| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| UrbanChick |
Posted - Mar 13 2007 : 6:26:43 PM
Hello everyone. I've asked permission from Mary Jane to do this and I have her consent. On a side note, those at Mary Janes Farm are just wonderful people and have helped me with a great task. She graciously donated a signed copy of her book that we will raffle off at my daughters daycare and proceeds from the raffle will help benefit our walk for autism. I'm so glad to be a part of this forum and all these great farm girls. On May 19th I am walking in the inaugural walk for Autism Speaks and the Marcus Institute at Atlantic Station at 9am. I am in the process of getting funds together and donations from the community and would love it if you guys could just visit the website and have a look around. I have several stories and pictures of Audrey and my family and all are well worth reading. If you will be in the Atlanta area at that time I would love it if you would join our team, Audrey's Angels. April is Autism Awareness month and you may see an increase in commercials and ads regarding autism and the signs of autism. Currently as many as 1 out of 150 children are affected with autism. Please go to my site and read our stories, join our team if you can or donate if you are willing. Even if you read just for some insight or information on autism it will be time well spent. Thank you so much. Please click on the link, if it doesn't work then copy and paste it.
http://www.autismwalk.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=1360&team_id=97651
Ayako Prince
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| UrbanChick |
Posted - Mar 17 2007 : 02:14:42 AM
We have been blessed with great therapists and doctors. We have seen such an increase in her verbal skills in the two years she's been going to therapy. She just had a "check-up" by the developmental pediatrician on Monday and she is working off of a 3 year old level. She's 4 years 3 months right now but we are very happy she is moving along. She is at the developmental stage where everything has to be done in a certain order or her way. She wants to put on her socks and shoes by herself. She has to put up her jacket on the same hook by herself. She needs to pick out which underwear she is going to wear that day. (yeah, we finally got her potty trained, but that's another story all together) I know some of it can be early signs of OCD which sometimes happens with autistic children but we are happy she is willing to have some self-help skills. We will deal with OCD issues later when they come up and get in the way of everyday living. Thank you everyone for your prayers and willingness to share stories of your own. Makes me feel better that there are others with small triumphs that don't seem weird or insignificant to the general population.
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
| bramble |
Posted - Mar 15 2007 : 9:36:38 PM
Ayoko- I am smiling for you! We have a friend whose son was diagnosed with autism at 18 mths, he is now 9 years old. He has been on an amazing discovery of himself and when he was your daughters age he repeated entire Busytown tapes.We would say things like "Hi, B how are you?" and his reply would be something like "Sargeant Murphy says "Everybody move along, this bus has places to go!" and we would wonder but also be amazed at his capacity to recite this stuff. He has been in a wonderful program (thanks to his never giving up advocate of a Mom) and now attends the public school at grade level and has come so very far. He will now approach us and begin a conversation! He makes eye contact, reaches out for hugs, responds appropriately (most times!) and is actually classified as
Gifted and Talented. I hope your daughter is able to travel the same path and reach all that she is able. You will be in my thoughts and prayers for courage, strength and determination. Be well and know I am wishing all good things for you and your family.
with a happy heart |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Mar 14 2007 : 5:12:46 PM
I have to say, that totally made me smile, too...Alex always has to name everything, and their new car hasn't escaped that...when she greets you, she says, "What's the name of the new green car????" and when you answer, she say, "NO, say it's Neil Diamond!!!"
Who knows, but isn't it fabulous.
Again, I'm happy that she gave you an answer--we just have to learn their conversation!
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Mar 14 2007 : 5:05:38 PM
Truly! I hope your day WAS magically delicious!
How great was that to witness?
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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| UrbanChick |
Posted - Mar 14 2007 : 4:32:00 PM
Well we had a small triumph today...well at least a smile on my face today. My daughter has taken to quoting tv commercials lately at the most odd times. In the morning when most people say good morning she tells me in a whisper, "Taste the blast, fruit gushers" or sometimes she will say "Chuckie cheese's. It's cool. For real" at the grocery store to people when they say hi. Everytime she gets off the bus from her special needs preschool I ask her how her day was. She's never really answered me, even when I get on my knees in front of her and have her look at my face and I ask she usually sees through me at a bug, plant or weed and walks over and babbles to it. So today I asked her how her day was and lo and behold she looked at me and said, "magically delicious". Hey it's a quote from a commercial but she looked at me and gave me an answer. So we had a small triumph today. I hope everyone had a "magically delicious" day today.
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Mar 14 2007 : 1:48:23 PM
I'm sooo sorry to hear that, Ayako...I don't ever recall thinking Alex was distracting, or that she wasn't learning anything. That was a terrible thing for the teacher to say--they simply don't "learn" the same way, but lord knows they pick things up faster than we do!!! For Alex, everything had to be "so so", and learning new steps was sometimes difficult because, for her,it was about everything being "in order", but we managed, and eventually with patience and persuasion, she did achieve many things in my class..in fact, she was an absolute blast. Knew Broadway show tunes like nobody's business, and enjoyed being with other children. When my class schedule conflicted with her schedule, because, believe me, this little girl was into just about everything--horseback riding, swimming, art lessons, you name it, I actually gave her private ballet lessons. You might want to see if someone could refer you for private lessons. I went to her home every Saturday morning for an hour, because that was about all she could really handle with all of her other activities  . I charged $25.00 an hour and looked forward to it all week long. I only stopped teaching her because I had to get another job when my husband got laid off!
I know that you're in Georgia, but I still keep in daily contact with she and her mother, who is a civil rights attorney, and has amazing contacts. Maybe she might have some ideas for you? This lady actually started the Bright Star Studio, a visual and performing arts school exclusively for autistic children here in town (it's actually a big deal to get to go there!), and is in the process of buying acreage so that she can designate a community for families touched by autism--kindof like a commune, I guess--a very open and accepting place, where you would actually buy into the "community". Planned housing in a circle, with a large green space in the center, the whole concept being about family/community, organic garden plots, livestock, theater/arts, etc...It's going to be wonderful if she can get some major funding on board. She's a rather major "funder" herself, but this is going to require a major effort.
I wish you the absolute best. I'd be very glad to talk with you more because, like I said, this is very close to my heart.
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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| UrbanChick |
Posted - Mar 14 2007 : 12:47:40 PM
My daughter used to do ballet. The teacher said she wasn't learning anything and that she was a distraction to the other girls so I pulled her from the program. Her dad and I were very sad that she couldn't participate anymore. We are trying to find other things for her to do. So far gymnastics is the only thing she seems to do well. Makes me sad to hear that other kids are doing ballet, perhaps we didn't get the right teacher.
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Mar 14 2007 : 07:35:40 AM
This is really wonderful! Our best friends have identical twin autistic boys who are now 3 years old and absolutely thriving. I also used to teach ballet to an autistic child--one of the most rewarding (and challenging) experiences I've ever had, and I'm associated here in town with the Bright Star Studio, an art studio for children with autism, so it's obviously a cause close to my heart.
I really commend you for what you're doing-- unfortunately, I forsee this being more common as we go along.
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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| UrbanChick |
Posted - Mar 14 2007 : 07:01:18 AM
Thank you so much for your reply. I sent an email to you. I'll have to write later on details of where our team will meet so we can all get together and walk.
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Mar 14 2007 : 06:08:01 AM
Ayako- What time should I get there? Probably early for ease of parking. Send me an e-mail through the forum. I would love to walk. Look for me- I will be wearing a red apron with daisies on it!!
Karin |
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