SPECIAL Families of Pierce County

Summer Activity Ideas

2012-02-11T13:38:00.000-08:00

Please join us for the March SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Topic: Summer Activity Ideas

Speaker: Various, to be announced

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, 1 mile off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Date: Monday, March 5th

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Email me with any questions at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Behavioral Engagement: How to Structure Continuity Between Home and School

2012-01-16T10:23:00.000-08:00

Please join us for the February SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Topic: Behavioral Engagement: How to Structure Continuity Between Home and School

Speaker: Julie Schrag, Special Needs Strategist at AutismPathways

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, 1 mile off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Date: Monday, February 6th

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Email me with any questions at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Bullying and the special needs child

2011-12-28T02:39:00.000-08:00

Please join us for the January SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

Remember, the meeting is postponed 1 week due to the New Years holiday!

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interes...ted parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Topic: Bullying and the special needs child

Speaker: Dr. Steve Becker, Becker & Associates

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, 1 mile off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Date: Monday, January 9th

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Email me with any questions at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Raw & Gluten-Free Holiday Menu Ideas

2011-10-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the November SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Topic: Raw & Gluten-Free Holiday Menu Ideas

Speaker: Renee LaCoste, Raw Foods Chef & Gluten-Free Specialist

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, 1 mile off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Date: Monday, November 7th

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Email me with any questions at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Sensational Santa 2011!

2011-10-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

Sensational Santa is a sensory-friendly Santa portrait experience for families with special needs children. No more waiting in lines! Your child will meet Santa in a supported environment at their own designated time.

We are excited to announce the 2nd annual Sensational Santa will have 2 dates this year - November 19th and December 3rd!

AAC Devices: High-tech, low-tech, and everything in-between

2011-09-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the October SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Topic: AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) Devices: High-tech, low-tech, and everything in-between

Speaker: David Pozolinski, AAC Services Manager at CLASS, Inc.

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, 1 mile off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Date: Monday, October 3rd

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Email me with any questions at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Our Big Announcement

2011-08-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the September SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

There will be a BIG announcement for our group and we will follow with a discussion.

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

We will resume our regular speaker schedule in October.

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, 1 mile off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Date: Monday, September 12th

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

If you have library resources checked out, please bring them with you. Email me with any questions at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Fundraiser Garage Sale

2011-07-14T00:15:00.000-07:00

ONE DAY ONLY - Saturday, August 6th!

9:00am – 3:00pm

Off of Cirque Dr. W. & 79th Ave. Ct. W. in University Place

Help us raise money for SPECIAL Families of Pierce County so that we can help families with special needs children!

To donate items for the sale or to volunteer at this event, please contact Angela at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

If you cannot attend but wish to donate, please click on the Donate button on the right-hand toolbar of our blog.

Thanks for your support!

Summer Family Social Saturday

2011-07-14T00:10:00.000-07:00

Join us at 10am on August 6th for some play time with the families of SFPC at Bradley Lake Park in Puyallup (located behind the South Hill Walmart)!

FYI - I'll be leaving a bit early so that I can go help out at our fundraising garage sale. If you have time, stop by the sale! See the next blog entry for all the info.

And, don't forget that we will not have a regular meeting in August. We'll resume our regular meeting schedule in September on the 12th.

Parent Snack & Share

2011-06-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the July SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting! The meeting will be postponed by one week in observance of the July 4th holiday.

Bring a snack and join us for an informal chat among parents.

If able, please bring an item to donate to the group - like a book for the lending library or an item to sell on eBay to raise money for group expenses.

**PLEASE NOTE**

We will be having a fundraising garage sale (date TBA for late July/early August) and I would appreciate any donations you might have that can be sold with the intent to help raise money. Feel free to bring items for the garage sale with you to the meeting.

If you would like to volunteer to help at the garage sale, please email me at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

I will not be bringing any library selections or new member binders this month.

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Date: Monday, July 11th

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Email me with any questions at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Gluten-Free & Raw Foods Cooking Demo

2011-05-16T14:16:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the June SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Topic: Gluten-Free & Raw Foods Cooking Demo

Speaker: Renee LaCoste, Raw Foods Chef & Gluten-Free Specialist

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center

3005 112th St E., Tacoma

(at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Date: Monday, June 6th

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Email me with any questions at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Don't forget to check out Renee's blog and find her on Facebook.

Managing Behaviors with a Token Economy System

2011-04-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the May SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

Topic: Managing Behaviors with a Token Economy System

Speaker: Dr. Penelope Zindt, DC

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Date: Monday, May 2nd

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Email me with any questions at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Financial Planning Aspects of Special Needs Trusts

2011-03-11T21:48:00.000-08:00

Please join us for the April SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

Topic: Financial Planning Aspects of Special Needs Trusts

Speakers: Matthew Robertson, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney & Michael Wiggins, Assure Estate Planning

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Date: Monday, April 11th (postponed one week for Spring Break)

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Email me with any questions at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. Hope to see you on Monday, April 11th!

Summer Activity Ideas

2011-02-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

Please join us for the March SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

Topic: Summer Activity Ideas

Speakers include representatives from: Easter Seals Camp Stand By Me, Pierce County Parks & Recreation Companionship Program, Metro Parks Tacoma Specialized Recreation

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center

3005 112th St E., Tacoma

(at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

When: Monday, March 7th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Hope to see you there!

Rally on Capitol steps in Olympia - Fri. 2/18, 10am-1pm

2011-02-17T22:37:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine, and fellow SFPC parent, is trying to draw attention to Shayan's Law. The deadline for it to get voted out of committee is Monday! It is stays in committee, it's dead...again. She's organized a last-minute rally tomorrow! Read below for the details.

-Angela Fish

For more information about Shayan's Law, visit http://www.washingtonautismadvocacy.org/
__________________________

Hi,

As many of you are aware, Senate bill 5059 (Shayan's Law) for autism insurance parity will die in the Health Committee by the end of the day this Monday, Feb 21st. I am getting together a grassroots group of parents, friends and family that will meet on the Capitol steps tomorrow 2/18 from 10-1pm for a demonstration in support of the bill and to urge Senator Karen Keiser, Chair of the Health Committee to put the bill to a vote immediately.

Please join me and others in support of the thousands of children with autism that receive no therapy due to insurance coverage denial. Let's all wear red to look unified and stand out and also bring signs (I've heard handmade ones are the most effective! :) I will also try to bring some extra signs, too. It's also really effective to bring photos of your child 5X7 or larger--it doesn't even have to be a current photo.

Even if you can only come for part of the time, (during lunch etc.) please try to come and support the bill. Please pass this along to everyone you know so we can get as many people there as possible--maybe church groups, your moms group, friend, retired neighbors, etc.??

I'm working on trying to get us some media coverage---people need to know that this is the 3rd time the legislature has not put the bill to a vote and they are failing their constituents. If we can get a group of us there and on TV it might really make a difference!!!

Thanks for your help and hope to see you tomorrow!

-Jill Karsh
cell:253-224-0081 (Feel free to call w/any questions!)

Tips for Smooth Transitioning

2011-01-24T20:08:00.000-08:00

Please join us for the next SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting!

We're pleased to welcome Carrie Sheppard, LMHC and Elaine Duncan, LMHC from the MindSource Center, LLC. They will discuss the challenges that individuals on the autism spectrum have with transitioning, particularly from high school graduation to college or work. Their information will equip you with strategies, resources, and ideas for helping your child successfully move into adulthood with a minimum of stress. Even if you have young children, this information will help you with proactive tips on how to help move toward these major transitions, setting the framework for success over time.

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available. Email me at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com with any questions.

Topic: Tips for Smooth Transitioning

Speaker: Carrie Sheppard, LMHC & Elaine Duncan, LMHC - MindSource Center

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center

3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

When: Monday, February 7th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Hope to see you there!
-Angela

New Year's Resolutions? Maybe not.

