Autistic Connections

juju_n_nolans_m · May 17, 2005

Hello All,

My son who is 3 1/2 has recently been diagnosed with high functioning autism. Right now he's in Daycare and we're waiting to find where he'll be going to PreK. I'm looking for families who want to share advice and life experiences on how to raise an autistic child in the Waldorf/Southern Maryland area. Any advice about appropriate schools, daycare, or even where you go to get your child's hair cut would be great!

kwillia · May 17, 2005

Hi juju, I know there are others who frequent this board that have been thru what you have ahead of you, I hope you get the support you seek. You have your hands full, I'm sure. Good luck, stay sane and be strong. :peace:

juju_n_nolans_m · May 17, 2005

Thanks! BTW..My name is Lynda...My username was supposed to be juju_n_nolans_mom

virgovictoria · May 17, 2005

juju_n_nolans_m said:
Hello All,

My son who is 3 1/2 has recently been diagnosed with high functioning autism. Right now he's in Daycare and we're waiting to find where he'll be going to PreK. I'm looking for families who want to share advice and life experiences on how to raise an autistic child in the Waldorf/Southern Maryland area. Any advice about appropriate schools, daycare, or even where you go to get your child's hair cut would be great!

Hi Lynda!

In the event you didn't already know, Children's Hospital has several Health Centers and Outpatient Locations in the Metro Area. The reason why I mention this is that with their Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine, you may be able to find a lot of valuable resources - so that as your son grows, he can better educate you about his complexities! :biggrin:

and find the best fit schools, daycare, support and so on...

Hope it helps!

Pegster710 · May 17, 2005

Good luck, Lynda! :howdy:

Here's a

for the little one!

Dixie · May 17, 2005

juju_n_nolans_m said:
Hello All,

My son who is 3 1/2 has recently been diagnosed with high functioning autism. Right now he's in Daycare and we're waiting to find where he'll be going to PreK. I'm looking for families who want to share advice and life experiences on how to raise an autistic child in the Waldorf/Southern Maryland area. Any advice about appropriate schools, daycare, or even where you go to get your child's hair cut would be great!

Hi - My son is 14, has autisim, and I wish I had known when he was 3 1/2 that that's what he had. They tell me it's so much easier when the diagnosis is made early. May I ask what signs you noticed at that age? I kept getting mildly mentally retarded with PDD but a counselor who actually spent more than an hour with him seems to think it's more than likely Aspergars. Things are still experimental for me on what to do and what not to do and sometimes it's still hard to grasp that he doesn't think or react the way an ordinary child would. Words of advice, develop the patience of a saint early, read everything you can get your hands on, get a routine and stick to it and keep a strong support system around you. By the way there's a special on CNN regarding autism on Sunday at 8pm I believe. Feel free to contact me here anytime or if you'd rather keep it private PM me and I'll give you my home email address. Best of luck and believe me it's not the end of the world.

virgovictoria · May 17, 2005

Dixie said:
Hi - My son is 14, has autisim, and I wish I had known when he was 3 1/2 that that's what he had. They tell me it's so much easier when the diagnosis is made early. May I ask what signs you noticed at that age? I kept getting mildly mentally retarded with PDD but a counselor who actually spent more than an hour with him seems to think it's more than likely Aspergars. Things are still experimental for me on what to do and what not to do and sometimes it's still hard to grasp that he doesn't think or react the way an ordinary child would. Words of advice, develop the patience of a saint early, read everything you can get your hands on, get a routine and stick to it and keep a strong support system around you. By the way there's a special on CNN regarding autism on Sunday at 8pm I believe. Feel free to contact me here anytime or if you'd rather keep it private PM me and I'll give you my home email address. Best of luck and believe me it's not the end of the world.

There are a lot of Aspies who will tell you that their world is just fine the way it is... as long as it stays just the way it is! :huggy:

Toxick · May 17, 2005

I wish I could remember what channel I was watching. I think it was the discovery channel or Discovery Health or something like that over the weekend, and they had a special on about Autistic Savants, and high-functioning autism, and they did a thing on these autistic people who somehow broke through their autism, and were 'cured' so to speak.

There's only like 50 of these people in the world, and one of the ones they were interviewing was a savant. This guy learned the Icelandic language in 7 days (and if you've ever seen Icelandic, you'd know that's not a small task, especially since it's not related to any other language on earth), he calculated PI to something like 20,000 decimal places. And since he managed to overcome most of the communication difficulties associated with autism, he could sort of describe HOW he was able to do these things.

It was an absolutely incredible documentary.

I tuned in late, so I didn't catch the title, or if it's coming back on, but if I see anything about it I'll put it here. Sounds like there might be some interest in it.

Dixie · May 17, 2005

virgovictoria said:
There are a lot of Aspies who will tell you that their world is just fine the way it is... as long as it stays just the way it is!

So I've heard! It really is the people that care for them the most that have to adjust to their world rather than vice-versa. As a mother I can't tell you the how many times I've wanted to knock the living snot out of someone who is looking at my son like he's out of his cotton picking mind and hurting because he really doesn't understand. It's a constant game of running before him trying to straighten the road when he's perfectly happy straying off of it. I'm cringing and I swear I can hear theme music from Lady and the Tramp when Lady is just bopping along without a care in the world. He's so oblivious.

