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Saturday, May 21, 2011

MORE IPAD APPS SUITABLE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS!

MORE IPAD APPS SUITABLE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS!


Crazy Face Lite: Crazy Face Lite encourages shy students to speak more often, and is great with students who have trouble speaking.


Autism Timer: This app offers a digital timer for students with autism.



Awareness!: Awareness allows students to listen to their surroundings while also playing games, watching a video, and more.




Which Does Not Belong: This app will help your learner discriminate which items don’t belong in a group and encourage vocal imitation.



Talkulator: Talkulator can help students with visual problems count and do arithmetic.




Read2Me: Read2Me will import a text file and read it aloud to weaker readers.


All Available on ITunes.
Have fun playing!


Thursday, May 19, 2011

ONE STEP AT A TIME......

ONE STEP AT A TIME.



It's been one of those weeks.  The kind when you wish you never got out of bed on Monday morning, which seems like a life-time ago. I knew it was going to be busy, but was not expecting the rise and fall of emotion, stress and exhaustion, that has followed.
This week I have been in and out of meetings, appointments and counselling trying to keep the ASD scales balanced between my two sons.  For once things seem to be quite stable with my eldest. Everything is positive besides the continued hormonal, limit pushing of parental boundaries that all teenagers tend to assert.  What is especially worth noting here is talent and skill behind the timing of the whole "limit pushing" behaviour.  Do they have an in-built radar to hone in at the absolute worst time to test your boundaries ?  Anyway I shouldn't be to harsh on him.... he is a really great kid. I am extremely blessed and grateful to have such an amazing son.... in all his adolescent glory.
Now the youngest little man, is sailing along in his own little world, oblivious to the swirling waters that are circling around him.  I have been listening to various specialists, doctors and teachers about my child. Hearing recommendations and advice, listening to the pros and cons of various treatments, risks associated with his upcoming tonsillectomy, the need for another EEG to investigate his seizure type behaviours, recommendations for physiotherapy to help relieve the tightening in his ankles and calf muscles from his subsequent toe-walking and the "cake-topper"... possibly addressing his behavioural issues at school with medication.  So much information and so many decisions that I need to make.  Honestly it clouds my judgement and I find it difficult to see anything clearly.
This load to carry is quite a lot. It affects my sleep, energy levels.... everything. In fact the draining feeling you get just from thinking all the time.... can bring you down.... taking a toll on your physical and mental health.  My sister has been hot on my tail, checking in with me everyday trying to keep me focused and strong. She does her best, reassuring me and shielding me from harsh judgements. I wish this was all it took to snap me out of my "funk", and it does help...believe me....family and friend support is so important when in these types of situations. But at the end of the day, I know it is up to me. 

I will need to make the final decisions, I have to wear the brunt of my choices and I have to pull myself up, ready to face another day. I know I can get through this eventually. 

 I am sure she will not mind.... but my sister did pass on some great advice that I am going to follow.... "One step at a time, one hour at a time...one day at a time."
These seas can't stay rough for too much longer. The storm will pass and we will be sailing on the calm waters once again. I guess I just need to take my sister's advice, hold onto my faith, believe and be patient.... (not my strong point but I am trying.)
I think I need to symbolise the challenges that I can overcome.... a visual reminder.  May need to ponder on that for a while and see what I can come up with.
So here's to another new day.....

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

It's a Wipeout!

It's a WipeOut!

One word to describe today.....
"WipeOut" - Ouch !


More later... my head hurts!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Mondayitis

Mondayitis


Aggghhhh... Monday again.  Is anyone else finding this year is just slipping by ?
Monday morning..... time to be positive for another week of my young son coping with the daily challenges that face him.  I wonder how he will do ?  I'm tired!..... feeling drained from hearing about the struggles day in, day out, at school. His teacher is supportive but it is still hard to hear about his disruptive behaviours.
I wish he would just settled and stop challenging authority!  I wonder who he gets that from!

Anyway time to organise myself and get ready to face a brand new day...... now where did I leave that "smile".......!
Got it... now onto the morning ritual.  Start the positive thinking.... he'll be O.k..... he'll be O.k...... I know he will be O.k.    Dang!  I have just glanced at my monthly calendar. This is depressing !  So many appointments... so many places to get to.... I wonder if I just hid in my bedroom, that anyone would really notice that I wasn't around?  The eldest might... when he needs a lift to school.... the youngest certainly wouldn't starve. He has been helping himself to food in the pantry for years!    Hmmmmmm....... better get my act together.  It's Monday morning, the sun is shining and it's the start of a new week.
Time to cross my fingers, toes, legs and arms... hoping and praying we can get through the next few days fairly unscathed.


A Champion Effort Raised for Autism Queensland.


A Champion Effort Raised for Autism Queensland.

Last Friday my eldest son organised a Dress Differently Day at his School to raise awareness of Autism and much needed funds to support Autism Queensland.
As his Mum, I was extremely proud. He made posters on his computer, organised the printing, addressed two school assemblies discussing a very personal issue.... "his brother", and how important it is to be aware of Autism. Not only is it extremely difficult for a child with confidence issues to stand in front of hundreds of his peers, but to send a message....  with such determination and passion on NOT JUDGING those who seem different..... rather to accept, is absolutely inspiring.

When the day finally arrived, my two treasures donned their "different-clothing"....
  
and marched themselves off to school.  What surprised me most, was even my youngest who doesn't cope extremely well with change... wore two different socks... just to be like his brother.  Honestly the admiration and love you see in my child's face when he looks up at his older brother .... is just beautiful!  When we arrived at school, I was quite humbled by the display before me.  All the children were wearing "different clothes", all the teachers were dressed differently.... absolutely everybody!  Each child made a donation...  to participate, raising over $600 to donate towards Autism Queensland.  It was a massive success and a wonderful effort by everyone at All Saints.  I was so excited and so over-whelmed to see our school, joining together, for such an important cause.

I can tell most of you, when you live with the Autism Spectrum, no matter how many family members or friends you have in support, it is still a very lonely battle.  I say this because at the end of all the words, at the end of the visits.... all that is left is you... you and your children for every minute of every day, constantly reminded and living with the struggles that are Autism.  No one really understands what it is like to deal with this disability unless you actually have children who are Autistic. Some may get a glimpse, when looking after them, but unless it is YOUR life.... no-one can possibly, truly, understand.  I think this is why it is so important to spread the awareness of raising, living and having Autism/Asperger's Syndrome. Unless we have the courage to tell the truth, to respect yourself and your family enough to say how it really is, then the doors to acceptance and compassion are indeed closed. There is no reason for families to feel embarrassed or ashamed of their children's behaviour or how they need to live their lives.  With statistics of children affected by Autism on the rise every day, answers for a brighter future lie with sharing knowledge, understanding and awareness.