & Lee

Honoring Friends of Eden Visionary Award 2010 recipient

Steven A. Barnes (posthumously)

Saturday, January 16th 2010
Hyatt Regency, Princeton Route One
Princeton, New Jersey

Cocktails and Silent Auction- Six Thirty to Seven Thirty
Dinner To Follow:
Dancing to the music of Sirius Orchestra
White Tie Preferred
Valet Parking Available
For Additional information please call 609-987-0099

The twenty second annual Eden Dreams benefit for Eden Autism Services.

Thomas Edison graduates overcome challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:58:00 +0000

Sunday, October 11, 2009
Trisha King
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
TRENTON -- Every day, they are the ones who encourage others and tell them that they can overcome their challenges and succeed. Yesterday, however, four graduates of Thomas Edison State College achieved their own success as they obtained their bachelor's degrees at the college's 37th commencement ceremony, held in Patriots Theater at the War Memorial.

Andre Monday, coordinator of Trenton PEERS program at the Mill Hill Child and Family Development Corporation; Meredith Marcus, program manager at ARC Mercer; and Joanne Monaco and Gary Montgomery, both of whom work with adults with autism at Eden Institute in Princeton, all overcame their own personal challenge of earning a degree while maintaining a career and enthusiastically received their degrees along with nearly 400 other graduates.

Marcus earned her bachelor's degree in psychology. She said it took a lot of hard work and perseverance.

"It was a little difficult working full time and going to school at the same time, but Thomas Edison made it a lot easier with their online courses," she said.

During the ceremony, Sarah Finley, who received a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, spoke on behalf of the graduates. She said that it was not easy and that they overcame adversity to make it to this point. She said they are now equipped with skills and abilities to face the future.

Also during the ceremony, honorary degrees were conferred upon George Fricke and Nicholas Carnevale, both of the Thomas Edison Board of Trustees, and Harold Shapiro, president emeritus of Princeton University.

Fricke urged the graduates to consider volunteerism and to work in some worthy cause, while Carnevale encouraged graduates to go further in education, saying that perhaps the graduates will see that "I did it once, I know that I can do it again."

Shapiro commented on the educational challenges facing America and said that through institutions like Thomas Edison and adult learning, the "educational glass ceiling" can be broken.

Many of the graduates of Thomas Edison State College are adults with career and family obligations, and overcome the odds of earning a degree in the face of demanding schedules.

For some, the achievement of obtaining a degree legitimizes the work they are already performing on their jobs every day.

Monday, who works closely with young adults in the Trenton PEERS program, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Services. Monday said that he encourages the young people he works with to continue in school and not to stop with a high-school diploma. He said that while he was earning his degree, he was able to serve as an inspiration to them. "I was trying hard, just making sure that I succeed so that I can be a positive role model to the teams in which I educate," Monday said. "It's about teaching someone else something that you've learned

Eden Autism Services Reponses to new Study.

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:10:00 +0000

EDEN AUTISM SERVICES RESPONDS TO NEW AUTISM STATISTICS

Princeton, NJ -- Eden Autism Services, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autism and their families reacts to the new study indicating that the prevalence rate of autism has increased to one in every 91 children; with boys being one in 58.

“It is not surprising to hear that the incidence of autism continues to increase, and people need to know and understand that this increase is only partially due to better diagnoses and an expanded criteria,” says Eden President & CEO, Dr. Tom McCool. “The increase is real, and although research funds are very important to help identify and cure autism, we should not ignore the needs of those children, adults, and families already impacted by autism who need and will continue to need individualized, supportive educational, residential, and employment services. The autism community needs to insure that both research and treatment needs are addressed in public funding and philanthropic circles.”

The new findings were published in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ journal Pediatrics and was based on a 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) which gathered information from more than 78,000 parents on whether their child currently had an autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis.

According to Eden Chief Clinical Officer, Anne Holmes, “it is overwhelming to think of how significantly the incidence of autism has grown in just a few short years.” She is hesitant to deem that the numbers of have gone up from just better diagnosis. She believes that now, more than ever, research into the cause and services for those diagnosed are crucial.

