How This Works

I work with autistic children in the school setting and for the city of Tucson in after school programs that are for kids with these kinds of developmental disabilities. I have found in working with the kids and their parents - the need for validation, that they are doing what they can. I have learned patience I never thought I had. I have seen these children make gains and develop - but with consistent support in all settings. Parents can not do this alone. The kids can not do this alone. Thanks for an opportunity to show my support in other ways for the fight against Autism.
posted by Lindsay on 3/02/08 7:38: AM

Very moving, emotional video and cause! May God's grace and mercy be upon this good work! Charles/Dallas
posted by Charles McCalla on 3/02/08 6:17: AM

I saw you fighting for Autism Rights in Madison, Wisconsin during the last week in February. Your son was on camera, you and your daughter were also. Her picture was held over the railing in several places. I hope it helped to bring to the front, the fight for the rights needed to put medical insurance coverage on children with autism.
posted by Mary Moos on 3/02/08 4:30: AM

If I were GOD I would heal every precious child, but I'm not - so I will help every other way I can starting with understanding, love, and kindness. May GOD bless each and every one, and may HE provoke our hearts to show love and compassion to each and every child we come accross every day that has Autism, but not to forget the parents of these precious children who bear the daily burdens of care. _Dayeton
posted by Dayeton Larson on 3/02/08 3:20: AM

My cousin Is autistic.... we as a family have experienced so many tradegedies from our gradparents being killed by a drunk driver to suicieds from the incident. We have been bleseed with Shawn she is autistic and brilliant. I commend society for understanding this cause and I wil always and forever be an avocate for autism......understand before u judge!!!!!
posted by Cherise on 3/01/08 10:49: PM

WE NEED YOUR HELP...CLAUDIA AND THE CHILDREN OF WISCONSIN NEED YOU TO ACT NOW!!!!!!! As you know, we are quite active in pushing to see legislation passed in Wisconsin that would mandate insurance companies to cover treatment and therapies for Autism. Wisconsin does have a state funded program to provide funding, but has over 350 children sitting on the waiting list for services...it will be about 2 years for all of those children who need coverage today. Our last update indicates that Claudia is #357 on the list. In the meantime we are paying out of pocket for ABA therapy for her ($20K for less than 20 hrs) Most families cannot do this for their kids (frankly I don't know how long we can) and their conditions only worsen without intervention. Just this past Tuesday Senate Bill 178 was passed thru the Senate with overwhelming support, but now it must go thru the Assembly which is Republican dominated and resistant. In fact they may not even allow it to come up for vote. We encourage anyone willing to help in this mission to please contact these State Representative and speak up on behalf of these children and tell them to vote yes on Assembly Bill 417. Here is a link to all Assembly Representatives http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/contact/legislatorslist.aspx?house=assembly Specifically I will list the email addresses of the Representatives who have the power to bring this bill up for vote. Rep.huebsch@legis.wisconsin.gov,Rep.gottlieb@legis.wisconsin.gov, and Rep.fitzgerald@legis.wisconsin.gov PLEASE ACT NOW-TIME IS RUNNING OUT AND THEIR SESSION ENDS IN A LITTLE OVER A WEEK!!! SPEAK UP FOR THESE CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO VOICE!!! THANK YOU!!! CHARLOTTE BOLLE- CLAUDIA'S MOM
posted by Charlotte and Tony Bolle on 3/01/08 8:36: PM

THANK YOU
posted by ray on 3/01/08 8:05: PM

I have a daughter, just like this child, who just turned 6 in December. At age 2 the symptoms were very visible, but nothing could really be done til age 3. We took her to neurologist who finalized the Diagnosis and then off to Child Find--which is funded through the public school district. After a couple of months she was placed into an Early Childhood Class, where she goes to school full days. Now at the age of 6, she is almost potty trained, and is very verbal. Her IQ was just tested and she is now at the age of 3--half of where she should be. Her speach theorapist are optomistic, but people need to be more accepting of there whole demeanor. My step son is more severely autistic, but yet is graduating from High School this year. Our biggest problem is just like this video--Insurance would not cover the Autism Specialist, hence we went down the Public School Way. We did contact the specialist while she was 2. The specialist was $700 just for the testing and diagnosis and that wouldn't even touch the treatments that are available out there. If only we with autistic kids were all rich and could afford it. If Insurance would have covered even 3/4 of the cost, I would have gladly started her treatment a year earlier. That doctor also had a waiting list as in Las Vegas, NV with it's 3 Million people, their is only 1 Austistic Specialist--Pretty Sad! Yes you can empower yourself and do what you can for your own child, but our biggest problem is even with 2 incomes we can barely make ends meet and I don't want to go on Social Security and take for her either. There is sadly no easy way but to do your best and get the knowledge you really need to deal with reality. JMO! Frances
posted by Frances on 3/01/08 6:56: PM

