'Enjoying the Hi-5s of Autism'

Make the Connection | —

EnjoyHi5!Autism Babymiracle2005 — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 03:11:27 +0000

Thanks to the Veterans. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Welcome Home. Thanks for your sacrificial service. We appreciate our soldiers and military

personnel who are still in harms way. This Veterans holiday, we hope you ‘Make the Connection’ in your communities, stateside and abroad.

Connect by Life Events

Explore life events or experiences that you can relate to and get information, stories, and resources for support.

Make the Connection | Veteran Stories & Support.

Criminal Minds’ Joe Mantegna: Our Returning Troops Need Jobs (seattlepi.com)
Obama praises soldiers on Memorial Day (bigpondnews.com)
ACT Today for Military Families – Support Military Families Impacted by Autism (familyenjoyinghi5autism.blogspot.com)
PTSD: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (enjoyhi5autism.blogspot.com)
Remembering the Unforgettable (familyenjoyinghi5autism.blogspot.com)
‘The Secret of The Lake’ – (Stop Bullying Thru Right Thinking) (familyenjoyinghi5autism.blogspot.com)
Request for Proposals – $10,000 to $75,000 Grants:Support for National Project to Empower Youth With Disabilities (enjoyhi5autism.blogspot.com)
How to Have a Sensory-Friendly Fourth of July (familyenjoyinghi5autism.blogspot.com)
Landmark Federal Decision Calling Key Autism Therapy a ‘Medical’ Service Eligible for Insurance (enjoyhi5autism.blogspot.com)
Equal Employment for Persons with Disabilities (enjoyhi5autism.blogspot.com)
The Autism Show! (enjoyhi5autism.blogspot.com)
Autism Mom and a Sibling shares: ‘What July 4th means to me’ (familyenjoyinghi5autism.blogspot.com)
Finally, respect for this WWII veteran (stripes.com)
Military Veterans Need Support from U.S. Companies (blogs.cisco.com)
Buy Veteran Movement Connects Americans with the Nation’s Three Million Veteran-Owned Businesses (prweb.com)
Grants to Connect Veterans, Families to Local Transportation (defense.gov)
Not Every Veteran is Broken | Veterans Today (gunnyg.wordpress.com)
Veteran Guide to Buying a New Home MilitaryVALoan.com (militaryvaloan.com)
Veteran Service Organization to Honor Veterans Across Generations (prweb.com)
Letter: Honor veterans of the Vietnam War (knoxnews.com)
Thank veterans by helping them transition to civilian life (bangordailynews.com)
Veterans: Quality of Life (salem-news.com)
Watch a Video and Help AT&T Provide Phones for Military Veterans (gottabemobile.com)
Autism Speaks Response to U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act (familyenjoyinghi5autism.blogspot.com)
Autism Awareness is always Worldwide! (familyenjoyinghi5autism.blogspot.com)

Veterans Day Ceremony (Photo credit: Josh LeClair)

Hitting the Jackpot over at BLOOM

EnjoyHi5!Autism Babymiracle2005 — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 22:30:39 +0000

I’m very excited to be guest posting over at BLOOM blog, the blog for Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. I am truly honoured by this opportunity.

Thank you Louise Kinross, parent, editor and special needs super-star!

Please go check them out, there are amazing things happening at BLOOM!

My post, Hitting the Jackpot, is about coming to terms with a special needs diagnosis for my children, something most parents can relate to. Go on, check it out!

Excerpt:

In the land of special needs, things happen differently, and if you don’t look for them you will miss them completely. My daughter is nearly three now and still cannot walk. She spends her day bum-shuffling around, a devoted mother to a dozen baby dolls, giving them bottles and naps and changing diapers. If her baby brother holds still long enough she will change him too.

If I spent my time focussing on what she can’t do, I would miss everything that is truly exceptional about her. She does not speak clearly, but can tell knock-knock jokes. And she loves to laugh. She can’t walk, but can dance. She moves with a rhythm and style all her own. She has a strong sense of fashion, and loves stylish clothing and accessories. She makes people happy, reaching out to strangers and truly bringing out the best in people.

There is no percentile chart that can measure this. It took us a while to realize that the things that truly count cannot be measured.

In that sense, I think we already hit the jackpot.

What’s my advice to parents dealing with a new diagnosis?

Hug your child, spend time with them and remember how special they are. Make time to connect with other parents who are going through the same thing or who are just slightly ahead of you on the journey in the land of special needs. With the Internet, the world is truly a small place. You are never alone. You can always connect with me on Twitter@specialneedmom2.

