Discussing Autism

Last year at this time I was just starting my blogging, just starting to find my way around the blogosphere, and just starting to navigate through the autism blogs. In the past year I have come to know some of you through your words and have felt your pain and joys. I have lived your lives with you as you journey through the same abyss that we do; special education and doctor’s offices.

Just like I did on A Child Chosen, I have created the Best of the Best; Autism Blogs because I think you all need recognition for what you do. You are the best writers, parents, and advocates that the autism community has.
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Parents of children with have fought with insurance companies for years to get coverage of simple things like sensory integration therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and so forth. However, insurance companies won’t pay because autism is not curable and is a developmental disorder.

The most controversial coverage is ABA, a therapy used to help teach children with autism social and daily living skills like looking someone in the eye, brushing their teeth, or waving goodbye. ABA is controversial because of its heavy price tag. (more…)

The AAP, the American Academy of Pediatrics, has released a statement (finally) on the recent government court case involving autism and vaccines. (more…)

You have all heard the news; that a monetary compensation is imminent for the Poling family, a Georgia family who filed, and won, a claim against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services because their daughter, Hannah developed autism after the 9 vaccines she received when she was 19 months old. However, it seems that Hannah Poling actually has a mitochondrial disorder that was exasperated by the vaccines, not autism. Ironically, the courts did not make a clear cut link between the vaccines and autism.
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Finally speaking out by wearing an Autism Speaks logo on his golf bag, South African PGA golfer, Ernie Els, revealed last week at the PODS Championship in Florida that his five year old son has autism.

Like many celebrity families, the Els’ dealt with their son’s autism in private for several years before finally deciding to “speak out” and contact Autism Speaks to help raise money and awareness for autism. Similar to Holly Robinson Peete and her family, Ernie and his wife Leizl have found their lives “profoundly affected by autism”. (more…)

Back in April of 2007 Reuters Health released a study indicating that mothers of autistic children may be prone to depression because they felt responsible for the cause or the outcome of their children’s disorder.

Most of the women I know are well educated women who know that they are certainly NOT the cause for their child’s disabilities, or at least not the direct cause. There certainly could be some sort of “genetic” component that ties in somewhere but it is my understanding that my friends don’t all feel that “mommy guilt” that the media makes us all believe we are supposed to feel. We all know that bad parenting is not the cause of autism and that refrigerator mothers don’t exist. (more…)

Tell Your Story AND help Raise Money for Autism

I have been asked to help a fabulous new start-up health community, Trusera, open its doors to you. They are inviting you, the autism community, to join them as they begin their journey. They want you to join and tell your autism story, your Sensory Integration Story, your story about food challenges, about infertility, about adoption. (more…)

Having a child will change your life but one day finding out that your child has special needs, or better yet, Autism, can be so life altering that families can either pull together or be ripped apart.

Every family will eventually respond to an autism diagnosis in their own way. Because caring for a child with autism takes time, energy, patience, resources, flexibility, finances, and most importantly, a sense of humor. (more…)

Every person who has not had their head stuck in the sand for the last ten years knows that the word Retard is just not cool. But when the word is said in front of millions of viewers a person can be condemned for saying it.

Adam Jasinski, a contestant on Big Brother, CBS’s reality television show that is known for its controversial contestants.
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Since 1986 the number of vaccines the CDC recommends has gone from 10 to 36. But do we, as parents, HAVE to give our children all those vaccines?

New studies show that most children will naturally chelate toxins like mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, ether, and antifreeze (?) out of their system within weeks (thus the fever and flulike symptoms for a few days…the body working hard to get rid of the toxins?). (more…)

When it comes to Special Education parents often get ignored, thus the need for Advocates, Due Process, and yes, Court.

But, when it comes down to it…I am AJ’s best advocate and I am his parent, the one who knows him best. And I will have to fight for his services…hmmm advocate for his services for another 14 years. I just hate being that kind of parent that I complained about when I was teaching. You know, the one who didn’t agree with the classroom activities or procedures, or how the IEP was being followed, or how the teacher graded a particular assignment. (more…)

I’ve been writing this series on IEP’s for a week now and hoping that you are gathering your information. Is there anything else you want to know? Make sure to leave a comment and let me know.

Today’s topic is Goals and Objectives within the IEP. But before you can do anything with an IEP you must first define your child’s needs clearly and specifically.
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In your line of work you would never go to a meeting unprepared would you? So why would you go to your child’s IEP meeting unprepared?

The key to going to an IEP prepared is to do your research before hand and make sure you share all of your concerns and even suggested accommodations and modifications with the IEP team several days, if not weeks, before hand. This will eliminate surprises from both sides and help facilitate the meeting. (more…)

A few days ago I wrote about accommodations to the IEP, stating that accommodations refer to the actual teaching supports a student receives in order to get an equal education. But, what about modifications?
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When we talk about IEPs, or Individualized Education Plans, we are not just talking about goals and benchmarks that your child needs to meet (and that the teacher needs to teach to) but we are also talking about accommodations that the IEP teams needs to make to ensure that your child meets those goals and state benchmarks.
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