"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.

VAC’S EARLY EDUCATION & CARE LAUNCHES NEW PRESCHOOL AUTISM PROGRAM 88 PARK STREET, RUTLAND, VT

Vermont Achievement Center’s Early Education & Care Program welcomes a new program; Intensive Autism Spectrum Disorders (IASD) Program for children ages 3 to 5 years old.

Located in Rutland, Vermont the Vermont Achievement Center’s Early Education and Care Program serves children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age in an enriching, developmentally appropriate learning environment.  To meet the needs of children who have been diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum and require fulltime child care, VAC is expanding services for this population and opening an Intensive Autism Spectrum Disorder classroom, the “Indigo Room”, for children ages 3 to 5 years old.   Our highly dedicated, passionate and knowledgeable staff have years of expertise in the fields of autism, behavioral intervention, developmental disabilities, education, special education, music and art.  Children enrolled in the program will have the opportunity to experience a structured, challenging and encouraging environment complete with a sensory integration room and the Mitchell Therapy Pool.  The full time, year-round, 8 am to 4 pm, Monday thru Friday preschool autism classroom will offer breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. 

Anticipated start date, September 3, 2013.  Enrollment limited – slots filling quickly.  For more information, please contact Diahn Johnson, Director of EEC, 802-775-2395 X612.

Same Child Different Day, Back from a Break and New Information

I’m sad that it has been 10½ months since my last post.  There was a point in time when I was able to commit day and night to this blog.  I was sharing what you wanted to hear, and you made it successful.  However, as it often does, life slid in behind the wheel and steered us down a different road.

The bad news started with losing my 9-to-5 in January, which by itself can stifle one’s enthusiasm.  However, I immediately signed up for college courses, working toward my Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, and I began looking for another job.  Along with meeting the requirements of the Department of Labor, the college courses have been research and writing intensive, so I have appropriated much of my authoring time to that.

Since then, I was also fortunate to have been invited to co-develop an autism resource center (ARCTIC: Autism Recognition Care Training and Information Center) at our local Vermont Achievement Center (VAC).  Creating the proposal, cultivation of the facility and duties as the Coordinator of Autism Resources has added to my list of chores.  I also host the blog for the autism support group (Celebrate the Autism Spectrum) at VAC, and the organization offered me a position as an Education Instruction Assistant in their school for children with autism.  So, I have been deeply immersed in self-enrichment as well as continuing advocacy and education projects.

In reality I have only taken a break from the duties of "Same Child, Different Day" for a short while.  While I’m not completely happy with that, at least I have been in front of continuing to help folks.  In the end, that’s what’s most important to me.

If you would still like to order a copy of the booklet Same Child, Different Day, or to email me personally, click here.  If you or someone you know would like to more information about our Rutland, VT area autism resource center, the school, the support group or our other blog, please click on this link.

Thanks and welcome back!

~Jon

Autism Awareness Survey

Would you please share about ten minutes to take this important autism awareness survey? There's no cost; there are no vendor links; you will not be asked to buy anything. I'm simply looking for your input to nine short questions regarding autism awareness and I would appreciate your help.  It's also totally confidential.

Click here to take survey

Same Child Different Day: Back after a long break

Hello all my friends and fellow bloggers. After over 10 months away from the site, I'm back to doing what I do best: advocating and bringing important autism support and info here for you! I am sincerely sorry I took time away, though it was not all in vain, I assure you.

I was working hard to bring a new business concept to Vermont, one that I had hoped would both be a benefit to others (what I like to do anyhow), and would in turn afford me time to spend with my loved ones; those closest to me who need my help the most. While I have not given up entirely on this Vermont home inventory venture (Permanence), I have had to scale back my time. The results currently are not relative to the effort.

Anyhow. That doesn't have much to do with "Same Child, Different Day" specifically. To get back into the groove, I'll just post today that I'm coming back, and am bringing our local autism support group back with me. Exceptional Parents of Exceptional Children (EPEC) is the Rutland, VT area's primary 'spectrum' support organization. This, too, has been on hiatus due to family concerns for both myself and my co-chair.

But we are coming back, ready and able to support the needs of families, caregivers and those living with autism in the Rutland, Vermont and surrounding areas.

