Wow! this is wonderful! ...Malik could still benefit from this room but, he could have really used it when he was younger! ... This is Great !
for further reading
http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2010/06/wyndham-hotel-in-austin-offers-autism-aware-rooms/96749/1
Monday, June 21, 2010
13/YO W/AUTISM COMMUNICATES W/DEVICE
Great read. I try and encourage Malik 2type all the time ! He knoe the letters on the keyboard which is a great start. I have been trying to get a communication device the prompts him to type instead of pressing a button to answer a question. What if a question that is not on the machine is asked ?????????
enjoy this 13 year old story!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/10338131.stm
enjoy this 13 year old story!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/10338131.stm
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
HAIRCUT TIME!!!
Malik is coming n 2 his own! ...As time passes he's becoming more & more independent !
Although, he'll 4eva &always b my babe .... I luv his independence! ...He has his own opinions and he knoes what he wants and doesnt want ! Things I neva thought he would do on his own ..he's now doing ... for eg: last weekend, was haircut time ..... As soon as I said it was that time. Malik ran 2 the bathroom grabbed his stool, haircutting smock, and the clippers along w/a big smile ....
Malik's receptiveness caused me 2 reminisce back2 his 1st ever haircut ... like all new mothers I was soooo excited 4 his first haircut @ 1year old......He cried of course bcuz, @ that time he was really spoiled, I didnt think ne thing of it ... so, the barber turned the clippers on and was starting to cut his hair ...Malik became irrate ! he kept trying 2slide down from the chair , he screamed/kicked, he grabbed the clippers ...he was something awful! ...the barber asked 'is he ok?" of course I said yea continue, he'll be fine ... ...The barber refused 2finish! .... that was our 1st and last time n a barber's chair ..... Needless 2say our 1st year haircut was not a good look! ...As I stated many times b4 ... I was Sooooooo ignorant concerning Autism !..I didnt have a clue! ..I thought ok ...I'll give him a lil time and cut his hair at home ... it'll be okay .... So Shawn and I became Malik's barber from that point on ... (and occasionally my brother Jr )...
Little did I knoe ....that was just the beginning ..it didnot get better ...it actually got worse. The haircutting ritual became a scheduled event 4us ... We had 2plan 4 it ...but, it was such an effort/event ...it absolutely drained us all! ..my goodness ...now, It took me a looooooooonnnnng time to figure out ....the sensation along w/the buzzzing noise the clippers made was too much 4 Malik sensors ...so they would became overloaded ...and cause him to act out ....and when I say act out .....oooh my u have no idea ....the haircutting event was a guranteed workout 4which ever1 of us had the pleasure of participating n the event .....he would kick..any and everything near him eg:mirror, toiletries. He would scream eg:to the top of his lungs ..he was beyond crying ...he would also grab his head and hold it while screaming.....Grab the clippers eg:plug, on/off button ...ne thing he could get his hands on .. and ur talking about
S T R O N G ...it would take me & Shawn both to hold him ...one of us would hold his legs ..the other one cut his hair while holding his arms ...
Goodlawd!!! those times were awful !
I would get sooo frustrated and I couldnt understand 4 the life of me what the big fuss was ...I would run the clippers along my arm to show him it was no big deal but, Malik was beyond reasoning ! I would often cry ...bcuz, my child would be looking up at me with red water filled eyes and gasping 4 his breath.... @times Malik would cry so much he would often throw up .... I would feel TERRIBLE !!!
As time went on ...I would often purchase new clippers (hoping that would stop the events)...Most times Malik would break them ...(the older he got the stronger he became) ..I was also convinced the clippers had to be hurting him for him 2act out like that ... ...Like I said I was so ignorant back then ... To this day, I still beat myself up ...for not knowing ....i knoe.....duuuuhhhh ...how could I knoe ...Autism was not an IN topic ...info about the disorder was not readily on the internet .... and Doctors didn't knoe ANYTHING!! So, our journey was definitely a learning process!
Now my boy is 15 years old and welcomes his haircuts he often grab the clippers and help cut his own hair!!! Those times n that bathroom @650 lenox Avenue NYC ..seem sooo long ago ...
