@ Home Mum

Surviving Prostate Cancer Could Happen To You

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Tue, 25 May 2010 07:47:00 +0000

Some of Australia’s biggest TV, music, media and sports stars have come together to front a major prostate cancer awareness campaign that offers clarity about prostate cancer and testing. The campaign has been developed to provide men with clear advice on prostate cancer risk by encouraging men to discuss their individual risk and testing options with their doctor.

Well-respected actors, musicians, sportsmen and media commentators including Bert Newton, Steve Waugh, Gyton Grantley, Kirk Pengilly, Adam Spencer, Simon Westaway, and Marcus Graham, have dedicated their time to appear in a series of television commercials, radio commercials and online videos with the aim of reducing confusion some men feel about prostate cancer and prostate cancer testing. The television commercials were developed by award winning director, Paul Middleditch, of Plaza Films and Josh Whiteman, of The Host Agency. The campaign was shot entirely at The Wiggles Studios, in Sydney and edited by Peter Whitmore, of The Editors.

The campaign has been launched as new research shows the majority of men recognise prostate cancer as the most important men’s health issue (83%), but are seeking further information about the benefits of testing for prostate cancer risks and treatment options.

Early detection is the key to enabling better outcomes and potential cure of prostate cancer. Accordingly, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) recommends that men at 50 with no family history of prostate cancer, and men at 40 with a family history, should discuss prostate cancer and assess their personal risk each year with their doctor. If deemed necessary, a combination of both a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and a Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) is recommended.

Please talk to the men in your life ... husbands, partners, brothers, fathers and get them to go to their doctor and talk about their health.

Stephen Wiltshire - Sydney

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:00:00 +0000

From 19 April, Stephen Wiltshire will draw an image of Sydney, which he will do from memory following a climb up Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Stephen has been invited by Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) to coincide with Autism Month. The public is invited to watch Stephen at work, and to see a collection of his earlier works on display at Customs House, Circular Quay in Sydney, from 19 to 25 April 2010.

Venue: Customs House, Circular Quay
Admission: Free (donations welcomed)
Time: Customs House is open from 8am - Midnight - the exhibition will be open to the public at all times until April 25.

Each Day is a Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

For me the last few months as we traversed through the maze of diagnosis for my son and cancer treatment for one of our cats I have found that some days I have felt that I have just been working one day at a time. However I have also found strength in stories like this. I found this originally at Inspirational Words of Wisdom. I hope that this might be helpful for someone else ...

Each Day Is A Gift by Author Unknown

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. "I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room .... just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged, it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away, just for this time in my life."

She went on to explain, "Old age is like a bank account, you withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing."

And with a smile, she said, "Remember the five simple rules to be happy:  
1. Free your heart from hatred.  
2. Free your mind from worries.  
3. Live simply.
 4. Give more.  
5. Expect less."

One per cent children suffer from autism in U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A report by the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that one per cent children in the U. S. had autism in 2006. CDC’s most recent data show that between one in 80 and one in 240 children with an average of one in 110 have an ASD. These results reflect data collected by CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network in multiple communities throughout the U.S. in 2006.

Estimates are based on health and education records from participating communities, which includes eight percent of the U.S. population of eight year olds. All children in the studies were eight years old because previous research has shown that most children with an ASD have been identified by this age for services.

Experts also stated that boys were more affected by autism than girls. One in 70 boys was diagnosed with the disorder, compared with one in 315 girls. But reports also stated that girls diagnosed with autism had more severe symptoms.

Catherine Rice, a CDC behavioral scientist who worked on the new report, stated that autism might actually not be increasing but it depends on how well records are kept.

Personally ... if it is an increase or even if we are just gettig better at identifying it I think we need to do more in our communities to support people on the spectrum and their families. This includes early invention but also services for life. This is a life long condition that does not disappear after the age of 8. We need to do more .. we must do more.

Autism & iPhone

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer: Before I start I should point out I am a technology junkie and have worked in technology companies for the last 10 years. I also love my iPhone and would be lost without it. However I am in no way endorsing any of these products below and have no affiliations with any of the creators.

