New member introduction

[Guest guest]

You are an answer to my prayer Mr. Schleiss! Thank you so much for being

just the type of person Beck envisioned in her " Stand Up! Speak

Out! Let your voice be heard - it's going to take each one of us to change

our children's world " -- CD collection to benefit medical research. Though

I believe the title applies to all facets of the autism diagnosis.

I am willing to write and testify and write and question - I just need a

form type guideline to copy from! Jeff Sell has been wonderful at providing

sample letters in brief, factual, to the point form. Would you be

interested in coming up with something we could follow, and personalize?

I just, again, e-mailed all the Texas autism groups to invite them to

participate in some way on this list so that we can all be on the same page

in ensuring the voices of our children are heard in the decision making

process for funding and services. We need people from each group, all over

Texas to at least check in, and help send off a letter. Also to post

information that would benefit us all!

Especially for parents like me whose husband works evenings to SUPPLEMENT

THE HIGH COST OF AUTISM - and so I cannot attend meetings - but want so

desparately to be involved in the information being shared.....

I can't believe there are only 73 parents/professionals in Texas who care

about making a difference for their children. I know everyone is busy, and

not everyone has access to a computer - but I know that we can get more

support.

Welcome to this group - I look forward to reading more information on what

we can all do! Who to write to.....

Thank you so much!

[Guest guest]

Ronnie:

We welcome you with open arms. There, was that a nice hug or what?

Seriously, glad to have you. I'm honored to serve as ASA's 3rd Vice

President and I've done a few other things over the past 3 1/2 years that my

family has been involved in the autism world. I have 4 great children and a

perfect wife, a. My 6 year-old twin sons, Ben and Joe, are autistic.

My daughters, (7), and Gracie (Almost 3--thank God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

are not.

Texas really needs a wake up call and if we can just unite our Texans in

the autism we can accomplish a tremendous amount in a very short time frame.

It's a small world--you mentioned Hochberg in your introductory post.

is a friend of mine and, he just happens to be our webmaster for my

Congressional website.

That's it for now; I just wanted to say howdy and great to you with us.

Peacefully,

Jeff Sell

www.jeffsell.com

281.686.SELL

New member introduction

> Taking the list owner's suggestion I am introducing myself to the list and

> would be interested in knowing who else is lurking out there in

cyberspace.

>

> I am a parent (moderately involved pre-teen) and a very involved member of

> our local ASA chapter. I have spent hours studying IDEA and am now trying

to

> get up to speed on other services availble to folks w/ autism. I have

> testified in front of the House Interim Education committee and in the

> education arena I am encouraged by the support of Rep.s Hochberg and

Dunham

> as it relates to TEA's poor performance in ensuring sufficiently qualified

> teachers and teaching aides and enforcement of IDEA.

>

> I think my next charge will be related to woefully inadaquate services for

> people with autism that are " served " (I use the term VERY loosely) through

> MHMR, TRC, CLASS, HCS, MRLA and other support programs. My objective in

> being on this listserv is to find other like minded people who are willing

> to write a letter, call a legislator, testify at the capitol and basically

> be willing to stand up and shout to be heard. We really need to pull to

> gether enmasse to make a difference.

>

> And to get everyone started, I encourage you to go to the Texas Council

for

> Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) website

> www.rehab.state.tx.us/tpcdd/Index.htm and take a look at the " draft " of

the

> plan they are proposing for FY 2001-2003. Fill out the response section

and

> note that they completely fail to address the issue of increased incidence

> in autism and the strain it will put on an already underfunded system of

> " supports " . Now is the time to let them know their " plan " is leaving our

> kids out in the cold.

>

> There. Think I am opinionated, or what? Actually, I am just hoping to

> make a big enough difference so that I do not decide I have to move just

to

> ensure my son has a shot at a decent life as an adult.

>

>

>

>

>

> Autism-Awareness-Actionegroups is list that covers all areas of

autism - check out their website at http://members.xoom.com/Jn516/

>

[Guest guest]

`

Hi everyone,

My name is . I'm new here, and I'm really enjoying and benefitting

from reading all your posts. It's such a relief to find a group like

this... I've tried interacting on other lists (based on other topics I'm

interested in), but invariably I struggle with the communication--

either because I end up offending people without meaning to, or just

because I plain don't understand the conversation (why don't people say

things SIMPLY? LOL).

