Dear Mr. President, What About Autism?

Dear Mr. President,

I supported your campaign and preached "the good word" about your qualities and attributes. I have heard what you've had to say about foreign policy, economics, finance, community projects, and the like. I even felt a little "warm and fuzzy" when you spoke of the struggles your mother fought through and fought against in an effort to raise her children, work two jobs, and put herself through school. I can relate to needing government assistance during different periods in my life when I had young children in my home to care for.

I know that you feel that our educational system is deprived and needs to be restructured to fit the needs of the individual students, as well as the needs of the country. Even health care has been a subject to which you have a plan to maximize coverage opportunity for every citizen of the United States.





But what about autism?





I have a daughter. We call her SiSi. She's only 10... going on 11. She is a beautiful child. She's sweet. And, boy is she sharp?! The schools have tested her and determined that she is at the 4 year old level educationally, but she is a smart child.

I tell people often that she is a child first and autistic second. She can wrap her daddy around her little finger with the rest of them. And contrary to popular belief, she is extremely affectionate.

Though she is not going to hold a conversation with you, she does speak... primarily she'll call out items from the four food group when she's hungry... but just this evening, she told me, "I Love You"... "Tickle, please".

Some autistic children and adults are very functional. You can only tell that there is a developmental issue or comprehension issue in regards to personal relationships... or reactions to certain things like crowds of people or maybe certain places. Other children and adults are extremely low functioning. No speaking, difficulty walking, difficulty sitting, perform no tasks without being prompted and maybe not even then. Many of autistic children and adults have gastro-intestinal issues. Most autistic people require hands on involvement 24-7 and/or supervision.

Many autistic children have behavioral issues that range from mild to severe. I know. I have been all but beaten up by my SiSi. (smile)

Mr. President, there are many diagnosis that are in the autism "family" and these are grouped by the name "autism spectrum". Do you know how many children and adults have been diagnosed with some aspect of the autism spectrum?

1 out of every 150 people

are diagnosed with some form of autism.

That is a lot of diagnosis. That is a lot of people.

I have been told to leave grocery stores by shoppers when SiSi has a tantrum.

Adults become vengeful when she lashes out at them.

Children and adults watch her when she is just making noises (that don't sound like words, but I believe they are her words). They watch her self-stem (shake hands, rock her body, making bumping motions with her head repeatedly). People say very mean and ignorant things. Not ignorant as in stupid... though at the time that is how I figure it... but ignorant as in "lacking in knowledge". But instead of asking questions or just observing, they speak and say hurtful things.

Yes, we've been stared at,
criticized
ostrasized
talked about
ridiculed
and shunned...

But, did I say 1 out of every 150? The chance is good that someone they know has or will have an autistic child! They should be taking the time to learn a little something.

The public schools are very inefficient. The "OK" private schools starts at approximately $500/month. The "good" private schools range from $24,000 to $32,000 per year in the southeast. The charter schools are few and far between... and in some states schools designed just for our special children are non-existant.

If you have a child with behavior issues, you will spend maybe thousands of dollars per year replacing broken things (or going without). You will spend lots of money on doctors who don't except the type of insurance you have on your job and surely not Medicaid!
And Medicaid gets cut along with special programs for education and family support & training every year! Meanwhile, the number of diagnosis per year increases.

And do you know what the most suspected CAUSE of autism is, Mr. President?


IMMUNIZATIONS


By the way, immunizations are now suspected in having a hand in Alzheimers patients. It's always the very young and the very old that cannot fight off diseases or withstand extreme temperatures... and now immunizations. The simple fact that Government no longer requires that children be immunized and no longer have a mandate that "non-immunized children can not attend school" speaks to their awareness of the primary suspect for the cause of autism. Immunizations are "products" of Government... a product (once mandatorily administered) for which the Government refuses to accept accountability by way of retribution.

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Non-compliance from parents might have lead to child neglect or endangerment charges. If Government could be held responsible and accountable for their involvement, what charges could families with autistic sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles... what charges could WE place on Government. So, without admitting a thing... Government subtly dismantled control of the distribution and usage of mercurized immunizations and today, we can sign a waiver. If Government admits fault, it makes itself liable for lawsuits.

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Now, immunizations are not handled today the way they were handled when I was growing up. I took the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella immunizations separately. That is separate viles with a smaller amount of "preservative" per vile. I guess I should tell you that the preservative that is used is Mercury. There are many chemical names for it.... but Mercury is what it is, right? Today the Measles, Mumps, & Rubella immunization is combined and sealed in a tube that is used for three... not one... but three administrations. That means EXTRA Mercury is used to keep the deal fresh!

