Stories From the Heart: Irish Eyes

Dec 21st

Posted by autismtoday in Stories From the Heart

No comments

As an undergraduate student, I was majoring in Physical Therapy. I had chosen to pursue a career in Physical Therapy in high school, and had never really questioned the decision. During my senior year, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a BOCES in Ithaca, New York. I was focusing on pediatrics, and felt this would be good practice. I had no idea it would be a life altering experience.

I was placed in a classroom of children with severe and multiple disabilities ranging from autism to cystic fibrosis. Many of the students were unable to speak or walk. This was a very different type of environment for me. However, I began to look forward to the afternoons I would spend in the BOCES classroom between my own classes at Ithaca College. The classroom teacher involved his students in activities I never would have thought possible. The class went bowling, took part in scavenger hunts, cooked meals, and danced at school concerts. The time I was spending with the students was opening my eyes to the endless ways in which children who had seemed unable to do many of the things I took for granted, could take part in the community and enjoy the same activities I enjoyed.

While all of my experiences in that classroom touched me, there was one day and one child who changed the path of my life forever. That afternoon, Jay, a child with cerebral palsy who used a wheelchair and had no verbal language, needed help getting his coat on to go home. As I leaned over his wheelchair and buttoned up his winter coat, one of my curls plopped forward in front of Jay’s face. I felt a little tug on my hair and looked up to see Jay bouncing the curl, laughing, and staring right into my eyes. His green eyes were sparkling. I rubbed his hair and joked around with him while he laughed and continued to gaze at me. At that moment, something changed inside of me. This child was making an effort to communicate and interact with me. That is when I realized the difference I was making in the lives of those children. I wanted to continue to make that difference.

A few months later, I decided not to continue in the field of Physical Therapy. The next fall I began working towards a Master’s degree in Special Education. Today I am teaching children with Autism and experiencing moments such as that each day. Every time one of my students makes a connection with me, comes over to give me a hug, jokes around with me, masters a skill, makes progress in his behavior, or just smiles at me, I know that I made the right decision. I have never once regretted volunteering at BOCES or changing the direction of my professional life.

I will always remember Jay. I am thankful that he came into my life at that time and was able to have such an impact on me and the lives of all of the children I will touch throughout my teaching career.

By Anonymous

* Stories From the Heart is an ongoing series of user contributed heart warming stories, that shine light on the Autism experience.

, , , , , , , ,

Stories From the Heart: That’s How Micheal Spells His Name

Dec 14th

Posted by autismtoday in Stories From the Heart

No comments

Micheal was angry, and yes, that’s how Micheal spells his name.  He says his mother made a mistake when she gave his name to the doctor.  He claims his mother isn’t very smart.  When Micheal tells us this, he goes on to say that that is why he isn’t very smart either.  Micheal has a number of diagnoses’ including a severe brain impairment, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, a learning disability and a couple of others they haven’t quite been able to put their finger on yet.

I met Micheal at his group home.  I was called in to help the staff get him under control as he was “angry.”  Apparently, Micheal did a lot of damage when he was angry.  There were holes in the walls, broken doors, and shattered glass when I first started to visit Micheal.  I asked him why he was so angry and he said “Because no one ever listens to me!”  I asked him what he had been saying that they didn’t want to hear, and he claimed that all he wanted was to be able to walk in his community alone and get a paying job.  It didn’t seem like too much to ask to me.

Upon investigation, I learned that Micheal had never been granted independent community time because his social worker and staff all agreed that he was not capable of being alone unsupervised.  I did some assessments and decided to test Micheal in his neighborhood.  We went out together to walk my dog.  I was unfamiliar with Micheal’s neighborhood and found myself disoriented on many occasions. Micheal was my saving grace. No matter which way we turned, he was able to bring us back home.  In fact, we got lost three times; all in different directions, and, Micheal brought us back each and every time!  I was amazed at his ability and began to question whether I should be out alone, if they said he wasn’t capable.

