Autism is a World

[Devon]

Hi I am Devon. I am a 28-year old man with Autism working as a clerk at Staples and SuperValue. I am in an assisted living arrangement but go home to visit my mom on holidays and weekends. My mom and I watched "Autism is a World" and I was reallly interested in everything Sue Rubin said. I am able to vocalize more with speech than her but feel the same way she does. I also edit a monthly newsletter for Instep, my program. I attend the Yukon College, Arts and Science Faculty once a week to learn how to build bridges. I love to build buildings and bridges. I need help with words and spelling from my supportworkers and my mom when I type. I was nine years old when the doctors decided I was Autistic not retarded. I carry with me at all times a "teacup" (pipecleaner thingee) just like Sue carries spoons, and I also like to play in water, and touch people to say hello. I hope this helps parents and other kids with Autism.

[Muddy]

Hi Devon
Thanks for sharing, I also saw "Autism is a World". It was absolutely astounding how different she was on the inside as compared to what she represented to the world. I read an article Sue has written "A Brief Account of My Life with FC", maybe you'd be interested in reading it. I am considering getting the Lightwriter(the portable machine that she was using to communicate with) for my son. Do you use a Lightwriter? As my friend uses one even though he is very verbal. :)
Muddy

[sabrina dreams]

hi , I 'm glad you all got the message on autism is a world. My daughter is 4 year old. and for some reason she only makes eye contect to me but eye to eye and presses against my face and some other pressure seeking towards me.I don't know why but sue did that to friend and familys member in the show . and laughs all the time for no reason. Sabrina does have a very hard time showing emotion and is nicked named smilely in school. She loves school and the last day was really hard . We got to the car and I heard sabrina crying.I askied her what was wrong and she startied to repeat the kids names in her class over and over. She didn't want to leave them.I felt bad because more then half of her class is leaving this year. The parent in her class seem closeied off and I really never meet any of the parents I wish I found some of the children parent for the summer .Sabrina has no one to play with outside of school.But her brother ethan whos 2 .I'm young and with Sabrina behavior parents with normal kids act if I can't take care of of her.And I was the youngest parent in the class also.I'm 25. What can I do I some times feel alone and closied out from other parents. I hate the looks and pionting at the parks. and my son suffer because other parent keep their kids alway but sabrina follows him every where. Day cares won't take Sabrina and I'm low income so because of ssi I can't get help for ethan to go in day care to play and learn with normal kids. I feel out off place every where in work I talk only of my children because I spent my every min. with only them. My hushand is a aloner and keeps to himself. So going with me to the park is out for him and other things. Does any one live in tampa bay area ,I could use a friend and support to have some time with other parents with autism to be around with. Here there in only aspger groups. I askied cards for some help but support here is very limited. email me you do. nicole

[Muddy]

Hi Nicole
Good idea! It's important that we support each other - Anyone in Tampa Bay Florida that wants to set up a play date with Sabrina??
I'm in Toronto Ontario, work full time but willing to arrange friendship times for my son.

[Greg]

I myself am always found to be carrying a pen, not because I am a writer, but just because. I don't know why I always have to have a pen in my hand. I also like to carry my "Love Dispenser" and Quatrain Station" (my writing books) to most places I go.

[Devon]

:)
Hi Muddy, Sabrina, and Greg,
i don't use a writer but would like to use one. i type a lot on the computer. i went to yso bbq last night, and had fun. im happy to talk to you on line. at www.autismtalk.net i like E-mailing and happy to have your replies. im typing this but mom is fixing my spelling.
Devon

