Review : Atypical

I saw the trailer for this Netflix show quite awhile ago, and of course, it looked interesting.

I finally got around to actually watching this and it is very good. It has the right amount of family drama to keep one interested. But the main focus and the reason for writing this post is that this is also a very ASD positive series.  This story is told from the point of view of a teenager named Sam who is high functioning. It's interesting and nice to see how he struggles with the same issues that other teens deal with and how he copes and learns with help of his family and friends. I have watched at least 5 episodes and I have been binging the rest of this series soon. I highly recommend it to anyone who is in the spectrum or knows someone...or maybe those who want to understand what it's like for someone in the spectrum. 

Review: Jane Wants a Boyfriend

So last night I saw for the first time this movie called Jane Wants a Boyfriend about a 20-something girl in the Autism Spectrum. Jane has certain ideas about romance, and obsessively watches her romance films everyday. She has a limited social life and she works at her sister's theatre mending costumes. Jane meets her sisters friend Jack, who tends to date vacuous girls who only care about partying. They connect on a level in which they have never connected with anyone else before. They realize that they both are passionate about certain things unlike their peers. Jane thinks Jack is cool, and Jack likes that Jane is shy, and awkward, but he finds it cute.

I really enjoyed this film, and it was nice to see a "Not your neurotypical Love Story". I really felt for the character of Jane, and Jack. This was a very sweet and enduring view on people with Autism falling in love. I really liked how they made a point of saying that they were not retarded, but different, and that they have feelings and emotions like typical people. I rated this film 5 out of  5 stars on Netflix.

Another Resource for Parents of ASD Kids

So recently a family member recommended another ASD(Autism Spectrum Disorder) resource site for parents. I will link it here for others who may be looking for information to help them parent their ASD child. http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/

Below I have linked a resource in written form for you to check out too.

How to Fix An IPad With a Black Screen of Death

So, I hope by the time you have discovered this blog that you have already contacted Apple Support, and they were not able to resolve the issue of your Ipad having  the black screen of "death". I say death in quotes, because if you plug your device into your PC you should see everything it contains, and it should be charging.

I discovered this fix when the same thing happened to my son's Ipad.  My son's tablet is very important to him. He takes it everywhere, and we have had it for quite a long time. So of course, I knew he would be very upset if he discovered that it would no longer work. I tried calling Apple support after I had tried a few minor things, such as powering the device on and off a few times, and then plugging it into my PC to backup any and all files.  It had been quite awhile since his device had been backed up and connected to our home PC. It needed some much-needed updates, but could not be done because it was loaded with apps, and had no space in its memory to upload the new OS. I have heard from other people that sometimes the case may be causing this weird glitch with the screen as well, and simply removing the case may get it up and running again. So if you have a protective case make sure you try removing this, and cleaning it out. I know ours had sand from the beach in it, which means there was probably sand inside our Ipad too.

The first technician I spoke with told me to try and hold down the power button along with the home button, which I may add I had already tried after I had searched online(other solutions), and this was given as a solution. Being a trooper I tried it again, and told the tech I was still not getting a response. The frustrating thing was that this tech seemed to have very little experience with this issue, and didn't offer any other solutions, but that I should mail it to them or go to my nearest Apple Store ,and pay them $240 to get it repaired. I don't know about you, but I do not have $240 just to spend on a repair, and if I would spend that much I may as well have bought a new tablet.

It was after this first call that it happened. On accident, I dropped the tablet on the floor. Now this device has been dropped many times by my son, but it was always in it's protective case. This time it was out of the case, and this time the screen came back on. Although it did flicker and was not entirely back on for good it was not an entirely blacked out screen. This allowed me the opportunity to re-connect the device to my PC, and try to update to the newest Operating system. Of course, I had to delete a few apps to recover the space needed. What I had learned from dropping the Ipad was that this rough movement had somehow "fixed" the black screen. So when it started to fail again all it took were a few raps on the back of the device to revive the screen. As crazy as this sounds it worked, and now the device has no more screen issues. If you doubt this please feel free to search online yourself for the phrase"Spank the Ipad".

This is one of the videos about this fix I found online.

