Radio Silence

So it's pretty obvious I haven't posted in a long, long time and I can't say that I'm going to apologize for it.  Our house is finally starting to slow down after a constant buzz since that fateful day in September when we got the call that Andy's name had finally come to the top of the waitlist for IBI funding.  I'm not a cryer...but I freely admit I cried on the phone with a total stranger.

Andy's name has been on the list since August of 2010.  We were originally told 15 months..yet, as with most government things, it took nearly 2 1/2 years.  I had no idea when we got our funding just how much work would be needed to be completed on our end to make it happen.  The amount of meetings, assessments and paperwork felt like it was more then when we first applied and got accepted!

Assuming nobody is wanting to read a novel of our adventure I'll share a little picture diary to sum up our past several months to catch you up.

Andy's first day of SK

Andy started started Senior Kindergarten in September and we've been blessed with an incredible Educational Assistant (EA).  Her continued enthusiasm in working with Andy and learning as much as possible about what makes him tick has been invaluable.  We've gone through some rough spots with Andy at school but as parents we continue to have faith in Andy's team that are surrounding him at school.

Andy having some fun with spider hat

October was full of Halloween fun.  We were actually able to celebrate and get into the spirit with the kids in ways that we've never done before.  Our spider hats were a big hit with a close second to crafts.  Crafts are a new thing in our house.  Andy has suddenly decided that he loves all crafts and Emily cannot help but agree.  I cannot believe how many times we're having to change our kids masterpieces that are on display. 

Andy making some dough ornaments

November was a busy month for me at work, and unfortunately Andy suffered for it.  I was working more hours then I usually do and Andy was reacting to it.  He was up often in the night and it meant little sleep for the rest of us.  However that being said, there were some incredible gains as well with Andy. 

Discovered Andy LOVES bowling!

December started with celebrating with my hubby's family Christmas.  During that weekend I got to witness one of the most beautiful moments.  Andy and his cousin Teagan playing, chasing and laughing with each other for almost half an hour!  Unfortunately I didn't have a camera but I think it'll be a memory that I'll never forget.  It was the first time that I have ever seen Andy willingly engage in play with someone other then an adult or his sister completely unprompted.  It was such a privilege to witness and simply enjoy the moment.  Thank goodness for cousins!

Cousins

Our Christmas season finished off with my side of the family's celebration.  Truly the best Christmas our family has experienced to date.  It was so neat to watch both kids enjoy the family and friends surrounding them as well as all the festivities. While enjoying this season...I cannot wait for the Chrstimas' to come!

Okay, seriously they had fun..not that you can tell from the forced posing!

 January has brought some new beginnings in many ways...I'll post about it later.  For now, just know that my "radio silence" has simply been due to just too many things going on in this household!

Happy new everyone!

The Autism Project: The Toronto Star Article series

I appreciate so much as a parent when someone, especially a large newspaper, taking the time to raise awareness and share information on Autism with the greater public.

Here are some interesting articles about some current topics in the Autism community:

Students with Autism Fend for Themselves - the struggle some many kids have lost in the school system

Autistic children need action from Ontario now - the need for more support from the Ontario government for individuals and their families

In search of Autism - study involving gathering a gene databank

iPad 'speaks' for non-verbal autistic kids - Andy is currently using an iPad and is flourishing!

How Canada is starting to tackle the autism crisis - examining the idea of a national strategy regarding Autism

The Odyssey to get your child treated and diagnosed - unfortunately, this article is all too accurate in the waits and lack of willingness to diagnose young children

The Rain Man of Shenzhen - talented 29 year old piano player

Autism diagnosis change questioned by York study - discussion of the new medical definition of Autism

Study tests early intervention signs for toddlers - empowering parents to help their kids while on waitlists

Autism Research Chair will look at bullying - new study by a York professor regarding Autism and bullying

The gifts of fall doesn't have to include flu & cold season

It seems like with every fall comes back to school, new schedules and cold & flu season.  Here's the difference in our family these days, we don't feel like we have to accept cold & flu season without being able to do something about it.

Recently I read an excellent blog post by Meredith Beasley from The Resourceful Mother on Natural First Aid remedies that's worth a read.  You likely have most of the supplies in your house already, so perhaps you can avoid that middle of the night trip to the drug store!

Natural First Aid Remedies

Also, if you're interested in attending an excellent local workshop in Cambridge, Ontario then consider going to "Homeopathy at Home and at Play Workshop" at Nature's Vibe on November 10th from 10am-3pm.

Here's the description:

Have you ever wanted to learn how to safely treat your own family with natural remedies? Colds, flus, cuts, bruises, sprains, bug bites, burns, sunburns, muscle strains, splinters,food poisoning, etc. all can be easily treated using homeopathicmedi​cine. This workshop is designed tointroduce you to the basic principles of homeopathy and to teach you how to usethe remedies yourself in non-life-threat​ening first aid situations. Join us fora full day of learning and discover the amazing healing powers of homeopathy! Admission: $65 + HST Homeopathic “First Aid Kits” will be available for purchase during the workshop. Please bring a lunch. Light snacks and beverages will be available for purchase at Nature’s Vibe. RSVP REQUIRED!!

Best summer ever!

I am pleased to say that this summer has been our best summer ever as a family!  

We have been incredibly busy having fun.  It helps that Emily is now 2 1/2 years and is able to last for a day and skip the occasional nap.  Andy has just continually made so many leaps forward over the past three months that we've been able to have a summer full of giggles, smiles and new experiences.

Here are a few of our special moments over the summer...

Andy has always loved the water. However this year he decided to try and learn to swim..and join in play with others!

Family puzzle parties!

Popsicles in the pool with friends..aka, kiddie heaven

Siblings hiding in the closet...no parents allowed!

