autism Archives - Dad of Divas

Moving with Children on the Autism Spectrum

November 13, 2021 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Moving often appears high up on many lists of the most stressful events that can occur in life. Moving house is often thought of as being as stress-inducing as the death of a spouse or the loss of a job. Now imagine how daunting a major transition like moving can feel to a child who’s on the autism spectrum.

Having a stable routine is critical to an autistic child’s ongoing development. Any disruptions or unexpected changes to life’s daily routine can be difficult for anyone on the spectrum. This advice from Dad of Divas will help every member of your family feel more at ease before, during, and after your move.

House-Hunting Advice

It’s important that you find ways to make this transition go as smoothly as possible. Consider how much you can spend on a new home and the various features and home modifications that might be needed in your new residence before you and your family make a decision as to where you’re moving.

Have family conversations as soon as you realize you’re going to move. Involve your child in as many of these conversations as possible. If the actual task of house-hunting feels too stressful for your child, take photos of the new dwelling you’ve decided on and show them on a regular basis, asking for opinions and comments.
Find the best home to suit your child’s needs. Children on the autism spectrum are often bothered by bright lights and loud noises. While house hunting, be aware of noisy disturbances in the area that can affect your child. Work with a real estate agent who understands your needs.
Flow is important. A floor plan that flows nicely from one area to the next is good for a child on the autism spectrum, and each room should have a clearly defined purpose.
Look for a sensory-friendly yard space. Check out whether the home has a backyard with a swing set, sandbox, bird feeders, vegetable garden, or other outdoor spaces that add exercise and stimulation to a child’s daily schedule.

Tips for Moving Day

Give yourself extra time before the move to ensure your new home is clean and free of clutter when your child first arrives. A space that’s orderly promotes an atmosphere of relaxation. Decluttering and arranging furniture to resemble your former home’s schema as closely as possible, especially in your child’s bedroom, can help with the adjustment.

If you find a piece of furniture has gotten stained during the move, remedy this as soon as possible as the stain may disturb your child. A clean house with the same furnishings is important to keep stress at bay.

When a regular cleanser won’t get a grease stain out of a sofa, for instance, it’s best to call an upholstery cleaner right away. Speak to a few area professionals about what you need done, get quotes, and read reviews on the internet; you can search online for “best upholstery cleaning service near me” to find local professionals. Ask for referrals from customers and call them. Try to avoid using cleaners who use all-purpose cleaning tools to clean your furniture.

Enjoy Your New Surroundings

The tasks of house hunting and moving aren’t simple to begin with, and things get more complicated when you have a child on the autism spectrum. When you involve your family in the house-hunting process and prepare the new home with your child’s special needs in mind, the transition can be smoother and more pleasurable for everyone.

Dads in the Limelight – Jason Reynolds of A Touch of Ausome

July 20, 2017 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Our 697th Dad in the Limelight is Jason Reynolds of A Touch of Ausome . I want to thank Jason Reynolds for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Jason Reynolds with all of you.

Jason Reynolds of A Touch of Ausome is the 697th Dad being spotlighted in the Dads in the Limelight series on the Dad of Divas Blog!

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

My name is Jason. I am a 35-year-old “work-from-home” graphic designer and photographer. I love that I am afforded the flexibility to parent and work at the same time.

I was actually an art major and a collegiate level baseball player back when I had the time for such endeavors.

Now, my time is filled with the pursuit of being the best parent, husband and person that I can be.

I run a blog called “A touch of Ausome” which highlights the experience of being a Dad to a child with autism. You can find me at www.atouchofausome.com or facebook.com/atouchofausome

2) Tell me about your family

My wife and I met in college. She worked for years as a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit. Now she works as a nurse manager in the ICU at a local hospital. She has, and always will have a heart of gold. I could not do what she does.

When I have a bad day at work, maybe I miss a deadline, maybe I lose a client or have an embarrassing typo in an ad I created. When SHE has a bad day at work, it usually means there were not enough people to care for everyone who urgently need it, or people died. It puts things in perspective.

