Temple Grandin the Movie

If you haven't seen this movie yet, Go Watch It!

Idioms and Autism

Our son is currently working with his speech teacher to understand idioms. He isn't quite grasping the concept and viewing the phrases literally. This comes as no surprise, because those with autism have difficulty understanding idioms, sarcasm, or puns.
This morning I called to my son to give him instructions to get ready for school.
He didn't respond.
Not being able to go look for him I called louder.
He answered and said he was just in the next room.
Then I asked, "why didn't you respond the first time I called?"
To which his reply was,
"It went in one ear and out the other."

I laughed at his literal interpretation of the phrase. Still laughing.

Receiving the Diagnosis of Autism, What Now?

I have just been told
my child has autism.
Is there any hope?

YES, THERE IS HOPE!

(Autism Understanding the Puzzle)

          While reading results of our son's reevaluation yesterday, it brought back memories of the emotions each time our four boys were diagnosed. Like most parents I didn't want to believe that there was anything to be concerned about, I wanted my son to be "normal", but I couldn't deny that there were challenges that were getting worse and couldn't be ignored. I thought others were crazy to suggest that autism could be a possibility. I would fight against my gut instincts. 

My husband and I had so many questions and concerns. . .

 What would a diagnosis of autism mean for our son?

How would it effect him now and later in life?

Would he always have autism?

Could it be something else?

What support and resources are out there?

What would others think?

How would others act towards our son or our family?

          A diagnosis of autism felt like I was a failure as a mother. I knew very little about autism, Asperger syndrome, sensory processing, and everything else connected to the spectrum. I know now just how great of a mother I am, and how much I have grown and learned about parenting a child with special needs. I now stand in awe and respect when I meet a parent of a child with special needs. I know their experiences are unique, but still challenging like ours, and they rise every morning to meet those challenges.

            “It is hard to process all the thoughts and emotions you feel after your child is diagnosed. It’s overwhelming. The acceptance process after a diagnosis is much like going through the stages of grief: denial, guilt, anger, blaming, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance. You have suffered a loss. You have lost the dream of who you thought your child would be." (Autism Understanding the Puzzle)

              

Remember your child is

still the same amazing and lovable self

as (s)he was before (s)he was diagnosed.
 Autism is not who (s)he is;

it is merely a descriptive word 
that explains (her)his unique qualities.

(Autism Understanding the Puzzle)

"Don’t see autism as a label that defines your child; instead, view it as an explanation of his challenges and strengths. If you had a child with a major health or medical issue, such as cancer, you would not hesitate to get him help. Take the opportunity to educate yourself and get a correct diagnosis." 

“Accepting what autism meant for our boys took a lot of time. Even now, whenever new challenges arise, I cycle through the grieving process and its emotions again and again. I find comfort in writing down our journey in my journal. Writing helps me see where my boys began and the progress they are making now. Once I had accepted my boys’ diagnoses and gotten all the self blame out of the way, I was able to search for help and find services and therapy that would benefit them and improve their development.” (Autism Understanding the Puzzle)

What to do at 22?

 Autism:  Coming of Age
Film Screening and Discussion 

Who:  Parents, Self-Advocates, Teachers and other community Autism advocates

What:  Film Screening and Discussion

Utah Education Network (UEN) and the Autism Council of Utah (ACU) have partnered, in part, with the Utah Parent Center serving families in the Davis School District, to bring this important film to our community.  Following the film, parents and advocates will share their experiences with coming of age decisions.

MassMutual sponsored this documentary which was produced by public television station WGBY (Springfield, MA) to help raise awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with autism and their families as their students “age out” of the public education system.    

Topics addressed in the film include:

·        Financial well-being

·        Quality of life

·        Employment

·        Housing needs

·        Education

·        Health

·        The child’s longevity

Date:  Saturday, February 25, 2012

Time:  6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Where: Vista Education Campus, 97 South 200 East, Farmington

This presentation is provided for you free of charge but registration is appreciated.  
Please click here to register to attend this event.

