Tuesday, May 26, 2009

TOP 10 "ONLY MALIK THINGS"

Malik's last week of school I noticed him being as my brother Jr would say..."a lil extra" ....Malik seemed 2b extra giddy, extra happy, extra charming, and a really good boy!!!!
I watched & noticed lil things bout him ....I came up w/a "ONLY MALIK TOP 10 THINGS' ....these r some of the reasons I think Malik was giddy, happy, good ...etc....
ok........here we go ...

#10....thinks he can dribble better than Lebron & Kobe put 2gether

#9......single handely help put the kids/grandkids of the Wendy's & Mickey D's franchise thru college

#8......now needs 2buy stock n both restaurants

#7......grabs the TV guide section from the Sunday paper so he can plan his scheduled programing accordingly

#6......happy 2be outta school

#5......learned how 2work my IPOD (mothers day gift) faster/better than I presently can

#4......Increased my bberry cellphone bill by $45.00 from ordering premium channels of " Scooby Dooby Doo" & NBA LIVE

#3......looks 4 "good job" affirmations after putting on pants, shirt, sneakers independently

#2......thinks the Malls r his personal playground

and the #1 ONLY MALIK THING is how he brings his face close 2urs & puts his hand over on the side of his mouth and makes ttttttt sounds when u say "Malik tell me a secret"....... its hilarious !!!!

LOL>>>>ONLY MALIK!!!!!

IEP.....CONTINUED

Well, school is officially out!...right b4 school ended I had my continued IEP meeting w/Ms. Jillette, Ms McFadden, Ms Hill & the so called speech therapist. The only 2 people who didnot show up were the so called speech therapist supervisor and Malik's new teacher 4next year.
Suppossedly they both had valid reasons. Of course I thought what I thought!
The meeting started w/the so called speech therapist informing me of all the newly revised areas in Maliks IEP. She had me initial & sign that I was in agreement w/the revisions.
Then it came down 2the nitty gritty concerning his therapy. I let the so called speech therapist knoe I was not comfortable w/her giving Malik speech therapy only bcuz she told me ova the telephone a month or so ago she thought Malik was beyond help. Of course, she denied saying that and seemed quite offended I would say such a thing! She assured me she would not b his speech therapist in the upcoming year.....great 1 hurdle completed .......next .......the so called speech therapist tried 2focus on what kind of therapy I wanted4 Malik and how much of it.
I told her I want what ever the state/dekalb school system allows along w/1 on 1 speech therapy. I also reiterated, how I wanted 2knoe what was going on so I could practice at home w/him, and most importantly concentrate on a aide that will teach Malik 2type a response when asked a question or type his wants b4 being asked.
She then had the audacity 2ask what did I want her 2start working on 1st ?????? duuuuhhh , I told her " your're the speech therapist" I 'm not familiar w/ur techniques! after thinking about it
I suggested we start w/sounds and simple commands ??????
Needless, 2say starting the following day, Malik was gettin pulled out of his classroom for 1/2 hr of therapy 3x's a week. .... ok I agreed ... we could work w/that!
After, leaving the meeting I was given a dolch sight word list, then on the last day I was given work sheets, and his diagnovox 2practice typing.
Hopefully next year Malik can get the communication aide that he can type on.....
keep ur fingers crossed that our next IEP meeting will not have to b another continuation!

