Autism Blog

Autistic kids shouldn't be treated any differe...

2012-05-30T18:14:52.701-07:00

Autistic kids shouldn't be treated any differently than anyone else. I feel that doctors and schools make this unfortunate disorder a lot more than it should be, instead of treating these kid's like all of the "normal" kids around; they treat then as though mentally disabled, which is extrememly wrong.

Your point of working to make sure your son has fu...

2012-05-30T13:38:13.691-07:00

Your point of working to make sure your son has full knowledge and proper expectations about traveling and meal time--our research from the University of MN on kids with ASD supports this idea too--that it helps to let children know ahead of time what is going to occur. The use of symbols or signs can help too. For instance when a child visits the dentist, parents can use a picture schedule showing the dentist working. Anyway, thanks for sharing your experiences.

Hello julie, I really Love reading your blog. And ...

2012-05-25T08:03:40.221-07:00

Hello julie, I really Love reading your blog. And you really such a good parent..

I'm a father of an autistic son.This year in t...

2012-05-24T00:14:59.751-07:00

I'm a father of an autistic son.This year in the month of July,we are planning a trip to California.My wife is in little fear because we don't know,how our child will react in a new area and atmosphere.
Did you concern any autism recovery help?

I'm guessing C1 is your child with Autism? If ...

2012-05-17T08:04:49.368-07:00

I'm guessing C1 is your child with Autism? If that's him well just by looking at the photos he took and his photo with you on the gondola, I'd say he looks pretty healthy and happy. And you seemed to have had a pleasant vacation, you've been doing a good job of handling his condition.

Sounds like you guys had a great time

2012-05-16T11:35:05.120-07:00

Sounds like you guys had a great time

Your son is lucky to have such thoughtful, well pr...

2012-05-07T18:16:22.988-07:00

Your son is lucky to have such thoughtful, well prepared parents.

Yes. Mostly, we just avoid milk and ice cream. Eli...

2012-04-14T18:12:37.102-07:00

Yes. Mostly, we just avoid milk and ice cream. Eliminating those items improved my son's behavior and also improved allergy symptoms.

Do you follow a special diet? If so, can you do a ...

2012-04-14T07:39:20.445-07:00

Do you follow a special diet? If so, can you do a brief summary?

Thanks very much, Stuart

So pleased to hear all went well. Heres to many mo...

2012-04-11T23:12:28.849-07:00

So pleased to hear all went well. Heres to many more!

I can honestly say that my life is much more meani...

2012-04-10T13:50:52.193-07:00

I can honestly say that my life is much more meaningful now that I have a child with autism. I agree that you get the opporunity to see life in a unique but beautiful way!

Hey, i found that for the Autism Awareness Month, ...

2012-04-02T07:52:40.217-07:00

Hey, i found that for the Autism Awareness Month, maybe it'll be of some interest to some of you. It's about a french initiative that shoulb be followed :

Nowadays, in France, 650.000 individuals are affected by autism, and it goes up to 2 millions if you include their close family members…
Condemned by the European Council in 2004, France is still very late in the area of research and adapted care for autism.

With the promotional films called “Les Electeurs” (The Voters), VAINCRE L’AUTISME calls on the French government, the politicians and the public. Autistic people have been left for a long time on the fringe of society. They still suffer from legislative, political, administrative and social discriminations.

VAINCRE L’AUTISME asks for a parliamentary commission to study autism in France, as well as an economic study on the cost of autism in France, and a specific legislation, adapted to the peculiarities of the autistic persons’ needs. VAINCRE L’AUTISME also stands up for the creation of the Autism General States, a moratorium against Packing and a ruling against unsuitable cares.

In 2012, every French autistic individual and his/her family will take into account the politicians’ commitment before voting.

Check the videos on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwvnNyN6nj0 and http://vaincrelautisme2012.com/

I can't wait to show this video to my little g...

2012-03-26T06:49:17.445-07:00

I can't wait to show this video to my little guy!

Hi Julie, it's a great joy and an educational ...

2012-03-19T22:22:18.591-07:00

Hi Julie, it's a great joy and an educational experience reading your blog and I must say this post is really helpful in helping me gain some perspective. Keep up the great work. Cheers!

i have 2 children with autism and i have put a pet...

