Personal Questions :)
These things below, have brung me new days...hence the song.

My book available here:
http://stores.lulu.com/autismbook1
http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/resources/books.php

1. What therapies have helped you?

* Swinging
* Service dog
* Support group
* Emotional/Social class when in school
* Turning memorizing and homework into a game
* Surgical brushing & joint compressions
* Rolling/bouncing balls
* Oral vibrators w/ V tips, especially tounge so can feel when food is going to go down your throat
* Portable food grinder, so I can eat healthy foods w/out having trouble swallowing and choking on them
* Reading program w/ pictures appear for each word, if you want them as well
* Having a room when I was stressed at school w/ a swing and just little place I could hide away
* SEAMLESS socks!!!!! and softer clothes
* People allowing me to be myself and not trying to change me all the time....

2. Will you ever live alone?

* I don't know if I ever will be able to, but I figured out it doesn't really quite matter because what really matters is if I was a good person and did something useful in the world; no one has to be like everyone else because what is the "norm" for some people is a different norm for others, just like different countries have different customs, religions, etc.

3. Were you in mainstream classes or Special Ed classes?

* Both

4. Will you ever drive?

* Maybe just small distances w/ only little traffic

5. Do you believe in the different catergorized names in the autism spectrum?

* I don't think it much matters, either you aren't on the spectrum or you are. However, with the label Autism, you get way more services that are pretty crucial.

6. Did improving in some areas come natural to you or did you outgrow some things?

* I have heard that people on the spectrum develop at a slower speed, therefore what a typical twelve-yr. old can do, a person on the spectrum will do at a later age, maybe 20 or later, in that of emotion/social and other needs.

7. Did you find that school would upset you and you did not react until much later in the day?

* At school I would be a disaster, then at home was so relieved to be home, my family would never know the stuff that was happening to me at school. As I got older, I would have really really bad meltdowns at school, kicking garbage cans, storming out of the class (either from mean kids or a couple teachers I had were horrific--and they were spec. ed teachers) and I'd have to calm down with the psychologist in his area and the swing, etc. Then also I would freak out at home as well and breakdown there too. It is soooo much stimuli and the one thing though that helped me was this ESAP class, we all were the same (similar) and became a supportive family :) We all would meet 2nd hour and also I had a couple other spec. ed classes in that same room sometimes... It was a space for me to go and calm down. I wish every school had that specific class, and the psychologist was in there the whole hour. It was wonderful. That def. helped. Sometimes, I'd freak out even in the younger years when I would get home but became more so as the older years were there, like JH and HS...

( It isn't uncommon to have an child with an ASD go through school and blow up at the end, its a result of all the stimuli and bullying building up...Like a hose that has a cap on it, then it finally explodes off... )


8. Did you find that the related OT helped you to cope better in school?

* Oh yes, the psychologist would do O.T. on me and the aid would do deep pressure, etc. And the great nice police officer who had a psychology degree, would give me input all throught the hallway, swinging my arms, deep hugging, and walked with me to all my classes...He'd pop in also to see how I was doing in the classes :) And, the psychologist too sometimes. But the police officer everyday, just because I loved him soooo much :)

9. Imaginative play: Did you find this to be an issue growing up? If so was it something you eventually learned?

* Oh, major problems with imaginative play. I used to basically take all the pretend food and the pretend stove and kitchen, take the foods and put them together (make a hamburger or hotdog, etc.) and then line them up in the cupboards... then I would take them out and re-do that, and that could go on for an hour. Same thing with the doll house or barbies and their house...I would clean everything...position it properly and that would be play. I didn't understand why you would speak for a doll or pretend to feed it, because they are plastic and not real. I still to this day, with my two little cousins (who asked me to pretend play), I didn't know how and I didn't understand it at all... I think I looked at them like I was confused, so they just played together and I sat there uncomfortably watching. Imaginative play is soooo difficult and sometimes, in some or lots of people, doesn't ever become accomplished... However in some autistic people, the imaginative play kicks in sooo late, literally about the age of 25 or 30...then these autistic people at those ages are buying baby dolls and doll houses, and playing...its like a deprivation, and then they want to see what it was like for other children who had that experience.

10. How do I get my son to be more engaged? He seems to just want to ask me for things all day and talk about what he wants and request stuff all day long. How do I get him to want to talk to me? How do I get him to stop pacing, and scripting and recognize me and his family?

* This is a bit tough, because with autism it is a very scripted thing and really he just knows when he needs something and thats what it is like for him. But here are a few tips...find what he likes, and you yourself engage with him which should in turn, after some time, have him engaging more with you. Also, sign language, child sign, is a great engager and promotes speech and interaction! Here is a site, you click on some of the words, and then there is a video of the sign. IT is... http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslp...

11. When you are upset do you know what's going on around you?

* I sort of know what I'm doing but being on the spectrum it all kind of happens and its hard to explain, but I don't always know whats going on when I'm really getting upset. (I'm adding a page soon, Autism and Meltdowns...in this page I will explain what it feels like to be having a meltdown, what happens during one and why...)

12. Did you only have problems with haircuts as a child, or now too?

* The haircuts I really have a terrible time w/ even today. My scalp is really sensitive which isn't uncommon in people with autism and the hair falling onto me and the sound of those scissors is terrible.