[sabrina dreams]

hi devon , I be glad to to talk to you .you may be able to help me .understand how it was being yuong and not understanding your environmetn.I'm in my first year of autism with my 4 year old daughter. And I can see she knows somtething is not right. I also have been having some hard days with her because of the rain , it overexcites her and here the rain season just startied and hurracannie season too. we had that t.storm pass here today and friday . It' was so bad we had to separtate the kids . Sabrina attackied her 2 year old brother over and over again . She has never done that before. she just buggied him so much .I couldn't take it.Today I to her to the publix foods store where I work to get some thing and it was crary there.She lost it.I waiting 20 min in line to pay for thing and I had finally went to guess center to pay ,they know Sabrina every well and help us, but ant other person had the nerve to say something mean like you can wait with all off us why should you pay before all of us.My manger steppied in and said would you like to be this mom who has a autistic child and wait in line . the lady said what your lying she not dum She looks normal to me.Ifinally turn and said what do you know of autism rain man.And did you know there is 7 difference kinds of autism and your talking can make my daughter cry so shut up now. She just lookied and walkied away . my manger and other friend walkied me to my car and said call before you come and we will get your food for you so you don't have to wait that long. this company I work for has been so nice to my family . They pay me full time hour but I work 3 days a week and I pick the hours. If things are rough at home they let my have some days off or if I need the money but things are hard they give me a job where I don't have to work with other employes who don't understand my situation. People who don't understand at work can be really mean to us. My boss has been trying to learn about autism and sending letter to the main office to get adisable program train ing for autism in the store. I hope it works . We could use it. well got to go but write any time .Ps if my writing is off it's because I myself have a spefic learning disable inspelling ,reading,math
bye nicole

[Greg]

Yes, Nicole, I see that you do not spell so very great, but at least you still manage to spell the words well enough that we know what you are saying. I myself am a great speller, I am always on the look out for misspelled words, and I hate it when I look over my work, and see that I misspelled a word. I am known to point that out to others, along with their use of grammar. So, like Rainman was a genius with numbers, I am nowhere near the best with math. I am pretty sure I am right when I say that I was meant to be a writer, with my knowledge of spelling and grammar. With your learning disability, you must be meant to do other things. Of course, that does not mean that you can't write, anybody can, just as long as you have the desire to do so. And you can keep working at it too, Devon, just keep practicing and look at words, how they are spelled, that might help you, I am no teacher. Greg.

[Muddy]

Hi Devon
Sorry I missed your reply, when people don't respond or talk much I just go to another site. I have an autistic friend, he lives in San Francisco and is going to turn 20 tommorrow. We correspond through emails everyday. I like him cause he's sweet,charming and a very nice person. He likes trains and buses and cause I've driven both of these we got along wonderfully. I see you like bridges, do you plan on being an architect or an engineer some day? Have you made any models of bridges? I know someone who made a model of a guitar entirely out of toothpicks - it was really cool and it looked real too. :)
Muddy

[Devon]

Hi Muddy
i like all types of Bridges. Some do have x on them or N design maybe there's W. There all many ways we can do lot welding. Yes, i would like to be an architect or engineer someday. i can"t wait for it to happen now! Bus ride? Maybe next few days we can go anyware. Maybe shopping at any store i live in Whitehorse
Yukon 51 green cr. Where do you live? Talking on line on weekends. Hope to hear from you soon.
Devon O :-)

[Muddy]

Hi Devon
I'm in Toronto, Ontario, just celebrated Canada Day yesterday! We have the longest covered bridge here in Canada - it's in New Brunswick www.town.hartland.nb.ca , built way back in the early 1900s, there's an interesting story about who was the first to cross it. How's school going? What's your favourite class? What's the hardest class? Did alot of filming yesterday, today I got to go to work. School must be almost over for you, or are you going during the summer? :)
Muddy

[mylittleone]

hey Devon,

I am new to autism. 8 days ago we found out that my niece who is 3 has some sort of it.

I was happy to read your posts and replies. you give me hope that one day she would be able to know us and who we are and hopefully we will be able to understand her.

please do write more often.

thank you!
Varun

[autti34]

[COLOR=Purple]hi im an adult with autism and a girl were rare most of us are male is she geting severes yet