Template: Autism Awareness

[autisticwonder]

Made 4 Templates using puzzle like format for 3 and 1 as other. So you don't have to use these at all for AUTISM topics but since this is AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH...and having 2 Autistic children...I wanted to bring attention to the growing population of autistic children.

The .smt are in GRAYSCALE..(masked) but I put my boys on the pages to show you what the layouts look like dressed up. Rearrange anyway you like..but you will bring BAD LUCK if you don't mention the word "AUTISM" when you display these publicly..(LOL).

My heart is heavy for the parents of autism struggling to meet the needs of their children..The greatest blessing you can give these parents is educating yourself to what the autistic child is like. When we tried to put our son John in with other "normal" children we had to create a book to help the young elementary students understand John and his peculiar ways! JKT Autism Book is 28 pages in jpgs (GRAY pages) included as a zip file here to help parents create a special book to help others..family, friends, church classes, school classmates, etc. learn more about their autistic child. You can use this as a guide to writing your own book or you can use this to learn about an autistic child. Either way is WONDERFUL!! I made this for John..the REAL "autisticwonder" about 12 years ago when he went into Elementary School. Took weeks to write with many revisions by the teacher until it was just the way she liked it!! Today, we have so many wonderful graphics at our finger tips to do a great presentation on our kids special needs with much better graphics than I had at that time.

To download the templates..simply Click and OPEN the blue link with .smt extention. To download the .zip file..simply click on it..SAVE AS and save to your preferred folder. The jpgs are easy to bring into your SBM templates by putting these on the SIDE of your work pages and extend them out for easier viewing. Will help you with the format and sequencing of topics easily.

God BLESS our KIDS!!!
NO RESTRICTIONS ON THESE!! YOu are FREE to use them as YOU LIKE But DO NOT CLAIM as YOUR OWN!!( which also implies if you use it..mention where you got it from so folks don't assume it is yours) THANKS!!!

[angelwithin]

wonderful idea and layouts Donna, what a great way to promote Autism Awareness month

thankyou honey xx

[*eng*]

This is a wonderful creation. I will be passing on your idea wonderwoman. You are a great ambassador for autism

[mswizard]

Im Originally from Asheboro NC!

I was wondering, as a mom of Autistic kids, could you give me some clues as to the tests they do to test for Autism? My 3 yr old Ian is about to be tested for it and other things. We have a doc that doesn't explain much. We have known since Ian was about 16 months that he was different but has gotten worse as time goes by. We thought maybe he had ADHD/ADD but the docs seem to think it's something else. Also, I noticed you said you have 2 children with Autism, what are the chances of that happening? I am about to give birth to a daughter any day now and since reading your post, I'm a little concerned..ok more than a little. Im a whole lot confused too. If you would like to email me my addy is liz at bberrylane dot com. Thanks a bunch in advance!
*NOTE*
I love your layouts! You do beautiful work.

[eye]

wow you knocked my socks off. love these. thank you so much. Excellent work.

[crops2dawn]

OMG!!! Just when I thought you cant get any better WHAM!!!! WOW This is spectacular girl!!!! You really outdid yourself with this! I am in complete AWE!!
You are truly one of Gods Angels!! You have the heart that keeps on giving and you will be praised highly for that one day, beyond anything here!!
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!!! And Thank you my friend!

[autisticwonder]

I could write you a book and will follow this up with a personal email to you!!! THANKS For your wonderful comments!! BIG HUGS to you!!
Since my boys were diagnosed with autism some 12+ years ago..the books written back then are all ancient and most proven incorrect.
To answer the "chances of having another" Back then..first born, blue eyed boys with blonde curly hair were most common..today..anything goes!!! And back then...two in same family very rare..Not so today...
To ease your fears..my third child..is a girl. Very BRIGHT and honor roll student now homeschooled. Very "NORMAL". Girls are less likely to be autistic than boys.
Diagnosis of Autism now has 3-4 main areas to cover..Communication deficits, Social deficits, cognitive deficiencies...as well as unusually strong abilities, and motor/sensory abnormalities.. Denver scale was used with my boys fulfilling up to 9 categories..years ago..TEACH is about the ONLY reliable source for diagnosing Autism here in Charlotte as of 3-4 years ago..Things are changing rapidly with more and more children being diagnosed with Autism..EARLY TREATMENT is ESSENTIAL!!! 2 years old .. Significant developmental changes existed with my boys..Eric was more subtle than John....
around 18 months John seemed to go deaf..stopped trying to speak at all.. withdrew..stopped making eye contact, etc. Many factors involved.
TEACH and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) mixed are extraordinarily helpful for children with autism especially in the early stages.. Many more similar approaches are popping up...Avoid the HARSH, RIDGID, approaches..My kids always thrived on the gentle words.."No, THANK you"..." Sorry, that's not correct. Let's try again"..They were my BEST teachers...The teachers taught that and that is what my boys stressed to me when I got fussy!! LOL..
LOVE them!! Pray for them and the answers WILL come day by day and minute by minute!! BLESS YOU...Let's talk some more!!!