Snuggles with grandpa

Storybook Gardens - amazing day for all

African Lion Safari..look at that gorgeous smile!

And to think...there's still several more weeks left to have fun.  This summer has been amazing and makes me only look even more forward for what's to come in the weeks, months and years to come!

How to help a child with Autism

Two years ago I attended the Autism One Conference and got to meet the founder, Lisa Ackerman, of TACA.  They're an incredible organization of parents that support other parents with children who have Autism.

I wanted to share this simple and great video...perhaps you know someone that you should be sharing it with one day.

How to help a child with Autism from TACA

To be honest, I truly hope you never need to share this video however with stats like this...

High tech, low tech...

Over a year ago, our Speech and Language Therapist (SLP) through Lansdown Children's Centre (LCC) put through a referral to the Technology Access Clinic, known as TAC through Hamilton Health Sciences.  When the referral went through we were aware of the waitlist of approximately a year.  Our goal was to hopefully have an advanced communication system in place for Andy for his Senior Kindergarten year when our LCC SLP was phased out of our team.

TAC is a homebased service which does not have an age limit.  In April, we got a call to let us know that Andy was at the top of the list.  We were assigned a SLP that specialized in high-tech communication systems.  Gerry (our SLP) would assess Andy over several visits at the Clinic as well as at school.  I must mention that as it's a homebased service it is not common that the SLP includes the school however we are fortunate that Gerry believes in a 'whole picture' approach.

Being the control freak, uh, I mean dedicated mom that I am, I asked a ton of specific questions right from the beginning.  In my head, I already had a communication plan in mind and was crossing my fingers and toes that we might be lucky enough that they would agree with me! lol  Gerry was extremely patient and answered all my questions as well as quietly 'listening' to my plan without comment.

We've been meeting with Gerry since May every couple of weeks.  We've had ups and downs at the appointments.  Andy has not always brought his "A" game to show Gerry all of his abilities.  The first system that Gerry trialed with Andy was a Low Tech Springboard Communication.  It's very much like a slightly augmented version of Andy's PECS however you need a strong finger pressure to press the buttons.

I think because Andy is so used to playing with his iPad he didn't know how to push the button harder or the patience to do it.  We even started to implement some activities in his every day schedule both at home and in IBI to try and increase his point pressure.

Gerry next trialed an iPad in a hardcase that amplifies sound.  The case really changes the appearance of the iPad so it doesn't even look like the one Andy has at home.  Andy responded better to the iPad however the second to last visit he got stuck on requesting food and wanting a snack instead of using any of the other options.  John and I could tell that Gerry was waiting to see something more out of Andy that he hadn't been giving her.

Due to a scheduling conflict our original appointment at the end of June had to be delayed until this week..unbeknownst to us this delay worked in our favour.  During those weeks Andy's diet was changed to SCD and we were noticing major changes in Andy's ability to communicate and even more importantly to try new activities.  If you missed it, checked out my post earlier this week.

Andy and I went to our TAC appointment Wednesday afternoon.  I kept my fingers crossed and hoped for the best.  Well, Andy was a rock star that day and he knew it.  I think the little man was in show off mode from the moment I told him that we were going in the car to see Gerry and I asked him to do his best.  

When we parked the car Andy put his hat on (notice it's on backwards because he's that cool) and started to walk right to the building where Gerry's office is.  I have never seen him so confident that I just had to take a picture.

I even got him to turn and pose for a pic.

Andy was using the iPad with the program Proloquo2Go to request to play 'ball' and then used commands such as 'throw, catch, more, again' to play with Gerry.  He also requested 'bubbles' and then used commands like 'blow, pop, more, again'.  He was so proud of himself that he couldn't stop smiling and actually started to get incredibly silly because he knew he was rocking it!  It was a beautiful thing to watch and made my heart soar.

At the end of the session Gerry started to talking about Andy and using the iPad when I suddenly realized that she was making her recommendations!!!  Andy is being recommended to have an iPad in an amplified hardcase with Proloquo2Go.  

On August 17th we will be taking delivery of our new communications high tech system!  Andy will have his system in place just over two weeks before school so that he'll be ready to go for an incredible start to his Senior Kindergarten year.

This is really starting to feel like the year of Andy!

DIY - How to make a picture schedule

During a recent team meeting with Andy's IBI team we decided that he might be getting frustrated of not being aware of the order of his therapy session.  We thought a "picture" schedule might help lower his frustration or anxiety.

So guess what my project was today???  Thanks to the dollar store, I spent $5 and am thrilled with the result.

 

Used "business card" layout to create Activity Cards.  Printed them in black & white.

Bought "Self-laminating sheets" from Dollarama.  Pack of 8 cost $1.



This is an individual self-laminating sheet.

Place Activity Card where you want it, then follow the instructions.  Peeling the sheet off the sticky part.

Smooth sticky cover over Activity Sheet.

Voila!

I made 16 Activity cards in total...for now.

Cut a piece of Poster Board.  Add two strips of velcro, one large & one small.

I did not make this enveloppe myself, I'm recycling it from a board Andy has outgrown.  However supplies are available at the Dollar Store too!

Add a piece of velcro on the back of each Activity card.

The finished product!

I am using a large ziplock bag to store all Activity cards not in use.  There is space for 5 Activity cards on the strip and the enveloppe.  The enveloppe is for when the Activity is complete then Andy can remove it and put it in the enveloppe.  Although Andy is not able to read, as far as we can tell, each activity title is written in capital letters as he's currently working on these ones.  Also, often Autistics are able to read before they are verbal.

It really didn't take long to do, I think planning out the Activity cards was the most time consuming.  I think these schedules would be handy to have for several kids no matter what their ability.