My older son Jonny is 8. He was our crash course into the world of parenthood. He was born with bilateral hip dysplasia (dislocated hips) which required him to be put in a body cast from his ankles to his armpits for 6 weeks while his hips developed.

On top of that, he had a cleft in his soft palate which needed surgical repair and already had 3 surgeries on his hips and mouth by his 1st birthday. He was so colicky that my wife and I would have to sleep in shifts at night. He would cry all

night (sometimes up to 12 hours).

His sleep schedule has long since normalized, but we waited a good 5 years before having another child.

Jonah, our youngest is our Ausome boy. He was diagnosed with Level 3 (severe) non-verbal autism shortly after his 3rd birthday (in December 2016). Jonah’s main challenges are behavioral and speech related. He also has a low sense of danger and a high pain tolerance, (I’m hoping to limit the number of trips to the ER). He is a ball of energy and an adventurer and has made leaps and bounds in the past few months.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

Juggling all the responsibilities and keeping my priorities straight.

My days are usually spent running my kids around, trying to keep the house tidy and the kids fed, and staring at a computer screen trying to make my deadlines.

It’s quite an undertaking in and of itself.

I also volunteer quite a bit at church. As parents, I feel we have an obligation to instill the values an morals that we want to see in our kids, so I help out in my son’s classes and programs. My wife and I also lead and host a small group of other parents from our church who are looking for a spiritual connection and community. We call them “life groups.”

And of course, there is being an “Autism parent.”

I never thought I would be an Autism parent. Nobody ever thinks they will be one until they “are one.” Much of my time is spent working with Jonah. Sleepless nights have been common. He is 3 and we haven’t even began to try to toilet train as being nonverbal is a huge obstacle to overcome in that regard.

Public events can make him anxious. We deal with meltdowns that can last over an hour, sometimes violent behaviors (thrown toys, hitting, lashing out), refusal to comply with adult-directed instruction, and not being able to communicate through speaking.

But I’m not trying to garner sympathy for our situation. Just an understanding of what life can be like for us sometimes. The good and the bad.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

Don’t let pride stand in your way. It’s okay to vent. It’s okay to worry. It’s okay to “not have all the answers.” In a world where we are expected to fix everything, it’s okay if we don’t know how.

Look for support if you need it. ASK FOR HELP.

The important thing is that we continue to move forward and learn.

You are the example your kids will follow. Live how you would want them to live.

5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

I used to work in a design firm, where I had to be in the office all day. There were situations where I couldn’t leave because my coworkers depended on me. My wife couldn’t leave because peoples lives depended on her (literally). So, if my son had an emergency at school and needed to be picked up, neither of us would be able to do it.

I found that between me and my wife working full-time it was nearly impossible for us to both do our job well and be good parents.

One would have to be sacrificed for the other.

So now, I work from home. I still have deadlines I am responsible to meet, and obligations to clients I have to keep, but I can set my own hours and choose the jobs I work on so that I can prioritize my family’s needs.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

The one person I look up to the most is my own dad. He continues to set an example of what it truly means to not only be a “Dad,” but how to be a “Grandfather.”

My wish is that I will be as good of a grandfather to my kid’s children as my dad is to mine.

We were going to my wife’s family reunion last week, but I was not able to make it until a couple days later. She has a large family (26 first cousins on one side).

Last year, Jonah did not do very well camping and my wife had a rough time of it by herself (setting up camp and managing him). Frankly, he melted down almost the whole time. Unrestrained screaming, flailing, hitting, throwing things… until I got there.

This year, my Dad took 2 days off work to help my wife out and drove 4.5 hours to go camp and watch the kids until I could get there to help her out. He just went for the day and drove back the next day to a prior obligation, before I even got to see him.

My wife took ill as soon as she got to camp with a stomach flu. She slept nearly the entire time. One of my cousins had to drive her home.

I can’t tell you how much that means to have family willing to go the extra 300 miles or so just to help us out.