Oh well. Here's a little bit about me:

I am a 50-yr-old woman... married for 29 years... and mother of 6 kids

(yes, SIX!). You see, I was the oldest daughter in a very big family--

and was raised in a religion that taught that a woman's " purpose in

life " was to mother as many children as she possibly could. I was

incredibly gullible and naive (still am, but I'm gradually getting

tougher in my old age)-- and besides-- despite doing well in school, I

was secretly convinced that I was pretty stupid. Having a big family was

at least *something* I could do while trying to hide my other

inadequacies. Suffice to say, though, I have since realized that having

so many kids (even though I do care about them) was probably one of the

most stress-causing decisions I could have made. I am anxiously awaiting

all of them growing up and leaving home (3 down and 3 to go)!!!

I am a full-time housewife, and I get away with it (thankfully) because

my NT husband is a good provider. Now that my children are older and

away at school most of the time, I spend all my weekdays at home alone.

AND I LOVE IT!!! I'm in a town where nobody knows me... I have no

extended family around... no friends... no social activities... and no

one who knocks at my door- unless it's the mailman delivering another

amazon order of more books. AND I LOVE IT!!!!!

Well, I guess that's enough of an introduction for me. There's a couple

of recent posts that I'd like to comment on. I'll do that in another

email though.

Glad to be here,

--

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You are very welcome here. We all come from different walks of life,

different socio-economic classes, different countries, have

different religions (or don't have any religions at all) but we all

seem to do fairly well here for the most part because we are

respectful of people, supportive, and try to cultivate an atmosphere

of mutual friendship among our members.

Feel free to partticpate as much as you'd like, and be sure to check

out the resurces we have in the Files, Links, and Database sections.

Tom

Hi everyone,

My name is . I'm new here, and I'm really enjoying and

benefitting from reading all your posts. It's such a relief to find

a group like this... I've tried interacting on other lists (based on

other topics I'm interested in), but invariably I struggle with the

communication-- either because I end up offending people without

meaning to, or just because I plain don't understand the

conversation (why don't people say things SIMPLY? LOL).

Oh well. Here's a little bit about me:

I am a 50-yr-old woman... married for 29 years... and mother of 6

kids (yes, SIX!). You see, I was the oldest daughter in a very big

family-- and was raised in a religion that taught that a

woman's " purpose in life " was to mother as many children as she

possibly could. I was incredibly gullible and naive (still am, but

I'm gradually getting tougher in my old age)-- and besides-- despite

doing well in school, I was secretly convinced that I was pretty

stupid. Having a big family was at least *something* I could do

while trying to hide my other inadequacies. Suffice to say, though,

I have since realized that having so many kids (even though I do

care about them) was probably one of the most stress-causing

decisions I could have made. I am anxiously awaiting

all of them growing up and leaving home (3 down and 3 to go)!!!

I am a full-time housewife, and I get away with it (thankfully)

because my NT husband is a good provider. Now that my children are

older and away at school most of the time, I spend all my weekdays

at home alone.

AND I LOVE IT!!! I'm in a town where nobody knows me... I have no

extended family around... no friends... no social activities... and

no one who knocks at my door- unless it's the mailman delivering

another amazon order of more books. AND I LOVE IT!!!!!

Well, I guess that's enough of an introduction for me. There's a

couple of recent posts that I'd like to comment on. I'll do that in

another email though.

Glad to be here,

--

[Guest guest]

Hi , and welcome!

Six kids, wow! I did you survive that?

(I congratulate myself to not having any at all. I too love to be

left alone.)

Are your kids 'atypical' too?

Inger

> Hi everyone,

> My name is . I'm new here, and I'm really enjoying and

benefitting rom reading all your posts. It's such a relief to find a

group like this... I've tried interacting on other lists (based on

other topics I'm interested in), but invariably I struggle with the

communication-- either because I end up offending people without

meaning to, or just because I plain don't understand the conversation

(why don't people say things SIMPLY? LOL).

