Motivational Poster

As Autism Awareness Month comes to a close for another year, 

please remember that the journey is not over for these children and their

families. Keep them in prayer and continue to support them every step of way!

A Poem For An Autistic Child

I Will Always Love You By Elizabeth Burton Scott

Author of "Raindrops On Roman" - Overcoming Autism: A Message of Hope" © 2009

Click on the image or use the link below for a printable PDF file for this poem.
http://www.rdrpublishers.com/f/I_Will_Always_Love_You.pdf

"Colored My Mind: The Diagnosis"

"Colored My Mind" Official Website

In support of Autism Awareness Month, Centric TV will premiere this documentary which sheds more light on autism, specifically in the African American community, through candid profiles. The documentary features Nicole Ari Parker, Tisha Campbell-Martin, and Blair Underwood. It will air on Sunday, April 28th @ 11:00am (EST) and then, repeat the same day @ 11:00pm (EST). Click on the image to see the preview and the text link underneath to visit the website.

Autism & Faith

Autism Prayers on Pinterest

These special prayers are from the Children of Destiny website and they are posted daily specifically for autistic children and their families. It is the only site of its kind that offers support for the autism epidemic (now 1 in every 50 children) through the power of prayer. In addition, I have dedicated one of my Pinterest pinboards to these prayers, which I pin every day. Click on the image to read this prayer in its entirety at the COD website and call the names of those you are praying for in the blank spaces. You can also use the text link underneath the image to visit my pinboard on Pinterest and see all of the prayers I have pinned up to this point. Remember, do not lean to your own understanding and trust in God. He has a plan for every child!

Autism & Divorce

My Name Is David

YouTube: Autism Speaks Video Presentation

This is a short animation from Matt Manning, one of the animators of Robot Chicken. It depicts a young student's speech to his fellow classmates about his autism. The film features the actual voice and words of the author of the speech, David Shapiro Sharif, who is 14 years old. Sharif's speech aims not only to educate children and adults about autism, but also to give a voice to the more than one million young men and women with autism in schools throughout the country. Watch, learn, and help spread autism awareness.

Autism Awareness & Resources

This is the cover and link to my Pinterest pinboard of information, references, resources, and support that I share on social media to help raise autism awareness. The pinboard is dedicated to all those who have been touched by autism and the family members and caregivers who love and support them. Click on the image or text link underneath to check it out, and feel free to share it appropriately with others who might find it encouraging and helpful.

It's Still Autism Awareness Month!

ABC Segment On Autism: What Would You Do?

Autism Speaks Video

What is it like to live with autism, when the world around you doesn’t quite get it? This video focused on what it’s like for a family with an autistic child to do something as simple as eat out in a restaurant. Watch these powerful candid situations empower others to stand-up for a family dealing with an unsympathetic customer. Click on the image or text link underneath to watch the video, then share this post across all social media if you want more acceptance and tolerance for autistic children and their families.

Candles For Autism

CandlesForAutism

Autism Speaks Announces Candles For Autism! Welcome to "Autism Candles: Lighting The Path", a new web store which will benefit Autism Speaks with 10% of all online sales. When you need to buy aroma candles, please remember CandlesForAutism. The proceeds will help to support autism advocacy, research, and autism equal opportunity. Click on the image or text link underneath for more details and online purchases!

Variety-Phila & Adventure Aquarium

Variety-The Children's Charity

Adventure Aquarium will open its doors to Variety-Phila for Annual Autism Night on Saturday, April 27th, 6:00pm. The cost is $ 20.00 per family and the event is open to autistic children and up to 5 family members, plus a TSS/aide (if needed). Click on the image or text link underneath for complete information and online registration.

Boston Marathon Fundraiser on Autism Speaks FYW

Autism Speaks Fundraise Your Way

Andrew & Julie Salmon participated in the 2013 Boston Marathon to raise money for Autism Speaks on the Fundraise Your Way website. They also planned to match dollar-for-dollar the first $ 500.00 raised. Their goal was $ 2,500.00, but they actually raised $ 3,920.00. Click on the image or text link underneath to visit their fundraising page and read the overview. As a fellow fundraiser on the same site, I hope they're doing alright after the unexpected turn of events that took place yesterday. In addition, my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, as well as those who were senselessly injured. For many of them, their lives have been changed and/or altered forever. Why would someone do such a thing? God help us...

Happy 1st Birthday To My Granddaughter!

This first year went by so fast...