 Or visit:  www.utahparentcenter.org/autism_coming_of_age

Parking: South of the building – excuse the dust, our new school is under construction.

Please direct questions about this presentation or one of the other Autism: Coming of Age, events to:  Kimra Paul, ACU Adult Services:  KP-Autism20s@q.com

To see other scheduled events, visit:  www.uen.org/autism
For more information and a printable flyer, please visit: www.utahparentcenter.org/autism_coming_of_age

Special thanks to the Vista Education Campus administration for support with community outreach and venue.

Temple Grandin's New Book, Different...Not Less

Temple Grandin's new book, Different...Not Less, 

scheduled to be released in April.

Agencies Ease Way for Parents of Disabled

 Agencies ease way for parents of disabled ...
is an article in the Davis Clipper talks about how agencies like Utah Parent Center and Family to Family Network are helping Utah parents of children with disabilities.

Carmen B Pingree

What a fabulous day! I was able to meet on of my heroes, Carmen B Pingree, founder of the Carmen B Pingree Center for Children with Autism. She is a woman with decades of experience and has been instrumental in improving the lives for those who have autism and their families. She has a copy of my book, Autism: Understanding the Puzzle, and began reading it right away. She told me later, "This is a Great Book." Here her say that made my day! She was really sweet and complimented me in my role as a mother. Our conversation today inspired me to keep going as a mother and advocate. I hope this book continues to reach others, be a guide, bring about hope, and educate others.

The Invisibility of Autism

Autism can seem invisible at times.

One moment (s)he is behaving 

like a typical child and the next, 

(s)he is not. 

(Autism Understanding the Puzzle)

Autism Bumper Sticker

I have seen this bumper sticker before and laughed hysterically. 

I just found a website that sells it for $5.

The Face of Autism

Abby Alger is a graduate from BYU and a photographer. She had a photography exhibit, The Face of Autism, to showcase her work and help raise awareness for autism spectrum disorder in February of 2011. Here are a few of her pictures. She is looking for additional places for her photography to be displayed, especially if it will help raise awareness. You can contact her at abbyalgerphotography@gmail.com

Instructions for the Homemade, Washable, and Adjustable Weighted Blankets

There have been several interested in receiving instructions for the 

Homemade, Washable, and Adjustable Weighted Blankets. 

For more pictures 

and descriptions of the blanket click here

Supplies for twin mattress:

Flannel fabric -   2 ½ yards, 45 inch wide.

Flat Sheet – twin or full size.

Close woven fabric to support snaps – 1 ¼ yards

Scrap fabric for bean bags

Heavy duty snaps, six boxes of 8 nickel snaps. (denverfabrics.com)

Velcro – 12 yards, 5/8 inch width (sales@textol.com)

Thread, ruler, marking pen or pencil.

Dry Pinto beans - 8lbs

Preparation – Wash and dry all fabrics.  Square off the cut edges to make good rectangles as long as possible. On the long side of the flannel fabric fold over edges 1 ½ inches and sew to make a hem for snaps.

Pockets - Measure the width between side hems of flannel to determine finished length of rows of pockets. Lay out flat sheet, mark and cut strips of fabric to make 10 rows of pockets. If you have a Serger sewing machine cut rows 6 ½ inches wide and the finished length for rows of pockets. Serge all edges for finished look on rows of pockets.  If you don’t have a serger cut the rows a little wider and longer to give yourself enough fabric to make a narrow hem on all the edges of the rows of pockets.

A finished row should be 6 inches wide and the correct length to fit inside both hemmed edges of the flannel fabric. Measure the length of the row and mark the fabric for six pockets. The size of the pocket will determine the size of the bean bags.

Bean bags - Make your finished bean bags ½ inch smaller in width and length than the pocket. For example: if your pocket measures 6 X 6 ½ inches, the finished bean bag should measure 5 ½ X 6 inches. This will give enough room to comfortably fit the full bean bag into the finished pocket.

