Since everyone is so friendly here and we all chat anyway, I was wondering if any of you have children with disabilities of any kind, physical or otherwise?  The reason I ask is because my son has Asperger's Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism and often I feel very alone and frustrated with no one to talk to.  Many times I don't even go to functions that involve people we don't see a lot because I end up feeling like the national spokesperson for Asperger's syndrome, always explaining to everyone what it is(though I don't mind explaining to anyone here if need be).  It's a complicated syndrome and it has touched many areas of our lives and my son has dealt with many problems himself usually due to people's lack of understanding.  I love my son so much, but it can be very frustrating dealing with the afflictions caused by AS, and I many times feel guilty for feeling this way when he has to live with this for the rest of his life inside his own skin.  But I think having friends on the OKP to talk to when things aren't so great would really lift my spirits and maybe some of you feel the same?  A support group of sorts.  Anyone interested?

---

Some people shine like a star in the first moment. Others keep their light hidden until they are ready to show us.

No kids...But this is an off shoot of another board I lurk on.  The folks are friendly, perhps you can talk to them.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/aspies/start


ETA: They have a drop down bbox of even more AS related forums.

---

Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

Trace,

Chat away. I've been teaching 30 years. I've seen it all. My son was diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder in his teens (although he'd had it since birth) and has a terrbly high IQ. Not a good combination. Spent  two years in Family  Therqpy and he had a Behavior Therapist for a year. He's 26 now and much better although still a challenge. But he has his own job and is a contributing member of society now. We never thought that would happen 12 years ago.

Anne

---

And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

Hi Trace

I was just thinking about the "George Street Cafe" thread here in the General Chat forum. Have you visited that topic yet? It moves very quickly, so you just have to jump in and introduce yourself, but everyone there is very nice and they talk about anything and everything near and dear to them. I think you'll find folks are very supportive on all kinds of topics.

Cheers!
Tina

---

Free Cruise Clocks

Thank you Anne, but as I feared, I think this topic might be too much of a downer.  Thank you Andi, I will check out that site as well as the George Street Cafe, TinaCap.  I just thought with all the OKPers here, there must be a few experiencing similar situations as mine, but I realize now that it's probably not what people sign on here for and I totally respect that. It was worth a try. Thanks anyway everyone.

---

Some people shine like a star in the first moment. Others keep their light hidden until they are ready to show us.

Trace, don't give up posting about it! that's not what anyone meant. but you might want to open the thread to non parents and folks who are living with disabilities. You'd be surprised what wonderful folks are here and what suggestions they can make. 
 And of course it is the week end so things might be a little slow, too.  The thread that Tina suggested is a great one and one of the most popular here. You'll ge more folks of all ages and reproductive satus's there to see it and possibly answer.
 ANd hang in...you are not alone. I promise.

---

Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

I'm just tired (I'm usually in bed by 10!) and I'll check in tomorrow.  I didn't assume that you guys wanted me to give up, I just don't want to be a bummer, that's all.  Everyone here is great and I really do know I'm not alone, no matter what thread I'm in. 

---

Some people shine like a star in the first moment. Others keep their light hidden until they are ready to show us.

Trace do you use MSN? I'd love to chat with you. :)

---

Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

Hi Trace,
i have a daughter who is 6 and we have had some strange diagnosis of what was going on with her, including possibly Aspergers (which i'm pretty sure it's not, if anything it's ADD) but i do know what Aspergers is, and i find it interesting how some families that have kids with autism aren't getting the help they need. I saw a stat the other day that said 1 in 133 kids are born with some form of autism. You would think if there were that many, that more help would be given!
There is a pretty good website that you can link to other parenting sites from, plus this site also has all kinds of message boards and chat rooms too. Parent Center is the site. This is for kids that are 5 and over, and there is another site if your child is younger they have a baby, toddler, pre-schooler and big kid section.
I hope you can find what you're looking for here on the OKP.


Slainte!
Alora

---

A string on her finger was all she wore... ;)

Andi:
Yes I do use MSN, but I'm new to it.  I'm a bit computer illiterate.  I've talked to my sister on MSN but that's it.  I'd like to talk to you too, just tell me what to do!

---

Some people shine like a star in the first moment. Others keep their light hidden until they are ready to show us.

Thank you Alora.  I will check that out.  I know all I could ever want (or NOT want ) to know about AS, but sometimes even though family and friends are very supportive, they just can't feel what I'm feeling.  It's been a long hard road being Adrian's advocate.  I have fought tooth and nail to get him everything he needs and sometimes waited 2 years at a time.  Unfortunately with AS, you don't really recognize it the way you would full blown autism. That's why Adrian was 10 before we had him diagnosed.  I won't ask personal questions about your daughter, but I wish you luck.  Do everything you can and don't let anyone push you around.

---

Some people shine like a star in the first moment. Others keep their light hidden until they are ready to show us.

we need to add each other to our contact lists.

which requires exchanging our msn or hotmail  emails. which is difficult on the boards.
I am currently using winterangels@gmail.com for the winter exchange...why not email me your msn info there and I will send you mine :)

---

Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

andi:

we need to add each other to our contact lists.

which requires exchanging our msn or hotmail  emails. which is difficult on the boards.
I am currently using winterangels@gmail.com for the winter exchange...why not email me your msn info there and I will send you mine :)

Just sent it.

---

Some people shine like a star in the first moment. Others keep their light hidden until they are ready to show us.

Trace, I don't have children with disabilities but if you're looking for a place to vent in general after a frustrating day or even to express joy over a victory I'll support what Tina said, jump in at the George Street Cafe.   We get all manner of venting etc there and we're happy to offer a sympathetic ear or cheer you on. We've had everything from woman's health issues, relationship crisis, employment issues, financial stress, births, deaths, marriages, housing crisis... you name it.

Cheers, Mike.
EDIT: If you decide to leap in there and don't want to go thru the usual explanation process re your son a  link to a relevant website'll work as well.

---

.... where do you go when you're lonely, I'll follow you. When the stars go blue..........

Hey Trace, my niece has aspergers, she wasn't diagnosed until her late teens.(she's 23)  she has graduated from college, and holds down a job as a cook in a cafeteria.  It' doubtful she'd eve be able to cope with adult life on her own, but she does pretty well.  All the social niceties that we just seem to pick up she has had to LEARN like times tables, but she HAS and IS learning.  It's actually pretty amazing how well she does with what she has to cope with.  It's not easy Tracy, but it's not hopeless either.  by all means PM me if you'd like to talk more!

There are a couple of books written by people or about people with Aspbergers that I can recommend.  I can't think of them all right now, but one is a novel called "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime"  The protagonist is lower functioning than my niece, but it helped me to understand how she thinks and how difficult day to day life is for her.

---

In the social order, I accept the bottom rung, until the wine is pouring and the Lord commands a song!