[KristynMichelle]

NEW MISSION FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS:

Please help me spread autism awareness. There are SO many great causes out there but this one tends to get overlooked. 1 in 150 kids has autism That is a staggering amount! 1 is also my son Collin. Take a few min to look at the video and spread it on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD3bpjnf1Js

XO

[pisces]

Okay look.

I also have a son who is autistic, and trust me, I feel your grief and understand your desire to spread the world about autism. However, I do not understand why you feel the need to use your own child... to me, having a kid with autism a double edged sword, and there might have been a time when I would use my child in the manner you have, but I would not know, and I find it tactless, regardless of your intentions.

[KristynMichelle]

NEW MISSION FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS:

Please help me spread autism awareness. There are SO many great causes out there but this one tends to get overlooked. 1 in 150 kids has autism That is a staggering amount! 1 is also my son Collin. Take a few min to look at the video and spread it on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD3bpjnf1Js

XO

Wow! That was NEVER my intention! My son is my life! I would NEVER use my son for anything! I made that video to show how far he has overcome and to help spread awareness. I dont understand why you are turning it around. I am so sorry you feel that way. I have had nothing but positive feedback.

[Iffy]

Honestly Pisces - I find nothing wrong with posting the video or opening this thread to raise more awareness for autism. And - I think there's no harm done showing her son being an autist.

[IndegoAfrica]

Honestly Pisces - I find nothing wrong with posting the video or opening this thread to raise more awareness for autism. And - I think there's no harm done showing her son being an autist.

Well said Iffy.
I am all for raising awareness, and reducing ignorance.
If one person, maybe in a similar position, sees the video and realises that autism is not the end of the world, then it's all good I say.

[tcbbaby]

Props to you Kristyn! I know it's a tough job raising a child with autism. Takes a special kind of person to deal with that kind of situation. Stay strong! Pay no mind to negativity! GOD BLESS MOMMIES OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN!!!

[Iffy]

Well said Iffy.
I am all for raising awareness, and reducing ignorance.
If one person, maybe in a similar position, sees the video and realises that autism is not the end of the world, then it's all good I say.

- so true IndegoAfrica

I just want to point out to everyone who might be reading this thread now or in the future, that it is a product of a very interesting, lovely and meaningful conversation some some of us had yesterday in the 30STM chatroom.

We have all some kind of relation to austim - being parents, relatives or therapist for someone with an autism syndrom.
Me - I'm an occupational therapist working with a child with Asperger syndrom as a school assistent for hours on a daily basis. So my point of view is from the professional side of it, but I'm also a mother (although my son is no autist and he's already an adult).

Opening this thread is a result of our urge to raise more awareness towards autism - not just to 30STM or their fans, but to use this thread to discuss what we can do to bring more attention towards the subject on a larger scale - maybe in combination with the glyph mission or anything else.

[pasiphae9]

I have mild Aspergers Syndrome.
It can make things...awkward when I want to do something, but for some reason I can't let myself, or explain why. That in turn makes things difficult with life in general...
Hmm. Sometimes I wonder if I should get some kind of help, but I don't think I need it because its only mild. But then again, it is still afgecting me. So I'm not sure


Thats my tiny contribution to this thread.

[IndegoAfrica]

I have mild Aspergers Syndrome.
It can make things...awkward when I want to do something, but for some reason I can't let myself, or explain why. That in turn makes things difficult with life in general...
Hmm. Sometimes I wonder if I should get some kind of help, but I don't think I need it because its only mild. But then again, it is still afgecting me. So I'm not sure


Thats my tiny contribution to this thread.

Pasiphae9! Well done for speaking up and out!

Love ya chick!

[KristynMichelle]

I have mild Aspergers Syndrome.
It can make things...awkward when I want to do something, but for some reason I can't let myself, or explain why. That in turn makes things difficult with life in general...
Hmm. Sometimes I wonder if I should get some kind of help, but I don't think I need it because its only mild. But then again, it is still afgecting me. So I'm not sure


Thats my tiny contribution to this thread.

God bless you sweetie! You are a VERY special person Dont ever let anyone make you fell different! If you feel you need help dont be scared to get it. Speaking up and asking for help only makes you stronger and more brave then anyone else! XO

[HipMomster]

pasiphae, my son has mild asperger's as well. He usually doesn't like to let people know and i think it's great you spoke up!