I was looking through the Apple iTunes Store while feeding my daughter. I typed in Autism just to see what would come up. I was very surprised at the number of applications that had some reference to Autism. The applications seem to fit into a few buckets

Pre-diagnostic tools
Games/Tools to help children on the spectrum
Tools to help Parents/Therapiset record information
Information & News on Autism
Autism Awareness

A couple I found interesting ..

Pre-Diagnostic Tools - Autism M- Chat
Autism M-Chat is based on the the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT™; Robins, Fein, & Barton, 1999) M-CHAT is a validated tool for screening toddlers between 16 and 30 months of age to assess the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

However it should be noted that caution must be used, given that the current scoring system is designed to maximize sensitivity (i.e., identify as many children with autism spectrum disorders as possible), which results in a number of false positive cases (i.e., children who will not be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, although they fail the M-CHAT).

When thinking about buying this tool, that it's main advantages are that it scores the test and can email it t a specified location ... as you can download the test yourself (to score manually) from web for free.

Cost AU$1.19

Games/Tools to help children on the spectrum - Kindergarten.com ABA Games and Tools
They have about 24 games and they look like alot of fun. I have only played a few of the games but they look like a great idea to keep kids on the spectrum engaged while teaching some basic skills. All of the games have been created using behavioural techniques that are based on the principals of "Applied Behaviour Analysis" (ABA) using a "Verbal Behaviour" Technique.

One I did play was Which Does Not Belong. This application introduces the child to the negative form “NOT” which requires some expanded thinking. The application provides the user with 4 images per page, and asks which one does not belong. Such as grapes, strawberry, orange and a chocolate cupcake. Another example may be three chairs and a stool or a police man, a firefighter, a construction worker and a young girl.

One great thing also about these games is that they are FREE during April in honour of Autism Awareness Month.

http://kindergarten.com/

Summary
The tools for parents and professionals look interesting but I am not sure if they are the most appropriate medium (and you can also get alot of the same information for free through other sources) ... And for the games ... I am wondering how many people let their kids play with their iPhone ... or have given their child a iPhone or iPod Touch. However as they are free for the month of April ... I think they are worth downloading and I will be happy if I am proved wrong.

Don't Palm Us Off - Sumatran Tigers and Palm Oil

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sumatran Tigers are losing their habitat – forests are being cleared to make way for unsustainable farming and forestry including oil palm plantations.

To save precious animal habitat, palm oil must come from sustainable farms. As a first step, sign the Taranga Zoo petition to call for the labelling of palm oil on food products, so that we can work towards a sustainable solution.

Did you know that palm oil is an ingredient in one in four food products? And that most of the world's supply comes from Indonesia and Malaysia - including the rainforest home of the endangered Sumatran Tiger.

Check out the Taranga Zoo website for more ideas on how you can help to get better labeling on food products and help animals like the Sumatran Tiger.

Don't forget that Taranga Zoo is a great day out for kids of all abilities. Studies show animal therapy can truly help kids with special needs. That's why a trip to the zoo can be quite rewarding. But if you have a child with autism, a day at the zoo may present some challenges. My secret to zoo success is do not try and do everything in one day. There is just too much to see and do. My family are Zoo friends and we can come back as many times during the year as we like. There are also some great places within the zoo that you can go to give both your kids and yourself a break including the Kidzoo.

AutismGames and WhizKid Games.

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

AutismGames.com.au is a site for parents and teachers of children with moderate to severe autism. The information on this site describes the objectives of the games found on WhizKidGames a games portal for autistic children. The games are a free resource that aim to help autistic children to develop independent living skills. Each game has keywords such as 'special activity' that are reinforced so that in-game learning can be transferred into real world situations.

Autism Games is a collaboration between Swinburne University's Multimedia Design Program, Bulleen Heights Specialist School, Swinburne Autism Bio-Research Initiative (SABRI) and the National eTherapy Centre (NeTC). Created by more 80 students 8 lecturers and 10 autism specialists, the project represents more than 16,000 hours of research and development.

