There is a rather interesting article HERE concerning the autistic boy in Langley BC who was told he cannot attend school.
Turns out WORKSAFE BC was involved when a teacher made a complaint to them, alleging that there were 'over 16 physical altercations between students and teachers". As alarming as that may sound, no one seems to be able to say if those altercations involve the boy in question or not and the school is not allowing the parents access to their child's school file.
WorkSafe BC is a wonderfully proactive but immersed in politics organization that provides safety guidelines for businesses and workers. I understand that any business can be 'autidited' as well. All well and good, but I am uncertain as to how they have the ability to deny a child schooling.
As someone who has spent many years volunteered in the school, I am also aware that there are many more altercations in elementary school than most parents realize. Unless your child is involved, you are not likely to be informed. (Although it sounds as if the parents of the Langley child were NOT informed of any physical altercations, which begs the question: Why were they not involved or informed?) Most of those altercations are with the typical student, not with a child with ASD. Yet the article implies that the lack of training that the teachers receive on how to 'deal with' autistic children is why this particular child has been ousted.
As a parent of an ASD child who resides in BC I am startled that the teachers do not have any ASD training, as our teachers here do. I am horrified by the idea of my son being involved in an altercation with a teacher and my not being informed. The knowledge that a BC school is denying this child entry is terrifying.
I really wonder what the outcome will be, how much what is being shared publicly is accurate and what is being left out.
Hugs and Laughter to my school for not doing this to me.....
Wednesday
That tired old debate-vaccination
I am so very tired of hearing about vaccination being evil. I am tired of Jenny McCarthy, Wakefield, NVIC and AOA.
The idea that it is ok to choose not to vaccinate because of the minute risk of death/injury from that vaccine is simplistic at best. At worst, parents who choose to not vaccinate their children on the basis that their child 'might be injured by the vaccine,' is a gross injustice to the babies that have died from pertussis, measles, ruebella (so forth and so on.)
I really understood the non vaccination stance, back when the news was bombarding us with scientific studies that say our babies are at risk from those vaccinations.
But those days are past.
Now there are multitudes of respectable studies (studies that have been peer reviewed and duplicated by others) that demonstrate that vaccines do not cause SIDS, nor Autism, and that the risk of an 'adverse reaction' that requires medical intervention is rare.
Rare as in you are more likely to win the lottery twice in a row when you only bought two tickets in your whole life rare. Babies have died (and are dieing) because of these selfish parents that are determined that its a giant conspiracy! That the world's governments and the gross majority of health professionals worldwide are in cahoots with every scientist on the planet to hide from us that vaccines are deadly dangerous, causing every illness and disorder known to man.
To what purpose I ask? Once those vaccines have killed us all, who are they making money off of? That one measles outbreak cost well over $120,000 just in hospital bills. What does an epidemic cost? After paying off all the people that would have to be bribed to silence, (were this really a hush hush conspiracy) how much proffit would there be in vaccines? Seriously people, time to engage the brain a wee bit.
Children that are not vaccinated are diagnosed with autism (like mine.) Children that aren't vaccinated die of SIDS, pertussis, HIV, measles and a multitude of illnesses and injuries. Children that are not vaccinated have caused untold amount of illness and death by spreading highly contagious diseases to babies that are too young to be vaccinated.
This while thing has turned into a screaming match of parents hollering that THEY and their children ARE more valuable that a city full of babies. That their RIGHTS supersede the rights of society. That they have the right to put their child at risk AND to put my community at risk.
For shame.
I can just see this argument being used in other arenas.
Public transportation has been pointed at as a source for being robbed. I mean, there is a youtube video and some porn model that say it's so. So I can drive drunk, and choose to have my kids in the car, because that is my right. Regardless of the danger to the rest of ya, you can't decide for me!!
Your kid allergic to peanuts? Deathly allergic as in my eating peanuts and breathing on him/her could cause immediate death? He/she is too little to understand that gravity of the situation and how to take precautions? Well my right to eat peanuts and mash peanut butter into your child's desk is way more important than your child's life.
What? It's not? Really?
Well I'll be danged. See, that is why we have rules and laws. The reason we allow these infringements on our rights to do whatever the eff we want, is so that the safety and well being of the majority is protected.
And I say that vaccinations are part of the safety and well being of the majority.
The idea that it is ok to choose not to vaccinate because of the minute risk of death/injury from that vaccine is simplistic at best. At worst, parents who choose to not vaccinate their children on the basis that their child 'might be injured by the vaccine,' is a gross injustice to the babies that have died from pertussis, measles, ruebella (so forth and so on.)
I really understood the non vaccination stance, back when the news was bombarding us with scientific studies that say our babies are at risk from those vaccinations.
But those days are past.
Now there are multitudes of respectable studies (studies that have been peer reviewed and duplicated by others) that demonstrate that vaccines do not cause SIDS, nor Autism, and that the risk of an 'adverse reaction' that requires medical intervention is rare.