My kids had a blast thanks to my Dad (and help from the family).

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

I wrote this the day after Jonah was diagnosed with autism. You can find it here, but I’ve copied and pasted it for you.

http://www.atouchofausome.com/2016/12/jonahs-diagnosis-two-perspectives/

Life is hard sometimes.

Life is also unfair.

That is not an observation. It is a fact.

In this life, we will lose loved ones, we will battle with broken relationships, sickness and disease, poverty, loneliness, abuse, violence, and every other possible thing imaginable. Bad things will happen to good people. Bad people will get away with unspeakable horrors.

The true test of our character lies not in how we react to the adversity that will inevitably happen, but how we handle and overcome that adversity to grow as a person.

I believe we all have our own “mountains” to climb in life. Some people’s mountains will be taller than others, but it is on each one of us to climb them.

If we spend all of our time complaining that “this person’s” mountain isn’t as hard as ours to climb, or complain about the inequalities of mountain sizes amongst our society, we will lose sight of OUR personal mountain called “life” in front of us and we will not accomplish what we are called to do.

With Jonah’s autism diagnosis, we can react in 2 different ways. We can either become bitter and sad, lonely and depressed. We can be jealous of other parents who don’t have to deal with the meltdowns, the non-verbalism, the sleepless nights, the doctor’s appointments and the IEP meetings…

or…

We can see this as a grand opportunity. An adventure unlike any other. We can CHOOSE to be more than we ever thought possible. Instead of mourning the perceived lost potential, we can unlock and discover the hidden potential Jonah has waiting to be unleashed on the world. We just need to dig a little bit deeper to discover it.

We can sit around feeling sorry for ourselves…. or we can ‘rope-up’ and start scaling this mountain.

Let’s climb.

If you have any questions for Jason Reynolds, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

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Cedar Point Goes Blue for Autism Awareness Tonight

April 2, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

In honor of World Autism Awareness Day, Cedar Point will turn the lights blue on the GateKeeper and Millennium Force roller coasters and the Power Tower thrill ride as a part of the Autism Speaks worldwide “Light It Up Blue” campaign. This global awareness campaign was adopted by the United Nations in 2007 to help shine a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis. Cedar Point continues its preparations for the upcoming season, which begins on Saturday, May 9.

DADuary Book Review – Big Daddy’s Tales: From the Lighter Side of Raising a Kid with AUTISM by @bigdaddyautism #DADuary2013 #dadchat

January 20, 2013 by dadofdivas 6 Comments

About the Book

We’ve all heard the stats – autism affects approximately one out every one hundred children. Autism has burst into the public consciousness in recent years. Along with this explosion came a plethora of books by autism parents. But none are like Big Daddy’s new book.

F. Lewis Stark, aka “Big Daddy Autism,” is the father of a beautiful, thirteen year old autistic boy. Upon hearing Griffin’s diagnosis over a decade ago, he felt as though his world collapsed. Big Daddy often wished there was a resource available to show fathers, in a lighthearted way, that raising a child with a disability was not all about sorrow, lost hopes, and heartache.

That led him to start a blog and write his first book. On his blog and in his book Big Daddy uses funny anecdotes from his experience in raising his son as jumping off points to demonstrate that, while his life did not turn out as he expected, raising an autistic kid is far from misery. Big Daddy shows how acceptance, gratitude and humor help to overcome a great deal of adversity.

The feedback received from the thousands of mothers who have commented at the blog points to a perceived widespread dearth of acceptance by fathers of autistic children. Big Daddy believes that many fathers could benefit from a bit of perspective from someone like him. Someone who has walked in their shoes and, to a certain extent, has seen how acceptance (and a sense of humor) can make life with a disabled child so much better.

Big Daddy’s Tales from the Lighter side of Raising a Kid with Autism is about acceptance more than anything else. Sure there are a ton of poop, fart, and booger stories in there. But mainly Big Daddy shares how his family uses creativity, humor, and acceptance to overcome adversity. Untold numbers of fathers can benefit from this message.

