Great Autism Quotes

" Consider the following four dead-end kids. One was spanked by his teachers for bad grades and a poor attitude. He dropped out of school at 16. Another failed remedial English and came perilously close to flunking out of college. The third feared he'd never make it through school--and might not have without a tutor. The last finally learned to read in third grade, devouring Marvel comics, whose pictures provided clues to help him untangle the words. These four losers are, respectively, Richard Branson, Charles Schwab, John Chambers, and David Boies. "

" Autism itself is not the enemy... the barriers to development that are included with autism are the enemy. The retardation that springs from a lack of development is the enemy. The sensory problems that are often themselves the barriers are the enemy. These things are not part of who the child is... they are barriers to who the child is meant to be, according to the developmental blueprint. Work with the child's strengths to overcome the weaknesses, and work within the autism, not against it, to overcome the developmental barriers. "




-- Frank Klein, autistic
 
A genius explains - [excerpt]



"Daniel Tammet is an autistic savant. He can perform mind-boggling mathematical calculations at breakneck speeds. But unlike other savants, who can perform similar feats, Tammet can describe how he does it. He speaks seven languages and is even devising his own language. Now scientists are asking whether his exceptional abilities are the key to unlock the secrets of autism. " Interview by Richard Johnson Saturday February 12, 2005


The Guardian
 
 
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover...." Mark Twain
 
 
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can...." John Wesley
 

Trial Run of GFCF Pancake Recipe

This is the GF pancake recipe as I printed from the internet.

1 cup rice flour
3 tbsps tapioca flour
1/3 cup of potato starch
4 tbsps of dry buttermilk powder ( I don't use it to make it Casein Free)
1 packet of sugar substitue (Stevia)
1 1/2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsps bking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
2 eggs
3 tbsp canola oil
2 cups water

In a bowl, mix or sift together the rice flour, tapioca flour, potato startch, dry buttermilk powder, sugar substitue, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum.  Stir in eggs, water, and oil until well blended and few lumps remain.

This is where I start changing things.  I use almond milk instead of water.  It gives it a better and richer flavor.  Also, I add about 2 tbsp of ground flax seeds.  It makes them rise more like a traditional pancake.  Also, I will add a mashed banana.  It is the one thing that makes any sweet, baked good in GFCF cooking.  I will also add blueberries, slivered almonds, etc. 

I try and make it as nutrient rich and great tasting as I possibly can.

I will add more later.  I"m off to pick C up from Social Skills Group. 

Love, peace and grace unto you.

So much to say, so little time

Well, I had a pretty good day.  Really great in fact.  I have two interviews on Wednesday.  I set them up, but received a giant "leg-up" from a friend a mine who works at both companies. 

He gave glowing recommendations and they are considering for other positions other than what I intially was going to apply for.  Thanks T. B. (Mr. Wild Coyote).

The next thing I"m working on (among MANY others) is perfecting my GFCF pancake recipe.  Once I do that, I"ll post it.  Then I'll work on GFCFEF.  I"ve done it and it works.  I just have to remember to write down what I did and how it turned out.

It's a short post because I"ve got to go to bed and get up early with C.  School beckons. 

Stay Tuned!

Next couple of posts:  Let me know what you want to hear.  I know some of the challenges I've had. 

i.e.  Navigating the waters of Autism, what do I do next, An IEP - What's that?  A disagreement ARD?  You can do that?  I don't have to sign that day?  Oh, so you fight with your husband too over therapy and views on severity?  I went overboard with the kiddo and left the husband in the dust....

Yeah, I've gotten a few tshirts.  BUT, it's all worth it in the end.  It's all worth it.  It's a blessing and I"m blessed.  Let me know what you think.  Stay tuned! 

Love and blessings of HIS Love to all!   Psalm 4:8

Wow! I'm so excited!

Good evening everyone!  This is day one of the 1600 calorie a day diet.  No fads, no craziness; just balanced nutrition, cutting what we eat and exercising.  We eat well, just way too much!  :)  Chris and I were suprisingly satisfied. 

If you know me and know me well; food is almost as important to me as Autism and Advocacy.  Give me a bourdeaux, stilton or maytag blue, a baquette.....  Oh, yeah.  I digress

As far as the last post, it should be a lesson when to post and when not to post.  When you are super tired and can't make sense; grammatically or otherwise; don't write.  I decided to leave the post as is.  Everyone makes mistakes and needs to laugh at their foibles.  His Grace is sufficient.

NOW, to the real reason I'm writing tonight.  I wanted all of you to know that I will be part of the Houston Focus Group for the Texas Autism Research and Resource Center Website.
It will design a new website with the best information available about autism and similar disabilities. In 2009, the 81st Texas Legislature directed that a statewide resource center for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) be created to assist Texans. Once fully operational, Texas’ center will help individuals with ASD, families, and professionals by coordinating resources, offering training, and providing information on ASD, available services, research, and other topics of interest.
 
This has long been an intrest of mine.  I've had a burning desire within my heart to do something with Autism, Advocacy, Natural Health/Supplements, GFCF diet and baking, ARD/IEP process and assisting other parents when they recieve the diagnosis.  This is a step in the right direction.  I"m not sure where it's leading, but I know it's a step, a gift that GOD has made clear to me I'm to be going.  
 