At the age that the MMR is administered to children is usually around the time that the symptoms of Austims starts to rear its head. (hhhmmm ... are they symptoms or SIDE AFFECTS?) There are some other cases where immunizations seems not to be the cause, but the majority can be represented in this scenario. In SiSi's case, she showed symptoms a bit earlier than that. You see, she was a "premie". Her first injection was one that was to help her lungs mature quickly. And there was a preservative... Mercury.

This is the same Mercury that was used in the production of felt hats in France during the mid 17th century. Due to the concentration of Mercury and the long term handling of it, some hat makers had reportedly gone "mad"... The Mad Hatter... need I say more? (http://corrosion-doctors.org/Elements-Toxic/Mercury-mad-hatter.htm)

There are already class action lawsuits against Government in regards to these findings. but I know the Government has a way of delaying the process until it can sweep everything under the rug.

.

But, there is another way to handle this. Use the money, that should be a lucrative judgement for the plaintiffs,

.....(1) towards education... not just education of our children, but education for the community. Parents are still getting their children immunized WITHOUT the knowledge of the possible dangers; sometimes doubling up on appointments if one has been missed! Government has not so much as issued a warning of the POSSIBILITY of autism.

.....(2) Use the money for special training of those who will be caring for autistic people - educators, behavioral therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, child pyschiatrists, counselors, medical professionals (you'd be surprised how many of them are clueless in handling autistic children), AND families with autistic family members.

.....(3) Use money to assist with home health care. We parents are getting old and may have difficulties managing everything for our children.

.....(4) Use money to build special, professional, monitored group homes and provide assisted living for those to whom this is a viable option.

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At the rate that autism is increasing coupled with the fact that we are soon to have a society full of autistic adults whose parents have died with no family members who are willing enough or care enough to offer real support,

"if society doesn't invest in future of autism now,

SOCIETY WILL PAY LATER".

Well, Mr. President, there is so much more to be said on the subject, but we are running out of time. Parents of autistic children are getting older. Homes are crowded... and quite frankly, our family isn't comfortable with the idea of placing our "sometimes behaviorly challenged" baby in a home where underpaid, untrained workers will want to "get her back".

Help us develop schools.

Find away to make Medical Care affordable.

HELP US FIND A CURE.

It's a tough fight... but we can do it together!

YES, WE CAN!

And with...

Respectfully Yours,
SiSi's Mom
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shYne

Am I My Brothers' Keeper II

While doing a query to gather information for my previous post "am i my brother's keeper", I stumbled upon this video.

There are races of people who have been enslaved. Races of people who have been in concentration camps. Races of people who have been moved from their land to another. Races of people who have not been treated with equality.

But the indiginous people who are featured on this video have been subjected to it all.

Please take the time to really watch this video and to really listen to the real life story being told.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and "click" the pause button on the music widget.

I want you to be able really listen to this video.

Now that you've watched the video, what are you going to do about it? You may feel that because you are not Native American (unless you are), you should be fighting for "your own" people. Let them fight for themselves!

You see, by not being our brother's keeper, our numbers are often too few when we need to represent a cause on the behalf of humanity, equality, retribution, and respect. Most of us share similar histories and experiences and often at the hand of the same violators. Why not ban together and make "it" count for ALL people.

Even the government is at a stale-mate on their bale out because law-makers are arguing to have provisions in the bill for people of many walks of life... not just investors, bankers, and realtors.

If someone in Uncle Sam's army is trying to grab a clue, shouldn't we?

peace

shYne

Ubunto (Ubuntu) : am i my brother's keeper?

“Ubuntu” is an ancient African word, meaning “humanity to others”. Ubuntu also means “I am what I am because of who we all are”.

"Ubunto really means that I am because you are. We belong
together. Our humanity is bound up with one another. We say in our languages, a person is a person through other persons. A solitary human being is a contradiction in terms. I learn how to become a human being through association with other human beings."

- Desmond Tutu

Nelson Mandela explained Ubuntu as follows;

"A traveller through a country would stop at a village and he didn't

have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give

him food, entertain him. That is one aspect of Ubuntu but it will have

various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not

address themselves. The question therefore is: Are you going to do

so in order to enable the community around you to be able to

improve?"

Please forgive me for the rambling that is sure to come forth. But, I've been pondering this for a few days and I have not yet come to a conclusion as to my current "condition" in this matter.

The matter in question?

Am I my brother's keeper?

I am not asking a general question.... but a question specific to me, shYne.

Am I my brother's keeper?