I'll be back with more info soon about other supports. But I wanted to let all of you know that I have missed talking and sharing with you. I won't let that happen again!

All the best,
~Jon

Calling All Vermonters: Whether or not you are or know someone who is living with autism

As quoted from the Vermont Citizen Coalition on Autism Reform

We Need Your Help!

On Friday, March 12, the Senate Finance Committee voted an amended version of S262 (Autism Insurance Reform) out of committee. Disappointingly, this amended bill sidesteps the issue and calls for yet another study! It is being sent to the VT House of Representatives to be taken up by the House Committee on Health.

However, there is still hope for Autism Insurance Reform! This amended bill may be amended yet again! We are giving the House Clerk our original bill, along with our voluminous research findings, and asking them to take it up and work with us to craft a feasible bill, one that would be accepted by the House and Senate Joint Conference Committee.

Getting people to call or write to both Steve Maier, House Health Chair, and Shap Smith, Speaker of House, in support of the original bill, S262 Autism Insurance Reform, will be very important. We need you to share your stories, and say again and again that:

<> Autism is a medical/neurological condition that impedes a child’s ability to learn. Effective treatments exist. Insurance companies are discriminating against this particular condition and that is why we need this bill.

<> This bill has no affect on the State budget – It is budget-neutral. Furthermore, we believe it will save money for educational agencies in the long term by front-loading treatment and thereby decreasing the long term need for intensive support in school.

<> By providing an insurance payment mechanism, this bill will have the effect of increasing the number and availability of licensed autism treatment providers in Vermont at no cost to state agencies.

<> Schools are sorely pressed to provide the evidence-based treatment that ameliorates the symptoms of autism. They cannot do it alone. By providing access to effective medical treatment, this bill would decrease prohibitively expensive institutional placements. (The average institutional placement carries an annual cost of $279,000.

<> Society benefits by producing employable citizens who are capable of self-directing the course of their life with a lower level of community support and a lowered need for expensive crisis beds at psychiatric institutions.

We thank you all for your support. We believe passage of this bill have a beneficial ripple effect on many issues facing the autism community.

If you have questions, would like more information or would like to help us soldier, please email me here!!!

~ Thanks, Jon

Vermont Autism Insurance Reform Bill: S-262

Oh my gosh! In Blogdom, I have committed the ultimate sin: it has been nearly two months since I have posted! I'd might as well just board up the windows and put a chain on the doors.

Or I could explain to you that, between starting a business (which is a much more consuming task than I could have ever imagined) and pushing for autism reforms in my home state of Vermont, I have been overwhelmingly busy. Not an excuse, but I assure you, it has not been time wasted.

As many of you know --- and some of you may not --- services for autism are not currently covered by insurance companies in many states, including Vermont. A bill has been introduced to assure this requirement. At this time however, though the legislators really want to help, they are getting pressure from lobbyists not to do anything now. We are in need of help in getting your support (and that of your representatives and senators) for VT autism insurance bill S-262.

Please call your legislator and the chair of this committee. If you are also a constituent of anyone else on this committee, please call them! Every call counts in tiny Vermont!There are talking points below of why we need this. Please write a handwritten note or a phone call (they count!) to the senators below. This is the week before crossover; when they decide whether to send it to the House or not.

Listen to our recent radio show about this issue with Anne Barbano of "Living the Autism Maze" here: http://livingtheautismmaze.com/radiator_021710.mp3

The narrative of the bill can be read here...or here: http://www.autismvotes.org/atf/cf/%7B2A179B73-96E2-44C3-8816-1B1C0BE5334B%7D/VT%20S-262%20-%20as%20introduced.pdf

The members of the Senate Finance Committee can be found here: Members

Their email addresses can be found by clicking here: Emails

Thanks to all of you and PLEASE HELP where you can and contact me if you need more information.

For Autistic Children: Graphical Communication Tool for iPod touch and iPhone

A couple times a month I would run into the mom of an autistic boy. She and I would be visiting the same place, and she would have her kids in tow. Verbally, “B” is on the extreme end of the spectrum, and uses an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device for speech. It is a Voice Output Communication Aid that utilizes a system similar to the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) as an alternative to speech that can identify wants and needs.

