"Same Child, Different Day" Site Closing: Where to go now

Because of the useful and relevant information it provides, "Same Child, Different Day" will stay up and available. However, I will no longer be monitoring this site. Our life has taken a different direction, and I've developed two new blogs to reflect that.

"Read All You Want" is my writing blog, and I will be using it as a writing portfolio as well. It has autism anecdotes, but now only as they pertain to my writing. Please click here to see what it has to offer.

The second blog, "Our Journey, Our Way," touches on how autism affects us as we travel through life: to restaurants, bowling alleys, arcades, beaches, parks, theme parks and any other travel experience.  Please check it out, and feel free to share and comment.

In fact, please share this post, and bring your and our friends to another look at life with autism spectrum disorders.

Thanks for your loyal support, and I look forward to traveling with you and writing for you on my other blogs.

Some December Tidbits from "Same Child, Different Day"

I just realized that this must have been a busy month. I haven't posted anything in almost 4 weeks which, no matter what has been going on, is a rarity for me! There has been much ado in both our autism and non-autism worlds, and I guess time just got away from me. I mean, holy cow! Can you believe another Christmas has come and gone? Here's where we were last year with this blog: Same Child, Different Day Content - I was still describing the chapters of the booklet and was only on the 4th post! This is the 45th post, and so many people say they have been helped by both this blog and the booklet "Same Child, Different Day: One family's experiences during the first year after a child's autism diagnosis": Review, Reader Critiques, Global Reach, Radio Interview.

I wish I could write more often; I should write more often. But I can only do what I can do. As I have done once before (and am sure I will do again), here are a few tidbits from the past few weeks, both related and unrelated to our autism work --- because it all relates, doesn't it?

• Our new business is forming nicely! I'm just waiting for the VT tax department to get back with me on a couple questions, and I need to finish designing one form on my end. I have a meeting with BROC Micro-business --- a free, community-based service in our city which helps new entrepreneurs --- on January 7. If this all works out (and it has to), in the end it will mean much more time to spend with the family. God knows, Lori could use the help! How do you manage work and therapies?
• Speaking of Lori, she'll be starting college in the summer. She'll attend the Community College of Vermont and is looking to concentrate on Pediatric Physical Therapy. Has dealing with autism inspired you in any way?
• I published an article on Associated Content in opposition to our state Medicaid department making the unilateral decision to reduce Nolan's coverage. Since our local papers wouldn't print it, I took it online. One reader was prolific in her comments, and feels that my opposition is counter to the best interests of Nolan. I tried to explain the crux of the article regards the state agency making an unqualified reduction. The commenter implied that, regardless of the entity making the decision, we are using our therapists as a crutch. Please slide over to the article and post your comments. I value your opinions.
• We wrote a 4-page letter to the state, requesting they reconsider the above decision. Surprisingly, a week later they wrote back that they had, and his services are once-again covered to an acceptable level. Tell us if you have ever had to battle with state agencies.
• Then, we found out from our private insurance company that they (the insurance company) should not have been covering Nolan's services based on his diagnosis. So, to make an already-frustrating situation even worse, I'll have to battle with them, along with my illiterate state legislature that doesn't believe autism should be covered by insurance. Does your state require insurance companies to cover autism therapy services?
• (Downer Alert!) We found Christmas to be tough this year. As far as I'm concerned, Christmas in our house is about the kids. Lori and I like to give each other gifts, too. But as long as the kids get taken care of, and are excited Christmas morning, our job is done. Well this year we were looking for a great reaction from Nolan, based on some of the strides he has recently made. We'd hoped, anyhow. Instead, while his sisters eagerly tore open gifts and screeched happily, Nolan paced the house, covering his ears and making noises akin to Taz of Looney Tunes fame. He did play for hours with one of the toys we bought for him (an inflatable ball pit with a tower and "ball" waterfall), but somehow, it just wasn't the same. My good friend Deanna, who is always the most wonderful voice of support, encouraged on Twitter, "you may have a long way to go, but remember the journey is worth it. Sometimes hard to do, I know...". You can say that again, Deanna! Tell us about times the frustrastration that can be associated with autism has affected your family and how you have coped.

