How This Works

Your daugher is beautiful....thank you for sharing your story...I pray that she is given the help that you seek...along with all the other children who share the same life... God Bless You and your family...
posted by Adrianne on 12/19/07 6:56: PM

Thank you for this very touching video. Autism is a very big part of our lives and each day is a challenge for my family.
posted by Lisa Devlin on 12/19/07 4:46: PM

Thank you for this beautiful video. I am a Speech Language Pathologist and I fight very hard to get services for the children I know need help. It's very frustrating from my perspective that we are limited in what we can do and provide. Congratulations to you for fighting and bringing awareness to this issue.
posted by Angie on 12/19/07 3:47: PM

My heart goes out to all of you Mothers, Fathers and Caregivers. Has anyone mentioned Vaccines?
posted by Theresa on 12/19/07 3:38: PM

MY SON ZACHARY, AGE 12,WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE AGE OF 9 WITH ASPERGER'S SYNDROME ONE OF THE MANY AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.MY PLEAS TO HIS DOCTORS THAT SOMETHING JUST WASN'T RIGHT WERE PUSHED OFF AS I WAS JUST A NERVOUS FIRST TIME MOM,AS ZACH WAS HITTING ALL THE MILESTONES AT ALL THE RIGHT TIMES.NOW BECAUSE EARLY INTERVENTION PLAYS SUCH A KEY ROLE IN HELPING AUTISTIC CHILDREN, I HAVE TO WATCH MY CHILD STRUGGLE ON A DAILY BASIS TO "FIT IN" AT SCHOOL, TRY TO KEEP UP WITH HIS PEERS,COMFORT HIM AS HE WATCHES HIS YOUNGER BROTHER GO OFF AND PLAY WITH HIS FRIENDS, AS ZACH HAS NONE.THE ONE THING THAT DOES BRING GREAT COMFORT TO ZACH IS I HAVE ALWAYS TOLD HIM THAT GOD MADE HIM "SPECIAL" FOR A REASON,AS HE SEES THINGS THAT OTHERS FAIL TO NOTICE, HE KNOWS WHEN OTHERS ARE IN PAIN OR LONELY,WHICH IS A SPECIAL GIFT. ZACHARY HAS ALSO TAUGHT ME WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN LIFE, AND I TRY MY BEST TO BE AS SILLY AS I CAN BE,BECAUSE HEARING HIM LAUGH BRIGHTENS THE DARKEST OF MY MOODS.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
posted by BETH ROGERS on 12/19/07 2:26: PM

Thank you for creating this video and sharing your personal struggles to help your daughter Claudia. It brought me to tears as we have experienced similar extremely frustrating hurdles trying to provide and pay for early intervention services for our 4 year old son Ethan who was diagnosed almost 2 years ago. What a creative fundraising effort to help our children.
posted by Beth on 12/19/07 1:56: PM

At 18 months, I knew something was wrong. I asked my daughter's doctor and he told me I was just a nervous mother and to stop looking for problems. I didn't stop there. She was indeed autistic and was diagnosed within 6 months of that doctor visit. I never let a "professional" push me around again. I made sure she received the best care through our public school which meant learning what that was and bringing it into the school system (and yes, out-of-pocket expense).Today, my daughter is 12 years old, a stunning beauty, straight A student in her regular education classroom, with close friends and has the world at her fingertips. Me...well, alot of gray hair now but I proudly earned each one! A mother never gives up!
posted by Val on 12/19/07 12:48: PM

Whether or not the autistic child is incorrectly placed is not in your purview. However, the physical and emotional security of all children is the school's responsibility while children are at school. In this case, that means that the school needs to provide support for children who develop anxiety as a result of repeated exposure to another child's explosive behavior.
posted by Neil on 12/19/07 9:07: AM