2012-03-08T08:54:28.677-08:00

i have 2 children with autism and i have put a petition up to try to stop these changes and i have already talk to my state rep who is going to help me in my fight and a congressman has also responded to my plea if you want to check out my petition its

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Autism-and-other-medical-disorders-dsm/

Good post. Yea, the labeling of a child is alway...

2012-03-07T19:31:25.402-08:00

Good post. Yea, the labeling of a child is always problematic. My 13 old is severely autistic. When he is tested though, the results greatly depend on the mood he is in. If he is in a bad mood he will not do any of the tasks and get a zero. If he likes you and he is in the mood, he can do a great number of things. Anyway, enjoyed your posts.
kirk

As a therapist I share your concerns. Criteria cha...

2012-01-29T14:20:14.769-08:00

As a therapist I share your concerns. Criteria changing is already making it more difficult for my clients to qualify for services. It puts us in a difficult spot where we have to show progress but if we show too much the services get booted.

I agree with Accidental Expert. It appears these c...

2012-01-28T17:05:36.340-08:00

I agree with Accidental Expert. It appears these changes are just designed to deny certain children various services. It appears to be much to deep a cut to be accurate. Denying the problem doesn't make it disappear.

While I am in favor of redeveloping criteria for a...

2012-01-26T19:48:18.860-08:00

While I am in favor of redeveloping criteria for autism, I am not in favor of what has been done. One researcher estimated that up to 75% of those with Asperger's Syndrome and 85% of those with PDD-NOS would be excluded using the new diagnostic criteria. This is a huge gap and does not address the epidemic, instead denies services to the many that need them.

All of this recent talk has made me reflect on som...

2012-01-26T17:21:48.131-08:00

All of this recent talk has made me reflect on something. Our children with ASD generally struggle with change and transition as you have stated. But as a parent I find that I have what I'd call ASD induced anxiety. When I see changes and potential for change that could affect my child, where there are unknowns as to how things will play out, I stress. I think it will be interesting to see how this plays out. But it doesn't stop at DSM V. How will other groups react to this? As you know in Michigan a medical diagnosis is not used to secure public school services. So would this impact how the schools go about making their own determination? I think we have several years ahead with some interesting waves to ride. I hope they all bring us to the shoreline.

I agree that the stats you mentioned for kids on t...

2012-01-19T09:19:23.905-08:00

I agree that the stats you mentioned for kids on the spectrum being impaired is not consistent with my experience. I have seen many kids on the spectrum and as you mention they are usually very intelligent.

My 10 year old son Christopher recently underwent ...

2012-01-17T16:25:16.563-08:00

My 10 year old son Christopher recently underwent a battery of tests. He has already been diagnosed with ADHD & ODD at the age of 2 1/2, Bi-polar around age 5. He was never tested specifically for Autism/Aspberger's, they said there were a lot of aspects of the Autism spectrum present but not an actual diagnosis. A lot of traits fit which we were very sympathetic to, but we concentrated more on his other diagnosis, mostly his ADHD. But I've always known there was more to the picture. His recent testing has put him absolutely no question about it, in the high end functioning of the Autism Spectrum, Aspberger's. This has in a way been a shock to me but then again not. I just read All Cat's have Aspberger's and got shivers, because everything fits to a tee. He knows he's always been different and wants to know why...I am wondering if anyone has some advice about telling him...my husband said not to say anything, that my son Christopher would be crushed but I talked to Christopher about his differences in a round about way and he said he really wants to know why he's so different. I gave him other examples of his differences and possibilites for them that are true but I didn't mention Aspberger's....can anyone help me with this? I'd greatly appreciate some advice. Thanks, Kelley

Meltdown and tantrum to me on a comparison level a...

2012-01-04T16:49:54.092-08:00

Meltdown and tantrum to me on a comparison level are not remotely connected. The two are so totally opposite in rhyme and reason. The precipitation of a meltdown constitutes a total almost disconnect with the present situation. If you take the time to notice the child's eyes during the meltdown, it seems like they're catatonic in the moment and wide eyed. Tantrums to me denote a sense of maniplulation and control.

I was beyond 'frustrated' with the 'in...

2012-01-02T10:19:32.241-08:00

I was beyond 'frustrated' with the 'intelligence testing.' It is so daunting when you're first given that information. Hopefully they'll be more cautious in their dire predictions in the future.

That is the right track of course...not fair to tr...

2011-12-20T07:11:25.509-08:00

That is the right track of course...not fair to treat the autistic as mentally retarded.And this helps in understanding the patients and treating them as well.