I often wonder how Malik would do w/a professional barber ....I think he would be fine ...but, until then ...Shawn & I will remain the only 2 who cut his hair ...and occasionally my brother Jr!
Although, he'll 4eva &always b my babe .... I luv his independence! ...He has his own opinions and he knoes what he wants and doesnt want ! Things I neva thought he would do on his own ..he's now doing ... for eg: last weekend, was haircut time ..... As soon as I said it was that time. Malik ran 2 the bathroom grabbed his stool, haircutting smock, and the clippers along w/a big smile ....
Malik's receptiveness caused me 2 reminisce back2 his 1st ever haircut ... like all new mothers I was soooo excited 4 his first haircut @ 1year old......He cried of course bcuz, @ that time he was really spoiled, I didnt think ne thing of it ... so, the barber turned the clippers on and was starting to cut his hair ...Malik became irrate ! he kept trying 2slide down from the chair , he screamed/kicked, he grabbed the clippers ...he was something awful! ...the barber asked 'is he ok?" of course I said yea continue, he'll be fine ... ...The barber refused 2finish! .... that was our 1st and last time n a barber's chair ..... Needless 2say our 1st year haircut was not a good look! ...As I stated many times b4 ... I was Sooooooo ignorant concerning Autism !..I didnt have a clue! ..I thought ok ...I'll give him a lil time and cut his hair at home ... it'll be okay .... So Shawn and I became Malik's barber from that point on ... (and occasionally my brother Jr )...
Little did I knoe ....that was just the beginning ..it didnot get better ...it actually got worse. The haircutting ritual became a scheduled event 4us ... We had 2plan 4 it ...but, it was such an effort/event ...it absolutely drained us all! ..my goodness ...now, It took me a looooooooonnnnng time to figure out ....the sensation along w/the buzzzing noise the clippers made was too much 4 Malik sensors ...so they would became overloaded ...and cause him to act out ....and when I say act out .....oooh my u have no idea ....the haircutting event was a guranteed workout 4which ever1 of us had the pleasure of participating n the event .....he would kick..any and everything near him eg:mirror, toiletries. He would scream eg:to the top of his lungs ..he was beyond crying ...he would also grab his head and hold it while screaming.....Grab the clippers eg:plug, on/off button ...ne thing he could get his hands on .. and ur talking about
S T R O N G ...it would take me & Shawn both to hold him ...one of us would hold his legs ..the other one cut his hair while holding his arms ...
Goodlawd!!! those times were awful !
I would get sooo frustrated and I couldnt understand 4 the life of me what the big fuss was ...I would run the clippers along my arm to show him it was no big deal but, Malik was beyond reasoning ! I would often cry ...bcuz, my child would be looking up at me with red water filled eyes and gasping 4 his breath.... @times Malik would cry so much he would often throw up .... I would feel TERRIBLE !!!
As time went on ...I would often purchase new clippers (hoping that would stop the events)...Most times Malik would break them ...(the older he got the stronger he became) ..I was also convinced the clippers had to be hurting him for him 2act out like that ... ...Like I said I was so ignorant back then ... To this day, I still beat myself up ...for not knowing ....i knoe.....duuuuhhhh ...how could I knoe ...Autism was not an IN topic ...info about the disorder was not readily on the internet .... and Doctors didn't knoe ANYTHING!! So, our journey was definitely a learning process!
Now my boy is 15 years old and welcomes his haircuts he often grab the clippers and help cut his own hair!!! Those times n that bathroom @650 lenox Avenue NYC ..seem sooo long ago ...
I often wonder how Malik would do w/a professional barber ....I think he would be fine ...but, until then ...Shawn & I will remain the only 2 who cut his hair ...and occasionally my brother Jr!
GET UP & GET NVOLVED !!!
FYI..... After reading an article from Age of Autism ..I started thinking I would luv 4 my boy 2 have a graduation !
I think if Malik could go to a dance/prom ..that would be wonderful ...He needs 2 mingle & have friends !
Then, I thought why doesnt he? .... I think its time I become more nvolved ....I called Lithonia Middle School and asked if I could sit on the board @ school council ...and join the PTSA!
So, next year ....hopefully w/my big mouth ...my boy may have a graduation, dance/prom!
