25 Things to Know: Autism Style
These memes have been making the rounds on Facebook. I swiped this one from a post at the house of osh.
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25 things to know, Autism-Style
IF YOU HAVE A CHILD OR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND TAG YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE FELLOW PARENTS. YOU KNOW THE DEAL!
1. WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?
New York
2. WHAT IS YOUR CHILD'S NAME, AGE AND DX?
I've got two, Ethan about to turn 8 and Isaiah, 6. Both are autistic but in very different ways.
3. WAS YOUR CHILD PROPERLY DIAGNOSED?
Yes for both boys.
4. WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU FIRST LEARNED YOUR CHILD HAD AUTISM?
Lots of things, with Ethan surprise that it took the peds neurologist so little time to make a diagnosis and annoyance that we had to wait so long for a detailed evaluation after the diagnosis. With Isaiah annoyance that we had to wait so long for a detailed evaluation and diagnosis. Over all relief that we could put a name to what we were seeing in our kids.
5. WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT HAVING A CHILD WITH ASD?
Other people who can't wrap their heads around the idea of someone with different neurology experiencing the world differently and people/groups who are supposed to help but usually just throw obstacles in our path. For example "autism advocacy" groups that spend all of their time and money agitating against vaccines.
6. WHAT IS THE BEST THING?
Sharing life with my kids.
7. HAVE YOU TRIED THE DIET AND DID IT WORK?
With Ethan yes. No it didn't anything but jack up the grocery bill. Ethan decided to potty train himself when we reintroduced wheat products.
8. WHAT ABOUT OTHER BIOMED TREATMENTS- HBOT, CHELATION, ETC.?
Absolutely not.
9. WHAT METHOD OF ABA/Behaviour Therapy DO YOU LIKE BEST?
I like the kind of therapy that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and that recognises and utilizes my kids' strengths to meet their every day needs and responsibilities.
10. IF YOU COULD MAKE EVERY PARENT TRY ONE THING- WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Osh's answer sounds good to me, "Just try to listen to your child...and then hear your child." Some parents need to recognise that it's not about them and what they want but about their children.
11. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE RATE OF AUTISM REALLY IS?
No clue but I think a lot of stuff that gets labeled as autistic is very common through out humanity.
12. HOW MANY KIDS WITH AUTISM LIVE ON YOUR BLOCK?
No clue.
13. HAVE YOU EVER MET A RECOVERED CHILD?
No, I don't know of anyone who's ever had their child kidnapped.
14. WHAT KIND OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM DOES YOUR CHILD GET?
The boys are both in inclusive classrooms and get speech and occupational therapy on a regular basis. We're waiting to see if we got in under the lowering spending boom to get Isaiah a communication device.
15. DO YOU GET SERVICES/TREATMENTS THROUGH YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE?
Aside from a bit of extra OT we haven't tried anything that we would want insurance to cover so not really.
16. DO YOU THINK THE DIVORCE RATE IS REALLY 80% FOR ASD FAMILIES?
No.
17. DO YOU HAVE A GOOD POOP STORY?
What's the point of this question?
18. WHAT IS THE STUPIDEST THING ANYONE HAS EVER SAID ABOUT YOUR KID?
"Why don't you just tell him no?" This is a pretty silly thing to say to any parent really.
19. WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN SOMEONE ASKS "WHAT IS AUTISM?"
I start talking about brain function.
20. WHO IS YOUR "AUTISM COMMUNITY HERO"
I am eternally grateful to Orac of Respectful Insolence for introducing me to the part of the autism community that wasn't consumed with blaming vaccines for autism.
21. WHAT GROUP/ORGANIZATION DO YOU THINK HAS DONE THE MOST FOR THE COMMUNITY?
Autism Hub. I like their overall message of hope and respect for autistic individuals.
22. DID YOU VACCINATE YOUR CHILD AND DO YOU CONTINUE TO DO SO?
Heck yeah.
23. DOES YOUR FAMILY ACCEPT YOUR CHILD HAVING AUTISM?
Yes for some and not really sure for others. I get the impression that some are much more comfortable with the boys being autistic than others.
24. WHAT LESSON HAVE YOU LEARNED AFTER ALL OF THIS?
You need to meet people where they are at and love them as they are. A positive attitude no matter what others may think of your circumstances is a lot better than being bitter, angry, and envious for loosing what you perceive to be rightfully yours. Look for strengths rather than bemoan weaknesses.
25. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME. WOULD YOU CHOSE FOR YOUR CHILD TO BE NEURO-TYPICAL?
