Blog-a-thon Day 29

I'm looking forward to reading a new book which has just been released: Ido in Autismland: Climbing Out of Autism's Silent Prison. I have posted Ido's writing on this blog before. I must admit to an internal cringe at the word "prison" because I don't like to see autism that way.  I'm very curious to read more of Ido's perspective.

I admire Ido for how he continues to work through the obstacles he lives with. And putting his innermost thoughts and feelings into a book is fantastic. I will support his (and his mom's) endeavor by purchasing a few copies. We authors need to stick together :-). Go Ido!!

Here's some more information about the book.

Ido in Autismland opens a window into non-verbal autism through dozens of short, autobiographical essays each offering new insights into autism symptoms, effective and ineffective treatments and the inner emotional life of a severely autistic boy. In his pithy essays, author Ido Kedar, a brilliant sixteen year old with autism, challenges what he believes are misconceptions in many theories that dominate autism treatment today while he simultaneously chronicles his personal growth in his struggles to overcome his limitations.

Ido spent the first half of his life locked internally, in silence, trapped in a remedial educational system that presumed he lacked the most basic comprehension, and unable to show the world that he understood everything. But at the age of seven, Ido was finally able to show that he had an intact mind and could understand. This led to the quest to find a system of communication that he could use despite his impaired motor control. Through the use of a letter board, and now an iPad, Ido has triumphed communicatively, enabling him to flourish in a regular high school in all general education classes.

But Ido has a larger goal. He does not want to be seen as an isolated autistic exception with miraculously advanced cognitive and communication abilities. He wants people to see that thousands of other severely autistic individuals have the same capacity, but remain trapped and locked-in, as he was, unable to show their true capacities. These individuals desperately need new theories and new methods to help them break free too. Of importance to neuro-researchers, educators, psychologists, doctors, parents, friends, family and people with autism, Ido in Autismland will change our collective understanding of severe autism.

PRAISE FOR Ido in Autismland

"There are doubtless many Idos in this world, unable to speak, yet possessing good intellectual ability and, most certainly, a rich emotional life. And yet, precisely because they cannot communicate, nonverbal individuals with autism are nearly always consigned to the junk heap of mental deficiency, branded as incapable of understanding language or even having feelings... We need to help change things for this terribly neglected group... Reading Ido's book is a good beginning." -

~~Portia Iversen, Co-founder, Cure Autism Now and the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange Gene Bank. Author of Strange Son

"Ido is a brilliant communicator. His words bring us inside the world of autism. His gift of writing enlightens, inspires, educates. Every person who loves or works with someone with autism - educator, therapist, karent, grandparent, neighbor - should read Ido in Autismland." -

~~Elaine Hall, Author of Now I See the Moon, co-author of Seven Keys to Unlock Autism. Featured in Autism: The Musical

"Ido's book touches any heart, not only because it is well written, but because it reveals a mind that has learned how to speak to the world through spelling every word on a letter board and keyboard. His book is indeed a great gift to the world. Thank you, Ido." -

~~Soma Mukhopadhyay, Executive Director of Education, HALO, Author of Understanding Autism through Rapid Prompting Method

Blog-a-thon Day 29

I dropped Kyle off at Kim's this morning. After almost 16 years, they still spend a few hours together each month.  This leaves me two hours to do ??. Sometimes I go to the gym. Not feeling so well this AM so nix that. Sometimes I go to Starbucks and write, delete email, do what I gotta do on my computer.

This morning I discovered a really cool place just a few doors down from Starbucks. 24 Carrots is a vegetarian/vegan/juice bar cafe type place. I got really excited when I saw it. What can I say, it doesn't take much :-)  Free wi fi and here I am. I am sipping my Beet It! juice blend drink. Beets, cucumber, carrots, ginger. No kidding. I really do like this kind of stuff. This place has made my day and the day has just begun. Nice quiet low key atmospere. Perfect for this morning's needs. I might even be tempted indulge in one of the muffins.

I am facing a huge chalkboard wall full of curvy inspirational quotes. Perfect.

Find something small to make your day today.

Quotacious:

"In life there are many things that catch your eye, but... only a few grab your heart- PURSUE THEM!"

~~Kala Auntie

"Even if you are on the R

                                         I

                                        G

                                        H

                                        TRACK

you'll get run over if you just sit there."

~~Will Rogers

"When you want something, the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

~~ The Alchemist

"I haven't failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work."

~~Thomas Edison

"It's fun to do the impossible."

~~Walt Disney

Blog-a-thon Day #27

I actually missed a day of blogging. I think it's because the moon will be full tomorrow.

Yesterday Kyle was in full pre-full moon way of being. Kyle feels the moon just a few days before it becomes 100% full. Some months the pull of the moon seems stronger than others. Therefore the reaction may be subtle. Other months, the pull must be more intense, because Kyle is much more intense.

This month was intense. People with autism may be more sensitive than the average person. So whereas I may have trouble falling asleep, Kyle may be stirred up for a day and a half.

When he was having anxiety cycles, they often followed the pattern of the moon. Now that he does not have cycles, he still reacts some months, but not in a severe way. Mainly, his energy level goes through the roof. He is wildly hyper and wildly noisy. He just can't get enough exercise or activity. It appears exhausting to be Kyle a few days before the moon is full. And it can be exhausting to be me too.

And then comes the crash. Kyle is so calm and quiet today, I hardly know he is here.  It must feel good for his body to settle so he can relax. I'm enjoying the relaxation too.

Here's the science behind the origins of the "LUNAtic"....

"The earth is surrounded by an ionosphere which is quite deep, actually dwarfing the earth. Between the bottom of the ionosphere and our earth's surface, where the 'sky' is, it is called the 'earth to ionosphere cavity.'

This cavity can ring like a bell at certain times, although we cannot hear it. When the moon is full, that means it is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun. 

That means the moon and the sun are both tugging at the ionosphere via gravity. This starts the 'ringing.' The frequency of this cycle is seven cycles a second -- exactly the same as the alpha waves in our brains. 

And this is the reason some people react so much to a full moon -- they are actually reacting to the unheard ringing which is literally disturbing their brain waves. Many of us simply don't react as we have the self-discipline to handle the 'different' or 'bad' days, but  the effect on some folk can be devastating.

 

There are often also reactions when a 'lighter' ringing happens at the time of the 'dark' and new moon, when the sun and moon are both tugging at the same side of our ionosphere."