[amazon_enhanced asin=”1456565826″ /]

My Take on the Book
I just recently got connected with Big Daddy and I have to say that I love his wit and willingness to use humor to bring out a point. This book takes this same tone and relates his experiences with Autism and his own child. What I loved about this book is that it does use humor to allow people to see Autism in a completely different light. It allows parents of special needs children and others to understand and appreciate that having a child with special needs is not always difficult.

If you or someone you love has been touched by Autism in some way, read this or share it with others… you will not be disappointed!

Following Ezra – A Book for all Fathers to Read!

September 7, 2011 by dadofdivas 32 Comments

About the Book

Ezra Fields-Meyer was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old. He obsessively lined up plastic dinosaurs, didn’t like to play with other children, and avoided eye-contact whenever possible. When he was diagnosed, his doctors were not confident Ezra would ever learn to read. Today he is 15 and, in two months, he will be the published co-author of a children’s book withNew York Times bestseller Tom Lichtenheld. Ezra’s journey from diagnosis to his bar mitzvah, full of humor, challenge, love and understanding was documented by his father, Tom Fields-Meyer in this book.

1 in 110 U.S. children are diagnosed with some form of autism. It is a common diagnosis and there are many books about parenting an autistic child, but Ezra is an incredibly unique boy and Tom Fields-Meyer’s story is anything but common. This book is a fascinating look at what an autistic child can do when given the chance to find their own way. More than an opportunity to talk about autism, Tom Fields-Meyer’s book is a touching, funny, and amazing story about an inspiring young man.

My Take on the Book

This book was a great testament to fatherhood and the love and laughter that can surround this journey between father and son. The book was very well written and provides a heartfelt account of the journey that both father and son were on. along the way. While I do not know the author personally, I have to say that I was impressed by everything that the author went through to help his son become the young man he is today.

The story is motivational and inspiring and as a father myself, I can only hope that if placed in the same situation, I would do the same as the author did for his own son. Though this book I am reminded that every child needs a parent who supports them through everything and that with this support they will be able to fly to areas unimaginable.

You will find yourself both laughing and getting a bit choked up at times in this book, but overall you will leave the book satisfied and happy to have been introduced to a great father and son duo!

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Book Review – Autism Conversations

August 9, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

About the Book

Dr. Marilyn J. Monteiro has released a new book providing valuable new techniques for evaluating children on the autism spectrum, and how to communicate findings to parents and others on the treatment team. AUTISM CONVERSATIONS: Evaluating Children on the Autism Spectrum through Authentic Conversations (Western Psychological Services, 208 pg., paperback) demonstrates a conversation-based approach, allowing for a more personalized and descriptive response to autism diagnosis.

Recent Centers for Disease Control estimates report a rising rate of autism – 1 in every 110 births in the United States in 2009. Thanks to growing attention from the medical community and high profile celebrities – “autism” is fast becoming a household word. Just this past year, NBC prominently depicted a child on the autism spectrum in its highlyated prime-time drama, “Parenthood.” Despite all the attention, the autism diagnosis remains a complicated, emotionally tense, and often misunderstood process.

With AUTISM CONVERSATIONS, Dr. Monteiro shares years of field work and interaction with thousands of children. She introduces a new framework and approachable terms that are of equal value to autism practitioners and to parents.

While autism became a clinical study in the 1930s, it took decades for the neurodevelopmental disorder to become publicly recognized. In the 1980s, as diagnostic processes progressed, the term became more familiar, but the symptoms and treatment remained debatable. Parents with children on the autism spectrum generally did not have the same tools with which to have informative and valuable conversation with doctors and teachers. It was at that time Dr. Monteiro began her long career focusing on evaluation and training.

