Many of you do not know but I have a son with autism. And I totally understand what the parents of today are going through. I was lucky enough to have a doctor when we were in Germany (husband in AF at the time) that told to take our son home to get him the earliest intervention we could. Derek (yes the son that just got married) is that child. He was 2 1/2 when we found out.

There was a program at UNLV that was a teaching graduate program for special education who helped Derek in more ways than we could ever thank them, and I stayed home to raise my son to be the man he is today. Autism is a disorder that happens to more boys that girls. Here is a wonderful site that offers you videos about what it means. http://www.autismspeaks.org/video/glossary.php
When I was raising Derek I didn’t have the programs that there are today. Its a good thing that there are all parents now. In fact the first few doctors told us to put him in a home with others just like him and forget him. Wrong! Its the most joy feel, upsetting hair putting time of my life, but I have always felt that God never gives you more than you can handle. I would not be the person today if I had never had Derek.

Because there is so many different levels to autism that if your son seems to be not there around 2 have him checked out. Derek didn’t say more than 3 words at 2. He started piling things. Taking blocks out of boxes and piling them and knocking him down and piling them again. I have pictures of him where he is looking at the camera then after about 2 stopped. He wouldn’t look at me or anyone. Its was a scary time for us. After working with him for 23 years now he is well a justed enough to get married. Not all boys get to be this lucky and my heart goes out to their parents. In fact there is something really simple that you can do.

Just visit this site by clicking on the image

and you visit Chevrolet.com watch a short video and they donate to help other parents with children with autism. Help out Autism Speaks for other parents with children with autism. We at here at Overall Beauty will be making a donation of $1.00 for each order that comes in the month of April to Autism Speaks to help other parents with their fight against dealing with fools who will never understand the joy and pain we all go through with our children.

Posted: April 7th, 2008 under Links.
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