Author: Leona E. Filis

Gina Mouser Presentation for Parents with nonverbal autistic children

My family has benefited for years from Gina Mouser and her natural ability to connect with autistic children and her advise to adjust environments and parents’ actions.  She is offering a free presentation called “Teaching Functional Communication & Reading skills” (Specifically those who are “non-verbal”) on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 6:00 pm.  Please RSVP by July 10, 2015 to ginaam@sbcglobal.net. 

Saturday May 30th Safety Class

Autism Seminar 5-30-2015

Call Houston Karate at 713-464-7937 to sign up for the Self Defense & Restraining Without Injury Seminar.  This is a very unique opportunity!

At Houston Karate Academy, the instructors offer a weekly class for children with disabilities.  I have enjoyed watching my son attend classes and earn a white belt with a black stripe.

I highly recommend Houston Karate Academy.

Leona

Freudianism does not “fix” autism

As I drove away from my son’s school this morning after dropping him off over half an hour after the late bell, I had my customary call with my mother.  Irritation level being red, I attempted to remain calm as she asked questions about my son’s morning.  “Is he sick?” “Did he sleep okay last night?” “He knows it is show-n-tell today, why did he stall getting ready for school?” Such questions led to other questions about earlier inappropriate behavior. “His teacher said that yesterday the only problem they had with him was about his gloves. Why does he feel like he needs to wear them in school all day?”

At that point I imagined my 7 year old son on a couch, in a semi-dark room, with an old man wearing a brown tweed jacket sitting nearby with a pad and pen in hand.  Not necessarily Freud himself, but some psychoanalyst with good intentions trying to figure out why my son does what he does.  That is when I stopped my mother and said “Freudianism does not fix autism.”

Of course, learning why my son exhibits a certain behavior should be analyzed, but I have learned to redirect the focus of the question.  The focus should not on the gloves themselves and what they represent to my son as a symbol of some sort.  The focus should be on what it is in his environment that is possibly agitating him or causing anxiety so that he seeks out to be soothed by wearing his red gloves.  By the way it a hot April in Texas so cold hands are not the answer. Will I ever know the answer as to why my son disrupted his class yesterday by wearing his red gloves? Of course not. Can I live with that and move on? I have to.

 

Around Houston March 2015

There are many events in the Greater Houston Area that families with disabled children can participate in for fun or for support.  The following information is provided for your information, and is not an endorsement. If you attend, please provide feedback.

SatMar 14
9:00 AM
at Texana Children’s Center for Autism – Sugar Land

Medicaid Waiver Programs

Years ago, I had been advised by my son’s therapist to get my son on the Interest Lists for the Medicaid Waiver Programs, but all I heard was “Medicaid” and I tuned her out. Whether my decision was based on pride or ignorance, I failed my son.

In November 2014, during a holiday break I had time on my hands and decided to make the calls to investigate the Programs.  If you have a disabled child, I strongly suggest you make the calls today.  There are 6 programs I am familiar with – CLASS, HCS, TxHml, CBA, MDCP, and DBMD.  The information regarding the disabled individual you will need to have ready  is the Social Security Number, last name, first name, middle initial, county of residence, date of birth, whether the individual receives Medicaid, mailing address, phone number, your name, the diagnosis, and the length of time of the awareness of the disability.

I called DADS at (877) 438-5658. My son is now on the Interest Lists for CLASS and MDCP.  The call took 8 minutes of my time, but the wait will be years.

A month later my son was added to the HCS Interest List. The wait is 10 to 12 years.

Warning: If you get on the lists, don’t forget to call the agencies when you move – you miss your letter notifying you of your meeting,  you lose your place in line.

-LEF