The Defender: In New Autism Report, CDC Again Fails to Address Root Causes
It’s Not So Bad

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

6370C30F-D475-46CE-B122-37C86411FEA7By Cathy Jameson

I saw a beautiful video right before World Down Syndrome day last week.  The video was quite moving and reminded me of a young man Ronan and I met a few years ago.  That encounter that had me grinning from ear to ear, so I wrote post about it.  In honor of those who have Down Syndrome, I thought I’d share that video and ask Kim to rerun that post today. 

https://vimeo.com/86925527

Psalm 139 Reflectors Reading from Faith Church on Vimeo.



In that story from 2017, I shared a happy moment.  I also shared some tips to help people  focus on the ability.  As the world gears up to recognize autism, feel free to add some tips of your own in the comments.  

Beyond The Disability, 2017

By Cathy Jameson

We were at a children’s hospital last week for some testing.  Ronan had two appointments spaced several hours apart.  It was going to be a very long day for him.  It was going to be a very long one for me, too.  Despite that, I was actually looking forward to our day out.  We were catching up with one Ronan’s providers we met about a year ago.  Integral in getting some much-needed equipment and services for my son, I looked forward to hearing what else he might suggest I could, or should, be doing for Ronan.  Before that follow-up appointment though, Ronan was scheduled to see a new doctor.  He was also scheduled for some testing.  New people and new testing can make me nervous.  Understandably, they can make Ronan nervous, too. 

Ronan got through the first part of the day pretty really well.  Complimented for his patience and how he managed to deal with the intense sensory overload one of the tests caused him, the nurses and the doctors we encountered remained very positive and very patient-centered.  Speaking to Ronan, showing him the equipment they were going to use, and asking him for input knowing that he would not respond, they made Ronan as comfortable as they possibly could.  I was pleased.  Other families we saw coming in and out of the exam rooms that morning also looked pleased.

Since we had about 2 hours before the afternoon appointment would begin, I thought we’d head over to the cafeteria to eat and rest.  But Ronan was already tired and the long walk to and from the cafeteria would do him in.  Finding a quiet area near the entrance of the clinic where he’d be seen next, I sat us down on a bench and took out the lunches I’d packed.  Ronan was happy to eat.  He was also happy to also have some time on his iPad. 

While we were eating lunch, a happy fellow walked past us.  Stopping when he saw Ronan, he struck up a conversation.  He noticed Ronan’s head phones and also the Minion Rush game Ronan was playing on the iPad.  I smiled.  The young fellow was verbal but was incredibly hard to understand.  His mom chimed in and told me a little about him – he’s in 8th grade and excited for high school where his big brother goes.  We talked about how big a transition that would be.  Commenting on Ronan’s head phones, I told the mom it was the best $11 we ever spent.  The boy laughed and said he liked them.  Then, he pointed to the game Ronan was playing.  Impressed with how well Ronan was doing, he offered a huge smile and lots of praise, “Yeah! Go! Did it!”  His mom translated everything else he would try to say to us. 

After a few minutes, they had to go.  As the boy turned toward the door, I thanked him for taking time to say hi to us.  He kept walking but was not done speaking.  This time, his mom didn’t have to tell me what his message was.  He’d already given Ronan 3 compliments, but he had one more he needed to share.  Already outside, he looked back at us and belted out, YOU’RE AWESOME!  I smiled and laughed a very happy laugh.  Down syndrome didn’t take any of this kid’s personality away.  If anything, it gave him more life.  What a treat for me to have been blessed by it. 

Because of his disabilities, that young boy, like Ronan, could potentially face life-long struggles.  Physical difficulties, emotional hardships, and other differences that typical children may never experience will be part of his life.  Those, coupled with the medical issues that brought him to the hospital that day, are his “normal”.  How that boy with Down syndrome choses to live with his normal will certainly help influence others around him, including his family.  His mom looked tired.  She did not have nearly the same pep in her step as her upbeat son did.  But she made sure to be present in the moments that were important to him, which included the few short minutes he stopped to chat with us. 

