April - Autism month

To be accepted you have to be understood,

To be understood, you have to gain knowledge,

To gain knowledge you have to promote awareness.

So here we are, at - "awareness" - it's not a negative thing, it's about educating others.

The opinions and controversy over the promotion of Autism day/month may vary from person to person whoever you discuss it with.

Accepting what is, regardless of the outcome…..

I have been trying all day to make sense of an emotional turmoil that's been placed before me.

The struggles we face, for many reasons, can be hard on any family, no-one is immune from the roller coaster we can find ourselves being hurled upon.

Everyone has a journey they need to take…..

Living and Growing in Today's Society....

While facing different daily struggles, issues deemed by others as irrelevant, some completely consuming, and some that will cause the strongest of families to crumble,

Some days just don't make sense

Some days result in a big lot of set-backs  

Some days we just can't wait to end, so we can start again tomorrow

Some days see our man sinking inside himself, sitting there frozen, staring off into space, unable to function at all.

Finding the right assistance and supports

There are many situations, disabilities, 'issues', differences, we face that may hold us back from being who we feel we are deep-down inside.

The stigma of labeling, may deter many from gaining help and support at the time it is most needed and beneficial. The embarrassment of being seen as a neglectful or non-attentive parent, or having others view their child as 'flawed' or simply disobedient.

Facing frustrating moments, trying to explain to others why our kids react/or don't react to certain situations or events.

……When your child doesn't want to participate….

Life!!! What is it for, what is it all about?

Most people see life as a learning experience, seeking, exploring, achieving, connecting, and so much more.

Yet many on the spectrum can find minimal to no reasoning behind life and existence.

No matter how hard we try with all the educational and intervention supports we connect them with,

for many reasons…the main 2 being-

Onwards and Upwards….. 2017 has already taken hold.

A.J.'s positivity shines through
to many people he meets

I haven't written any 'life postings' for a while, as I busily set up new school routines, and head into new and exciting projects with the ASD Support activities I have prepared to make available to our locals.

The extreme heat over summer has also put a holt to many plans, as I dealt with health issues caused in some ways by those dramatic conditions.

We've had such a busy last few weeks, with the back-to-school routine schedules.

A.J.'s happily settling in, confronted with his many new activities and subjects, he was still able to cope extremely well.

Remembering his diagnosis - Autism Spectrum Disorder - DSM 5 - level 2

He is very highly intelligent, academically, although socially and emotionally etc he is still very delayed,

Many of the areas needing support and assistance relate to his Sensory Processing Disorder, Anxiety, and OCD, although his Scoliosis may also become aggravated after a day of climbing stairs, physical sport/PE, etc.

2016, the holidays, and progress......

A.J. is a unique and special individual,
we love and adore everything he has become.

2016 has all but come to an end,

This year has been so busy, my mind's been all over the place,

being involved in so many things and trying to keep the usually level of control and harmony with our regular routines.

A.J. faced a lot of unusual experiences, some good, some bad, some just different.

He still struggles with anything that's inconsistent, especially when it involves anything he perceives as non-relevant to him, then it is all the more difficult to accept or take hold of.

With all this A.J. has still managed to progress so much, with the support from his school being such a big influence, as they helped him understand he is more capable than he realised, with the rest he'll always have someone to help out.

Accepting that our little man is not so little anymore, seeing him consume the teenage sector of his growing stages,

and along with that bringing some bonuses, and some 'downfalls', as he discovered.