Same Child, Different day celebrates ONE YEAR!

Same Child, Different Day: One family's experiences during the first year after a child's autism diagnosis has been published and distributed for one year this month! What a great thing to be able to say. So much has happened and so many people have been touched by this family autism resource. It has travelled across the USA, from Massachusetts to Washington state. It has reached the souls of folks from Alberta, Canada to Durban, South Africa. You are the ones who have made it all possible.

For those not yet familiar with this autism booklet and some of the results from it, let me share with you a few of the highlights that may be of interest.

• The booklet is a nice, compact manual that shares some of my family's anecdotes of what has happened during our son's first year after he was diagnosed with autism. So much more has happened since that first year, but our initial experiences are the focus of this booklet
• The chapters deal with everything from bed time to taking time for yourself. It also includes a section with concepts and terms as well as a short but handy reference section
• This autism reference booklet lead to the start of Rutland, Vermont's now-annual "Celebrate the Spectrum", a month-long series of events throughout April, which you may know is National Autism Awareness Month --- which in turn lead to the enhancement of Rutland's Exceptional Parents of Exceptional Children (EPEC), our own local autism support and awareness organization
• The manual is included in Autism Speaks' resource listings (Manuals & Toolkits) which brought the booklet into the hands of friends in Canada and South Africa
• Jon Gilbert, the author of the booklet, is available to speak to your autism awareness group, ASD class or any facilitated gathering. He can speak for an hour or a day; in his local New England area or with your group on the west coast --- just send an email by clicking here
• And there is so much more!

Please, pick up your copy today by clicking on the PayPal button in the sidebar. Please tell anyone you know who could use a copy (or a group that hasn't purchased booklets yet) so we can let them in on everything, too.

Let me know if I left anything out, if you'd like me to include you site's web link on our pages.

All the best and thanks for the great year!

~ Jon

Autism Support Booklet: Thanks for the critiques

The requests for Same Child, Different Day over the last month were exciting. Granted, I gave the autism family support resources away, but that was the point for this 'promotion'. Now I'd really like to hear from those of you who got a free copy of the booklet; time to keep your end of the bargain.

I look forward to your honest critiques and comments. You can email me privately at jongilbert@rocketmail.com, or you can post a comment below. Either way --- and as long as you let us --- your opinions will be shared with the other readers.

But I have a deeper purpose than just comments on a blog: this is one leg of a multi-faceted marketing survey. I have bigger intentions for the booklet, and you my friends (and of course, your helpful words) are one piece to that plan.

So, if you've gotten the free autism support guide Same Child, Different Day, then I'm calling in your chips, as it were. Please email me or comment below when you can. I'm looking for honest opinions, suggestions, things you were satisfied with, something there should be more of, whatever there may have been too much of, or things that made you laugh or cry. I'll read all your comments and emails, then decide next which direction to take the resource.

If you haven't received a copy of Same Child, Different Day: One family's experiences during the first year after a child's autism diagnosis, you can still get one by ordering from the sidebar to the right. As before, first select from the drop-down the pricing based on the quantity you desire. You'll be able to select an exact amount when you get to the order page --- the price is $4.95 per copy or less, depending on the number you request.

Of course, if you order at the right, please email me explaining that you've placed an order with PayPal. Oh yeah, and don't forget to let me know how you stumbled across this little world.

Please let me know if I missed anything else.

~Jon

Free Autism Family Support Services Booklet

Hello all: I'd like to elicit some help from my wonderful friends, families and readers. I'm calling out especially to those families who are beyond the first year after the autism diagnosis.

From Monday June 15 through Sunday, July 12 I'm offering free copies of Same Child, Different Day: One Family's experiences during the first year after a child's autism diagnosis. In return, I'd like your sincere evaluation of this autism booklet and your suggestions as to where it can be changed or improved. I'd like your supportive comments on how I can improve or grow the booklet. Over the past 10 months I've gotten some great feedback from families seeking autism support services, and I could use more.

I'm a glutton for constructive criticism, and would appreciate your honest, thoughtful, supportive input. In the end, I'll be able to decide what direction to take the third printing of the manual.

So for the next month, if you'd like to order single copies of Same Child, Different Day, please send an email to: jongilbert@rocketmail.com, and be sure to include all your contact information. Again, this is one copy of this autism booklet per household, and understand that I'll be nagging you for your feedback. Please keep in mind that if you are looking for more than one copy per mailing address, you'll still need to order from the sidebar to the right.

Also, so that I can keep this post at the top, I won't be adding another until after the 12th of July. Until then, send me an email for more information.

~Jon

When Ordering Same Child, Different Day

I'd like to thank all who have ordered Same Child, Different Day and hope that you're finding it helpful, informative and enlightening. When you order the booklet, if you could leave me a comment here somewhere, it would be truly appreciated.

Let me know how you came upon the blog site for Same Child, Different Day; it's always fun to find out.

Also, I'm interested to know where you're from. It's interesting finding out what corners of the world our words are filling.

Finally, come back later and let me know what you think of the booklet; let others know as well. I'll take your words of encouragement and your critiques. Since Same Child, Different Day is for you, I can only make it better by hearing from you. And you'll be sharing your honest opinions with other readers. Besides, your opinions are less biased than mine.

Keep in mind that when you order, there is a drop-down for the price break-outs; select from the correct price group and you'll be given the opportunity to enter an exact quantity later. All the prices are in $US at this point - I don't have any way right now to accept foreign payments or convert foreign exchange. At this time I prefer and exclusively use PayPal. If you aren't comfortable ordering directly online (which is actually the most secure way you can go), PayPal provides a mountain of purchase options.

Anyhow, please keep reading and commenting and I'll keep trying to support you and make a difference in the lives of our special kids.

~ Jon

Same Child, Different Day: The Unknown

Autism is an unknown. My good friend Heidi, whom I've mentioned before, has a great saying: "If you've seen one child with autism...you've seen --- one child with autism". No two are alike, yet its the differences that join them.

The chapter of Same Child, Different Day: One family's experiences during the first year after a child's autism diagnosis entitled "The Unknown" is similar to "Bedtime" in that it's a short by informative chapter. It talks about those differences and many more: like what causes our son's meltdowns, won't be what causes your child's. Yet, it's those meltdowns that make them so similar.

And the cause of autism is yet to be proven; which makes it difficult to find the right mix of therapies that will work for you and yours. But what works for you, though it will differ from us and the rest of the world, will be what works for you. It's as simple as that.

There's the connection: It's all these differences that bind us. And that's what this chapter tries to share.

If you'd like to read more of Same Child, Different Day, you can buy a copy (or several for your organization). Just click the PayPal link in the sidebar.

~ Jon

Autism Radio Interview and Buying Copies of "Same Child, Different Day"

Just two short notes for now:

~ 1) I had a radio interview today to talk about Same Child, Different Day. When the stream is up on the host's website, I'll post the link and details from the show. But for now, you can click here to get more info about the host Anne Barbano and "Living the Autism Maze", and check out the eclectic little commercial-free Vermont community radio station here: 105.9 = The Radiator.

~ 2) I've posted a place in the sidebar where you can buy copies of Same Child, Different Day through PayPal.

~ Jon