Angela is a special education teacher and special needs parent who blogs at Half past normal.

Read Angela’s complete blog post at Hitting the Jackpot over at BLOOM.

Posted on September 12, 2012by Angela

About Angela

Super-powered, Special Ed teacher and special needs mama to three children under five (!) Toddler has Prader-Willi Syndrome and Kindergartener has Duchenne MD. Hubby has ADHD. Baby #3 does not have super-powers, not that we love him any less for it. I blog about our halfpastnormal life.

Thanks Angela for sharing.

Additional PWS info.:

MedlinePlus – National Institute of Health – Prader-Willi Syndrome

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is an uncommon genetic disorder. It causes poor muscle tone, low levels of sex hormones and a constant feeling of hunger. The part of the brain that controls feelings of fullness or hunger does not work properly in people with PWS. They overeat, leading to obesity.

Babies with PWS are usually floppy, with poor muscle tone, and have trouble sucking. Boys may have undescended testicles. Later, other signs appear. These include

Short stature
Poor motor skills
Weight gain
Underdeveloped sex organs
Mild mental retardation and learning disabilities

There is no cure for PWS. Growth hormone and exercise can help build muscle mass and control weight.

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

U.S. National Library of Medicine – National Institute of Health – PubMed Health – Diseases and Conditions – Prader-Willi Syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome is a congenital (present from birth) disease. It affects many parts of the body. People with this condition are obese, have reduced muscle tone and mental ability, and have sex glands that produce little or no hormones.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Prader-Willi syndrome is caused by a gene missing on part of chromosome 15. Normally, your parents each pass down a copy of this chromosome. Most patients with Prader-Willi syndrome are missing the genetic material on part of the father’s chromosome. The rest of patients with this condition often have two copies of the mother’s chromosome 15.

The genetic changes occur randomly. Patients usually do not have a family history of the condition.

Symptoms

Signs of Prader-Willi syndrome may be seen at birth.

Newborns are often small and floppy.
Male infants may have undescended testicles.

Other symptoms may include:

Trouble eating as an infant, with poor weight gain
Almond-shaped eyes
Delayed motor development
Narrow bifrontal skull
Rapid weight gain
Short stature
Slow mental development
Very small hands and feet in comparison to the child’s body

Children have an intense craving for food and will do almost anything to get it. This can result in uncontrollable weight gain and morbid obesity. Morbid obesity may lead to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and joint and lung problems.

Signs and tests

Genetic testing is available to test children for Prader-Willi syndrome.

As the child grows older, laboratory tests may show signs of morbid obesity, such as:

Abnormal glucose tolerance
Above normal level of the hormone insulin in the blood
Decreased level of oxygen in the blood
Failure to respond to luteinizing hormone releasing factor

There may also be signs of right-sided heart failure and knee and hip problems.

Support Groups

For additional resources and support, see:

Prader-Willi Alliance — www.prader-willi.org
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association – www.pwsausa.org

Expectations (prognosis)

The child will need the right education for his or her IQ level. The child will also need speech, physical, and occupational therapy as early as possible. Controlling weight will allow for a much more comfortable and healthy life.

Complications

Type 2 diabetes
Right-sided heart failure
Bone (orthopedic) problems

Airport Thievery

EnjoyHi5!Autism Babymiracle2005 — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:03:09 +0000

Traveling this Labor Day?

Here’s a perspective of an autistic Adult maneuving through the airport.

“I was appalled by what the kiosk was directing me to do. How awful to have to steal a fellow passenger’s passport! I clutched onto my passport even tighter in case the guy at the next kiosk would be trying to swipe it on me. I intentionally took some slow deep breaths trying to calm myself while keeping an eye on the potential thieves all around me. It was hard to calm down. I looked at the directive “please swipe passport” still on the screen I loudly announced, “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this!”

An agent came over, looked at the screen, took my passport and swiped it – just like I swipe my credit card at the grocery store. Once I saw that I realized exactly what the kiosk directions meant because I have swiped my credit card many times. My brain just hadn’t pulled up the right “swipe” picture.

Since that time a few years ago I have become much more comfortable in airports. In addition, I have learned that I can successfully deal with the unplanned surprises that come up along the way. Ultimately I can get where I am going without being any more frazzled that the average passenger. Chalk this up as one more thing a person can learn after 50!”

