For Those with an Interest in Autism
By Amber
@AmbiePam (85432)
United States
January 27, 2008 4:34pm CST
Perhaps someone has already read this, or even pointed it out on mylot already, but since I know several people have children with autism, I wanted to make sure people knew about it. This week's PEOPLE magazine has a story inside about a couple with 6 children, and all 6 have autism. I think this might not only inspire others, but also educate people like me, who are not exposed to autism an awful lot. I mean, I am educated about it to an extent, but until a person reads an article like this, I mean there is just no imagining.
The edition of PEOPLE with this story is the one with the late Heath Ledger on the cover (I didn't want to read anything else about that, too sad). So if you are interested, you might pick up a copy. I don't know if it is feautured on their site, but you can try www.people.com.
I don't expect this to get a lot of responses, but I was touched by it, and thought others might be too. : )
5 people like this
11 responses
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
28 Jan 08
The issue of autism interests me a lot, as my 11 year old nephew has Aspergers, which is a form of Autism
I am looking at the link you gave, although as yet I haven't found the article. It does appear to publish it's articles online. Is it the Jan 28 issue with the autism article?
@AmbiePam (85432)
• United States
28 Jan 08
It is the February 4th edition. It went on sale here Friday. I was afraid they wouldn't put the 'real' stories on their site, just the celebrity stuff. Three of the children in the article have Asperbergers. I was amazed at how the family has got through it all. They weren't adopted as I first thought when I read the byline. They are all biological children of the parents.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
28 Jan 08
I couldn't find the article in People, but I found another link with an indepth story of this family:
http://www.geneseeisd.org/publications/docs/perspectives/2007-08/Perspectives%20Sep-07.pdf
Apparently they also have their own blog on autism,although I couldn;t find it.
I have always believed that autism & aspergers is genetic, at least in part.
1 person likes this
@anetteh (3590)
• Sweden
28 Jan 08
So is ADHD, attention and hyperactivity disorder. My son has it, and his father. My daughter are going to take the test as an adult...so....My son also have some sort of Autism, however it is not shown when you see him, you notice it when you talk to him, when you socialize with him..or play.
@foxygirle (376)
• Philippines
1 Feb 08
Autism is getting to be a big concern among parents. Just a couple of days ago, I've read an article http:www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22577335/ regarding a rare genetic glitch that hikes the risk of autism. It also list the signs and symptoms of children with autitic tendency and also articles link that vaccines doesn't cause autism.
Do check out interesting topics related to autism. I think previously if children show signs of beign different they were labelled a different names, it is only now that there are names for each disorder. Also the book about Quirky Kids helps parents who wants to know more about autism. Authored by Perri Klass and Eileen Costello. The book is very easy to read and understand, not much of a scientific book but rather something ordinary people can comprehend. It also explains the different autisim spectrum disorder and how to check and live with children being different.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
28 Jan 08
I'll have to read this article.
I have a 6 year old grandson thats autistic.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
29 Jan 08
I read that article too. Very touching story! I have a friend who has an autistic child so I know a little about it-- but I cannot imagine having 6 autistic children, that would be very overwhelming. Jenny McCarthy recently wrote a book about her autistic son Evan and I read that too.
1 person likes this
@aduck06 (19)
• United States
28 Jan 08
Thank you for posting this. I will make sure to read this article. I know people with children that are autistic.
I read that this year more children will be diagnosed with austism than AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined. The really troubling thing to me is that most insurance companies will not cover the costs of the intensive therapy that many of these children need to lead relatively normal lives.
Anyone who is interested should check out the site www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com. They are raising money for different charities, and AutismSpeaks is one of them. There are many videos detailing different families and their experiences with autism. I only watched a few, but they brought tears to my eyes.
@Farside604 (870)
• Canada
28 Jan 08
In recent months I read a truly inspirational book its called The curious incident with the dog in the night time by Mark Haddon. Perhaps you have already read it but this book gives a poignant view into the life of a kid with aspergers. I would recommend this book to anyone with even the slight interest in Autism.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
28 Jan 08
That sounds like an interesting article. I would like to read it, and I may get a chance to go to the library to read it. I know a woman locally that has two autistic children. When she applied to the state for assistance for the second child the state told her that that was impossible. We assisted her in documenting the behaviors of her second child,and she had other agencies to assist her. I think I will go get to read this.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
28 Jan 08
I met another author this last summer who has a book out also....she has two grown childrne with autism. They are oppisites of on another. She is from Nebraska and this book tells of the trial of raising two with autism. It's so sad that there are so many now being born with this disease. My sister is a para in an elementary school and she works with developmental disabled children. Their numbers of autistic has risen in the last few years! Hope somewhere along the line they can find the cause. Thanks for sharing the information about this article with all of us.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85432)
• United States
28 Jan 08
I hope people get to read it. It was inspiring and troubling. I wish there were more help available. Even the help currently offered is not all that well known to families like this one who need the help. The mother said she felt like the children were autistic because of her. All 6 of them are her kids, two of them being from her first marriage. Four of the other children are with her current husband. She thinks she is the common denominator, but of course that is not a proven thing.
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
28 Jan 08
Thanks for the information. There are many autistic children in sons' school. Colton has three in his class. The school board has made their school a test school for a new program designed to help autistic children in learning and so far has had a lot of success. I think it is great to get more information out there about autism. Thanks
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
29 Jan 08
I had a video on Autism that I posted where they are hoping to make people more aware.. I too don't know anyone personally, but my daughters nephew has a very mild case of it..
@laurika (4532)
• United States
5 Feb 08
I am really glad you started this discussion, since I think people should talk about this and learn more. We were just talking about it yesterday since we have visited our friends who had a really nice couple over and they had autistic girl. She was only 1 years old and tell you truth i would never ever tell that she has autism. She was so sweet , with such a great smile. I am just wondering why the number of the kids with autism increase so much in past few years.