2011-01-02T22:59:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are. It's 2011. Once again, it’s time to plan how we will fill the blank pages of a new year. I went out to shop some of the after Christmas sales and found that a majority of the stores already had made the move from Santa’s red and green Wonderland to the Pepto-Bismol pink glow of Valentine’s Day. Besides the change in holidays, I repeatedly saw items related to fitness and organization. There were stacks and rows of plastic storage tubs and boxes, wicker baskets, yoga mats, water bottles, heart rate monitors and more. Does everyone in the US resolve to the do same thing year after year? Get fit! Get organized! Are we that predictable?

I think so. I was one of those people. Every year I would resolve to be healthier, among other lofty and unattainable goals. Inevitably, I would disappoint myself. My resolutions were typically busted by the second week of January. What can I say? Willpower is not my forte.

Things changed for me about 5 years ago when my husband was diagnosed with lymphoma. For his 30th birthday, the gift he got was recuperation from surgery and the anticipation of chemotherapy and radiation. Needless to say, it was not a banner year for us. However, something happened to me that changed me forever. In my quest to help my husband, I opened my eyes, ears, and mind to things I never gave a second thought to before.

It was this forced awakening about things like toxic load that prepared me to make significant changes when we received the diagnosis for our boys. In learning about autism and changes I might need to make for our kids, I realized I’d done this before. It wasn’t as overwhelming the second time around. Yes, it sucks and it’s really hard, but I’m a combat veteran from cancer. I got this! At least I hoped I did.

Where to begin? Clean up your environment. What do you eat? What do you drink? What do you put on your body? What do you allow into your home? Changes are needed in droves! Cue the resolutions!

As I mentioned before, resolutions and I don’t usually get along. So instead of resolutions, I now make an agreement with my husband about what issue we want to take on over the course of a year. Then we set out to do the things necessary related to that issue. You know, accountability. Two heads are better than one. That kind of thing. And, these ideas are permanent changes that we incorporate into our lifestyle. Resolutions don’t work for us, but tangible planning in unison does. What does this look like in action, you ask? Well…

Three years ago we dealt with the air we breathe. We installed a hospital-grade whole house air filtration system. We also bought in-room air ionizers and several Himalayan salt lamps.

Two years ago, we tackled food and chemicals. We had already made the switch to mostly organic produce the year before, but then I made a newly concerted effort to buy exclusively organic products whenever possible. We’re talking organic grass-fed meat, wild-caught fish, free-range organic poultry and eggs, replacing all of my spices with organic ones (which aren’t irradiated!), etc. We switched out all of our cleaning products, detergents, beauty products, etc., to ones that are plant-based, non-toxic and non-chemical. I even went so far as to carry the new standards over to my lawn and yard care products. Chemicals be gone!

Last year we focused on water. We installed charcoal filters on our shower heads to filter out the chlorine that our body was exposed to both topically and as a gas when we took a shower. We had already made the switch from tap water (chock full of fluoride and chlorine!) to spring water with naturally occurring minerals and a pH just a hair on the alkaline side of neutral. We used spring water for drinking and cooking, and typically went through a gallon a day, sometimes more. That gets expensive, especially when the government enacts a water tax on every ounce of bottled water you buy. As a result of the tax, something we’d talked about before as a “wouldn’t it be great?” item for the house became much more reasonable to entertain. We ran the numbers and decided to buy an atmospheric water generator. Yes folks, we make our own water from the air. It’s filtered in a multi-step process (reverse osmosis, UV, etc.), it adds minerals back in, and it has instant cold and instant hot spigots that you can set to whatever temperatures your heart desires. No more tea kettle for me! Now I water my plants with this water, we cook with it, we drink it, and not only is it good, we know it’s safe.

Now, we’re here at the dawn of 2011. What’s the plan for this year? We’re changing how we cook. I just bought some frying pans that don’t release PTFE when heated. The old non-stick pans are gone! I already acquired some cast iron and stainless steel pans over the past few years, and we’ve switched our daily usage containers from plastic to glass. We also took a big risk to our sense of convenience, and unplugged the microwave. I bought a toaster oven that has convection, and will use it to replace my dying toaster and my food-destroying microwave. It’s also large enough to replace my oven on most things (which will save energy). There will definitely be a learning curve here, as we’ve come to rely on the ease of tossing something into the microwave at the last minute. This change will require a little bit more planning and time, but we agree that it’s a good change and we’re willing to take the plunge.

The kinds of changes we’ve made at our house are much too intense to take on all at one time. By breaking things down into steps we can manage, we continue to better our household without incurring major sticker shock. It’s much easier and less overwhelming that way. I wonder what we’ll change for 2012? Who knows? I’ve got a whole year to think about it, and besides, I need to become an expert with my new style of cooking first.

Here’s to resolving to make permanent changes! Happy New Year!

Treating Children with Homeopathy

2010-12-29T23:56:00.000-08:00

*January's meeting postponed by one week due to the holiday.*

Please join us for the next SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting! There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available. Email me at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com with any questions.

Topic: Treating Children with Homeopathy

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center

3005 112th St E., Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

When: Monday, January 10th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Speaker: Elizabeth Brandegee, Classical Homeopathy

Hope to see you there!
-Angela

Snapshots of Life and Soul

2010-12-10T18:30:00.000-08:00

It will never cease to amaze me how a picture can evoke such strong emotion. This year, we are giving photographs as Christmas gifts to our family. In the midst of contemplating the various pictures, I recognized that I have a major project to attend to in the upcoming New Year – actually printing out all of the digital images I have let sit on my hard drive for the past several years. That will be quite an undertaking!

Anyway, while I was quickly glancing through the myriad of picture folders on my laptop, I opened up a few of them to take a peek. Once I did that, I couldn’t resist looking in the next folder and the next…which turned into a two-hour trip down memory lane.

Sometimes I forget all that we’ve been through. Don’t get me wrong…there’s been a lot of good. But, there’s also been a lot of not-so-good. A lot. Looking through those reminders of life is a very emotional experience for me.

I was right back to the moment when Ryan was proudly lining up his toys, before we understood what that meant. I have lots of pictures of him posing with lined up toys and singular stacks of Legos.

I looked at Kyle learning how to eat, before we knew what effect those foods would have on his personality and body.

I recalled Christmas 5 years ago when my husband was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma, and I was juggling a little baby who wouldn’t sleep and a rambunctious toddler who wore me out. My husband had to wear a heavy-duty surgical mask while at home with us, since we were all sick pretty much the entire time he was receiving chemo.

I remembered those family members who are no longer with us. Many tears were shed as I looked through the images of all of the people I love and what we’ve done together over the years.

I cherished the moments of joy. Thank God for pictures that evoke spontaneous laughter! The lesson I learned here: little boys and full bottles of powder do not mix!

I love the many happy times we’ve captured and the joy we’ve experienced in those moments. This year has been pretty good, in the grand scheme of things. My husband found a job, and he’s coming up on his 5-year anniversary of being cancer-free. And, my kids continue to make astounding progress.

We have pictures to prove it! Good pictures! Gift-worthy pictures!

In October, I was lucky enough to have Dana Napoleon of Dana Napoleon Photography do a photo shoot with my boys. Any parent of a special needs child knows that taking a decent picture is almost completely impossible. The pictures she took of my boys are amazing.

She captures the light in a gorgeous way.

Through the lens, she highlights personality.

When a person's soul is conveyed in the photograph, you have art.

Through Dana's lens, our boys have become artwork for Christmas. What a wonderful present to give! However, adding these pictures to the snapshot stack of our life is truly a gift to me.

I hope you have a very blessed holiday season!

Would you like to be in a documentary?

2010-11-30T20:09:00.000-08:00

How would you like to be featured in a documentary with your family? I recently spoke with a producer from a reputable production company. They are working on a new project and need to find families to participate. The documentary will be "a day in the life" story, featuring families with more than one child on the autism spectrum. They are trying to bring awareness to what autism looks like, how it be very different from child to child, and what the experience is for a typical sibling in a household that is dealing with autism.

