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    My Blog is about many things, adult adoptee, autism, family, laughter, and love, feel free to follow me on my journey, and look through my archives. It takes more than one subject to define me or my family. We are a mixture of a bit of everything!


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    Saturday, April 23, 2011

    Sunday's in My City, AILB Represents


    Unknown Mami






    "  Maturity is the stage in life when 
    we may not see eye-to-eye, 
    but we can still walk arm-in-arm." 
    ~Unknown

    Autism in Long Beach is bringing the noise and showing up to Represent our Walk Families, Kids, Community, and our Adults on the Spectrum ranging from The LBC to San Dimas....

    TEAM COURTNEY



    TEAM JASPER

     

    TEAM AIDEN



    And some Random Fun!!

    V.I.P.


    Joey Travolta


    The Cast and Crew of Parenthood...





      
     Holly Robinson Peete


     Yo Gabba Gabba


    Twin Talk Show




    Train 4 Autism joining for an event

    with Autism in Long Beach Soon

    Stay tuned....




    Lora (Autism Youth Sports League) and Myself

    (Autism in Long Beach) packing up after another

    wonderful Autism Day!! Thanks AILB Families!

    Please visit Unknown Mami for more Sunday's in My City

    Thursday, April 21, 2011

    Autistic Man Beaten on the Bus

    C'mon World are you really surprised???

    News:


    When are we as a Community going to stop acting appalled and start being held accountable? When are we going to stop handing down our B.S. Character Flaws to our kids. If you know me you know I have always copped to my faults. A lot of my teen years were spent on restriction for saying "Yeah I did it... so what"... while the rest of the world went out and played. When my friends and I went out and partied, drugged & drank... I told my parents yup I messed up, I did it I was there.... while I buried many a friend too early and lost many friendships by being their scapegoat to their own insecurities and mishaps. 

    The result, I turned around and made my life better... For that I thank my parents. I thank them for making me understand that my life is no better than the next persons. I thank them for teaching me accountability.

    So what the heck is going on in the news today? Oh your surprised.... lets break it down...

    You beat someone on the bus??? Lets just forget the Autistic part... what the *^#% brought you to the point that you beat people on the street, in the bus, a spouse, a parent, a child?? Dude you are seriously effed up. If his parents didn't raise him somebody did... The system???? A caretaker???? Foster Care??? The Streets and the people that stepped over him as they went to work? Don't get me wrong, I don't feel sorry for the Devil. I feel sorry for those who allowed the Devil to take a child's soul and brought him to be such an Evil Man. I feel sorry for our Nation. Men and Women! I feel sorry for inner children everywhere. Verbal and Non-Verbal. Autistic, non Autistic.
     
    Lets not forget the real problem here. Where is the blame? Seriously yes, as adults we need to be held accountable. But as a mom of a young child on the spectrum... 

    I had someone who i grew up with who is a mom to a typical child. She decided to leave a an event early, why? Because Tafari's meltdown was "too much" and she couldn't handle it. 

    What message are we sending our non-special needs youth? 

    If we don't accept special needs persons why should we expect them too? It doesn't matter if your kids are present or not. You must make the change within yourself to make your children believe your truth. You can't promote compassion and empathy when it's convenient. 

    Our Children are smart they are less jaded they read between the lines. Why are we surprised when they become Typical Adults with no compassion?

    I understand it's not an excuse, but it is definitely food for thought. When are we going to start being responsible for the next generation instead of being "Appalled" when they've lived up to everything we denied them of...

    COMPASSION
    LOVE
    ACCEPTANCE
    STRENGTH
    COMMUNITY
    AWARENESS
    EMPATHY
    TOLERANCE
    SELF ESTEEM

    Monday, April 18, 2011

    Holly Robinson Peete Love

    A few bloggers were contacted and asked to be a part of a private round table telephone conference interview with Holly Robinson Peete. Thank you to my favorite girl, and true Special Needs Comrade at Just Writing for advocating for us!


    Ms. Peete is a Mother, a Wife, an Activist, an Actor, and Tv Host. She, her family, and most important, her daughter Ryan are very respected in many of our Spectrum Families hearts. I am proud that Autism in Long Beach was included in this exclusive interview! The picture here is of Rodney, Holly, Ryan, and my son Tafari.

    A decade ago life in the Spectrum was a whole different world. I know the history of Autism and Parenthood. I relish in, and feel blessed that I am part of Autism today. I give my hat off to women like Holly Robinson Peete, and my friend and mentor, Amalia Starr. Amalia wrote "Raising Brandon". She  was also a part of Ms. Robinson Peete's show "The Talk" last Friday. 


    I don't know if I could handle that time period when parents were frowned upon as insignificant and unintelligent in child-rearing. A time when Meltdowns were considered our fault. A time when we were looked at as incapable parents.


