Today I gave a program for Lion's Club in Anson. Here is the script....
My son, Logan, is ten years old. He has brown hair, the most beautiful brown eyes and is the sweetest little man I know. He loves his cat Thunderbolt, horses and his Grammy and Grandpa. Looking at Logan you would never know that he has a debilitating disorder known as Autism. Autism affects every aspect of Logan's life...and the lives of everyone around him. Logan's autism makes it hard for Logan to be in large groups, be around loud noises and he doesn't understand that at times he can be rough. With the verbal challenges that Logan has it is so hard for people to understand how smart he is.
When Logan was born he developed normally. He walked at 14 months, said book and bug by age 1 and while slightly delayed hit every milestone...it was not until he turned two that red flags began to arise. At the two year old check up his pediatrician became alarmed by Logan's behavior and started questioning me... did he always talk that way? did he always spin in circles, did he always avoid eye contact. His behavior worried the pediatrician so much that he quickly referred Logan to a team of specialist. From that point on many people examined my son...from Neurologist, psychiatric, developmental counselors, and geneticist. Logan also started getting Occupational therapy and speech therapy. I took him to a psychologist that was a professional dealing specifically with children with special needs. The news was devastating...Logan either had Obsessive Compulsive disorder or autism or both. The official diagnosis was Pervasive Development Disorder not otherwise specified. In layman's terms.. We refer to this as Autism.
As a parent several questions came to mind....would Logan ever speak? Would he be able to go to school? Would he have friends? Would he fall in love? Go to College? Drive a car? Now 8 years later I can answer some of those questions but not as many as I would like to be able to.
Now I am sure you are wondering what it is like to have Autism...and the world view of Autism has changed alot since Dustin Holfman's portral of Rainman in 1988. While it is true...this is representive of someone with Autism...that is just one side of the story.
An expert once said...if you have met one person with Autism...you have met one person with autism. In other words...Autistic individuals are like snow flakes...while they resemble each other no two are alike.
I would like you to close your eyes. I want you to imagine if music was blaring next to your ears, people laughing, cars on the street, music from the speaker in a store. A Flashlight is shinning right in your eyes, a lemon drop is in your mouth, someone is constantly touching you poking their finger up and down your arms, and the worst smell you can imagine is running up your nose. Doesn’t feel very comfortable right? Well....this is just one example of what it is like to be autistic. Now imagine that the noise is always too soft, no food has any taste, or it never seems to be bright enough for you. Imagine that you can get bite by millions of fire ants and not know it. This is another example of what it is like to be autistic....
Autism is a complex brain disorder that often inhibits a person's ability to communicate, respond to surroundings, and form relationships with others. First identified more than 50 years ago, Autism is typically diagnosed by the age of two or three. Autism affects people of all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Few disorders are as devastating to a child and his or her family. While some people with Autism are mildy affected, most people with the condition will require lifelong supervision and care and have significant language impairments. Many children with Autism will never be able to tell their parents they love them, although I am very blessed that Logan can tell me and gives me many hugs and kisses.
Autism Facts
•1 out of every 110 Children has Autism.
•1 out of every 70 Boys has Autism.
•This year more children will be diagnosed with Autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined.
•Autism is the fastest- growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
•Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade.
•Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases.
•There is no medical detection or cure for Autism.
Logan's autism impairs his ability to effectively communicate. Even though he is ten, in many ways his 8 year old brother Ben is more mature and intellectually ahead of his brother. Autism effects every aspect of his life, he has trouble holding a pen and writing, he trips over his own feet constantly, and his diet is restricted greatly because many textures bother him.
We went through extensive therapy to enable Logan to take showers and sleep in a normal bed at night.
Logan lives life very much on his own terms...hugs and kisses are only given on his terms and his day must be predictable and planned out. The most recent challenge we have faced is that Logan's inability to sit in a chair at school is distracting and his need for sensory stimulation can sometimes cause behaviors that don't fit within the bounds of a classroom setting.
He currently receives 4 hours of therapy a week, both inside and outside of school. He gets speech therapy, occupational therapy, and ABA therapy.
As a parent of Logan I often wish he had a shirt on that said, "It's ok, I just have Autism." That is why I strongly urge others to learn about Autism. With the increasing numbers, the chances are if you don't know someone with Autism, in the next ten years you will.
I want to stress that Logan is Autistic, but that is only a fraction of who Logan is. He is a wonderful little boy that makes me laugh and enjoy every day.
- Just Another Chaotic Post From the Newspaper Chick
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