My daughter is on the Austism Spectrum. I can't help but bawl every time I watch this video because it speaks directly to what we go through with her each day. I believe there is a cure, a way to avoid it, a way to reverse the damage. We are working with our 4 year old and it's working. I also believe for those that don't get the treatment early enough and continue to be challenged that accepting them into our world is what needs to be done. Every family deals with it differently and every individual is affected differently. Thank you so much for making this video, for making me cry and for allowing us to spread this message to our loved ones who know us. GOD BLESS US ALL!.
posted by Rachel on 3/01/08 6:33: PM

It is very good to hear from autistic people on this site. In agreement with my post on 2/02/08 and with what other people have said about autism, I feel that autism should not be considered something to be cured of. It is important to accept autistic individuals and work at bridging the gap between main stream societies methods of communicating and how autistic individual's communicate (in whatever form this may take) Supporting and encouraging them and valuing them as members of our society is key!!! Here is something for those who think that autism should be cured to think about: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/ the-language-of-autism/index.html?ex=1361941200& en=539b83f6c8994672&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss This video is also for people who want to assert the rights of autistic people to be considered intelligent beings in their own way!!
posted by Diane - Canada on 3/01/08 5:21: PM

i have a frind that has atisom and see is nice too have
posted by katelynn on 3/01/08 5:11: PM

Amazing! In honor of my nephew and Godchild, baby Louie, and for my courageous and brave hearted sister Eva I humbly say thank you for showing support to this cause. Just think of how far we can succeed if we band together to find a way to bring our Godsent angels to us.
posted by alma on 3/01/08 4:03: PM

This is amazing! I work in early intervention and see first hand the struggles parents go through to get their children the services they need. Parents really have to be great advocates for their children and this beautiful website is doing just that! God Bless you all!
posted by Lisa S on 3/01/08 3:06: PM

I dedicate this to a very dear friend, Teresa Bricker, who lives and accepts this condition with her son, who is now in his twenties. For both of them, and countless others, the fight to find a cure should never waver. Bless you, Teresa. Don.
posted by Don Johnson on 3/01/08 2:27: PM

I have a 16 year old grandson that was diagnosed with Aspergers several years ago. My daughter was not pleased with what was available in the public school for him so she has been home schooling him for the past several years and he does great. He now has a learners permit and drives. He is looking for a job and he will do great things because my daughter did the research and found what his problem was and then found the treatment he needed. This should be available for everyone. I support the Autism programs and urge others to do the same. This does not respect persons and could happen to anyone.
posted by Gloria Wurster on 3/01/08 1:55: PM

Bless these children in every way!
posted by Debbie on 3/01/08 1:53: PM

I have a son, who was diagnosed with Asperger's at several years ago at the age of 17. I can honestly say, that the special ed program at our local school was not helpful to him, mainly because the teachers there were not properly trained in this particular area. They basically took the position in their special ed program that one size fits all. As some of you might know, that is usually not the case with Asperger's children because they are so high functioning academically. In my sons case, he had an IQ of 145 and was a member of Mensa. Because of this, we had to move our son to a private school his last year in high school at a cost of $17,000 for the year. The program made such a difference with him. I feel like I finally got my son back and was worth every penny. He is currently attending a university and will be graduating this year and then moving on next year to acquire his masters degree in teaching. He has come so far because of this private school and some school districts will actually pay for the cost of a private education for these children, if you can prove your case in court. Unfortunately, we were never able to recoup our cost even though we took it to the federal level. However, I know of others that were able to do so. I want all the parents' to know that there is hope out there for your Asperger children. You just need to find the right placement for your child so he/she can thrive in a safe environment, free from bullying. Our local school couldn't provide that for him. They just had a general special ed program with alot of children that had learning disabilities. Therefore, it made it very difficult for any Asperger's child to thrive academically since they are high achievers. Good luck to all of you!!
posted by Adele G on 3/01/08 12:15: PM

i totally understand . i have a daughter with a type of autism . she is 16 . autism was unheard in 91 really . they dubed he "retarded" . i fought until she was in the 3rd grade for more testing . it took until last year to be diagnosed with autism . now the therapy she could have benefitted from in early life is gone for her . for you , never give up for what she needs and deserves.
posted by tonia on 3/01/08 12:08: PM

There is not enough awareness about Autism. We must get the funds to make people aware.
posted by Barbara on 3/01/08 10:48: AM

I worked in a school and saw these children you are talking about...God's special gifts....but we here today need to help these kids and their families. Would you want your own child pushed aside, told to wait or just refused to be helped...??? I wouldn't....
posted by Patti on 3/01/08 10:31: AM