I did learn however that these devices can cost upwards of $7,000 to $10,000 dollars. With the insurance coverage for autism sporadic from state to state at this time, for many parents that can be an insurmountable cost. Yet anyone living with a loved one who is even moderately affected by autism knows that much of the frustration lies in not being able to communicate with them. Many rely on PECS cards and American Sign Language as an alternative, but there are parents and caregivers who want nothing more than to be able to “hear” their loved one’s thoughts.

Spectrum Visions presents Voice4U, an AAC application developed for use with iPod touch and iPhone. Voice4U is a $29.99 alternative to the larger, more expensive speech generating devices and comes pre-loaded with 130 icons: just touch the picture and the app sounds out the associated word. The user can access nine categories, with a response that is in a clear, easy-to-listen-to voice.

With the assistance of her son’s tutor, the app was created by the mother of a 15-year-old boy with autism. She built the system to be expandable, with the capability of adding up to 1,000 of the user’s own words and pictures. Additionally, you can change the icons and voices with your own photos and sounds as well, in both Japanese and English. Voice4U is mainly intended for school-age users, though it can serve consumers of all ages

Spectrum Visions Website
Voice4U Website
See the app in action on YouTube

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

Autism and Medical Marijuana

In my last post, I talked about how we worry our autistic son won't be potty trained before Kindergarten. Matter of fact, I've suggested in another post that there are lots of things we worry about with our kids living with autism; behavior, speech, stimming in public, muscle tone --- they are each things we and they struggle with daily. As parents, we'll go to practically any length to support our kids.

You can believe in cures or not, or you can subscribe to the thought that they simply are who they are. When we say we are willing to advocate for our kids, what do we really mean?

Well, a Rhode Island mom has chosen to go to what others might consider extreme lengths to manage her child's condition. Marie Myung-Ok Lee has helped her son to become the youngest recipient of a medical marijuana license. She first purchased THC-infused olive oil to make cookies for her son, in an effort to stave off his biting and pervasive violent behavior.

Myung-Ok Lee swears this is helping her son and that this is just the intervention he needed.

What is your take on this mother and her radical approach? Is this curing or simply sedating?To what extreme lengths would you go, have you gone or are you considering?

Please share your thoughts and feelings.

~Jon

Autism and Potty Training: Calling all suggestions

I know that I'm the one usually giving support and advice, offering a suggestion or climbing a soapbox or two. But this time I come to you, my loyal friends, for your advice and suggestions.

Nolan is four-and-a-half and big for his age; he's also heading into the home stretch for Kindergarten. He's currently attending an early Early Essential Education (EEE, or Triple E) program here in Vermont, which is funded by Medicaid and is not quite considered "real" school. It is a half-day classroom full of students not all that dissimilar from Nolan, so the teachers are understanding where his "special needs" are concerned.

But next year is "real" school, a full day long with 'normal' kids and less understanding educators. The problem is, he is not yet potty trained. At four-and-a-half, he still wears disposable underpants which must be changed when he soils them. And oh how he can soil them! This big boy has many nicknames, of which one is 'Poop Machine'. No joke. Just playing on the computer will relax him enough to fill it to the brim.

We hate changing those ourselves, and dread having to leave that in the hands (so to speak) of someone less familiar with the Machine. During a half day, the teacher encounters a butt wash every once in a while. But for the full-day class, it's gonna happen.

Though I know he will learn what he can when he's ready, we feel almost compelled to make this one happen. But he doesn't even get the concept of pooping, when it's going to happen or why. We tried potty training last summer, with little result. He would go to the potty in the morning and sit there 'til he peed, but never got the essence of why he was there. And try as we would, we could never get him to go during the day in order to stave off a surprise.

We're going to try again during the Christmas break. And while there are great books out there with lots of suggestions and offerings, we thought we'd put it to our friends ---especially those with older kids who have experienced this stage in life.

Please, any and all recommendations will be heard, tried and welcomed. Nothing is too radical and there's no need for embarrassment. If you can think of it, we'll try it. Because, by Kindergarten, 2010, Nolan will be using the toilet. If not, it's your fault!

OK, not really. But we'd still like to hear from you.