I have been given permission to share information about the project, in the effort to help them find a larger group of families to choose from as they pursue the creation of this documentary. If you are interested in sharing your family's story, you must meet the following criteria:

Minimum of 2 children diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
Have at least 1 typical, verbal sibling, OR
If there are no typical siblings, the diagnosed children must be capable of speaking in an interview format (suggested age is 6 and up).

If you meet these stipulations and would like to learn more, please send me an email at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com. They desire to talk with people as soon as possible, so don't delay!

I am personally very excited, and can't wait to see how it all turns out!

-Angela

Complimentary Holiday Gift Wrapping

2010-11-30T09:49:00.000-08:00

Come to the Tacoma Borders store this Friday afternoon and evening for some holiday shopping, and I'll be happy to wrap your gifts for you! I will be gladly accepting donations for SPECIAL Families of Pierce County from 3-10pm this Friday only. Help me to continue my work with the group! Drop by and say, "Hi!" I hope to wrap lots of gifts and hopefully raise lots of money, too!

Date: Friday, December 3rd
Time: 3pm - 10pm
Place: Borders Books and Music, Tacoma Store

Sensational Santa 2010!

2010-11-21T20:44:00.000-08:00

Click HERE for information on the 2011 Sensational Santa event!

The Lisa Anne Viafore Guild – Tacoma Orthopedic Association
in cooperation with
SPECIAL Families of Pierce County & It Takes a Village Foundation

proudly present a Sensory-Friendly Santa Portrait Experience:

SENSATIONAL SANTA

Saturday, December 4th

10:00am to 4:00pm (by appointment only)

Saint Patrick School

1112 North G Street, Tacoma

A sensory-friendly Santa experience, despite the need or diagnosis!

Children may participate in supported activities until it’s their turn.

**$5 minimum suggested donation for each child’s portrait.**

TO SCHEDULE YOUR CHILD’S APPOINTMENT WITH SANTA:

Call - 253-381-0260 or Email - sensationalsanta@yahoo.com

Holiday Social & Used Toy Exchange

2010-11-15T19:51:00.000-08:00

Please join us for our next meeting!

The December meeting has been delayed one week due to a scheduling conflict. There will not be a speaker for this meeting. We’re going to get together to have some social time together as a group, ask questions, and share information.

Bring some used items from your home that are in good shape that you’d like to gift to someone else. If you can, bring a snack to share also. Please be aware that if you bring your kids, there may be food choices that contain allergens.

Date: Monday, December 13th

Time: 6:30-8:00 pm

Place: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E, Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Don't forget that there will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Email me with questions - specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Getting Started with the GFCF Diet: Living without wheat and milk isn't that scary after all!

2010-10-25T18:11:00.000-07:00

Please join us for our next meeting!

There may be dessert involved...
Maybe some GFCF pie or muffins just in time for the holidays? Hmmm...

Topic: Getting Started with the GFCF Diet: Living without wheat and milk isn't that scary after all!

Date: Monday, November 1st

Speaker: Angela Fish, Mom of 2 boys with food allergies/sensitivities

Time: 6:30-8:00 pm

Place: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center

3005 112th St E, Tacoma
(at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Don't forget that there will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Email me with questions - specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Amelia Bedelia: A fun perspective for daily life on the spectrum

2010-10-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

When I was young, I used to love reading Amelia Bedelia books! Peggy Parish created one of my favorite fictional characters, and the antics of Amelia Bedelia always made me smile. A housekeeper by trade, she humors the reader with her literal interpretation of instructions. Her employer begrudgingly tolerates her quirkiness, and after a series of mishaps, all is forgiven after the first bite of one of her culinary creations. Whenever she blunders, her amazing skill in the kitchen is her forever saving grace.

Last spring I introduced my oldest son to the Amelia Bedelia series of books. He immediately took to them, and loved the books almost as much as I did – although I don’t think he understood the humor to the same degree. In particular, he derived a lot of pleasure from quickly saying her name over and over again. I think he liked the way the words felt on his tongue and in his mouth as he quickly said, “Amelia Bedelia.”

After our visits to the library over the summer, I would listen as my son read the books aloud in the car on the way home. Recalling her various escapades from the recesses of my brain, I remembered how Amelia Bedelia blissfully marched to her own beat. She was always innocently ignorant of when she was committing a mix-up that created chaos for others. No matter how much trouble she got into, she was always forgiven and loved. Her amazing desserts also went a long way to soothing frayed nerves!

When asked to “dust the furniture,” Amelia Bedelia thinks that it’s strange to dust the furniture, as she would rather than “undust” it. So, she finds the “dusting powder” in the bathroom and proceeds to coat the furniture and floor with the powder so that she can cross “dusting” off her chore list. Or, when she is asked to “draw the drapes” she finds a sketchpad and tries her best to draw a picture of the drapes.

Amelia Bedelia’s daily journey of literal misinterpretations of common phrases and idioms, and the reactions they receive, are indeed humorous. However, there are some parallels between the experiences she has in her books, and the experiences some kids on the autism spectrum have as they navigate their way through the social waters of life.

Those of us with verbal kids on the autism spectrum, or with an Asperger’s diagnosis, are quite familiar with the lack of social tact or understanding of anything that is not fully definable or concrete. If only these real life misunderstandings were as funny as Amelia Bedelia’s! Most spectrum kids really don’t “get” the complex gray areas that abound as we go through each day. Their literal translations of life situations are easier and much more logical for them to process.

Amelia Bedelia also brings to light the importance of having a usable and desirable skill, like her ability to appease her employer with a lovely dessert after coming home to a disaster she created. I fully believe that finding a special talent in each of my boys will aid them in their social experiences in and around school. For socially quirky kids, honing a desirable skill that successfully sets them apart from others will also hopefully aid them as they become employed adults.

So, I guess that in an elementary way, Amelia Bedelia helps to give a glimpse into the mind of these complex kids…if only for a moment. I nominate Amelia Bedelia as an honorary Aspie! Do I hear a second nomination?

Time to get back into the swing of things!

2010-09-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

I'm a slacker!

Well, folks...I admit it. I've slacked a bit over the summer. A bit? More like a LOT! I neglected to post information about our September SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting. We discussed the Son-Rise program and had an almost record-breaking attendance! Thanks to Renee Holt, our speaker, we learned a lot about the aspect of using play as therapy for our kiddos. It was really interesting to see the method, how it's applied, and some of the kids who have used it. Amazing stuff. Sorry to Renee for neglecting to post information about her topic on this site. I'll try to come out of summer hibernation earlier next year!

As for October, here is the information for our next meeting! I hope you can join us. Our speaker is an amazing speech therapist, who has done some great work in our region. I know from personal experience with my own kids what a wonderful person she is, the quality of care her clinic provides, and the dedication she has for helping families.

Topic: Parent Tips: How to further speech goals at home

Where: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E.
(at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

When: Monday, October 4th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Speaker: Paula Beckett-Herrington, Clinic Director at CLASS, Inc. in Federal Way

There will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available. Email specialfamiliespc@gmail.com with any questions.

Hope you had a great summer, and are enjoying the new school year and the start of autumn!

-Angela

Parent Chat

2010-07-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

Please join us for our next meeting!

Date: Monday, August 2nd

Topic: Parent Chat
-Let's chat about our kids: what's working, what we need ideas for, etc. Come for some informal fun and bring a treat to share!

Time: 6:30-8:00 pm

Place: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E, Tacoma (at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Don't forget that there will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Email me with questions - specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Angela

Summer Family Social

2010-06-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

**There will be no regular July SPECIAL Families of Pierce County meeting.**

Please join us for a family play date in the park!

Date: Saturday, July 10th
Time: 10am-12pm
Location: Bradley Lake Park, Puyallup
(located behind the South Hill Walmart)

Bring your special needs kids, typical siblings, spouse/significant other, any extended family or friends, and let's have some fun! We'll meet either under the picnic shelter, or on the grass near the play area.