Grammy loves you and may God bless you!

Eagles Huddle Up @ The Linc!

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Lincoln Field - Philadelphia, PA

A Special Tribute

The Mother of an Autistic Child

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into his sixth day of "overtime" when an angel appeared and said,"You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said, "Have you read the specs on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have 180 moveable parts – all replaceable, run on black coffee and leftovers, have a lap that disappears when she stands up, a kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair, six pairs of hands, ears that will hear things she doesn't want to hear, a mouth that can gently kiss away scrapes and bruises and yet, tear the hide right off of those who try anything against the best interests of her child."

"Yes, this model will have to be able to sit patiently and listen to outlandish reports about her child without flinching. She will have to hear how hopeless it all is and know that it isn't so. She will have to have those kinds of eyes which don't tear when she hears other mothers talk about how well things are going for their children," said the Lord.

The angel shook its head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands? No way!" "It's not the hands that are causing the problems. It's the three pairs of eyes this mother has to have," said the Lord. "That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The Lord nodded and said, "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another pair here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know and, of course, the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up for the 99th time and say, 'I understand and I love you anyway' without so much as uttering a word."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve gently, "come to bed. Finish her tomorrow." "I can't," answered the Lord, "I'm very close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick, feeds a family of six on one pound of hamburger, and gets her 9 year old to stand under a shower." The angel circled the model of the mother very slowly. "It's too soft," the angel sighed.

"But tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure." "Can she think?" asked the angel. "Not only can she think," said the Lord, "she can reason and compromise." Finally, the angel bent over and ran a finger across the cheek of the mother. "There is a leak," the angel pronounced, "I told you that you are trying to put too much into this model." "That's not a leak," said the Lord, "it's a tear." "What's it for?" asked the angel.

"Tears are for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride… this mother will know a lot about all of that," answered the Lord. "But you know," He continued, "I don't even remember putting that tear there." "By the way", asked the angel, "what will you call this model?" The Lord replied, "I will call this one simply, the mother of an autistic child."

- Author Unknown

The Latest Autism Statistics!

Are you still wondering why this is so important?
At this rate, the statistics will be 1 in 2 within 5 years!

Autism Acceptance & Awareness

Autism & African American Children

AutismInBlack.com

Black children with autism tend to be diagnosed later than white children with the disorder, and this delay can lead to longer and more intensive treatment, researchers say. Lack of access to quality, affordable, and culturally knowledgeable health care are among the reasons for the delay in a diagnosis of autism in black children, said researcher Martell Teasley, an associate professor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Teasley also suggested that social stigma attached to mental health issues within the black community may add to the problem. Some black parents may find it hard to accept that their child has autism, so even when the disorder is diagnosed, there may be a reluctance to use autism treatment services.

Misdiagnosis is also a potential problem, the study authors noted. "There are no subjective criteria for diagnosing autism. Only brain scans can truly provide appropriate diagnoses, because we are dealing with biological and chemical imbalances in the brain," Teasley said in a university news release. "Not every child is going to have access to this kind of medical evaluation, particularly those who are indigent and don't have health care funding."

The findings from Teasley and colleagues were published in a special online edition of the journal Social Work in Public Health, which dealt specifically with health care issues in the black community. "Less discussion about autism among African Americans and/or between African Americans and health care providers leads to misdiagnoses, a lack of treatment, and a lack of services," Teasley pointed out in the news release. "This will lead to greater challenges for families--more stress and anxiety, and poorer developmental outcomes." The rate of autism diagnosis is the same among children of all racial groups, 1 in 88, according to estimates. But, later diagnosis among black children can be harmful. "Intervention for any autistic child needs to start around age 3, so we can get the child to begin to learn how to eat right and develop normal, healthy routines, which will result in a better developmental outcome," Teasley said. "Later intervention will result in a poorer developmental outcome that can have a lasting impact on the child's and family's quality of life.

Note: In 2002, David Mandell, Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, studied children on Medicaid in an attempt to eliminate income as a factor in quality of care and found this: White kids were diagnosed at 6.3 years old, as compared to blacks kids at 7.9 years old. So, it appears that not much has changed in the last 10 years, which is unacceptable. You are encouraged to visit the website AutismInBlack.com for more information on this topic and the challenges from the African American perspective.