Note: To read about Judy’s most recent airport accomplishment, please read Brenda Smith Myles’ Foreword in Judy’s newest book, Learning the Hidden Curriculum: The Odyssey of One Autistic Adult (2012, AAPC Publishing).

For the complete article: Airport Thievery.

via

The Autism Asperger Publishing Company on Facebook

http://twitter.com/aapcpub

#HiddenCurriculumAlthough you may wash your hair in the kitchen sink at your own home, don’t do it while staying at the home of a friend. 4 days ago

Airports test new way of confirming passport data (japantimes.co.jp)

Is ‘CONTEXT EVERYTHING’?

EnjoyHi5!Autism Babymiracle2005 — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:57:17 +0000

Consider MY Perpectives when considering what I “KNOW” -

“My entire life has essentially been one big misunderstanding about people. It wasn’t that I disliked people or was scared of them but I never got them. I thought other people (as a whole) acted in very irrational and often illogical/stupid ways. By the time I was diagnosed with Autism (at the age of 47), I had developed a strong coping strategy to deal with this “disconnect” that I called the “idiot bucket”. The Psychologist who diagnosed me actually thought I might have contempt for people due to this attitude that people were largely just tossed into my “idiot bucket”. I realize that this is a not-so-nice term but I am saying it as it happened because I see my strategy echoed in many of the youth I work with as well as my autistic adult peers. I think it is important that NT caregivers and friends understand where this comes from and how to support the ASD person who has developed an “idiot bucket” about people in general. This “bucket”…

was super important during my life without Autism Awareness because it allowed me to be okay with me despite the many miscommunications. Had I been forced to take responsibility for all of these disconnects without the benefit of knowing about Autism, I would have no self-esteem at all because I would assume that I was wrong all the time instead of speaking from a completely different (but completely valid) context. Learning about context/abstraction abilities now allows me to take responsibility. Whenever I have a “people are idiots” moment, I stop and clarify their perspective.. Whenever two people come at 1 problem with different contexts, they will have differing emotions, experiences, answers. Be careful that you take the time to know my context before you judge me. Hint…. It is most likely not like yours. It has been brought to my attention that the fourth column is not ALL ASD people. This is very true. The fourth column is interesting because those of us who were not diagnosed as children and have developed this strategy (assuming that NT is stupid versus taking responsibility) are actually in a healthier (overall) mental state. Those who assume that they are wrong are usually suffering from depression or sever anxiety along with depression by the time they are adults. This is why the diagnosis along with this understanding is so important.”

Karla’s ASD Page

Come Into the Garden: Hidden Issues With Expressive Language (psychologytoday.com)
First Autistic Presidential Appointee Lambastes Joe Scarborough And Autism Speaks (mediaite.com)
Special Learning, Inc. Releases the February 2012 issue of the ABA Literature Summary on “Coping and Support Strategies for Families with Children with Autism” (prweb.com)
Press Release – The Damaging Impact Of Seizures On Individuals With Autism (adelesymonds.wordpress.com)
Review of “Pills Are Not for Preschoolers” by Marilyn Wedge (attentiondeficitwhatever.com)
Silently Seizing: Common, Unrecognized and Frequently Missed Seizures and Their Potentially Damaging Impact on Individuals With Autism (aapcblog.com)
Not just a boy thing: how doctors are letting down girls with autism (guardian.co.uk)
Autism as Context Blindness and the ForeWord Clarion Review (aapcblog.com)
Brain scans detect early signs of autism (examiner.com)
Olympics (enjoyhi5autism.wordpress.com)

Aspie-Paralympics

EnjoyHi5!Autism Babymiracle2005 — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:45:48 +0000

“It was my last race so I knew it didn’t matter if I collapsed at the bottom of
the pool, it’s fine” Jessica-Jane Applegate

Jessica-Jane Applegate, a 16-year-old with Asperger’s, wins 200m swimming gold at Paralympics. Britain’s Jessica-Jane Applegate set a Paralympic record to win gold in the women’s S14 200m freestyle final. The 16-year-old, who has Asperger’s syndrome, clocked two minutes 12.63 seconds to beat Australia‘s Taylor Corry by 0.55 secs. …

Applegate, who qualified fastest after breaking her own British record in the morning session, was third with 50m to go before a storming final length. Read more: http://ow.ly/dq0BZ

Applegate wins 200m swimming gold

http://www.bbc.co.uk

Britain’s Jessica-Jane Applegate sets a Paralympic record to win gold in the women’s S14 200m freestyle final at the Aquatics Centre.

via

Mike Talkaboutautism

Applegate keeps GB teens on gold road

Jessica-Jane Applegate snatched a dramatic victory in the Aquatics Centre last night.

