Seeking Moms/families of Autistic pre-school/K'garten-age Children

My friend has an 8 yr old with autism & is interested in meeting/talking with you. Her name is Jenn-###-###-####. She lives near Lima, Ohio.

Hi N.,
A mom I know has a 2.5 yo son with autism and she is starting a support/ info-sharing group in Columbus (north side). Here's the link:
http://autism.meetup.com/391/?gj=&wle=1
HTH-
J.

I'm not sure what your area offers, but Cincinnati Recreation Commission has a HUGE Therapeutic Recreation division with TONS of activities for families. We got my sister involved with it when she was 5 and at age 23 she's still involved with it. Columbus might have something like that - check it out.

I don't live in the area, and my son is 10 now, but if you have any questions about things like tests and school, I'd be happy to try to offer any suggestions or advice. Our son is at the higher end of the spectrum and most of his problems now are behavioral. We were amazed that this year he decided to join the school's wrestling team (he goes to a parochial school).

Our son is the youngest of 3 children, and I'm a 42-year-old working mother, part-time.

I am just writing to see if you are aware of the Medicaid Waiver offered by the state of Indiana. If your son has Autism, he would most likely qualify for services - which would include "respite" or someone to take him out into the community. The long term goal would be to help him become independent and live on his own someday. I'm sure it seems premature to be thinking about that now, but there is a waitlist of several years. You can contact your local Bureau of Developmental Disability Services to apply. It doesn't matter what your income (it will be waived).

Hi N.,

I live east of Indy and am a stay at home mom of 3 girls. My twins who are 8yrs old have autism. I found my network of friends through a support group calles FUSE, Families United for
Support and Encouragemant, as well as through the girls' developmental preschool. As the girls have gotten old, I had their teachers send messages out to people for playdates. I have made very good friends this way. Hang in there. I felt so lost once we found out the girls have autism. It does get easier
as the kids get older.

N., Hi. My son has mild autism. We are pretty sure he has Asperger's Syndrome. He is my middle child (6). I have a 2 and 10 year old also. I too am self-employed. I don't think we live by each other. I live in Evansville, In. Thanks, J. J.

I sympathize -- I live in Cincinnati, unfortunately, but I have a daughter with autism the same age as your son. I also have a daughter who is 2, who seems to be doing fine so far. I think having a special needs child can feel so isolating sometimes. I have a few friends here that I get together with; I hope you find a wonderful friend for your son!

Hi I am 42 and all of my kids are older. I have tow with Autism and truly feel for you. My oldest was just diagnosed for sure two months agao. He is now 23 years old. I wish they could have diagnosed him sooner. Kept saying when he was young that he had a mild case of ADD. Well maybe the Epilepsy was shadowing the Autism. Anyhow. I can be your friend if you would like one this old. I lve too far away to have a play date. And my kids are older. But we could still write back and forth and I always have a sensitive ear.
Take care and Write soon A.

Hi N.,

By name is B.. My youngest son has Autism as well. He will be five in August. I too have found it hard to find people to relate to regarding my son and because he lacks some social skills he is usually the outcasts. Although we live in Indiana...I would love to be a support person and online friend.

Home to hear from you soon!

B.

Hello N.! I have a friend who started a music based school specifically for children with autism. It is in Worthington, which might be a bit far from Pickerington, but it might be useful for you at any rate...the website is www.helpinghandscenter.org. I hope this is useful for you!

Hi N.,
I don't have an autistic child but my sister that lives in Indianapolis Indiana does so I know what you are going through and the support you need. I've also worked with special needs children in the school corporation. My husband has a brother that lives in Columbus and we go there now and then maybe we could meet sometime. Even though I don't have the autistic child, I do have two children my oldest is 4 and my youngest is 16 mo.
I also have a lady at my church here in Avon, OH. that just found out her 3 year old son is autistic and she is trying to find out where to take him for treatments etc... I'm sure she will also need support.
Please e-mail me if you would like to meet sometime. Or if you just want to talk. My nephew just turned 8 and we never thought he would talk etc... he is now doing well and mainstreemed into a class at school and his teacher said next year they may try him in a regular classroom and see how he does. He now talks, you can still tell he's autistic, but to hear him say I love you, is the best thing ever :)
If you e-mail me please label it about autism or for T. or something so my husband won't delete it.
____@____.com
Hang in there I hope to talk to you soon.