I wrote a letter to his social worker, met with his staff and began to beg for Micheal to have a chance at being human.  Finally, it was granted and Micheal began his community independence – 10 minutes at a time with a staff shadow for safety.  He excelled and within one month he was working at a local McDonald’s, responsible to get there and back by himself and successfully completing 6 hour shifts.   Micheal was ecstatic and lo and behold, all the violence stopped.

He volunteered with a local organization where he bathed a llama and took him to the park to meet and greet.  Micheal was amazing with the public.  I have never before seen anyone so comfortable with others. He was completely in his element.  I was present for this event and was suppose to be chatting up the public but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.  I didn’t have to because I had Micheal!

To date, Micheal still volunteers for his local organization and is currently looking for alternate employment as it has come to his attention that he is not very good at multitasking.  When he received this news, Micheal shrugged and said “Oh well, onto bigger and better.”  I would have been crushed personally.

Micheal has shown me a spirit, will and determination I could only wish to posses.  He continues to succeed despite others treating him as less than equal and assuming he “can’t” just because he is disabled.  When given the chance, he steps up to the plate every time. On more than one occasion, Micheal has shown me the softer way to deal with people or problems.  He has and always will be an inspiration to me.

By Anonymous

* Stories From the Heart is an ongoing series of user contributed heart warming stories, that shine light on the Autism experience.

, , , , , , , , , ,

Stories From the Heart: Camp Orkila

Dec 7th

Posted by autismtoday in Stories From the Heart

No comments

“Can I go upstairs, Mom?” Kevin asked, dropping his book on the table while he danced and twitched in the aisle, his eyes darting around the ferryboat. “Sure.  I’ll wait here,” I replied.  I could tell Kevin was nervous about this school outing to Orcas Island, but excited as well.  The rest of the 6th grade students were seated on the other side of the boat, talking together and eating their sack lunches.  For them, this was just the first day of a four day trip to Camp Orkila.  For Kevin, it was most likely a day trip, a chance to see the camp and determine if he could get past his fear of staying there with the other kids.

His clothes and sleeping bag were packed in the car just in case, but I didn’t expect that he’d decide to stay.  His psychologist and teachers agreed with me that taking this trip, would be good for him, however, and it would help him work through his fears.  Maybe I should have insisted that he participate, rather than giving him the choice, but it’s just so hard to know with Kevin.

Bounding back over to the table, a bewildered look on his face, Kevin breathlessly exclaimed, “Mom!  A girl is sitting next to Greg with her head on his shoulder!”  Greg was Kevin’s greatest enemy and best friend all rolled into one.

Suppressing a smirk, I decided this was one of those learning opportunities of which parents are expected to take advantage whenever possible.  “Well, Kevin,” I said in my best June Cleaver manner, “I would assume that it means she likes him”.

“Greg?!”  He asked incredulously, “How could she like Greg?”

“She must see something in him that you don’t see.” I replied. “But she’s really pretty!” he said. Struggling now to keep from laughing, I continued, “Kevin, there is someone for everyone.” Quietly processing that information for a moment, his head cocked to one side, and his brow furrowed, Kevin suddenly smiled and said confidently, “If Greg can get a lady, then so can I!”

The day was looking more positive than I expected.  Kevin was in a good mood, he was interacting with some of the other students, something at which he usually fails miserably.

The sun was beginning to shine more brightly the closer we got to Orcas Island.  Maybe I had made the right decision bringing him up here after all. Pulling into the dock on the island, I asked Kevin for about the hundredth time, “So, do you think you might want to stay at the camp?”  And, for about the hundredth time, he answered, “I don’t think so.”

After a couple of turns on the wrong roads, we finally arrived at Camp Orkila, parked next to a teacher’s car we recognized, then started down the path to the main lodge.  As we stepped out of the woods and into a clearing, several buildings and the beach came into view.  Kevin stopped suddenly, his eyes got wide, his face brightened into a broad smile, and all my talkative son could manage to say was, “Wow!”