Autism Speaks & MLB; Phillies Autism Game Night

Schedule of Games

Autism Speaks & Major League Baseball are teaming up in a league-wide effort to recognize Autism Awareness Month during the month of  April. All 30 MLB Clubs will raise awareness for the disorder during one home game in April, or on another date during the regular season. Click on the image or text link underneath for a list of games near you!

Autism Cares Foundation

It's Autism Awareness Night @ the Phillies Game! Bring the whole family out to Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, April 20, 2013 @ 7:05pm to see the Phillies vs. St Louis Cardinals. A representative from the autism community will throw out the 1st ball of the game. The net proceeds from ticket sales will benefit various autism organizations in PA. Click on the image or text link underneath for more information and ticket purchase today!

Variety-Phila & Sesame Place

Variety-The Children's Charity

Sesame Place will open its gates to Variety-Phila for its Annual Autism Day @ Sesame Place on Saturday, April 20, 2013, 10:00am. Admission to the park is free for the day and the event is open to autistic children and up to 4 family members, plus a TSS/Aide (if needed). Parking is $ 25.00 per vehicle and payable to the park on the day of the event. Click on the image or text link underneath for more information and online registration.

Eagles Huddle Up @ The Linc!

Philadelphia Eagles Official Website

The Center for Autism Research @ CHOP and the Philadelphia Eagles are delighted to announce the 4th Annual Huddle Up for Autism event on Sunday, April 14, 2013, 11:00am-2:00pm @ Lincoln Field in Philadelphia, PA. This FREE fun-filled day will include arts and crafts, face painting, field and locker room tours, games, magic shows, and much more. There will also be special appearances by Eagles personalities. Tickets are going fast, so click on the logo or the text link undernearth to get yours before it's too late!

Meet The Autism Speaks Build-A-Bear!

Build-A-Bear Workshop

Build-A-Bear Workshop is supporting Autism Speaks. When you purchase this special bear, $1.00 will be donated to Autism Speaks to help fund research into causes and treatments of autism. Click on the image or text link underneath for more information. Please share this post to help spread the word and encourage support for this fundraising effort while supplies last!

Special Movie Presentation: "The Story Of Luke"

Official Movie Trailer

This movie will debut in theaters, on iTunes, and On Demand beginning today. It follows the life and times of Luke, a young adult with autism who wants to live an independent life, get a job, have a girlfriend, and do everything else, just like his peers. Click on the image to see a review by Leslie Long, Director of Housing & Adult Services @ Autism Speaks. You can also click on the text link to see the movie trailer. A portion of the proceeds from this movie will benefit Autism Speaks.

Autism Speaks & Joe's Crab Shack

Joe's Crab Shack

These delicious offerings from Joe's Crab Shack could be yours to enjoy for free in the month of May in exchange for a $1.00, $5.00, or $10.00 donation to Autism Speaks during the month of April. Just go to a JCS near you and make your donation of choice when you pay your bill. Based on the amount of your donation, you'll receive the appropriate food coupon for a Kid's Meal, Crab Dip, or Classic Steampot for redemption in May. And, that's all there is to it, so please share this information and help spread the word!

Autism Speaks & Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday

Dine out @ a Ruby Tuesday in New Jersey on Thursday, April 4th with this flyer and they will donate 20% of your bill to Autism Speaks. Click on the image or text link to visit the website to find a location near you. Please share this information and help spread the word!

Thank You, President Obama!

The White House Blog

Yesterday, on World Autism Awareness Day, President Obama unveiled the "Brain Initiative" @ the White House—a bold new research effort to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and uncover new ways to treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and traumatic brain injury. Click on the image or text link underneath to learn more about it. "There is this enormous mystery waiting to be unlocked, and the Brain Initiative will change that by giving scientists the tools they need to get a dynamic picture of the brain in action and better understand how we think and how we learn and how we remember." - President Obama

The Latest Autism Statistics

Austism United

According to new statistical data released on March 20, 2013, 1 in 50 children are on the autism spectrum. This new information would indicate that approximately 1 million children in the United States are autistic. Unfortunately, the number continues to grow with no end in sight. Join us in efforts to increase awareness, research, and support throughout the month of April and beyond. Please share this information and help spread the word.

It's Autism Awareness Month!

 Autism Speaks "Light It Up Blue!"

It's officially Autism Awarenss Month and "Light It Up Blue" time! This is our outdoor porch light, which will shine bright on April 2nd for "World Autism Awareness Day". You can also wear something blue to show your support. Click on the image or text link underneath for more information and online registration through Autism Speaks!