He could’ve picked anyone else in the hospital to talk to, and I was happy that he chose to spend them with us.  Clueless as to how many developmental delays Ronan has, absolutely unaware of how overwhelmed things can be for me, that young boy and his mom were a highlight to our very long and taxing day.  They, like the providers we had just seen, looked beyond Ronan’s disability and focused on what he could do.  The nurses saw that Ronan could work through some of the sensory problems his exams caused and created a better outcome for the necessary testing.  The doctor realized “less is more” and also brainstormed a new plan for another exam that Ronan needed.  Throughout both the morning, and later in the afternoon, the staff encouraged Ronan and praised him for what he actually could do.  We didn’t get done all of what we hoped to do, but together, we made some progress which we’ll hope to build on the next time. 

I doubt we’ll see that young boy and his mom at our next appointment.  The hospital is quite large and must serve hundreds of patients a day.  We’ll surely see other special needs patients when we return, and I’ll hope that we’ll encounter someone just as positive and encouraging as that young boy was when we’re there.  I loved that that kid came right up to us.  His joyful spirit was exactly what I needed in that moment.  I loved that he looked well beyond Ronan’s disabilities also, something some typical children and adults are not able to. 

As I watched this young boy happily be himself, I was able to look beyond his disability.  I focused on what he was capable of doing.  Capable of making a friend.  Of having a meaningful conversation.  Of engaging someone in the moment.  Of helping me —a tired and worried mom of a non-verbal child who has complicated medical issues.  Of reminding me to be happy and hopeful.  I wanted to freeze that moment in time and share it with everyone I knew. 

Because it can be difficult to look beyond the disability, I also wanted to share something else:  some suggestions on how others can also begin to look beyond the disability and focus on the ability. 

Talk to and with a person with disabilities, even if they’re non-verbal.  They can hear you.  They can see you, too.  Your pitch, tone, and what you’re saying is registering.  So is your non-verbal communication – your facial expressions, your eye gaze, you’re stance.  They can see, hear, and feel it all.  Instead of talking at them, talk to them.  When we get to see her, one of my oldest daughter’s friends goes right up to Ronan and says, “Hi, Ronan!  How are you?” She offers him a hug, a high five, or a fist bump.  Ronan immediately responds to her greeting (with eye contact and by reaching out to high five or fist bump back).  Lately, he even tries to verbally communicate with her!  It’s still very jumbled and unintelligible, but he’s trying to say something.  I’m not surprised.  This young woman gets all of his attention because she gives him all of her attention.  You may not get a response right away with Ronan or with someone else who is non-verbal, but you may get something more important by trying - their respect. 

Show interest in what they’re doing in the moment.  If possible, ease into the activity with them.  Ask if you can have a turn.  Ronan’s not going to give you his iPad even if you ask nicely, but talk to him about what you see on his screen.  Comment about the video, the game, or the image he’s pulled up on the screen.  If you don’t get a turn, don’t be offended.  Some kids are unable yet to respond with that kind of request.  But that shouldn’t stop you from trying. 

Engage yourself.  My children have become somewhat of a magnet to other special needs kiddos because they make it known that they see them, they hear them, and that they are genuinely interested in what they are doing (and sometimes in what they are not doing).  I know that it can be incredibly uncomfortable in the beginning, especially if the person is unable to communicate, but take a chance on chiming in.  It could be as simple as offering a polite hello or a quick hand shake.  If it’s someone who needs assistance getting into or out of a building, hold the door open.  If you see someone in a scooter or a wheel chair at the grocery store that could use a hand, offer to load the groceries on the conveyer belt or in their car for them.  If a family needs extra space so that they can maneuver their child to a table in a restaurant, to a seat in the movie theatre, or through the mall, or around the park, move a seat or two over or make enough room so that they can get through without incident.  Even with all the practice and all of the opportunities we’ve created for Ronan, being out in public can still be tricky.  It can lead to some embarrassing moments, too.  The last thing I want to do when we’re all out together with Ronan is to cause a scene where more people can watch whatever is about to unfold.  Strangers who recognize that we sometimes need a wide berth, and who do so without rudely staring or muttering under their breath, are a godsend to us. 

Be positive.  In a world where individuals with disabilities are looked down upon, be the light.  Find one quality that that person has and focus on it.  Be helpful, kind, hopeful, and happy while you are with them, too.  You may be the only person who treats them as a whole person that day. 