Since 1975, Eden Autism Services has been improving the lives of individuals with autism and their families. The not-for-profit organization counts among its programs year-round educational services, early intervention, parent training, respite care, outreach services, community-based residential services, and employment opportunities. For more information, visit www.edenautismservices.org or call (609) 987-0099.

Nj bill on Autism insurance closer to becoming law

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:39:00 +0000

BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI
The Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. - A measure that would expand health insurance coverage for autism and other developmental disabilities in New Jersey may soon become law.

The bill requires insurers to cover the cost of autism treatments deemed medically necessary, such as physical, speech and occupational therapy, along with behavioral intervention. The Assembly overwhelmingly passed it Thursday.

That came a week after the Senate approved the measure, which would cap coverage at $36,000 annually for patients ages 21 and younger.

The bill now heads to Gov. Jon Corzine, who is expected to sign it into law soon. If that happens, New Jersey would be the 14th state with such coverage requirements.

"Families that have a loved one with autism should not be expected to shoulder the financial hardships of this disorder alone," said Vincent Prieto, D-Secaucus, who co-sponsored the bill with Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr., D-Brooklawn, and Assemblywoman Joan Voss, D-Fort Lee.

"Requiring health insurers to cover therapies for autistic children early in their lives ensures they receive the treatments they most need when it will make the greatest impact," Prieto said.

A Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that 1 in 94 New Jersey children have the disorder, compared with 1 in 152 nationwide.

Autism is considered a genetic-based disorder. Its cause has not been pinpointed and there is no known cure. The symptoms are wide-ranging and include poor speaking and eating abilities, self-inflicted injuries and inappropriate crying or laughing, according to Autism New Jersey.

"Treating autism spectrum disorders early ensures that these children learn basic life skills, which can have lifelong impacts, often mitigating some of the challenges faced by many adults with autism," Voss said.

Some people with autism have trouble learning how to do the simplest tasks, and supporters of the measure say insurers often do not cover needed treatment, or if they do, the coverage is for a limited time. Opponents, while sympathetic, contend it will drive up health care costs for small businesses.

N.J. Senate committee advances bill expanding coverage for autism therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:52:00 +0000

by Elise Young/Statehouse Bureau
Monday June 15, 2009, 6:33 PM

TRENTON -- Health insurance would cover treatment costing up to $36,000 a year for New Jerseyans with autism and other developmental disabilities, under a bill that cleared a Senate committee today.
Twelve states have approved such a law to cover behavioral, occupational, physical, speech and other therapies that insurers sometimes deny because they are not considered restorative. New Jersey would cap the coverage at $36,000 for 2011, and adjust the figure for inflation each year.

The measure was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today and will now head to the full Senate for final legislative approval. The Assembly passed it about a month ago.

"More and more states are recognizing the need to pass this legislation," Stuart Spielman, a policy adviser and counsel to Autism Speaks, told the committee. "Given the severity of autism spectrum disorders for many people, providing comprehensive care is the best way . . . to realize savings down the road."

New Jersey has the country's highest rate of autism, with one in 94 children affected, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationwide, the average is one in 150 children.

Autism affects an individual's ability to communicate and socialize. Its symptoms can be barely noticeable to completely debilitating, and it has no known cure or cause, although genetic and environmental factors may contribute.

Some of the treatments entail expensive, evolving therapies that work well for some, but don't work for others. During past legislative hearings on the bill, some parents described depleting savings to pay for care for which they were not reimbursed by their health plans.

One treatment involves "teaching" a person with autism to identify a companion's emotions -- smiling, for instance, or crying -- and reacting appropriately. Others aim to redirect compulsive behavior, such as banging one's head.

"The committee should be applauded for recognizing this legislation as an incredibly sound and compassionate investment," Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) said in a statement. "The greatest cost would be the cost of doing nothing, not only for those trying to break through these disorders and their families, but for the taxpayers of New Jersey."

