"Inspirational Quotes..."

"Inspirational Quotes...by famous people with learning disabilities or differences" is a website which contains, as the title suggests, interesting quotes and information from famous people on the autism spectrum and otherwise, and people who are dedicated to supporting persons with disabilities.

There is a drop-down 'menu' where you can choose the name of a famous person and read some more about them and their achievements and views/comments on life.

Click here to go to the website.

"An Autism Connection" - book

Just a note for those of you who may be interested in purchasing my book - "An Autism Connection - sharing the Journey with other parents", you can download a copy for (US) $10 from the Lulu Publishing site.

Gaining a copy of this book this way can definitely save you having to wait for it to arrive by mail and save your $ as well.

If you go to my Lulu store front, you will see some reviews by other interested persons and, soon I hope to have other wonderful reviews posted by parents who have read this book.

If you do purchase this book, I would be very interested in your feedback on it. You can email me on realistartinoz@yahoo.com.au

Currently, apart from setting up my private practice in Professional counselling (for parents and carers of children on the autism spectrum), I have begun writing another book which surrounds the topics of self esteem, empowerment of ones self and building resistance/coping mechanisms in regards to adverse elements of life. I particularly have in mind those persons on the spectrum and other individuals experiencing other differing abilities. But it could be of interest to anyone really who is experiencing some self esteem/confidence, social or other challenges in their life.

It's definitely a work-in-progress at the moment which I hope to finalize in a few months time.

The cover of this book will display one of Donna Williams beautiful paintings. Donna is a tremendously interesting and gifted lady, from Australia, who is on the autism spectrum. If you want to see examples of Donna's many talents, please click on the link to her site in the links field, right.

"Autism training program"

The "Autism training program" is presented as a visual and auditory information program on the "Autism Help Info" site. "Autism help info" is "..an initiative of the Gateways Support Services".
The presentation runs for about 15 minutes and is easy to read,watch and listen to. It assists those who work with, care for or are just generally interested in learning more about autism and how it affects an individual.
The main page of this site can be accessed http://www.autismhelp.info/main.htm
The "Autism training program" video can be accessed here http://www.autismhelp.info/tprogram/index.htm

"An Autism Connection"

bumper sticker www.cafepress.com/realistartinoz

Just another note to say a big thankyou to those kind persons who have reviewed and recommended my new book, "An Autism Connection" to other interested people. Some even leaving some wonderfully positive comments on the Lulu Publishing website.

The book is also available through many other channels, such as Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Booktopia, Abebooks.com.....

I am hoping to write more books in the future, perhaps focusing on particular subjects relating to living with autism (parents and children alike). Books which will be 'coming in' on an angle a little different to the usual clinical/educational books - with perspectives including the insights and souls of people with autism and opening up more of an understanding and appreciation of such, for those in our communities who would like to 'listen' to them. I feel that some of the greatest 'teachers' are those persons with direct and personal experience with some thing or situation.

Autism awareness is a most important issue and I am also very passionate about people developing or enhancing a greater respect for the differences inherant in us all.

'Respect' is a huge word in my 'personal dictionary'. With respect comes acceptance. With acceptance, the quality of an individual's life is increased in leaps and bounds.........more soon.....

Just a note.....

Some kind souls have told me that the link to Frank Klein's website in this blog is not working. If someone knows of a new link, could they let me know please. In the meantime, I'll keep searching as well. :)

An interesting news article regarding autism

To read a very interesting news article posted on the Asplanet ("Aspergers Parallel Planet") website, operated by Alyson Bradley in New Zealand, click here http://www.asplanet.info/.
The news article (on the first page of her site) is called NEWS - The Great Autism Ripoff - how a huge inustry feeds on parents desperate to cure their children."
Whilst on Asplanet, you can look through and join in on the forum to discuss anything surrounding the topic of the autism spectrum. Alyson also has many other interesting articles to read and interviews with dedicated specialists and members of the autism community.