The easiest way to make bean bags is to cut rectangles from the rest of the sheet. Since you need 60 bean bags to complete the weighted blanket add-on, you will need to use scrap fabric to complete your project. If you sew a 3/8 inch seam and want a 5 ½ X 6 inch finished bean bag, your cut rectangle should be 11&6/8 X 6&6/8 inches. Fold rectangle in half, sew sides and turn right side out. Fill with ½ cup of beans and sew top with a serger or fold narrow hem at the top and sew closed.

Velcro – Use the hook side of tape for pockets and the loop side for bean bags. For one row of pockets cut six 7 inch strips of the hook side of Velcro. Measure and cut 1 inch from end of each strip. This is for the center of the pocket. Cut the rest of the strip into quarters, measuring 1 ½ inches, for each corner of the pocket.

On the wrong side of the row of pockets draw the dividing line for each pocket and a large X from corner to corner for each pocket. Sew Velcro with a zigzag stitch close to each corner but not covering the dividing line for each pocket. Sew center Velcro on one line of the X at the center of the pocket. Continue for the remaining rows of pockets.  

For bean bags cut a 7 inch strip of the loop side of Velcro.  Measure and cut 1 inch from the end of each strip for the center of the bean bag. Cut the rest of the strip into quarters, measuring 1 ½ inch for the corners of the bean bag.

Place bean bag on a table and flatten to distribute the beans evenly. Slide a long pencil under the bean bag from corner to corner and lift to make two even triangles. Sew a straight line corner to corner. Flatten bean bag, slide a pencil underneath from the opposite corner to corner and lift. This will make 4 triangles in the bean bag. Sew a straight line corner to corner. Sew Velcro with a zigzag stitch close to each corner and center of the bean bag. Continue for the remaining bean bags.

Velcro on the inside of the pocket

Rows of Pockets – Serge or make a narrow hem along top side of flannel and fold down to make a 1 ½ inch hem. On wrong side of flannel pin the first row of pockets (right side up) inside the side hems and just underneath the top hem of flannel. Sew the sides and bottom of the row. Sew the dividing line for pockets. Place and pin the next row close to but not overlapping the previous row of pockets.

Sew 5 rows of pockets and skip 1 ½ inches of flannel before sewing the next row. This leaves enough room to sew a strip of fabric for snaps. Continue attaching rows of pockets to the flannel until you have completed ten rows of pockets. Trim bottom of flannel, leaving enough material to make a 1 ½ inch hem, serge or make a narrow hem, fold up and sew.

Snaps – The top half of snap is attached to the flannel and the bottom half of snap to the close woven, heavy duty fabric.

On side hems of flannel mark the spot for the first snap ¾ inch from the top edge of the fabric. This should be in the center of the corner made by the side and top hems. Measure 6 inches and mark the spot for the next snap. Continue down the side hem until the bottom corner and place the mark in the center of the corner made by the side and bottom hems. The last space made by the bottom snap will be different than 6 inches. Make a note of this measurement. There should be 13 snaps along sides of flannel.

Cut the close woven, heavy duty fabric into 3 inch strips. Fold over to make a 1 ½ inch hem and serge or stitch and trim with a pinking shear. Lay strips along the side hems of flannel and make corresponding marks for snaps.Measure top and bottom hems between corners, evenly space 5 snaps and mark the spot for snaps. Lay a hemmed strip of fabric along bottom and top of flannel and make corresponding marks for snaps.  

For the center of flannel you need 2 hemmed strips of fabric.  Mark spots for 5 snaps using a different color (red) for top half of snaps.  Follow directions on the boxes of snaps to attach snaps to flannel and strips of fabric. Sew the center strip with top half of snaps to center of flannel between rows 5 and 6 being careful not to cover the open top of row 6. Snap together all strips making sure everything matches.

Finishing – Lay the flannel (pocket side down) on a blanket or quilt, position flannel to cover the mattress and pin the strips of fabric to the blanket or quilt. Carefully unsnap the flannel and remove, leaving the strips of fabric in place. Sew to blanket or quilt.