Swimming: Applegate goes all out to keep the GB teens on gold road (independent.co.uk)
Paralympics 2012 News: Applegate late surge secures gold (journallive.co.uk)
Applegate late surge secures gold (standard.co.uk)
National Sport: Applegate late surge secures gold (coventrytelegraph.net)
Live Sport Reports: Applegate late surge secures gold (walesonline.co.uk)
Golden glow for Britain’s heroes (express.co.uk)
Applegate wins gold (standard.co.uk)
Paralympics 2012 News: Applegate wins gold (journallive.co.uk)
Swimming: Jessica-Jane Applegate’s perfect race earns gold medal (independent.co.uk)

DESTINY

EnjoyHi5!Autism Babymiracle2005 — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:37:00 +0000

Everyday Health shares inspiration: ‘Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.’ ~ Author Jeremy Kitson, ‘Life Purpose Inspirational Quotes’; ‘Inspiring Your Authenticate Self’
Everyday Health
Inspirational Author Jeremy Kitson quoted in ‘How To Live On Purpose’
qoutes by Jetemy Kitson | ‘Empowering your Authentic Self

‘Enjoying the Hi-5s of Autism’- holidays and audio blog –Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

Zac Browser | Zone for Autistic Children

EnjoyHi5!Autism Babymiracle2005 — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 11:56:23 +0000

Zac Browser | Zone for Autistic Children

‘The ultimate solution for children with Autism’

Welcome to ZAC Browser –

Zone for Autistic Children

You have found the best environment on the Internet for your child with autism.

Zac Browser is a totally free software package. It is the first Internet browser developed specifically for children living with variants of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, PDD not otherwise specified and PDD-NOS(Pervasive Developmental Disorder – not otherwise specified), also called atypical autism.

Zac Browser was designed to offer a pleasant, rewarding and secure experience. Children sing, play and discover the best that the Internet has to offer with only a few clicks of the mouse.

Zac Browser is software that allows your child to access games (a lot of games) activities (based on diverse interests) along with videos (that allow a stimulating experience and encourages children to talk). All games, activities and videos are specifically chosen for their positive effect on children with autism.

SECURE WEB BROWSER – IDEAL FOR CHILDREN
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES – INTERNATIONAL
MULTIPLE PLATFORMS – MULTIPLE DEVICES
COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE – NO CATCH

So why not do like 2.5 million other people have done throughout the world, install Zac Browser now.

Zac Browser on Facebook

*New Service* t.co/qbqndgHz t.co/CewcAXOM Time ago 11 Days via Facebook

Follow @zacbrowser on twitter.

Zac Browser | Zone for Autistic Children

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@EnjoyHi5Autism

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“disAbilityVOICE – Disability Rights Advocate”

Enjoyable School Year – ‘All Children Can Learn.’

‘Traveling with A Medically Complex Child – ‘(Parts 1 and 2)

EnjoyHi5!Autism Babymiracle2005 — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:39:23 +0000

Are you still in the summertime mode? Are you still diving into the pool, sipping lemonade through an umbrella straw, taking in the midnight movie, — you know, basically, ignoring the other folks who have plunged into the ‘Back-to-School’ zone?

Right, so you’re closing out the summer with travel plans for the ‘Labor Day’ Weekend! Well, whether you’re planning a full-fledged vacation or a local staycation(away from home), consider these travel points for families and individuals with Special Needs.

We’re posting this recommended tip from TSA. “Traveling can be a stressful time for someone with a disability. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a new toll-free hotline, 855-787-2227, to provide information for passengers with disabilities and medical conditions and their families before they fly.”

Traveling With A Medically Complex Child – Ten Tips for a Successful Vacation

August 16, 2012
All right! Trip planning completed (refer to the prior post, Traveling With a Medically Complex Child – Ten Trip Planning Ideas, for full details). Bags are packed. It’s time to hit the road. Here are ten ideas and suggestions from parents who have “been there” with their children. They share keys to their travel success with the goal to help everyone have a smooth, safe, and fun vacation.

Traveling with A Medically Complex Child – Ten Trip Planning Ideas

August 14, 2012
Traveling with a medically complex child can be quite challenging, sometimes making family vacations a daunting task. However, a little extra planning can go a long way to enjoying a successful vacation.

