Re: FWD: Another Mother's Thoughts on Autism

[Guest guest]

I think the keyword here is acceptance. For so long we have been told our

children need to be changed to fit in with society. I have had school

psycologists get mad at me for saying why can't society change to fit in with

Trisha! Of course I hear that isn't the normal way things work. But in some

tiny

tiny ways society aka school are making changes. Example: school is now

learning how to communicate with Trisha on her level, they learned that it

wasn't

Trisha who couldn't use sign lang appropriately, it was the staff, they

didn't know it therefor assumed she couldn't learn it. Well it took years but

finally we had a teacher last year who knew sign lang and the staff ( IEP team)

were amazed at how much more communicating and understanding is being

interchanged with Trisha now. Unless it's someone new who doesn't know me,

they

don't use terms like " children like these " because I make sure they understand

that Trisha is a beautiful unique individual and not a " these " . I also tell

them over and over that it isn't Trisha's disability that holds her back as

much as it is the negative way in which the school perceives her. I am a firm

believer that our children are entitled try new and different things and even

be allowed to fail without it being blamed on the disablility all the time.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I for one fail at a lot of things

and no one to my knowledge has found a disibility to blame my failures on.

How on earth will we know what our children may or may not accomplish unless

they are given the right to try and to fail. Trisha has amazed the staff this

year because after going berzerk (not really but they must have seen it like

that lol) the school started giving her more chances to try different things

and you know what, she failed a few, did ok on a few and passed with flying

colors on a few others. That is all I ask of them, to let her try and to work

with her and teach her and stop worrying about what a child with DS/Autism

should or should not be able to do. Let them try and then go from there.

Sorry, didn't mean to get on my soap opera this early in the day. :-)

Carol

She isn't Typical, She's Trisha!

[Guest guest]

Hi Joan,

Hope your taking it easy during your recovery time.

Thank you so much for this I was wondering if you could answer this?

Do you know the source of the first one & this one? Would your friend who had

passed this to you have the info?

I've shared this with other parents and some would like to quote from it.

Oh! I've received my evaluation report from Dr. and she even mentioned

you under the recommendations:

# 6 ) Parents are aware of the written materials published by Woodbine

Publishers that address issues related to both Down syndrome and autism spectrum

disorder. Many of these materials can be helpful in developing education and

vocational plans (1-0). They have also had contact with Joan Medlen,

editor of Disability Solutions, who has a listserv. for families of children

with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder.

Thanks greatly appreciate it.

Lots of hugs!

Irma,15,DS/ASD

FWD: Another Mother's Thoughts on Autism

This was sent to me by a friend. While the song is a

bit over the top for me, others may like it. I

whole-heartedly agree with the message. Joining Andy

and accepting his reality including the autism, rather

than trying to beat it off with a stick, has been much

more beneficial to both of us.

JOan

>June 2004, My friend, Autism.

>In my experience, people with autistic kids tend to

[Guest guest]

Joan glad your recovering and thank you for this article it certainly made me

think and I am almost there I remember last year being so mad and scarred and

still get that way sometimes.This was beautiful I must know at least 50 autistic

kids now and all of them are beautiful and special if you just take the time to

get to know them.Funny they even like me when I spend time at school with Mic

which I do at least once a week for an hour or so I always end up with the shy

quiet little guys on my lap.It even surprises me and the teachers I think its

because I let them come to me when they are ready.I now know I am blessed to

have these kids in my life. Love Laurie