My son has PDD a form of autism. It was never a easy thing for him.
He worked very hard and still does to handle it.
I came across this article on cnn, thought I would share. Not easy being the parent of a child with this, I can say hes a great gift.

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One CNN manager recently learned -- at 48 -- that she has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. Today she shares an inside view of life with the condition.

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Recently, at 48 years of age, I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. For most of my life, I knew that I was "other," not quite like everyone else. I searched for years for answers and found none, until an assignment at work required me to research autism. During that research, I found in the lives of other people with Asperger's threads of similarity that led to the diagnosis. Although having the diagnosis has been cathartic, it does not change the "otherness." It only confirms it.

Unraveling the mystery
CNN reports on the world impact and latest science concerning the developmental syndrome of autism in a global investigation.
All day Wednesday, April 2

see full schedule »
When I talk to people about this aspect of myself, they always want to know what it means to be an "Aspie," as opposed to a "Neurotypical" (NT). Oh, dear, where to start . ...

The one thing people seem to know about Asperger's, if they know anything at all, is the geek factor. Bill Gates is rumored to be an Aspie. We tend to have specialized interests, and we will talk about them, ad infinitum, whether you are interested or not. Recognizing my tendency to soliloquize, I often choose silence, although perhaps not often enough. Due to our extensive vocabularies and uninflected manner of speaking, we are called "little professors," or arrogant.

WHAT IS ASPERGER'S?
Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that is part of the autism spectrum. Signs and symptoms of Asperger's syndrome include:

Engaging in one-sided, long-winded conversations, without noticing if the listener is listening or trying to change the subject

Displaying unusual nonverbal communication, such as lack of eye contact, few facial expressions, or awkward body postures and gestures

Showing an intense obsession with one or two specific, narrow subjects, such as baseball statistics, train schedules, weather or snakes

Appearing not to understand, empathize with, or be sensitive to others' feelings

Having a hard time "reading" other people or understanding humor

Speaking in a voice that is monotonous, rigid or unusually fast

Moving clumsily, with poor coordination

Having an odd posture or a rigid gait

Source: MayoClinic.com
I don't quite understand small talk, and early in my adult life, solecisms were frequent. At meetings, I launch into business without the expected social acknowledgments. It's not that I don't care about people, I am just very focused on task. Do you have to rehearse greeting people to reinforce that you should do it? I do.

I am lucky to have a very dear friend who savors my eccentricities. She laughs, lovingly, about one particular evening at a restaurant. Before she could get seated, I asked her what she knew about the golden ratio and began to spew everything I know about it. I re-emphasize how lucky I am to have her as a friend, because this incident occurred long before I was diagnosed.

A misconception is that Aspies do not have a sense of humor. It is true that we can be very literal, so we often miss the humor in everyday banter, but we can and do enjoy even subtle humor. Our literal interpretations, however, can be problematic.

In first grade, whenever someone made a mess in the classroom, the teacher would ask a student to get the janitor. The student would come back with Mr. Jones (not really his name), who carried a broom and large folding dustpan. When I was asked to get the janitor, I looked all over the school and reported back to the teacher that I could not find it. After all, the person was Mr. Jones, so the janitor must be the object, right?

I lack the ability to see emotion in most facial expressions. I compensate for this deficiency by listening to the inflections in people's voices and using logic to determine emotional context. The words people choose, their movements, or even how quickly they exit a meeting can provide clues to emotion.

I also have intensified senses -- touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound -- so I am attuned to lights, noise, textures, and smells. In a "busy" environment, I will eventually go into sensory overload and my mind will go blank. When this happens, I have to "go away" mentally for a brief period to regain focus. When I "return," I have to piece together what occurred while I was "away." The additional mental processing I must do to function every day is fatiguing, and I don't handle "ad hoc" very well. Being asked to respond quickly in the midst of all this other processing is difficult, sometimes impossible.

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I am so sensitive to touch that a tickle hurts me. This is the hardest concept for most people to understand. How can a tickle hurt? All I can tell you is that it does, so I avoid being touched except by those who have learned how to touch me.

Hugs are dispensed infrequently, but if I do hug someone, I resemble Frankenstein's monster, arms extended to control contact. When my dad (who I suspect is an Aspie, too) and I hug, we both have "the approach." We sometimes miss and have to re-approach a couple of times until a brief, awkward hug is achieved.

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In school, other children noted my differences, and I was bullied (and tickled into fits of despair) for years. Already needing extended periods of time alone, my response was to become even more of a loner. Uh oh. When you are weird, you are a joke. When you are a loner, you frighten people. It's always the quiet ones. ...