This site is fantastic and I think can be enjoyable way to reinforce skills with kids in enjoyable way

http://www.autismgames.com.au/

Australian Autism Handbook - A must read

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This book was written for all those who care for or work with children who have an autism spectrum disorder. It has a specific relevance for families whose children have and in the process of being diagnosed or have recently been diagnosed.

The Australian Autism Handbook is first and foremost a useful book, a comprehensive guide to what autism spectrum disorders are and what they are not. It has chapters on early intervention, useful therapies and schooling (click on The Book above to see full list of chapters). The Australian Autism Handbook is both informative and reliable, it is steeped in science but also deeply personal.

The Resource and Services Guide has sections covering federally-funded support and state-by-state listings. Information includes: what benefits can be claimed; what can Medicare offer; where to find reliable, unbiased information; where to buy resources to help children learn

I think that the book is a fabulous resource and should be provided to parents when Autism is first raised by their doctor or Pediatrician as a possible condition for their child as they wait for diagnostic services. The books gives a great introduction to the condition and what options are available for intervention with great insights from parents with children that have been there and ones that are older to give you an insight into what might possibly evolve. It also a great comfort during this difficult time and provides great hope for the future.

Links

Building Foundations DVD - Autism: Your Child, Your Family

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Building Foundations is a 30-minute DVD and detailed manual for families who have recently had a child diagnosed with autism. It features families and service providers talking about their experiences. It provides information about autism to families and the people who work with their children and shows some simple strategies parents can use to help their child.

The information includes:

What is autism?,
After the diagnosis
Helping communication
Play and social interaction
Managing behaviour

To acccess your copy go to the Aspect website or call 7800 069 978 (02 8977 8377)

Welcome to the Club - Post by a diary of a mom

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:56:00 +0000

Today I have read a really beautiful post on a Blog called "a diary of a mom". It is a letter to a friend whose child has recently been diagnosed with autism. This is a MUST read for anyone that is in the process of being diagnosed or just diagnosed.

Welcome to the club - http://adiaryofamom.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/welcome-to-the-club/

Stephen Wiltshire: The Human Camera - Autism Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0000

Stephen Wiltshire has been called the "Human Camera." In this short excerpt from the film Beautiful Minds: A Voyage into the Brain, Wiltshire takes a helicopter journey over Rome and then draws a panoramic view of what he saw, entirely from memory.

Japanese Autism Awareness Ad

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Great Ad for Autism Awareness.I think it has a really interesting perspective

Livvi's Place, Timbrell Park Five Dock

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0000

HAPPY World Autism Awareness Day!!!

Last week I have discovered a wonderful new playground that both of my children love ... It is called Livvi's Place at Five Dock. Livvi's Place is a world’s first all abilities playground. It was created to make a ‘level playing field’ for children with special needs. The park is unique in the fact that children, regardles of their ability, can play side by side. The Livvi’s Place playground aims to dramatically reduce the barriers experienced by children with special needs, thereby giving them a level playing field for life.

Livvi’s Place at Timbrell Park is the initiative of the Touched by Olivia Foundation and the result of a unique partnership of three founding partners, Touched by Olivia Foundation, City of Canada Bay and Leighton Contractors.

Following extensive research and consultation with authorities (in their field) including leading academics, play, disability and landscape experts, the partners have taken a holistic approach to address the needs of children with multiple forms of disability including: mobility, vision and hearing impairment as well as spectrum disorders such as autism to ensure a safe, secure environment where all children can play.

Features include:

* Livvi’s Place is inter-generational – Play equipment has been uniquely designed to enable a parent, grandparent, carer or sibling to play side-by-side on the same equipment as the child with the disability regardless of age or ability
* The whole area including the BBQ area is fenced in.
* There is no smoking both witin and around the playground
* Pathways with colour strips and no visible breaks in path ways
* All play items can be viewed from the path enabling children with spectrum disorders to first assess the area to ensure they feel secure enough to play
* Newly designed and largest carousel of its type, with dual speed controller
* Newly designed tandem bull rider, allowing parent or sibling to swing with a child
* Newly designed birds nest swing, allowing parents or sibling to swing with a child
* Newly designed special slide, allowing parents or sibling to sit behind and support a child

If you are in the area I would recommend checking out Livvi's Place.

http://www.touchedbyolivia.com.au/html/Livvis_place_timbrell_park.htm

World Autism Awareness Day - Don't forget to wear blue tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000

Welcome to World Autism Awareness Month!!

