APRIL IS AUTISM MADNESS

So Autism Awareness month is here. April is said to be the month to best get heard when reaching out to society when trying to raise awareness for Autism. I consider every month to be awareness month! I blog, talk, share, link, tweet and more It seems to happen naturally now and it just comes easy to me. I am proud to say im passionate about autism. I love autism solely because its part of my son.  Aspergers don’t make little man! Little man makes Aspergers. So for this reason I’m going to blog like mad this April! I’m looking to do at least one interview this April. I really enjoyed them last year and I’m considering bringing back the feature permanently. Guest post will also feature on the blog this April and throughout the rest of the year. The first Guest post is in relation to my day in Court on the 30th March 2010. A friend who attended Court with me has written an interesting  post. She makes fantastic points and has strong opinions it’s in my view a wonderful read.

Over these past few months I have discovered some great links and excellently good blogs that I’m keen to share with readers. Some have been added to the links already.  Pass through regularly?  Then maybe you noticed and gave them a preview. You will also see that a few more blog buttons have been added to the sidebar. If  displayed then in my opinion they are worth a look. With it being April I will be highlighting some fantastic campaigns and non-profit charity’s So if you’re looking for an Autism  charity to fundraise for this April then please I urge you to check these out. The last few months it’s been nothing but doom and gloom within these blog walls. That’s not what I want the blog to be focussed on. I don’t want new visitors, parents of  a newly diagnosed child to look and feel that life is set to be a never-ending challenge. I wont lie when I say with every closing door another seems to open and behind it is a new battle. It seems to be that way  for me right now! But ASD or not! We will always as parents try to gain the best in everything we aim for when it’s for our children. No day is the same! As is no child on the spectrum.  We need less negativity and more positive Input. As little man don’t return to school in till 21st April that gives me plenty of time to spread a little sunshine over the blog.  And lets hope that some day soon school will bring more positive days for little man clearly resulting in a few more uplifting post.

Well in my quest to create a totally  jam-packed Awareness month and not being able to take on the challenge single-handed, I’m gonna need readers help. This is what I’m looking for.

• A Father of a child on the autism spectrum. I want to hear from the dads who would be interested in sharing their story in an interview with me. Covering diagnosis its impact and what everyday life is like. Check out some of the interviews from 2009. John Kirton from the documentary Autism x6 on Discovery Health was interviewed on the blog last April. Did it raise awareness? Hell yes and it still continues too giving that it’s still one of our most popular post on this blog to date. John a father to not one but six children all placed along the spectrum of autism made for a truly inspirational interview. I’m not requesting you need six children in order to participate in an interview I’m just requesting you’re a father to a child on the Autism spectrum. Email me or comment if interested.
• Mums tell it how it is. This was a feature due to start last month. However this never happened with the craziness of whats been my life lately. So any spectrum mums who wish to voice important opinions or advise other parents and caregivers on ASD related issues then let me know. I am hoping that the lovely Rachel author of the blog Strange and beautiful would still be happy to share her insights in a talk relating to Sensory sensitivities 🙂
• Kids art to be put up on the Autism and Art page. Please refer to the page for details.
• help in our ever-growing Autism Love list. All it takes is for you to visit the page and state your reason for loving Autism. After all it’s within somebody we love. For this reason I say we embrace it. Thank you for the recent comments on the page. If you were one of them commentors then I’m pleased to inform you that your comments have been transformed into something beautiful and are now ready to view as part of the Autism Love List.
• Now for my big ask!  Are there any autism professionals willing to be interviewed? By professionals I mean specialist teachers, Dr, Educational psychologist, speech and language therapist, behavioural therapist, child psychologist, mental health practitioner or other. There would be no payment for the interview. It would be done by yourself solely for the purpose of helping raise awareness for autism. And for that I would be truly greatful.

Anybody who participates on any part of this blog are very welcome to have a link back to their blog or website.

Autor Clairelouise82 parkinson.claire@yahoo.com

MUM’S TELL IT LIKE IT IS.