The two of us took an unescorted tour around the camp, through a couple of cabins, and down to the beach, Kevin asking me questions such as, “Will I be able to read in bed?” and “What will they have to eat here?”  Apparently satisfied with my answers and what he was seeing, Kevin then asked, “Did you bring my sleeping bag”? “Yes, it’s in the car,” I replied. “Great!” Kevin said, jumping up and down delightedly, “I want to stay!”

Bursting with pride at him getting over his fear, I took him with me to find the teacher with the clipboard, the person who could assign him to a cabin.  We found her at the main lodge, where the kids were all seated cross-legged on the floor, listening to a talk on the rules and procedures.  I signaled to Kevin to sit down with the other kids as I tapped the teacher on the shoulder and beckoned for her to step outside the door with me to talk.

“Hi,” I said, “I’m Kevin Syltebo’s mom. His teachers told me that we could come up here today and he could decide if he wanted to stay or not.  He just told me that he does want to stay, so what do I need to do to get him into a cabin?”

Gripping her clipboard more tightly and talking in clipped tones, she replied, “I know that they told you that, but he can’t stay.  I don’t have a place for him.”

Unbelievable!  I drove all the way up there, against all odds Kevin decided that he did want to stay, and I was being told that he couldn’t.  I got Kevin out of the lodge and shared the bad news with him, saying, “Kevin, I’m so sorry.  It turns out that they don’t have room for you in any of the cabins, so you can’t stay after all.”

Fighting back tears, Kevin turned from me and stomped off angrily as I shot an accusing look back at the stoic teacher who was breaking my child’s heart.  “I’ll never be happy again!” Kevin shouted at me over his shoulder, overcome with emotion.  The overly dramatic statement might have been funny under different circumstances, but at that moment, I felt exactly as he did.  Tears were burning my eyes as I followed him back to the car, trying to think through what I was going to say to him.

As we drove silently out of the camp, I looked at the clock and realized that we had three hours to kill before catching the return ferry to Anacortes.  I didn’t want to spend all of that time parked in line, so asked, “Kevin, why don’t we drive into Eastsound and see if we can find a bookstore?”  I knew that there was a good chance I could buy him out of his dark mood with at least one great book.

“Bookstore?” Kevin asked from the backseat, looking up for the first time since leaving the camp. I grinned, feeling smug at how well I knew my son. Nothing cheered Kevin up like a trip to a bookstore. After buying five new books at the quaint store we found, Kevin was his old cheerful self again, jabbering about the two of us taking a trip back to Orcas Island in the summer.  “We’ll stay in a hotel,” he said, “not a camp”. “Good idea,” I replied.

“You know, Mom?” he said, “I liked Camp Orkila in the daytime, but tonight, when it gets dark and cold, I probably wouldn’t have liked it anymore, when I couldn’t read in bed”. “You’re right, Kevin,” I said, smiling into the rear view mirror at him.  “I want you to know how proud I am of you, even though it didn’t work out today, that you went up there and decided that you were brave enough to stay”. “Thanks, Mom!”, he said happily going back to reading his new books, proud of his accomplishment and glad to be heading home to his own bed.

 

By Danna Syltebo

 

* Stories From the Heart is an ongoing series of user contributed heart warming stories, that shine light on the Autism experience.

, , , , ,

Stories From the Heart: My Brother Cem

Nov 30th

Posted by autismtoday in Stories From the Heart

No comments

Hello, my brother Cem is 16 years old. He is 98% recovered from Autism. He has been on a gluten-free/casein-free diet since 1998.

After my mom read William Shaw’s book “Biological Treatments of Autism And Pervasive Developmental Disorders” we visited the US for a specific therapy named “sensory learning” done by Mary Bolles in Boulder Colorado. My brother had some tests, and we realized that he had Candida ,so he had to quit eating wheat and drinking milk.

