Stories of Hope

Snow Rose: our daughter

Our daughter Snow Rose was born March 3, 2009.
A while ago, we noticed that her speech had not developed to the point she should be at. We had her tested, and the diagnosis was severe autism.
Some people acted like it was a disaster.
She's still the same girl. Our angel and princess
She's smart and we love her.
She's amazing.
Everyday she seems to learn something new. I .fo too.
A month ago, we got 3 kittens.
We were trying to think of a name.
Rosey looked at s kitten, walked up and pointed and said "Dizzy". It's not a word she days a lot, and it really fits the kitten.
She's an amazing girl. We love her and look forward to being with her and watching her grid and learn

David Stalzer
Edmonton, Canada

Torens Journey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i4PKThb8xg
This is a video tribute I made for my son Toren. He has autism and is 21. Diagnosed at age 2.

Jenn Shifflett
Baltimore, MD

ATV ALLIES FOR AUTISM

Allies for Autism:

We would like to bring to the public’s attention that there is an ATV Ride on August 4th 2013 It is starting and ending in Roxbury Maine. This is the second annual ATV Ride for Autism, Last year the ride was graciously hosted by The Moose Alley ATV Club; of Bingham/Solon, Maine. This year the hosting club is The Roxbury ATV Riders.

The Theme this year is “Allies for Autism” the Ride will consist of leaving the Roxbury ATV Park and Ride on route 120, at 9:00 am, and heading up to the Wind Towers in Roxbury. After a visit to the wind towers, the ride will continue to Coos Canyon, and then on to the Mexico Recreation Park where there will be there will be a Luncheon, and time to Swim and play . There may also be some surprises at the Recreation Park. Once we have wrapped up at the Recreation Park, time permitting we will continue on to Angel Falls, and Devil’s Den, then back to the Roxbury Park and Ride to finish off the ride.

The ATV Ride for Autism is the brain child of Ed Barrett, the President of the Lisbon Hard Core Riders ATV Club. He came up with this idea through the friendship he has gained from a father who takes his Autistic son atv riding. Hi son loves the outdoors and being on the ATV. All Donations and proceeds raised are going to support the Maine Autism Awareness.
For more information please contact Michael Worthley with the Roxbury ATV Riders Club at (207)418-0790

Michael Worthley
Roxbury, ME

Service Dogs can help

We made a documentary film called Talent Hounds about the evolving roles and talents of dogs. One of the most moving stories in the film is about a little boy Max and his family. Max is 6 and was diagnosed with autism several years ago. His family recently got a National Service Dog called Chester, a beautiful gentle, golden lab. You would not believe the difference Chester has made in their lives. Max can now go for walks with his Mother more safely as he does not bolt, he seems calmer and has stopped lashing out, and he sleeps through the night with Chester (or at least his mother has been able to for the first time in years which is a very good thing). The family call Chester their "healing balm".
Inspired by working on the film, another family we know just got a young dog. Their son with Asperger's seems to be responding really well.

Anonymous
Toronto, Canada

Awareness...Preparedness

My story begins the summer before I started my first official teaching assignment. I took some time to explore a new author and read "The Tiger's Child", by Torey Hayden. That book sparked such a profound interest in me, that I read every book I could find written by Hayden every chance I could. I had not known at the time that those books would become very instrumental in many aspects of my life.

When the school year started, a little boy named George walked into my classroom and into my life and heart. George had the eyes of an angel, and did not talk. His mother told me from the onset that George was EH...educational acronym for 'emotionally handicapped' and that he would be served by our resource teacher for a great part of the day. This became the beginning of my experience with autism.

As I got to know George better, I noticed behaviors like the students Hayden described in her books. As I got to know George's mom better, our relationship grew from teacher-parent to co-teachers and we shared our observations, excitement, and worries about George. He had been receiving therapy outside of school with a private therapist for his EH, and I told his mom to share our discussions with the therapist....his obsession to have all his crayons by color and size....his preoccupation with purple and Batman and Peter Pan. Sure enough, George was not only EH, he was also AU.

Fast forward twelve years later...and, when my second grandchild turned six months, I saw my George in his eyes. What a blessing my experience turned out to be! My firsthand experience allowed me to recognize my grandson's autism and be able to get appropriate therapy for him early on. Awareness is preparedness..because none of us are immune...

Cristina Garcia
Charlotte, NC

The Progression

When I was an elementary student, I had many issues with battling my autism. Throughout the years I have grown and quite proud of who I have grown into. With the help of my mother whom I'm very close to, I have pushed my way out of a destructive way of thinking. My mother always supported me through my obsessive and anxiety driven behaviour. For the longest time, I was a very quiet, and a solitary person. When I was at school, I always watched to see how people interacted with each other and listened; I listened very carefully. Now, I am able to talk like a normal human being and act like a proper young woman. Of course I still have problems with going up to people and starting a conversation but I notice that I am ten times better then I used to be. This is a story of how I have interacted with my own autism and how my mother influenced me.