This month I am going to celebrate with the blog blue for the whole month and I will work on all of my posts including something on Autism Awareness.

There is so much happening this month.

Here are some ways you can get involved and increase awareness

Wear Blue on April 2!!
Organise a fundraising Easter egg hunt at your school, work or community group and donate the funds to your favourite Autism Charity
Organise a fundraising lunch or high tea with your friends and donate the funds to your favourite Autism charity
Raise awareness by telling other parents and friends about ASD and the early warning signs, and encourage them to join our 1000 hours campaign at www.1000hours.com.au
Attend the Autism Victoria WAAD March to the State Library in Melbourne on Thursday 1 April 2010
Contact Autism Awareness for copies of “The Early Warning Sign’ Booklet for you to distribute to your family, friends, school parents group, area health service or community group
If you have a Facebook or MySpace page, change your profile picture to the WAAD logo and add a message to your wall telling your friends about WAAD and how to join the 1000 hours campaign

My Deaf Family Reality Show

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000

Today I saw the pilot "My Deaf Family" on Youtube. This is a really excellent program that I recommend that you watch and get behind. I can't believe that the networks can not see the value (and the commercial benefit) of supporting and broadcasting a show of this quality.

I highly recommend that you watch it!!

WAAD March 1st April - Autism Victoria

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000

Autism Victoria is calling on the community to get behind World Autism Awareness Day on Thursday April 1st 2010 and they have organised a march from the Autism Victoria offices to the State Library. Once there, they will release 1000 multicoloured balloons into the sky to visually respect and represent the individuality of those on the Autism Spectrum. The balloons will also represent the number of Early Intervention hours the 1000 hours campaign is fighting for.

Where? Autism Victoria – 24 Drummond St, Carlton

When? 12pm Thursday 1st April

Motogp - Mancation for Colin Edwards and Ben Spies

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:08:00 +0000

This just cracks me up!!

ScrapArtist - 30% off March Madness Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000

If you are a Digi-Scrapbooker and like a bargain ... head on over to Scrapartist for their March Madness Sale. They have 30% off the whole store. Some of my favourite artists including Biograffiti, Dianne Rigdon Design & HGD by Laurie Ann have their stores at Scrapartist. Definitely worth a look.

Vista Print

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000

I have found an idea that I think is worth exploring Mummy cards. I know it sounds alittle crazy at first but think about it. Coming from the business world I am used to when you meet someone that as part of the introductory process is to share business cards. A great custom of easily and quickly sharing details without wasting alot of time and effort. Now that I spend more time in the home and the people that I meet are of a more personal than professional manner I am finding that I am missing this custom. Sharing details usually involves scrambling in my bag for a pen and some paper or getting them to read out the details to me as I enter it directly into my phone.

I am thinking that I am going to get some made ... but where. The great thing is that there are lots of options. If you want the simplest you can go to a specialty Mummy Card Maker like Mummy cards (example left is from Mummy card) or if you are willing to be alittle creative you can use a service like VisaPrint.

VisaPrint offer very cmpetitive rates for the creation of business cards or mummy cards. From Free Business cards (1-sided based on provided templates) where you only pay for the postage to fully customisable 2-sided colour Business cards. They are definitely worth a look if you don't want to pay the premium of a customized Mummy card service

Top 10 Reasons to use your Mommy Cards:

1. New moms you meet and want play dates with
2. Contact info for Babysitter
3. Neighbours
4. Existing friends (the cards are just too cute not to share)
5. Put in holiday cards, birthday cards, thank you cards and more
6. When dropping off your child at someone’s house for a play date or birthday party
7. If your child is lost you can give out the card with their picture on it to help find them
8. Keep one in your suitcase or diaper bag in case it gets lost
9. Will make grandparents smile
10. Just for fun!