Rare as in you are more likely to win the lottery twice in a row when you only bought two tickets in your whole life rare. Babies have died (and are dieing) because of these selfish parents that are determined that its a giant conspiracy! That the world's governments and the gross majority of health professionals worldwide are in cahoots with every scientist on the planet to hide from us that vaccines are deadly dangerous, causing every illness and disorder known to man.
To what purpose I ask? Once those vaccines have killed us all, who are they making money off of? That one measles outbreak cost well over $120,000 just in hospital bills. What does an epidemic cost? After paying off all the people that would have to be bribed to silence, (were this really a hush hush conspiracy) how much proffit would there be in vaccines? Seriously people, time to engage the brain a wee bit.
Children that are not vaccinated are diagnosed with autism (like mine.) Children that aren't vaccinated die of SIDS, pertussis, HIV, measles and a multitude of illnesses and injuries. Children that are not vaccinated have caused untold amount of illness and death by spreading highly contagious diseases to babies that are too young to be vaccinated.
This while thing has turned into a screaming match of parents hollering that THEY and their children ARE more valuable that a city full of babies. That their RIGHTS supersede the rights of society. That they have the right to put their child at risk AND to put my community at risk.
For shame.
I can just see this argument being used in other arenas.
Public transportation has been pointed at as a source for being robbed. I mean, there is a youtube video and some porn model that say it's so. So I can drive drunk, and choose to have my kids in the car, because that is my right. Regardless of the danger to the rest of ya, you can't decide for me!!
Your kid allergic to peanuts? Deathly allergic as in my eating peanuts and breathing on him/her could cause immediate death? He/she is too little to understand that gravity of the situation and how to take precautions? Well my right to eat peanuts and mash peanut butter into your child's desk is way more important than your child's life.
What? It's not? Really?
Well I'll be danged. See, that is why we have rules and laws. The reason we allow these infringements on our rights to do whatever the eff we want, is so that the safety and well being of the majority is protected.
And I say that vaccinations are part of the safety and well being of the majority.
Tuesday
Monday
NSLM and the Autism Button
So, in preparedness for my own little autism awareness plan (I am in college, so I got a HUGE button that says, 1 <3 someone with Autism and Someone with Autism <3s me!, figuring it might open a conversation or two, and it certainly did.) I have it clipped to my shirt, with pride.
When NSLM came upstairs to have his breakfast he, of course, didn't look up. He grabbed his cereal and his juice, and stumbled to the table.
He does not wake up gracefully, lol.
Halfway through his breakfast he glanced at me.
He stopped, staring, with his spoon suspended halfway to his mouth.
He seemed, for a moment, to be completely dumbfounded.
He did that tiny smirk that is all him, then continued to eat his cereal, smirking the whole time.
I pretended not to notice, as I have learned that patience can be very rewarding. :) I was guessing that he was startled to see his words on my button.
Finally, he slides his eyes sideways to mine for a moment, then says, "What makes you think I love you?"
Then he laughs. "Love you mom!" he sing songs.
Sigh.... I love my kids!
When NSLM came upstairs to have his breakfast he, of course, didn't look up. He grabbed his cereal and his juice, and stumbled to the table.
He does not wake up gracefully, lol.
Halfway through his breakfast he glanced at me.
He stopped, staring, with his spoon suspended halfway to his mouth.
He seemed, for a moment, to be completely dumbfounded.
He did that tiny smirk that is all him, then continued to eat his cereal, smirking the whole time.
I pretended not to notice, as I have learned that patience can be very rewarding. :) I was guessing that he was startled to see his words on my button.
Finally, he slides his eyes sideways to mine for a moment, then says, "What makes you think I love you?"
Then he laughs. "Love you mom!" he sing songs.
Sigh.... I love my kids!
Sunday
The fear of autism
I have a story to share, that I am not sure anyone aside from my family knows the details of.
Back in the day (heee! I've waited years to say that!), in 1990, I WAS one of those parents who were scared to vaccinate. I thought autism meant living in an institution, that vaccines, more so if given before the age of two, were dangerous-causing SIDS, autism, death, siezures etc.
I was pregnant with my oldest child when my mother started to take classes on herbology. I was still young, 19, and living with her.
I did vaccinate my oldest, but not until he was 2.
Then, in 1997, when my daughter was born, I fought bitterly with my then husband, over vaccinations. I had read this book my mother had given me, that detailed how in Japan vaccinations were not given until babies were over 2. This book (no clue now which woo book) stated that Japan's SIDS rate dropped to nearly zero after choosing this over two schedule. We went to talk to my mom's chiropractor, who assured us that there was little to no risk, providing I breast fed, if we chose not to vaccinate.
The next year, when my youngest was born, we still agreed to not vaccinate. By then there were many other books and news stories out that detailed how the MMR vaccine may be linked to autism.