I'll have my husband and both my boys with me. I'll try to get all of us into bright colors so you can find us. If nothing else, my husband is 6'8" with blond/brown hair, so he should be easy to spot if you don't see me!

Hope to see you there! :-)

Vaccinations Choice - Parental Consent: American Rally for Personal Rights

2010-05-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

I know many of you are very interested in the vaccine issue. I wanted you to know about a Washington State satellite rally of a live Chicago event happening next week.

Here is the information:

Join us for the web stream of the live Chicago American Rally for Personal Rights to choose vaccination choice and parental consent! Have a look at the line-up - Dr. Andrew Wakefield, Michael Belkin (WA) and Louise Habakus! Please RSVP so I can get snacks on site! We will have Allison Jones from TrackingVaccinations.com on site presenting some of her own research as well! Please share this with as many Washingtonians and Oregonians as possible! For details on the Chicago event, to buy a representative balloon and T-Shirts, go to www.AmericanPersonalRights.org

Date:Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Time:1:00pm - 3:00pm
Where: Kent City Library * 212 2nd Avenue North * Kent, WA 98032-4482

If you are on Facebook, please click the link below to RSVP. Granny Lala will be providing allergy-free baked goods for those who RSVP, so she will need an accurate count.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118708408161653

If you are not on Facebook and wish to attend, please send your RSVP via email to: info@wyattshouse.org

This should be a great event!

Summer Activity Ideas

2010-05-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

Please join us for our next meeting!

Date: Monday, June 7th
Topic: Summer Activity Ideas
Speakers: Representatives from Pierce County Parks and Recreation Companionship Program, Metro Parks Tacoma Specialized Recreation, Easter Seals Camp Stand By Me
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Place: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E, Tacoma (at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Don't forget that there will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Email me with questions - specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Angela

Autism Awareness Month

2010-04-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

April is Autism Awareness Month, and in less than one hour it will be over. Throughout the month, I tried my best to post a daily tidbit about autism onto my Facebook status. I thought it would be a neat to gather all those little thoughts into one place, namely here. I wasn't intending to dedicate my Facebook status to autism for an entire month, but that's how it kind of ended up, and I rather fancy the idea.

It was a very rewarding exercise to come up with something new and interesting each day. Throughout the month I discovered that the subject of autism is vast, and there are many other things that merit discussion that I didn't have the time, knowledge, or energy to delve into. I posted what came to mind, some I had previously found memorable, or was something I was actively thinking about in my own household.

Thanks for helping me celebrate Autism Awareness Month.

April 1 - If you are in the store & you see a child who seems to be throwing a tantrum, try to think twice before judging them. That child may be having an autism-related meltdown, not a temper tantrum.
April 2 - Today is World Autism Awareness Day! Wear blue today to show your support and increase autism awareness. 1 in 91 kids are being diagnosed with autism!
April 3 - Kids with autism crave routine to bring some order to their often chaotic world. Picture schedules are very helpful tools, especially for the young ones who don't yet read.
April 5 - Many kids with autism also have GI symptoms related to food allergy. About 2/3 of kids placed on a gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet see improvements in autism symptoms.
April 6 - The HBO movie, "Temple Grandin," is a simply brilliant depiction of one of the most famous women today with autism. It's available to view for free at the link below. I highly recommend it as a glimpse into the mind of autism.
http://www.theautismnews.com/2010/04/06/temple-grandin-movie-on-hbo-full-movie/
April 8 - A great book for families unfamiliar with autism, or newly diagnosed, is "The Autism Sourcebook" by Karen Siff Exhorn. It's available to check out in my support group's lending library.
April 9 - It has been a very "autismy" morning around our house! We have our good days and our bad, and breaks from school are typically a huge trigger. Thank the Lord that Spring Break ends today.
April 10 - Did you know that 1 in every 70 boys in the US is being diagnosed on the autism spectrum?
April 11 - Want a comedic look at Asperger's in action? Try watching CBS', "The Big Bang Theory." Sheldon, a main character, is a physicist that exudes Aspie.
April 13 - Parents of children with autism are highly prone to divorce. The divorce rates can be 80% or higher! It's crucial to have a team approach, which can strengthen and not sabotage your marriage.
April 15 - It's estimated that the lifetime cost of raising a child with autism is $3 million. I've got 2 - yikes! The societal economic impact of high rates of autism is a huge $$$ issue!
April 16 - Unfortunately, adults with autism have a higher rate of incarceration and a MUCH higher rate of unemployment. What can we do to change that?
April 17 - A great local support group for autism families is TACA. In fact, there's a meeting this morning and I plan to be there! Visit www.tacanow.org/washington to learn more.
April 18 - One of the most common comorbidities of autism is sensory processing disorder (SPD). It can create extreme under or over-sensitivities to sensory input (touch, hearing, smell, etc.). This is why a lot of these kiddos have meltdowns.
April 19 - "It seems sometimes that there are 2 types of adults who are not AS [Asperger Syndrome] parents: the ones who think you're an evil monster, and the ones who think you're such a softie you can't keep order with your own offspring." -Jeffrey Cohen, author of "The Asperger Parent."
April 22 - As we celebrate Earth Day, let's remember that autism kiddos are like canaries in the coal mine. Their bodies react to environmental toxins much more than we realize or understand. Our diagnosis turned our family into environmentalists!
April 25 - With autism rates now 1 in 91 children in the US, and many other developmental delays also on the rise, are neurotypical ("normal") kids becoming the minority? What are your thoughts?
April 26 - Autism can be a gift! Just take a look at these 5 inspirational examples of people succeeding with an autism diagnosis.
http://gimundo.com/news/article/5-remarkable-achievers-with-autism-or-aspergers-syndrome/%20/
April 27 - In the UK: Autism is more common than Down's syndrome and cerebral palsy combined. In the US: Autism is more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and pediatric AIDS combined.
April 28 - It comes as no surprise that populations who are unvaccinated don't have the same prevelance of autism, and some reports say there are no cases at all in unvaccinated groups.
April 29 - It's speculated that many historical figures had autism: Einstein, Mozart, Beethoven, Warhol, Tesla, Newton, Dickinson, Orwell, Jefferson, Darwin, Yeats, etc. If true, can you imagine a world without the autistic brain?
April 30 - Last day...I thought I'd wrap up autism awareness month with a quote from a famous woman with autism, Temple Grandin. "I am different, not less."

Did you know that auditory processing problems are frequently at the core of many learning disabilities?

2010-04-30T22:26:00.001-07:00

Please join us for our next meeting!

Date: Monday, May 3rd
Topic: "Did you know that auditory processing problems are frequently at the core of many learning disabilities?"
Speaker: Laura Parker, Hands On Learning Solutions
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Place: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E, Tacoma (at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Don't forget that there will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Email me with questions - specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Angela

Please help a local family displaced by fire

2010-04-07T23:37:00.001-07:00

A local family we serve was a victim of a fire this week, and they lost pretty much everything they own. In addition, their medically fragile newborn son remains in the hospital and isn't stable enough to bring home yet. Now they are faced with the task of not only finding a home, but filling it with necessities to take care of themselves and their son.

Their current situation is very serious and they really need some help. Here is a link to the updated story that was shown on King 5 News.

http://www.king5.com/home/Family-displaced-by-fire-grateful-for-support-90153192.html

If you would like to provide a financial gift to this family, any donations made through the Wyatt Holliday Foundation are tax-deductible, and 100% of the money will go directly to them.

If you would like to use a credit card, please use the link below as a way to designate your gift to them.

http://www.firstgiving.com/babychristopher

Checks can be mailed to:

Wyatt Holliday Foundation
3915 153rd St E
Tacoma, WA 98446
*Please write on the memo line: Baby Christopher

Specific items they need are:
- food
- gas money to be able to visit their son in the hospital
- low-cost rental home
- cleaning service to try to restore some of their damaged items
- linens
- kitchen items
- baby items
- furniture
- electronics
- storage space for donated items until they can find a new home
- money!