I mean .... I CANT C ANY REASON WHY HE SHOULDN'T, CAN U????
ooooh yea ....We're nvolved ....
I think if Malik could go to a dance/prom ..that would be wonderful ...He needs 2 mingle & have friends !
Then, I thought why doesnt he? .... I think its time I become more nvolved ....I called Lithonia Middle School and asked if I could sit on the board @ school council ...and join the PTSA!
So, next year ....hopefully w/my big mouth ...my boy may have a graduation, dance/prom!
I mean .... I CANT C ANY REASON WHY HE SHOULDN'T, CAN U????
ooooh yea ....We're nvolved ....
SHOE PARTY!!!
Last week I had the pleasure of attending a shoe party @the W Hotel Perimeter Center location ....Hello Stiletto presented The Stuart Weitzman summer collection!
I am still on a shoe frenzy high! I felt like a celeb (the person i was meant 2be...afab person wife/mother)....I drank wine ...2glasses, mind u ....lol ..munched on salmon strips, prosciutto, and get this ...wasabi deviled eggs ...I was in heaven!! ..I drank muched and mingled!!
I had a wonderful time ...met so many great people!
At the shoe party they had a walk off ...where u walk a lil runway (carpet runner) and showcase ur shoes, outfit, bag and attitude....The 2 glasses of wine made me participate and showcase my shoes/outfit and attitude ....lol .......a tall nicely dressed woman won ...shoe participants whispered ...she was a model and participates in the walk offs quite often ....but, sistagurl had on som badddddd blk/wht shoes ....w/matching bag ....although, my shoe game is not up 2the level of these ladies (mind u ..im just starting 2 get back n the shoe game ....now the Malik needs me less and less) ... but, give me a few months ...and my shoe game will be rite up there w/them .... and maybe u'll c a brand new winner .....lol ..... all n all It was a great gurlz nite out ....I really enjoyed myself and can not wait 2do it again .... that brings me 2the inspiration 4this post ....
MY HUSBAND .......I feel the need 2 share w/u ..how GREAT he is .... ...he always encourages me 2be the very best I can be! He was soooo happy I went out and had a great time ... bcuz, he knoes I like events/mingling ..and gettin n touch w/my alter ego ...the fabulous1 ...lol .... Thanks Shawn, u the bestest!!!
I took pics of the event ...but, again ..i cannot find my plug in for the computer ..but, n the meantime ...enjoy these photos from the event ....
http://www.shoeclub.us/press.php?item=2010-06-11-atlantaexaminer&show=1
I am still on a shoe frenzy high! I felt like a celeb (the person i was meant 2be...afab person wife/mother)....I drank wine ...2glasses, mind u ....lol ..munched on salmon strips, prosciutto, and get this ...wasabi deviled eggs ...I was in heaven!! ..I drank muched and mingled!!
I had a wonderful time ...met so many great people!
At the shoe party they had a walk off ...where u walk a lil runway (carpet runner) and showcase ur shoes, outfit, bag and attitude....The 2 glasses of wine made me participate and showcase my shoes/outfit and attitude ....lol .......a tall nicely dressed woman won ...shoe participants whispered ...she was a model and participates in the walk offs quite often ....but, sistagurl had on som badddddd blk/wht shoes ....w/matching bag ....although, my shoe game is not up 2the level of these ladies (mind u ..im just starting 2 get back n the shoe game ....now the Malik needs me less and less) ... but, give me a few months ...and my shoe game will be rite up there w/them .... and maybe u'll c a brand new winner .....lol ..... all n all It was a great gurlz nite out ....I really enjoyed myself and can not wait 2do it again .... that brings me 2the inspiration 4this post ....
MY HUSBAND .......I feel the need 2 share w/u ..how GREAT he is .... ...he always encourages me 2be the very best I can be! He was soooo happy I went out and had a great time ... bcuz, he knoes I like events/mingling ..and gettin n touch w/my alter ego ...the fabulous1 ...lol .... Thanks Shawn, u the bestest!!!
I took pics of the event ...but, again ..i cannot find my plug in for the computer ..but, n the meantime ...enjoy these photos from the event ....
http://www.shoeclub.us/press.php?item=2010-06-11-atlantaexaminer&show=1
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