Regarding the unique way in which the book is accessible to parents as well as teachers and clinicians, Dr. Monteiro explains, “The conversational approach to evaluating children on the autism spectrum adds an authentic and nuanced understanding of the child to the diagnostic process. Professional evaluators love using the conversational approach because the children they evaluate relax and enjoy the process of sharing their unique worldview. Parents trust the evaluation process more because the evaluators are able to describe the child instead of stating a diagnosis based on checklists and technical language. When children are understood in an individual and authentic way, adults become better teachers and advocates.”

Chapters in AUTISM CONVERSATIONS include:

1. Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders: Setting the Context for the Conversations

2. Conversations With Children: The Sensory-Based Diagnostic Interview

3. Conversations With Parents: The Parent Interview

4. Conversations With Teachers: The Teacher Interview

5. Collaborative Team Conversations: From Interview to Diagnosis

6. Conversations With Parents: The Diagnostic feedback Conversation

7. Written Conversations: Constructing a Narrative Report

About Dr. Marilyn Monteiro
Marilyn J. Monteiro, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and expert in diagnosing autism spectrum disorders. During her 25-year career, Dr. Monteiro has evaluated more than 4,000 children on the autism spectrum. Her clinical work focuses on evaluating children and training other professionals. She helps educators and clinicians across the United States better understand and use her methods for diagnosing and working with children on the autism spectrum and their families. Dr. Monteiro is a frequent speaker at state and national conferences, speaking on autism issues and autism evaluation. Dr. Monteiro continues to provide autism evaluations in schools throughout Texas, and she thoroughly enjoys having conversations with individuals on the autism spectrum.

My Take on the Book
Autism is something that touches so many families throughout the world. This book provides both guidance and solace for these families. The author does a wonderful job at providing great examples for families to relate to. Also, the best part of this book comes from the wealth of knowledge and down to earth experience that the author has had that she in turn is sharing with her readers. If autism has touched you or your family, this is a wonderful resource that will aid you in your journey!

If this sounds like a book you would like in your own library you can find it on Amazon!

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Book Review – Now I see the Moon

June 17, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

About the Book
The New York Times references Elaine Hall as “The Child Whisperer.” Her profound bond with children has been the defining force of her life and has led her to the successive miracles she documents with grace, humor and heart in her memoir: Now I See the Moon: A Mother, a Son, a Miracle.
Elaine was an A-list Hollywood acting coach for children when she learned that she could not have biological children. She adopted a beautiful two year old boy from Russia, who was subsequently diagnosed with severe autism. Refusing to heed the admonitions to “send him back” she used her professional knowledge and wisdom garnered from leading, humanistic authorities on autism to guide him through the inspiring, miraculous journey that has made him the happy, increasingly independent teenager that he is now.
Drawing on that experience, she went on to create The Miracle Project, through which she took on the seemingly impossible task of engaging children on the autistic spectrum to create and perform an original musical. Sparked by her conviction that involvement in the performing arts has the power to transform, her program has been a triumph, the subject of the award winning HBO documentary, and a miracle shared by all who witness it or participate in it. Elaine Hall believes in miracles, and so will anyone who reads her personal account of how faith, persistence and love can bring them into being. The title of the book comes from an ancient Chinese Proverb: My barn burned down, but now I can see the moon.
My Take on the Book
While my children are not autistic, I found this book to a very positive, uplifting look at how to work with this population. Written in such a way that you as a eader are amazed at the steps that one mother will take to make a difference in her own child’s life as well as the lives of so many other autistic children.

I have worked with autistic children in college befoe and even then they can, at times, be challenging. I can only imagine the struggles, such as were explored within the book, would be like. I commend the author on her candor as well as for being willing to make such a difference in so many people’s lives!
If this book sounds like something you would like in your own library you can find it on Amazon!

The Horse Boy Shows the Love of a Father to His Son Review & Giveaway

May 10, 2010 by dadofdivas 5 Comments

About the DVD

In The Horse Boy, filmmaker Michel Orion Scott chronicles Rupert Isaacson and Kristin Neff’s very personal odyssey as they struggle to make sense of their child’s autism and find healing for him and themselves in the unlikeliest of places. Harrowing and exhilarating, The Horse Boy will air on the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 10PM (check local listings.)