There are only 11 people in the Houston Group (there will be about 6 or 7 across the state).  I know one of the people going through my network of people I know.  She is the head of FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment).  If she is there and I am; I"m honored and a little daunted.
 
Please stay in prayer with me for thankfulness, his grace and patience and above all that I keep HIM in the place HE should be.  Not making this my "next thing" to usurp HIS place.  Been there, done that and have WAY too many tshirts.
 
But, I"m excited.  I really am.  I believe this is the start of something really great and very important for me.  Let me go with God's grace.
 
By love and blessing to all of you.  Have a great night.

Another Day....

It was a good day.  I rolled with the punches.  I"ve got to stop staying up like this.  Going to be early (11pm) is aversive and so is waking up at 7am when I've gone to bed at 2am, 5 nights in a row.  It's not a preferred activity.

Today is my brother's 47th birthday.  I"m so proud of him.  He's been sober for 25 years.  He loves his nephew but just can't wrap himself around his energy sometimes.  AND....the more tired C is, the more wound up he gets.....  Chinese food, buffets and 7:00pm.  Intresting combo.  Try a GFCF diet there.........

This week, C happened to be listening to country (Toby Keith - I want to talk about Me and Alan Jackson - Chatahoochee); dancing and singing.  It was really cute.  I send out a text regarding both songs (a day apart) and I get a text from my brother; #1 "God, I'm kidnapping my nephew when I get back from San Antonio and indoctrinating him...." #2 (after Alan Jackson) "Ya, know, when I hear about my nephew's musical choices, I get more disheartened by the minute.....Hey, maybe there's a country song in there somewhere..."  Atleast (for Uncle Rich's sake) C still likes "Werewolves" of London.

Well, we were at the sink again today.  I just don't get it.  I try and show him how to do stuff at the sink (rinsing a few dishes I may wash by hand - maybe I"m choosing the wrong time; don't know) and all he can zero in on is turing the water on, watching it be poured, dumped, filled, drained, bubbled, squirted, etc.

At one point today, he was spitting!!!????  What is that?  I know he was bored.  Poor guy.  After loosing so much sleep this week, we have been toast for him and just laid around.  Not motivated to do much of anything.  So, he would get into mischief.....so, back to the schedule and choosing activities for the day.

Ahhh. life can be nuts sometimes.

Well, I"m off for the night.  Have to get some sleep so I"ll make sense tomorrow.

Watching Autism is a World

Well, it has been so long since I've been here.  I couldn't find this for the longest time (ADD and being absent minded kicked-in).  BUT, the desire to write never left. 

I checked out a dvd out of the library; Autism is a World.  It was done by CNN on a woman named Sue Rubin.  She is 26.  Until she was 13 she was believed to be retarded.  Through a series of events, she has been able to use a communication device and now is attending college.

That is the definite upside.  She has a wonderful family (they have always included her and never treated her different) a full life (spiritual - Jewish, social, mental), great care-takers and is very bright.  On the more difficult side (I don't know any other way to put it; forgive me Kathie Snow - trying to remember people first language); she has severe behavior issues, doesn't speak (virtually non-verbal) and has other physical difficulties.

I see triumph and pain.  What struck me the most was how she uses water to calm down.  (Let me back track a little)  She carries 2-3 spoons with her at all times in her left hand.  She even says she doesn't know why, she just has to.  When she needs to "get away," she will go to the sink, fill it slightly, letting the water trickle and fill the spoons and dump them out.  It's her way of slipping into her world.  Feeling a "unusual comfort" (to people outside of her world) in doing this activity.  She said many don't understand.  They don't try to slip inside her world and understand.  I wanted to cry. 

I thought, is this what happens with C when he plays with water?  Am I not trying to understand where he is coming from, why he does it, why he almost can't leave it alone?  Why elevators are so intriguing for him and he could play with them 24/7 given the chance.  Why numbers, red/green/yellow lights strike him dead in his tracks sometimes?  Stand stock-still until they change.  

Why?  This is so torturous.  I know that God is with me, has given me so much but I see this and I"m scared sometimes.  What will become of him?  How will he change?  Will he change enough?  Will he be able to communicate if someone hurts him?  I don't know.  I"m frightened.  This so scared me.  What if C slips off into this world?  I don't know.  It's just scary.   Will he have to have 24/7 care someday?  I don't know.  Will he needs some help?  Will he always need me?  What is to become of him?  How will he handle college?  Puberty? Life in general?  Who will take care of him?  How will he get through?

I want answers.  I want it all laid out in front of me and not have to worry along the journey or trust.  I want it here and now.  To know all is okay.  I want to see the future (to a certain extent). 

I"m so scared sometimes.  It gets to me.  Heaven help me.  Heaven can only help me.  Psalm 4:8  " I will lie down in peace and sleep for you O, Lord; make me dwell in safety."  I have to stand on that or I will drown in despair and loose all hope.

I just want to understand him (C) and give him the best possible life.  Not always be forcing him to my way of understand but celebrating who he is, why he is the way he is and how he understands things.  To join him in his world, so to speak.  How to see things from his perspective.

It's so hard.  So many things so little time.  BUT, there is always hope.  Always a silver lining.  Always God handing you a bit of help from an angel, a friend or HIS direct hand; holding, guiding, loving.  Loving us despite our foibles.  Bless Him and Heaven help me today.