Parents who have “been there” share their tips for traveling with medically complex children. Part 1 focuses on trip planning ideas and suggestions to consider prior to departing on that long awaited vacation. To prepare you and your child for a happy, joyous vacation, here are ten ideas to help get you on the road and enjoying a well executed vacation.

via Delaware Family Voices.

Delaware Family Voices: Family to Family Health Information Center on Facebook

Our Tweets

RT @AmDiabetesAssn: Going on vacation? Tips for people w/ #diabetes to stockpile supplies & meds for emergencies: buff.ly/Or1oTh 3 days ago
Traveling With A Medically Complex Child – Ten Tips for a Successful Vacation buff.ly/N5c67S #travelplanning 4 days ago
Traveling with A Medically Complex Child – Ten Trip Planning Ideas buff.ly/Or0d6s #travelplanning 4 days ago
Traveling With A Medically Complex Child – Ten Tips for a Successful Vacation buff.ly/N5c67S 4 days ago
Traveling with A Medically Complex Child – Ten Trip Planning Ideas buff.ly/Or0d6s 4 days ago

Why We Don’t Use the Word “Retarded” and Why You Shouldn’t Either

EnjoyHi5!Autism Babymiracle2005 — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:00:51 +0000

Why We Don’t Use the Word “Retarded” and Why You Shouldn’t Either | Jews and Special Needs | Jewish Journal.

11 year-old mentally challenged girl jailed for ‘blasphemy’ in Pakistan (refreshingnews99.blogspot.com)
Soccer Drills for Mentally Challenged Kids (livestrong.com)
Mainstream or special school? Our decision for the latter years of high school (fionaeplace.wordpress.com)

Feeding Therapy This Week

EnjoyHi5!Autism Babymiracle2005 — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:03:16 +0000

Reblogged from Applied Behavioral Strategies:

We hope that you all are enjoying your summer as much as we are enjoying ours. We have each taken time off to spend non-work time with our families. Time off means that our blog suffers. Despite our absence, we truly appreciate the fact that readers are continuing to visit and have not given up hope on "fresh posts".

This week we are going to do something a little different.

'Enjoying the Hi-5s of Autism'

Make the Connection | —

Connect by Life Events

Hitting the Jackpot over at BLOOM

I’m very excited to be guest posting over at BLOOM blog, the blog for Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. I am truly honoured by this opportunity.

Posted on September 12, 2012by Angela

About Angela

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Symptoms

Signs and tests

Support Groups

Expectations (prognosis)

Complications

Airport Thievery

Is ‘CONTEXT EVERYTHING’?

Aspie-Paralympics

DESTINY

Zac Browser | Zone for Autistic Children

‘The ultimate solution for children with Autism’

Welcome to ZAC Browser –

Zone for Autistic Children

ZAC Browser – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ZAC Browser – Download

Zac Browser | Zone for Autistic Children | The Autism News

Zac Browser | Zone for Autistic Children

Zac Browser – Zone for Autistic Children Freeware download …

What is Zac BrowserZac Browser

Zac Browser – CNET Download.com – Product reviews and prices …

‘Traveling with A Medically Complex Child – ‘(Parts 1 and 2)

Traveling With A Medically Complex Child – Ten Tips for a Successful Vacation

Traveling with A Medically Complex Child – Ten Trip Planning Ideas

Our Tweets

Why We Don’t Use the Word “Retarded” and Why You Shouldn’t Either

Feeding Therapy This Week

'Enjoying the Hi-5s of Autism'

Make the Connection | —

Connect by Life Events

Related articles

Hitting the Jackpot over at BLOOM

I’m very excited to be guest posting over at BLOOM blog, the blog for Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. I am truly honoured by this opportunity.

Posted on September 12, 2012by Angela

About Angela

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Symptoms

Signs and tests

Support Groups

Expectations (prognosis)

Complications

Related articles

Airport Thievery

Related articles

Is ‘CONTEXT EVERYTHING’?

Related articles

Aspie-Paralympics

Related articles

DESTINY

Zac Browser | Zone for Autistic Children

‘The ultimate solution for children with Autism’

Welcome to ZAC Browser –

Zone for Autistic Children

Related articles

‘Traveling with A Medically Complex Child – ‘(Parts 1 and 2)

Why We Don’t Use the Word “Retarded” and Why You Shouldn’t Either

Related articles

Feeding Therapy This Week