~Jon

Florida "Teacher" Suspended for Autism Vote Reinstated

OMG! What are they thinking? Recently Wendy Portillo, a kindergarten teacher from Port St. Lucie, Florida, decided to put to a vote from her students, whether or not an autistic child should be allowed to stay in the classroom. The kids voted 14-2 against the child, and the teacher was later suspended from the classroom.

Good first step, right? Yeah, well...

...seems the school board has decided to REINSTATE this dummy and relocate her to sixth grade. Yeah, that'll help.

This stupidhead is still being allowed to teach because she has tenure, and doesn't see the error of her ways. And the school board was freaking unanimous in their decision to let her back on board. Can you believe it?

So, you have a six year old kid in your class who is disruptive of the other kids, and you ask them to vote on whether or not the child should be allowed to stay in. No parental involvement. You don't ask the school clinician. The principal isn't brought on board. You just arbitrarily ask your students to make the decision. I'm sorry but, who is this moron?

If the kid was a distraction because of his clothing, or wheelchair, or burn scars, or speech impediment, or --- God forbid --- skin color, would this teacher have committed the same moronic decision? Hard to say, since it happened once with this child. But I guess worse than her choice was the choice of the school board to --- again I say --- unanimously decide that, sure, she's a great teacher and should be allowed to traipse back into a classroom and be allowed to wield her judgemental opinions on any child that happens through the door.

All this after a judge upheld her loss of tenure! Woe unto any child who doesn't fit this anus' mold (if you can't tell, she's pissed me off). And "teacher"? What is it that she teaches her students? Intolerance? Judgement? Discrimination? Stupidity? The voting process?

Please link this story, post about it, make it known, Tweet and Retweet it...Email (you can get a list of departments by clicking here) or phone the Port St. Lucie school board (772-340-7100 by the way).

Please sound off...let me know what you think! And I'll link your stories back here if you post them, k?

Thanks for indulging me.

~Jon

Autism: Discontinued State Insurance Coverage, continued

I completed the article I mentioned here. It's been submitted to the newspaper serving our state capitol, and I'll let you know if/when they run it. While I manage the progress, I'll be vacant from this blog, but I will post a link to it on "Same Child, Different Day" in the end. If for some reason the deal falls through, I'll try again somewhere else and repeatedly; I will let you know the outcome. At the very least, I will post the article on the "Same Child, Different Day" blog, and my Old Stand-by, Associated Content.

I'll keep you posted.

~Jon

Autism and Bullying

Being bullied as a kid is tough business. It happens too much, and goes equally unreported. Many times the bullying goes on until the victim sees no other choice than to --- well, on this blog, let's just say --- take extreme personal measures. Fortunately however, a significant number decide they don't have to go it alone and elect to talk to a trusted adult. How wonderful when that happens.

What do the victims do to get bullied? They're smaller. Or fatter. Or have red hair. Or wear glasses. They are simply different. {I have to pause here for a moment while I ponder the significance of that word: "different" --- because something about everyone, every single person on this whirling sphere, including that bully, is different --- I've always found that to be curious} What then, when that difference is hand flapping or kooky behavior? Holding your ears and rocking back and forth during the middle of the teacher's lecture: that'll get you taunted on the playground, sure as I'm typing this.

What then, if the same condition that causes you to incessantly gnaw on your shirt sleeve also makes it difficult for you to communicate even your most basic emotion or concern? How as a child with a diminished ability to express your feelings are you supposed to explain to anyone just what's going on every weekday during that twenty minutes outside after lunch?

A friend who writes a family blog encountered just such a moment with her own son (read about it here). So far, their situation has been improving. But I have to sadly imagine that this is not always the case.

When you can barely speak, if at all, and can not communicate in abstract terms, and the ones who make you feel warm and secure live at the end of your six hours away from them, how do you cope with such a situation? Are the surrogates who are supposed to be looking out for you --- when your family can not be there --- looking out for you? Do you feel dread, or do you even comprehend the awful things being said to and/or about you? Maybe that's a benefit of autism for some: the teasing can't get to you, because it means nothing to you.

But just as with the neuro-typical kids playing around those of ours who are autistic, bullies can be cruel. I'm hard to convince that autism is an emotional armor suit against such a barrage. Kids are kids, no matter the shape, color or neurological challenge. And though our son who lives with autism is a year or two away from the potential bullying, this will be our issue tomorrow.