As we live in Turkey, it was hard to find GF/CF food because my lovely country was unaware of the need for gluten free foods and at that time these kinds of GF/CF foods were unavailable in Izmir. My mother was ordering some cake mixes from internet but the delivery unfortunately took 2 months by shipping.

In 2002 I visited my cousin who was studying in Nice/France. Her and I both tried to find the specific gluten-free casein-free store and it was so hard to find. It was raining that day so we decided to find the address from the internet and the following day we have finally reached the store.

The store was full of people buying one or two things necessary for the next days but me and my cousin had filled the cart with many, many cakes, pastas, soy puddings, cookies, breads, and rice milk. Pretty much a lifetime supply.

And guess what had happened? All the people in the shop stopped buying and started to look directly at us like we were nuts! But we ignored their weird looks and put all the food into a suit case and carried it out and walked all the way from the GFCF store on the fancy streets of Nice to our flat.

At the airport I had to pay 150€ because of the heaviness of the suitcase. Finally, back at home my dear brother was screaming like crazy when he saw all the food he could eat without any prohibition.

By Gulser Vardarci

* Stories From the Heart is an ongoing series of user contributed heart warming stories, that shine light on the Autism experience.

, , , , , ,

Soup du Jour! Dad the Hero

Nov 30th

Posted by Karen Simmons in Soup Du Jour

No comments

As a Chicken Soup co-author I’m always looking for your stories to share with everyone else.  Not too long ago I did a “call out” to my members asking for heartwarming stories and was overwhelmed with over 2500 submissions.  I know you will enjoy hearing from others so I am going to be sharing them with you on a weekly basis.  Here is one from Dan Coulter!

Dad the Hero
(by Dan Coulter)

 

Dads, did you ever imagine yourself as a superhero?  Sure you did. I have a mental picture of you as a little kid, in your underwear, with a towel tied around your neck for a cape. You’re jumping off the bed and running through the house pretending you’re superman. In your mind, you can fly. You save the day.

The circumstances change, but we all hold onto a bit of that hero dream.

We dads have another dream that starts when a child is born. What he’ll be like?  How she’ll grow.  What we’ll do together.

But when a child has Asperger Syndrome, that dream can veer off course.

It can be frustrating when he or she doesn’t follow the script in our heads, when he continues to do things after we tell him not to or when she can’t seem to understand things that seem obvious.

And let’s face it. Most moms are better at the unconditional acceptance thing than most dads.

Even if we love a child with Asperger Syndrome, we’re more likely to hang onto our expectations and occasionally be impatient as he grows older – sometimes more than occasionally.

That’s where the hero part comes back in.

On the real-world hero scale, being patient with a child is not the same as running into a burning building to save a life, but it’s still a challenge.  It’s everyday heroism.

Everyday heroism strives to understand how a child with Asperger Syndrome feels when he tries his hardest and still gets teased or rejected by kids and criticized by adults. To accept that he can be doing the best he can –and still misunderstands what you want. To not just correct her when she’s wrong, but to help her practice doing things right, and praise her when she succeeds. To let go of old expectations, and help him live up to his capabilities.

The earlier we start the better, but it’s never too late to make a difference. To be the father he knows he can turn to. The father she knows she can trust.

Some dads are natural everyday heroes. The rest of us have to work at it.  But natural or self-made, everyday hero dads often find their children succeeding in surprising ways. Sometimes in ways they never imagined possible.

If you’re not there yet, your family story is casting for a hero. And the part has your name written all over it. You can save the day.

Save the child.

Your child.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dan Coulter is the producer of the DVD, “Asperger Syndrome for Dad: Becoming an Even Better Father to Your Child with Asperger Syndrome.” You can find more articles on his website at www.coultervideo.com.