I SHOULD be my brother's keeper. To me, that is a very important aspect to our very human experience. To understand and celebrate the "One"-ness in the midst of our diversity is an important challenge and step towards understanding ourselves as creations of the Creator and ourselves as vessels of the Creator. We are one. That understanding of others is also an understanding of ourselves. To "keep" my brother is to "keep" myself. To honor myself is to bring honor to my brother.

But in spite of my having this belief that sounds so very much like "Ubuntu" to me, I am not effectual as a keeper of my brothers. I am prejudiced towards my clan. I don't allow my arms to extend any further out to embrace humanity in the form of an individual interest/relationship. I care about humanity as a whole, but I don't get personal. I don't "know" my brother.

I haven't always been this way. I used to do a lot more socializing. I had a variety of cliques or clans or groups that I was "friendly" with. People brought me joy. But eventually, in many cases, those same people caused me pain. In some cases, I brought pain. I learned that by weaning myself from an active social life, I greatly diminished the opportunity of hurt feelings, envy, disappointment, covetousness, obligation... yes, and the joy that is also a part of embracing humanity.

A part of the pain, has to do with "Getting Over Myself". I spoke of it in my first blog. When people have issues, I want to fix it. Not being able to fix it is frustrating and stressful. The effort that is put forth in fixing people's problems are many times ineffectual because it is either not enough or the people themselves don't want to be fixed. I won't dwell on that part, because I am getting over myself.

But the "sense of community" that I desire, I will never have if I never step out into the world and get to know my community.

WHAT DOES BEING MY BROTHER'S KEEPER ENTAIL?

Now THAT is the question. The answer? Let me work on this while I write out my therapy:

I know that it means if I can help someone in need, I should do so. This does not obligate me to do everything... all the time... for someone. But, if I can offer a reprieve - then do so. If I go beyond what I am able to afford in regards to finances, time, other resources, I am doing a dis-service to my family... so this can't be a good thing. And I shouldn't feel any guilt for drawing a line. I AM responsible for making my brother aware of that drawn line, though. If I allow my tendency to feel guilty for NOT being able to "fix it" override this simple rule, it would be like leading someone on. I don't want anyone to feel that I have committed to do more than I truly can or will.

Being my brother's keeper may mean that I have to step out of my comfort zone to offer a word of wisdom or encouragement or support... WITHOUT being anymore involved in my brother's business than he/she wants.

Being my brother's keeper means that I walk "my talk". I need to be forever conscious of the morals, ideals, ethics, spiritual beliefs that I claim to have and be an embodiment of this belief.

Being my brother's keeper means being "connected" enough to not only feel their pain, but to truly celebrate their joys.

Look after each others' children.

Pray for each others' spouses.

Break bread with one another.

Comfort each other.

Play together.

These are Ubuntu characteristics. These are characteristics I aspire to have. But there is no need for me to have them, if I don't have the mindset to share it with others.

I worked hard to UN-socialize. I'll have to work just as hard to learn to RE-socialize.

I want to share love without prejudice.

I want to enjoy the joy that relationships can bring.

Now that I am learning to love without the need to control the uncontrollable... or the personalities and souls that are not mine to control... i believe that I can grow from future experiences.

Let me just find the strength to open my door and step outside... in the sunshine.

peace,

shYne

Squirrel: What is your message to me?

I have been seeing the same squirrel for two days now. Up close and personal. Not too far from my front door. I know it is the same squirrel because he is no longer nervous when I step out on our balcony. He is as comfortable with me in his space as I am in his. You see, we share the same space. He is less of an invader than perhaps I. But we are accepting of each other's presence.

After seeing him the second time within an hour on the first day, I wondered what he had to tell me. What message do you have for me, Squirrel Spirit? You haven't entered my space by coincidence, happenstance, or circumstance... but you are here boldly... not trying to leave me or abandon me before I get your understanding.

So, to help myself along, I googled and the words you see below are the first that came up to define the message that the squirrel brings to us... if we are keen enough to acknowledge his presence. It just so happens that his message is right in line with where I am spiritually on another aspect of my spiritual life that I am in the process of evaluating.

So out of respect and with thanksgiving I will share with those who do not know the message of the squirrel totem.

Gathering, Activity, Preparedness.
The gathering power of Squirrel is a great gift.

It teaches us balance within the circle of gathering

and giving out.

They remind us that in our quest for our goals,

it is vital to make time for play and socializing.

Squirrel teaches us to conserve our energy for times of need.

If your totem is Squirrel or Squirrel has recently

entered your life,

lighten your load of things that are unnecessary

– things that you have gathered in the past

and may be cluttering your life

– thoughts, worries, and stresses.

Squirrel is also the totem of action.

Ask yourself are you too active, not active enough,

afraid of enough,

hung up on accumulating and collecting.