N.J. bill would require autism-treatment coverage

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:53:00 +0000

N.J. bill would require autism-treatment coverage

By Cynthia Henry

Inquirer Staff Writer

TRENTON - After testimony from parents who had depleted their savings to provide treatment for their autistic children, New Jersey Senate and Assembly committees yesterday advanced a bill that would require insurers to cover screening and therapies related to the disorder.

"If my child had cancer, diabetes or fetal alcohol syndrome, she would be covered," testified a tearful Hilary Downing of Readington, Hunterdon County. "The college savings of my older daughter is gone."

Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by repetitive movement and severe deficits in communication and social interaction. Researchers have found New Jersey to have a high prevalence of autism, for which there is no known cure.

"I don't know of any parent who wouldn't do everything in their power to give their autistic or developmentally disabled child every chance to excel," said Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D., Bergen), a bill sponsor. "However, the enormous cost of behavior intervention . . . makes it out of the realm of possibility for many families."

The Assembly may vote as early as Thursday. The Senate bill has moved to the Appropriations Committee.

Ten states, including Pennsylvania, have enacted legislation requiring coverage of autism treatment. Most of the laws cap benefits and the age of those covered.

Similar to Pennsylvania's law, which goes into effect July 1, New Jersey's bill would provide developmentally disabled patients under 21 with insurance benefits of up to $36,000 a year for diagnostic services and behavioral early intervention, as well as occupational, physical, and speech therapy.

"In this economy, every New Jersey resident is struggling, but families with kids with special needs are struggling even more," said Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. (D., Camden), who also sponsored the bill. "They're maxing out their credit cards and taking out second mortgages" to cover gaps in insurance.

Holly Masclans broke into tears as she testified that she had mortgaged her Haddonfield home three times and drained her older daughter's college fund to obtain $750,000 in behavioral and other therapies for two children with autism. "The only thing left that hasn't been treated is their stuttering, but we're broke," she said.

Roberts called expanding insurance coverage the "most significant piece of unfinished business" after passage of seven autism bills since 2007. New Jersey has improved early detection, increased research funding, studied needs of adults with autism, and created training programs for teachers and first responders.

The Legislature acted after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2007 that New Jersey had the highest autism rate among 14 states it was studying. Researchers found autism symptoms in one in 94 New Jersey children, compared with 1 in 150 in the other states, including Pennsylvania. Roberts and other witnesses yesterday attributed the state's rate, in part, to better diagnosis.

U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez (D., N.J.) and Bob Casey (D., Pa.) and Rep. Chris Smith (R., N.J.) are sponsoring federal legislation to expand autism insurance coverage.

No member of either New Jersey state committee objected to the measure. Two Assembly members abstained.

The New Jersey Business and Industry Association and New Jersey Association of Health Plans opposed the bill because of cost concerns.

As employers' insurance plans become more expensive, workers lose coverage, Christine Stearns, the business association's vice president for health and legal affairs, said in an interview. "How, who, and what is part of a basic health plan is all part of that," she said.

Stearns said that the bill was an improvement to previous versions because it required services to be medically necessary and prescribed; included a reasonable price cap; and ensured that the cost of educational services provided by schools would not be not shifted to insurers.

Roberts said improved coverage would enable earlier treatment and prevent costlier problems later. He referenced a University of California, Los Angeles, study that showed that 47 percent of autistic children who received early behavioral treatment went on to be "indistinguishable from their peers" and started elementary school in mainstream classes.

The annual cost difference between special education and regular-classroom instruction in New Jersey is nearly $37,000, he said. In the long term, he said, the state also would save on adult and institutional care.

The lifetime cost of caring for a person with autism is about $3.2 million, Harvard psychologist Michael Ganz estimated in 2006. In his study, the first to document the societal price of autism, Ganz suspected that parents' out-of-pocket expenses were underestimated.

Lisa Bilsky of Princeton said she spends hours on the telephone arguing about coverage for her 10-year-old son. Last week, she said, a claim was denied for a developmental pediatric visit. Even for benefits her insurance provides - such as occupational therapy - her son must frequently be recertified as needing treatment.

