Autism Awareness Day

[IhateClowns]

I just wanted to make everyone aware that April is Autism Awareness Month and today Apr 2nd is World Autism Day. Autism hits very close to home for me and my extended family. I know the umbrella has become wider and wider. I am apart of Autism Speaks here in my hometown. It is an organization that I cherish and love being apart of.

I ask that you not only educate yourself on what Autism is. Also what signs to look for. More importantly, educate your children.

Just because a little boy makes faces, or plays by himself in the corner, doesn't mean he is weird. It just means he is different. If you see a parent struggling to control their child in public, don't roll your eyes and scoff. Maybe there is a reason behind the behavior.

Thanks for reading this.

 

[BradBigBrain]

You're a good man, my friend.

I've been around autistic people my whole entire life. I have a ton of sympathy for them and their families.

Thanks for the reminder, bro.

 

[Stryderthorongil]

I just wanted to make everyone aware that April is Autism Awareness Month and today Apr 2nd is World Autism Day. Autism hits very close to home for me and my extended family. I know the umbrella has become wider and wider. I am apart of Autism Speaks here in my hometown. It is an organization that I cherish and love being apart of.

I ask that you not only educate yourself on what Autism is. Also what signs to look for. More importantly, educate your children.

Just because a little boy makes faces, or plays by himself in the corner, doesn't mean he is weird. It just means he is different. If you see a parent struggling to control their child in public, don't roll your eyes and scoff. Maybe there is a reason behind the behavior.

Thanks for reading this.

I'm with you on this clowns. I know it well.

 

[SexyAlison]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMN2PeFama0

 

[IhateClowns]

You're a good man, my friend.

I've been around autistic people my whole entire life. I have a ton of sympathy for them and their families.

Thanks for the reminder, bro.

Hey man. Good to see you around. Hope all is well. We have 3 in our family. All different levels. Two are autistic, the other is Aspergers. There is no face to autism. So more awareness the better.

 

[shmily]

I am very aware of Autism. I have several "kids" in my family and extended that are Autistic. They are very awesome unique individuals.
I had the pleasure of substitute teaching in the special classes for years, It is amazing to watch them grown and learn.
Thank you for your commitment to helping Autistic people.

 

[IhateClowns]

I'm with you on this clowns. I know it well.

Kee fighting the fight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMN2PeFama0

I follow his story. Amazing kid.

I am very aware of Autism. I have several "kids" in my family and extended that are Autistic. They are very awesome unique individuals.
I had the pleasure of substitute teaching in the special classes for years, It is amazing to watch them grown and learn.
Thank you for your commitment to helping Autistic people.

They're awesome kids once you have an understanding of what they're going through. Right now we are fighting legislation to get autism health insurance here in Oklahoma. Insurance doesn't cover any spectrum disorder here. So resources are limited for a lot of families.

 

[Suz_anne]

A very worthy cause, indeed. It's such a large, diverse group of people who need resources to help them live as normally as possible and who deserve our respect.


A related story…

My best friend works one-on-one with a man with Autism. She has been working with him for about 2 years and the strides he has made in that time have been remarkable. His communication skills have gotten much better and he is actually interacting with people whereas he didn't previously. He also loves music - it is one of the ways in which is able to communicate very effectively.

I have had the privilege of getting to know him because she brings him to the farmer's market that I help her with on weekends. When it is slow at the market, I sit with him and sing songs or listen to the songs he plays on his iPad. He's quite a DJ.

On my birthday, my friend sent me a video of him wishing me a happy birthday and singing "Riptide" by Vance Joy… because he knows it is one of my favorites.

It is one of the best birthday gifts I have ever received.

 

[IhateClowns]

A very worthy cause, indeed. It's such a large, diverse group of people who need resources to help them live as normally as possible and who deserve our respect.


A related story…

My best friend works one-on-one with a man with Autism. She has been working with him for about 2 years and the strides he has made in that time have been remarkable. His communication skills have gotten much better and he is actually interacting with people whereas he didn't previously. He also loves music - it is one of the ways in which is able to communicate very effectively.

I have had the privilege of getting to know him because she brings him to the farmer's market that I help her with on weekends. When it is slow at the market, I sit with him and sing songs or listen to the songs he plays on his iPad. He's quite a DJ.

On my birthday, my friend sent me a video of him wishing me a happy birthday and singing "Riptide" by Vance Joy… because he knows it is one of my favorites.

It is one of the best birthday gifts I have ever received.

That's awesome. There was a cool story on Ellen a month or so ago about a Starbucks manager hiring an autistic kid to be a barista. The only way he could focus was by dancing. So he danced at work all the time and the customers loved it.