Crazy, huh? It worked for ours. If you have had this same situation happen to you, and this worked for you as well please feel free to comment below. Thanks for reading this post, and I hope this solution or one I linked worked out for you.

More People In the Spectrum Than We Know?

So I have talked to quite a few people, and have noticed some people who seem to fit certain traits linked to Autism Spectrum. So I was thinking that there are probably more people in the Spectrum than what is being reported. I think some people may have small or minute Autism traits so perhaps they pass for the norm or average person. I also wonder if there is some under reporting in the number of children diagnosed because of this same idea. This is just an idea I have and have no actual proof to back it up, but if you suspect that you may also be in the spectrum, or someone you know might be....perhaps this test may help shed some light on what you are suspecting - Autism Test for Adults. It is a very short test. Below I have included two books that may help.

Looking for Family Fun in CNY?

Sometimes it's not easy finding things to do with the family, and especially things for families. I found this Facebook page that has daily and sometimes weekly listings of events going on in the greater Central New York area. I have found this page pretty useful in finding things to do with the family. So feel free to click the link and check it out.

Out and About in CNY

Herbicides Causing Autism???

I just watched a video that someone shared on Facebook, and it really makes you think. I wonder ... could the way our food is produced be causing the rise in Autism Spectrum in children???  I will include the video down below for you to watch and make your own opinion, but seems to me that maybe going organic would be best for all even if it is not the cause.

Movies About Autism

No this is not a review, but just a listing of some films that are about Autism. Some are dramas, and some are documentaries, but all are worthy of being mentioned here. I figured I would make a listing, because let's face it there just is not too many mentions of this subject on the internet.

Here is an article I had written for Squidoo about a few Autism films. All of the films that I am mentioning are available through Netflix in their streaming section. Sounding the Alarm is a fairly newer one that is a documentary, and focuses on AutismSpeaks, and how they are trying to raise awareness. This seems to be only available on Netflix. It was a quick one, as it was only an hour long.

Another and final documentary I will mention is The United States of Autism, which is a movie that a Dad who won a contest sponsored by Pepsi. He wanted to show how different people within the spectrum are and how it is all over the nation.

I just watched another Autism documentary last night and decided to update this blog post to share another great film. It was called Autism in Love. This film showed a few different people who are in the spectrum and their attitudes about love. I highly enjoyed this because I could totally relate at times, and it helped to show how we all just want to be loved and accepted.

Bonefish Grill: Not a Family Friendly Restaurant

When we take our son to his very far away allergy specialist appointments we like to visit one of the many different restaurants that they do not have in our area. We did plan on going to Red Robin, but our son saw, and read the Bonefish Grill logo. He said "I like fish. Let's go there". My wife decided to look them up on a ratings site to see how expensive they would be, and they were rated at two dollar signs.

The outside of the establishment reveals very little. Of course it has outer seating to try and make it seem like a resort type of place. We walked through a revolving door into a very dimly lit room. I thought at first it was just the waiting area, but no....the whole restaurant is lit like a dungeon. They just had candles on each table, and the windows are covered with blinds, so that no light gets in. WEIRD!!!! The greeter sat us down at a table(I was hoping for one of the many open booths). I'm guessing this is the designated kids table, as there are Cheerios on the floor under this table.

Our waitress slowly approaches, and I emphasize on the slow part, because she was so unenthusiastic that she was like Eeyore on Prozac. She hands us the menus, and they are formatted so that the pricing is questionable. Being that it is a seemingly posh place I don't confirm what I think the prices are. She asks us if we would like some drinks, and I point out that the menu is hard to read. So she mumbles out some drink selections and I agree to a lemonade, which I later find out is a Vitamin Water brand. These lemonades once brought to our table are so watered down tasting it's like drinking cloudy water with A LOT of ice. I decide to use the restroom to wash my hands, as I always do before eating, and the bathroom is even darker. I almost can't find the stall it's so dark in there.