Raised in rural Texas, Rowan Isaacson was diagnosed with autism in April 2004, at age two and a half. The charming, animated child had ceased speaking. He retreated into himself for hours at a time, screamed inconsolably for no apparent reason, flapped his arms and babbled. For the Isaacsons, as for so many other parents, autism seemed to have snatched away their child’s soul.

A complex condition that dramatically affects social interaction and communication skills, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability today. With more children diagnosed each year than with cancer, diabetes, Down syndrome and AIDS combined, it is estimated in the U.S. alone, cases of autism could reach four million in the next decade. While theories on its origins abound, there is no consensus in the medical community on either causes or treatment.

Rowan’s parents, Rupert Isaacson, a human rights worker, author and former professional horse trainer, and Kristin Neff, a psychology professor, sought out the best medical care for him. But orthodox therapies had little effect on Rowan.

Then came the day Rowan ran away from his father, got through the fence of their neighbor’s horse pasture, and in amongst the hooves of the horse herd. Rupert had stopped riding since Rowan’s autism had kicked in, thinking it unsafe for his son to be around horses. Now he froze, heart in mouth, praying Rowan would not get trampled. Instead, the herd’s boss horse, a notoriously grumpy old mare named Betsy, pushed the other horses away, bent her head to Rowan, and began to lick and chew with her lips: the equine sign of submission. Rupert had never seen a horse voluntarily make this obeisance to a human being before. Something direct, something beautiful, was clearly passing between boy and horse.

So Isaacson began to ride with Rowan on Betsy everyday, and Rowan—amazingly—began to talk, to engage with the outside world. Rupert asked himself, was there a place on the planet that combined horses and healing? He did some research: the country where the horse was first domesticated, where the nomadic horse life is still lived by most of its people, is also the one country where shamanism—healing at its most raw and direct—is the state religion. Mongolia.

What if he was to take Rowan there, thought Rupert, riding on horseback from shaman to shaman? What would happen? The Horse Boy follows Rupert, Kristin and Rowan through the summer of 2007 as they traverse Mongolia on their quest. From the wild open Steppe to the sacred Lake Sharga, and deep into Siberia, they are tested to their limits individually, as a couple, and as a family. They find their son is accepted, even treasured for his differences. In a world steeped in mystical tradition and hardscrabble reality, Rowan makes dramatic leaps forward, astonishing both his parents and himself.

The film also includes interviews with some of the foremost experts in the field of autism including Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen (cousin of comedian Sacha Baron-Cohen) of Cambridge University; anthropologist and researcher Roy Richard Grinker of the George Washington University; and Dr. Temple Grandin, who is a professor of animal behavior at Colorado State University and who herself has autism. She is also the author of Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior, and, more recently, Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals.

The Horse Boy is part travel adventure, part insight into shamanic tradition and part intimate look at the autistic mind. In telling one family’s extraordinary story, the film gives voice to the thousands of families who display amazing courage and creativity everyday in the battle against this mysterious and heartbreaking epidemic. Above all, it gives insight into how, in life’s darkest moments, one can find the gateway to joy and wonder.

To learn more about the film, visit the The Horse Boy interactive companion website (pbs.org/horse-boy) which features detailed information on the film, including an interview with the filmmaker and links and resources pertaining to the film’s subject matter. The site also features a Talkback section for viewers to share their ideas and opinions, preview clips of the film, and more.

Rowan Isaacson

Diagnosed with autism at age two, Rupert has been in both orthodox and alternative therapies for the past several years. Possessed of an uncanny ability to communicate with animals, he has much to teach us.