I am married (wow!), and my brilliant husband is an absolute sweetheart. I don't know any other man who has the self-confidence to be pushed away (sometimes sharply), both physically and mentally, as often as he has been. He has been gentle and patient (and, yes, frequently emotionally depleted) as we both worked through my need for space, tendency to go so deep into my own world that the real world and everyone in it cease to exist, and sensitivity to touch during the 26 (soon to be 27) years of our marriage.

I live with anxiety, because the world can be overwhelming and people have expectations that I always, sooner or later, fail to meet. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have been told that I am rude, inaccessible or cold, yet I have never purposely tried to harm anyone, nor do I mean to be, well, mean.

Health Library
MayoClinic.com: Autism
I could tell you so much more, but instead let me share one last insight. Don't pity me or try to cure or change me. If you could live in my head for just one day, you might weep at how much beauty I perceive in the world with my exquisite senses. I would not trade one small bit of that beauty, as overwhelming and powerful as it can be, for "normalcy."

[AngelMarie]

Amazing - simply Amazing! Thank you for sharing!

[RozG]

yes ((muffy)) it's not easy being the parent of an autistic child...but they ARE a great gift

....and it was good of you to share this coz there are others here who will find it helpful

ty (((((AngelMarie ))))))

(((Kalamity_Jane )))))))
He has been the best journey of my life at times
He is the most amazing person

I on the other hand tend to drive him a little nuts as i laugh alot and sometimes do not always understand what he is talking about.
But thats part of me.

I have to be very careful what i say to him. As in this story when they mentioned going to get the janitor.

I once asked my son"he was digging in the dirt" if he was digging to china. He then thought he could........I ended up with a big hole in the back yard.
Words matter. And i am not always good with them.

what a blessing he is for me thou...

[RozG]

muffy...i know just what you mean about having to be careful how you word things...my eldest son is autistic and he has made a game up himself about learning to not take words literally...which is just as well for my nerves.

i.e. his first drama teacher said something my son took literally...next thing, he went careering into a brick wall.

i was so at her coz she'd been told!

((((((Kalamity_Jane ))))))))))))))))))))
You I am sure are a good mom

My son has gone to a private school since he was in 5th grade.I was very lucky ((him mostly thou))))

I have to always remind his Dr and others. Hes 17 now
He also has a very high tolerance to pain too
So if he is hurt. Like he had his appentixs out last year.They pushed on his stomach. He never told them it hurt cause they did not ask him.
My heart is with you ((KJ)))))

a second article they just put up

(CNN) -- Walk into Naughty Auties, a virtual resource center for those with autism, and you'll find palm trees swaying against a striking ocean sunset. Were it not for the pixelated graphics on the computer screen in front of you, you would swear you were looking at a tropical hideaway.

David Savill, who has named himself Dave Sparrow in Second Life, has Asperger's syndrome.

1 of 3 David Savill, 22, lives in Gloucester, England, in real life and created this spot within the virtual world of Second Life. Residents of this digital realm can represent themselves with 3-D images called avatars and connect with each other over the Internet.

Savill said he wanted Naughty Auties to serve those with autism spectrum disorders and their friends and family.

Savill, who represents himself in the virtual world using an avatar named Dave Sparrow, said one benefit is that visitors can practice social interaction and find information about the condition. The graphical representations of real people create a "comfort zone" that can coax users out of their shells and get them communicating with others, he said.

"You're on your own computer, in your own room, your own space," Savill said.

"So you're not going out into the real world meeting people, you're going meeting people online and in your own home, so you're perfectly relaxed. It's just a fantastic tool to use to bring people together." Take a video tour of Naughty Auties with Savill »

Autism, more precisely the autism spectrum, is a range of brain disorders that can cause difficulties in social interaction, communication and behavior. Asperger's syndrome is at the milder end of this spectrum. People with Asperger's are often high-achieving but can have difficulty in social situations.

Unraveling the mystery
CNN reports on the worldwide impact and latest science concerning the developmental syndrome of autism in a global investigation.
All day Wednesday, April 2

see full schedule »
CNN learned about Savill's Second Life place from an iReporter in England who has named herself Janey Bracken in Second Life. Bracken, who prefers not to share her real name, submitted stories to iReport.com describing Savill's resource center and providing information about other places where those with the condition can turn.

"[Savill] said that his life changed when his family decided to get the Internet," Bracken wrote. "He was able to use chat rooms and soon realized that people used symbols to express themselves: the smiley signs, the angry signs, hug signs, etc., to enhance the text. He went on to say that subconsciously his brain was learning about communication from these sessions of chat."