When my youngest was less than a year old, I knew something was up. As the oldest of four children, and with three of my own, I had enough experience to know the general behaviours associated with the various ages of development, and my precious baby was not meeting any of those milestones.
He walked, but he had no babble. He rarely made noises, aside from crying. He pitched fits that we couldn't figure out the reason for. Fits that looked like siezures and went on for ridiculous amounts of time. He didn't seem to notice if I was in the room, never mind crying if I left. He did not respond to his name. He didn't play with toys, really, but instead would wander around the house shutting things (doors, cabinets, curtains) and hanging the teatowel on its hanger. If it wasn't for my daughter, Princess, he would have just happily wandered around closing cabinets or standing underneath the kitchen fan light.
At the age of two it was obvious that things were becoming more noticable. Feeling stupider than I have ever felt before or since, I arranged to have my children vaccinated. I have, many times since, felt nearly sick over the 'what could have happened' train of thought-that goodness my children did not catch any diseases. The cloak of guilt is heavy enough as it is-I am certain I NEVER would have forgiven myself had one of them become ill because of my fears.
Now, when NSLM first began to teach us what autism is, people in public areas would stare, tell me or him off, snub us, or act as if we were contagious. The teachers seemed to be uncertain as to what, exactly, to do with him.
For the first four years of NSLM's schooling, I sat in class with him. I had to-the teachers and 'aids' just wanted to argue with him or force him to participate, rather than to communicate his way or to learn WHY he was 'being difficult'.
It was a battle.
That is what I remember of dealing with people outside the home.
Now, I see my community responding. I see teachers with training. I see people in public, when NSLM has an 'autistic' outward behaviour, will ASK and do so with RESPECT and interest, rather than with fear and judgement.
As a side note concerning vaccination.... I am currently in college and just wrote a paper on Jenny McCarthy and vaccination. Vaccination rates have been climbing dramatically last year and more so this year. HURRAH! if anyone wants the resources for that info, let me know.
Back in the day (heee! I've waited years to say that!), in 1990, I WAS one of those parents who were scared to vaccinate. I thought autism meant living in an institution, that vaccines, more so if given before the age of two, were dangerous-causing SIDS, autism, death, siezures etc.
I was pregnant with my oldest child when my mother started to take classes on herbology. I was still young, 19, and living with her.
I did vaccinate my oldest, but not until he was 2.
Then, in 1997, when my daughter was born, I fought bitterly with my then husband, over vaccinations. I had read this book my mother had given me, that detailed how in Japan vaccinations were not given until babies were over 2. This book (no clue now which woo book) stated that Japan's SIDS rate dropped to nearly zero after choosing this over two schedule. We went to talk to my mom's chiropractor, who assured us that there was little to no risk, providing I breast fed, if we chose not to vaccinate.
The next year, when my youngest was born, we still agreed to not vaccinate. By then there were many other books and news stories out that detailed how the MMR vaccine may be linked to autism.
When my youngest was less than a year old, I knew something was up. As the oldest of four children, and with three of my own, I had enough experience to know the general behaviours associated with the various ages of development, and my precious baby was not meeting any of those milestones.
He walked, but he had no babble. He rarely made noises, aside from crying. He pitched fits that we couldn't figure out the reason for. Fits that looked like siezures and went on for ridiculous amounts of time. He didn't seem to notice if I was in the room, never mind crying if I left. He did not respond to his name. He didn't play with toys, really, but instead would wander around the house shutting things (doors, cabinets, curtains) and hanging the teatowel on its hanger. If it wasn't for my daughter, Princess, he would have just happily wandered around closing cabinets or standing underneath the kitchen fan light.
At the age of two it was obvious that things were becoming more noticable. Feeling stupider than I have ever felt before or since, I arranged to have my children vaccinated. I have, many times since, felt nearly sick over the 'what could have happened' train of thought-that goodness my children did not catch any diseases. The cloak of guilt is heavy enough as it is-I am certain I NEVER would have forgiven myself had one of them become ill because of my fears.
Now, when NSLM first began to teach us what autism is, people in public areas would stare, tell me or him off, snub us, or act as if we were contagious. The teachers seemed to be uncertain as to what, exactly, to do with him.
For the first four years of NSLM's schooling, I sat in class with him. I had to-the teachers and 'aids' just wanted to argue with him or force him to participate, rather than to communicate his way or to learn WHY he was 'being difficult'.
It was a battle.
That is what I remember of dealing with people outside the home.
Now, I see my community responding. I see teachers with training. I see people in public, when NSLM has an 'autistic' outward behaviour, will ASK and do so with RESPECT and interest, rather than with fear and judgement.
As a side note concerning vaccination.... I am currently in college and just wrote a paper on Jenny McCarthy and vaccination. Vaccination rates have been climbing dramatically last year and more so this year. HURRAH! if anyone wants the resources for that info, let me know.
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