Suzanne Calling

When you have a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, there are correlated issues. For Gameteen, this means he has sensory issues that lead to a somewhat picky diet that goes beyond the 'I don't like that's' that some kids have. There are some rules we've learned in sixteen years of parenting GameTeen, such as: He gravitates towards 'white foods', like bread, milk, rice, pasta, yogurt He doesn't like sauces on his food, which means no gravy, marinara or other stuff His foods cannot 'touch' He has a problem with eating most proteins, unless they are ground up Textures cannot mix, like you can't have raisins in oatmeal or ice cream with additives Soups have to be broth like Gradually, though, there has been a change. In the past six months, he's been amenable to things like spaghetti with a tiny bit of marinara, or trying the gravy on his Thanksgiving turkey. We offer, but we do not push, thankful that for a kid on the spectr...

Puzzle Pieces. I'm sure you've seen the ribbons for Autism Awareness, with the many colored pieces all fitting together. It's an apt description for what life is like with a person on the autism spectrum, because you're always trying to figure out what makes them tick, what helps them get through the day to day, and what helps them to navigate this world of 'neurotypicals,' because the rest of the world is just so darn illogical . Yes, my friends, my child resembles Spock in some ways. Last year, I wrote about the way I barely had heard of anyone with Autism when I was a teen and now it touches not only my house, but those of friends, too. What I am learning, through my own educational journey, is that it is more than likely we're getting better at diagnosing those who used to be called quirky, odd, strange, weird, or even mental. Last year, I was hoping that a new school placement would be the right 'fit' (yet another puzzle piece) for Game Tee...

1 in 150. When I was a teen, I met a young boy with autism. He was the first one I'd met, the younger brother of several girls I was on the recreation swim team with. I'd try to talk to him and his sisters would tell me "He doesn't talk, he has autism. He lives in his own world." They were matter of fact about it and protective of him. It'd be years before I met another person with that diagnosis. Twenty five years later, I live with a child with a different type of autism. I have a nephew with autism. My ex brother in law was diagnosed with that same form of autism two years ago (and looking back, it explains a lot.) One of my best friends has a son with PDD-NOS, which is typically the diagnosis given to a younger child prior to the inevitable Aspergers Syndrome diagnosis a year or two later. Is this due to better diagnostic criteria? Something in the environment? Both? No one knows for sure. For a while, there was a rallying hue and cry that vacc...

No, I won't be crossing a border any time soon, but I will receive some medications that have. I just ordered a refill on Gameboy's Strattera. If I purchased them from the cheapest source here, a months supply is $396.73. Instead, we're getting generic from Canada for $159.99. In a search for medications, I found prescription assistance programs for his two name brand and extremely costly medications. They both ask if we have health insurance (no, but we're waiting for the state program, thanks) and proof of income. One asks if he's Medicaid eligible. Yeah, but we had to reapply for it. It would royally suck if they exclude people for being Medicaid eligible. Sometimes, it takes months to find out whether or not you're accepted. Off to fax documents in a few minutes for those. Continuing on the job search front, it seems that pounding the pavement has become the thing of the past. There is that conundrum, though. Prospective employers tell you to a...

**Cross posted at Aspergersville** Way back when, I used to watch General Hospital religiously. I fell out of watching it-until Ed and I began dating. It ends up he was a closet ABC soap watcher, thanks to years of coming home from school to find his mom watching. Each night, when he and I talked (long distance relationship), he'd ask what happened on GH that day. I got back into it, taping the shows and fast forwarding through the commercials. Then I stopped watching. He still watches, off and on-going months without watching, then catching up in a week. Soap Net helps the casual viewer get back on track. Meanwhile, I could watch for a year and I'd still be bugging him "who's that?" There's a spin off show that is only featured on Soap Net, General Hospital Night Shift. The story lines are supposed to run concurrently with what happens on GH, with many of the same characters. It was on tonight, and wow, I recognized three characters. With that, one of them (J...

Today, I was given a link to conservative talk show host Michael Savage's recent broadcast about Autism and what he called its over diagnosis. Less than twenty seconds in and Mr. Savage's ignorance has me seething. I was compelled to write this letter and share it with the Internet. Mr. Savage, I appreciate anyone who wants to do something to further the cause of autism research and understanding. You sir, have done neither. I have a piece of advice for you: stick to what you know before running off your mouth. Last week, you claimed that 99% of those out there diagnosed with autism are 'fakers'. Similarly, you say that if you can't SEE the disability when someone has a handicapped placard, they also are fakers. That's a battle for another day. You ask why the definition of autism has been changed to include autism spectrum disorders. It's quite simple. Research, research and more research. Those who were classified as 'odd' or 'differen...