You can visit their baby registry at Target and at Babies R Us.

We now have a place to store donated items. If you wish to drop off a donation to this family, please contact me to arrange a time to meet.
Email - specialfamiliespc@gmail.com
Cell - 253-830-4368

It is my hope to pull together and show them some support. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

I thank you in advance for your generosity.
-Angela

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day

2010-03-28T10:55:00.001-07:00

World Autism Awareness Day
Friday, April 2nd

World Autism Awareness Day seeks to draw attention to the incidence rate of autism as a global health crisis. Autism is now being diagnosed in one of every 91 children in the US. In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to devote one day a year to drawing attention toward autism as a global health crisis. As a result, World Autism Awareness Day is observed annually on April 2nd.

One way to show support and bring awareness is to wear blue on Friday, April 2nd. Also, visit World Autism Awareness Day online to learn more.

Early intervention is key. As a mom of two boys with autism, I hope you will join me in wearing blue to show your support of getting the word out about autism.

Turning Negatives Into Positives: Creating a Strengths Packet For Your Child

2010-03-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Please join us for our next meeting!

Date: Monday, April 12th
Topic: Turning Negatives Into Positives: Creating a Strengths Packet For Your Child
Speaker: Sherry Lyons, A Common Voice
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Place: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E, Tacoma (at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Don't forget that there will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Email me with questions - specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Angela

Visual Processing as a Component of Learning Difficulties

2010-02-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

Please join us for our next meeting!

Date: Monday, March 1st
Topic: Visual Processing as a Component of Learning Difficulties
Speaker: Judy Russell, First Class Development and Learning Resources
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Place: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E, Tacoma (at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Don't forget that there will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Professionals and other interested parties are welcome to attend. Childcare is not available.

Email me with questions - specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Angela

New Vaccine News Resource

2010-02-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

Vaccines have been on my mind a lot lately. We seem to be emerging from the flu season with the media-hyped swine flu "epidemic." There has been a lot of talk and misinformation. People are scared to vaccinate, but they're scared not to.

Right now a friend of mine is in school and working on her degree. Her English class is currently working on a Persuasive Argument paper, and she needed a controversial topic to take one side on and defend. Well, vaccines is definitely a hot button topic that is generating a lot of interest among her classmates.

Yes, it's quite the issue. My own personal view on vaccines has shifted in the past couple of years. I was a staunch supporter of the vaccine schedule and had both of my children vaccinated on time. After both of them were diagnosed on the autism spectrum and I began to do a lot of research and reading, I discovered that there was more information out there about vaccines than I previously realized. Although I felt like I already had a firm grasp on the topic, I surprisingly found that I was fairly ignorant about the issue.

Since I started volunteering in the special needs community, I've had the privilege to work with many families. Among them, there is a significant percentage who believe without a shadow of a doubt that their children have been injured by vaccines. The stories I've heard are heartbreaking, and I do not dispute them.

Over time, I have found myself unable to continue supporting the current vaccine schedule. And, it's not just about the mercury preservative, thimerosal! I'll save you the boredom of a lengthy dissertation on the reasons why...at least for now. My poor friend has already been barraged with details while she prepares to complete her paper! At some point when I have more time and energy, I hope to do a more substantial follow up to this topic, and then you'll see my own version of a persuasive argument paper!

Until then, a new online resource for you to check out is a vaccine news site by Dr. Mercola. It's available at: http://vaccines.mercola.com. In my opinion, I think the information he presents on his main site, http://www.mercola.com, is quite valuable and I am very happy that he has launched this site specific to vaccines. He has brought a lot of information together on this one topic, and I think you will find it to be a great resource.

If you have any vaccine site links or other resources you would like to share, feel free to leave a comment. Maybe it will end up on a future blog about this topic!

The 7 Steps to a Special Needs Plan

2010-01-31T18:22:00.000-08:00

Please join us on Monday the 1st for our February parent meeting!

Topic: "The 7 Steps to a Special Needs Plan"
Speaker: Mark Albertson, Esq., Albertson Law Group, P.S.
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Place: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E, Tacoma (at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Don't forget that there will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Email me with questions - specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Angela

Nutrition as an effective treatment option for special needs children

2010-01-10T17:22:00.000-08:00

Please join us on Monday the 11th for our January parent meeting!

Topic: "Nutrition as an effective treatment option for special needs children."
Speaker: Therese Holliday, Certified Nutritional Therapist & Certified Touch For Health Practitioner
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Place: Pierce County Library Processing & Administration Center
3005 112th St E, Tacoma (at 112th and Waller Rd, just off Hwy 512 Portland Ave exit)

Don't forget that there will be selected lending library resources available for check out, and new attendees receive a valuable binder of information for free (until they are gone). Email me with questions - specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Angela

We all need a little help sometimes

2009-12-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

As we enter into this holiday season, we turn our attention toward family and giving. With all of the news of financial crisis and recession this year, many families have found themselves in financial turmoil due to loss of employment, loss of their home, medical debt, etc. Having a special needs child invariably adds to the stress level of maintaining financial solvency, particularly when health care costs are going up, and not all needed services may be covered.

This season I find myself in a novel situation. Our family is completely without employment. This isn’t our first experience with being laid off, and I’m sure it won’t be the last either. But, since we now have two boys with autism, my husband and I made the decision several years ago for me to stay home to help coordinate their therapy, schooling and care. So, we went from a single income family making it work month-to-month, to now being a family without income. Fortunately, we are doing alright for now, but this got me to thinking about other families out there who may not be as lucky in this type of situation.

There are actually a lot of resources out there. By no means do I know them all or claim to be an expert, but I thought I would share some that I’ve come across that may be of help to you or someone you know. A good place to start is with State of Washington to determine if you qualify for anything. The website is http://access.wa.gov and you click on “Living in Washington” and then click on “Health and Social Services.” There is an eligibility calculator and information on various state services available for those who need them.

By far, my favorite resource is 2-1-1. It is an all-inclusive service that can provide you with resources for any locale and any need. The website for Washington State is http://www.resourcehouse.com/win211/. Once at the website, you click on the blue “Start a Search” button. You can search by keyword, topic, or location. It’s a fairly comprehensive service that should provide you with lots of valuable information. You can also simply dial 2-1-1 on your phone to be connected with this resource.

The following is a short list of service providers in the Spanaway/Puyallup area, and I found them in the local school district newsletter, “Bethel Pride,” November 2009 issue, page 2.

Bethel Family Center
18020 B St E
253-683-6850
- Toys for kids from babies to children age 18
- New winter clothing
- New personal hygiene items
- Disposable diapers

Community Care Ministries
13202 224th St E (Old Thrift Community Hall)
Fridays 10am to noon
360-832-2360
- Toys for babies to children age 18
- Stocking stuffers
- High-protein food items like tuna and peanut butter

First Place for Children
12108 Pacific Ave S
253-531-2009
- Coats, hats and gloves
- Children’s underwear

Miracle Makers – A nonprofit organization that helps families in crisis.
Mary Wilson, Director
253-875-9587
miraclemakers@msn.com
PO Box 1191
Spanaway, WA 98387
- Seeks family financial assistance
- Needs groups or individuals who are willing to adopt families

Salvation Army (South Hill)
4009 9th St SW
253-841-1491
- Canned vegetables, turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie filling
- Juice
- Cash donations

Youth Resources Inc. – Serving homeless youth.
253-209-5216
- Hoodies, socks, cash donations

Graham Food Bank
253-846-3805
Open Mon/Wed/Fri, 1:30 to 4pm

Spanaway FISH Food Bank
16001 A St E, Spanaway
www.fishfoodbanks.org
Call 253-383-1817 for an appointment between 9:15am to noon
Open Mon/Wed/Fri, 1 to 2pm

Roy FISH Food Bank
220 1st St, Roy
www.fishfoodbanks.org
Call 253-843-3033 for an appointment between 9:30am to noon
Open Wed/Fri, 1 to 3pm

I would like to encourage families who do not have major struggles to overcome this season, to think about giving in some way to your local community. This can be as simple as making a small donation to a charity or food bank in your neighborhood, volunteering your time, or a beautiful gesture of adopting a family in need for the holidays. If you take a minute to visit the 2-1-1 website listed above, you will find lots of local charities that could use your help in a variety of ways. Don't forget to get your kids involved whenever possible! It is a rewarding experience for the whole family to participate in giving together. Who knows? You might even start a new family tradition for the holidays.