Autism is "not like you sprained your ankle. It's not going away," she said.

"A Genetic Clue to Why Autism Affects Boys More."

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Interesting Article found in Time by Alice Park.. Click below to read..

To Read the entire article.

Eden Autism Services now on Twitter!!

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Get all up to date event details from Eden Autism Services on twitter.

www.Twitter.com

USAAA New Jersey Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:31:00 +0000

World Autism Awareness Day - April 2nd, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:58:00 +0000

Many challenges come with raising a child with autism. Parents are often faced with issues like choosing appropriate screenings to determine symptoms and severity. Or the best course of treatment to help their child live a normal life. And when they're school age, what track do they put their child on. Would a special-education setting hinder or support their needs?

Click here.

Coutersy of MSN Health and Fitness

"Spider-man saves boy with Autism"

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:04:00 +0000

Thai firefighter Somchai Yoosabai became a super hero to an 8-year-old Thai boy Monday when he dressed up as Spider-Man to coax the boy from a third-floor building ledge. The boy, who has autism, had crawled out the window because he was scared during his first day at a Bangkok special needs school.

Click here to read the complete story and see the photos.

Eden Autism Services Supports the 2009 Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:22:00 +0000

President Obama Includes Funding For Autism In His FY 2010 Budget Proposal

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:31:00 +0000

President Barack Obama unveiled a Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposal that includes $211 million for the Combating Autism Act (CAA). This is the first year since the passage of the CAA that direct funding for autism has been included in the President’s budget proposal. Passed in 2006, the CAA authorized $920 million in federal funding over five years to fight autism through biomedical and environmental research, surveillance, awareness and early identification.

Read a summary of President Obama's proposed budget - which funding for autism.

President Barack Obama talks about autism in the Philadelphia area in 2008.

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:29:00 +0000

Court Finds Vaccines Don't Cause Autism

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Join Eden's Facebook Cause

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:58:00 +0000

Everyone please support Eden's efforts to raise autism awareness on Facebook.. Please join our cause.

Gatorade and Jason McElwain

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:18:00 +0000

CAMP EDEN - WEBSITE LAUNCHES

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:46:00 +0000

As of January 5th, 2009 - The new Eden Summer Camp Site is in full operation.

REMINDER: OUR FIRST SUMMER SESSION STARTS ON JUNE 28th 2009!!!!
CAMP EDEN PROVIDES SUMMER FUN
FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

Camp Eden, located at the Wawa Education & Retreat Center in Chaplin, Connecticut, is a privately owned coed residential camp for children with autism spectrum disorders. Established in 1995, its programs are specifically designed to focus on Adaptive and Therapeutic Recreation in a beautiful country setting. Camp Eden has successfully developed a unique program that caters to individual needs and cultivates personal growth. Those who have attended other regular or special camps without effective response have found their new experience at Eden to be particularly rewarding and beneficial. The staff at Camp Eden strives to develop a thorough understanding of each camper's specific needs. Its main program goal is to create a positive and comfortable setting for each child. Within these settings campers are exposed to a wide range of daily activities that inspire confidence and independence.

Come visit Camp Eden at its open house on Saturday, May 16th from 12 – 4 pm. Registration for Camp Eden ends May 31, 2009 and is on a first come first serve basis. The camp accepts children ages 7-21 who have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. For more information about Camp Eden visit www.camp-eden.org or contact Todd Garmer tgarmer@camp-eden.org or call (609) 426-8656 ext. 33.
Camp Eden is a division of the not-for-profit Eden Family of Services, whose mission is to improve the lives of individuals with autism and their families.

www.camp-eden.og

Coming Soon - Eden's Summer Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:40:00 +0000

For more information please visit www.camp-eden.org

"Sometimes a good night sleep is not as easy as boiling some warm milk." - By Nina Finkler - Director of Eden Outreach Support Services.

