How This Works

my sister has 2 special needs children and our hearts ache for her an our brother in law. the effort made for each of these children is astounding. when I cry for what they will miss, I also what gifts they bring to each of us.
posted by Donna on 3/07/08 7:51: AM

My stepson came into my life a little over 3 years ago at age 5. He was diagnosed with High Functioning autism. I have seen a significant change in the way he interacts with others over the past 3 years. He has become more outgoing...actually wanting to go and play with other kids...going up to friends and family members and hugging them and talking with them. I attribute this change to my husband, his mother and I continuously working with him in different areas to help him to grow as a person, as well as, teachers at school. He is mainstreamed in the school system for the majority of his classes. I continue to pray every day for a healing. I know that God is the only one that can heal him. I never knew that I could love a child so much that wasn't my biological child.
posted by Janet on 3/07/08 7:25: AM

Ayesha, You are defantly right. Our autistic son is 37 now. But when he was a baby & we knew something was wrong, no one back then knew what it was . My parents & family thought we had spoiled him & that was why he was in another world & acted strange. We stopped taking him around negetive people. We knew that we had to get busy ourselves & teach him everything we could, as fast as we could. We did not even think of ourselves. We did not have time! We did not have time to wonder what caused it either, or blame anyone. We knew what we saw in his eyes & it was confusion. His tantrums were from the frustration he felt in a world that he did not understand. We loved him just like he was . At first it was very hard, but we saw him come out of his world & into ours the more we loved & worked with him. We used positive reinforcement. When his little brother was born it did not take long before he started teaching him to play & we have pictures of that . It was our youngest son Mark, who was the biggest help in our autistic son's life. We all worked & had children in the neighborhood to come & show him how to play & talk. We had to make it fun so he would want to. He loved to play his records on his record player & he learned to read the name of each song that he wanted to play before he was three years old. He learned to swim with the other kids . He just jumped in & swam under the water to the other side & came up with a huge smile on his face.By 6 years old he was in a normal class in the first grade. He was still a little different but he grew more normal as the days went by & everyone loved him. He also loved going to school. Then to camp with his brother. I bet you are thinking,"I could do that." Mark loved his brother & sometime told us what we did not understand & he helped us so much. Our autistic son graduated from high school & went to work at a resturant. Now he can do anything that I can do . He was just checking the tables to see if they needed to be dusted tomorrow & he did all of the wash today & worked outside, getting the yard ready for spring. We are & have always been a very happy family & we all made it! We are so blessed that we got to have our special two son's. You can help your sister too!I bet you already are!! Tell me about it.I just love you for writing!rjoyce1@hiwaay.net
posted by We love our sons on 3/06/08 10:32: PM

I have a little sister who is Autistic.Everybody i know feels bad about themselves. How hard THEIR life has been with an Autistic child. Dont they ever think about what the child is thinking about? His/her life isnt just peachy either. If you put your mind to it, and try to understand whats going on in their head, you can make your son or daughters life better.
posted by Ayesha on 3/06/08 8:58: PM

My niece's first born son has autism. He was conceived the night my husband was killed. We have always known that he was our special angel and he was meant to be. My biggest heartbreak is looking into those beautiful eyes of his and seeing the frustration. I have another nephew by marriage that is now in the 9th grade and is in the MAPS program in regular high school, the MAPS program is for high scholastic achievement. This would not have been possible if his mother had not hounded every agency possible to get the therapy he needed.
posted by Susan Howell on 3/06/08 8:12: PM

KEEP FIGHTING...ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE TOLD EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE THAT CAN BE DONE.
posted by BILLIE on 3/06/08 7:56: PM

To Dotty: here is the research link http://www.freegrantskit.info/autism.htm
posted by jennifer on 3/06/08 7:44: PM

God Bless those's dealing with Autism and family that love them just the way they are. We can pray they receive the help to reach there very best when they are young. Let's hope the funding and help get to those who suffer Autism. They live full and rich lives and give so much love. Let's not close the door on there future, as in the past we kept these precious children behind closed doors. Let's be more free and give them the futures they so richly deserve as any person on the planet. What a beautiful video Thanks for sharing it Mary R.
posted by maryran on 3/06/08 7:37: PM

wonderful
posted by marty on 3/06/08 7:23: PM

My prayers are with all families affected by autism.
posted by Ken Jenkins on 3/06/08 4:31: PM

I could not stop myself from crying. For a while we were afraid that my granddaughter may be autistic, but, thank God, she is not. My heart breaks for both the children & the parents. It is time this country & its government start caring about OUR children instead of wars, et.al.. If Mother's ruled the world, this problem would already be solved! (No disrespect to all those wonderful fathers/men who DO care too.)
posted by Jude Martin on 3/06/08 4:02: PM

This band is amazing! The lead is very committed to doing good things!
posted by docperpi on 3/06/08 1:06: PM

This band is amazing! The lead is very committed to doing good things!
posted by docperpi on 3/06/08 1:06: PM

Proud parent of a beautiful 9 yr old son, and we couldn't be more blessed to have (youngest of 4, and younger than 2 gr-children, yet older than 3). Bless all of you who posted, and support autism research.
posted by Bruce on 3/06/08 12:49: PM

fantastic
posted by marc berton on 3/06/08 12:17: PM

My heart goes out to any parent who has a child with autism. Children are so precious and all of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
posted by Amanda on 3/06/08 12:13: PM

This is for our Sophia and all who are silent now..but will speak. We love and know you do too. My strength to all those who need some to go on fighting for those who can't fight for themselves. You are all in my thoughts.
posted by nana podo on 3/06/08 11:46: AM

I work with the Treasure Coast Early Steps program in Florida. Every state has an early intervention program that will evaluate children suspected of having a developmental delay or an established condition that would lead to delays that are aged between birth and three years old. The website to look up an Early Intervention program is http://www.nectac.org/search/confinder.asp Just put in the state that you live in and then select Part C Coordinator(s)as the contact type. You will be given the state website and contact. Often if you go to the state website it will give you the local contact information. I hope this information helps people get their child evaluated and into any services recommended for their child without the long wait or worry about the funding of services.
posted by Kimberly McAliley on 3/06/08 10:24: AM

Yesterday, March 5, 2008, I viewed this video, and at the end of it was an offer of a $10,000.00 grant which does not have to be repaid. Today, when I had more time, I viewed the video again, but the offer was not there. Could you explain this to me, or e-mail it to me again with the offer, because I know someone who could really use it? Thank you, Dotty
posted by Dotty on 3/06/08 9:21: AM

The beauty & power of Art is what in inspires in each person...and in turn, how it shapes 'our' world. Thank you for such a remarkable addition. Hope this helps find a cure. -NS
posted by Nicole Sangari on 3/06/08 9:01: AM