Gavin’s Journey

Make a CHANGE Today!

Visit www.change.gov to submit your ideas

It is time for aggressive action from the grassroots level. President-Elect Obama and the Transition team need to hear from ASA and our community in a VERY BIG way!

Please visit the Health Care page of http://www.change.gov/ and and advance the agenda to support individuals with autism and their families. The more people write in to tell the new administration their autism concerns, the bigger chance we have of improving the lives of all affected by autism.

Not sure what to write? Here’s a few things you could bring up:

Start off with a brief explanation why you are concerned and want things to change. 

I am the parent of a child with autism and I want my child to have happy and productive life just as any parent would want for their child.

Provide some facts such as:

Prevalence

• 1 in 150 U.S. children is diagnosed with autism. Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism.
• 1.5 million Americans have an autism spectrum disorder

Diagnosis

• Less than a decade ago, the disease was diagnosed at age 3 or 4. Now it is routinely diagnosed at 2.
• Symptoms range from mild to severe. Many people with autism display rigid routines and repetitive behaviors.

Cost

• Lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism: $3.5 million to $5 million
• Annual U.S. cost: $90 billion

The explosion of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and related disorders in the United States constitutes the largest health care crisis in our nation’s history.  It has been estimated that 1 in 150 children will be diagnosed with ASD, with recent data suggesting that as many as 1 in 67 boys are now affected.

Autism is the fastest growing disability in the country, now affecting an estimated 1.5 million individuals – more prevalent among our children than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. There are approximately 24,000 new cases of autism diagnosed each year.  Every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism in the United States.

The alarming increase in autism spectrum disorders must be considered a national health emergency that requires the allocation of significant resources, aggressive research toward effective treatments for those affected, and rigorous investigation into causation for the protection of future generations. Equally important is to ensure that individuals affected by autism receive help TODAY.

Offer solutions, such as:

Legislative Agenda

Please support Expanding the Promise to Individuals with Autism Act.  This bill would provide adults the services they need to lead a productive and meaningful life. The Autism Society of America works to ensure that adults living with autism have access to appropriate employment, housing, and services. ASA chapters have been instrumental in developing job training programs and creating independent living or residential services opportunities for adults with autism.  This act will allow these programs to grow and serve more adults nationwide. 

Please support Full Funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Federal funding is $10.5 billion short of full funding this year leaving thousands of children without services. 

Pass this information on to family, friends, neighbors and anyone else you know who has an interest in improving the lives of all affected by autism.  Then, ask them to go to the site and do the same.  Together, we can create positive change!

We were both excited and baffled last night when we looked outside our windows and saw flurries of snow. Tuesday started off quite warm, and some forecasters predicted the chances of snow last evening were around 20% (to which most of us laughed). But by late afternoon a strong Northern had swept in, and by Wednesday morning, about little snow and sleet had fallen on the city.

The ground was too warm for the snow to stick, so in the morning, the remnants could really only be found on rooftops and car windshields. I think I saw some on the edges at the top of the back fence too.

During the brief snowstorm, however, we played outside and enjoyed what may be the only snow we see for another year or two.  Gavin was stoked!

The funniest thing is that it snowed on the same day that we set a new record high for the day of the year.

That is Austin, Texas weather for you.  Merry Christmas Ya’ll!

Normally, no parent ever wants to hear that their child has Autism or any other Development disorder.  This time of the year I’m grateful though.  

We have $55 left in the bank and almost no food in the house and we don’t get paid again until December 31st.  I bought Gavin a few $3 Pixar Cars Die Cast cars at the beginning of the month, which will be his only Christmas presents that aren’t clothing (he could care less but we’re grateful).  The great thing is; he’s a 4 year old Autistic boy is that he will think opening those few little presents is just totally awesome and its the best Christmas morning ever.  Kids this age are great.  Gavin has no clue what a Nintendo Wii does and how awesome and fun it is.  

Merry Christmas! – We’re adding some family pictures to the Photo Gallery too. 

So if you don’t know already we’re broke.  We have staggering high-interest debt that we’re trying to dig out from under.

  I managed to scrape up a barely few dollars and lease (not buy, please I’m not rich) a TV.  We havent’ had a real TV in our house for almost 2 years.  Gavin was so excited he was rolling around on the floor in circles going crazy.  It was really funny.  HDTV is crazy to say the least.  I’m glad that was a free upgrade, because I certainly couldn’t afford it.

Gavin is super excited to be back in school!  He was really getting bored on his holiday break.  I can’t imagine how its going to be over the summer break.  We also got him a few new Pixar Die-Cast cars that he loves.  He’s not getting them until Christmas.  Santa is going to bring them for him.  We put up the Christmas Tree.  He’s very excited about the lights on the tree as well.

I can hardly believe is almost Christmas again already.