Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew: Part 7; Focus On What I Can Do

As I’ve mentioned before (Six times now) I recently finished reading the book “Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm. The full article can be found on-line and the book is available at Amazon.com. Here’s the seventh part from an article by the same name: 

Please focus and build on what I can do rather than what I can’t do. Like any other human, I can’t learn in an environment where I’m constantly made to feel that I’m not good enough and that I need “fixing.”  Trying anything new when I am almost sure to be met with criticism, however “constructive,” becomes something to be avoided.  Look for my strengths and you will find them. There is more than one “right” way to do most things.

I read a great blog this morning–  “Soccer Moms” February 6th on http://asdmommy.wordpress.com/  Check it out. C’s mom puts it so well!  (Thanks, Darcy!)

We need to pick our battles, work on encouraging and building self esteem in our children (be they autistic or not) and strengthen their skills.  Does it really matter if they score a goal? Does it matter if they are exceptional musicians or mathematicians?

What does matter is that our children are confident and complemented. What does matter is that they are loved for being themselves. What does matter is that they try.

John Edwards on Autism

I spent some time looking around John Edwards’ website and in his blog section the mother of an autistic 12 year old (Austin), prouddem316 writes of Mr. Edwards: “He has looked me in the eye and said “things will change for kids like Austin” and I believe him, I do.” http://blog.johnedwards.com/user/prouddem316

I haven’t looked him in the eye. I don’t know whether to believe him or not… a debate about Autism would sure help!

I emailed Edwards’ campaign this morning and so far no form letter– points for him! Obama and Clinton both sent form letters referring me to their sites… OK. I don’t expect them to call me but, come ‘on… that didn’t help. I’ll wait to see what becomes of the email to Edwards.

Autism is my Giant

Our minister is doing a series of sermons on Heroes of the Bible… you expect the usual– Daniel, Saul (Paul), Esther, Abraham, Moses… But who is Caleb? I’m the daughter of missionaries– was there whenever the Church doors were open… and I really couldn’t remember this guy…

Caleb was Joshua’s sidekick. (You know the wall of Jericho– Joshua and the trumpets the wall came tumbling down…) Anyway, Caleb was a good guy.  He was sent into the Promised Land with Joshua (and several others) to check it out before they went in.  Caleb came back and told the people of Israel that it was amazing! “We gotta go there! Sure, there are some giants but we can take ‘em!” To make a long story short– God approved of Caleb’s report and promised him the land they had seen.  45 years later– by now Caleb was 85– Caleb goes to Joshua and says it’s time. “I’m ready to go fight the giants and take possession of the land God promised me.” (Obviously this is paraphrased…)

Forgive me if I have taken too many liberties with the script but, each of us has a giant… be it an unhappy marriage, money issues, childhood pain– or Autism.

Autism is my giant. I love it and hate it. I love who it has made my son and I hate that it penetrates every area of my life… I hate that it makes simple (simple for me) things so difficult for my son. I hate that when it’s time to go– it’s time to go.  The red shirt goes with the white vest. All food is white and language is difficult… I hate that my son can’t tell me what he wants to be when he grows up… 

I’m really conflicted about wanting it to go away because in some way it makes me feel like I don’t love J the way he is– but I do! I don’t want him to be somebody else– I just want it to be easier for him– and, when I’m being painfully honest; easier for me…

So, Autism is my giant– and, here I am ready to battle it! I can take it on!

Hey! Candidates– watch this before you finalize your healthcare plans!

http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214

Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew- Part 2; My Sensory Perceptions Are Disordered

Here is part two of a ten part series from the new book I’m reading: Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm. The following is an excerpt from the article by the same name:

My sensory perceptions are disordered.  This means that the ordinary sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches of everyday that you may not even notice can be downright painful for me.  The very environment in which I have to live often seems hostile.  I may appear withdrawn or belligerent to you but I am really just trying to defend myself.  Here is why a “simple” trip to the grocery store may be hell for me:

My hearing may be hyper-acute.  Dozens of people are talking at once.  The loud speaker booms today’s special.  Muzak whines from the sound system.  Cash registers beep and cough, a coffee grinder is chugging.  The meat cutter screeches, babies wail, carts creak, the fluorescent lighting hums.  My brain can’t filter all the input and I’m in overload!