JOKE - Children s Science Exam

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0000

A friend of mine sent this to me and it just gave me a a good laugh. If anyone knows the origins please let me know as I would like to pay full dews. I hope you enjoy ...

If you need a good laugh, try reading through these children's science exam answers....

Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.

Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

Q: How can you delay milk turning sour? (Brilliant, love this!)
A: Keep it in the cow.

Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.

Q: What are steroids?
A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.

Q: What happens to your body as you age?
A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.

Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery. (This kid gets an A+ for this answer!)

Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? (i.e. abdomen)
A: The body is consisted into three parts -- the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels A, E, I, O, and U.

Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.

Q: What does 'varicose' mean? (I do love this one...)
A: Nearby.

Q: Give the meaning of the term !Caesarian Section".
A: The Caesarian Section is a district in Rome.

Drawtism

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000

Drawtism is the first National Awareness and Fundraising campaign for autism in Australia, bringing together Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) in NSW, Autism Association of WA, and Autism SA. Funds raised will go to increasing the scope and calibre of services of our collective programs.

All you have to do is organise a game of Pictionary and get the people that who play to donate a bit of money towards a good cause. Pictionary is the game of choice because it help shows the communication struggles people with autism face.

For more details on how you can host your own party or find one near you go to http://www.drawtism.com.au

Stroller Skis

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000

Have you ever had a crazy idea and then searched the net to see it if exists just for a laugh? Well ... yes that is exactly what I did when I came across Stroller Skis.

I was thinking about our family holiday this year to the snow and I was thinking about the difficulty I had last year without my stroller. Now with 2 children I thought it would be great if I could have a stroller when on the snow. Having a toddler that could and would want to walk but also a baby I thought it would be great if I had my stroller. (Not for skiing ... just for walking between the lodge, skitube and other buildings) So for a laugh I looked up skis for strollers.

I was shocked when I found that this product was sold on Amazon (while currently not in stock and not known when to be back in stock)

I guess there are communities that spend many months with snow so it makes sense that they have something to help with strollers or just getting around in general outside with small children. I guess it just shows that sometimes even he craziest ideas ... can be to some people be both of business opportunity and useful tool.

Light It Up Blue - Shine a Light on Autism

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:00:00 +0000

On the night of April 1, prominent buildings across North America and the world including the Empire State Building in New York City will be lit up blue to raise awareness for autism and to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Friday, April 2.

The aim is to light the world blue, too – city by city, town by town, webpage and blog by webpage and blog – by taking action to raise awareness about autism in our communities.

US Buildings include

Nevada State Capitol, Carson City, NV
Governor's Mansion, Carson City, NV
Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
Willis Tower, Chicago, IL
One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL
Wrigley Building, Chicago, IL
Fountain Square, Cincinnati, OH
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Denver City & County Building, Denver, CO
Pennsylvania Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA
Montana Capitol Building, Helena, MT
JP Morgan Chase Tower, Houston, TX
Kansas City Downtown Marriott Hotel, Kansas City, MO
Los Angeles Airport (LAX) Pylons, Los Angeles, CA
L'Etoile Restaurant, Madison, WI
Miami Tower, Miami, FL
Empire State Building, New York, NY
Madison Square Garden Marquee, New York, NY
New York Stock Exchange, New York, NY
Radio City Music Hall Outdoor Façade, New York, NY
FUSE Networks, New York, NY
John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport Air Traffic Control Tower, New York, NY
Brooklyn Borough Hall, New York, NY
Barclays Capital, New York, NY
The Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel, New York, NY
Boqueria Restaurant, New York, NY
Corton Restaurant, New York, NY
Mas(farmhouse) Restaurant, New York, NY
Abe & Arthur's Restaurant, New York, NY
Copeland Restaurant, Morristown, NJ
UpRoot Restaurant, Warren, NJ
Benjamin Franklin Bridge, Philadelphia, PA
Secretary of State Howlett Building, Springfield, IL
Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum, St. Louis, MO
The Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, MO
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
Clematis Street Fountain, West Palm Beach, FL