CableChick · May 17, 2005

Toxick said:
I wish I could remember what channel I was watching. I think it was the discovery channel or Discovery Health or something like that over the weekend, and they had a special on about Autistic Savants, and high-functioning autism, and they did a thing on these autistic people who somehow broke through their autism, and were 'cured' so to speak.

There's only like 50 of these people in the world, and one of the ones they were interviewing was a savant. This guy learned the Icelandic language in 7 days (and if you've ever seen Icelandic, you'd know that's not a small task, especially since it's not related to any other language on earth), he calculated PI to something like 20,000 decimal places. And since he managed to overcome most of the communication difficulties associated with autism, he could sort of describe HOW he was able to do these things.

It was an absolutely incredible documentary.

I tuned in late, so I didn't catch the title, or if it's coming back on, but if I see anything about it I'll put it here. Sounds like there might be some interest in it.

His name is Daniel Tammet and the show is Brainman. The show is on the Science Channel and it premiered on February 23rd. Can't seem to find another showing of it yet but I'll let you know if I run across it.

juju_n_nolans_m · May 17, 2005

Dixie said:
So I've heard! It really is the people that care for them the most that have to adjust to their world rather than vice-versa. As a mother I can't tell you the how many times I've wanted to knock the living snot out of someone who is looking at my son like he's out of his cotton picking mind and hurting because he really doesn't understand. It's a constant game of running before him trying to straighten the road when he's perfectly happy straying off of it. I'm cringing and I swear I can hear theme music from Lady and the Tramp when Lady is just bopping along without a care in the world. He's so oblivious.

My son is so oblivious to others around him too and it breaks my heart when kids stare at him like he's "out of his cotton picking mind." But I know that he is happy as a clam and could care less about others. I guess it's in a mother's nature to suffer for her child. At daycare, I wish I could teach him how to socialize with others. I hate seeing him sitting by himself while others are playing together when I go pick him up. Any suggestions as to how I can teach him how to approach others to play? The daycare ladies can't do anything; they can't make him go play.

Tigerlily · May 17, 2005

As your son gets closer to school age it would be a good idea to meet with the school administrators. The school system is required by law to offer programs specifically designed to help your son interact and speak. Even if that means providing resources not normally available. Have you contacted Green Holly?

Dixie · May 17, 2005

juju_n_nolans_m said:
My son is so oblivious to others around him too and it breaks my heart when kids stare at him like he's "out of his cotton picking mind." But I know that he is happy as a clam and could care less about others. I guess it's in a mother's nature to suffer for her child. At daycare, I wish I could teach him how to socialize with others. I hate seeing him sitting by himself while others are playing together when I go pick him up. Any suggestions as to how I can teach him how to approach others to play? The daycare ladies can't do anything; they can't make him go play.

For starters, don't force the issue. They really are in their own little world at that age. As time progresses and school starts I can almost guarantee you that another child will approach yours and make friends even if it is only side by side play instead of real social interaction. In my son's case it was Gregory. A slightly overweight, possibly slightly neglected child who protected him from the nasty little brats in first grade and was willing to overlook my son's shortcomings and seek him out. I will forever love Gregory for his one simple act of kindness. My son was at one point afraid of birds, especially seagulls. We were eating lunch on the Mall in DC on a field trip and a flock of seagulls was nearby. My son crawled up in my lap and hid his head. A charming group of his classmates was pointing, laughing and making remarks, loud enough for both of us to hear. (aren't kids great - didn't even matter that I was there) and Gregory said hey watch me I'm going to chase them which prompted my son to do the same thing. Boy I'm off track. I think the point is - he will have a friend one day take that to the bank. He may not keep him as he grows older. Kids mature and unfortunately sometimes (probably not always) kids like ours may not. My doctor advised me to get him out, movies, walks, bike rides, anything that exposes him to the public. There is stuff also that teaches autistic children to read other people, it's some kind of internet game which helps them with socialization. I'll see if I can locate what I'm talking about and let you know.

virgovictoria · May 17, 2005

All of these supportive thoughts are exactly why I pointed out the link to Children's. There are so many families out there that can provide ideas, recommendations, online support, their experience and so on... I'll bet there are ways to find others that have been in your situation.

Having a little one with a complex brain is just a challenging way for you to gain insight on how to freshly interpret the world... :wink:

Toxick · May 17, 2005

CableChick said:
His name is Daniel Tammet and the show is Brainman. The show is on the Science Channel and it premiered on February 23rd. Can't seem to find another showing of it yet but I'll let you know if I run across it.

Bingo! That's it.

I'll keep my eyes open too. I'd like to watch the whole thing from the beginning.

juju_n_nolans_m · May 18, 2005

What is green holly??

juju_n_nolans_m · May 18, 2005

Thanks.

cholo · May 18, 2005

juju_n_nolans_m said:
What is green holly??

Green Holly is an elementary school in Lexington Park that specializes in special education.

Toxick · May 18, 2005

cholo said:
Green Holly is an elementary school in Lexington Park that specializes in special education.

Best avatar title ever.

juju_n_nolans_m · May 18, 2005

cholo said:
Green Holly is an elementary school in Lexington Park that specializes in special education.

is green holly like the gwynn center in la plata? ....lexington park's a little too far away for me..i'm in waldorf.

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