Second Life has its own economy and social scene, and Bracken and Savill hope it could become a haven for those seeking help for autism.

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While many think such computer interactions could eventually be helpful in treating autism, scientists say more information is needed to truly assess their value. Dr. Fred Volkmar, a professor in Yale University's Child Study Center, said he would want more concrete studies done before he could be sure.

"Although not much research is yet available, there is clearly considerable potential in use of new technologies for fostering social skills," Volkmar said.

To answer this need, scientists are beginning to explore the possibilities in Second Life. One such researcher is Simon Bignell, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Derby in Derby, England, who is running a project that is evaluating teaching and research in Second Life.

Bignell, known in-world as Milton Broome, said Second Life is an uncharted but promising area for new applied psychological research. Virtual reality can be used to simulate new environments for people on the autistic spectrum, he said.

"For people with autism, we've found it's a very nice way of setting up situations they might come across in their everyday lives," Bignell said. "For people who have social, emotional, communicational problems ... we can get them familiar with an environment before they actually try it out in real life." Watch more on autism research in a virtual world »

Health Library
MayoClinic.com: Asperger's syndrome
He started the "Autism Research" discussion group within Second Life to serve as an information-sharing tool for interested parties. He also has an office within Second Life and can sometimes be found working in SL-Labs, the university's in-world psychology lab space. The lab areas contain meeting spots, informational kiosks and games. A portion of these areas contain information about autism and Asperger's.

Savill said Second Life excels at minimizing geographical separations between people and bringing people from all over the world to meet together quickly and easily.

He added that he wanted to emphasize that virtual worlds are an emerging and important tool not just for autistic people, but for the people who know them.

"It's not just to help people with autism, it's to help people whose lives have been affected by autism, be they family or friends or employees of people who have autism," Savill said. "Naughty Auties is a fantastic meeting place for people."

[RozG]

this is fantastic information ((muffy)) and all new to me.... for sharing this.

[AngelMarie]

((((((((((((((((kj))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
(((((((((((((muffy))))))))))))

I am surrounded by people with Autism on a daily basis. I work for an agency that supports people with developmental disabilities. I just want to take a minute and tell you both how important it is that your children are still at home. (If I understood correctly)

Most of the people we support are bussed to group homes every night and most do not have family even to send letters to. You are two amazing people! Autism can be so difficult and yet so rewarding. No one really knows how truly amazing Autism is until they experience it first hand. So kudos to both of you!!!!

April is Autism Awareness month! Lets spread the word! Make it known!

Thank you again - the two of you are true blessings!

((((AngelMarie )))))))))))))
Thank you
you are amazing yourself
I never ever would have put him somewheres even at the worst of times
He has come so far. He is a gift from the word go
He is so functioning right now. Like a normal teenager . I am very lucky
Except for a few issues and reading . I really am blessed
I never treated him any different than my daughter. I think that helped alot.
All the ppl i knew "they were so kind to him"
ty I am really smiling

Muffy

P.s They matter so much.....................

[Fuzzybear]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
AngelMarie said:
((((((((((((((((kj))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
(((((((((((((muffy))))))))))))

I am surrounded by people with Autism on a daily basis. I work for an agency that supports people with developmental disabilities. I just want to take a minute and tell you both how important it is that your children are still at home. (If I understood correctly)

Most of the people we support are bussed to group homes every night and most do not have family even to send letters to. You are two amazing people! Autism can be so difficult and yet so rewarding. No one really knows how truly amazing Autism is until they experience it first hand. So kudos to both of you!!!!

April is Autism Awareness month! Lets spread the word! Make it known!

Thank you again - the two of you are true blessings!

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

((((AngelMarie))))))))) ty with it being the first of april I thought I would bring this back up . One of my soft spots in my heart these kids and adults
you are so kind ty
muffy

one last article hope it help some as PDD can be alot like LD
LEXINGTON, South Carolina (CNN) -- Ryan Unumb just turned 7 years old. He has about 100 words in his vocabulary, even if they are difficult to understand. He's potty trained. He loves playing with water. He follows instructions, he asks for food when he's hungry, and he gives lots of kisses.

The law named for Lorri Unumb's son, Ryan, doesn't apply to him. Their family is self-insured.

He's not where a 7-year-old should be developmentally, but for a child with severe autism, his parents are thrilled with his progress.

Lorri and Dan Unumb attribute these achievements to the 40 hours of intensive therapy Ryan gets every week. Tears streaming down her face, Lorri says they know they're lucky they can afford the team of private therapists who spend all day at their house outside Columbia, South Carolina.