 

[fungatorgurl101]

Such an awesome support IHC. I have a few dear friends that are directly impacted and to see their struggle and to see them fight for those that they love is amazing to me. So many just do not want or chose not to understand.

 

[Wild_Honey_66]

Thanks for this, Clowns. My oldest son has autism.

 

[Azuldrgon]

Thanks Clowns!!

I rarely share too much personal stuff on here, but this is one time I'm gonna open up.

My son is 17 years old. He was born with only a couple of defects that were corrected within his first year. We had no idea anything was different until we noticed that he didn't speak at the same time that his sister did and that he had some "delays". When we took him to get checked out, the doctor referred us to a psychologist to check him out further.

Long story short, he was diagnosed with full blown autism. He used to have difficulties with things that were not routine. He used to have horrible tantrums when he got frustrated which was pretty often. It took him a while to get potty trained and there were other delays as well.
He's been in Special Ed his whole life and the way it is going, there is talk he'll be in the school system until the age of 21 so he could be a little more independent.

I am not sharing this for sympathy or anything else. I am sharing it because I need to tell you what he has done for me as a parent and a person. My son taught me to become a better parent. He has taught me to slow down. He has taught me to measure out when to let loose and when to hold back. He has taught me to listen. My son is the most dynamic and awesome person in the world to me.

I like the way Clowns put it in the original post. Autistic kids, kids with special needs in general are different kids. They deserve so much more than the hand they were dealt and the parents that raise them are blessed to have them. In his old school system, they had a Special Olympic style track meet where all the kids from Special Services in the system would come to the track and compete. They would get ribbons, but it was more like an old family reunion. I would take off work every year to see my boy run. My boy has done so much in my life that it's hard for me to even type this.

He is my hero. Plain and simple.

 

[numeniusa]

I don't have any direct experience of autism, but I have an enormous amount of respect for the parents of autistic people and their daily challenges, with people's unthinking reactions to their sons and daughters as much as anything.

I read "The Reason I Jump" about eighteen months ago after hearing extracts read on the radio. It's by Naoki Higashida, an autistic boy. I think he was thirteen when he wrote it, to explain what it feels like to be autistic and why he behaves as he does in different situations. Fascinating, illuminating, moving and enormously valuable, whether you have daily contact with an autistic person or not.

I also loved "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time", although Christopher, the protagonist, is identified as having Asperger's rather than being autistic. The stage play was extraordinary - really gave you a tiny sense of the sensory overload Christopher struggled with every day.

 

[Wild_Honey_66]

I read 'The Curious Incident' a few years ago. Good book!

Fyi, autism is a spectrum. Asperger's is one of the disorders on the spectrum.

 

[numeniusa]

I read 'The Curious Incident' a few years ago. Good book!

Fyi, autism is a spectrum. Asperger's is one of the disorders on the spectrum.

Yes, I knew that - sorry, clumsy wording on my part.

I couldn't imagine how they would stage The Curious Incident, having loved the book, but it was incredible, really added something to it. The author has personal experience of autism in his family, I believe, I don't think he could have written as he did without it.

 

[Wild_Honey_66]

Yes, I knew that - sorry, clumsy wording on my part.

I couldn't imagine how they would stage The Curious Incident, having loved the book, but it was incredible, really added something to it. The author has personal experience of autism in his family, I believe, I don't think he could have written as he did without it.

I'd love to see the stage play. I remember being very moved by the book.

 

[Hornblende]

I'd love to see the stage play. I remember being very moved by the book.

The play was so good we went to see it twice. This short trailer shows some glimpses of how they performed.

 

[Wild_Honey_66]

The play was so good we went to see it twice. This short trailer shows some glimpses of how they performed.

Looks wonderful. Thank you!

 

[IhateClowns]

Such an awesome support IHC. I have a few dear friends that are directly impacted and to see their struggle and to see them fight for those that they love is amazing to me. So many just do not want or chose not to understand.

That's my biggest worry. You see a lot of children that are clearly on the spectrum, but the parents choose to ignore those signs. Or they're not sure how to go about getting their child looked at. Or they don't want to because they're afraid of what that diagnosis will be. No one wants their child labeled, especial if that labels special needs.

Thanks for this, Clowns. My oldest son has autism.

Hope you're taking advantage of all the resources available to you. I'm sure you are. I've learned it takes a special person with incredible patience to raise a special needs child. I admire you for persevering.

 

[IhateClowns]

Thanks Clowns!!