A seminar with Donna Williams

On Saturday, 24/5/08, I had the pleasure of seeing Donna Williams speak at an Autism conference at Knox City Council in Melbourne.
She is a trully inspirational speaker/presenter. If you get the chance to attend one of her seminars, I highly recommend you do so.
Prior to the commencement of the seminar, many parents, carers and interested persons entered the conference rooms seeming either somewhat anxious, eager for information and/or some seeking 'guidance' relevent to their own children.
Soon enough they were enthralled by Donna's anecdotes surrounding her own life struggles and many achievements. There were times when we were in fits of laughter with her wonderfully cheeky sense of humour and another time (when she sang one of her beautiful songs whilst presenting a powerpoint presentation of her journey with autism) when I'm sure I wasn't the only person in the 'house' who had tears well up in their eyes. Incredibly moving.
To keep up to date with when and where Donna will be holding such seminars, refer to her site, "Donna Williams" and or "Auties.org" in the links list.

"Autism Friendly" video by Donna Williams

"Autism Friendly", a video/powerpoint p., contains 'descriptions', perceptions and truths about autism. Rather than me prattle on here, Donna's video 'speaks' for itself. Please see here.

Aspergers Parallel Planet

If you click on the link "Aspergers Parallel Planet" in the links column. right, you will be taken to a wonderfully informative website by Alyson, who is an adult with Aspergers. Her site is full of interesting information surrounding the autism spectrum, interviews with respected professionals, articles and so on. Her site even has a forum for interested persons to discuss issues and information about autism. Alyson is also a talented artist and some of her work can be seen on the site. Her story is a touching and empowering one, which I feel parents, friends, family and those persons on the spectrum, can gain a wonderful insight into the life, thoughts and feelings of a delightful woman living with Aspergers.

An Autism Connection

Finally, my book called "An Autism Connection", is available for preview and for purchase on Lulu.com.

Click here to access my store front.

Re: Book on Autism for parents

Well, after spending many painstaking hours jotting notes, typing, editing, enduring the frustration of my old computer crashing incessantly, being up till 3 in the morning (sometimes), accidentally spilling a cup of coffee on my old keyboard and now possibly needing reading glasses; I finally finished my book on autism for parents :)
Currently I am waiting for it to be reviewed for any tragic mistakes in grammar, construct and overall desired readabilty :)
Once this has successfully occurred, it will be available through Lulu.com (publishing co. in U.S.A).
This should be very soon.
When I make it available for sale, I'll post a note here.

'Can autism be cured?' - Donna Williams Blog

Please read the above-mentioned recent blog piece by Donna Williams, an inspiring Australian woman on the autism spectrum, if you are a parent searching for 'cures' for your child's autism.
Donna's fictional story "Can autism be cured?" is a beautifully illustrated (textually) story about different children on the autism spectrum whose well-meaning parents anxiously search for a potential 'cure' for their babes, and the financial and physical lengths they go to to achieve such, only to find that their children aren't 'cured' of autism and are to be just who they are - unique individuals.
As you may know, by perhaps having read my blog pieces below, I am not an advocate of 'curing' autism, I believe it is an intrinsic part the the autistic human being.
Link - http://blog.donnawilliams.net/

A book for parents

Currently I am writing a book for parents, about parenting a child with autism.
The intention of this book is to communicate with other mums and dads about the similar experiences we may have surrounding our lives raising our autistic children.
Sharing our experiences as parents can be cathartic and a valuable source of understanding our children on the autism spectrum, in addition to the information and assistance we receive from any of the professionals involved with our lives.
Once the book is available, I will post a note on this site. :)

Donna Williams YouTube - art

Click on the link below to view a YouTube video ('powerpoint' presentation) by Donna exploring the breadth of her beautiful artworks, incorporating photos of herself as a child, all accompanied by a piece of her inspiring music, sung with, what I call, a crystaline and angelic voice. She trully is a talented lady.
View her YouTube video "From Autism To Artism" here

Donna Williams YouTube video - siblings

In this YouTube video, Donna covers some of the issues surrounding the relationships between a child with autism and their sibling/s. Incorporated, in this video, are examples of her beautiful art works.
Watch Donna's video "Autism Has A Wider Context" here

Rory Hoy's YouTube video - "AUTISM AND ME"

On researching YouTube recently, I came across a delightful young English lad, who has made his own short video about his personal perspective of what autism means for him and how he sees the world.
A lovely video for those interested in autism and, especially those young people who have autism and would like to hear another person with autism speak about their experiences and thoughts.
Watch Rory's video here

Joel Smith

Joel has a great website called "This Way Of Life", on which he discusses many things surrounding living with autism, himself, and information for parents/persons wishing to know more about autism. It is a very pleasant site to navigate and read.

