Finally! A new perspective...

[JungleWoman]

... being shown by the media on the JOYS of autism.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/04/01/autism.ireports/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

You can listen to the parents tell the stories themselves on the right hand side. The first one really was one that warmed my heart because she taught her son how to hug. I remember Aaron HATING being touched, but I was greiving so much, all I could do was hold him, even though he didnt want to be held. Eventally he relented and started hugging and kissing and loving just about everyone :D

It was a good thing to watch-- check it out.

[milivica]

I watched them all, the first one especially, wow, very emotional story.

The thing I noticed throughout the videos, and notice every time I hear about the 'JOY' of autism, is the joy being celebrated is never autism related. Does that make sense?

I mean obviously I've never heard a parent celebrate self abusive behavior, being nonverbal, not being able to be touched, the emotional disconnect between them self and their child, or between their child and the world.

I so totally don't want to be a thread killer so please let me know what you think, but my two cents is there is NO JOY about AUTISM, only about the overcoming of it.

[JungleWoman]

this is true, mil!

People hurl magazines and studies in my direction that are inherently dark and has all the horror and implies your life will be nothing short of ruined if autism is in the mix in any way. I never read them anymore.

I like coming to a positive place and talking to you all about poop smearing and reading that it WILL get better and I like reading about Vince telling the Goodwill clerk that he wasnt going to tell her she had a moustach because that's not polite-- CRACK ME UP!

I like the positives in LIGHT of the negatives autism DOES bring to the table.

Check this out:

Today I kicked Aryeh, Noah, and Victoria outside because its a beautiful day and it's spring break. I kept hearing "Mom!"-- I thought it was Noah talking into the window-- NO! It was my NONVERBAL kid calling out for me!!! OMG!!

The overcoming is surely the bright and shining star, Mil!! I believe that the parents speaking on those videos were probably letting the world know that It's not all bad like the media almost always says it is :)

You didnt come close to killin the thread Mil!!

[milivica]

OH my jaw just dropped when you said that about Aaron calling out for you, oh how wonderful! That is fantastic :D :D :D

I don't even know where I heard this one, it's one of those stories that's funny if it's not your kid....some woman was visiting her friend who had a young autistic son. Let's say his name is Sam. She kept hearing a weird noise, sort of like bacon sizzling, followed by a loud POP. After hearing it twice, she asked her friend what it was, the friend said, "Oh that's just Sam, he discovered if he pees on a light bulb, they'll go pop".

:eek:

I was rolling, not funny, yet omg beyond too funny.

I still say there is no JOY in autism, nothing to celebrate...what our kids are is though of course, especially every ounce of my kid that can shine through the 'disconnect' autism is, and connect with me and the world. Anything hysterical Vince did cause of autism (which, he certainly has) he could have done as a toddler, ya know? Guess I'm down on that gosh darn autism...naturally I'd feel this way during Autism Awareness month (yet more proof I'm still apsie, hee hee).