Differences

I started this blog as a way for me to write about living with people who have Autism. There are a million things I do differently, yet after years I often do not realize how much I do differently. One of the biggest things I do is interpret. They do not understand non-Autistics and non-Autistics do not understand them, even when everyone is speaking the same language. Furthermore, speaking the same language causes additional problems. Uninformed people incorrectly assume that if everyone is speaking the same language they are understanding. Yet, the uninformed rarely have any understanding!!

Autism Awareness

My son thought Autism Awareness Month or Day was unnecessary because the news has been running so many stories. Yet, I am constantly finding people in the public that should be educated or trained and they are not. In fact, they are often so uninformed to be dangerous.

Firemen, Policemen, and Teachers should all be educated. Why aren't they?
How many Autism Awareness months will it take???? Personally, I am tired of educating professionals about autism.

Raise taxes and train these people!

Growing Up Autistic

Helping my son grow up to be a man is difficult. I have watched him like a hawk. I have worked to avoid problems, so he would not have to handle things that are difficult for him. However, as an adult he will need to take care of his own affairs. So now I am pushing him to handle things on his own. I know he is more than capable, but he is so delayed.

I find it difficult to help him to catch up. However, I have to remember how delayed he was. He could not understand or express sentences with verbs when he was in the 3rd grade. He did not have the use of adjectives until he was in the 5th grade.

Bush/McCain vs. Autism

Most people have heard about the African Americans left in New Orleans to die.

What is the 2nd group Bush/McCain left in New Orleans to die?

People with Autism

Vote Democrat!

"Hyperscanning" Study Reveals Impaired Sense of Self in Autism

Scientists last week reported an exciting innovation for autism research in a study that scanned the brains of people with autism during social interactions. The study, funded in part by Autism Speaks, revealed a reduced brain signal in people with autism that might be related to their sense of self. (Read the article.)

I think this makes sense to me. I know my son Joshua is always asking other people what music should I like. Furthermore, since he has been spending more time with NT high school students at lunch, he has been asking for brand name clothes. Joshua is carefully watching fellow students and trying to emulate them.

Furthermore, I think this might be related to the sensory issues many people with autism have. For example: When a person decides if he like a song on the radio, it is based on how the song makes them feel. (eg. sad, happy, funfilled) However, the ability to utilize auditory signals may be impaired; this impairment might diminish their ability to internalize the song.

Today is Autism Awareness Day; April is Autism Awareness Month

Autism affects more children than juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer and Down syndrome combined. Plus more children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined.

I find these facts amazing! Furthermore, this does NOT include the number of adults with autism!!

Did you know…

• 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism
• 1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum
• 67 children are diagnosed per day
• A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
• Autism costs the nation over $90 billion per year, a figure expected to double in the next decade
• Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism

Incidence vs. Private Funding

• Leukemia: Affects 1 in 25,000 / Funding: $310 million
• Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 20,000 / Funding: $175 million
• Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 8,000 / Funding: $394 million
• Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500 / Funding: $130 million
• Autism: Affects 1 in 150 / Funding: $15 million

National Institutes of Health Funds Allocation

• Total 2005 NIH budget: $29 billion
• Of this, only $100 million goes towards autism research. This represents 0.3% of total NIH funding.

The international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece, signifying the mystery of this disorder. The puzzle pattern reflects the mystery and complexity of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of the individuals (and their families) effected. The brightness of the colors symbolizes hope - through research, increased awareness, understanding and acceptance.

If Men are from Mar and Women are from Venus ....

People with Autism are from a whole other planet! This earthling has been living with beings from a whole other planet for over 20 years! In many ways, I envy them. Sometimes it is difficult for me to understand them, but they are the most beautiful creatures I have ever had the privilege to meet.

This blog is my account of the beauty of them and my feeble brain's frustrations as I live with them.