STRUGGLING WITH BIG EMOTIONS AND MY AUTISTIC CHILDREN – a guest post from Erik Young

STRUGGLING WITH BIG EMOTIONS AND MY AUTISTIC CHILDREN – a guest post from Erik Young

I got robbed at gunpoint in my really nice Chicago neighborhood. What do I do now?

The link below is off-topic from what I generally write about and share on this blog, but it is well written and about the neighborhood I am from, a place very close to my heart.



I got robbed at gunpoint in my really nice Chicago neighborhood. What do I do now?

Special Needs Family Day in Homer Glen next week

　

Please join us for the First Homer Community Special Needs Family Day registration is required by June 19, 2014


This day is provided by: All Around Amusement, Homer Township, Homer Hwy. Dept. and the Village of Homer Glen and is FREE to families with Special Needs
In remembrance of Bernie Kucharski a long time, dedicated, volunteer of our community.

When: Thursday, June 26th Where: 14500 W. 151st Street, Homer Glen Parking opens: 2:00 p.m. Rides & Games: 2:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m We are hosting a Special Needs Family Day for the residents of our community. This is an opportunity for those with a special needs family member to join in a day of fun without the worries. No worry of holding up the rides - no rush at playing the games - just a few hours of enjoyable family entertainment. These hours are dedicated ONLY to those with special needs and their accompanying families. Chaperones are not provided, however, we will try to have additional volunteers available for assistance. All children and adults with disabilities must be accompanied on rides by a family member or caregiver(over the age of 18). Wrist bands will be issued to each participant. Food booths, provided by the carnival, will be open for your convenience.



Please Note: the carnival grounds are not paved and may be difficult to manuever a wheelchair or medical equipment.

Call Homer Township 708-301-0522 for more information.

Visit www.homertownship.com to print a registration application. Parade & Festival info: www.homerfest.com

TalkCatalyst - similar to the device my son uses

Chicago White Sox-Autism Speaks

The kids went to their first Chicago White Sox game on Saturday.  It was Autism Speaks Day and the White Sox gave $10 from each ticket sold through Autism Speaks to Autism Speaks.  I’ve been wanting to take them for years – was mainly concerned about my little guy and his pica – God knows what he would eat off the ground.  It is always a crap shoot with them – one behaves and the other doesn’t – very often it’s the one I was worried about that behaves and the one I thought would be fine is not.  Since Autism Speaks was involved for this particular game, they provided a sensory break area and a quiet area for the game.

 

The weather was hot – 88 degrees and we were sitting in the sun.  Of course I forgot sunscreen and had to borrow from my sister-in-law and of course I forgot diapers and just prayed the little guy would stay dry for a few hours (he did!)

 

My older son who has PDD-NOS had a few tantrums, mostly because he wanted to overeat – a problem with him lately, he’ll eat until he literally makes himself sick.  He was also overwhelmed by the heat – it was getting to me as well, so we walked over to the cool and shady quiet area a few times.

 

Sox lost, but the kids overall had a great time!  Something else we can now do as a family!