Neurodiversity

[Liam]

Originally Posted by violaine

liam, where are you? do you want to fly a kite later this afternoon? just come over!

belle
ox

Hey Belle!

I'm in Park County! After spending two days kicking rocks, I'm taking it easy today. Kite flying would be better here, I think, come on over!!

[Apocalipstic]

Flying kites sounds wonderful, the sky is blue and there is a nice breeze.

No too busy of a week, work and stuff.

In 2 weeks I get to go see my sister and her 2 kids in LA. I am so excited!

I hope I will get to see our friend and her Mom again soon too.

[Spirit Dancer]

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

Belle, that totally makes sense, I have almost driven into someones yard that way.

And yes, I base my behaviours on previous similar situations. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. Or, I wayyyyyy over think.

On another note, Saturday I met your 9 year old Aspie friend. GRIN. We talked about books and reading. What a beautiful girl. She reminded me of me at that age in thought.

she adored you too

[Spirit Dancer]

Originally Posted by violaine

well, then she is ever so lucky to have made your acquiantance, sweet jen

i adore her, and cannot wait to see her again [her mom too!]

what does your week look like? things are fairly quiet here with the animal control, humane society, and the committee work. sometimes, i check the phone to see if it's still working. other times, it rings like mad.

love to you!

liam, where are you? do you want to fly a kite later this afternoon? just come over!

belle
ox

[Andrew, Jr.]

Peace and all good, just for today.

[christie]

I hope you are all having a fabulous week. We will be hitting Nashville on Thursday afternoon.

My Aspie son is in what I am refer to as a meltdown. Its just not a good situation and I am finding that the older/more mature he becomes, the more rigid and resolute he is in his way of thinking/viewing a situation than ever before.

I don't know how much of this is just his growing up and how much of his inability to listen to other points of view is attributed to his wiring. (Or that it even matters which it is)

Please keep us in your thoughts as we try to navigate the situation and hope we make the best decision for him. Its already been a long week and its just Tuesday.

[violaine]

dear christie,

my thoughts are with you and your family, during this time of your son experiencing meltdown issues.

not a very amusing situation at all for anyone involved [aspie/family/friends], and i do hope the reason[s] for the upset resolves quickly.

best,
belle

[Apocalipstic]

Meltdown. I get that.

I think I am dancing on the edge of one myself.

I hope he and you feel way better way fast!

[violaine]

this happened to me today during a phone conversation;

i was wondering if any of you have ever been in the presence of someone who couldn't understand meaning of your words, and so their voice raised at you [question mark- my keyboard is acting strange].

that makes me upset, and i realise that i've been frustrated too, during conversations with nt's [caps not working either], whenever i must repeat myself multiple times. after a while, i am really worn out-

patience, even tone, and consistency work best for me.

belle

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by violaine

i was wondering if any of you have ever been in the presence of someone who couldn't understand meaning of your words, and so their voice raised at you [question mark- my keyboard is acting strange].

that makes me upset, and i realise that i've been frustrated too, during conversations with nt's [caps not working either], whenever i must repeat myself multiple times. after a while, i am really worn out-

patience, even tone, and consistency work best for me.

belle

Yes, yes and YES.

and yes I am so very worn out.

I hope everyone feels better! Hugs!

PS, and I hate it when people raise their voices for pretty much any reason.

[Andrew, Jr.]

Belle,

My answers are YES, YES, and YES. I am over-cooked now. At 46yo I am done. Society doesn't care, families are worn out, and there isn't too much help in terms of the medical community. Plus I have no faith in the medical community at all. Zero.

When people raise their voices to me like I am stupid, lazy, deaf, or whatever, it makes the situation worse. I am not deaf, lazy, or stupid. I have a delay in how I process verbal communication.

[christie]

Thank you all for the warm thoughts We really appreciate your support. Its been a very, very trying time and the manipulation techniques Bratboy is utilizing is just wearing us out.

I had a lil retail therapy tonight at BooksAMillion - I picked up this one:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Adolescents-Autism-Spectrum-Transition-ofTeenagers/dp/B000HT2P0C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269994432&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: A Parent's Guide to the Cognitive, Social, Physical, and Transition Needs ofTeenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Chantal Sicile-Kira, Temple Grandin: Books[/ame]

Have any of you read it?