Well the blog has been going for quite sometime now. In this time I have heard back from many other parents like myself with children on the autistic spectrum. It’s been a great way to bring us mums together and share our experiences. Some great comments have been posted, some interesting interviews taken place and I am pleased to say some great friends have  been made. When I started writing  A boy with Asperger’s back in October 2008 it was for many reasons. Raising awareness for a condition that was very close to my heart  was one of them. But I also had a great deal more to learn about it. I feel that as well as give something I gained so much more from writing this blog . It was a wonderful thing to have found and connected with so many others that like me were on a roller coaster of ups and downs when facing a world that so many other people were yet to understand. I guess I kind of made it my goal to raise awareness for ASD. My child and many others needed to be understood.  Even if the blog only reached a few people and them few gained a better understanding at least that was something. Well  I really can’t ask for better support with the blog . Over the last 16 months we have had huge numbers of readers and many other blogs and sites have linked up to us or added us to their listings. I really am grateful for this:)

Well It’s been sometime since the blog had a monthly feature. I was so busy with the pregnancy and stuff  that sadly the Big interview had to stop. I really do miss it! and for this reason have decided to bring something new to the readers.

MUMS TELL IT LIKE IT IS!

The idea for the feature came to me when I was reading some of the many comments left on the blog by other parents. Each month I want to hear from a parent of a child on the spectrum this will be their chance to get heard and reach out to others and join me in raising awareness for Autism. Each month will have a topic of conversation. Like Sensory sensitivity, Obsessive interest, Autism at school and so on. So if you want to get heard and share your story with others then here is the place to do it.

SENSORY SENSITIVITY

This is our frist topic of conversation so if anyone is interested and wants to be our first mum to tell it like it is then waste no time in contacting me by leaving a comment with a contact email address. The big interview was a great feature that did fantastic and was a real hit. I’m sure if we all come together mums  tell it like it is will do just as well.

UPDATE 20-04-10

Sorry that the a bove feature did not go ahead as planed back in March. This sadly was due to a lack of time on my part. Little man was excluded three times that month so thinks were kinda hectic. Hoping to have the first part of this feature up and posted by the end of the month.

UP AND COMING.

Oh yes, It’s drawing closer to my favorite time of the month. 

THE BIG INTERVIEW 🙂 

As many of you know last month was my first big Interview! It was a great, really enjoyed the interview with Cale Irwin a 20 year old with Asperger’s. 

This months Interview is going to be just as great. I was extremely pleased when Kyra Anderson contacted me. Mother to Fluffy and writer of  the fantastic blog  This Mom agreed to a joint interview with her amazing 8 year old son fluffy. Fluffy has Aspergers and is the same age as my little man so it was wonderful to be able to hear what life was like for fluffy and his mum. I received the interview back from Kyra today and I must say it is a fantastic and wonderful read that you really must read. 

THE BIG INTERVIEW IS NOW TAKING PLACE ON THE  20th OF MARCH, NOT ON THE 30th AS PLANED.

GREAT NEWS FOR APRIL !

John kirton will be joining the fun in the month of April ( Autism awareness month ) to take part in the Big Interview.  WOW I’m so looking forward to it.

For anybody that  don’t know John, he and his wife are the parents of six children on the Autism spectrum. This amazing and remarkable family have been featured in People magazine, appeared on Good morning America, inside edition Larry King. There newest project a documentary Autism x6 is currently being shown on the Discovery health channel. Check out the families website Autism Bites 

DATE FOR THE JOHN KIRTON BIG INTERVIEW TO BE ANNOUNCED

IN THE  FIRST FEW WEEKS OF APRIL.

Monday finds drawing to an end.

Today and next week will be the last of the blog feature Monday finds. Don’t worry a great new Monday feature will be started in it’s place. So watch this space, updates will be added through this coming week. Thanks to everyone that supported the Monday finds. I hope you all enjoyed it 🙂

THE SIBLING SUPPORT PAGE.

Yes it’s almost ready!  The sibling support page is still in the process of being created. Some great features are in the pipe line It’s a page that I hope will help many. There will be information and related links for siblings of autism, A problem page, listed events and more.

ARE YOU A SIBLING OF SOMEONE WITH AUTISM? IF THAT’S A YES WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS FOR THE SIBLING SUPPORT PAGE. TELL US WHAT YOU WANT AND WE CAN TRY AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

My newest Autism related video’s

Time for a change! 