If your family finds itself in need this holiday season, I wish you all the best as you search for and secure assistance. I hope that I may have provided some sort of helpful information to ease your burden. Please take care, and I sincerely wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

**Update as of 12/13/09** - Only a couple of days left for this opportunity!

Payless ShoeSource Shoes 4 Kids program has partnered with the Hope Center’s Hope’s Kids program to provide families with children in need with a pair of brand new shoes!! (Children ages 1-13)

Eligible Families Must:

1. Complete the attached application at http://www.paylessgives.com/programUSEnglish.html

2. Provide proof of income (families must be 80% or below of the area median income)

3. Provide a valid government issued ID

4. Provide a birth certificate for each child (limit two children per household)

Upon being eligible each child will receive one (1) voucher for $15.00 to take to any Payless Store to redeem and pick out their shoes at a local Payless Shoe Source store. Interested families should complete the application with the appropriate documents and return to the address below no later than
December 15, 2009.

Mother Warriors: Review and Commentary

2009-12-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

-Originally posted on November 18, 2008 at www.exceptionalfamilies.net.

On a recent trip I had some quiet moments to read and I found myself engrossed by Jenny McCarthy’s latest book, Mother Warriors. I admit, I wasn’t a huge fan of her previous book, Louder than Words, but her new book spoke to me and I finished it in less than a day. Much to my surprise, I found myself in tears by the end. No matter your opinion of Jenny McCarthy, she is one of the top VOCAL advocates for the autism community and is pushing nerves and helping spread the word that there’s a big problem. I am a parent of two diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and I am trying to make a difference and be vocal in my own community. Jenny can do what I cannot – give major television interviews, write best-selling books, and generally increase the national awareness about the autism epidemic. I admire her passionately stepping up to say something despite the controversy of the topic.

Chapter 2 of Mother Warriors is an extended analogy that Jenny provides about the plight of many families dealing with autism. A child appears normal and then one day something changes and the child seems to be lost (often very suddenly) to autism. Many believe that vaccines triggered their child’s autism. In the words of Francis Collins, “Genetics loads the gun and environment pulls the trigger.” Chapter 2 is a bit long to copy into a blog, but it provides a great new perspective that is worthwhile to share in its entirety.

“Imagine watching your child climb up a flight of stairs. He slips on a stair and cuts his knee open and begins gushing blood. The cuts are deep, and you immediately wash away the blood, wrap up the knee, and head to the hospital. Once you get there, the doctor asks what happened. You reply, ‘He climbed up some stairs and he fell and got hurt.’

Now imagine the doctor telling you it’s not possible that your child got this hurt from stairs. ‘But I saw him climb stairs and fall and I saw his knee split open,’ you explain.

Again, the doctor says, ‘It’s not possible.’

And you repeat, ‘But I saw it happen!’

Then the doctor tells you that climbing up stairs is safe. But you know what you saw with your own eyes and so you insist, ‘But obviously sometimes it’s NOT safe. Look at my child. I saw him get hurt!’

The doctor just keeps shaking his head and denies that stairs could ever harm a child.

This is how black and white it is for us moms who have children with autism. We had healthy beautiful children who climbed up stairs perfectly until one stair caused them to fall. We have witnessed the neurological downfall of our children after certain vaccinations, but when we tell the doctors what we saw, they don’t believe us. Can you imagine how frustrating this is?

Let’s take the stair scenario a step further. After the doctor rejects your claims, you decide to treat the wound yourself. You learn about natural and alternative treatments, which you try out, and your child’s knee heals to the point where you can barely see any marks. Now imagine you go to the doctor for a follow-up visit and this time you see a different doctor. The doctor looks at your child’s knee strangely and says, ‘This must be the wrong knee.’

You explain, ‘No, this is the knee that split open.’

The doctor says, ‘It can’t be because it healed up. There is no way an injury like that could heal. The hospital must have mistaken the severity of the wound.’

You reply, ‘No, doctor, I healed the wound myself by cleaning it out and treating my child with natural remedies.’

The doctor then looks at you strangely. He begins to laugh at you and tells you that your son never really had an open wound to begin with. You stand there with your mouth open.

‘Yes, he did, doctor. Take a look at the medical records. He was seen in YOUR hospital!’

The doctor replies, ‘It must have been a mistake on his records. He never had a wound here.’

This is exactly how it is when a child with autism gets better. No one believes he had anything wrong with him to begin with. People think these recovered children were misdiagnosed. The reason recovery is controversial is because we are healing these kids by treating the injuries caused by the vaccines or the environmental toxins rather than the autism itself. When we treat these things, the symptoms of the autism get better. The medical community is terrified to come within ten feet of detoxing metals out of these kids because it will point the finger directly at what everyone is so scared to admit. Vaccines CAN trigger autism.

There are two controversies about autism: first, the causes, and second, whether children can recover. A battle is raging in the medical community, but there is a growing army of mothers who are fighting for their children and witnessing recovery firsthand. Imagine a world in which we all are fighting on the same side to help make children with autism better. The time to unite is now.”

Our family did not have a defining moment of autism where one day our boys were fine and the next they weren’t, but I know plenty of people who believe their child suffers from autism due to vaccine injury. I empathize with their struggles and do not dispute their stories. With all of the reading and research I have done, I know there is something to it that many doctors do not recognize or are unwilling to recognize.

I was thinking how our kids may be the canaries of our generation. Much like the canaries in the coal mine, our kids with autism could very well be the first indication of a greater environmental danger that we are unable to detect on our own. I have come to be a firm believer of the effect of toxic load on children. The way I like to think about autism is that our kids each have a row of dominoes stacked just so, with each one a possible trigger or tipping point. There are many dominoes, and each domino on their own is seemingly insignificant, such as: allergies, reflux, eczema, ear infections, diarrhea, food intolerances, asthma, chemicals in the home, pesticides on our food, heavy metals exposure, fluoride and chlorine in our water, candida overgrowth, the vaccine schedule, genetic predisposition, etc. The list seems to be endless and I have by no means included everything that could ultimately be involved. When one or more of these dominoes gets bumped and the dominoes are close enough together for the bump to make an impact, I believe it triggers the cascading fall into autism. The sum of all of the parts equates to a life-changing diagnosis.

I know for a fact that when you treat the underlying toxicities, the symptoms of autism CAN improve. For instance, my youngest son was nonverbal, constantly having tantrums, screaming, had trouble with balance, had a decreased ability to feel pain, and was an extremely picky eater, among other things. After not getting adequate help from the traditional medical community, and getting the advice from a pediatric nutritionist to put him on Ensure to supplement his diet of McDonalds chicken nuggets and French fries, I took matters into my own hands. I HATED the idea of trying the GFCF diet considering I would have to remove the only food my kids would eat, but finally forced the issue when I requested a food allergy test. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that both of my boys diagnosed on the autism spectrum had multiple food allergies, and the one with the most severe symptoms had the most allergies!

Needless to say, I gave away all of the food in my house and completely started over. The entire family went on the GFCF (gluten free, casein free) diet COLD TURKEY. Due to the diagnosed allergies, wheat/gluten, dairy, soy and egg were now all off limits. This was not an easy feat. I spent about $1,000 on new food in 30 days, trying every allergy-free food item I could find. I checked out lots of books from the library, went online to research and find recipes, bought a few cookbooks, and literally taught myself a new way of cooking in a matter of a few days.

