How This Works

What a nice tribute to Autism, thank you Five For Fighting for donating to Autism Speaks!! We have a son that is 17 now, dx with Autism around 2.5, he has come such a long way. We all are so proud of him! He loves school, art, music and singing. It's been very difficult over the years as he has been going through puberty since 9. What a hard time for anyone let alone a child with Autism! I hope someday soon they find out what is causing Autism. Before my daughter decides to have children, I don't want her to have to go through what we have all these years. It's so hard on families. Stay focused and do what is best for your child/children. Good Luck to everyone of you! Robyn
posted by Robyn Barrett-Seavers on 5/19/07 5:53: PM

Thanks! I hope the day will come when people can just accept those with Aspberger Syndrome and just love them!
posted by Patrice Costanzi on 5/19/07 5:33: PM

This is an exetremely touching video...my aunt is an autism teacher and her kids are making progress but it's still very sad. it needs to be cured...soon!!
posted by shalin on 5/19/07 5:12: PM

Wonderful video, My son has brought such joy.He is very special and frustrating at times, we are lucky he is mainstreamed,but I have been fighting to have him identified since he was 5 and it it took until he was 11 before he was officially identified. I was the first to diagnose his Aspergers.Then I had to change states to get him an iep, whatever it takes to get there it is worth it.A mothere knows her child best, do not listen to other opinions follow your gut.
posted by hannah. on 5/19/07 11:57: AM

I have a 27 yr old daughter with "Autism". Awareness of possibilities to expand horizons is wonderful. Labeling to confine and shelf a life is not. These "disorders" come with a lifetime commitment. We need to do more for the future of our children as they become adults not just turn away at 21 and say so sorry this is the end of community commitment. My daughter is still learning and progressing. She is amazing. Who knows what lies ahead in her horizon. We struggle daily to reduce the limitations and to look for ways of expanding her capabilities. She is now at a stage where school would be beneficial but the government is "done".
posted by C on 5/19/07 9:26: AM

I think what you're doing is great and we need to find out more about the cause of Autisum in our children. My son was labeled with Autisum at the age of 2 1/2 years old. He is now 5 years old and has come a long way since than. My son will start Kindergarden next year and I am so proud of him for that. He has worked so hard for this. Thanks, Hope <><
posted by Hope on 5/19/07 9:14: AM

I have a 5 1/2 year old son with autism. I am so glad for the recent awareness that has come in many different forms to make more people aware of this disability. These children are beautiful, extremely intelligent and a blessing in our lives. I thank God every day for all of my children, I think my son is a very special child.
posted by Dorothy on 5/19/07 8:51: AM

I have a 5 1/2 year old son with autism. I am so glad for the recent awareness that has come in many different forms to make more people aware of this disability. These children are beautiful, extremely intelligent and a blessing in our lives. I thank God every day for all of my children, I think my son is a very special child.
posted by Dorothy on 5/19/07 8:51: AM

I have a 5 1/2 year old son with autism. I am so glad for the recent awareness that has come in many different forms to make more people aware of this disability. These children are beautiful, extremely intelligent and a blessing in our lives. I thank God every day for all of my children, I think my son is a very special child.
posted by Dorothy on 5/19/07 8:51: AM

HI TO EVERYONE I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, JAMES IS 8 IN JUNE AND ANDREA IS 7 BOTH WONDERFUL KIDS, GOD HAS BLESSED ME WELL WITH THEN I CANT CHANGE ANYTHING IN THE WORLD FOR THEM. LOVE KAREN
posted by karen johnson on 5/19/07 8:27: AM

There is not enough awareness out there yet, this is wonderful! Keep up the great work.
posted by Sarah Kelly on 5/18/07 9:49: PM

hi to everyone i myself IS dealing with 2 children that have,well one has SEVERELY AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND ONE MILD.and believe it is hard because i have 4 childern.yes i believe we need more help out there for these special childern.BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE BOTH WONDERFUL KIDS MY SON IS GOING TO 8 SOON AND HE LOVES TO BE OUTSIDE HE LOVES ANIMALS AND WATCHES ANIMAL PLANET ALL THE TIME. MY DAUGHTER IS 7 AND SHE DOESNT TALK HARDLY AT ALL BUT SHE LOVE TO BE BYE HERSELF BELEIVE IT OR NOT SHE AS NOT EVEN MISSED A DAY OF SCHOOL, BUT I FEEL THAT WE DO NEED MORE HELP OUT THERE FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.GOD BLESS EVERYONE THANK YOU KARE
posted by karen johnson on 5/18/07 9:40: PM

