Tomorrow April 15th is the 8th Annual Blow Bubbles 4 Autism event started by the nonprofit organization FACES Autism Support Network out of southern New Jersey.  They are trying to break a Guinness World Record.

Now where this is technically a New Jersey thing, how cool would it be for the whole world to blow bubbles at the same time everywhere? Sorta like the Light it up Blue movement.

So get your bubbles ready and at 10 am EST, tomorrow blow like a wild child!

April 1st and 2nd will be the National Autism Awareness Campaign of Light It Up Blue.  Check out this amazing video of a class of students recording the Light it Up Blue Song.  I tweeted about this a couple of weeks ago, its an amazing song, and the kids are just awesome.  Those of you with children on the spectrum, will probably shed a tear when the chorus starts singing, as I did but you still just gotta see it.

I have my blue light outside and you don’t need to just use it for those two days, I use mine all the time.  Go to http://www.lightitupblue.org/page/s/liubpledge and take the pledge, then go get your blue light.  Spread the word about autism, and hopefully someday we can find a cure to this bizarre condition plaguing our kids. Enjoy~

Ok, so I know I put a post in before reminding readers when the movie would be airing, however I actually missed it.  So I finally broke down and rented it, I had been putting it off afraid it was going to make me cry in some way, based on the commercials.

I am pleased to say it did not make me cry.  It did move me in several other ways, it made me feel hopeful and positive, it angered me at points, and made me chuckle too as I rooted for her.  When I say anger me I am referring to the utter stupidity and ignorance of the ranch hands, and people that made fun of her so cruelly.  It disgusts me sometimes how cruel and hateful the world is.

I am glad it did not make me cry, in fact it was a rather happy movie, and Claire Danes did an amazing job!   I loved the scenes where Temple got one over on those against her, and seeing how far she has come and how much she has accomplished, she is the epitome of an amazing role model for everyone, especially those in the Autism community.  She gives me such hope that my little baby will not be held back or unable to open her “doors” to all that she too wants in life, due to this disability called Autism.

I bow to you Temple, and commend you for opening all your “doors”!

I can not take full credit for the idea, I got it from Kayla’s preschool teacher.  However, I did upgrade its design in my crafty way.  Using about $5 dollars in supplies from our local craft store- AC Moore.  I took a picture of Kayla, cut it out, laminated it and glued it to a little wooden girl shape and put a magnet on the back.

Then you create the sections, Green=Good, yellow, Red=Bad.

The idea is to stay in Green, however if we are yelled at 2 times for something, the 3rd time is straight to timeout, and we are moved into yellow.  We stay there.

If we are yelled at again for something 2 more times, as before the 3rd time they are sent straight to timeout, and moved into red.  With red, we also loose a toy or a privilege for the rest of the day.

I would say it took 2 days of this to get thru, but after, we don’t usually see the red anymore.  Its quite effective, because from what I am learning with autism etc.  the visual makes it more clear for them.  Its right there, in their face.  Now I have also added that after the time out buzzer goes off, (I usually give 10 min) I ask if she understands why she was put in timeout.  If she replies no, then I explain using short sentences, ex: You were using fresh talk, or because you were not being a good listener, or you were arguing with mommy, etc., and those are bad behaviors.

Another thing I also picked up from our OT therapist, is that I no longer say “you were being a bad girl” its a self esteem breaker.  Instead say “you were making a bad choice.”

For the past four years, getting anywhere near my daughters feet has been out of the question.  I clip her nails usually at night when she’s asleep, otherwise there is a major meltdown.  It has been a major sensory obstacle for her.  However this morning out of the blue, she notices my toes are painted from my last pedicure and says she wants to paint her toes too… ~OMG!!!!  Naturally I said sure, this was HUGE!  So I let her pick out a color, and she actually let me paint her toes, with NO squirming or screaming.  I am sooo excited (obviously) that I texted everyone and then felt it necessary to create this post also  haha.  Finished product:

Just read my newsletter from Generation Rescue, and they are in the running for the Pepsi Refresh Project.  They are trying to win to be able to provide support to families who can not afford some of the expensive treatment that could help their children’s autism. Please go vote!    www.refresheverything.com/generationrescue

Premiers February 6th at 8pm.

Click the poster below to view the trailer

Hey out there, just learned of a groovy site that sells bracelets for several different causes. Half the cost of your purchase goes to that cause. Check it out:  “I’m Tired Of…”

They support several different causes such as:

Hungry Animals Diabetes Cancer Animal Cruelty Breast Cancer Autism Hunger Homeless Animals Discrimination Puppy Mills Alzheimer’s Global Warming Heart Disease Child Abuse AID’s The Economy Coal Traffic World Hunger Bogey’s

So show off your support with one, or more of these bracelets. I am I just bought the autism and animal cruelty bracelets. So what are you tired of?