The first week was simply awful. We had immensely expensive new food, not all of it palatable, and a very moody and picky eater who went on a hunger strike for 4 days. His behaviors got even worse, likely complicated by his hungry tummy and the pain of the detoxification process. It took all my strength to keep moving forward despite what seemed to be a setback. After two weeks of sheer hell, my son began to talk. Just like that. One day he was our “tantrum boy” and two weeks of detox later, he was talking and the balance problems seemingly disappeared. Within 1 month of starting the diet he was talking in short sentences, singing the alphabet, and counting to twenty in Spanish. His improvement was exponential and he hasn’t stopped since. If you knew him before the diet changes and saw him now, you wouldn’t recognize him. His autism symptoms have improved because of decreasing his toxic load. It’s that simple. This significant change was the first really major step forward in our journey. We have made other changes since then that continue to positively contribute toward both of my boys’ improvements.

Many times we as parents need to go beyond treating behaviors, aiding motor abilities, providing sensory input, or helping with speech. There are often physical issues to deal with, but the trick is figuring out what they are. Just like the spectrum of autism and its many variations and severities, the symptoms and physical treatments will vary based on each individual. A great resource for learning about the various treatment options and the parent-reported success rates of each treatment is the Autism Research Institute at www.autism.com.

The bodies of our kids are like a barometer. Our children feel the storm inside of them but may not have the ability to share it with us. Their barometric pressure is rising silently with the sometimes subtle physical clues, and we need to pay attention. Parent warriors, both mothers and fathers, need to be vigilant to figure out what their child’s storm is, and then help it pass from their bodies. When we search and try new things (supplements, diet, chelation, etc.), there will be failures, but the successes can be significant and wonderful to behold. I would encourage you to be open to all the possibilities of improvement, despite how traditional or alternative they may be. Sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone is the solution, as I have personally experienced.

Stories like that of my son weave through Jenny McCarthy’s book. The final chapter of Mother Warriors encapsulated everything for me. I wanted to stand up and cheer! Here is Chapter 29 – short but great.

“If there was ever a need for a call to action to mothers around the world, the time is right now. What’s going on in the world can no longer be overlooked or discredited. People can say there is no science to support our beliefs about the causes of autism and ways to treat it, but there is plenty of evidence. Just walk into the homes of families who have children with autism. They’ll be happy to introduce you to their science.

When did people become so trusting of government organizations or even paramedical companies? Sooner or later, many of these organizations become corrupt. It’s inevitable. Remember when they told us smoking was good for our health? Remember when they told us autism was because of emotionally cold and lazy mothers? How many times have medications come on the market, deemed safe, and then pulled off the market owing to major side effects? Are we to believe that ALL thirty-six vaccinations given now are ALL safe with no side effects? Give me a break. Are we supposed to buy the fact that these shots are one-size-fits-all? Or that every child is born with a perfect immune system? Wake the hell up, America, and think hard about the logic in this.

In the meantime, I hope mothers across America will join me in our fight to change this insane vaccine schedule and demand that they GREEN our vaccines. Take the crap out! Enough is enough.

These kids are here for a reason, a much bigger purpose than we are all probably even aware of. They are showing us we need to make some major changes in this world and we need to care for our bodies and for this planet. We have to listen to the message they bring and assist them in every possible way we can. They are the messengers and we are the doers. So let’s start doing something about it.”

What a great ending! Hooray for all the parent warriors out there! Despite the obstacles, keep on the path you know is right. Let’s proceed shoulder to shoulder in the unity of community. Please continue to hope for your child and never give up the fight for them!

For more information about the Jenny McCarthy’s latest book, Mother Warriors, visit www.generationrescue.org.

What the heck is a "Radura" and why should I care?

2009-12-06T11:25:00.000-08:00

-Originally posted on November 10, 2008 on www.exceptionalfamilies.net.

Parents of special needs children are already very aware of what they are feeding their children, especially when there is concern about toxic load and the effects the food may have on your child. As the mother of two boys with multiple food allergies/sensitivities, autism, and sensory processing disorder, I monitor every ingredient on every label of everything I buy. For our family, diet was the key to the most significant progress, particularly when my youngest began talking two weeks after we went off of all of the allergenic foods. As a result, I am very conscious of what things come into our home and whether or not each item will help or hinder my children’s progress. Now there’s something else to watch out for. The article, “Beware the Radura: Bombarding food with radiation results in preservation at a price” by Eric Schneider in the Nov/Dec 2008 issue of Energy Times, had me sit up and take notice.

“Radura,” a fairly innocuous term, is the name of a new logo to be on the look out for at a store near you. The logo itself is described as a “minimalist…two-leaved plant enclosed by a circle, with breaks in the top half that allude to ionizing rays.” This flower-like logo, which seems to imply something healthy and natural, is a sign that the food you are about to purchase has been treated with radiation. Irradiation has been slowly gaining momentum since the FDA approved it in 1963, and over the years irradiated foods include meat, vegetables and spices. Since the 2006 E. coli outbreak that affected the spinach industry and the salmonella outbreak this past May that affected tomatoes and peppers, the FDA has pushed forward the usage of irradiation to now include lettuce and spinach.

The thing that really caught my attention was that spices are treated with the equivalent of one billion chest x-rays and a hamburger is treated with the equivalent of 15 million chest x-rays. Are you kidding me? When we get an x-ray, we have to wear a protective lead shield. Are we supposed to really believe that eating food exposed to ONE BILLION the times of radiation as when we are wearing our cute lead smock is actually SAFE? Do I have the word stupid tattooed to my forehead? You have got to be kidding me! As if the actual logic wasn’t enough to convince me that irradiation is a bad idea, there is actual data proving that it is harmful.

Wenonah Hauter, author of Zapped! Irradiation and the Death of Food points to the fact that the use of irradiation was approved due to studies that were labeled “deficient” by their own people at the FDA. They did this 79 times – approved the use of a potentially harmful process with deficient science. Does this sound familiar? Seems to me that this is the same mentality that got us into a pickle with the use of mercury in vaccines. That’s a whole other story in itself, but not for this particular blog.

Diane Hatz from Sustainable Table believes that the long-term effects of consuming goods that have been irradiated is unknown. “Irradiation changes the molecular structure of food, and creates carcinogens such as benzene and toxic chemicals like toluene. Animals fed irradiated food have encountered health problems such as premature death, mutations, stillbirths and organ damage.” If the animals who are eating irradiated food are experiencing such widespread effects, why would we even consider this is a good idea to introduce into our own homes and experiment on its safety in our children? Irradiation affects the flavor, odor and nutritional quality of food, destroying vitamins and creating byproducts which don’t actually occur in the food itself. Those particular byproducts have been linked to “cancer development in rats and genetic damage in human cells.”

The premise for irradiation is to kill harmful bacteria, help control pests and create a longer shelf life – all very worthy reasons for the greater good. However, when a food is irradiated, what happens to it when it is shipped, sold or prepared? It certainly has plenty of opportunity to become contaminated prior to arriving as dinner on your table. Will it protect against mad-cow disease, foot-and-mouth disease or hepatitis? The answer is no to all. It is not a guarantee of safety and may actually encourage poor sanitation and unsafe practices. It will not help us with imported food produced in substandard conditions, nor will it help clean up problems at industrial farms. The author cites an example of when imported shrimp grown in filthy conditions were irradiated to aid in masking the true nature of the food. It appeared okay because it lasted longer, but if you knew the origin of the food would you as a consumer knowingly eat old, dirty food, even if the bacteria on it are dead?

