Moms On Autism

Hi, my name is Gabrielle and I have a brother, Mateo, with Autism. I’m
sure you have heard about him because my mom happens to be Lisa and she
along with her best friend, Myra started this website.

At first when he was diagnosed, I didn’t know what it was. I had never
heard of it before. As time went by, what I did hear about it was only
the negative comments. As I learned and continue to learn, I have
realized all the negative things people made it into were not what autism
is at all. Yes, being the sister of someone with autism is challenging at
times, but it also helps you realize the true potential children (and/or
adults) with autism have. They are so smart and loving, as I see with my
brother. He has changed so much since we started ABA three years ago. He
interacts with everyone and loves to be played with. The only thing he is
lacking is speech.

A few months ago, our family which consists of myself and my five
brothers, we started sign language. What a difference it has made! Mateo
can actually communicate his wants and needs and we understand what he is
asking. It’s really kind of fun because I have been able to teach it to
my friends and they are learning too. Mateo now says words with the signs
and as time goes by, the signs will fade and the words will increase.

All in all, Autism is not a bad thing at all. I am so very proud of my
brother. He just happens to learn a different way than the way everyone
else does. Is that so bad??

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Podcast 4: Potty Training

Posted by admin on 15 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: Parents and Autism, Podcasts

Frustrating times when potty training an autistic child. It can be done.

Potty Training [14:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1673)

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Thoughts from Myra (myra@momsonautism.com)

Posted by Myra on 09 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: Parents and Autism, Site Information

As I sit here trying to write my thoughts for our new website, I am
brought back to a frantic day back in February 2004. It was President’s
Day and Darby (who was just 3 1/2) had a day off from school. While I was
watching him jump from one toy to another making all sorts of babbling
sounds, a sense of panic came over me. I felt that all of the sudden, I
wasn’t doing enough to help him. I wondered what was I suppose to be
doing. I worried about his future. Would he be able to function at
levels beyond preschool? Would he ever be able to work at a job or
provide for himself? Would he ever “talk” to me? It was then I started
making my phone calls and developing my list of contacts.

The “Autism Community” is such a loving and caring group of people. I
still have the notebook of names and phone numbers of moms, doctors,
therapists and even a university psychology professor who I used to help
me put the pieces of my autistic puzzle together. To this day I am so
grateful to all those individuals I will most likely never meet
face-to-face but, who spent the time listening and comforting me when it
seemed like I was facing Autism alone. I remember telling my husband that
I would never be able to “pay back” all those that took the time to just
listen to my story. But, you find in life that sometimes the “student”
becomes the “teacher”.

I met Lisa, my partner in crime on this endeavor, in January 2005 at an
ABA training seminar. I remember sitting across from her staring into the
same scared and confused face I had only 4 months earlier. She even asked
a lot of the same questions. It was then that I realized I could finally
“pay back” all those people who helped me in February 2004.

At 7 1/2 , Darby has come a long way from the babbling 3 1/2 year-old. I
still have many questions about his future but I am confident that
whatever he does, I did my best to help him along his journey of life. He
is a happy, healthy boy and I thank God everyday for that. It is my hope
that this website and pod cast will offer comfort, support and a positive
influence for others when facing the challenges of Autism. I am so glad
you found us and I hope you keep coming back for more!
(By Myra, proud mom of 7 1/2 year old Darby)

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Thought from Kelli

Posted by Kelli on 08 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: Autism Therapies

Hi! My name is Kelli and I have been doing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
therapy with kids with autism for more than 5 years. I knew nothing about
autism until I registered for a psychology course on developmental
disabilities my senior year in college. The course focused on autism, and
required the completion of 50 hours of therapy with a child with autism.
It was then that I was formally trained in ABA. I have to admit that I
was not completely prepared for what was ahead of me. I had no idea then
how taking this one course would completely change my life.

The first little guy I did ABA therapy with was only 3 years old and was
just starting an intensive 40 hour a week in home program. During the
first few weeks this little guy would cry every time he had to go
downstairs for therapy, and we would spend most of the session this way.
It broke my heart to see this little guy so upset. But then some amazing
things started to happen. He was progressing through his programs,
learning many of basic skills he would need to complete more complex
tasks. He started to enjoy the therapy sessions, knowing that we would
spend time playing, as well as working. And he started talking. None of
this happened overnight-the progress was slow and there were setbacks. But
after a year of therapy this little guy, who didn’t say more than a few
words when he began therapy, was doing great-he was talking, playing
appropriately with other kids his age, and doing many of the things a 4
year old should! It made all those difficult sessions in the beginning
worthwhile!

In the last three years I have had the opportunity to work with both Lisa’s
and Myra’s little guys. Mateo and Darby work so hard compared to other
kids their age. As we have found, ABA alone isn’t the answer; there are
so many other therapies that need to be included depending on the
individual needs of each child. The key is to find what works for each
individual child and build upon their unique talents and skills.

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