New Venture for JaxMom

Like Dwight said, it's been a while since we have been able to contribute to the blog. It's amazing how much time and energy it takes to raise a pre-teen autistic girl! On top of that, I spent a little over a year in the public school system being a one-on-one para for a very sweet little boy. That part of my life is over, but the relationship between our two families has actually grown closer.

I have partnered up with my dear friend to create a new business venture, the website of which will soon be online. We are very excited about our future and the friendship of our kids and our families. We are hoping that this venture will be a positive experience for all of us.

Check out the merchandise section on this website to see a preview of our work. We hope you like what you see!

New Autism Merchandise

So I haven't been able to keep up in here like I want to... There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day anymore. I can't tell you how much I appreciate our public school system sending me back to elementary school again! The difference is my 5th grade daughter is doing math that I wasn't exposed to until the 7th grade. Ahhh algebra, how I've missed you since high school.

Anyway, I digress... One of the things we have been working on over the past few months is expanding our line of autism merchandise. It seems to be a popular search these days, so coming in the next few weeks, we'll be introducing some new jewelry and also some cool window stickers for your car. Stay Tuned!

Time Flies...

Has it really been over 4 months since my last post? I guess it's time to get back in gear, huh? My New Year's resolution will be to pay more attention to this website...

Scientists begin to trace autism's genetic roots

KRT Wire | 08/25/2005 | Scientists begin to trace autism's genetic roots

I'm glad to see that someone is officially investigating the idea that autism might have different variations with different causes. I'm not talking about a different place along the spectrum, but the difference between what I would call "genetic autism" and "environmental autism". I believe that it is perfectly credible that the original disorder known as autism is hereditary/genetic and that a different disorder with very similar symptoms as autism has been created by environmental factors (i.e. thimerosal and mercury). Without question, adding certain personality traits that my wife and I posses will equal several of the symptoms seen in my daughter. And of course, there is no way that a genetic disorder can become an epidemic in the short time that autism rates have increased so rapidly, so it only makes sense that there is an outside (environmental) influence as well. While a broader definition and better diagnosis has added to the increase as well, it certainly cannot explain the explosion in numbers; otherwise where are all the autistic young adults? It is an absolute impossibility that there are hundreds of thousands of undiagnosed 20 and 30 year-old autistics out there in the world that are walking around unnoticed.

Newport News-Times: Parent training on 'individual education plans' offered

Newport News-Times: Parent training on 'individual education plans' offered

With another school year right around the corner, I thought this was a great article for the day. While the idea is not new, it is still very valuable. It would be my guess that most parents are not aware of their rights in an IEP meeting, even if they have read their little blue book. All schools and school districts are not the same, but it has been our experience that the staffers involved typically seem to appreciate our involvement and understanding of the process. There is no question when it comes to this "knowledge is power".

Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) is usually an excellent resource for IEP workshops. If you aren't aware of this organization or if you would like to find a local chapter, a web search reveals a pretty lengthy list.

Parents Encouraging Parents

Autism Society of America Launches New Branding Effort

Autism Society of America Launches New Branding Effort

We love the ASA, don't get us wrong. But, man... business is business, isn't it? Exactly how much of our charitable contributions went to the "re-branding" effort? ASA was one of our first beneficiaries for the funds raised with the IMAGINE™ Wristband. We received a great response from them in December of 2004 when we informed them of the news. Then we never heard from them again... However, we do have the cancelled checks, so I suppose that is some form of acknowledgement. For me the biggest slap in the face came four months later when they launched their own "official ASA" autism wristband. It seems that overcoming the competitive corporate nature of executives is not to be expected even for charitable organizations.

Lee Grossman said it himself: "Our branding initiative seeks to take ASA to a new, more competitive level both inside and outside the autism community by raising public consciousness about autism." That's terrific Lee, but exactly who are you competing against? Cure Autism Now? NAAR? "Our goal was to create a new identity that truly reflected the power and presence the Autism Society of America deserves," says the Chief Brand Strategist from Fishtank Brand Advertising, the company responsible for the new campaign. A new identity? What exactly are we selling here? Tuna Fish?

Its events like this that increase my cynicism. I don't like to be a cynic, but how can you now be in times like this? And really... "The Voice of Autism" - that is a bit presumptuous isn't it? And of course, the part I love the most (being a computer guy); "The organization's site is now easier to navigate and full of new interactive components, making it more user-friendly." Really? Have you been there? The main page is almost completely barren. There used to be alot of good information there, and an easy way to find am ASA chapter in your area. Now it looks more like a focus on "The ASA Store" and subscribing to "The Advocate".

The ASA does a lot of good things. They have a tremendous grass roots membership, with local chapters all aorund the country. But I have to wonder whats really going on at the top of the organization. Care to increase exposure? Perhaps your first step should be wresting autismsociey.org and autismsociety.com away from the cybersquatters who own them. Haven't looked into that? One has an address of General Delivery in Grand Caman, the other is veiled by a privacy service. Do you realize that these are nothing but pay-per-click "parked" domains? In other words, the links you see on these sites are put there by an advertising program, and the owner of the link pays the owner of the site everytime someone clicks it. So not only is ASA missing people who are trying to go to their site, but if the person clicks on the ASA link from one of these pages, ASA actually has to pay for it!

Is it too much to ask to try and get our priorities straight?

The Autism Society of America

Chicken Pox Vaccine Doing The Job

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/


Once again the CDC is touting the safety of vaccines. OK, the Chicken Pox vaccine doesn't have Thimerisol. Duly noted. But, why do we have to drive home the fact in the media that "It's a source of a lot of debate. There really is no good scientific evidence of a link there." when it's that's just not true? The media sites that the Chicken Pox vacinne is "saving $100m a year". Well, how about we use that $100m to either treat the kids who may have been damaged by Thimerisol OR put that money in an account slated for what they may find the Chicken Pox vaccine has done to the population 20 years from now?