Spread that positivity around.  Don’t just be kind because you’re capable of being kind; be kind because it’s the right thing do to.  Then, make sure your kids are kind, too.  Lead by example.  Ooze that positivity wherever you and your kids go.  It will make other people smile.  When that young boy yelled YOU’RE AWESOME to Ronan, another mom was walking into the hospital with her young teen.  The mom was rigid.  The girl was, too.  Neither of them looked happy to be there.  As the young boy’s message sailed through the air toward us, this mom slowed her pace and uncrossed her arms.  Walking past me, she said, “That was sweet,” “Yes,” I replied, “it really was.”  So was the smile that slowly started to spread across her face. 

Special needs parents and their children face many kinds of moments.  The ones that bring smiles are the best kinds.  Those happen when we, and those around us, remember to look beyond the disability.   

Cathy Jameson is a Contributing Editor for Age of Autism.  

###

Cause unknownCause Unknown 

By Edward Dowd
Follow Ed Dowd on Twitter for in depth coverage of the problems facing the banking & capital markets today. @DowdEdward

The book begins with a close look at the actual human reality behind the statistics, and when you see the people who are represented by the dry term Excess Mortality, it’s difficult to accept so many unexpected sudden deaths of young athletes, known to be the healthiest among us. Similarly, when lots of healthy teenagers and young adults die in their sleep without obvious reason, collapse and die on a family outing, or fall down dead while playing sports, that all by itself raises an immediate public health concern. Or at least it used to.

Ask yourself if you recall seeing these kinds of things occurring during your own life—in junior high? In high school? In college? How many times in your life did you hear of a performer dropping dead on stage in mid-performance? Your own life experience and intuition will tell you that what you’re about to see is not normal.

Or at least it wasn’t normal before 2021.

War On IvermectinThe War on Ivermectin

By Dr. Pierre Kory
Follow Dr. Kory on Twitter here. Support is so important.

Big Pharma and health agencies cry "Don't take ivermectin!" A media storm follows. Why then, does the science say the opposite?

Ivermectin is a dirty word in the media. The drug has been derided and declared useless. Doctors have earnestly recorded pleas asking those afflicted with COVID-19 not to take the drug. But why? 

The War on Ivermectin is the personal and professional narrative of Dr. Pierre Kory, the co-founder of an expert group of physicians’, and his plight to alert the world of his group's identification of ivermectin as a highly-effective, life-saving, widely available generic medicine with an obvious ability to end the global pandemic. In this book, Dr. Kory details all the personal attacks, professional setbacks, and concerted, corrupt, and highly effective actions which influenced the world’s major health agencies and medical journals to dismiss and deny it’s efficacy.





Comments

Bill

Emmaphildelphia NF is genetic.
Go to the CTF.org. NFinc.org
Those are the main websites for that disease.
50,000-100,000 have this condition which is about 1 in 2500-5000
I would love to talk more about this condition.
This condition involves both peripheral and central nervous system nerve tumors as well as rare cancers and skin markings called cafe au lair spots among other symptoms.
If you want to know how this condition causes autism google search that.

Emmaphiladelphia

"disfiguring genetic tumor diseases in which a quarter of suffers have autism."

@Bill
Do you have a link to this statistic? Is this biologically related or just coincidence?
What is the overall number of people with these diseases in the U.S.? Are you sure it is genetically caused?


Bill

NEUROFIMBROMATOSIS and TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS awareness month is in May. And the Awareness Day is May 14 or 15 for both horrible disfiguring genetic tumor diseases in which a quarter of suffers have autism. It is time for the Down syndrome community to have empathy for those with other disabilities.

Emmaphiladelphia

Inspiring story and video. There are no disabilities in Heaven.

For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7

MamaPrays

YOU’RE AWESOME!!!

4Bobby

Love this - beautiful post! Thank you!

Gayle

Cathy-you have written another very heartwarming and inspiring story about a young man with disabilities similar to our sons with autism. I cried as I read the story and we all share the same feelings and hopes for our very special children/adults. May God Bless them always.

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the author. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until the author has approved them.

Your Information

(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)