XML FeedsWow... what happened?
By palmer76 on Jan 7, 2010 | In Announcements | Send feedback »
Heavy snow last night led to a snow day for all three of the kids today. Guess what disrupting their normal schedule does?
It is absolutely crazy here today. Kids screaming and jumping and running. They say "silence is golden but duct tape is silver." It makes sense now...
On a more serious note, I hope everyone is having a safe day today and staying inside where it is warm. Keep your chin up and listen for the sound of my sanity snapping. 
Travis new achievements
By palmer76 on Dec 22, 2009 | In Announcements | Send feedback »
Travis participated in his schools Christmas Pageant last Thursday night. It was really a great performance. You could tell he was nervous but he did really well. As soon as I get some pictures uploaded, I will post them to the blog.
It was really amazing to watch how he interacted with his classmates. He tried to keep up with all the dance routines but he had a little trouble. Marc sat in the back of the hall and kept doing the dances with him so he could look out and get a cue on the next step.
He even had a couple of brief speaking parts, which was really cool that he was included.
On a seperate note, he had another new achievement yesterday. He drew a picture of a cat and in very neat lettering wrote the word cat above it. It may not sound like much to you and I but, for Travis, this was a huge achievement. We are very proud of him.
Parent training is vital for autistic children
By palmer76 on Nov 29, 2009 | In Announcements | Send feedback »
http://www.leecountytimes.com/parent-training-helps-children-with-autism/
A recent study shows that autistic children need more than just medication. A study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which was part of the NIMH Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network, was published in the December 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Children involved in the study were divided into two groups. One group received drug treatment and the other group received a combination of drug treatment and parental training. The parents of the second group of children attended 11 training sessions over the course of the 24 week study.
While both groups showed improvement over the course of the study, the children whose parents went through the training sessions showed greater improvement.
What does this tell us? Your children need you to participate in their therapy. By taking an active part in their therapy, you will greatly increase their chances at making progress. It may be difficult to keep up with doctors visits, counseling appointments and parental training. It's sometimes hard to find time to fit these things into your schedule. But it is very important to your children and their future. Make the time and be a big part of your childs care.
Another First for Travis
By palmer76 on Nov 21, 2009 | In Announcements | Send feedback »
Travis lost his first tooth this evening. He is very proud.
Kudos to the British Government
By palmer76 on Nov 17, 2009 | In Announcements | Send feedback »
In the first ever law that pertains specifically to improving conditions for autistic individuals, the Parliament of the UK has come to the aid of nearly half a million autistic people in the UK. By passing the Autism Law, Parliament has changed the face of health care in the Uk by providing legal repercussions for health and social care providers who fail to provide proper support for people on the autistic spectrum.
This is an awesome advance. Hopefully, the U.S. law makers can learn from their example.