The waitress comes back and we decide to order. We order the infamous Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer, which this was sadly the highlight of our entire visit. I order the fish, and chips. My wife decides on a pasta dish, which for $4 more you can add chicken, which is the cheapest meat item. My son chooses a cheeseburger, which by far is the most expensive kids meal I have ever paid for at a whopping $7-8.  Surprisingly the shrimp came fast, and it was on special because it was Wednesday, and it was a decent portion for $6, and it tasted very good.

The food came at about the usual 15-20 minute wait. The portions for price in value were very very small, and not a good deal. For instance my meal the fish and chips, consisted of 3 fish tenders, and a portion of fries that was smaller than what you would receive in a value meal from a fast food chain. My son's cheeseburger looked so gourmet that he refused to eat it. My wife's pasta was kind of blah, and had very little chicken, which cost an extra $4.

So to sum up our total first time visit I would not go back to this place again unless I had a coupon or some money saving discount. It was not a good value, and I feel that the restaurant had taken advantage of us as patrons.

Autism Support Directory

I figured I would try and make a directory of Autism support services to make it easier for people to find. I have created the new blog here - Autism Support Directory. I think this is a great resource for those who do not know where to get services for either themselves or for a family member.  I know that as a parent that we had to discover everything for ourselves, and that we had little guidance. So I hope this endeavor helps someone out in the long run.

Ipad Alternatives

As a parent of a child in the Autism Spectrum I know how we have all heard how Ipads are recommended therapy for children in the spectrum. But sometimes it's not easy to obtain one, and the rules to get one through programs often change. Such as only if the child is non verbal, or cannot communicate, etc.  There are some sites that offer an opportunity to get them as well, such as Danny's Wish.  I know that many parents cannot afford to outright purchase these computer tablets or do not qualify for whatever requirements some programs have. So that is why I wanted to make a list of cheaper alternatives.

I had written an article previously about a similar subject for Squidoo, but since then there have been more tablets in the market that are just as good or similar to the ipad.  One of the things that you will run into is memory, and processing speeds will be a lot smaller compared to ipads, but it is a sacrifice that must be made. Kindles are good, and cheap, such as the Kindle Fire HD with a 7" screen this is a very good alternative. It has 16gb of memory. I own this model myself, and my son used it for a long time before we were able to get him an ipad.

VS. 

Another cheap alternative, and one I feel is more kid friendly is the Nabi. Although the Nabi 2, which is the newest version available is more kid friendly it has a lot less memory with only 1GB, and it cost more than the Kindle Fire HD. But the Nabi will interact, and has Nick themed apps. So it's really a preference of the user, as to which is better.  They also have a Disney themed device, and both are pre-designed with the outer rubber case to protect the device.

I have pointed out a couple of different options in which to go if you cannot afford an ipad. So I hope that with this information and knowing your childs preferences I have helped you in making a wise choice.

Weighted Blankets as Therapy

There are more than a few uses for weighted blankets, but we got one for our son, so that he would sleep more restfully. He has sensory processing disorder, and loves deep pressure, as it calms him.

Our son with his Angry Birds Weighted Blanket

I do not know for a fact if the benefits of using a weighted blanket are true for all conditions, but it is said that people with different forms of anxiety disorders can use this as a calming technique. Anyone of any age can also benefit from their use. Perhaps you suffer from insomnia, restless leg syndrome or ADD?

They are made according to the users height and weight, so that the blanket will be more effective for that individual.  If the person enjoys the feeling of tight clothing or being swaddled up in blankets then this is the perfect item for them.

Star Wars Angry Birds Telepods Multipack 2

Lego Movie Review

We went and saw the Lego Movie opening night. The version we saw was the 3-D, and was worth it. The theatre was packed with kids who were Lego fans , and a few adults too.  One of my friends compared it to The Matrix meets Toy Story. It had a lot of action scenes, and never got slow. I know that sometimes my son will not be interested if a movie gets slow, but this film had the perfect blend to keep him interested. It was funny for both kids, and parents. Of course being that it is the Lego brand there were a number of cameo appearances by popular lines of their product. I won't spoil it for you...you have to go see for yourself. I really appreciated the meaning behind the story that you do not have to always follow instructions, and to be yourself. This is one film that we will surely purchase for future viewing when it becomes available to do so. I would also add that this is a 5 out of 5 star film.