International Buildings include

The Bell Tower, Perth, Australia
Bangabandhu Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
CN Tower, Toronto, Canada
Nicosia Town Hall, Nicosia, Cyprus
Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, New Zealand
Kingdom Tower Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Bermuda's City Hall, Hamilton, Bermuda
Shaheed Hussain Adam Building, Maldives

What can you do to help "Light It Up Blue"

Post on your blog about how you are “lighting it up blue” to raise autism awareness.
Add the Light It Up Blue logo to your e-mail signature … and type your e-mails in blue!
Wear your Autism Speaks puzzle piece pin every day throughout the month of April, and tell people about autism if they ask about it.
Change your Facebook profile picture to the Light It Up Blue logo and tag at least 10 of your friends.
On April 2 wear blue clothing and ask your co-workers, schools and friends to wear blue too. Take pictures and add them to the "Light It Up Blue" Flickr gallery.
Bake puzzle piece shaped cookies and frost them with blue icing, then bring them to your school, work to raise autism awareness.

http://www.lightitupblue.org/

Hackers Attack ASPECT and other Autism website

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:47:00 +0000

I knew that the ASPECT website had been down for almost a week ... but I thought that it was because they might be doing something for Autism Month. Unfortunately this was not the case.

I was told and have now found an article to support this that the website was hacked (Hack in the box). I am surpised that this has not been picked up by mainstream media.

I don't know if this is true ... but if it is ... that is horrible.

Article from Hack in a box - Hackers crash Aussie charity websites - Monday, March 22, 2010 - 01:19 AM

_____

The internet services of two Australian autism support organisations have been crashed by computer hackers and a third may also have fallen victim, raising fears of a targeted attack to coincide with autism month.

Austism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT), the country's autism service provider, is losing hundreds of dollars in online donations each day after its website was hit by hackers early on Sunday.

The hackers closed web forums, a group email service and registration pages for events. The codeword-restricted intranet site for the autism training organisation Positive Partnerships was also hit. Austism Victoria's intranet service also went down.

_________

Update I have found confirmation on the ASPECT Temporary website

http://autismmonth.wordpress.com/website-update/

________

On Sunday 14 March the Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) website was hacked by someone in the United States impacting the text content only on the website. The website company has been working to rebuild the site with the assistance of data recovery professionals.

We hope to have the website up again as soon as possible. At this stage we do not have a definite timeframe, but remain hopeful that we can fully recover the site in the coming days.

Shifting Focus: 8 Facts About Autism the Media Is Not Covering

noreply@blogger.com (Broni) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:12:00 +0000

This is a great article I read from the Huffington Post that I thought was worth sharing. Please check out the orginal at Shifting Focus: 8 Facts About Autism the Media Is Not Covering by Holly Robinson Peete

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/holly-robinson-peete/shifting-focus-8-facts-ab_b_501183.html

____________

Over the years many parents have reached out to me for emotional support after their child was diagnosed with autism. I particularly remember getting Jenny McCarthy's phone call shortly after her son's diagnosis. Like most moms and dads, she needed to connect with somebody who knew first hand the swift gut-kick of this difficult diagnosis, somebody who had been in the trenches for 7 years already.

We cried. We cussed. We even managed to laugh. We spoke for eight hours. She was naturally frustrated with the lack of answers about autism. I was there for her as I'd be for any parent, and I told her she was blessed to get such an early diagnosis. Her passion was palpable and I could tell she was going to grab autism by the horns, making it her mission and focus. I knew she'd help spread autism awareness like nobody else could and the media would pay attention. Since that phone call, she has created a very successful platform with her powerful opinions, blogs and books on vaccine safety, diet and recovering her son among other things. It has been a courageous, controversial and fearless ride. Miss Jenny is not scared to get in the ring with the big boys!

Though I share many of same concerns, I feel compelled to shed light on the fact that families affected by autism are struggling on multiple levels. We need a shift of focus to share the spotlight with other often overshadowed issues that profoundly impact families daily.