Squirrel people tend to be a little erratic

– trying to do many things at once.

Take the time to stop and listen to your inner self

– and don’t forget to play!

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Now, let me go and meditate and give thanks to the Creator for the squirrel and others to follow.

peace,

shYne

Just Breathe...

While the Homebuilding marketing was on a fast and furious decline, I struggled daily with the task of getting price decreases from contractors and vendors. I fought the management of my employing company to keep my participation non-existent in activities that were of poor ethics and maybe a little bit illegal. We terminated the relationships of many of our suppliers. Real men and real women who I learned to like and respect as people… as mothers and fathers of children… as husbands to ailing wives and wives to hard-working men… I learned to like them as friends.

And as my heart would break for them, I knew that regardless to how good a job I did for my company by getting the suppliers to work for pennies - by creating an environment so competitive they stabbed each other in the back… I knew that there would be massive lay-offs that would include my position.

Every day I was angry and depressed, sad and excited; at each change of events there was a different emotion to be felt and it was all very stressful. Stressful on my mind. Stressful on my spirit. And stressful on my body.

On one particular day, I was taking a much needed break. A co-worker and I were discussing whatever the latest chain of events had just occurred. A third co-worker had come along and he jokingly participated in the conversation. But as we started to head back to our prospective offices and workspaces… the third co-worker said, “OK, Ladies… Breath in Jesus; breath out peace.”

What? !!!!

He was being a little bit funny… but only a little. He was mostly serious.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t have a thing against Jesus. I mean, even though I don’t “classify” myself as being a part of the traditional denominations or doctrines, I grew up on Jesus!

This guy just sounded a little obnoxious. So, I paid him no mind and kept on with life.

But recently, I ran across a bit of information that has made me take another look at my co-workers advice. I read that correct breathing can minimize stress.

Correct breathing.

Now there’s a thought. CORRECT breathing. Is there an incorrect way to breathe? If you are bringing air in and out of your lungs… is that not correct?

Well, there is a correct way to breathe.

Try this.

BREATH IN REAL SLOW and hold it for a few seconds…
Did your chest walls expand wide? Or did your torso draw up and expand in height?

Okay. Now you can exhale and breathe normally.

If your chest walls expanded wide, then you are breathing correctly. If your torso draws up, more so than out, then you are stress-breathing.

I started doing this exercise of correct breathing and I really felt more relaxed and calm. Now, I am conscious of this during my meditation and I have taken it a step further. I breathe in positive healing energy and breathe out love. Love for my children, my husband, my family and friends…. Love for all of the creations of this world and for life… Love for all things and all people. Sometimes I focus on one person or one aspect of my life and sometimes I am embracing the universe all at once.

Breath in ____(A)______ and breathe out _____(B)____ !

What’s on your ‘A’ and ‘B’ list?

Chat: Claim Your Journey...

Focus.

Stay on track.

Don't lose sight of your purpose.

Make use of the life you are blessed to live today.
Don't let it be for naught.
Be equally accountable for your actions and your lack of action.

Make every moment, every circumstance, every word... count.
Give your life thought, contemplation, and understand it's value.
Be filled with love and not resentment.

If resentment is your "filling", re-evaluate the INTENTION of your actions and commit to making a change. It will be your blame, your fault, your shortcoming, your weakness... or your reward.

Only YOU are responsible for the way you feel.
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. (recent yahoo chat)
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Woman 1: i'm here.... was on coffee break... sorry

Woman 2: K I forgive u
Woman 2: Liked your blog
Woman 2: No more coffee breaks

Woman 1: glad you liked it
Woman 1: i will probably write something else in there today or tomorrow.... but I have it set up that every time I enter something new, you get it in your email

Woman 2: Cool
Woman 2: Needed an outlet..huh
Woman 2: My signal keeps going in and out...its raining

Woman 1: not really.... needed to do some expressive activity.... some writing.... keep from getting rusty.... and it seems to help make me more conscious of the decisions I make and the life lessons i learn

Woman 2: You r so deep

Woman 1: no, i am not deep... but i want to be
Woman 1: have you ever had the feeling that you were just "skimming" across life?
Woman 1: not because you are shallow... but because you are so busy with the carnal things in life... you get caught up in people and their personalities and schedules and grocery shopping, school meetings.... seems like you miss the whole "purpose"

Woman 2: Hell yeah
Woman 2: I feel like that alllllll the time

Woman 1:.... but if you keep a journal.... just the "writing" of it all... makes you very conscious of the decisions you make and the decisions you need to make. try it
Woman 1: it's like "putting your thoughts out in the universe" and making them become a reality.... "the words you speak have spirit and life"

Woman 2: we as women are conditioned to live life as if we were just floating on through. Each day melds into the next. We spend all our time nurturing, giving, helping that by the time it comes to us, there is nothing left
Woman 2: but who are we to complain... its expected of us

Woman 1: see... now that is a subject to blog about.