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:08:00 +0000

Parents and families of children with autism are often faced with many challenges. Even the simple day to day activities of eating, sleeping and going to the supermarket can be difficult for these families. Here are some helpful strategies that have proven successful over time.

Sleep/Nighttime Issues
Many times, we have heard parents of children with autism talk about how their child will not sleep through the night or has trouble falling asleep. While the lack of sleep often does not impact the child with autism, the other members of the family are often sleep deprived, stressed out and aggravated. We all can understand the value of a good night sleep. The first step in handling sleep related issues is to first realize that, as a parent, you cannot make your child sleep. Your focus must shift from having your child sleep to having your child safely remain in their bedroom and not disrupting the rest of the household. In order to do this you must:

1) Establish a consistent bedtime routine- This will teach your child the sequence of events that lead up to bedtime as well as what will happen once they go to bed.
2) Set up their room for safety- This may include window alarms or door alarms. If your child has the potential for climbing (on dressers, shelves etc), the availability of climbing must be removed.
3) Provide safe and acceptable activities- Since the goal is to have your child remain in their room and not come out repeatedly, they need to have activities to do that are reinforcing, novel, and will keep them busy thereby reducing the need to come out and explore the rest of the house.
4) Remain Neutral- If your child comes out of their room- you must remain neutral in tone and actions while immediately bringing them back to their room. Do not make this “bringing back” action reinforcing with prolonged kisses and ‘I Love You’s’ which can send a mixed message and increased attention. You should simply redirect back into their room, say ‘goodnight’, and close the door.
5) REINFORCE!- If your child stays in their room for the night, you need to provide a lot of positive reinforcement as this will motivate the child to repeat the actions in the future.

If the issue is focused more on your child sleeping in your bed with you and you have decided it is time for them to sleep in their own bed, you can gradually change this behavior as well. Start off with a sleeping bag, air mattress or cot right next to your bed. Your child can sleep in that bed for a period of a few nights. After those few nights, gradually move their mini bed away from yours towards the doorway, then outside your room, then in the hallway, into their room, and then into their big bed. Again for each successful night, they need to be REINFORCED.

A few final thoughts…as a parent, you have to be emotionally and physically ready to take on a problem behavior such a sleep. You also have to ready to make the commitment to be consistent with your response each time the behavior occurs. It may seem like an overwhelming challenge at first, but it can be done.

Story of Jason McElwain

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:14:00 +0000

My Piece of the Puzzle - By Bianca DelVecchio

noreply@blogger.com (Eden Outreach) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:06:00 +0000

Dinner begins peacefully enough for once. However, Jake must have sensed that we were more tranquil than usual (that, or he is not a fan of cauliflower), because at that moment when we lift our forks, he starts. He arches his back to the side in his chair and begins his strained, borderline-crying whine that puts us on edge. I live with him, and that sound, almost melodic in a broken way, the way people under stress sing to calm their nerves, still peeves me. He abandons his food, running into the living room, where he drops to the floor, and gives his head a few sound smacks directly on the temples for good measure. He lets out a yell as if we’re torturing him, though none of us have moved from the table. My mother follows Jake cautiously with her eyes for a moment, looks at his untouched plate, and quips “Well, I guess he didn’t like dinner”.

Our family continues eating without bothering to look at him, though we are all thinking about the fate of our poor defenseless TV, left alone with Jake’s rage. As expected, he gives our TV a shove. The TV does not seem to care much, so instead he goes to my father, gives him a small push on his shoulder in hopes of igniting a spectacular confrontation, and quickly darts away. Our eyes meet each other in mutual understanding of Jake’s pathetic, petty attempt at egging on my dad, and we all burst out laughing, because that is all we can do, and it was pretty funny. In comparison with other episodes, tonight was tame; no pulled down drapes, no holes in the wall, and no wrestling match with my father on the mat in the living room. In other words, a good day in our household.

Jake is severely Autistic. I say severely because I don’t want you to have a mental image of my brother as a Rain Man- like savant playing his newly composed rhapsody on the piano. This is someone who can be extremely self injurious. The experiences I have had living with Jake has not made me a benevolent perfect angel with the patience of a saint (far from that), but he has taught me about the nature of people, and has made me reflect on who I am, something I had never liked doing.