To insert bean bags into pockets, cut the side of a cereal box slightly smaller than pocket. Slide the cardboard into pocket, printed side down. Flatten bean bag and with the Velcro side up, slide into pocket. Remove cardboard and press on Velcro to attach. Continue for the rest of the pockets and bean bags. Snap weighted flannel to blanket or quilt.

Tips and hints – Use quality fabric for the flannel, cheap flannel will fall apart after a few years. The sheet however can be purchased for $5 to $9 at your local ‘mart’ store.

Buying the snaps and Velcro online is much cheaper than any store. The Velcro comes in 25 yard rolls which is enough for 2 twin-sized weighted blankets. The snaps are attached with a hammer and some man sized help is appreciated. (It took me 3 taps of the hammer where my brother only used one to attach a snap.)

When filling bean bags rice can be used instead of beans, just make sure the weight is the same.

When cutting or sewing do it in stages. For example finish the edges of all the rows of pockets before going on to the next step. 

If the weighted blanket is for a small child you won’t need all the bean bags at once. Complete the rows of pockets and attach to the blanket so that when the child grows you can add more bean bags. Some children will want the most weight on their core and others will want it evenly spread over the whole body. You can adjust the bean bags for their comfort.

Filling the bean bags with ½ cup of beans gives a gentle medium weight. ¼ cup of beans makes a light weight bag that needs more lines of stitching to keep it from clumping.  ¾ cup of beans makes a heavy weight bag that is harder to sew, but still possible.

Take out all the bean bags before washing the blanket and then reinsert when blanket is dry.

Snaps - http://www.denverfabrics.com/p/NMC092935/Heavy-Duty-Snap-Kit-5-8-8-Pkg-Nickel

Velcro - http://www.textol.com/t_sewon.asp
#580 and #581 choose your color and number of 25 yard rolls.

For more pictures 

and descriptions of the blanket click here

Autism + Change = Difficult

Life is never constant, and because of that fact we learn to adapt to change and go with the flow. 

However, autism + change = difficult

"Transitions [or change] can be difficult adjustments for those with autism. They might blow up because you ended something early or switched the order of the day’s activities. The challenges of these anxieties are difficult for caregivers to manage and are major hindrances to their ability to focus on schoolwork, to remember what to say in a conversation, or how to behave appropriately. Others allow their anxiety to build all day and then come home where they feel safe and finally let it go, resulting in a major blow up or melt down." (Autism Understanding The Puzzle) 

You guessed it, we had change today, more so than usual. It is easy to give in and dismiss the structure that helps our boys make a smooth transition. I often want to fall back on easy fixes, even when I know it will be more work later on. However, today I managed to find solutions and work to keep the day flowing as consistent as possible. Yeah, there were several meltdowns this morning and there may be a few more before the day is over, but we will make it through the day. Hopefully all this effort will make the next day easier, and help our boys through their next transition.

Autism Through a Siblings Eyes

Sometimes, it can be complicated to explain what autism is to those who don't know.
Why not hear about it from someone with a unique perspective, a sibling.

I'm Having an Autistic Moment

I walk into the kitchen ready to serve dinner tonight to my family 
and I want to shout out, 

"I am Having an Autistic Moment!"

I have to laugh rather than cry. . .

One of our boys is stemming from the noises his brothers are making.
One is repeatedly rambling off the latest video he has just watched.
Another is pacing the floor, rambling something I can't make out, but apparently is really funny because he is laughing.
The other is jumping up and down with excitement, smiling and making the most unique faces.
Our boys have opened our awareness to sensory input.  Every now and then my husband and I will jokingly admit that we too have those moments when our senses have been overloaded. I took a few minutes to change my perspective from stress to laughter.
At least most of my boys are happy tonight, it could be worse. Others may think our home is absolute chaos and at times it really feels like that.  I just tell them


I have to find the humor in the chaos 
so I can keep myself sane.
Autism + Humor = Sanity 
(Autism: Understanding The Puzzle)