Day 2 Professional Development
These conferences are wonderful but they are two days back to back from 8am to 5 pm and that is A LOT of being lectured to.
Today there were only two lectures of value to me. One was called Sex and the Autistic: Yes we need to talk about it. She said this was a tricky subject for everyone and we would need to loosen up first so she had what she called an "Ellen Moment" in which she played Justin Timberlake's "I'm Brining Sexy Back" and we were all supposed to dance. Please keep in mind this was 300 mothers, grandmothers, classroom teachers and therapists. It was INSANE. I know we dont club much people but this is not really on TV...
I read her book called "When can I touch myself?" and it was lovely and endearing and I wanted to buy it on the spot.
I cant say I learned anything drastically new from her but it did reassure me that I am handling our issues correctly. My first goal is to make sure he doesn't do something that puts him in danger and my second goal is to make sure he doesn't feel shame for the most normal reaction he has ever had in his life.
The last speaker of the day was a man with Asperger who has written four books and published one called "Finding Kansas". He told alot of stories and spoke a mile a minute plus he repeatedly gasped and clapped his hands but it was wonderful to see a boy who had been through what we go through seem happy and accomplished. He had real hope to offer. He named his book Finding Kansas because he loves putting together the USA puzzle and Kansas was always hes "sensory candy" because of its squared off edges. He used that to explain all kinds of aspects about the Aspergers from the inside and refered to all of their obsessions as their Kansas. He even told this great story about how even at 29 he cant stand when food touches, and every thanksgiving his aunt heaps her plate with a big blob of touching food and then taug=nts him with it asking if he wants to share the plate with her, too much for one person and all that. She bought a door mat thats says "We're not in Kansas anymore" LOL He told countless stories about boring teachers and relatives to tears with his Kansas talk and how they love him enough to put up with it.
At the end I raised my hand and told them about Thomas. I said he is making progress towards having friendsa but its delicate and I worry about having a themed biurthday. "Would it be considered abusive to subject typical kids to his idea of the perfect party? Four hours of Kansas talk?" It got a huge laugh and severeal people came up and talked to me afterwards. One mom cried about how amazing it is when you finally know they have a friend and we hugged and I gave her a tissue.
I really am glad I went. Feel free to buy me that book Santa Claus.
Today there were only two lectures of value to me. One was called Sex and the Autistic: Yes we need to talk about it. She said this was a tricky subject for everyone and we would need to loosen up first so she had what she called an "Ellen Moment" in which she played Justin Timberlake's "I'm Brining Sexy Back" and we were all supposed to dance. Please keep in mind this was 300 mothers, grandmothers, classroom teachers and therapists. It was INSANE. I know we dont club much people but this is not really on TV...
I read her book called "When can I touch myself?" and it was lovely and endearing and I wanted to buy it on the spot.
I cant say I learned anything drastically new from her but it did reassure me that I am handling our issues correctly. My first goal is to make sure he doesn't do something that puts him in danger and my second goal is to make sure he doesn't feel shame for the most normal reaction he has ever had in his life.
The last speaker of the day was a man with Asperger who has written four books and published one called "Finding Kansas". He told alot of stories and spoke a mile a minute plus he repeatedly gasped and clapped his hands but it was wonderful to see a boy who had been through what we go through seem happy and accomplished. He had real hope to offer. He named his book Finding Kansas because he loves putting together the USA puzzle and Kansas was always hes "sensory candy" because of its squared off edges. He used that to explain all kinds of aspects about the Aspergers from the inside and refered to all of their obsessions as their Kansas. He even told this great story about how even at 29 he cant stand when food touches, and every thanksgiving his aunt heaps her plate with a big blob of touching food and then taug=nts him with it asking if he wants to share the plate with her, too much for one person and all that. She bought a door mat thats says "We're not in Kansas anymore" LOL He told countless stories about boring teachers and relatives to tears with his Kansas talk and how they love him enough to put up with it.
At the end I raised my hand and told them about Thomas. I said he is making progress towards having friendsa but its delicate and I worry about having a themed biurthday. "Would it be considered abusive to subject typical kids to his idea of the perfect party? Four hours of Kansas talk?" It got a huge laugh and severeal people came up and talked to me afterwards. One mom cried about how amazing it is when you finally know they have a friend and we hugged and I gave her a tissue.
I really am glad I went. Feel free to buy me that book Santa Claus.