Autism has its night! Thank you Temple Grandin and the lights of Hollywood/HBO for giving autism a face, a name, a night to shine. “Temple Grandin” won eight Emmy Awards - Oh what a night it was!
Temple Grandin stood and waved from the audience as actors from the movie of her life won awards, then took the stage herself as the biopic Temple Grandin won the Emmy for best TV movie at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on Sunday night.
Guide Autism
This month, Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s Heeling Autism program is in the running for a $250,000 grant from Pepsi’s Refresh Project. We are currently ranked 7th out of 415 – we need to be in first or second place to receive funding.
Heeling Autism dogs change the lives of children in almost miraculous ways. The dogs elicit social skills and emotions that other therapies may not. They keep children safe so that trips with their families become more enjoyable, and less stressful. Our dogs are provided absolutely free of charge and provide infinite hope in their new homes. Unfortunately, there is a two year waiting list for a Heeling Autism dog.
Can you help us encourage more votes? You can post this link – http://www.refresheverything.com/autismdogsforchildren – to your blog / FB page / etc. Your supporters have the potential to make a huge difference.
Thank you for your consideration; please let me know if you have any questions or if you’d like more information.
Warmest wishes,
Michelle
Michelle Brier
Events and Marketing Manager
Guiding Eyes for the Blind
611 Granite Springs Road
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
The Therapy Dog
My writing friend, Judy McFadden, a member of the Henderson Writer’s Group, self-published her book Life with McDuff. She has had wonderful success and I congratulate her. Judy won the Angel Animal Network Contest AND McDuff is also being written as a Hollywood screenplay. Mc Duff will be right up with the ranks of Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin. (Am I dating myself?)
“McDuff taught unconditional love, forgiveness, looking beyond appearances, nonresistance, and being of service to others. And, he didn’t stop – even after death.”
CONGRATULATIONS JUDY!
ADA 20 Years of Age
Autism Speaks was on hand to witness President Obama commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the White House.
The ADA was significant to our family in the past as we litigated under it for our son’s rights. WE WON!
As parents of children and adults with autism, we must and shall always stand up for what is right ~ we will WIN.
June fourth is the third anniversary of my second surgery for Cushing’s Disease. This is monumental to me because my team of doctors at Cedar’s Sinai Medical Center’s Pituitary Center (where the surgery was completed) told me that I would be 100% back to normal by my three-year anniversary.
The second surgery, June 4, 2007, removed my entire pituitary gland, along with the tumor. I’m living proof that one can live without a pituitary. But am I back to normal – I like to think so but I know there are deficit areas that remain a bit foggy. Most Cushing’s patients are in their 20′s and 30′s, I was much older than that at the time of my initial diagnosis and subsequent surgeries. Thus, one would expect my recovery to take longer.
Because of this website/blog and written articles, I have received phone calls and E mail from other Cushing’s patients or people who suspect Cushing’s in themselves or a family member. The stories are sad ones and often fill with professionals who will not listen to them or who refuse to do the right testing in order to diagnosis properly. I offer advise but I know how lucky I was to have a doctor who recognized the characteristics of Cushing’s in me right away.
So on the eve of my third anniversary, am I 100% back? No. Physically, I tire easily and take power naps about three times a week. I don’t like loud, crowed places because it makes my head “full.” I can’t listen to more than one person talking at a time and really pay attention, and conversation often tires me out. I lost weight at first but have gained some back. I continue to have a word finding problem at times, especially if I’m tired. Because I’m a speech pathologist, I know how to substitute many words and try to “hide” this language disorder. I don’t plan to overdo too much in any given day ~ if I do, I pay for it the following three or four days. I continue to get those deep, deep chills that only four or five blankets and a nap can cure – but not nearly as often.
BUT, when I compare where I was three years ago, I can only put the palms of my hands together, close my eyes, and thank God for my family, my faith, and my courage to pursue so desparately those things I knew I had to in order to get to where I am today. I’d put me at about 90%.
I’ll leave you with this thought because I like it and it says a great deal about anyone who has dealt with any disease:
“What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Endonasal Approach to Pituitary Surgery
My surgeon, Dr. Adam Mamelak, from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center wrote a great article for their recent newsletter about pituitary surgery. He discusses transphenoidal pituitary surgery and the two most commonly used approaches: sublabial and endonasal. I underwent the endonasal approach for my two surgeries nearly three years ago. I did not experience any pain with this approach. (I understand that the sublabial approach can be very painful and it is often necessary to pack the nose for up to three days.) Lesson here is to be sure that your pituitary surgeon is very skillful and familiar with both approaches before you decide what is best for YOU.
Cushing’s disease occurs in about 1-2 people per million! However, it is extremely common in dogs.
This is really an interesting article on autism and ASD in recent movies and television series. I have not seen Dear John by Nicholas Sparks yet, but I wasn’t aware that ASD was a part of that movie. Do click on this link and read ~ I’m certain it’s something you’ll enjoy. Blogs & Stories by Jace Lacob
The tearjerker Dear John—which earlier this month became the first movie to unseat James Cameron’s Avatar from its No. 1 spot at the box office—depicts the decade-long star-crossed romance between two lovers who write each other letters over the years. While neither of the leads (played by Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum) in the film, based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel, has autism, the neurological condition hovers over the action as two supporting characters—a young neighbor and the titular John’s father (Richard Jenkins)—grapple with forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The weight placed on the dual autism storylines is a surprise in what is essentially an old-fashioned war weepy, but it brought a very modern context to Dear John’s love story. (More to read so go to the link ~ Kathie)
Amanda Charney, SLP
This non-profit organization is in memory and in honor of Staff Sgt Marc J. Small who was killed in action in February of 2009 while serving his country in Afghanistan.
Small Steps In Speech is a non-profit organization that assists children with speech and language disorders. It is a means to help fund the progress towards their speech and language goals. We are looking for both donations to continue our efforts in helping children with their communication as well as accepting nominations on who is most deserving to receive this grant. Our goal is to give children the chance to better express themselves in the world in which we live. With your help, you can change the life of not only a child but also their family.
I want to share this with all of you because this on-line article that just came out today in ADVANCE for Speech Language Pathologists and is one of my proudest moments in all of my writing and mothering and speech “pathologing.” I didn’t know for sure if it would get into print and it has taken a while but the wait was worth it.
I want Jeff to how instrumental he was in our lives and particularly in Doug’s life when we lived in MO. Doug just now returned from his dental apt. and I handed him the article to read. He smiled and I smiled back. It felt so good.
Guest Editorial “The Heart of Autism” at ADVANCE for Speech/Language Pathologists