~Jon

Now Monitoring Comments on Same Child, Different Day

Good Evening, Loyal readers.

I want to apologize to all of you that I must now moderate the comments you post. I recently received a post from someone who was less than respectful to all of you. While I believe that thought provoking, challenging debates are healthy for our community, I do not have to tolderate abusive language or belittling comments. To those of you who share differing opinions in a respectful and fair manner, thanks for that and please continue to do so. You make us all the better for it.

That said, please click here to return to our current discussion, or here if you are new to Same Child, Different Day and want to start at the beginning.

Thanks and have a nice evening.

~Jon

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

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

Autism, From One Parent to Another

The first chapter of our little booklet Same Child Different Day: One family's experiences during the first year after a child's autism diagnosis, shares with you our thanks that you chose to pick us up in the first place. If you were to Google "autism books", there are almost 6.5 million results to scroll through. And in that pile, many entries contain even longer lists of top-rated autism books. Then when you consider all the manifestations autism can take, the research for which is the right book for you and your family is virtually never-ending.

And you are only at the beginning of the autism journey!

So we've tried to consolidate for you within 50 pages some of what you might need, like to know, or encounter. In writing it, I tried not to make the adventure seem scary; because autism isn't and shouldn't be scary. But I did include a few anecdotes, some little glimpses into our life and how our world has been turned upside down. Keep in mind though that what we've had to deal with may not (and probably won't) resemble your life and changes.

I have to be honest about the anecdotes, though. While it is true that our lifestyle has veered off our once-expected path, it has now become "what we know". In other words, while someone may be used to obedient kids, "typical days" and soccer schedules, we've become accustomed to meltdowns, "routine pandemonium" and therapies.

But that is in no way a bad thing; it's our thing. And you'll find your thing too. As long as you never lose sight of the fact that your kid is still the same squeezable little proginy as always --- that you didn't cause this "autism" thing (and your kiddo can't control it either), then you'll be doing alright.

If you'd like to read the first chapter, find where you can get your hands on a copy of the whole Same Child, Different Day booklet, or just talk some more, please send me an email.

~Jon

Same Child, Different Day Content

I purposely started out Same Child, Different Day (SCDD) as a booklet. There are plenty of wonderful books on the subject of autism, and you should read them when you get the chance. But I wanted to create something that is thorough yet concise, that wouldn't be overwhelming while at the same time would provide enough information to be useful. Hopefully that's what I achieved.

Here's what I touched on in 8 chapters:

• From One Parent to Another: In this chapter you'll find a brief introduction and a short anecdote. Two points are touched on that make up the foundation for the manual; that this in no way is representative of what you will encounter --- I only try to give you our experiences as an example of what you might run into; and that, though you can expect changes every day, your child is not one of them --- hence the title Same Child, Different Day. The brief anecdote is titled The Hair Cut, and is an experience that's representative of our every day
• The Realities: Again, changes are the focus of this chapter. I also provide you with a list of almost 30 concepts and terms, a list that just scratches the surface, but you should find helpful. There's also an anecdote entitled Same Child, Different Day (you get the picture)
• In Now That You Have a Diagnosis, I try to explain what the label means (and what it doesn't). I share with you some practical information and include an excerpt entitled The Database that you should find useful
• Now, About Those Lifestyle Changes is a more in-depth look at what you might expect or even encounter. I try to provide you with some coping suggestions and share with you: The Mall Incident (quite funny, if I do say so myself), The Run-in (about people who are full of wonderful suggestions for you), The Comment (sometimes people just don't understand) and She Said That? (even professionals can say the darnedest things)
• Bed Time is self-explanatory and includes an anecdote called Dread Time
• The Unknown: This could easily have been the title of the booklet itself. I share with you the World of Random and a story about The First Meltdown
• You can't forget to take a little time out for YOU. A Little Something for You tries to explain that it's okay to forgive yourself while being yourself
• There's even a References section with book suggestions and website & mailing addresses to just a few of the most helpful places

This is an overview of SCDD --- I hope it's enough to entice you into a few copies for your group or organization.

Let me know.

~Jon