    There was a time when Spectrum Mothers were called "Refrigerator Moms".  I don't know what I would have done. I am sure I would've been locked up under the jailhouse like Sophia in the Color Purple. Can you say Sybil Brand early 80's.. yikes!

    Refrigerator Mom: The term refrigerator mother was coined around 1950 as a label for mothers of children diagnosed with autism or schizophrenia. These mothers were often blamed for their children's atypical behavior, which included rigid rituals, speech difficulty, and self-isolation.

    However now, with the help of people like Holly who have forums much bigger than ours, we now have a place where our Children, our Youth, our Spectrum Adults voices are heard and respected. 

    Our Round table Q & A:

    Holly Robinson-Peete starts off with a bang.....

    "We have so many more avenues and ways to get information on treatment now. Social media has been key.  I remember trying to find a support group online and there was nothing." ~Holly Robinson Peete

    and it goes on....

    Emily:  Our next question comes from Jane of Autism in Long Beach -- How do you balance working, being an Autism Advocate, Family, and attending to your Special Needs Son? What's your Secret? Please share for us moms in the same situation!
    Holly Robinson Peete said.. "First I'd like to give a big shout out to Jane and Autism in Long Beach!"  I don’t believe in balance. There really is no balance. You have some good days, and you have some days where you drop the ball. There really is no sense of pure balance.  From my perspective, there are days I really achieve what I want to and then there are days I don’t do so well and I have to keep encouraging myself and patting myself on the back to move forward.  In essence though, I feel so motivated by the change I see and the change I can affect. I think if you can find something you’re passionate about, that is what helps you move forward everyday. Advocating on behalf of the children and families affected by autism has become my therapy in a way and makes me feel like I am making a difference in other peoples’ lives and not just wallowing in my own situation.   
    The main issue that most parents have in dealing with Autism is finances and being able to pay for treatments. I want to make sure that other people know that I understand how much more difficult this journey can be when you don’t have the resources that I do to pay for these things. It’s therapeutic to talk about these things and to be an advocate who helps others families."
    Next question was from a blogger Colorado Moms...

    She asked how we keep the balance from our Adult youth becoming advocates without giving to much of their personal life and struggles.


    "I feel like you must be eavesdropping on the Peete house -- that’s where we are right now.   My son is 13. He’s very cognizant of the fact that he’s an autism advocate. He loves that. But he approached me when we did this segment for the show the other day that we pre-shot and he asked me not to talk about autism and puberty.  I really wanted to talk about it because it’s such a big issue. Teenagers with Autism really go through puberty much differently and sometimes its harder for them. He asked me not to talk about him. There are definitely moments where he asks me to pull back and now I always ask him ahead of time how he feels about something."

    I really loved that last line because we spend so much time trying to raise awareness to others that sometimes we tend to forget to stop... and just ask our kids. Holly Robinson Peete reminds us that our kids are the same as typical kids... they do get embarrassed!

    Holly Robinson Peete seemed to really connect with her question. Mrs. Peete's son is becoming a young man and is definitely living life in the spotlight. The connection between Colorado Mom and HRP at that moment was like a firecracker on 4th of July! It was as if both of the light bulbs went on over their heads at the same time.... They were in the same place and it was full of Aut love.  Those are the moments that give me goosebumps. These moms with older ones are paving the way so that my son will have an easier road to travel.

    Nanette.... How do you feel about diet and as it relates to autism?

    Ms. Peete stated in HER case her son had a gluten allergy... 

    I respect that and find it very responsible. She is stating the issue with HER son and not trying to push every child on the Spectrum into one circle. That was very powerful to me. The fact that she said her child's issue and did not go on a verbal spree of what the heck we all should do deserves two thumbs up. Thank you for that.

    Nini's question:  How does one support a cause without letting the fundraising drive out your energy and enthusiasm?

    "You don’t have to fund raise. Fundraising is great and I’m good at it  - I’m a barracuda when it comes to getting money for my organization but the key is volunteering. And really from my point of view just being a part of the community."

    I loved that answer but I am still cracking up because I've watched this fab lady from back in the day (okay now showing my age... i watched her daddy G too) and I know exactly what sistagirl said on the Apprentice about fundraising, and I have adapted it and am making it my inner slogan phrase.... "It's called Creative Begging"

    Tammy asked: What would you say to other moms who are experiencing those same challenges?

    A blurb from that answer:  I’d say to the moms be a little patient. I wasn’t so patient with Rodney. I was so focused on my son and not on my marriage. In hindsight I would be more sensitive now to how he needed to process the diagnosis on his own in his own time. Men process things differently and you need to be supportive of each other.