My personal opinion on the radura logo and the usage of irradiation is buyer beware. From my experience, our special needs children seem to be more sensitive to toxic load and may also have genetic vulnerabilities that can negatively contribute. Do we as parents want to knowingly make their situation more complicated and possibly cause them additional harm? Familiarize yourself with the radura logo so you can be on the lookout for it. I for one will do my best to make sure that none of this food enters my home. After all of our amazing progress, I’m not willing to take the risk of buying irradiated foods for my family.

Let's end autism discrimination in 2009!

2009-12-06T11:14:00.001-08:00

-Originally posted on December 11, 2008 at www.exceptionalfamilies.net.

Wouldn’t it be great to start 2009 with the goal of ending discrimination against families with autism? That is one of my goals, and I would encourage you to join me in the fight. I am working in legislative District 25 (Puyallup and surrounding areas) to try to garner support for the proposed autism insurance parity legislation in Washington State. One in every 94 boys is now estimated to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (as of 2005). Affected families are filing for divorce at unprecedented rates (more than 80%!). The top reason for divorce is financial strain, and anyone who has dealt with autism is keenly aware of the intense financial burden a child on the spectrum presents, particularly when insurance doesn’t cover the autism diagnosis code. Many families can spend upwards of $50,000 PER CHILD with autism, PER YEAR!

Our family is dealing with TWO boys on the spectrum, and we are trying to pay for occupational, physical, and speech therapy. We haven’t even been able to consider ABA for our boys simply due to the high cost and lack of benefits. Insurance coverage has been one of our biggest issues in trying to do what is best for our kids. Back when our house had some market value, we took out a home equity line on our home in preparation for the medical bills to come due. If we were to tap into the rest of the available balance, we will be underwater in our mortgage. Due to the therapy schedule and demands of raising my boys, I don’t have time to work a regular job. Even though we are a single-income household, my husband makes too much for us to qualify for any sort of assistance. Who would have ever thought that my husband’s income would be a detriment, and that we would have to place our home in jeopardy to do to the bare minimum to care for our children?

The most upsetting thing is the fact that autism is a diagnosis that automatically qualifies our family and others like us to be the recipients of insurance discrimination. Children with other medical or developmental issues are getting insurance benefits and the care they need, but we are being singled out for exclusion and the eventual financial hardships that go along with this type of discrimination. The truth is that autism typically responds well to early intervention, and the cost savings is millions of dollars per child versus those who do not receive the needed services at an earlier age. It doesn’t take a degree in finance to realize that spending a little money upfront is better than spending a huge amount of money in the years to come. A small contribution towards insurance parity now will save taxpayers millions of dollars in the long run. Doesn’t that seem like a good use of taxpayer money?

If you believe that families dealing with autism should not be discriminated against and deserve insurance parity, I highly encourage you to visit the Washington Autism Advocacy website and sign up to show your support. Check it out at: www.washingtonautismadvocacy.org. Please sign up no matter if you have a child with autism or not, if you are a parent or professional, or if you are in District 25 or elsewhere. Take a minute to call or email your Senators and Representatives and ask them to cosponsor Autism Insurance Parity. I will be happy to supply you with a sample phone script or sample letter to make this an easy process. Here is a link to find your legislator: http://www.washingtonautismadvocacy.org/legislative/finder.php.

You can email me at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com with any questions or to request the sample letter/script, FAQ’s or flyer. The session starts on January 12th, and we need to get legislators on board before the session starts. Let your lawmakers know how you feel about this issue. Help us fight for our kids with autism! Thank you so much for your support and I hope that 2009 is the year that we end discrimination against our children!

Update as of December 2009:
Shayan's Law did not get enacted in the 2009 session, so the fight continues. Please check www.washingtonautismadvocacy.org to learn how you can help in 2010.

My Personal Cornucopia: A Diagnosis of Abundance

2009-12-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

-Originally posted on November 27, 2008 at www.exceptionalfamilies.net

Well, the allergy-free pies are baked and the kitchen looks like a tornado came through it. Now the house is quiet and my mind is actively figuring out all of the details for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving soiree. Amidst this flurry of thought, I find myself reflecting on Thanksgiving. No, I’m not talking Pilgrims and Indians, or even a chaotic turkey dinner with family. I’m talking about Thanksgiving in terms of personal meaning. Giving thanks. Thankfulness. Reasons to be thankful.

When you have a child with special needs, or in my case, two, it is often difficult to get past the challenges and negatives constantly barraging you. Oh, the struggles! There are so many to face and overcome! It can be completely exhausting. I have plenty of things worthy of complaining about, but I would rather have an attitude of hope and thanks.

By purposely placing myself in the perspective of “thanksgiving,” it reaffirmed that our diagnosis was not one of shortcomings, but rather of plenty. Last night I attended an event for special needs families, and the speaker talked about how in the Chinese language the symbol for “crisis” is the same symbol as for “opportunity.” What a moment of clarity!

I have so much to be thankful for! Our diagnosis experience has truly been an opportunity for the entire family. Since we started down this road, we have all learned and grown so much. Our family is closer, especially because my husband and I chose to consciously face everything together. My immersion in learning about how to help my kids has made me a better parent. This experience has facilitated some self-discovery that I may not have ever undergone. I know that I have the strength to do this difficult job of parenting my special boys. Their progress is continual, and for that I thank God. There are multitudes of other reasons to be thankful during this time of Thanksgiving, and I feel lucky to have the meaning of each one of them in my life.

The battles won’t end, and the hills will continue to be steep, but there are a lot of things along the way that are beautiful and magnificent to behold. If you are caught up in the vortex of stress and burden, I challenge you to take a quiet moment to discover your personal cornucopia. May it be as rewarding an exercise for you as it was for me.

The Joy of Connection

2009-12-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

-Originally posted June 4, 2009 on www.exceptionalfamilies.net.

One of the things I have learned in the past year, as I have delved further into the local special needs community, is that there is power in connection. I think most humans have a desire to connect with one another in a meaningful way. Yes, there is always a desire to find a special someone with which you can share your life, but beyond that, there is a peace that comes from a shared experience among peers, friends and acquaintances. No matter your circumstance, you are not alone! I have learned this lesson more powerfully in a very short time, and it has been a wonderful experience. As I have jumped into the deep waters of the special needs community, I have learned that there are many more parents, friends, caregivers and professionals out there than I had previously imagined. The one thing we all have in common is a shared bond of experience driving us to help and encourage one another. Luckily, my experience has been more positive than others I’ve known who have come before me, and I hope that’s a sign of increased awareness, empathy, and understanding. We are all in the same battle together, and it is a huge waste of energy to conduct yourself in a negative way. Positive connection is key. Sharing your experience so that others who follow in your footsteps may have less of a burden is a gift and a blessing. I have been fortunate to have wonderful friends and mentors who have helped me when I have been solidly stuck in frustration or simply had no idea what to do next. It is my hope that in some way I am returning the favor to others now.

Through my work with SPECIAL Families of Pierce County and The Wyatt Holliday Foundation, I am forging lasting connections with others, and am continually in a position to learn more. There is an amazing opportunity for us to come together as a community to meet one another, share experiences, network, and have fun in the process. For the first time ever, The Wyatt Holliday Foundation is working on an event called, “Exceptional Families 3K Walk & Roll.” This fundraiser for the foundation will be held at gorgeous Owen Beach at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. The promenade walkway is flat and paved, offering water views and allowing children and adults of all abilities to participate, no matter disability or diagnosis. Money raised from this event will benefit the ongoing mission and work of The Wyatt Holliday Foundation and Exceptional Families Network. We are actively planning this event and would love your participation! We are still recruiting volunteers and, of course, want to see lots of people in attendance. Already, we are seeing a positive response from the community and we haven’t even begun to advertise. I look forward to seeing the results of hard work and a caring population coming together into something beautiful and beneficial.

If you want to share the joy of connection, please place this event on your calendar and come enjoy a sunny morning among friends on Saturday, September 26th. More information, including online registration, will be posted very soon! Please check back here or send me an email if you have any questions or would like to volunteer. I am reachable via email at specialfamiliespc@gmail.com.

See you in September!