My daughter was diagnosed with Aspergers and Autism and I loved your video. I struggle so hard to get her the help she needs because my ex doesnt believe she has anything wrong with her. We have had her tested, and he still refuses to believe it and wont allow me to take her to the specialists she so desperately needs. She is in 5th grade now, and has no friends and doesnt understand why. I will continue reading, and learning, all the ways I can continue to help my daughter until the courts realize that Autism is REAL, and needs treatment.
posted by Melissa on 5/18/07 9:17: PM

My nephew has Asperger's. He is 16 and has had many challenges. He has found his own unique gifts and is a blessing to our family. BTW, I just passed this site on to a mom who has a child with Asperger's as well. Bless You for what you do!
posted by Lisa Eberhardt on 5/18/07 8:16: PM

As a mother, an educator, and a human being this is an incredibly touching video and a ray of sunshine and hope.
posted by Lisa on 5/18/07 7:12: PM

This video reminded me of the clients I worked with years ago. I loved them then and I still do now, Thank you for the reminder. Peace.
posted by Bonnie Pollmann on 5/18/07 6:46: PM

Thank you so much! My 8 year old son, Harrison, has autism. And let me tell you, he is amazing! He lights up my life and brings me so much joy and appreciation for the littlest things in life as well as the most important gift anyone could ever give or receive, "LOVE." God bless you!
posted by Kimberly Wagner on 5/18/07 4:49: PM

There is no excuse for ignorance. The message is before you in this video. Watch, listen...
posted by Sharon Sanna on 5/18/07 1:19: PM

This video is very touching. I want to thank you for making it. I have a 32 yr. old son with Autism. In the early years, I was the only one I knew of, who did NOT want to put him away someplace. He couldn't feed himself, talk, or anything and all the doctors said that he would never be able to do anything! They said that he would be a vegetable all his life and I should put him into an instutation. When I refused to do this, it caused a lot of problems with my famile, resulting in a divorce! Now, he IS able to talk, feed himself, dress himself and even helps around the house. No, things are not perfect, but I don't know of anyplace on this earth were things are perfect. I would just like to see a world where we can all learn to live with and respect people who have differences. No matter what they are. Sure, I know that Autism is difficult, but then so are all the other "special problems" that all famalies have to live with. Remember, we are all different. What a boring world this would be, if we were all the same.
posted by Mary on 5/18/07 1:13: PM

I found this video loving and touching. But it did not say anything positive about ASD. I agree that depending where you fall on the spectrum, autism is challenging and can be painful to live with, but there are also wondrous aspects presented by their heightened sensitivity and talents. Also saying a world where no family has to live with autism is a very insulting thing to say. It is like saying, you wish all the individuals with autism were gone. I could see if you said, a world where autism was understood or a world where families living with autism are accepted and embraced by society, but by saying a world where we did not have to live with it sounds like it is one of the worst things that could happen. I thought the lyrics, music and photography were beautiful as well as some of the captions. Its format will please people of all ages, nationalities and status. But some of the captions made autism sound like a disease. Like cancer or AIDS. I let my 20 year old autistic son see this video and he smiled. I asked him what he thought about families living without autism and he said Where do they want the children to go? They want us to leave the planet. I do not like this. No, No this is not a good thing. I told him that this was not how they meant to make him feel. That it was just trying to tell viewers autism is very hard for families to handle. And I do believe this was your intention by that caption but I wish you had put it another way. My son has lived both ends of the spectrum. He accepts being different and does not feel there is anything wrong with him. He says, I AM AUTISTIC BUT I AM NOT DISABLED! I wish the world viewed autism like this also. The fact is that we do have to live with ASD. They are not going any where. so we should be hoping for a world where they feel accepted, and where they belong, and not one where they do not exist.
posted by oni on 5/18/07 12:45: PM