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Contact your local ESDs (Education Service District). Many have early intervention and early childhood special education programs that include physical, occupational and speech therapy. My heart goes out to you all.
posted by Quinn on 1/04/08 5:19: PM

All I could do was cry that video is my life!!my middle son Jackson is 5 now. does not talk,still in diapers!!It's hard!!!!!! the hardest part about it is that people just don't know how had it is! and I wish that I just could hear him say I love you Mom!!! My greatest fear is what will happen to him? If something happens to me I am his world, know one else inthe family wants to handle him or help. my husband gets to upset. I guess I will never die!!
posted by Dawn on 1/04/08 5:12: PM

nice video the problem is if its not in congress families or in the presidents families is not gonna happen they wont do nothing unless it happens to them then they wanna make a big deal of it see people dont understand alot of medical but i do and i hope god bless u in every way and i hope she gets the treatment that she needs
posted by pam on 1/04/08 4:20: PM

i have 2 beautiful healthy girls,3 &9.i do work at a special needs dental office and we do treat alot of autistic children.i thank god every day for my healthy girls and my heart goes out to all the families who have these special children.god bless you all,lets all pray for a cure.
posted by kim g on 1/04/08 3:51: PM

This is so real. People don't understand the impact on day to day happenings that many parents of typical children take for granted. I knew my son was not typical early on. We had to press the issue, and he was almost three before we got any "diagnosis" of Sensory Processing Disorder (an autism spectrum disorder). Many believe that this disorder is not real and is a result of parenting. The SPD Foundation in Denver has found brain differences. We have been blessed with an occupational therapist friend who has made it her passion to help these children. I can only hope that the word continues to get out and that there is soon realization that this is very real and impacts so many lives each and every day.
posted by Jeanette on 1/04/08 3:41: PM

love, blessings and prayers to all.
posted by Jeffrey Allgeier on 1/04/08 3:06: PM

Beautiful. Hugs to everyone we know dealing with this everyday.
posted by Leigh on 1/04/08 2:49: PM

This is so incredibley touching. I love my newphew so much! Love you Bobbo!!
posted by Phil DeGeorge on 1/04/08 2:28: PM

None of my children have autism, but I personally know four different families who have at least one child affected by autism.
posted by Jennifer on 1/04/08 11:49: AM

Breaks my heart! Espl when each day delayed is more weeks and months of theraphy.
posted by pssiam on 1/04/08 11:12: AM

I have a nephew with aspergers (sp) syndrome and it breaks my heart. I hope to find a cure or a prevention in my lifetime.
posted by Patrick on 1/04/08 9:26: AM

A two year wait? As bad as that sounds, I have a 14 year old autistic son who was on the waiting list for 7 1/2 years to get the services that he needed. It is an awful situation for any parent to have to deal with but my only hope is that one day he learn to say "mom". As trivial as that may sound alot of people with "normal" children take for granted what they have while people like me are left to suffer in silence.
posted by Deanna on 1/04/08 8:55: AM

I am without any children but I do have 2 neices and a nephew and I am Thankful for them being healthy. Although there are many children who have autism and I am in the fight to find a cure, I am currently enrolled in college as a Medical Assistant, shortly after this course I will be attending a 4 year college in Interal Medicine. And I can only pray to the good Lord and God above to give me the knowledge to help find not only a cure but a solution for all those whom need assistantce in the therapy to help them become the best they can. I will continue to pray for all of you and I know that God will listen to us. He might take a few minutes but he will hear our prayers. MAY GOD,JESUS AND MARY give us the strength to carry on and the faith to get by. May GOD BLESS you and your family the rest of your life.
posted by Nina Castelli on 1/04/08 8:50: AM

[Oops... "last" message didn't get posted. Here it is again.] Sizu (1/03/08 7:35am) incorrectly interprets the word "intensive" in the reference to intensive therapy in the video. Our son has been undergoing intensive treatment called ABA since shortly after he was diagnosed at 2 years, and he went from being non-verbal to above age language skills in 18 months. There are no drugs, shots, food supplements or diet modifications. Intensive refers only to the amount of time that he receives this therapy. There are many scientific studies that show that roughly 50% of kids with an autism diagnosis will be successfully mainstreamed, in most cases without an aid accompanying them, IF THEY RECEIVE: a) early-enough intervention, b) intensive therapy (at least 35 hours/week; if with trained parents supplement the time put in by paid therapists, the number of therapy hours/week can easily be more than 60), and c) data-driven, Applied Behavior Analysis therapy (ABA). Although I can't know it, I believe the point of the video was this: the parents realized that intensive therapy was needed, and as soon as possible. Ideally starting before the 2nd birthday, but even at age 3 (when this child was diagnosed) is a good early intervention. The video implies that they have not been able to find such therapy, either because funding is the issue, or there aren't available slots in ABA programs near them, or both. For those who have learned that there is available, scientifically-proven therapy that can profoundly help the majority of kids, and mainstream roughly 50% of them, it is doubly devastating to learn that this potential solution isn't available to their chilld. And yet the clock is ticking, and every day not in this sort of therapy is a day lost forever. I believe this video is designed to highlight this situation, and to try to bring about change. Requiring insurance companies to pay for the treatment, as suggested in the video, would be a major step in the right direction. My hat goes off to these informed and brave parents, and I wish them every success in getting their daughter into a good, intensive ABA program as soon as possible.
posted by Andrew on 1/04/08 8:38: AM

I my last message, I mentioned ABA several times, and interpreted the video to be a reference to intensive ABA therapy (to my knowledge, the only scientifically proven treatment for autism). For those looking for more information, the following web site is extremely informative and was developed by the father of a child with autism: http://rsaffran.tripod.com/aba.html PS. I discovered this web site *after* I wrote my last note, and I have absolutely no affiliation with the site, the web master, or his family.
posted by Andrew on 1/04/08 8:29: AM

I worked with autistic children for several years using horseback riding therapy as an intervention. I worked with an OT conbining sensory integration techniques. Skyline in New Mexico does outstanding work in this realm, adding speech therapy and physical therapy. I agree with the video here, early intervention is critical. Non-invasive touch and simple rhythm music help, too. Anyone wishing further contact information can e-mail me. SIncerely, Jean Tebay
posted by Jean Tebay on 1/04/08 7:59: AM

what a very powerful message, video & music.
posted by colleen beirne on 1/04/08 7:50: AM

Best of wishes to everyone and their families of these beautiful children.
posted by Victoria on 1/04/08 7:44: AM

Theses Children ARE SO SPECIAL!! My Best Friend Son has autism & he is so wonderful! I tend to look at it in a different way I think GOD HAS BLESS anyone with autism as "HIS SPECIAL OWN PEOPLE!! " Also the parents of the Children are very special they have tons of patients & a heart that is HUGE!! GOD BLESS EVERYONE! Lv u Sista Sista
posted by Toni Jacobs on 1/04/08 7:32: AM

This video brought me to tears. I thank God for my healthy sons and grand-daughter - most of us to not realize how blessed we are. I pray for all children and their families struggling with autism. I also pray for a cure!
posted by Susan on 1/04/08 7:02: AM