Rupert Isaacson (Producer)

An ex-professional horse trainer, Rupert is a writer and journalist as well as human rights advocate for tribal peoples. His books include The Healing Land – the Bushmen and the Kalahari (Grove Press), The Wild Host – History and Meaning of the Hunt (Rowan Littlefield) and many others. He is also founder and director of the Indigenous Lands Rights Fund (http://www.landrightsfund.org/)

Kristin Neff
Rupert’s wife and Rowan’s mother, Kristin is a tenured professor of psychology at the University of Texas. A practicing Buddhist for more than 10 years, she is well known for her researches into the Buddhist concept of self-compassion (www.self-compassion.org) and its correlation with positive mental health. She and the rest of the family live in the country outside Austin, Texas.

About the Filmmakers
MICHEL ORION SCOTT (Director and Cinematographer) spent most of his youth exploring the thick wooded areas of central Texas where he was born and raised. The son of a cowboy father and a Jewish hippie mother, his life has always reflected his eclectic upbringing. After earning a degree in film from the University of Texas at Austin, where he also studied modern dance, Scott took on a diverse range of projects ranging from set construction and design on Hollywood features to abstract experimental work and documentaries.

Scott soon began to search for ways to use his career in film to deepen his relationship with the earth. My Father in the River, the first film that began this journey, took him to the heart of the Bolivian rainforest, where he worked with the indigenous Moseten Indians of the region, using them as actors, extras and crewmembers in a truly collaborative effort.

Since that project, Scott has been studying and drawing inspiration from the study of wilderness survival through indigenous skills and crafts and has recently created promotional films for companies such as The Indigenous Land Rights Fund, Sol Education Abroad, and MAPAJO, an indigenous rights organization and eco-tourism company.

Intrigued by the study of science and politics, Scott continues to explore the ways that ancient knowledge and wisdom can inform and advance the current state of society. He draws much of his inspiration from the study of native cultures, indigenous crafts and a desire to connect with the root of humanity through wilderness studies. The Horse Boy marks Scott’s debut as a feature film director.

RUPERT ISAACSON (Producer) was born in London in 1967 to South African parents. He has worked as a journalist and human rights activist in Africa for many years. In addition to writing for the British and American press, Isaacson has authored several guidebooks to Africa and India as well as the nonfiction books The Healing Land: The Bushmen and the Kalahari Desertand The Wild Host: The history and the Meaning of the Hunt. The first tells the story of his time spent living with the San Bushman hunter-gatherers of the Kalahari Desert, and their traditional healers; the second is an account of man’s relationship with hunting. His book The Horse Boy was published by Little Brown in the U.S. in May 2009. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife Kristin Neff and their son Rowan. The Horse Boy is his first film.

About Independent Lens
Independent Lens is an Emmy® Award-winning weekly series airing Tuesday nights at 10:00 PM on PBS. The acclaimed anthology series features documentaries and a limited number of fiction films united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement and unflinching visions of their independent producers. Independent Lens features unforgettable stories about a unique individual, community or moment in history. Presented by ITVS, the series is supported by interactive companion websites and national publicity and community engagement campaigns. Further information about the series is available at www.pbs.org/independentlens. Independent Lens is jointly curated by ITVS and PBS, and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private corporation funded by the American people, with additional funding provided by PBS and the National Endowment for the Arts. The series producer is Lois Vossen.

My Take on the DVD
I was given the opportunity to review this film, not knowing much about the film itself besides what I read it myslf. The first thing that I was simply amazed by was the reality of the love that one father has for his son. I mean, I have to admire the tenacity and love that this father has for Rowan, as you do not see this type of advocacy love between a father and son.

I was surprised that the movie was filled with so much mysticism, but it helps that in the documentary there are good ties t intellectuals that explain it all for the audience. I showed the movie to another family who had closer ties to autism than my family is and they remarked that it was nice to know that there were other families out there that were strugglin with similar issues and that are doing whatever they can to help their children like what is seen in this movie.

For me, I cannot even imagine going all the way to Mongolia to find the shaman that they felt could cure their child. I try my best to do what I can to assist my daughters, but I have never been challenged with a situation that has pushed our family as far as this family had to go.