So I'm addressing it today: Do you have an autistic (or any special needs, for that matter) kid? Have you encountered bullying yet? How have you handled it? How has your little loved one handled it?

Please share your comments with us; they are very important. Give us some advice. Let us know what worked for you. We'll visit this subject again very soon.

~Jon

Dealing with Autism in Public: An Open Letter to "That Mom"

A reprint of an article I published on the user-produced site Associated Content

"The other day that mom with the little boy who was making so much commotion in the fast food restaurant noticed you staring at her. He was a handful, wasn't he? His screaming was incessant and the way he was challenging his mother: unacceptable. It's understandable that you would never allow your own child to holler at you like that, or bounce between the booths. You found yourself wondering what would possess her to bring an unruly child like that out into public in the first place.

As your respectful children stood beside you in silence, you wondered when he would just be quiet. And you wondered what kind of mother she must be. If you only knew what that mom wonders.

She wonders what she can do to get him to stop screaming. Sometimes it lasts all day, and lately, it's been almost every day. Then, while you put your kids back in the car, she wonders if he'll keep his seat belt on for the entire ride. You will get them home and they'll head right upstairs to play together nicely. She wonders if he'll decide it's time to begin switching the lights on and off repeatedly, or throw to everything that's on the desk onto the floor.

When your kids fall down, you can ask them where it hurts and they can tell you. It hurts the other mom that all she can do is hold her little boy and wonder when he'll stop crying. Later, while you wonder what story you will read to your child tonight, the mom you know nothing about will once again cry herself to sleep in her husband's arms.

You wonder later why God would give any child to "that kind" of parent, yet she's thankful that God chose her. You judge the stranger based on that one incident, while she wonders why you didn't just ask if you could help. She probably wouldn't have taken it, but she would have appreciated the gesture.

Your four-year-old has mastered the art of conversation. She finds it triumphant that her son mumbles, "go school" and "want eat." You already wonder what your child's high school prom will be like. Meanwhile the other mom wonders when her four-year-old will potty train. You wonder who your little one will marry some day, while the mom with the rambunctious son worries that he may not graduate from high school. You plan to send your child to the best university, and the lady that you never met wonders if she'll have to care for hers as an adult.

While she's not jealous that your kids obey, talk and dream, she does wonder what it would be like to be able to call her son "normal." He is who he is. There's no altering that, and his mother wouldn't change him for the world. But feeling your eyes burn through her melts her soul. She does the best he can, and wonders why you judge them both. She doesn't ask for your sympathy, just your understanding.

Her family puts a lot of time and effort into helping him become the best somebody he can be. You don't see it, but that's all right, because his mom sees it every day. She sees the victories as well as the defeats. You cast your judgment based on the one day you saw the unruly child in public. No one faults you for that, because the other mom used to do the same thing, back before her son's diagnosis. All the mom asks of you today is compassion and consideration.

Tonight, when you tuck your kids into bed, be thankful for the children you have and for who they are. Understand that, while you are getting butterfly kisses from your little angel, there are parents wondering when theirs will be able to say the words, 'I love you.'"

~Jon

Autism Behavior: The Best of Luck

It's nice to see that our autism family support blog has some loyal followers! Same Child, Different Day wouldn't be such a success without all of you, as well as the shy readers who choose to stop by casually, but aren't official followers. I'm happy to have any and all of you stop by, and most of all to provide your wonderful comments.

There are some people however who choose to make comments and ask questions outside of the Same Child, Different Day blog. For instance, a friend saw us in a restaurant the other day and asked how it was that our autistic son was behaving so well.

Before I get to how we answered the question, let me first tell you that Nolan was really behaving well. Our restaurant moments are catch-as-catch-can; many times he can be overwhelmingly impatient for his food to arrive; a typical reaction of those with autism. The chant's of "no, no, no" to every attempt at preoccupation and the drumming of all the flatware simultaneously can be stressing to the most stony nerve.

So the fact that Nolan was giggling softly and drumming only his fork was for us a wonderful time. Couple this with the mom across from us who was having a heck of a time with her two presumably neuro-typical youngsters, and we were practically in Restaurant Heaven.