> Oh well. Here's a little bit about me:

> I am a 50-yr-old woman... married for 29 years... and mother of 6

kids

(yes, SIX!). You see, I was the oldest daughter in a very big family--

and was raised in a religion that taught that a woman's " purpose in

life " was to mother as many children as she possibly could. I was

incredibly gullible and naive (still am, but I'm gradually getting

tougher in my old age)-- and besides-- despite doing well in school, I

was secretly convinced that I was pretty stupid. Having a big family

was

at least *something* I could do while trying to hide my other

inadequacies. Suffice to say, though, I have since realized that

having

so many kids (even though I do care about them) was probably one of

the

most stress-causing decisions I could have made. I am anxiously

awaiting

all of them growing up and leaving home (3 down and 3 to go)!!!

> I am a full-time housewife, and I get away with it (thankfully)

because

my NT husband is a good provider. Now that my children are older and

away at school most of the time, I spend all my weekdays at home

alone.

AND I LOVE IT!!! I'm in a town where nobody knows me... I have no

extended family around... no friends... no social activities... and no

one who knocks at my door- unless it's the mailman delivering another

amazon order of more books. AND I LOVE IT!!!!!

> Well, I guess that's enough of an introduction for me. There's a

couple

of recent posts that I'd like to comment on. I'll do that in another

email though.

> Glad to be here,

--

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

just out of interest how did you find out you had AS?

Kind Regards,

> `

> Hi everyone,

>

> My name is . I'm new here, and I'm really enjoying and

benefitting

> from reading all your posts. It's such a relief to find a group like

> this... I've tried interacting on other lists (based on other

topics I'm

> interested in), but invariably I struggle with the communication--

> either because I end up offending people without meaning to, or just

> because I plain don't understand the conversation (why don't people

say

> things SIMPLY? LOL).

>

> Oh well. Here's a little bit about me:

>

> I am a 50-yr-old woman... married for 29 years... and mother of 6

kids

> (yes, SIX!). You see, I was the oldest daughter in a very big

family--

> and was raised in a religion that taught that a woman's " purpose in

> life " was to mother as many children as she possibly could. I was

> incredibly gullible and naive (still am, but I'm gradually getting

> tougher in my old age)-- and besides-- despite doing well in

school, I

> was secretly convinced that I was pretty stupid. Having a big

family was

> at least *something* I could do while trying to hide my other

> inadequacies. Suffice to say, though, I have since realized that

having

> so many kids (even though I do care about them) was probably one of

the

> most stress-causing decisions I could have made. I am anxiously

awaiting

> all of them growing up and leaving home (3 down and 3 to go)!!!

>

> I am a full-time housewife, and I get away with it (thankfully)

because

> my NT husband is a good provider. Now that my children are older and

> away at school most of the time, I spend all my weekdays at home

alone.

> AND I LOVE IT!!! I'm in a town where nobody knows me... I have no

> extended family around... no friends... no social activities... and

no

> one who knocks at my door- unless it's the mailman delivering

another

> amazon order of more books. AND I LOVE IT!!!!!

>

> Well, I guess that's enough of an introduction for me. There's a

couple

> of recent posts that I'd like to comment on. I'll do that in another

> email though.

>

> Glad to be here,

> --

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply.

Kind Regards,

> `

> asked:

> " just out of interest how did you find out you had AS? "

> ____

>

> Hi ,

>

> Well, to make an incredibly LONG story short--- my husband just

happened

> to read an internet news article about AS (oh about 4 years ago) and

> immediately recognized me in it. I had already (10 years before

that)

> made a conscious decision to stop struggling against my nature and

> accept the fact that I can only be comfortable living as a recluse.

But

> reading about AS was still an exciting and wonderful discovery for

me.

>

> I quickly searched and read everything I could get my hands on

about AS.

> I also tried to see a psychologist for a possible diagnosis (I fit

> almost all the criteria, and I even have my mother's writings

regarding

> my infancy and childhood to back up a diagnosis)-- but I was

informed,

> by the only known AS specialist in the area, that he would not take

the

> time to see me. He only worked with kids... and if I didn't have a

> specific reason why I *needed* a diagnosis, he wouldn't make the

> appointment.

>

> That's okay, I guess. The formal diagnosis wouldn't have made much

> difference. My husband is happy to provide for me in those areas in

> which I struggle, and our family has no problem researching this on

our

> own and making the appropriate accommodations. --- And as far as

> satisfying my own peace of mind goes- I know what I know.

>

> As I said before, though... my story about my journey toward

> self-knowledge and self-acceptance is much, much longer than just

these

> few short paragraphs would suggest.

>

> I am happy to answer any questions anyone might have.

>

> --