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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Curious about this play...

Came across an article about this show, "Falling," currently playing Off Broadway.  If I don't get to New York soon, I'd love to see this come to Chicago. I like the angle that it's not the sanitized version of autism - it's a reflection of the reality of it all.

http://www.ageofautism.com/2012/10/falling-a-play-about-autisms-less-fundraiser-worthy-side-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ageofautism+%28AGE+OF+AUTISM%29

The show's website is:  fallingplay.com
 

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Forum for Parents of Young Adults w/Developmental Disabilities this Monday in Naperville, IL

One of my fellow ACE (my boys' school) moms is on the panel for this informative forum:
NapervilleWorks presents:
“Make the Day Matter”
A Forum for Parents of Young Adults
With Developmental Disabilities:
Scheduling Life Beyond Transition
Come to hear from families in our area about the activities their young adults with developmental disabilities are engaged in. Also, get tools and techniques for developing a positive and purposeful schedule of activities for your student after transition.
Monday, October 22, 2012
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
Naperville Municipal Center
400 South Eagle Street Naperville, IL 60540
630-842-7634

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Eeeeeeee, just another day!

My kids are so loud, it makes me thankful for my hearing loss.

I no longer like the letter E, as it is screeched all day long.

Things must be thrown behind things, such as beds, couches, cabinets, dressers, tvs and the desk I am attempting to sit at.

Toilet water must be splashed everywhere regardless of what nastiness is in the toilet.
 
The kitchen must have an inch of water on the floor.  Little guy is in his room while I can mop the kitchen.  Surprised Peeping Paula (our nosy neighbor who looks like Paula Deen, no offense to Paula) isn't hanging out her window on the phone, pointing in our direction.

Wow, the door kicking just got quite loud.  Wonder if the neighbors will call the police because this accomplishes...?

I have my questions prepared for the next time the police are called:  And they called you because...? Your coming here will accomplish...? Your being here solves what problem, how? Of course, all done in the snotty voice of the David Spade character who worked for, I think, Dick Clark...and he would know you from...?
 
But I won $1 in the lottery today! Woohoo!

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Stimming on Saturday!

For those unfamiliar with autistic lingo, "stims" are stimulating behaviors, which are a common feature of ASD.  These can manifest in many ways.
 
My younger son likes to line things up.  He can literally do that all day long.  He likes to open and close doors and cabinets, fridge, oven, dishwasher, as well as kick same and pound walls.  We have a big hole in our laundry room door and a hole in the drywall in every room.  One of the kitchen cabinets finally broke off.  I've been trying to think of a creative, crafty way to make it look half decent, since redoing the entire kitchen isn't an option right now.  Even if we could afford it, he would just destroy the kitchen again anyway, and that would really suck.  Murphy's law, it's never the thing on its last legs they break - it's the new thing, like my new stove. :)  The past few weeks, it's been water - turning the kitchen faucet on and off and on and off and eventually filling cups and bowls with water that is subsequently dumped on the floor.
 
 
Right now my older son is looping the preview that "Barney is coming up next."  I don't know what's more annoying, the Barney preview looping or the actual Barney show. :) My husband is thankfully at work.  If he was here, the repetition would drive him IN-SANE! I have a much higher tolerance for annoying sounds.  Anti-depressants are a beautiful thing. :) He also likes to loop You Tube videos, most recently videos of the show outside Cinderella's castle at Disney World.  He found video of the exact same show we saw this summer.  Watching him re-live it again and again is actually kind of charming. :) Brings a little tear to my eye to know how magical that trip to Disney truly was for him. The Disney music goes through my head all day at work, "find your dream, find your dream..." He also sings the same phrases over and over.  This changes daily.  It isn't so bad because he has a very nice singing voice.  Well, not bad for me.  That sends my husband over the edge, too.
 
 
My youngest brother, who does not have autism, used to love to repeatedly loop videos on the VCR when he was the same age.  He told me years later when he was taking film-making classes at Columbia College in Chicago that this came in handy for film editing.  In class, they had to repeatedly watch video loops and listen to sound loops to detect subtle differences when editing material.  Maybe he has a future in film production?
 
 
Anyway, back to our day...right now we're looping, "here on sproutonline.com..." nope, just switched, now we're watching Chica on Sprout do a finger painting over and over...definitely spending some time outside later!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Archie's Market

 
http://www.ArchiesMarket.com/ is FINALLY Launched. (many years...blood, sweat & tears). Check it out & please pass on to your contacts. We are offering a discount to celebrate the launch.. Use Coupon Code: WelcomeAboard & save 20% on your purchase. We also have a "local pick-up" option to save on shipping costs. We can deliver items to your school/business too (within 15 miles from Oak Lawn/Evergreen Park). Check in often, many new & unique products for the holidays & even more exciting is our upcoming FORUM. A place to discuss current issues, share information or simply escape. Thank You & God Bless, Michele (Shelly)