The Joy of Autism

High Anxiety

Two years ago today, to the day, Adam bolted. He has lots of need to run through doors, especially at my parent’s condo. I remember it well… my dad coming back from an enjoyable walk, his hand sweaty then off Adam went; so fast my dad said...

Published Tue, Jun 18 2013 2:46 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Anxiety, Transitions, Safety

Mapping Things Out

I must admit time heals anxiety. After the darkness comes the light, or is it the other way around? Well, the globe rotates. As Adam seeks knowledge by going through doors, I have always needed to calm my own anxiety through books. As I think more again...

Published Wed, Jun 19 2013 2:09 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Adam, Anxiety, Acceptance, Contributions to Society, Obsessions, Sensory Differences, Transitions, Safety, Behaviours, Wandering, Movement Disturbance

Mothers

Adam’s twitching has not fully abated and he was up all night…not something we’ve seen to this level for over three years now. He seems to be happier and I am working on keeping him calm – and there’s people who also help...

Published Fri, Jun 21 2013 12:38 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Parenting

Autistic Freedom

I’ve been thinking and planning with Adam’s team the next stages of his learning and doing our map project. Every once in a while, I got down the dark whole of blog comments and blogs that consistently regard autism, even its many complications...

Published Wed, Jun 26 2013 8:29 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism, Anxiety, Autism and Learning, Development, Art, Autism and Intelligence, Acceptance, communication, Contributions to Society, Obsessions, Sensory Differences, Advocacy, Transitions, Safety, Parenting, Law, Politics, Behaviours, Wandering, school, Movement Disturbance, Computing/iPad, Ableism, ABA, Language

The never-ending labyrinth

Adam’s jerking has increased as it was a few years ago… when we did the EEG and they said he had no seizure activity. My own anxiety feels seismic, and I wonder when all of this can explode, get worse, or if all my calming strategies for Adam...

Published Fri, Jun 28 2013 11:24 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Anxiety, Sensory Differences, Behaviours, Movement Disturbance, Medications, seizures

Scary Rain

Adam started camp and he has become content again, as I’d hoped.I’m tired around here after another flood in Toronto. Loud thunder and lightening struck just at the moment Adam’s bus came to the house. More than a month of rain dumped...

Published Tue, Jul 09 2013 6:14 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Adam, Estee

Loving Lamposts, Autism, and Remembering What’s Important

In 2007, I went to Edmonton to speak at Autcom. I happen to be presenting again at Autcom in Colorado this year about how to support autistic rights as parents, teachers, therapists and caregivers. At that conference, I was interviewed for the movie Loving...

Published Tue, Jul 09 2013 10:19 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Acceptance, autism, Inspiration

What Adam Said This Morning

Adam and I sat on the stoop as usual this morning for his bus to camp. Yesterday, Adam was content and happy and then his assistants reported another sudden biting incident, to which Adam didn’t seem to remember. It lasted but a few moments, then...

Published Thu, Jul 11 2013 6:56 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Adam, Acceptance, communication, Sensory Differences, Movement Disturbance, ABA

“We Are A Critical Mass of Wretches” – Larry Bissonnette

I am blissfully tired after our second day at the Communication Institute in Syracuse. This is Adam’s first autism conference and all that stuff that was happening beforehand has abated. He is happy here and spending time in a workshop in the mornings...

Published Tue, Jul 16 2013 3:03 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Adam, Uncategorized, Development, Writing, Acceptance, Joy, communication, Inspiration, Computing/iPad

Intelligence Redefined

Yep, yep…that’s how I felt reading a review of Scott Barry Kaufman’s book Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined. Dr. Kaufman, a cognitive psychologist from New York University claims that he was dismayed by IQism: “I would look into...

Published Sat, Jul 20 2013 8:37 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: communication, Intelligence

Communication as a Human Right

Every morning since returning from The Communication Institute in Syracuse, Adam has been typing. I’ve realized that he actually doesn’t need the levels of support that I thought he did, when given the right equipment at the right angles,...

Published Wed, Jul 24 2013 11:56 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: communication, Aides and Assistants

My Comment on CBC Synesthesia Story

Neuroscientist Dr. Tom Schweizer, here in Toronto, discuss synesthesia in a stroke patient with CBC’s Michael Serapio. It’s a cool story, but one that alerted me to the ways in which the neuroscientist and reported began to frame the phenomenon...

Published Wed, Jul 31 2013 5:58 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Synesthesia

That Loving, Fellowship Feeling

This is Adam’s best friend. Aside from going back to camp this summer, which he is able to do with an assistant, this is the friend who Adam spends time with. We recognized it was a real, unscripted friendship when the two of them preferred to play...

Published Mon, Aug 05 2013 6:56 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Adam, Inclusion, Family, Single Parenthood, Joy, school, Living, Friendship

Blehhhhh!!

I’m just posting this photo because I love it. That’s it. Here’s Adam with his assistant and counsellor, obviously having some fun. Okay, I’ll get political too…what opportunities that some kids could have if human support...

Published Tue, Aug 06 2013 1:19 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Joy

Bring a Friend to Camp Day

Here’s Adam with his buddy again. Inclusion and acceptance, not social or community isolation, please. Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Tweet about it The post Bring a Friend to Camp Day appeared first on Estée Klar . Read More...

Published Wed, Aug 07 2013 12:47 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Inclusion, Acceptance, Friendship

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