HI My son who is four was just diagnosed with autism. I have never joined anything or blogged but thought maybe everyone might have some suggestions. He is a great kid who wants to connect with other kids but seems unable to do so. Also I was told that most kids with autism have cognitive delays and up to 80% are MI. I don't think my son is MI but I know there are some cognitive delays. Anyone out there in the same situation.
Are you involved in any autism support groups in your area? Also your intermediate school can hook you up with programs for your child especially if your son will be able to be in a regular school situation. An intermediate school is the folks who care for children with all sorts of disabilities. Our ISD even has a "summer camp" for children with autism that gets the children out in the community for "instruction" on shopping and going to resturants...We are in Michigan but I am sure there are programs out there in other states and communities as well. Good Luck!
Hi! Welcome to the group. I am a proud parent of a ten year old boy who has autism and cerebral palsy. This will be a journey for you, sometimes emotional and sometimes physical but hang in there. You will see it is worth your dedication. Don't ever give up on your blessing.
Hiya! I have a daughter who is autistic... She was diagnosed when she was 2 1/2 ish... now she is ten, we tried and stuck with the gluten& dairy free diet and fount over the years that it has helped her alot...
There are some challenges though, the school system (a long story, lol) we are just trying to help her get through the rest of the school year... she is doing great, it is the people at her school that don't understand autism... there are tons of organizations and support groups out there...
(Sign language & pictures are the best tool to bridge the gap of communication)
She was delayed in alot of areas but... you will soon find that where there are delays, there are areas in which he will surpass his peers...
The listings below are from other sellers I have stumbled across thats all about autism and awareness... I found them very interesting and wanted to share... (^_^) *hugs*
Hi, my name is Trisha. I have a son with Asperger's which is on the Autism Spectrium. He was diagn. in 6th grade and is now 17 years old. My first advice would be find a support group you feel comfortable with. On line you will find The Autism Society of SouthEast Texas, www.assetx.org which I belong to. The people here are great and talk and answer questions. You will find people with babies to mine is one of the oldest. If you can find one in your area it is better. You learn more about what there is to help in your area, You learn about your schools, which are the better teachers, councelers, principals, doctors and everyone else you need in your support group. If there isn't one in your area start one! Our group meets once a month. We have 'field trips' for our kids, paid for by our group. We take them to musums, beaches, bowling, horseback riding etc. It is great for the kids to interact with each other also it helps you understand, there are others going through what I am! Second, learn yours and your son's rights in your school district. Don't expect your school personal to give you all the answers, the more you know the more it costs them to provide. Third read a few books to understand the basics of Autism and a few on what others have gone through. Your local library should be able to help you with what is available. They also like suggestions on what books people are wanting. Last I would suggest, don't get caught up in the blame game, what happened why him what causes Autism it will just frustrate you and make you angry. Accept and move on to a good life. Well, one more YOU know your son better than anyone. What works for one will not work for the another. Don't feel bullied/guilty into doing something your not sure of. All children are different, they don't all respond to the same treatments. Never set the bar too low for your son. You will be amazed at what he can achieve. Benjamin (my son) is a Junior in High School. He is in all Mainstreamed classes. He goes to a Techinical School part of the school day. This is not a Special needs school. You have to apply to get in 25 students out of over 500 per class is accepted for each course. This School teaches everything from Beautician, Auto Mechanics, Drafting, Office Work, many many more and Benjamin is taking CISCO, It is a Computer training class, where he learns how to repair, run, work on build etc etc computers. After 2 years he will roll this into a college course for 2 more years of study then graduate college with a 4 year degree!! He has come a long way since 6th grade. Benjamin also had/has trouble making and keeping friends. He plays better with younger kids or adults. There is about 10 teenagers in our Autism group now, we try to get them together once a month for bowling and out to eat. It is good for their social skills.
hello, my name is Keri and I completely understand what you are going through! I have two sons with Autism. Both were diagnosed a ages 4 and 5 years, they are now 17 and 16 years old. I had my sons back in the days that barely anyone knew what autism even was! There were barely any serivices and the support was basically non exsistent! My biggest recommendation for you is to get started getting him therapies NOW. I highly recommend ABA or Floor time. Get him into a preschool if he is not already, get him speech therapy if he needs it and physical therapy also. Do things now. The younger he gets help and assistance the better he will do. One more BIG thing, do your best to literally treat him like a normal boy his age because it will push him to do the best that he can and be the best that he can be. Get yourself a good support network of friends and family and make sure that you make time for yourself to recooperate sometimes and hang in there! Feel free to contact me anytime! If I do not know an answer I will help you find one. Take care. Keri
My son is 3 1/2 now, was diagnosed in January of 2007 (he began getting early intervention services in October 2006 right before he turned 2 and was diagnosed shortly thereafter). He has made such incredible progress in that time. He's certainly not ready to be mainstreamed in to a public school setting, but he's come so far in the past year. I really feel that a lot of his issues are related to sensory processing disorder although that hasn't been formally diagnosed. His OT is wonderful and she's helped me so much in setting up a sensory friendly home environment for him. I don't feel that his issues are diet related, more of an inability to process the world around him in a way that allows him to function to the best of his ability. He's totally fixated on numbers and lining things up and he still puts almost everything in his mouth as a tactile way of relating to things. I'd be happy to chat with anyone out there as I learn as much (if not more) from other parents as I do from the teachers working with him. Hang in there...we're all in this together!!! T^racey, LongIsland
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