    Gina..... You’ve talked a lot about your ‘family approach’ to autism.  What advice would you give to other moms about helping siblings find and define ‘their important role’ in the family approach?

    Holly replied: Siblings are key. It’s important to make sure they are part of the journey and part of the process of helping.

    I really dug this answer..... If anyone knows how we do it at Autism in Long Beach.... Siblings inclusion in events, in the home, in public and respect for their place in our family is a priority.
     
    Kathleen asked... Three of my four children are on very different parts of the spectrum. Their needs are as diverse as they are. Anyone who is involved in the autism/advocacy community understands what that means. I have found however, the rest of the world does not. How does one go about raising awareness-that this is a spectrum disorder?

    "Its never going to be easy to get people to understand it but what I'd do is just be patient with people because when people don’t understand something they are afraid of it. So just be super patient and keep trying to help people understand, give them literature, send them to a website" ~Holly Robinson Peete


    Purchase the Honesty Bracelet
    its from the Heart.



    And because I am, I live, and I breathe Long Beach we give shout outs to all that support show support in our lives, its an LBC thing.....


    I would like to thank Holly Robinson Peete, The Peete Children, Rodney Peete (for being what so many of our father's hide from), Emily at Open Sky,
    My kids, My parents, The Mitchells & The Tiptons, The Romeyn Family, Therese & Bri, Janet Sainz, LB Skate, Dr. Sherry Meinberg, L.A. Supervisor Don Knabe, Hahk Tu, 562City Life, Mike Donelon, Ask Long Beach, Brittney and Brittany my fav Brit Bloggers, The Den, Julie at the UPS Store on 7th/Redondo, The Center, Cherry Corner Store, Tincher Prepatory School, 8th grade Autism Awareness Speakers, Hot Java, Park Pantry, Tincher Prepatory, Autism in Long Beach Parents and Caregiver's, Unknown Mami who makes every Sunday a good day, For your Tears, Angel,  Autism Youth Sports League, Train for Autism, Dele & Greg, Gfcf Chef Tom Dickinson and his wife Nora, all my fellow Special Needs Bloggers whom I love and adore. 

    Most importantly I'd like to thank Amalia Starr, Eustacia Cutler, Susan Levy,  Marisol Romeyn, Mieko Hester Perez , Elise Asperger's 2, Kim Stagliano, Susan Yee, Susan Levy, Tincher Prepatory Staff,
    and all the old school Autism moms 
    who paved the way, 
    They are my mentors and my Best Friends. 
    Without you Advocate is just a word.


    What have I learned about Autism?  ~Jane

    Sunday, April 17, 2011

    Sunday's In My City, In the Media


    Unknown Mami



    How can we expect our children 
    to know and experience the joy of giving
    unless we teach them that 
    the greater pleasure
    in life lies in the art of giving 
    rather than receiving.
        ~James Cash Penny




    Giving kids clothes and food is one thing 
    but it's much more important 
    to teach them that other people 
    besides themselves are important, 
    and that the best thing 
    they can do with their lives 
    is to use them in the service of other people.
        ~Dolores Huerta




    I shall pass through this world but once. 
    Any good therefore that I can do
    or any kindness that I can show
    to any human being, let me do it now. 
    Let me not defer or neglect it, 
    for I shall not pass this way again. 
    ~Mahatma Gandhi

    Wednesday, April 13, 2011

    SEW: Bully Free Zone


    Local Skateboarders teamed up with my group 
    Autism in Long Beach. 
    We took pictures at our Press Conference 
    for our Summer Picnic.
    Our Theme: Bully Free Zone. 
    The Skaters are volunteering during the Picnic 
    and spreading the word in our City 
    that we will not tolerate Bullying.

    5 Minutes for Special Needs

    Monday, April 4, 2011

    Without my Fellow Bloggers


    This was me 2 years ago. I am truly blessed that I have met the people I have within the Blogging Community. I am so honored by all your comments on yesterday's post and previous posts. It's important to me that you know without your support I would not be where I am today. I do not hold all the credit, a lot of it goes back to you.

    There were many times and events that you have walked me through. Your unwavering support has placed me where I am today. Some of my best friends I have never met yet know so well thanks to Blogging. Its been months since I've had time to visit blogs, comment, and see how YOU are doing. Yet, you've all stood by me. For that I am truly blessed and love you all like family! 

    Thank you!

    ~Jane and kids

    Sunday, April 3, 2011

    Sunday's in My City What I'm Fighting for....



    Unknown Mami



    Ni Hao Yall



    (our quotes today are in the song)

    This Weekend is
    World Autism Awareness Weekend,
    We have been busy raising 
    Awareness in our Community
    I organized our first Autism Walk
    and Local Businesses, Neighbors, Landlords, 
    and Families participated!

    Our theme song


















































































     

    .