Blogs

From Lori McIlwain, National Autism Association

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
A Tribute to JoAnne Pike

I believe that to be a leader, you must have more hope in your heart than fear. Fear won’t allow you to take a stand without reluctance, or speak without anticipated rejection. It won’t give you an original point of view, or allow you to remain unapologetic. It will only make you believe that change is too difficult, and that no human life is valuable enough to initiate it.

Jo Pike never had fear in her heart, only hope.

It's been awhile. Things have been stagnant with our son. Most things have been in "maintenance" mode with everything in our lives lately including our son. I am lucky to have things to maintain. It provides me with work. I have had several friends ask me if they could help me because they are out of work. So I know I am lucky just to have work. We all need some work. I often what if any work my son may be capable of in the future.

It's been awhile. Things have been stagnant with our son. Most things have been in "maintenance" mode with everything in our lives lately including our son. I am lucky to have things to maintain. It provides me with work. I have had several friends ask me if they could help me because they are out of work. So I know I am lucky just to have work. We all need some work. I often what if any work my son may be capable of in the future.

This is America
I wrote a piece for our newsletter last week (see below) and the more I thought about it the more I realized there is going to be a growing global flash point between pharma blowhards and parents.

Before getting to the bigger picture in subsequent blogs and newsletters let’s have a final look at Ms. Fisher-of-the-UK. As mentioned, in the newsletter, Ms. Fisher decided it would be “okay” to continue the campaign of terror, which originated in the U.K., against Dr. Wakefield in America.

Mia’s Journey with the Verbal Behavior Approach

I am happy to announce a series of you tube clips that I posted a few days ago that may make getting started with the Verbal Behavior Approach a little easier for both parents and professionals! There are now three short (6-8 minute) You Tube clips on the assessment and beginning ABA/VB intervention for Mia, a 2 year old girl recently diagnosed with PDD-NOS.

To Vaccinate Your Teenage Girl, Teenage Boy, Yourself ...Or not?

As soon as a teenage girl walks into her pediatrician’s office, he will suggest another vaccination, to be delivered through a series of shots spaced out over six months. This time the vaccine is Gardasil, intended to protect her from being infected by the human papilloma virus, HPV, which might cause cervical cancer later in life.

On balance, is this series of vaccinations a good idea? Is it safe? Is it worth the possible side effects?

www.refresheverything.com/acttodayformilitaryfamilies.

Help our friends at ACT Today! provide funds to children with autism by voting today and every day this month. Their IDEA is in the running for $250,000 from Pepsi Refresh. ACT Today is currently ranked at #14 -- help get ACT Today! in the top 2 to win!!

Goals

* Fund therapy for military children with autism through grants.
* Raise $850,000 to distribute in grants.
* Create awareness that military children need more access to treatment.

Susan Delaine -- a passionate mother of a son with autism and numerous food allergies -- developed a gluten-free and dairy-free diet which, combined with healing arts, positively affected his dietary health, as well as his emotional and mental well-being.

Special Announcement:

Buy " The Autism Cookbook” from Amazon.com TODAY

to receive the following amazing bonuses for FREE!!

• FREE digital copy of Cutting-edge Therapies for Autism by Ken Siri and Tony Lyons" . It's a 528 page encyclopedia for parents of children with autism.

Well my little Daniel has had a fun and busy week. He has been very chirpy during the day, with lots of running up and down the living room smiling and cuddling his teddy bear. He has also continued to enjoy going out in the garden quite a bit. But his sleep is terrible at the moment! We have resorted to breaking out the Melatonin again to try and maintain some sanity in the household. Daniel was sleeping so little that he was waking up in the morning with what looked like two black eyes where he was so tired, bless him. And he will never sleep during the day. No matter how tired he may be.