Woman 2: this is why a lot of women stray from a marriage and become neglectful of those whom she has charge over
Woman 2: people don't realize that its not easy to multi task everything, everyday

Woman 1: see, THAT's deep

Woman 2: that ain't deep. girl that’s my life

Woman 1: i know... but articulating it makes you own it. accept it or change it. be "about" it or be "about changing it"... for yourself.

Woman 2: i used to think that I was the only one out there who felt as if the world around me had walls and I was being sucked into a vacuum and the only way out was to go deep inside my mind and escape

Woman 1: i hear u... and u are not alone!

Woman 2: but when you escape, thoughts appear and usually, they're not good

Woman 1: when i am running behind one... running with another... hunting down the next one, and another, and his brother, and dodging my mama, and trying not to take other folks foolishness ... when do i have time to feel like my life is my own?

Woman 2: that's when we, as women, start thinking that the grass on the other side looks greener

Woman 1: why must we take a back seat to our own journey?
Woman 1: crazy!
Woman 1: but honey... it ain't grass, it's astro-turf... that mess ain't even real

Woman 2: we don't matter, in a sense

Woman 1: but we actually matter the most
Woman 1: and we have to realize it before we can make anyone else realize it.

Woman 2: we play second-fiddle to all around us. And its not just in our homes but all around us
Woman 2: we take other peoples burdens and then they become ours
Woman 2: without us, there will be no foundation
Woman 2: there will be no family structure

Woman 1: and who will take our burdens?

Woman 2: chaos would rule
Woman 2: but then, they would find a way to blame us for that as well


peace
shYne

Getting Over Myself

Do you have health challenges? Struggles with your relationships? A dullness to your marriage? Your kids just won’t listen?

Dunt – du-na-naaaa! I’ll don my cape and fly to your rescue! Look up in the sky!! It’s a bird! No, it’s a plane! No, it’s “Super shYne”!!!!
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NOT!
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I am struggling here because I am being faced with issues that bring about the same feelings in me ... my desire to respond a certain way and I know it is not appropriate. So, I am learning to deal a different way.

When people I care about and/or respect are having hardships and challenges... I want to "fix" it.

I can't... "fix" it.

The words I want to say are words that I hope would motivate my friends to think positively about their circumstance. Mind you, these are people who "handle" their "trials and tribulations" relatively well anyway.... better than I handle mine in some cases. I may be able to offer a little assistance or a small financial reprieve... but it is hardly a dent if it is not a true resolution to their problem. I know that theirs is not my experience to have... but it pains me to observe others having their "experiences".

Although compassion is a good thing, I know that it is not my place to intervene in the Creator's works. As the Creator is refining Her/His creations... my meddling may bring about experiences that I would choose not to have. I have been chastised for this before and didn't realize what it was about. Some things I just take too far.

So, I asked myself. If I can't talk my friend into a better state of mind or being... if a "joke" is not appropriate... if I can't pay the bill for them on a regular basis... or buy their weekly grocery... or find the answers that medical doctors, healers, and spiritual counselors can't find... then what am I to do?

I AM TO LISTEN AND OBSERVE.
For a well-meaning meddler, this is a difficult task. But it must be done. The listening is as much for me as it is for my friend. This is how I learn some lessons or learn some possible resolutions that may help me or someone else in the future... or right now! This is how I can truly be an intercessory host thru prayer for this person... I will know what to meditate on and what to meditate for!

I AM TO MEDITATE/PRAY WITH PURPOSE.
I used to have an issue with the "ritualization" of spiritual matters... but i understand that the rituals are like benchmarks of where we are, what our purpose at that time is, and simply, a conscious effort to sanctify a moment of communicating love and admiration. I love my friends and family. But I am not the One. I do not have total control and all power. And it is not “mine” to find the answers for others any more than it is “mine” to judge others.

I AM TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY.
The desired outcomes of my friends may not be the same as the desired outcomes I have for them! Can you believe that? I couldn't either. But it's true. While I am meditating that things work out for the better, there's a chance it may come to pass... but not as I thought it would. It is the best outcome or the desired outcome of my friend.

To comfort and console and support would be a massive achievement for me. And,these attributes are more in line with what my friends actually want from me anyway. So, I am "getting over myself" and bettering my experiences and relationships with the same effort and intention… minding my own business.

peace
shYne