I rarely share too much personal stuff on here, but this is one time I'm gonna open up.

My son is 17 years old. He was born with only a couple of defects that were corrected within his first year. We had no idea anything was different until we noticed that he didn't speak at the same time that his sister did and that he had some "delays". When we took him to get checked out, the doctor referred us to a psychologist to check him out further.

Long story short, he was diagnosed with full blown autism. He used to have difficulties with things that were not routine. He used to have horrible tantrums when he got frustrated which was pretty often. It took him a while to get potty trained and there were other delays as well.
He's been in Special Ed his whole life and the way it is going, there is talk he'll be in the school system until the age of 21 so he could be a little more independent.

I am not sharing this for sympathy or anything else. I am sharing it because I need to tell you what he has done for me as a parent and a person. My son taught me to become a better parent. He has taught me to slow down. He has taught me to measure out when to let loose and when to hold back. He has taught me to listen. My son is the most dynamic and awesome person in the world to me.

I like the way Clowns put it in the original post. Autistic kids, kids with special needs in general are different kids. They deserve so much more than the hand they were dealt and the parents that raise them are blessed to have them. In his old school system, they had a Special Olympic style track meet where all the kids from Special Services in the system would come to the track and compete. They would get ribbons, but it was more like an old family reunion. I would take off work every year to see my boy run. My boy has done so much in my life that it's hard for me to even type this.

He is my hero. Plain and simple.

Hey Azul. Thanks for sharing. I have watched my sister grow in ways I never imagined raising her son who is autistic. My nephew is an amazing kid, but it has taken time for him to catch on. It's been a joy watching them both grow.

 

[IhateClowns]

I don't have any direct experience of autism, but I have an enormous amount of respect for the parents of autistic people and their daily challenges, with people's unthinking reactions to their sons and daughters as much as anything.

I read "The Reason I Jump" about eighteen months ago after hearing extracts read on the radio. It's by Naoki Higashida, an autistic boy. I think he was thirteen when he wrote it, to explain what it feels like to be autistic and why he behaves as he does in different situations. Fascinating, illuminating, moving and enormously valuable, whether you have daily contact with an autistic person or not.

I also loved "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time", although Christopher, the protagonist, is identified as having Asperger's rather than being autistic. The stage play was extraordinary - really gave you a tiny sense of the sensory overload Christopher struggled with every day.

I enjoyed the curious incident. I will have to check out the reason I jump. I've heard of it, just haven't read it.

 

[sogrl90]

This is a great thread!

I have two cousins (brother and sister) both have autism. They are wonderful both so loving, talented and extremely smart.

One shares my love of drawing and she is so talented. I'm the only one in the family she allows to see her art. I wish she would share her talent, but she won't.

Her brother loves to sit next to someone, take their hand and watch cartoons all day.
He is non verbal, but laughs and laughs and loves to give hugs once he is comfortable with a person.

 

[RubenesqueAphrodite]

thank you, Clowns. Blukitten used to post about the spectrum. I have a special needs son. I was a special needs daughter. By default I should know how to deal with it, and for the most part, I do. I'll probably be back to homeschooling the oldest next year.
I don't think I'd change anything,though. He's s great kid, even if he is mine.

 

[IhateClowns]

This is a great thread!

I have two cousins (brother and sister) both have autism. They are wonderful both so loving, talented and extremely smart.

One shares my love of drawing and she is so talented. I'm the only one in the family she allows to see her art. I wish she would share her talent, but she won't.

Her brother loves to sit next to someone, take their hand and watch cartoons all day.
He is non verbal, but laughs and laughs and loves to give hugs once he is comfortable with a person.

My nephew is an artist as well. He is only 6 years old but draws constantly. He uses his drawing to calm his stemming down. Like your cousin, he will only allow a few people to see it. He is considered high functioning, but there are plenty of times you would never think so.

I wish my sister could have a sign above her that says my child is Aspergers or PD-NOS. The stares she gets are incredibly sad at times. My nephew is a good looking kid.

 

[IhateClowns]

thank you, Clowns. Blukitten used to post about the spectrum. I have a special needs son. I was a special needs daughter. By default I should know how to deal with it, and for the most part, I do. I'll probably be back to homeschooling the oldest next year.
I don't think I'd change anything,though. He's s great kid, even if he is mine.

Yeah, BK and I had many many chats. I went or her a few times after my nephew was diagnosed. My two cousins who are on the spectrum are a bit older and I'm not as close to. I wanted to educate myself.

Now we do the PieceWalk every year and have a team for him to raise money. He really is an awesome kid.