Hey N.,

My girls are a little older (three girls, two on the spectrum age 8-16) but my oldest child goes to Oakstone. Look into www.ccde.org (the oakstone website) and see if they can match you up with another family in the area. I would also suggest that you put your son on the waiting list for this school. It is a community school, so it is free. It is absolutly one of the best schools for our kids that I have ever seen. They take typical kids too, and have programs for Pre School through High School. My daughter just started in the fall, she is in high school, and has never had such a wonderful, caring, understanding year. She gets speech, ot, vision therapy, social language group, and gets to visit with their therapy dog.

We also had luck with social skills groups (for his age) run through Northrup Associates on East Main in Reynoldsberg. My daughter made freinds this way too. We are in Bexley.

Good luck!
M.

I do NOT have a child on the spectrum, but had a son that went to OAKSTONE ACADEMY as a peer and we loved it! It's a wonderful program! There is also a place in Powell, OH that does social groups for autistic kids. Our son did this as a peer to but it's been a few years. The name of the place is called Learning Spectrum and the number is ###-###-####, They are off Olentangy River Road heading into Powell. Good Luck! Know that you're not alone and the more you speak out, more information and more people speak up.

Hi N., A friend sent me a link to this site to read your 'post'. My son, also 4 - will be 5 this Saturday - we believe is on the Autism Spectrum. We have been waiting 10 months to be seen at Nationwide Children's Behavioral Clinic and finally have our first appointment March 21. He is also my middle child (my daugher is 18, however my youngest son is 2). While Davin is very sweet, he does find it challenging to be in crowded situations and is overwhelmed by noise (children crying) and 'mess'. Of course, if he is yelling or crying..that seems to be fine...go figure.
I would be very interested in getting to know your family and offering support and friendship for the kids and parents! My husband and I live in Hilliard. I am - as of tomorrow - GULP! a 39! year old stay at home mom haha.

Hi N.,
I am in the Northeast Ohio area, my soon to be 3 year old is on the spectrum (without a specific diagnosis) it is hard to do "normal" things, I know what you mean. We are currently seeing a DAN doctor here in our area and he is making improvements, are you doing any biomedical treatment?

Hi N.,

I'm now a SAHM of a 3 yr old and 15 month old who are typically developing children; however, I worked as an Independent Provider for children who had special needs and loved working with them doing ABA therapy, etc. I also noticed how difficult it was for good friends and playmates to be found, and many parents just burry themselves in working FT to relieve the feeling of isolation!

So though I don't have a playmate solution, I do have something that might be of even greater help for his future: I found a company that's based on a product that is changing people's lives all over the world: autism and other disabilities being one of the awesome changes! I've researched this a lot since I'm so passionate about helping kids with special needs, and have found so many who've symptoms and behaviors have improved, and even a few who's diagnoses have been removed! Praise God! I can even get you in contact with some of these moms who's children are 'back', if you know what I mean, so you can pick their brains.
This is all natural, and is NOT a cure of any sort, but it sure is encouraging and has brought hope and life back into many families and children's lives.

I'm now involved with this company since I love it so much, and I'd be happy to share more with you (or anyone else who's interested for that matter.) Just send me a message w/ contact info and I'll be in touch.

Blessings, and I'll pray that you're sent some great friends with playmates for your family!
Renee

I live in the Indy area- but thought I would offer a suggestion for you. My son was part of a therapeutic group through a PT clinic in our area. Several of the children in his little group had autism and, sicne we all sat in the waiting room together for an hour a week, I got to know the other parents very well. It really turned into a bit of a support group and we eventually met outside of the clinic sessions for playdates, etc. So- if your son receives any type of therapeutic services, maybe you encourage them to offer it in group format. It is wonderful for the kids and a bonus for the parents.
All the best to you and your son...