I think what helped us with Nolan may simply have been that we hadn't waited until the last minute, until he was truly melt-down hungry, to set out to eat. Another thing that has worked immensely for us is a portable DVD player. Now, I'm not a big proponent of TV-babysitting, but in the world of special needs parenting, we don't always want what's right, we sometimes want what's quiet! And when the numbers, letters, shapes and puzzle pieces fail to hold their attention, there are times when an electronic device is just the ticket.

With an autistic child, being prepared before you strike out is your best weapon. And only trial and error (and time) will tell you just what you need for your own preparedness. Sometimes a special blanket will be all you'll need. Other days, a DVD player, coins, a bag of blocks, three puzzles, an old sock, two packages of crackers, a handful of Gummi Bears and Horton hatching an egg won't be enough to ward off the ruckus.

So in a nutshell, luck was the big player in Nolan's well-mannered behavior. And as they say, luck favors those who are best prepared. Now, I know that isn't the flashy, deep, awe-inspiring solution you may have been thinking I would have come up with. It isn't a Dear Abby-esqe answer, even. Maybe I just wasn't prepared for the question.

If you have a comment or suggestion related to your own preparedness with your kiddos, please share with the rest of us. And feel free to offer any sage words of wisdom. I won't mind. And if you'd like to pose a question --- if there's something on your mind related to your kiddo and you'd like an outsider's uneducated opinion --- I'd be glad to take a stab at it.

Just jot me an email, and I'll do my best to post a thought-provoking (or even sarcastically mocking --- I have those, too) answer.

~Jon

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Calling all storytellers!

Phase two of the marketing test for Same Child, Different Day elicits your help once again. As many of you are aware, this family autism support resource is full of our own anecdotes and stories of how Nolan's autism has affected our family directly. But I've realized with the latest promotion that our experiences are only one small part of the story that is autism. Time and again people commented, "When I read your booklet, it was refreshing to see we aren't alone," or "I'm guilty of feeling justified that you experience the same meltdowns we do," and "Thank you for making me realize it's OK to laugh about this condition every once in a while."

You, too have experienced so much in dealing with ASD's, that I would love to hear from you, as well. And I'd love for you to share your thoughts and experiences with all of us, with the ultimate goal of telling the world what we have to say.

If you are comfortable with it, and in your "spare" time, please feel free to comment below or email me with your own "Spectrum" stories. Not as an invasion of privacy or morbid voyeurism; rather this is a chance to celebrate your loved ones and show them off in front of the world! Parents love to brag about their kids and now's your chance.

Share something funny, something frustrating, something prideful or something quirky. Did you have an awkward but amusing run-in in public? Maybe we did, too! Does your loved one living with autism have a funny trait? No need to be embarrassed or devastated by it; brag about it now! Here's your chance to tell everyone how frustrating that stim is, while at the same time admitting that you have laughed about it behind closed doors. I am not asking any of us to make fun of our loved ones --- oh goodness, no! Instead this is an opportunity to include them in mainstream life --- a chance to show off the fact that, just as they are as different as chocolate and vanilla, they are equally just like everyone else.

And if sharing your name is an awkward proposition, no worries! If you ask me to, I'll honor your request for confidentiality and anonymity. Just keep in mind that the final intent is to present your snippets in print.

I have a saying: "Doctors keep people alive, but storytellers keep CIVILIZATIONS alive." I think there's a message there somewhere. Anyhow...

...thanks a lot and Happy Storytelling.

~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

Same Child, Different Day: A Little Something for You

The last official chapter in this autism support booklet is "A Little Something For You". The entire point of this final labeled section is: 'Never loose contact with yourself.'

Your time as the parent of a child with special needs --- in this case, autism --- will mostly be devoid of "me time". So when you get free moments, take full advantage of them. It sounds so simple, yet it gets forgotten so easily. You can not take care of your child if you can't take care of you first.

You will feel guilty about it too; that's inevitable. But this chapter briefly lets you know that forgiveness of yourself above all others is paramount.

It's also useless to blame yourself for this sudden life-altering circumstance as well. Instead, celebrate the successes as they come. And remember, we're all here for you --- you are not alone and always have someone you can turn to. Always.

~ 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