[crops2dawn]

You Peeps SEE WHAT I MEAN!!!! A heart of GOLD!!!

[sacannon]

These are awsome, thanks.

With 12 years personal experience with 2 children it's no wonder you sound like a walking encylopedia on the subject. I don't watch talk shows on TV, but one day one happened to come on while I was doing something else and the subject was on autism. They had a couple on that had two boys with autism, and they were answering questions of other parents with children with autism on what to expect and how to deal with situations etc...I immediately thought of you when that was on. The show was very interesting and educational. I also use to work with a woman that had an autistic son, during lunch sometimes she would talk about.

It is so nice that you are reaching out to others, and helping to educate them about autism.

[NanaC95565]

Simply wonderful WONDER. Great job as usual. Thanks for sharing.

[mswizard]

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

You've eased some of my fears. We have already been asked a million questions about Ian..ie; does he not make eye contact, act like he can't hear, have a fascination with an object(s) not of blankie/stuffed animal type.(Ian has 3 AA batteries he has rolled around in his fingers for over a year now) around 15 months or so he completely stopped trying to talk ( he talks to himself or to his batteries but only a few words are understandable) he grabs my hand and points when he wants something...sometimes he can get a word out like cookie or hug. I so look forward to talking with you...you have no idea!
I am sooooo glad I found this community! You ladies are ALL wonderful human beings...just seeing what you have all done for Shelbz proves that!!!

[autisticwonder]

You've eased some of my fears. We have already been asked a million questions about Ian..ie; does he not make eye contact, act like he can't hear, have a fascination with an object(s) not of blankie/stuffed animal type.(Ian has 3 AA batteries he has rolled around in his fingers for over a year now) around 15 months or so he completely stopped trying to talk ( he talks to himself or to his batteries but only a few words are understandable) he grabs my hand and points when he wants something...sometimes he can get a word out like cookie or hug. I so look forward to talking with you...you have no idea!
I am sooooo glad I found this community! You ladies are ALL wonderful human beings...just seeing what you have all done for Shelbz proves that!!!

The teacher's of Autistic children may not like me mentioning this..but they only have your child 8 hours a day to our 16 a day plus weekends and summers..But one method that I always used was "DOG TRAINING" in a sense..with some adaptations..and not just ANY DOG TRAINING for communication.. The kind I'm referring to is the "DOG WHISPERER" Ceasar Milan kind of dog training..The subtle NON verbal approach to training and communicating with our kids..The words can weigh them down..It is gentle, direct and leaves the social of humans humanizing dogs OUT..And that is also what our autistic child benefit from since typically the SOCIAL is missing..It is needed but not number one for needs on their list..just ours usually!! It does come..we just have to see from their eyes..and DOG WHISPERER dog training is supremely helpful in our approach in handling stresses of autism. Since I can't be their in person to show you how it works..I can refer you to watching the program on TV..He is AWESOME!!! It is how I handle my kids during stressful times for them. I have learned to put myself in their shoes as much as possible!! They have feelings..They want social but don't have a clue how to manage their sensory issues and the human interaction issues. We make false assumptions of them. Start with DOG TRAINING the DOG Whisperer STYLE and you will begin to understand the concept!!
HUGS.....
Donna

[mswizard]

thanks!

I know the show you are referring to. I've not watched it yet but now I will. I can't thank you enough for taking the time for me..it means the world! Thank you. You are a gift from above to me, Im not as afraid anymore, if that makes any sense at all lol.

[redbird51]

I am new to SBM and was just checking this out when I hit on your templates for autism. My BF Barb has a grandson with autism and he is wonderful. Thanks for sharing and reminding us about all the special folks in the world.

[Vanessa]

Brilliant templates Donna, especially the "rounded" one.