Since such a choice would entail either killing them or preventing their conception no.
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25 things to know, Autism-Style
IF YOU HAVE A CHILD OR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND TAG YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE FELLOW PARENTS. YOU KNOW THE DEAL!
1. WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?
New York
2. WHAT IS YOUR CHILD'S NAME, AGE AND DX?
I've got two, Ethan about to turn 8 and Isaiah, 6. Both are autistic but in very different ways.
3. WAS YOUR CHILD PROPERLY DIAGNOSED?
Yes for both boys.
4. WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU FIRST LEARNED YOUR CHILD HAD AUTISM?
Lots of things, with Ethan surprise that it took the peds neurologist so little time to make a diagnosis and annoyance that we had to wait so long for a detailed evaluation after the diagnosis. With Isaiah annoyance that we had to wait so long for a detailed evaluation and diagnosis. Over all relief that we could put a name to what we were seeing in our kids.
5. WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT HAVING A CHILD WITH ASD?
Other people who can't wrap their heads around the idea of someone with different neurology experiencing the world differently and people/groups who are supposed to help but usually just throw obstacles in our path. For example "autism advocacy" groups that spend all of their time and money agitating against vaccines.
6. WHAT IS THE BEST THING?
Sharing life with my kids.
7. HAVE YOU TRIED THE DIET AND DID IT WORK?
With Ethan yes. No it didn't anything but jack up the grocery bill. Ethan decided to potty train himself when we reintroduced wheat products.
8. WHAT ABOUT OTHER BIOMED TREATMENTS- HBOT, CHELATION, ETC.?
Absolutely not.
9. WHAT METHOD OF ABA/Behaviour Therapy DO YOU LIKE BEST?
I like the kind of therapy that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and that recognises and utilizes my kids' strengths to meet their every day needs and responsibilities.
10. IF YOU COULD MAKE EVERY PARENT TRY ONE THING- WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Osh's answer sounds good to me, "Just try to listen to your child...and then hear your child." Some parents need to recognise that it's not about them and what they want but about their children.
11. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE RATE OF AUTISM REALLY IS?
No clue but I think a lot of stuff that gets labeled as autistic is very common through out humanity.
12. HOW MANY KIDS WITH AUTISM LIVE ON YOUR BLOCK?
No clue.
13. HAVE YOU EVER MET A RECOVERED CHILD?
No, I don't know of anyone who's ever had their child kidnapped.
14. WHAT KIND OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM DOES YOUR CHILD GET?
The boys are both in inclusive classrooms and get speech and occupational therapy on a regular basis. We're waiting to see if we got in under the lowering spending boom to get Isaiah a communication device.
15. DO YOU GET SERVICES/TREATMENTS THROUGH YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE?
Aside from a bit of extra OT we haven't tried anything that we would want insurance to cover so not really.
16. DO YOU THINK THE DIVORCE RATE IS REALLY 80% FOR ASD FAMILIES?
No.
17. DO YOU HAVE A GOOD POOP STORY?
What's the point of this question?
18. WHAT IS THE STUPIDEST THING ANYONE HAS EVER SAID ABOUT YOUR KID?
"Why don't you just tell him no?" This is a pretty silly thing to say to any parent really.
19. WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN SOMEONE ASKS "WHAT IS AUTISM?"
I start talking about brain function.
20. WHO IS YOUR "AUTISM COMMUNITY HERO"
I am eternally grateful to Orac of Respectful Insolence for introducing me to the part of the autism community that wasn't consumed with blaming vaccines for autism.
21. WHAT GROUP/ORGANIZATION DO YOU THINK HAS DONE THE MOST FOR THE COMMUNITY?
Autism Hub. I like their overall message of hope and respect for autistic individuals.
22. DID YOU VACCINATE YOUR CHILD AND DO YOU CONTINUE TO DO SO?
Heck yeah.
23. DOES YOUR FAMILY ACCEPT YOUR CHILD HAVING AUTISM?
Yes for some and not really sure for others. I get the impression that some are much more comfortable with the boys being autistic than others.
24. WHAT LESSON HAVE YOU LEARNED AFTER ALL OF THIS?
You need to meet people where they are at and love them as they are. A positive attitude no matter what others may think of your circumstances is a lot better than being bitter, angry, and envious for loosing what you perceive to be rightfully yours. Look for strengths rather than bemoan weaknesses.
25. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME. WOULD YOU CHOSE FOR YOUR CHILD TO BE NEURO-TYPICAL?
Since such a choice would entail either killing them or preventing their conception no.
I like your responses! And I LOVE your boy's names!
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