Copyright 2010 Dan Coulter     All Rights Reserved.    Used by Permission.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Soup du Jour! Parenthood Brings Autism into the Open

Nov 23rd

Posted by Karen Simmons in Soup Du Jour

No comments

As a Chicken Soup co-author I’m always looking for your stories to share with everyone else.  Not too long ago I did a “call out” to my members asking for heartwarming stories and was overwhelmed with over 2500 submissions.  I know you will enjoy hearing from others so I am going to be sharing them with you on a weekly basis.  Here is one from Jennifer Pedde!

Parenthood Brings Autism into the Open
(by Jennifer Pedde)

 

One of the main story lines in Parenthood, NBC’s popular television series about a large extended family, focuses on the issues facing parents Adam and Kristina Braverman. In addition to the usual problems experienced by parents of a teenage daughter, Adam and Kristina have had to adjust to their 8-year-old son Max being diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. 

Jason Katims, executive producer of the show, is the father of a teenage son with Asperger’s. Thanks to the involvement of Katim, as well as series consultants Sheila Wagner and Roy Q. Sanders, who are experts in autism spectrum disorder and Asperger’s syndrome, Parenthood is helping to educate viewers about what life is like for families who are affected by Asperger’s. Child actor Max Burkholder, who does not have Asperger’s, should also be credited for his sensitive portrayal of Max Braverman. 

In early episodes of Parenthood, Max is depicted as being gifted in many areas but with limited social skills, few friends and a tendency to become obsessed with subjects that interest him. A teacher recommends that he be tested for autism following a classroom disruption, and he is subsequently diagnosed with Asperger’s. Adam and Kristina then begin a quest to find the best solutions for both Max and their family.

Kristina in particular, becomes frustrated when there are no easy answers for the problems Max encounters in school and at home. Emotionally, she feels the need to protect her son; intellectually, she knows that she must help him learn to be independent and survive on his own. Adam, on the other hand, must cope with feelings of loss that Max will never be the exact son he imagined.

Following Max’s diagnosis, the approaches tried by the Bravermans reflect approaches tried by many real families in the same situation: They move Max to a private school, receive funding to help with his care, set up an in-home therapy program, find and lose a caring in-home therapist, and then send Max back to a mainstream school so that he will be academically challenged. This is television, so Kristina and Adam are probably able to try new approaches much more fluidly than they would in the real world, but their journey effectively serves to illustrate the various strategies that can be employed to manage Asperger’s.

Now in its second season, Parenthood has expanded on the situations related to Max’s behavior and involved more members of the extended Braverman family. In one episode, 11-year-old Max gets into a fight at school with his younger cousin Jabbar and is told he must write a letter of apology. Max feels his actions were justified since Jabbar hit him first and refuses to comply. Kristina, who is learning to let go, asks Max’s older cousin Amber to help out. We see how Amber gets Max to write the letter and then coaches him on how to behave when he delivers it to Jabbar. Knowing that he needs to look someone in the eye when apologizing is not instinctive to Max, but he is beginning to learn how to behave in ways that are socially acceptable to everyone else.

For more insight into the issues faced by the Braverman family related to Max’s condition, you can read an analysis of each Parenthood episode by Sheila Wagner and Roy Sander in “The Experts Speak” section of the official Parenthood website.

Jenn Pedde is the community manager for the Online Masters Degree in Social Work program at the University of Southern California in the Virtual Academic Center, which offers a variety of classes in their mental health social work concentration. She’s also an avid traveler, and enjoys photography.


, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Soup du Jour! Basketball Players Changed Tanner

Nov 16th

Posted by Karen Simmons in Soup Du Jour

No comments

As a Chicken Soup co-author I’m always looking for your stories to share with everyone else.  Not too long ago I did a “call out” to my members asking for heartwarming stories and was overwhelmed with over 2500 submissions.  I know you will enjoy hearing from others so I am going to be sharing them with you on a weekly basis.  Here is one from Charisa Spatig!