I found myself throughout this movie wondering how it all would turn out and whether they would find the answers that they were seeking. While the movie ends with some positive notes, the movie is truly a testament to autism and to the love between a parent and a child.

Though I have not read the book that inpired the documentary, the movie itself does make me interested in reading it.

If this DVD sounds interesting to you, you can find it on Amazon!
If you are interested in finding a copy of the book, you also can find it on Amazon!
Giveaway

How would you like to win The Horse Boy Book for yourself? I will be giving away The Horse Boy Book to a lucky reader! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this book to be considered and your favorite wine thus far. The contest will run for one week and will end on May 9, 2010.

Bonus Entries:

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count

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Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until May 9, 2010 at approximately 12:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review & Giveaway – The Autism Prophecies

May 3, 2010 by dadofdivas 2 Comments

About the Book
More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes, and cancer…combined. No one knows why cases of autism are increasing worldwide. In The Autism Prophecies, award-winning author William Stillman, who is on the autism spectrum himself, completes his spiritual trilogy, including the Nautlus Book Siver Award Winner The Soul of Autism, by revealing the truth about autism and its purpose.

In this intriguing book, readers will learn:

How some with autism are natural-born healers who employ compassion, despite contradictory diagnoses indicating a void of empathy.
How “impossible” gifts such as mind control and speaking unknown languages could be occurring in some people with autism.
How parents can distinguish their child’s spiritual interactions from behavior that might be mislabeled as hallucinatory—and unduly medicated.
How wisdom of many people with autism may help us to prepare for future hardships and an impending renaissance of civility, respect, and compassion.

The Autism Prophecies challenges the traditionally held beliefs about people with disabilities and allows the reader to discover the spiritual grace of people with autism.

Through his extensive research and interviews with families and persons with autism, author William Stillman shares examples of spiritual giftedness and anecdotes unveiling the amazing sensitivities of people with autism.

Autism shows no signs of abating, despite research, studies, awareness, and fundaising. At this rate, concurrent with research efforts, it is high time society alters its focus not just for what causes autism, but for what autism causes.

For more information about The Autism Prophecies and other new releases, visit the website of publisher New Page Books at www.newpagesbooks.com.

About the Author:

William Stillman is an autism spectrum self-advocate, consultant, speaker, and author of the groundbreaking books The Soul of Autism and Autism and the God Connection, the latter being the first study of the profound spiritual, mystical, and metaphysical gifts of some people with autism. His other books include The Autism Answer Book, Empowered Autism Parenting, and Demystifying the Autistic Experience. Stillman also writes columns for The Autism Perspective and Children of the New Earth magazines. He lives in Pennsylvania. For further information visit http://www.williamstillman.com/.

My Take On The Book
While I do not have children that have autism, I know many parents who do and this book held wonderful resources for parents who does know, loves and wants to understand somebody with autism.

This is a great book that will truly make you see the intelligence of these individuals as well as how amazin these individuals truly are. If you have ever felt yourself doubting this fact, this book will definitely renew your faith.

I decided to share my copy with a family that has an autistic child and they stated that this book was perfect and provided such a great glimpse into the life of heir child.

If this book sounds like one that you would like as a part of your own library you can find it on Amazon!

Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this book for yourself? I will be giving away one book to a lucky reader! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this book to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on May 10, 2010.

Bonus Entries:

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)

Grab my badge to your sidebar

Subscribe to this blog either by RSS or email for one entry (top right hand corner, if you already do leave in a separate comment)
Stumble this post. (leave username in comment per day)
Digg this post (Leave username in comment)
Follow me on Twitter (@dadofdivas) (leave username in comment)
Follow me on Google Connect
Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving away The Autism Prophecies by William Stillman – http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
Bookmark this post in Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon, or whatever social bookmarking site is your favorite. (Leave comment with the info. One entry per site per day)
Add me to your Technorati Favs list (one entry, leave username in comment)
Become a fan of Dad of Divas on Facebook (Leave username in comment)

Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until May 10, 2010 at approximately 12:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.