How This Works

I wish you all the luck in the world. We need to start yesterday for actions to convey tomorrow!!! We all need to speak out on autism!
posted by Cat on 1/14/08 2:09: PM

What a moving message. I have been a special educator for 14 years, primarily with children who have been diagnosed with autism. What a blessing each and every child has been to my life. One of my students after many years of hard work on his part read at my wedding from the Prophet. He passed state testing and is attending college. We need to be their voices when they haven't yet found theirs. Thank you!
posted by Meredith Bell on 1/14/08 2:08: PM

As a new mother just watching this brought tears to my eyes. I think it's a wonderful cause to help support and I hope that change and a cure come soon!
posted by Krista on 1/14/08 1:57: PM

I just watched this touching video and know the frustration and heartbreak of autism. My 11 year old son just went outside to play basketball with his friends and attends middle school with his peers. I never dreamed any of that would happen when he was diagnosed with PDD NOS at age 3. All the early intervention we fought for (yes it was a fight) and his incredible determination has brought him to the place where he is considered a "typical kid", the highest compliment in my book. We as his family know is anything but typical, he is extraordinary!
posted by Patty on 1/14/08 1:56: PM

God bless you Five For Fighting! I hope that someday my son will be able to use words to thank you for helping us fight for a cure!
posted by Kary on 1/14/08 1:49: PM

she's a beautiful child. my heart and all prayer go out to you. hopefully these folks will get off there butts and realize how important this is for so many people. we just have to keep fighting and pushing and reminding everyone. please don't give up and haave faith in God. love, kimi
posted by Kim Szabo on 1/14/08 1:24: PM

It is time for a cure and some answers.
posted by Debbi on 1/14/08 1:23: PM

That´s so sad. This video got to me, because my daughter going to be examined for autism this year. Fortunately I live in Denmark. She started getting therapy from age 1½ years. She´s in progress and happy. She can speak. her social skills are lacking far behind. Lena
posted by lenats31 on 1/14/08 12:57: PM

How touching i love it thank you for sharing it.
posted by sandra on 1/14/08 12:56: PM

Very Touching! I am the father of 11 year old son diagnosed at 2 1/2years as PDD, global developmental delays and verbal dispraxia. He has had 3 years of speech therapy and been seeing a MD specializing in diet and intestines. Speech therapy and regimented diet excluding all dairy, wheat, gluetan, sugars have made profound improvements. Early intervention is key.
posted by Mike Horvath on 1/14/08 12:45: PM

My son is now 21. We want very much to keep him at home. The wait list for services in Texas is now 10 years long. Trying to get dental services now. The only place I could find that would service him is UT. The wait list is one year. God this is hard.
posted by Barbie on 1/14/08 12:40: PM

As a parent of an autistic child and friend to many families coping with the challenges of disability, I constantly feel that time is against us. We are working hard to cope and make every day better for our children, but we often feel overwhelmed and lack the resources to make the changes we seek. Thank you Five for Fighting for making a difference.
posted by Julie Martin on 1/14/08 12:35: PM

This makes me sad. I am an assistant to the Autistic Children in my daughters school.......It is my favorite time of the week when I am able to help these lovely children....My time is the most important thing I can give. This is a lovely video. I hope it helps make others aware..... I don't remember ANY autistic children when I was growing up....were there none or were they just misdiagnosed. Thanks and LOVE!! Josilyn Concord, Ca
posted by Josi on 1/14/08 12:30: PM

As the mom of an autistic son, I applaud all those who are fighting for legislative change. I had to juggle three jobs at once to pay for all the therapy that my son needed. Along with dealing with my other two children, there were nights that I would lie awake at night so exhausted, but unable to stop thinking about what the future held for my son. Today, he is thirteen, has a solid group of friends, and I'm not scared for his future anymore. Yes, there are many things he cannot nor never will be able to do, but he will be able to function on his own when he's an adult and that's more than I could have hoped for. Helen Keller said it best, "Along we can do so little, together so much". For those parents out there of autistic children, only look at the positives and never stop loving your children.
posted by Barb on 1/14/08 12:28: PM

Hope
posted by Larissa on 1/14/08 12:19: PM

very beautiful video.It saddens me to know that there are so many childern and young adults out there that have this disorder and that we have to fight so hard to get them the help they need. My son was mis diagnosed from the age of 2 up until he was 6. Now we try to undo the damage that was done by being told that all it was was ADHD and the wrong medicene being giving
posted by jen on 1/14/08 12:15: PM

All the best!
posted by larissa on 1/14/08 12:15: PM

Dear Five for Fighting, thank you so much for a loving way to donate to autism research. You are awesome to share your fortune with those who cannot fight for themselves. My son was recently diagnosed with ASD. Fortunately I live in a school district that has a fantastic Early Intervention program, and that I was involved with them when my daughter was born with Down Syndrome. With out that connection, I'm sure that my son would continue to be undiagnosed. I'd noticed that something was different about him from the time he was weeks old. The pediatrician didn't think anything was wrong, and at each visit they'd say he'd grow into it. So please fight for your child, don't let the professionals push you off. You know your child best. And let's all push to have our pediatricians educated to help with early diagnosis. After the diagnosis, my pediatrician, who is a wonderful person, felt very remorseful and has dedicated herself to being learned about ASD. She doesn't want to make the same mistake again. Please remember those professionals are working for you!
posted by Laura McCarthy on 1/14/08 12:00: PM

Recent research has shown that there are greater numbers of unvacinated kids who have autism vs those who have been vacinated. Before spouting off about the danger of vacinations, please update your research.
posted by Laura McCarthy on 1/14/08 11:51: AM

I think we are going to find that some people have an alergic reaction to shots & vaccines & thus causing Autisim. Some people have sever reactions to antibotics & some people get Autisim.
posted by Jasmine Gross on 1/14/08 11:43: AM