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From: MaryW
Date: 04-05-2007, 12:09 PM (1 of 9)
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Oprah's show today is an hour on how families live when one or more have autism.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: mommydionne
Date: 04-19-2007, 09:25 PM (2 of 9)
just saw this post, how was the show Mary? my godson (who I see almost every week) is autistic, he is staying with us (and his big brother too) for the long weekend here in May, he's a sweet little guy and finally (he's 5) has started to like me he actually asked to come visit us a couple of weeks ago when he was bored at home, this is HUGE for him.  as you likely know.
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: MaryW
Date: 04-20-2007, 05:18 AM (3 of 9)
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It was good. There were three families shown and Oprah interviewed the parents. They were in tears most of the time. Oprah kept saying this is such a new disease, that she had never done a show on it before and that no one had any idea it is so prevalent. One child in 150 is now affected. Usually boys, altho they did show a little girl on the programme.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Magot
Date: 04-20-2007, 11:36 AM (4 of 9)
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I finally met my nephew after 10 years ( Social services decided we were all a bad influence when he was taken into care and we haven't been allowed to see him). He is 16 now and has Aspergers and ADHD. It was lovely to meet him - he has been trying to get them to let us see him for a year and finally we made it. He's a great lad, on the go all the time and obsessive, but that comes with the territory. He has been moved to a new care home and they have put him in a school for modeerate learning difficulties so he takes his GCSE's this year. Becasue he is in this school he can only take them to foundation level - at his previous school ( mainstream with support I think) he was going to take the higher paper. He is naturally cross about this. How can Oprah say this is a new disease? I am stunned! love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: MaryW
Date: 04-20-2007, 01:31 PM (5 of 9)
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New to her I guess. It is relatively new on the scene. I have never seen so much info. on the subject until this past couple of years. One of the parents, a father echoed my sentiments exactly. He was the most vocal and said he was blessed to have his son, no matter the problems. They also spoke with a woman pediatrician who specialized in autism. She had two boys with autistic tendencies. She said that scientists have definitely found it to be genetic. I did not know that. My grandsons are autistic. They have taught me many things and I am richer for having each and every one of them. They will need guidance and help for the rest of their lives probably but who doesn't. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Sherri
Date: 04-20-2007, 02:30 PM (6 of 9)
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My ten year old is on the Autism Spectrum most likely with high functioning Aspergers. We are having a hard time getting all the experts together to make a decision as to weather he can be labeleled or not. Thats what happens when you live a million miles from everything. The obsessiveness is getting a little extreme. Especially when he is obsessing about things that are not appropriate. And he has very big social delays. We have him working with OT and speach to teach him social behaviours. Which has been interesting now that he obsesses about social behaviours like being silly or joking. My sons other main symptom is that he has no fine motor skills. Which has been an obstacle at school. But we are getting there. Thankfully my son is not add or adhd insted of being unfocused he is hyper focused. Just try to pull him away from something he wants to be doing. When we asked about whether medication was appropriate we where told with Autism spectrum you really treat the symptoms not the disease and there were very few symptoms that Mikey had that could be medicated. So we were told you don't medicate a personality. Sher My website
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User: Sherri
Member since: 02-07-2001 Total posts: 357 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 04-20-2007, 05:07 PM (7 of 9)
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My 11yo son has ADD (no H as he has no hyperactivity - thankfully) and Aspergers syndrome. He takes medication (for his ADD) on school days just to put him on a relatively level playing field with his peers as far as his ability to concentrate and do his school work. He was diagnosed with the ADD some years ago but only about 18 months ago with the Aspergers. We had changed paediatricians and a passing comment of mine (about his inability or unwillingness to make eye contact) made the doctor pull out his checklist. Lo and behold we could tick every box. It sure explained a lot. Most of his issues that we struggle with are related to the Aspergers. Social etiquette, lack of awareness of body language and unspoken cues etc. still give him big problems. We changed his schools nearly 12 months ago now and have had a lot of success. We mainly did it because the problems at his old school with bullying were out of control. The new school is smaller and a lot more caring so there is almost no bullying at all which is fantastic. He has personally not been bullied at all which after 5 years is a great relief to us all. The unexpected bonus has been the improvement in his school work. Some of this comes from the fact that he is happier and more settled. The teachers are a lot calmer and don't need to spend as much time dealing with discipline problems (other kids). The yelling at problem kids at the old school would wind him up a lot. Also their method of educating is somewhat different. They have a focus on a topic for the term (semester for you I think) and all of the work in some way relates. Last term it was the Billycart Grand Prix. This term it's "Have I got a deal for you". So the kids make a prototype item, cost and source the materials, go into production and then advertise it. It culminates in a market day at the end of the topic where they sell their items and hopefully make a small profit to be donated to a mutually agreed charity. Using the skills (English or maths) and being able to apply them in real life makes a big difference in motivation and ability to absorb the information. He'll never be a brain surgeon but it has enabled him to improve his results in all areas - some to class standard (a couple even above!). Motor skills continue to be a problem however - handwriting is still awful. We did try a similar method at his old school but with varying degrees of success. Whenever possible getting his teachers to allow him to focus his project on areas of his interest was helpful but as an individual it wasn't quite as effective as when a whole class is doing something similar. BTW - what Sherri said about medicating a personality is true but it is worth keeping in mind that the anxiety levels of kids with autism or aspergers can get very high. We haven't had to deal with this on a sustained level - he has days or weeks when things get on top of him - more from external circumstance than anything. We fully expect (hoping we're wrong) that in his teenage years this is something that might need to be temporarily addressed with therapy or medication. Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: Magot
Date: 04-20-2007, 05:27 PM (8 of 9)
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My daughter has a friend - also high functioning aspergers , who is completing his degree in Creative writing. His poetry is exquisite and so meaningful.. I am blessed to have known him growing up - he was a screaming , uncontrollable, toddler and an unintelligible geek early teen and is now a fabulous young man.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: cshortsew
Date: 04-20-2007, 07:30 PM (9 of 9)
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I spend 5 days a week being escorted around campus by 7 of the most handsome young men, 3 of which have autism, 1 has downs syndrome, 2 have pervasive developmental disorder(cousin to autism) and 1 has developmental delays. They range in age from 3 years to 5 years. I love them all but I was so glad when 2:00pm came around today, we had class pics this morning and then the computer lab teacher was absent, needless to say it through our routine off and everyone was totally out of sorts for the rest of the day. Tomorrow is our local Autism Speaks walk, I will be walking with 6 or 7 other people under my school's name. Autism is not contagious but working with these amazing children can be very addictive cshortsew
Projects Completed in 2007: Sewing: biscuit quilt, 7 baby dress sets, piggy pillow, 7 baby pants, eyeglass holder, purse, 5 baby outfits, toddler dress set Crocheting: red purse, piggy slippers, sweater shawl, 5 pr. sock trims, 89 squares, baby sweater, 2 afghans, toddler harness, baby poncho, baby dress Other: 14 Autism pins Works in progress: Sewing: toddler overalls & shirt Crocheting: vertical stripes afghan |
User: cshortsew
Member since: 06-28-2006 Total posts: 380 |
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