Donna Williams

Donna Williams is an accomplished artist, author, composer and screenwriter. Here, Donna displays some of her beautiful art works and other sections discuss her experience of having autism and her accomplishments in the other fields mentioned.
I came across her site when searching for art works produced by people with autism. Her art pieces touch your soul.
Refer to link (right)

Dr.Temple Grandin

Dr. Temple Grandin (Ph.D) is a very accomplished writer/author and has appeared on many major television shows. She is an amazing lady.
Apart from all the wonderful information on her site, when you click on the ">article" tab, Dr. Grandin discusses "Autism - The Way I See It", you can read about her insights into Autism from her personal perspective.
Refer to the link (right).

Frank Klein

To view Frank's website, click on the link (right), then click on "Autistic Advocacy", description - "A repository of pro-autistic articles, editorials and humour by Frank Klein".

Personal stories via the U.K.

The National Autistic Society of the U.K. has a section of it's site dedicated to the personal stories of people with Autism/Aspergers. By clicking on the link (right), you'll be taken directly to this particular section.

The Mind Within

By clicking on the above title in the links list (right), you will be able to read about the thoughts, perspectives and personal stories of the author of this wonderfully colourful web site. Included are exquisite pieces of art work by the author and links to their other web sites.

A personal perspective

There is a plethora of information, regarding the diagnosis, therapies, opinions, beliefs, causes, and so on, surrounding autism. So much so, that it can be very daunting for parents who have newly discovered a diagnosis of autism for their children.

I don't believe that persons with autism should be 'cured'. I believe we as loving parents and carers can work 'with' our kids and provide them with the quality of care and education, love and support that they (as with all children) need to enjoy quality of life (just as we hope for ourselves).

Celebrating achievements, progressive milestones, honouring their rights as valued human beings, helping overcome difficulties, 'walking along side them' and , especially, 'hearing' their 'voice' and listening to their wants and desires, are some of the things I perceive as being imperitive to loving and living alongside our babes (children), friends and other persons who have autism.

I am a devoted mother of three children, one son who has autism. Many other family members have autism, diagnosed and undiagnosed, too. Throughout the years of this experience, combined with the experiences of working with children with autism, I have learnt many things. One of the most important things I learnt was that we cannot presume to force 'normality' upon our children (with autism). To deny them their real selves; to quash their intrinsic selves and try to redesign them, finding a 'cure' (not a word in my vocabulary) and demanding they conform to our ways of thinking and behaviour, to me is disrespectful. Assisting the person with autism to live a quality, happy and meaningful life (for them) according to their 'design' and not ours, to me, is paramount.

As I get time, I hope to post links to the many interesting and real personal stories from people with autism. An important part of learning about autism, I feel, is to listen to these stories; hear the voices from their heart and soul.

.....what I hope to achieve.....

This blog is a re-birth of my original blog of a similar name. My intention, as this one grows, is to provide interesting and informative links, posts and input from and regarding real life accounts from persons with autism, via web site links and graciously offered stories and information, again from persons with autism who wish to share their stories and experiences. The purpose of such is to help mum's, dad's, carer's, grandparents (and others who are genuinely interested) in learning and understanding more about the real feelings, thoughts, experiences, achievements and hopes of persons with autism.
Though my areas of 'expertise' are as described to the right of this post, and I am a mum of 3 gorgeous (yes, I am biased) children, 1 who has autism, and other family members with autism, I maintain that the real 'experts' regarding autism are the many wonderful souls I know, and the ones I don't as yet know, with autism.
So many, whether they be the specialists, therapists and others involved in working with or diagnosing persons with autism, I can't help but feel are on the 'outside - looking in'.
Just as I am constantly learning, as I read a growing number of beautifully insightful 'personal stories of autism', I hope that such real life stories can be a source of greater understanding, support and enlightenment for those who don't have autism and wish to learn more.
Many such stories can be full of humour, descriptions of successes, awsome talents, beauty, sadness, happiness, trials and tribulations, life's passions and pains (and so on...), but above all are the real voices of autism.
I am also hoping to help, in my own small way, increase the opportunities for persons with autism to have their 'voice' heard and touch the heart and soul of others, as mine has been.