Basketball Players Changed Tanner!
(by Cherisa Spating)

 

My son Tanner was diagnosed with PDD/NOS at age 8. He is now 11 and a total sports junkie. Our story starts last year at this time. I had received a paper from his school that the High School Boys Basketball Team was sponsoring a 3 day camp for the kids in our community. Tanner so wanted to go. He had watched all these boys play football and loved every minute of that. I was a little leery to send him. So being the over protective parent I called the mom who was in charge. Her name is Melissa and she has become a great friend since this. I told her a little bit about Tanner, and that I would be more than happy to come to the camp and knew he would love it. She suggested assigning him a “partner”. I thought that was a great idea. Little did I know how much that would change my son’s life?

The day of the camp came, and Tanner was thrilled he got to go. We got to the school and there is this 6 foot 2 redheaded kid, a junior in high school waiting for Tanner to get there. His name is Tyler, and that kid has been my angel sent straight from heaven. He took Tanner and said see you at 8. They not only taught him basketball skills they have taught him much more. I love this entire High School Team. Not only have they kept him involved in all they have done over the last year. He has been invited to high school graduation dinners, got to sit with the team at all their home games. Tanner can tell you which kind of Gatorade drink each of those boys will have during the game.  Every member on the Football and Basketball Team know him, and it doesn’t matter where we are they always talk to him.

So now with the 2011-2012 season starting Tanner is again at basketball camp, but this time he doesn’t need to have a one-on-one. Although Tyler is not far away, he is enjoying the game just like everyone else his age is. All the senior boys Tyler, Matt, Rocco, Will, and their Coach Bubba will never know how much they mean to Tanner and our family. Because of this team and their support to Tanner he has joined a Baseball Team, Special Olympics, and is now known as t Evanston, Wyoming High School Red Devil’s # 1 Fan.

, , , , , ,
dvdset

NEW Inclusive Programming – Uncover the Pitfalls, Challenges and Path to Success

Nov 15th

Posted by autismtoday in Informational

No comments

Discover Everything You Need to Know About Inclusive Programming for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders! Uncover the Pitfalls, Challenges and Path to Success.

Inclusive Programming for Students with Autism & Asperger’s Workshop – 4 DVD Set!

 

Here’s a Brief Overview:

• Quality indicators
• Assessing the student, class, teacher
• Data collection, collaboration
• Positive behavior programs
• Motivational assessment
• Individual behavior plans
• Strategies for embedding social skills
• Social skills assessment & curricula
• Elementary, middle, high school!
• Strategies for modifying academics
• Strategies for transition issues
• Encountering and eliminating bullying
…and much more!

 

This special 4 DVD presentation presented by Sheila Wagner, M.Ed. will examine the process of behavior analysis for teachers that have students with autism spectrum in general education classes. This setting poses challenges that must be considered in light of this disability, zero tolerance and student needs. Too often, inconsistent behavior plans leave students and teachers confused as to why behaviors return. This lecture will identify the key components for analyzing the inappropriate behaviors and identify ways to improve student performance, increasing the likelihood for inclusion.


[PACKAGE INCLUDES]
DVD1: Quality Indicators for Inclusion Programs [39.95]
DVD2: Positive Behavior Programs for Inclusion Programs [39.95]
DVD3: Inclusion Strategies for Embedding Social Skills [39.95]
DVD4: Teaching Strategies for Inclusion Strategies [39.95]
PLUS Digital Handouts

Order Today and Get a Bonus
Temple Grandin 90 Minute [49.95] DVD Presentation!

Receive ALL 4 BRAND NEW Inclusive Programming DVDs plus the Bonus Temple Grandin DVD + Digital Handouts!

Regular $209.75

Limited Time Only $127

 

Soup Du Jour! Dear Mom!

Oct 23rd

Posted by Karen Simmons in Soup Du Jour

No comments

 

As a Chicken Soup co-author I’m always looking for your stories to share with everyone else.  Not too long ago I did a “call out” to my members asking for heartwarming stories and was overwhelmed with over 2500 submissions.  I know you will enjoy hearing from others so I am going to be sharing them with you on a weekly basis.  Here is one from Nicole Ongman!

