Another way to donate to Autism speaks, that doesn't cost you a dime is to view the videos under the Autism Speaks Charity onthis website. The donations are given, based on the views of the videos listed under that charity. WARNING- get kleenex, because the videos are heartbreaking.
I was asked last week to write up something about how Autism has affected our life. I want to start off by Thanking TM's for picking this charity, to be their first Charity of The Month.
I will try to keep this short. My son was always been different, but it was nothing I could just pick out. He hit every milestone(except talking) he is very loving. My sister mentioned Autism to me when he was around 2, I just blew her off- he didn't have autism. I had the warped view of a "rocking" child, meant autism. Well he didn't rock, so it wasn't autism.
He turned two, and wasn't talking- he could, but he wouldn't. He also behaved a lot like a toddler- which at the time, wasn't abnormal. So we enrolled him in an EC center, after one year he did not improve. They referred me to our local school system. He was accepted into their PPCD class, after the first year- he amazed us all. He was talking above his age(3) and reading on a kindergarten level. His behavior was still a problem, but they assured me he would out grow it.
3 years later we received the diagnosis of PDD-NOS- If I had not pushed for testing, because I believed he had Aspergers- he would have been mis diagnosed as borderline ADHD.
PDD- NOS basically means he is on the spectrum, but fits into more than one category, but doesn't fit directly into a category.
We are now stuck in a schedule, if we get off of the schedule then our day is pretty much blown. We have visual aids(basically charts that he can control, they show him what he is suppose to be doing) and social stories(stories about him, that will help him socialize). We have also been bombarded with do this this and this, and your son will recover information. Then Doctors who completely disagree and tell you ABA therapy and some medications can HELP your child, but nothing is certain.
Then you have adults on the spectrum- who say nothing is wrong with them, this is just evolution. They don't want you to give your children drugs, but to help society accept them for who they are- these stories are very hard to read.
You want to know why, but no one can give you a reason. You feel guilty, for something you cant control. Am I making the right choices, should I have tried the diet?????
The hardest parts for me are- seeing him not enjoying activities kids love, we tried a parade recently, he cried and covered his ears the whole time. Seeing what my other children go through having a brother on the spectrum. I feel like I am cheating them out of their childhood. The younger one is still to little to understand, but the oldest one sees the problems it causes.
She knows she can not have friends over because of her brother. She knows sometimes, we cant go places she wants to because he is having an off day. She knows he is punished differently, for hitting her- than if I punish her for hitting him. Sometimes, she has to be a second mom to her sister because I am busy trying to control a melt down. Because of his behavior she knows her friends don't want to play, if he is around. She is a great sister, she tries to include him in everything, but some days she just doesn't want him around. Hearing your child pray for a normal brother is heartbreaking.
As a mother, the one thing I wanted to do was let my children, be children and enjoy their childhood. I feel like I have failed them, but I know it was not my fault.
- We have a few problems that come from his stimming or behavior. Instead of "rocking" my son is a crasher, he slams his body into everything- which usually equals holes in the walls or broken windows. He also likes to jump- which is easy to control usually. He likes to chew everything, before he would eat his clothes, now he has chew toys designed for him.
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