Topic “Autism”
Britain revokes license for doctor who linked vaccinations to autism
Britain's Medical Council has revoked the license of Dr. Andrew Wakefield who first suggestd the link between vaccines and autism. Please let us know your thoughts on this controversial decision.
In a video interview Dr. Wakefield talks about the government in the UK taking away the choice that parents had to give single vaccinations. He goes on to state that he feels his resonsibility as a doctor is to the individual patient when it becomes anything different one might as well give up medicine.
Read more and watch his video interview posted by the BBC
What do you think?
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The Horse Boy does more than chronicle Rowan and his parents' journey across the vast, wild landscape of Mongolia. It delves into the strange world of autism itself, the relationship between humans and animals and between different cultures and different ways of being (autistic vs. normal, or "neuro-typical"), and the nature of healing. Audiences hear the varied theories on autism from the experts in the field, well-known researchers of autism such as Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge University; Dr. Temple Grandin, recovered autist and professor of animal behavior at Colorado State University; and anthropologist and researcher Roy Richard Grinker of George Washington University. But above all,
The Horse Boy tells the story of a couple that goes to the end of the earth to find a way into their son's life.
A Father/Son Story
More and more films are being made about the vital role that fathers play in the development of their children. Society is entering a new er...
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Are you the parent of a special needs child? If so, you are not alone and in good company. Many parents all around the world are in the same shoes and, like you, are amidst a journey they did not plan and could have never anticipated. With this in mind it's vital we support one another through support groups, discussion boards, and book clubs.
In the "Freedom" book club we will read through each chapter and discuss things such as:
The initial shock of discovering your child has a special need.
The value of grief.
Goals of grief.
How to protect your marriage.
What siblings of special needs children are going through.
Fear vs Faith and...
True acceptance.
I look forward to meeting you! - Nancy Douglas - Click
HERE to read chapter one of "Freedom"
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Something was wrong. I sensed it moments after her birth. She barely cried in the delivery room and hardly thereafter. As the tension grew I began to probe each maternity nurse with the same question, “Is she alright?” I feared each response, but had to ask. To my surprise, each response assured me our little girl was fine. My concern, however, refused to subside. Something wasn’t right; I could feel it in my gut… ...
The selection couldn’t have been worse. There was only one style in two colors. I was disappointed to say the least, but we did what we had to do…we chose faded pink. Pale, dull, washed-out pink.Dani was about eighteen months old when she got her first pair of eyeglasses. Already clearly disabled, the donning of these spectacles only served to worsen her appearance. She’d undergone surgery to straighten her eyes, but they still crossed and glasses only served to magnify this flaw. I dreaded the thought of putting glasses on my little girl. She was mine, I didn’t ask for them, and they didn’t belong on her. In the grand scheme of things it was minor, but just the thing to put me over the edge… ...
Her name is Hannah, and her story reads like a docudrama. Though deeply loved by her husband, any joy she once had was quickly snuffed out by the hatred of another woman. Jealous for her husband’s greater affection, this other woman made a special point to ensure Hannah’s life was a living hell.Like a corrosive drip of water, her taunts pushed Hannah to the point of tears and anorexia. As one holding the upper hand, her opponent refused to cease her painful assaults, making misery an everyday norm. Year after year, Hannah endured the searing pain of countless darts thrown at exceptionally close range. With the hint of polite charades long since gone, each dart was thrown with greater precision. Making matters worse, avoiding these attacks was nearly impossible since both victim and foe lived under the same roof… ...
Once we are able to see our grief for what it is, determine to let it change us for the better, and accept the fact that many people around us will never understand all we face as parents of disabled children, it’s time to set some goals.Without goals in life we flounder about aimlessly, achieving nothing in the process. It is natural to have specific ambitions when it comes to our education, jobs, and finances, but seldom do we set goals for our pain. When was the last time you asked your self, “What is my ultimate objective with regards to this pain in my life? Where do I want it to take me? What kind of person do I want it to help me become?” Rare is the person who dares go into these uncharted waters. But you and I must determine to go there, because if we don’t, we will wander about aimlessly in a sea of grief for the rest of our lives… ...
Over half of all marriages end in divorce, and the divorce rate among parents with disabled children is as high as 80%. With every marriage facing disturbing odds of survival, the marriage with a special needs child faces even more daunting probabilities. My husband and I have been married for 24 years and so far beaten the initial 50% chance of failure, but that’s not all we’ve had to overcome. According to additional statistics that apply to our marriage, we risk an 80% chance of divorce due to Dani’s disabilities and another 85% chance of collapse due to Jimmy’s full time job traveling as a consultant. Now, I am not a statistician, but am I right? Could our marriage have a 215% chance of failure? Is that even possible? ...
“Why isn’t my sister like everyone else’s?” Drew cried as I put him to bed for the night. His first day at kindergarten had been a good one up until then.Going to school for the first time exposed him to many new things, one of which was the harsh reality that our family was not like all the others. When other mothers came to pick up his fellow classmates, something was different about them, and it didn’t take him long to pinpoint the difference. His sister was nothing like his friends’ sisters or brothers. A child who was nearly always happy, Drew caught me off guard with his tearful question, and for a moment I wasn’t sure how to answer it. It was one I had asked myself countless times before, but to no avail. What could I possibly tell him? ...
I could barely contain my tears as I stood before the little lambs. With the storm clouds now lifting and heading off toward the east, streams of sunlight warmed my back as I stood staring at the ground. The freshly cut grass was meticulously trimmed around each and every headstone. The tiny white concrete lambs were no exception.Guided by vivid memories from my past, I quickly identified them after taking only a few steps into the cemetery. My grandma and grandpa were buried to the right, but I felt drawn to the left. I couldn’t recall. Were there four or five little statues? ...
