Learning To Live And Love Autism

Learning styles of Individuals with Autism - Autism Awareness Month

       

Learning styles of Individuals with Autism - Autism Awareness Month from Karina Barley - M.Ed.

I love quotes and to find this Slideshare full of great quotes was exhilarating and put a fire under me that helps me focus on the big picture which is getting Jacob to the point in his life where he is as happy as he can be as well as independent as possible. As you read each quote, stop for one or two minutes and think deeply about how that quote effects you and your family. Find a place deep in you to use that quote and make it yours, make it your child's; then forge on. FORGE ON!

Autism 101 by ASNV (Last updated June 2015)

     

Autism 101 by ASNV (Last updated June 2015) from AutismNOVA

Tips for Mom, Dad, and Extended Family and Friends

1. The first tip is to accept your child. Love your child. Accept him or her for their differences - not disabilities. They are the same child they were before you heard the "dreaded word Autism". We are ALL different, meaning that your child has the potential to grow over time with proper medical evaluations and the best treatments for him or her.

There are many emotions you will be having at this time. You may need to go through the grieving process straight away. That is NORMAL and OKAY! We all go through it and sometimes as they grow bigger, we will slip back into it for a bit. The stages of the grieving process include shock, sadness, anger, denial, feeling lonely, and ultimately you will be accepting. However, then you need to pull your bootstraps up and get to work. All members of the family and friends will go through the grieving process differently. The most important thing is to realize that each of you are still in mourning and none of you are doing it the "right way". There is NO right way. You have now become your child's biggest advocate, friend, fighter, mom, dad, friends, family, etc. 

Project Heart Touch - Finding Support on Your Autism Journey

      

Project Heart Touch - Finding Support on Your Autism Journey from Jodi Murphy

There are many emotions you will be having at this time. You may need to go through the grieving process straight away. That is NORMAL and OKAY! We all go through it and sometimes as they grow bigger, we will slip back into it for a bit. The stages of the grieving process include shock, sadness, anger, denial, feeling lonely, and ultimately you will be accepting. However, then you need to pull your bootstraps up and get to work. All members of the family and friends will go through the grieving process differently. The most important thing is to realize that each of you are still in mourning and none of you are doing it the "right way". There is NO right way. You have now become your child's biggest advocate, friend, fighter, mom, dad, friends, family, etc.

Jacob's College Ambitions

Jacob's Thoughts on Exceptional Minds

I am not 17 years old and I am going to be a senior at North Star High School. After that, I want to go to college. My mom found a college that would help me and it's a college that I would love to go. It's a college for people with Autism and they help them learn animation, graphic design, Adobe certification  and more. To be honest, I would love to go. It seems like a great place to go and it can help me with my dreams of becoming an animator. I looked at the website and I feel that I would enjoy my experience there. I admit there's probably going to be classes that I won't understand or like, but I think some of those classes might be necessary to help me. It is located in California and while I am nervous if I was to move there, I think it would be an enlightening feeling. 

It would be an experience that I would enjoy. I feel excited that I have the opportunity to go to a college that can help  me. They have been to several places like Disney, VFX studios, Dolby-Digital and more. Their graduates helped make Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. they take their time with students and most are summer students. Surprisingly, the graduating class of 2014 had 5 students in it. 

Exceptional mids is a technical school that lasts three years, but I think it would be worth it. They have caring teachers that understand the needs of the students and are willing to help them with whatever problem they can solve that can help the student.

I feel that it is the right place for me for several reasons. One, it will help me get the job that I want and have always dreamed of. Two, it can show me a new culture of a state I have never been to while expanding my horizons. And finally, it will be an environment that is comfortable to me and will help me improve my skills in leadership and my social skills.

They don't just help with getting skills for your job requirements. They can help with, as I said, getting you adjusted to a leadership role and to help with your social skills. They are even willing to employ you as part of an actual studio if you can't find a job when you graduate. I think this school would be perfect for me and I will do anything that is necessary to get in. It seems like an all around good school and I hope that I will enjoy getting to meet new people and master my craft. It would be an honor to go to Exceptional Minds. That is what I think and feel about college right now.

This is Phoenix, signing off.

Early Birthday With Brianna!

"Some wonderful pictures of my miracle baby this past weekend with his girlfriend, Bri!" 

Just wanted to show off some pictures I made from this past weekend. Jacob's birthday is on December 22, 2014 and he will be 17 years old. I never wanted him to feel anything other than the special and miraculous birth that he was.

Jacob's pregnancy was anything but "normal". I was on bed rest from five weeks pregnant. I had started bleeding and they were worried I was going to miscarry again. Jacob's father and I had already lost four babies. I took all the medicine they told me I needed and yet, still, we lost all four. 

Jacob was different though. He was special even before he was born. He was a fighter inside of me just like he is the protector of me now.

I  had to be on bed rest and see my doctor three times a week. I do not know how I would have made it through all of it without the help of ex-husband's mother, Judy, his sister, Jean and my niece, Krista. Jean would let Kris skip school to come and "take care of Aunt Holley" since she made honor roll all the time anyway. They were there for me through the whole thing. They would laugh, cry, eat, play Phase 10 or Rummy and anything else to get my mind off of what we all knew it was on. I, thought, of course, I am going to lose this baby too. 

Jean was so funny. She always is. We had been at her house the night before I found out I was pregnant with Jacob playing cards and having a great time. My ex and I had decided to stop trying to get pregnant. We had a great time playing cards that night. I will NEVER forget some of the stories that have been re-hashed over the years (I still feel so sorry for Sean's poor little feet).

Our Family Journey Overcoming Autism

Jacob and I started this blog over a year ago to track a treatment we were trying called Mendability. I HIGHLY recommend this program if your child is on the spectrum and is younger in age. Jacob did not do well with the program because he is older. Their studies have, to my knowledge, focused on early intervention. Things may have changed as they found older kids that Mendability was suited for; however, it just was not for Jacob.

Therefore, I let the blog sit here and showed it as part of my web designing business. Recently, we, as a family, have been through some things that have made me want to start blogging about Autism and Asperger’s. Jacob was diagnosed with Asperger’s but with assistance will overcome his battles with Autism. Do we look for a cure?

Simply – NO!