 Dear Mom!
(by Micole Ongman)


I have a son Ethan, who is now 14.   He has autism and was put on the border between autism and aspergers on the spectrum by the doctor.  He is working at about a grade 1 or 2 level in school.   He is verbal and quite amusing to be around.

My mom lives in Florida and I have been sending her updates since Ethan was born so she could be a part of our day to day lives.   A few years back,  I titled them “Dear Mom” (as the emails to her said) and gave them to her as a gift one year for her birthday.

Read and enjoy!

December 12, 2002 (Ethan was 6)

We went to Walmart to buy Ethan some new winter gloves.   After we got the gloves we went to St. Cinnamon and had a hot cinnamon bun.

Since we were in the mall for a while I figured that he would have to go to the bathroom (we still have toileting issues at 14 years).   I asked Ethan and he said yes.  We went back into Walmart and found that the woman’s bathroom was out of order.

The men’s was right there and there was no one in it (I opened  the door and called in) so I sent Ethan in to pee.   A man came  to go in, he was a staff person, and he was looking at me funny because I was hovering outside the door to the men’s washroom.  I said that I was just waiting for my son.

He came right back out and said that Ethan was just standing there.  I told the man to do what he had to do and I would go in after. He said no go ahead and I went in.  As soon as I saw Ethan standing in the cubicle doorway I knew that he had either just made or was in the process of making a  poop.

I told him to get into the bathroom stall (there were about 3 urinals in there as well) and I sat him on the toilet.  He had gone a bit in his pants so I took them off while he was on the toilet.

Next thing I knew the outside door opened and in came someone to use the urinal.  There were these big boots we could see on the other side of the stall and I just put my finger to my my lips and told Ethan to “shhhh”.  He giggled, knowing that mom wasn’t supposed to be here.  I didn’t panic because I figured the man would be done before us and would be gone soon.

I got Ethan’s pants off, took off his underwear and put his clean pants back on.  He was still sitting on the toilet going to pee and in walks another man.  I shusshed Ethan again, he giggles and the man started to pee.  Then Ethan looks down and  as he’s watching himself pee, he blurts out “I have a big penis”!

Well, the peeing outside our door stops for a second and then resumes.  I am trying to contain my laughter and Ethan is giggling. Finally that man left, Ethan was done and we got him ready to go.

When we were about to open the stall door, in walks another man and I thought it wouldn’t be that long so I waited, shushing Ethan and him giggling.  While that man was in, another came in and I was starting to feel trapped in the men’s washroom.  One man left and when the other was done and was washing his hands, I opened the door and Ethan and I walked out making a beeline to the door. The guy at the sink looked but didn’t care.  Just as we got to the door, this little elderly man came in, stopped, looked at the sign on the door and looked back at me.  Before I could say anything, he just shrugged his shoulders and proceeded to go to the urinal to do his business as Ethan and I quickly escaped.

What a riot that was!!

Micole Ongman

, , , ,

Care for Caregivers

Oct 18th

Posted by Karen Simmons in News

No comments

This is really cool! I’ve been thinking a long time about Second Life as a vehicle for people with autism to connect for a long time since social skills are a real challenge. Well lo and behold, even though this isn’t quite what I had in mind this is still really cool for caregivers (who desperately need attention too)

Check out this great concept designed exclusively for those who provide care for family members with special needs. Caregiver Village members are able to connect with friends, participate in book clubs with celebrity authors, journal, play mystery games, solve puzzles, and learn valuable information about care giving.

Authors such as Liane Kupferberg Carter, renowned journalist and author of many books including The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, and Dr. Cindy Ariel, a clinical psychologist specializing in therapy solutions for individuals with autism and their loved ones, will lead book club discussions on Autism and care giving.

http://www.caregivervillage.com/social-media

As a caregiver myself I love the idea and wanted to share it with you.

Karen Simmons,
Autism Todays
Founder & CEO and Mom

«12345»10...Last »