What an amazing video, gave me goosebumps. My son is 4 and has language/processing issues and will be coded in the school system. I have had a hard time realizing my son is not "perfect" and will need help in school. But this helped me catch my breath again and reminded me that there are so many other families going thru harder struggles. Here's wishing all the luck to Claudia's parents and all the parents out there who has an Austic child.
posted by pam on 12/19/07 9:07: AM

I am currently working on my Master's degree in Music Therapy. This is something that makes such an impact into the lives of children with autism. I have had the pleasure to work with some of these children and hope to devote my career to doing even more. They need parents like all of you that care and strive for the best. This video brought tears to my eyes knowing how much they are cared about. Never stop fighting for what you know if best for your child. If music therapy isn't something familiar to you please visit www.musictherapy.org It is being covered more and more everyday by insurance companies and seen as something that can really bring these children back into the world. God Bless
posted by michelle on 12/19/07 9:01: AM

HI, My daughter is in first grade. A child in her class is "slightly autistic" I was told by her teacher. This child has freqent outburts where she has to be physically restrained and taken out of the classroom. My dauther gets tearful and very anxious when this happens. What can I do to help her. I am not blaming the autistic child in any, but my concern is my daughters reaction every day to the outburts. I understand the money factor and schools not wanting to pay for special services. I was wondering if anyone thinks that the child is incorrectly placed and needs more services than a public school can provide, and also how can I alleviate my daughters anxities- which is probably the only I can do. Thank you for reading this. I hope every child gets the help they deserve too!! (massachusetts)
posted by Dawn on 12/19/07 8:20: AM

My son is 20 months and was diagnosed with Autism at 18 months. I am so thankful to have this little boy in my life. Every day he teaches me something new about patience, understanding & compassion; he makes me a better person.
posted by Tanya on 12/19/07 8:13: AM

Thank you for putting this out there for people to see, I try to make people aware all the time about my son's diagnosis, and people don't know how to deal with him or what to do with him. I pray daily for something good to come of all of this. We shall see one day.
posted by Nikki on 12/19/07 7:42: AM

Good luck with the fight...it will be never ending but there is always a sign of hope for releif... :)
posted by Jennifer Ohlendorf on 12/19/07 6:49: AM

This is an amazing video. I am a teacher and see children with autism all the time. Keep up the good fight for what is right for these children.
posted by Erik Paulson on 12/19/07 6:19: AM

My daughter is 3 1/2 years old. She is autistic, so I think that what you are doing is amazing. Awareness is the key. Thank you guys for letting me know that we are not alone. ~Chris
posted by chris morrison on 12/18/07 9:59: PM

Yet we can spend so much on war... Mark my words, within the next 20 years science will positively identify autism as an environmental disease - the result of the cocktail of synthetic chemicals amassing, combining, and reacting in our bodies. The culprits will be uncovered, and like the insurance companies, they will do all they can to escape their responsibility to society. To all who suffer, be blessed. And keep fighting.
posted by Industry Insider on 12/18/07 8:52: PM

Children like this are why I am a special education major. As a mother myself, I know the struggle that lies ahead for this child and millions of others for the rest of their lives. I hope I can make a diffrnece. Lets hope for a better way.
posted by A Future Teacher on 12/18/07 6:30: PM

My Step-Nephew is 13 and is severely autistic. I wonder when I see him, what is he thinking of, and what does he need. Is he hungry, lonley, sad, happy...Please keep this site going. We all need help for young men like Kelton. He is a beautiful soul who has no voice for himself. My brother is his step-father, and I am blown away how he treats him like he was his own son. He is patient, kind, and truly loves Kelton and wants to do everything he can to learn more about Autism. I am proud to call him my brother.
posted by Sheri on 12/18/07 5:27: PM

This is all I mean all of its so ture dont we need to STAND UP and speak! Dont these children deserve better! Wheres the help for the young parents like my daughter who dont have the money for help? WHERES CHARLIE's HELP! Charlie is my grandson... I would like to thank who ever it was who started this site you are blessed.
posted by A grandma on 12/18/07 4:57: PM