If you check my vodpod widget in my sidebar, you will find that the old five video’s have now been replaced with five new ones. All videos are autism/aspergers related. I change videos every  month or so depending on if they are being viewed a lot and the feedback I receive on them. Last months videos seemed to catch a lot of attention and there was some really great feedback on all five of the selected films that I chose to share:) Here’s hoping that my new selection does just as well. One of the videos is a British campaign video aiming to raise more awareness for children with autism and aspergers. It shows a group of kids at school with there attempt at bullying a boy in the playground. The video is very clever in showing how this situation could turn out if the attempt of bullying is aimed at a none autistic child and one off a autistic child. Very cleverly done you get to see the film in both situations. This is a film that some may find upsetting as bullying in itself can be a horrible thing to see.

I really do hope you enjoy the videos that have been selected and they bring both information and awareness 

Would be fantastic to her others opinions so please keep them coming:)

RE..THE BIG INTERVIEW

I had the most enjoyable time doing the big interview with Cale. I’m looking forward to the next one which will be scheduled for the end of march. Stay tuned to find out who is up next. Let me just say it’s gonna great. Look out for the big Interview poster which will list the name of the next guest participating in the interview. Post will be up on the site within the next week and again a week before the event.

Interested in taking part? Then leave a comment with a contact email or email me at parkinson.claire@yahoo.com

IT’S ALMOST HERE

CHECK THESE BEAUTIES OUT!

Oh yes i have been a lazy lady!!

It was so about time i started adding some more links and site reviews to my links page! It wasn’t like i didn’t have the resources’ more so the time:(

Never mind as i have kicked my own butt which i admit was much needed’ and added some newbie reviews:)

Wanna check out what I’ve been checking out? Want to see what sites and blogs i felt the need to write about? Check out the review page listed at the top of my screen and have a look for yourself!

GO ON’ GO ON. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO:)

UPDATE..THE BIG INTERVIEW

This is a update for my post new features.

The big interview… The date for the first big interview is 28/2/09 This is a feature i have been looking forward to. It’s always great to hear peoples stories. I love reading interviews regarding ASD. It’s gonna be fab as i will get to hear everybody’s views and personal experiences relating to the condition and as a parent to a child on the spectrum i think i could learn some stuff as there’s always something new to learn about ASD.

The first Big Interview is with Cale Irwan a young guy of 20 who is on the spectrum. He has the condition Aspergers! Cale tell’s me what life was like growing up with Aspergers. He talks about school life, sensory problems, motor tic’s and more.

This is a interview i advise you not to miss a must read and a great look into one boys life with Asperger’s.

Cale irwin’s interview 28/2/09

LOOK OUT FOR UP AND COMING INTERVIEWS. WANT TO GET HEARD? GET YOURSELF ON THE INTERVIEW LIST EMAIL ME AT

parkinson.claire@yahoo.com

LAPTOP FOR G

Little man is over the moon as daddy got him his very own laptop for his bedroom. His used laptops and pc’s before but his never had his own.

I’m hoping he will learn alot  from using a laptop through we have to be careful as his a little to clever at times. His been searching the net for pictures of buses today. His already printed them out and added them to his safe box. He loves seeing the different buses from around the world’ His forever calling me to come and have a look.

We also got him mobile broadband on pay as you go. He knows that getting up early and getting to school on time is a must if he wants his pocket money in order to top up and use the net. He seems pretty keen but for how long  i don’t  know . If it works well i will let you all know.  Alice also got a treat from daddy:) she got a lovely little Sony hand held DVDplayer’ it’s so cute. She loves to get away from  stuff now and then (frighting with G) and she loves everything puppy dog  so she got some film’s that were full of  cute little doggies. So that’s the kids happy.

But I’m pleased to inform you all about my new toy:):) BIG SMILES. I got a new Macbook air. So I’m going to be doing some fab photo editing and new blog features so watch this space.

TIME TO GET ARTY!

  The time has come to get arty. That’s right guys get out them pencils and create some art for the new autism and art page. Been emailed some wonderful pictures that are due to be uploaded. It’s gonna be hot’ be a part of it and get your art on display today.