To that end, below I highlight 8 things about autism the media is not covering enough. They are not hot-button, provocative or headline-grabbing, but with 1 in 110 children affected by autism (and rising), these issues desperately need more attention:

1. Autism Is Unaffordable

I'd love to see more media focus on how ridiculously expensive it is to treat a child with autism. You can counsel folks all day long to get early intervention, but who in the world can pay for it? Therapies can average over $100-$150 an hour - many require up to 14 or more hours a week. With insurance companies still not covering the vast amount of therapies needed, too many families are forced to pay out of pocket for much of these expenses. A 2006 Harvard study puts the average cost of services for an individual with autism is $3.2 million over his/her lifetime! A total of $35 billion a year is spent on services for individuals with autism in the U.S. The numbers have climbed since then...

Bottom line is treatment is completely and ridiculously unaffordable and can financially bring a family to its knees... even in good times.

Families live on pins and needles with hopes that they're doing the right thing. But the fact is for too many, the things we want to do are simply out of reach financially. I can think of no worse scenario than not being able to afford to help your child.

2. Parental Guilt

So if you are blessed enough to afford it, in my experience it seems that some kids can improve tremendously with a mix of intensive behavioral, biomedical and other treatments. But the fact is so many likely will never be "recovered" and nothing, I mean nothing, makes a parent feel more guilty than thinking you could've "fixed" your kid but... well you didn't or couldn't afford to. If you have a child who is non-verbal and severely impacted by autism, for example, and all you want to hear is him speak or just use the word "no" appropriately, it can be maddening to hear that someone else did x, y or z and now their kid is no longer on the spectrum at all. So many parents have shared with me how badly they feel about this. And although I personally have broken my butt for my son and though he has overcome many challenges we were told he would not, he still has autism. What could I have done better? Oh the guilt! Don't get me wrong, I am always elated for any child's success in this journey, but it can be very hard to swallow at times-making you feel like a failure. Just one mom's opinion, keeping it real...

Alas, accepting my son's progress or lack thereof is the key to moving forward with my head up.

3. Puberty Plus Autism Can Be a Volatile Mix

Our son is almost 13 and has entered puberty. Oftentimes kids on the spectrum can start puberty prematurely, and it can be an extremely jarring experience.

A dear friend of mine and autism "Superdaddy" explains puberty's effect on autism like this: "[Puberty is] an 'oy vey' for a normal child but it can send hormones racing in a child with autism that they don't know how to deal with."

The hormonal surge can cause violent and unpredictable behavior. Stress and depression can develop accompanied by social ostracism.

Our son has suddenly regressed recently after making so much progress, bringing us a new set of challenges we hadn't anticipated. We always always remain extremely hopeful and have been blessed beyond our wildest dreams with what he has been able to overcome to this point. But puberty has been a challenge more parents need to be prepared for. It can be a completely different dynamic at this age. Let's get that out there, please.

4. Minority Children are Diagnosed with Autism Years Later Than Other Children

There are a lot of mysteries about autism. But one thing we know, according to a study covered by CNN:

if a child is diagnosed with autism as early as 18 months of age, offering the toddler age-appropriate, effective therapy can lead to raised IQ levels and improved language skills and behavior.

That's why the fact that African American, Asian and Hispanic children tend to be diagnosed much later than other children (sometimes 2-5 years later) is extremely concerning and needs more attention. One reason these children are diagnosed later is that there are more barriers for socio-economically challenged families to access information. Certain developmental milestones are ignored, unknown or overlooked. Another part of the reason is that there are some cultural and social stigmas about mental health and a fear of talking openly or seeking help for them. So the hope often is that the child will just grow out of it. We just need way more infiltration of autism information and support in minority communities, which will hopefully result in earlier diagnosis. I've visited black churches with this message letting them know they can be extremely helpful in this effort. We can't allow the window for "age-appropriate, effective therapy" to close on these kids.

5. Autism Can Be Tough on A Marriage

Autism is not a divorce mandate. Often it can bond a family tighter. But too often the financial and/or emotional toll autism can take leaves some couples feeling distanced from each other. This was the case with our marriage. My husband and I narrowly survived statistic status. But over the last 10 years I have marveled at his ability to evolve as a father and husband during this bumpy ride that he chronicled in his new book Not My Boy! A Father, A Son, and One Family's Journey with Autism (Hyperion).