Sometimes i *have* to say it depending on the situation and then i have to explain to him afterwards why i mentioned it. i.e., we were at the dr's office the other day to take x-rays of his teeth, and sometimes certain sounds or you know "sensations" can bother him and i wanted the technician to be aware of that. so i slipped the receptionist a note and told her not to tell him outright - to slip the note to the technician. because he is so *mild* it is hard to detect - other than when he starts talking a lot, and his speech is a little "slow."

i haven't watched your video yet, krystyn but i have to say you are brave to post something like this *here". this forum could be really brutal.

[pasiphae9]

pasiphae, my son has mild asperger's as well. He usually doesn't like to let people know and i think it's great you spoke up!

Ah, I'm an attention seeker at heart, what can I say? Love to your son

Pasiphae9! Well done for speaking up and out!

Love ya chick!

God bless you sweetie! You are a VERY special person Dont ever let anyone make you fell different! If you feel you need help dont be scared to get it. Speaking up and asking for help only makes you stronger and more brave then anyone else! XO

Thanks. I kind of like being different though, so I'm pretty happy to stay that way. I heard that Aspergers has pros as well as cons, mentally speaking.
Love to your son too, btw.

[KristynMichelle]

pasiphae, my son has mild asperger's as well. He usually doesn't like to let people know and i think it's great you spoke up!

Sometimes i *have* to say it depending on the situation and then i have to explain to him afterwards why i mentioned it. i.e., we were at the dr's office the other day to take x-rays of his teeth, and sometimes certain sounds or you know "sensations" can bother him and i wanted the technician to be aware of that. so i slipped the receptionist a note and told her not to tell him outright - to slip the note to the technician. because he is so *mild* it is hard to detect - other than when he starts talking a lot, and his speech is a little "slow."

i haven't watched your video yet, krystyn but i have to say you are brave to post something like this *here". this forum could be really brutal.

Well thanks but trust me I almost had Helio delete this! After the first response I got I though "uh oh What have I got my self into!" But after some great friends calmed me down and assured me I was doing the right thing I decided to keep this up and going. If people are that ignornant by being so cruel as to say I am exploiting my son then they just dont "get it" ya know. I am doing this for my son! Thank you for everyones kind words and support! Keep it up XO

[platinum_noose]

Thank you for posting this.

Although my youngest daughter (3) hasn't been formally diagnosed, we're in the process of having her evaluated. If she is, in fact, on the spectrum, she's obviously very high-functioning and she didn't have a speech delay, but she has some very Asperger's-like challenges (particularly in social situations and with transitions which lead to anger/anxiety/aggression along with some mild sensory issues). Right now they're leaning more towards an anxiety disorder/personality disorder, but I don't feel like they're seeing the whole picture and it's frustrating. I "get" her, and I'm figuring out what makes her tick and how to help her cope and in turn helping her figure out herself so she can take that with her when she's on her own, but it feels like it's a never-ending process. I guess I was naive to think that seeking outside help was going to magically make things easier. I've really been disappointed...no one has suggested anything that I haven't already thought of myself.

She's such an amazing kid...brilliant, vivid imagination, wonderful sense of humor, caring, loving...but she has some real challenges and it's hard. It's who she is and I'm fine with that, but I wish everyone "got" her like we do. Maybe with this kind of awareness, one more person will.

[Lola82]

Kristyn, I'm sooo happy that you got this thread running!!!
I find it truly inspirirng that you're showing people who have kids with autism and us who know very little about it, how positive things can be. Normally when one is introduced to something like autism, you only hear the bad things...so i'm happy this thread came up!

Lola (FragileBubble on Kyte/Twitter )

[Arantxa]

Kristyn you im with you in everything you can need, my support is always ... i have contact with autism child everyday in the hospital and other kind of kids, who doesnt have all the support they need. People have to know what is about and stop been so ignorant ..
god bless your son.. is a beautiful kid.

[fusion]

I am aware of autism. Shit happens. There are far worse things in the world...like being dead. Being dead would suck.

[fusion]

Yeah, really.