Autism? How many have children on the spectrum?

[CletusBodeen]

[Dugie]

Great pics!

[bullets13]

With my wife working in sped I have learned that if you’ve met one autistic person then you’ve met one autistic person.
None are the same but most are similar.

a truer statement has never been uttered.

[Ruttin&Struttin]

I have a brother-in-law that is high functioning and a math genius. I also have a 12 year old niece that is and functions pretty well but hardly speaks. Good luck with everything. Treatment and meds have come a long way in the past decade.

[eastover53]

Look at most of the medical specialist out there-- quite a few are on the spectrum. Very bright folks, just a tad different.

Very true. I worked with a surgeon that we referred to as "tri-polar". Couldn't make eye contact with anyone and wouldn't talk to anyone. Was know for throwing fits at no one in the OR when things weren't "just right".

[sotx]

I do however, think, that it has more to do with the medical community making advancements in diagnosing this type of thing.

Nail on head

[gingib]

I don't know if its just me but it seems the number of people I know that have autistic kids has grown rapidly the past 10-15 years. This has really been eye opening for me in many ways especially the past 5 years or so with regards to foods and chemicals.

AMEN!!!!! Nailed it

[Cajun Blake]

As a Special Education teacher, I can say you dads/moms are doing right. .

My wife has been a special education teacher for close to 25 years in a rural Poverty-stricken Parish. She's been approached many times by neighboring Parishes that pay more $$ to go teach there. Her answer has always been NO, it's not about the money; it's about the kids. She sees herself as an advocate for autistic, severe & profound, and developmentally disabled kids. She will fight tooth and nail to make sure these kids and their parents' voices are heard since many times social service organizations funded by the Government do not listen.

To the parents who are raising special needs children; you have my support and prayers. You're also doing a darn good job !

[CletusBodeen]

My wife has been a special education teacher for close to 25 years in a rural Poverty-stricken Parish. She's been approached many times by neighboring Parishes that pay more $$ to go teach there. Her answer has always been NO, it's not about the money; it's about the kids. She sees herself as an advocate for autistic, severe & profound, and developmentally disabled kids. She will fight tooth and nail to make sure these kids and their parents' voices are heard since many times social service organizations funded by the Government do not listen.

To the parents who are raising special needs children; you have my support and prayers. You're also doing a darn good job !

My wife feels the same way Blake.
She moved up to an ARD facilitator now and has a bigger impact for getting the kids what they need and not what is easier for the school.
She misses working with the kids themselves but feels she makes a bigger difference for more kids now.

[SCREAMINREELS]

Nephew didn’t talk until about 4, transferred between multiple schools in Houston and surrounding districts without success once he started school age in special Ed classes. Family had enough and paid for private school with teachers that were awesome. Ended up graduating high school in normal classes (although much smaller ratio than most schools) with kids that didn’t have any special needs and held his own. Now in college online at UH. Kids really smart but had to figure out his learning style. May not ever live on his own without a little guidance as he has a heart of gold and can’t tell when people are taking advantage of him/puts any stranger before himself but kindest person I know and a really hard worker. Gets his tasks done faster than most as long as he’s left solo. He’s currently putting himself through school for running money stocking shelves at night when the stores are closed. His minds just geared different. Very nervous in crowds and a little socially awkward. He will definitely succeed in life as he’s super smart and a hard worker will just take a different path than most. His mom fought hard to get him the right resources to help him figure it out. Was a challenge for years when young. Conversations are interesting Sarcasm goes over his head but he’s the king of puns and dad jokes. Think he will be a great business man behind the scenes and maybe even his own. Very money driven and knows how to make it but then he prefers to spend it on others. He’s broken down business plans and spreadsheets for his older brothers when they talked about mowing yards in summer etc. researches couponing and buys a ridiculous amount of stuff for free or spends like a dollar like the extreme couponing people on tv shows and sells it on Facebook etc. (as a hobby) he truly enjoys it and the challenge of the math/numbers game behind it. But then he’ll run into situations where he’s given it all away or will deliver it to someone over a fake sob story and feels bad for them and gives them some cash on top of free stuff because he wants to help everyone. If he could learn how to see through those situations he’d be golden, but that’s also part of what makes him such a caring/ nice person. Such a double edged sword.

[Burnadell]

My 22 year old grand nephew is autistic...cool kid/young adult. We love him to death and he regularly cracks me up!

[Bucknaked]

Little blessings !
My wife and daughter were in sped and have a special place in their hearts for these little ones- and big ones !

There is a lot of research that shows when parents hit the age of 40 and conceive there is a much higher risk of Autism in their children. I believe that God doesn’t give these little blessings to just anyone, he gives them to the Very Blessed.

[ThisLadyHunts]

I have a nephew. His parents I guess never really wanted to label him "having" anything. Super smart kid, that could read at a ridiculously early age, but has trouble in social situations and sometimes with noise and eye contact stuff that's typical of aspergers/mild autism. No doctor, but he's on the spectrum. Great kid, but he will have some growing pains. He was messing with the code to change how some video game worked the other day...lol

I have a nephew who is much like yours. My sister didn't want to believe her kid was austistic and ignored all chances to get him help. He's an adult now who's autism-related social awkwardness is exacerbated by the fact that he never got professional help as a child, that, and he was very indulged. Hate it for him because he could have so many more options as an adult than he does currently.

[Laketex]

Timely thread. We have been thinking our 7 year old might have autism. No tests or anything yet, but we need to get on that. He's super smart, reads a lot, is great with math. On the other hand, he's very socially awkward, legalistic, and very emotional. He throws 3 year old type tantrums often, and I don't know how to get through to him. So we have been talking about getting him into some sort of play therapy. On the topic of vaccines, he was vaccinated at an early age, his 5 year old brother was not. Huge difference, and the 5 year old seems better adjusted to life disregarding age. The 7 year old does not respond well to typical punishment, says his mind is scrambled and he has a hard time thinking. Both are homeschooled. I'll go back and read this thread when I have a little more time, but wanted to get it out there. Neither I or my wife have had any experience with this kind of thing.

[Drycreek3189]

All I can say is that this thread brought me to tears, literally. God Bless you parents !