spectrumom

I've been reading some BS on the webs about how some parents of kids with autism have some butt-hurt because they don't have the kids they wanted. And from the way it's worded, it sounds like it's most of us. So I wanted to put it out there what I'm butt-hurt about. I'm hurt that my kid hurts himself. I'm hurt that he hurts others. I'm hurt that other people, both peers and adults (HELLOOOOO asshole teachers) bully my child and think he is less than respect-able. I'm hurt that people assume my kids are not able because they have a difference. I'm hurt that their lives will be limited by that, in some way. And already have been (like not invited to their class parties, hmmm?) I'm hurt that my kids are not always able to speak for themselves. I'm hurt that my kids cannot choose for themselves. And, I'll admit to some butt-hurt that my life is often difficult because I put my kids' needs ahead of my own (I really,...

Disclaimer: I never anticipate us being able to go to Disney World.  Ever. It is too big, too busy, too expensive.  I would feel like we had to do so much to get our money's worth.  And if Nathan couldn't do it and we had to leave, I would be devastated. I love Disney.  I've went there a lot as a kid.  My sister worked there (funny store about how she lost her job skinny dipping in the lake).  I did the high school band thing there. I know that Nathan would adore the characters.  He loves anyone dressed up in a character costume, and he would be fascinated. But. If everything went south, and the shit hit the fan, we would have to leave. And I have 3 boys who are very rigid, and not very able to adjust for the needs of their brothers.  Who would be understandably upset about plan changes and loss of anticipated pleasures.  In other words, I have 3 potential meltdowns.  All with the ability to raise the level of meltdown in the...

Functional Behavioral Analysis is one of those things on the learning curve that is autism.  That curve is SO steep that you get mental whiplash over and over and over.  FBA comes in pretty early though, on the steepest and most vertiginous curves that you will probably face in the road course that is autism. FBA consists of breaking a behavior down (and it's always an unwanted behavior, which is stupid, because wouldn't you want to analyze the whys and wherefores of desired behaviors in order to increase them?) into its ABCs - antecedent, behavior and consequence.  First, you define the behavior in very narrow terms (not aggression, but biting other students), then the antecedent and consequence.  In this case the antecedent might be "peer in student's personal space" and consequence might be "peer goes away."  Then you take lots of data and look at it for a pattern. Today, however, I used it as a learning tool with my teenager, who had a hard day. ...

In some of the boards I (used to) follow ('used to' because it's all Facebook now), it seemed strange to me that people would list their kids after their name.  And list EVERY SINGLE diagnosis in the family.  It felt like it was a points based system and the more initials your kid had after their name, the further ahead you got in the game. So you would see: Emily (9) OCD, MD, SPD (major depression), gifted, severe nut allergy Johnny (7) ASD, ODD, SPD, bipolar verbal Mikey (5) NVLD, OCD, SPD, sensitive to gluten Ellie (3) PDD-NOS,SPD, seizures, asthma, multiple food allergies Mary (35) Depression, Fibromyalgia, high blood pressure Duane (36) Aspie (undiagnosed), SPD, high cholesterol And I was like, 'Dude, it's just about potty training.  There aren't points counted on just another potty training comment.' Besides which, I win!  I mean, right?  I got three on spectrum.  I won the game. But really, that other stuff?  It's the go-along stu...