I am surprised to say, through all the struggle to gain control of my thinking and physical behaviour, I am now going off to business school so I can one day run an entire company. Although from being picked on for so many years I am still afraid of speaking to or relating to people my own age. Even though I have autism, I still find myself going across the country on my own to see different things and to interact with the world around me. I'm happy with my progress. I hope this story can help others with autism and their families.

Allissia
Calgary, Canada

My Special Guy

When my Xavier was born we didn't notice him being that different. We just thought he wasn't as quick as others to learn things. Nothing wrong with that, everyone learns at their own pace. He was 3 months old when I found out I was pregnant with his sister. After she was born and started growing, we were able to see noticeable differences between the two. The biggest was when they both started saying words. She was speaking more clear and using more words than he was. We contacted Parents As Teachers to see if he just had a speech difficulty that would require some therapy. His testing with them was inconclusive and they recommended more thorough testing. Where we live they have a special education preschool program paid for by the state. We took him there and they had the Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, and Speech Therapist all evaluate him. I had begun to do my own research on what could be causing this difficulty. When Autism came up on a website I started looking into other signs and symptoms and saw a lot of what my little guy had. I called the preschool and discussed with them if they felt this could be a possibility. They were thinking the same thing after getting their evaluation results. Their recommendation was to take him to a neurologist for a more concrete diagnosis. We found a really good one and proceeded with the visit. He was able to see right away that Xavier had Autism, or as he put it more specifically Asperger's Syndrome, which is of the Autism Spectrum. I have people continue to say to me that they are sorry when I tell them that my son has this. I reply with a simple "I'm not." I tell them that it takes a special parent to have a child with Autism, and that God must have had enough faith in me to know that I could handle this challenge and guide my son through his life. I love my special guy and that will never change!

Melanie
Arnold, MO

My sons fight for education

My son was excluded from 2 primary schools, saying he was a naughty child. We had to fight for him to get into a special school. He spent just over 2 years there before he was integrated back into mainstream. He had one to one support and went to a normal high school. When he left, he left with 13 GCSEs. The local paper did a piece on him because the high school were really pleased with what he had accomplished. I'm so proud. Aidan is now 17 at college and completed his first year doing advanced applied science. Aidan had done so well.

Lisa Edgeley
Newcastle under Lyme, United Kingdom

Naraya born 2005

My little girl Naraya was born 2005 happy little girl always smiles . she has Autism spectrum we found out when she started school they test her at school for two years and came back that she has Autism she was in Autism class in school this past year was doing very well at school . Naraya is 7 years old . we are taking her to a Autism school on wed to sign her up so she can get more help in school we live in fl. when she 2 years old she did like when he shirt got wet we always had to change it we had no idea she had Autism. she can talk she had a 5 year old brother and a sister she 3 she loves her brother and sister she a daddy girl. when she happy her tongue is always moving and loves to play with her hair she happy little girl. she love to go to Disney world she also love animals she has a pet bunny names bugs bunny. when she was born i was so happy i was told i could not have kids she was 8 pounds when born. she love to play in water love to swim. I new she was special she loves cuddle with her mom and daddy. she the sweetest little girl you ever met she lots of fun funny and loving.

Renee
saint cloud, FL

HEATHER REINERTSEN (SWEETPEA)

THIS IS A PICTURE OF ME AND MY DAUGHTER HEATHER,THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER LIKE HER.
SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AT 4 YEARS OLD,SHE ALSO HAD DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY AND SLIGHT CEREBRAL PALSY DUE TO A HEART SURGERY AT 2 MONTHS OLD SHE WAS THE BEST
LITTLE HUGER AND JUST WANTED TO SHOW LOVE TO ANYONE,NO DISCRIMINATION TO HER AT
ALL, SHE WOULD CHASE PEOPLE DOWN TO HUG THEM,SHE MADE SO MANY PEOPLES DAY BETTER
JUST FOR HER HUGS.I HAVE A FACEBOOK MEMORIAL WITH MORE PICTURES OF HER SO OTHER PARENTS OF KIDS LIKE HER CAN RELATE. MY HEATHER PASSED AWAY FROM SWINE FLU IN 2009 AT 13 YEARS OLD.I WILL NEVER EVER FORGET HER AND THE SHORT TIME I HAD WITH HER.AUTISTIC KIDS ARE VERY AWESOME CHILDREN,I KNOW MINE SURE WAS.I LIKE READING THE STORIES OF OTHER PARENTS WHO SHARE SIMILAR CHILDREN LIKE MINE. HEATHER WAS ALSO STRICTLY A MOMMY'S GIRL.

CATHY REINERTSEN
Florida, FL