"I've met so many other moms who were doing the best they could, and I just wanted to say to them, 'You know, an hour a week of speech therapy for your child is never going to make him better,' " the mother of three says.

"But I didn't want to tell them what they needed is 40 hours a week of therapy, because there's nothing they can do to buy that."

Nothing they can do because most medical insurance policies generally don't cover autism treatment, and it's too expensive for many parents to afford out of pocket. Ryan's therapy costs between $70,000 and $80,000 a year. That's Lorri Unumb's entire salary.

Unraveling the mystery
CNN reports on the impact and latest science concerning the developmental syndrome of autism in a global investigation.
All day Wednesday, April 2

see full schedule »
She and her husband are both lawyers; after Ryan's autism was diagnosed five years ago they sold their house, downsized and sacrificed to cover costs.

"It's not like you read your insurance policy and you can see a specific exclusion," Lorri Unumb says of the early days after Ryan's diagnosis. "We submitted bills, and we'd get denials back that said 'experimental... denied,' or 'provided by a non-licensed provider... denied.' Or sometimes the insurance companies would say 'this therapy is educational in nature, not medical... denied.'"

As a lawyer and a law professor, Unumb decided to do something about it, to force insurance companies in South Carolina to cover autism. Watch more on the Unumbs' fight to change the law on insurance coverage of autism »

She wrote a bill, recruited other parents to help her lobby state legislators, and two years later, got the bill passed. Known as Ryan's Bill, it will go into effect as Ryan's Law in July.

Ryan's Law mandates that insurance companies provide up to $50,000 a year for behavioral therapy up to the age of 16. It also prohibits insurers from refusing other medical care to children because of their autism. It doesn't, however, apply to people or companies who are self-insured, such as the Unumbs.

Similar laws have already been passed in Texas and Indiana, and campaigns to do the same in other states have the support of the advocacy group Autism Speaks.

The health insurance industry argues that so-called "mandates" like this ultimately do more harm than good.

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"It's not that we oppose a particular mandate," says Susan Pisano of America's Health Insurance Plans, a Washington-based association that represents health insurers. "We oppose the idea of mandates in general because we think in the end what happens is that health care is less affordable and less accessible when mandates are imposed."

But as for why autism isn't covered in the first place, the industry insists that behavioral therapy is an educational measure, not a medical one, and therefore not its bailiwick.

"I think that it's perfectly understandable that if you are diagnosed with a condition, or a family member is diagnosed with a condition, you want to get services," Pisano says. "Traditionally those services have been provided through early intervention programs for children in the 0-3 age group, and by schools for children who are older."

Pisano says the real issue is one of public policy. "We're seeing around the country, as the number of children along the autism spectrum is increasing and as budgets are being cut back, we see a move to transfer responsibility for some of the services [from the government] to the health care system." Explainer: Understanding autism »

For the Unumbs and many other parents though, the bottom line is that their child's autism was diagnosed by a doctor, not a teacher, and they want the coverage they feel entitled to after years of paying insurance premiums.

Lorri Unumb was so inundated by phone calls from parents of children with autism around the country wanting advice on how they, too, could go up against one of the most powerful industries in the nation and win, that she and her collaborators started holding open workshops to explain how they'd done it.

While admitting that she might not have done it if she'd known how hard it would be, Unumb regularly gives impassioned talks on how to garner grass-roots support, how to lobby state legislators and get signatures on bills.

Health Library
MayoClinic.com: Autism

"If you have a child with autism, you're exhausted all the time. And the last thing in the world that you have time to do is to take on the insurance industry. That's why it's just persisted this way for so long, it's that the very people who have the motivation to get the coverage just can't do it," says Unumb.

But even with Ryan's Bill passed, she cautions, it's not over yet. "I've been contacted by a number of people from around the country who have told me that they're planning to move to South Carolina because of Ryan's Law. That's both gratifying and scary. ... It's gratifying because I love to see as many children as possible take advantage of the new law. It's scary because it hasn't been implemented yet, and it's an insurance policy so there are going to be all kinds of issues with implementation."

[nowheretorun]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
It's scary because it hasn't been implemented yet, and it's an insurance policy so there are going to be all kinds of issues with implementation."

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

yes muffy, it is saddening when dollars come before childrens welfare...

the insurance companies are on a grading scale... the more 'useful' ones appear to be the least affordable it seems...

i have gone lifelong without health insurance myself... at times i had coverage and there were noticeable differences in plans...

i wish too that we could work out a way t cover these kids at least....

im sure it can be done...

[RozG]

i agree, it's very sad when kids can't get the help they need all coz of money

[MissCharlotte]

((Muffy))