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Special Needs
Creating an Autism Board
I contacted the bump community leaders about possibly setting up an ASD board. They like the idea and will create it if enough members would like it as well. So I was curious if anyone else would be interested in an Autism Spectrum Disorder specialty board here in the bump community.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Creating an Autism Board
Eh - I'm not for that. Can you share why you'd like to see Autism and other needs partitioned?
There are plenty of folks here with kiddos of all types of needs, but are struggling the same. And often struggling for the same reasons: initial giref of a Dx, feeding/sensory issues, viatmins, IFSPs& IEPs, EI, therapists disagreeing, tantrums, isolation, joys, accomplishments, misinformed but well meaning parents/friends/inlaws etc.
I don't put it out there that often, but my son has WilliamsSyndrome, and has many of the traits and needs of a child with Autism. He happens to also have an additional genetic component that carries with it physical characteristics, cardiovascular and muscular defects and a predisposition to being hypersocial and hyperffectionate.
Recently there have been quite a few looks at WS and Autism because of their many similarities, especially since we KNOW why he has WS (genetic microdeletion on Chromosome 7). In fact, kiddos like mine and kiddos like yours will end up helping eachother the more they are studied. In other words, we could both learn a lot from eachother. Some Moms here are struggling to find a Dx and some Moms jsut come out of concern for their kiddo or loved one...characteristics of Autism are seen in many conditions.
I cried when I saw the video of PMQ's Joey taking steps by the couch and have learned much from Auntie, shared in Jezebel's happiness with the birth of a subsequent healthy typically developing child, and heck - even made a good friend learning of another Mommy of a child with WS.
Sometimes it seems as if we inundate the board with our topic, but I also think we all relate as SN moms... so I'm torn. I probably would only stick to one board and I like the input of OTs, ST's, etc... who sometimes lurk OR parent children with other SN's.
IDK
I am not an ASD mommy yet, but it may be in our future. I like having the ASD mommies on the Special Needs board.
There are so many things that I have learned from the ASD moms that have applied to my child. A lot of their knowledge goes across other dx's so I would hate to loose their input and I am sure others would feel the same way.
If the ASD moms had their own board this one would probably be super duper slow, but I understand if you want your "own place". I'll just have to add another board to my lurking list....
Well, I actually really like all the other moms here too. It sometimes gets overwhelming to think/read/worry about ASD every day. So secretely I really enjoy posts about other SN and their accomplishments and struggles....
I think we benefit from hearing from people with different Dx's. My son does not have a Dx of a specific syndrome or disease yet, and I like that here we are accepted. It seems like many kids have a collection of symptoms, so sharing across the board is helpful.
On a selfish note, learning about autism helps me be a better teacher, too.
I totally get the inclination to create a separate board, but I hope it won't happen.
I hope it's ok to reply because I'm not an ASD mom. I do have a child with a Special Needs diagnosis though, and I have been so grateful for the responses I get on my posts, especially from the ASD moms. My son receives a lot of the same therapies, and you have all proved invaluable in giving me answers on EI, SN preschools, IEP's, etc. More than that, you have offered me a shoulder to lean on and a place to vent. I know you all understand the fears and the joys of parenting a kid with special needs, and I really can't imagine this board without you. I hope those of us without an ASD diagnosis offer you all something too, if nothing more than a place to vent and a forum to share ideas.
In addition, there are some moms here like me whose kids aren't old enough to completely rule out ASD, and your posts and replies might help some of us without a diagnosis yet get the services we need.
In short, you'd really be missed!
Having been a daily lurker and frequent poster here for the last 9 months, I would say about 75-80% of the posts on here are either ASD or in the neighborhood.
Having to "search" for an ASD related post is not a problem. It is simply a matter of just scrolling down the page....
I'm not against it. My son has mild Cerebral Palsy, but has many of the same issues as children with autism. He's always been in a classroom with children with Autism, and I have share many of the same struggles their parents do. I would go to both boards.
I sometimes ask myself what people of non-ASD kids on this board think, since we're so dominant here, it seems. Do we steemroll over everyone, do they feel like they can't really relate or say their piece? I hope not. But, I would be interested to find out, maybe we could have a poll or something.
For me, personally, I don't think we need a new board. For one, I would probably just end up going back and forth between these two, and it's a hassle. Having one place is a nice simplicity in a very complicated SN world. Number two, I like the diversity and in many ways we're going through the same thing. Three, it's always good to have more resources...more people know more things. We can learn from each other. We all read, we all educate ourselves - this helps us all since none of us have the time to research absolutely everything and be everywhere. It's a nice group effort.
This.