Lego Movie...

Buy This at Allposters.com

Sensory Seeking Kiddos : Crash Pad

Some children in the Autism Spectrum avoid sensory, and others crave it, and seek it out. Our son is one who seeks out sensory experiences, and we got him a crash pad; so that he can crash safely into it, and not get hurt. But it has other uses, such as the whole family can play on it, or it can be a comfortable lounger.

Germs Are Not For Sharing

We just picked this book up from our local library, and I have to say it is a very cute and informative way for kids to learn about not spreading sicknesses. The cute illustrations show the many scenarios in which to prevent the spread of germs, and it is fast paced; with short sentences to hold the attention of most kids. I rated this 4 stars on goodreads.com , and it should be a staple in elementary school libraries.  These books are a part of a bigger series called "Best Behaviours".

Book mentioned -

Inspirational Movie About Someone with Special Needs

Sometimes I may just share a film that I have found to be inspiring about people with special needs. For instance I am currently watching And Your Name is Jonah about a little boy who was born deaf, and he was misdiagnosed as being mentally challenged because of it.  Watching this film helps us to understand that sometimes when cannot fully understand just what it is like for someone else unless you fully see what it is that they are dealing with.  It takes place in the '70's, and stars Sally Struthers of the All in the Family tv series.

Film mentioned -

Lego Movie

Sometimes I will just share some of the things that my son is interested in, such as Lego, which is only one of his many interests. He loves his Lego minifigures, and we cannot wait for the movie to come out in February of this year. These are great for fine motor skills, because they have to practice and maneuver small bricks. Here are some of the sets from the new movie -

And a few more -

Speech Therapy Videos or Learning Language

One of the areas that our son was delayed in was speech. He just didn't babble like other babies. I mean he seemed to understand us, but he wasn't making any sounds. So we decided to find some aids to help him discover sound. One example were -

Baby Babble DVD's 

 

These were great because they focused on the basics of phonetic sounds. They would do a letter and show an object that a baby should be familiar with and emphasize the sound. We used to play these over and over again. I sometimes wonder if things like this are why he is kind of focused on letters, and now words. But I think they really helped with his early speech development, and are something that even a normal/typical baby could benefit from.

Another set of videos that are beneficial to babies and toddlers are -

Baby Signing Time

These can be good for children who may have difficulty in speaking or are just not ready to. Plus they can learn basic american sign language. Something for parents and baby to watch together. 

Also something that our son first used before he could fully talk was something that one of his aids suggested.

PECS ( Picture Exchange System)

These are basically small pictures that a child can either choose from a sampling of activites or items that they do not have the words to express. When our son wanted something it was easy for him to hand us the little picture of a cup of milk than pointing in a vague way and us not knowing just what he wanted.

 

I hope that all of these suggestions may help your child transition into speaking or at least making it easier for them to communicate with you. 

Introduction to me and my blog

I don't know whether it had to do with the fact that in the womb my son yanked, and pulled at his umbilical cord or the few minutes that he was blue at his birth; but my son was delayed.  We didn't notice anything major until he missed milestones that other babies were making such, as crawling, and babbling, etc.  We tried doing research online, and found something called Early Intervention . We soon set up and appointment to have them evaluate our son, and he started to get services to help him catch up a little to where he should be before starting pre-school. I do remember a couple of the aids that came to our home had mentioned that they thought he was very smart child, but they thought that he was Autistic in his behaviours.  We got a recommendation from one of these aids to get him diagnosed by a Behavioural Pediatrician in our area.  Upon going to this appointment we discovered that our child was diagnosed as having PDD-NoS( Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified); this basically meant that he had some of the symptoms and behaviours of a child in the Autism Spectrum, but still seemed like a typical child. We found a book about this diagnosis here -   this was one of the best books that we had come across while doing research about it. I rated this book 5 stars on goodreads.com It answered a lot of questions that we had and gave us some hope for our son.

The main reason I wanted to write this blog was so that others who may be experiencing the same thing have a resource of their own; and so that I can share with others just what it is like so that maybe people can feel some compassion for children in the Autism Spectrum.