DOIN' IT FOR OURSELVES

I wasn't gonna blog until the weekend ....but, an earlier incident sparked me 2blog. Earlier 2day I went 4my daily walk in our relatively new park. While walking I saw a female who was with a young boy. I didnt pay 2much attention 2the pair until I noticed how the female kept turning around looking at me.
Now, being a transplant from the NY I knoe that "lookback" very well ....I can remember giving just as good as I got! but, I started thinking the female couldn't possibly be giving me the NY "lookback" bcuz not only was it daylight, there were alot of people in the park, and (I realize I put on a few lbs. but,) I didnt think I posed any kind of threat 2her or the young man.
So, why did she insist on turning around every few steps. I was sure I didnot knoe her. I didnt understand. At this point, I proceeded 2take one of my ipod headphones out of my ear and c if I could hear her say anything...... NOTHING !
So, I kept the left earpiece out of my ear and paid attention. I noticed the young man who was possibly 10-11 years old....touching the female (I assumed she was his mom)
I continued 2watch as the young man touched 1st her cheek then her arm. That's when I noticed the female becoming uncomfortable w/the young man touching her. She kept pulling away from him. I watched the young man closer and realized he made noises and walked kinda pigeon- toed. I thought 2myself this young man is doing the same thing Malik does. He doesnt realize he's distracting you or disturbing u all he wants 2do is show u his affection.
Then it all made sense the young man had a disability, and the mom kept turning around looking at me 2c if I noticed her son's behavior. It seemed as if she tried 2 read my face and c if I was going 2react negatively or not.
Believe me, I knoe that panic, embarassed, annoyed look very well!
By this time I pretty much caught up 2them. We were approaching a fork n the track she and her son went 2the left and I stayed slightly right. So b4 we departed I reached out by introducing myself 2her, and asked her name and her son's disability. She told me her name and that her son's disability was CP (Cerebral Palsy) I told her my name and Malik's name & his disability.
I told her I understood how and why her son was grabbing her. She let out a long sign and looked relieved! We went on 2discuss schools, teachers, and services available 2our young men.
After our brief encounter, we thanked 1another & bid each other farewell!
I enjoyed our talk, I believe Karen did also bcuz when I introduced myself &assured her I understood. I could have sworn by the time she walked away her face was relieved and relaxed!
And I couldn't help thinkin' how we r all connected we r
"Mother's of Special Young Men, & We R Doin' It For Ourselves!!!!"

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

MY WORST FEAR !!!!!!

This is every parents nightmare especially parents w/developmental disabled children. I remember when Malik was just starting out at school, I was absolutely terrified !
Thank Goodness we never experienced anything like this but, I am always thinking this in the back of my mind, especially cuz of Malik's non verbal status.... this report hurts my heart !!!
click link below:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1086224.html

POSSIBLE ANSWER WHY AUTISM AFFECTS MORE BOYS THAN GIRLS

Researchers have found a autism risk gene called CACNA1G (more common in boys than girls)which is partcially responsible for regulating the flow of calcium into and out of cells. Nerve cells in the brain rely on calcuim to become activated, imbalances in the mineral can result in overstimulation of neural connections that can create developmental problems such as autism and even epilepsy, which is a common feature of autism.

This is interesting research its very believable to me becuz of Malik's seizures last year were a result of a calcium deficincy.
see link below for futhter reading:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090520/hl_time/08599189975600

Friday, May 15, 2009

NASCAR RENAMES RACE AT DOVER "AUTISM SPEAKS 400"

Autism Speaks has teamed up w/Heluva Good & Dover International Speedway to rename the race on May 31 the Austim 400... during the weekend of the race participants will increase awareness of Autism!!!
Click link below :
http://www.autismspeaks.org/press/autism_speaks_400_dover_speedway_heluva_good.php

IMFAR MEETING CONCLUDED IN CHICAGO

The International Meeting for Austim Research concluded in Chicago. The 8th annual meeting was very informative.
The meeting highlighted different parts:
The etiology, diagnosis, biology and the treatment of Autism.
Click link below to continue reading:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science_news/imfar_2009_final_recap.php

Autism Bill on Insurance

This is good news 4families w/children/adults w/the disorder ......
click link below to continue reading:
http://www.autismvotes.org/site/c.frKNI3PCImE/b.4784269/k.C0E5/ATAA.htm

NEW STUDY SUGGEST KIDS CAN RECOVER FROM AUTISM

New research suggests kids recover from the Autism disorder.
I'm not 2sure I agree with this study... I think either the kids were mildly Autistic or their disorder was improperly diagnoised..... but, what do I knoe .....Im just a parent ....
click on link below c for ur self : "??????
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090510/NEWS02/705109908

GUESS WHO BEZZZZZZCCCCKKKKK!!!!!!

HELLO ALL !
It's been a minute since I've blogged & I apologize... I took a lil vaca 2 Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The sun, fun, food, company, and weather were all great!!! I met up w/my NYC family and we all were witness 2my cousin Jeneice's marriage..
Here r a few pics from the ceremony..... introducing ...Mr & Mrs Hanif Harris....
enjoy!!!
: http://www.saabwedding.com/blog/2009/05/06/jeneice-and-hanif-rose-hall-hilton-jamaica-may-02-2009/