Jake has a way of revealing the true colors of people, which came in quite handy. As he became more behavioral, we noticed our relatives withdraw from our lives until they weren’t a part of it anymore. This was also the time where we had a parade of respite workers stream in our house, and leave just as swiftly. Even the school he attended couldn’t deal with him. They would send him home claiming he had a rash, when in fact it was Jake pinching himself all over his legs, to the point of bleeding. Then of course, there were the numerous strangers who would stare or yell at my parents insisting my brother be put away in a residence, as if they had a true understanding of kids like Jake. At that point we felt we couldn’t trust anyone to help Jake except ourselves.

Later, our family would find people who actually understood and accepted Jake’s Autism. There was Eden, a school that probably deserves a whole novel. There, I met people who genuinely liked Jake, even after having to hold him down during a tantrum. They also significantly brought down his behaviors, allowing the old Jake to come back. The staff became my role models. They were real down to earth people, who were happy with and dedicated to their job, unlike many of the people who worked with Jake before.

More importantly, the staff also became my friends. Jake obviously was their main focus, but they didn’t neglect the rest of the family. The behaviorist would come over every few weeks to talk strategy with my mom about what to do with Jake, and then would ask me about how I was doing in school, an unprecedented action. For the first time, I had people with whom I could be blunt with about Jake, because they understood. They knew how much of a terror Jake could be (though even when he’s in rare form, they say he’s being ‘naughty’). I could never talk about that with other people, which I suppose kind of alienated me from others, since they never knew all about me.

Through Eden I became involved in volunteering at respite weekends with special needs adults, which led to me running a program at a special needs camp. My experiences at respite weekends and camp have helped me by requiring me to interact with people, and lead them, of all things, when I felt more like hiding in my room with a book. As a result I discovered that contrary to what teachers have told me, I can project my voice, occasionally to the point of losing it. I can command people to engage in an activity I planned (most of them anyway) and they actually listen to me! Beforehand, I was very much a wallflower; this work experience helped me come out of my comfort zone. At camp, it wasn’t about me and my insecurities; it was about the campers. My job that summer helped me discover my strengths.

Mind you, Eden has not cured Jake. They aren’t going to; it can’t be done, no matter what the media or Jenny McCarthy says. The staff make him easier to live with, and give Jake a better quality of life. Jake still has tantrums, especially now that he is a teenager. Raging teen hormones are not conducive to autism. I still get angry at Jake, though he can’t control what he does during his mood swings. Out of pent up stress and frustration, I have been hostile with him, though he has never purposely hurt me back. He shouldn’t, but I know he still loves me; every time we ask him who his best friend is, he always says my name. Sure, it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when your brother is not very verbal, you take what you can get.

Every time I think about how life without Jake would be like, the negatives always weigh out the positives. Sure, there would be considerably less stress in our daily lives, I would have a closer relationship with my relatives, and my parents would finally get some sleep. But there would be so many people I would never have met, people who I can’t see living without now. By pure accident, I found out my chemistry teacher’s nephew had autism; her demeanor completely changed when I told her about Jake. Knowing that others are going through the same thing as you is a reassuring feeling; you know you’re not alone. For the longest time, I felt alone, and now I want to help others going through my situation. I want them to know there’s no such thing as having good or bad feelings about their sibling, but it’s something that needs to be talked about. My sister Sofia (5) already has anxiety and questions about Jake, and I have to explain to her that Jake’s self injurious behaviors are not done intentionally, but for safety reasons, I bring her upstairs when Jake is in rare form. She’ll grumble about being removed from watching her favorite TV program and how annoying Jake is. I’m glad she’s able to complain about Jake to me. Hopefully she will continue to confide in me about how she feels about our brother.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to drag Jake away from the food cabinet, because I really don’t want to clean up another box of dry spaghetti from the floor… again… but that’s life.