My sense of smell may be highly sensitive.  The fish at the meat counter isn’t quite fresh, the guy standing next to us hasn’t showered today, the deli is handing out sausage samples, the baby in line ahead of us has a poopy diaper, they’re mopping up pickles on aisle 3 with ammonia….I can’t sort it all out; I’m too nauseous.

 Because I am visually oriented (see more on this below), this may be my first sense to become overstimulated.  The fluorescent light is too bright; it makes the room pulsate and hurts my eyes. Sometimes the pulsating light bounces off everything and distorts what I am seeing — the space seems to be constantly changing.  There’s glare from windows, too many items for me to be able to focus (I may compensate with “tunnel vision”), moving fans on the ceiling, so many bodies in constant motion.  All this affects my vestibular sense, and now I can’t even tell where my body is in space. In the book she talks about feeling like you’re always on a roller coaster– fun for three minutes but can you imagine going through your daily routine on a roller coaster? Making coffee alone would be enough to ruin your day…

In light of Sensory Disintegration– I am so proud of my J! He handles the off-kilter-ness of his world so well!  I’d be hideous!!  (And, my husband who moans for hours over a hangnail… yikes! What would he be like?) So, J’s outbursts aren’t rebellion, manipulation or bratty-ness– they are genuine cries for help– “Get me out of here”, “End my suffering!”

There are lots of different manifestations– Hyper-sensitive (Clothes hurt, the washing machine is too loud, the light is too bright…) and Hypo-sensitive (Yearns for deep pressure, louder, brighter, harder). J is Hypo-sensitive. He likes walking barefoot in gravel and loves to wrestle. He also is a recovering headbanger.  Identify what your child is– and work with it…

I believe that J will be a productive part of society and this book– the information in it– is a stepping stone. I highly recommend it to all who live with Autism– parents, teachers, grandparents, ministers, Sunday school teachers, lifeguards at the Y… It is up to us– the guardian’s of these kids to provide the people in their lives with this information.

An article by the same name is available on-line.

Hillary Clinton Promised to Find Out What Causes Autism

A couple of nights ago I had CSPAN on while drifting to sleep and a Clinton Speech in New Hampshire came on. She brought up Autism– without being asked anything about it– and promised to find out what causes it. Was I dreaming?

Can she make that promise while endorsing mandatory vaccines? Seems a bit contradictory since vaccines (Thimerasol) seem to be the most likely cause. (At least Ron Paul’s health-care plan gives us a choice on vaccinations… ) There are certainly other theories– older father, environmental causes, and heredity are just some of them. Another theory for the explosion in autism diagnosis is the expansion of the definition. In past generations, people who were high functioning might have just been considered eccentric.

I don’t have any answers and,  apart from living with an autistic child and reading everything Temple Grandin writes, I have no expertise.

While I applaud Mrs. Clinton’s ambitious promise to find out what causes Autism, I’m skeptical that she can actually do it.  And, if it matters so much to her why hasn’t she done anything as a member of Congress?Don’t they hold the purse strings?

Any politician would be fool to claim apathy towards those of us who’s lives are affected by Autism– but, what have any of these folks done? Huckabee got a $400 haircut to benefit Autism Research– big deal. Richardson actually expanded services in New Mexico. What have Edwards, Clinton, Obama, McCain, Romney, Paul, Thompson and rest of the pack done?

Hillary Clinton talks about her track record– accomplishments– what has she done for the “least of these”? Am I missing something? Has she done something that I’ve missed?

I welcome your comments and am an undecided Ohio voter. I do vote and will vote for the person who, in my view, is the strongest on the Economy and on Autism.