I want to shamelessly plug my former NFL QB's evolved, honest account of his pain of dealing with this diagnosis. His personal revelation was that he had to adjust his expectations of his son. Our hope is that Not My Boy! will help so many dads (and moms) confront these challenges without feeling so alone. Rodney has taught me that men process things so differently. I could have been more patient and empathetic with respect to that... a book like this might have offered me that insight earlier on.

Couples digging deep to find the strength and resources to take on this fight together may be rewarded by actually connecting more deeply through this journey instead of being fractured by it.

6. Autism's Effect on Siblings

We don't see too much coverage about what the siblings of autism endure.

Ruined play dates, family outings cut short due to a brother's or sister's public meltdown, feelings of neglect, life planned exclusively around the affected child, social stigma... the list goes on.

It can be devastating for a typical child to have to grow up in such an environment. Sibs are often overlooked and really need a bit of attention; parents need tips to help the siblings cope.

I'm so hopeful this will change a bit with the release of My Brother Charlie, a new children's book co-written by my daughter and me. (We've been a busy family!) Told from a sister's perspective, in My Brother Charlie Callie acknowledges that while it hasn't always been easy for her to be Charlie's twin, she advocates lovingly for her brother, letting people know about all the cool things he can do well. I pray this book will go a long way towards fostering autism acceptance among children and mainstream schools. We found it hard to believe that there wasn't already such a book in children's libraries, considering the rising number of children on the spectrum. We are thrilled that Scholastic stepped up enthusiastically to embrace this important effort.

7. Adults Living with Autism

The face of autism is changing. Our children grow up. Understandably, every parent stresses about what will become of their child with autism in adulthood. It's my own personal recurring nightmare. We ask ourselves: How will he make it in this cruel world without me? Will he live on his own? Will he ever get married or have meaningful relationships? Who will protect his heart? Our fears in this area can consume us.

Here are a few sobering facts:

•More than 80% of adults with autism between 18 and 30 still live at home (Easter Seals)

•There is an 81% unemployment rate among adults with autism (CARD)

•78% of families are unfamiliar with agencies that could help them (CARD)

•At least 500,000 children with autism will become adults during the next decade, and they will need homes, jobs, friends and a future

The good news is many adults living with this disorder live very fulfilling lives, but too many face a variety of difficulties including anxiety, depression, anger and social isolation.

We must create meaningful respectful futures for adults with autism that include homes, jobs, recreation, friends and supportive communities. They are valuable citizens!

How glorious would it be to get more media attention on this particular issue.

And bravo to Fox Searchlight Pictures for their beautiful and enlightening film Adam, which gave great insight into what it is like for a young man with Asperger's syndrome to live and thrive on his own.

8. Autism Advocates Who Actually Have Autism:

What a concept! Rarely do you hear any stories in the media about people actually affected by autism ever weighing in on the issues surrounding it. Because people on the spectrum may seem disengaged, they hear you talking about them and can develop frustration at not being able to respond to issues that affect them. We all need to remember that...

I have had some enlightening and profound conversations with folks on the spectrum who have made it very clear that they feel completely excluded from any national autism conversation. I've had some ask me to be very mindful about my language when speaking about autism. For example, several have said to me they cringe at the word "cure." Many have expressed that they feel this was their destiny, that they were born this way so stop trying to "cure me." Whatever our views or personal agendas, we have to respect that.

Others have been frustrated by the polarizing issues disproportionately covered in the media and would prefer for us neuro-typicals to focus that energy towards trying to understand their world, how they see things. "Come into my world!" one 25 year old young man with Asperger's told me passionately.

My friend, 14-year-old Carly Fleischmann, has autism, and has taught me more about it through her expressive writings than I've learned in any book! You go, Carly!

I am also so grateful to HBO for recently airing the sensational Temple Grandin, finally giving us an image in the media of an adult with autism advocating beautifully and articulately for others like herself.

Bottom line: Their opinions should be heard, valued and included.

So here's to breaking off 8 rays of the media spotlight towards some other important autism issues. Families affected by autism deserve more than just fiery headlines; we deserve a 360 degree, multi-faceted conversation. Spread the word!