[Kimbo]

A friend of mine and I were out to dinner last night and she said to me that she felt that something was different with her grand baby. She is not quite 2 years old. Some of the things that she mentioned made me wonder if she was somewhere in the autistic spectrum, she feels the same. Do any of you have a recommendation of books or resources that she could read up on especially about young children? The easiest read possible the better.

[moxie]

Originally Posted by Kimbo

A friend of mine and I were out to dinner last night and she said to me that she felt that something was different with her grand baby. She is not quite 2 years old. Some of the things that she mentioned made me wonder if she was somewhere in the autistic spectrum, she feels the same. Do any of you have a recommendation of books or resources that she could read up on especially about young children? The easiest read possible the better.

A lot of states have a program called First Steps that provides early intervention services for children between birth and three years old. It's for a child that is not developing typically in at least one of the following skill areas: communication, cognition, physical, social and emotional or self-help.

I will find the information for Washington and PM you. I am having a hard time finding it right now as First Steps in WA is something else.

[christie]

Originally Posted by Kimbo

A friend of mine and I were out to dinner last night and she said to me that she felt that something was different with her grand baby. She is not quite 2 years old. Some of the things that she mentioned made me wonder if she was somewhere in the autistic spectrum, she feels the same. Do any of you have a recommendation of books or resources that she could read up on especially about young children? The easiest read possible the better.

Kimbo -

When Bratboy was diagnosed an aspie, AS had only been in the DSM for right at two years. Resources were unheard of and the OASIS site and community provided answers for me. The community went on to publish a book The Oasis Guide to Asperger's Syndrome. While your friend's grandaughter might not be an aspie, I would start with this link http://www.aspergersyndrome.org/ and then look at the other Spectrum diagnoses from there.

I also think that the suggestion for First Steps is a good one. You might also check with the local children's hospital to see if they have a Department specializing in assessment and diagnosis.

I think the blessing in having a young child diagnosed on the spectrum today as opposed to 1995 is the amount of resources, information, advocacy and awareness present. Many of the challenges I faced would be mere blips on the radar today.

Best of luck to your friend.

Christie

[always2late]

Originally Posted by Kimbo

A friend of mine and I were out to dinner last night and she said to me that she felt that something was different with her grand baby. She is not quite 2 years old. Some of the things that she mentioned made me wonder if she was somewhere in the autistic spectrum, she feels the same. Do any of you have a recommendation of books or resources that she could read up on especially about young children? The easiest read possible the better.

I am chiming in to agree with the previous posts about First Steps, or early intervention. Tell your friend to contact the school district that the grandchild is in. Early intervention was invaluable to me when it came to diagnosing and treating my son. After pulling my hair out, and going to doctor after doctor trying to convince them that something was not quite right with my son....having that resource was a life-saver. I don't know where either of us would be now without it.

[Kimbo]

I think First Steps is perfect for them. They are not readers or the kind to research something. I also think that they have the same thought process that I have which is start with a Dr and then a possible onslaught of drugs or misdiagnosis. It is grandma who is seeing the behaviour and mom is a bit touchy about the topic. To know that First Steps can help them evaluate her behaviour first without a Dr is really perfect. Thank you all.

[christie]

Thank you all for your support during what has probably been one of the most trying weeks as a parent.

We arrived in Nashville yesterday and I think I have effectively diffused the situation. Bratboy isn't happy with me right now, but as I learned long ago, sometimes being a good parent isn't always rainbows and butterflies. I am certain he will be just fine and it won't be long till he needs $ for internet clothes for his avatar and I will be his newest best friend again. LOL

[violaine]

leaving home- where everything is more or less predictable, to go on a trip- even the planning of one, or being witness to other people arranging details, can initiate anxiety. when i was a bratgirl [ha] puzzle piece went missing as to why i would encounter such anxiety/touchiness round the time of some sort of big event - other than the juncture itself.

a mind works incredibly fast, yet i believe noteworthy / situational links also can get overlooked with such a rapid firing of certain neurotransmitters. of course, there are neurotransmitters involved in and responsible for producing anxiety and depression.

each time i pull out of the drive, the world becomes fickle. i cannot access knobs for immediate protection to all of the senses, should that need arise- volume, being the one of most concern.

[Jess]

Originally Posted by violaine

volume, being the one of most concern.

sometimes the "volume" is deafening... thanks!