Wednesday, April 30, 2014

New Items Added


The new addition the to KBAF family 
Puzzling Playthings is open and in full swing! 
We have started filling the shop with items that are great conversation starters to help spread the word about how Autism Spectrum Disorders impacts your life. 

Create a special gift for your loved one with this completely customize-able and personalized Austism Awareness Superhero Doll. Be sure to include eye, hair, skin, cape, and suit colors in note to seller during check out.  

Gender


This listing is for one heart shaped felt puzzle. This puzzle measures approx. 9" x 9" and has 10 pieces.Constructed of 2 layers of eco felt, 1 lay eco foam, 1 layer of HnB, and 1 layer of cotton fabric. 

Color



Show your support for those affected by ASD with this EXCLUSIVE Autism Awareness Bracelet. 

Embellishment



Use this ASD KC to spread the work about bringing our community together for 
Awareness and ACCEPTANCE!


LOVE the ASD KC key chain but not local to KC?? Then this is the perfect item for you to use as to show everyone that you LOVE someone with Autism.


This personalized felt Awareness Ribbon is perfect for fundraising, walk, runs, bags, purses, etc. 
Please add up to 7 letters for personalization in note to seller during check out. 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Every Little Bit HELPS!

ASD KC is just in the infancy stage of becoming a non-profit. Right now I am working a small group of friends to provide information to those in the Kansas City area affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders with information on activities in the area that would be appropriate for children with sensory processing disorders. We have also been working diligently to provide a better understanding of the all encompassing Autism Spectrum to the general public. Yes, to help promote awareness but more importantly to ACCEPTANCE!
As we grow, ASD KC plans to partner with other organizations, that have already expressed interest, to develop more activities that offer safeguards for those with sensory processing issues, as well as refining existing activities to make them available to all community members.
Won't you help ASD KC in our efforts to provide ACCEPTANCE for all those in the Kansas City metro regardless of need?

Our T-Shirt Campaign Runs from April 22-May 6th
Our goal is to sell 25 or more t-shirts which will help us on our way to getting non-profit status.
You can order yours here.
( http://inktothepeople.com/marketplace/ink-detail/22053 ) 

You can also order any of our Autism Awareness Items available through Puzzling Playthings

And we are also taking donations if you would you like to help ASD KC advocate, provide education to help raise awareness and ACCEPTANCE, and work with our community to bring more activities to the area for those affected by Autism you can do so by clicking the "DONATE" button below. 


EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS! 
Thank you so much for your consideration! 

PACK the K on Autism Awareness Day


Since I started ASD KC, one of the things I find most comforting is knowing that I am not alone. I have joined countless online groups for parents of children with autism. I have called numerous businesses around the metro looking for activities and places for our children to go to feel comfortable and accepted. I have read literally thousands of articles about ASD.
I enjoy knowing that there are other parents out there that know what it is like to make 15 cheese sandwiches. I am delighted that there are others that provide the 'mommy blanket' when necessary. I feel inspired and motivated when I talk with local businesses that want to help but don't know where to begin. But mostly, that feeling of loneliness and seclusion that often fills the pit of my stomach is diminishing and being replaced with HOPE.
A hope that one day all of the '1 in 68s' will no longer be a number but someone's friend. A hope that inclusion will not only become an epidemic but a way of life. A hope for the future; my '1 in 68s' future.
As I try to navigate the legal world working towards making my dream of ASD KC a non-profit reality I take comfort in knowing that there are others out doing the exact same thing in their communities. I am seeking out more support, more friends, more people that only make cheese sandwiches and preform the 'mommy blanket.'
On May 4th, I am heading to Kauffman Stadium to show support and solidarity to all the other '1 in 68' parents in the metro. I am going to make friends, tell stories, to hug, cry, and laugh. I am going to to show my appreciation for the Kansas City Royals Organization for putting on Autism Day at the K! And maybe I will watch a little baseball too!
So, come join me! Come pack the K! Come make friends and share stories. Come give your '1 in 68' a  name and a face!
 1 IN 68   LAWSON age 4


 1 IN 68   LOGAN age 6

Need tickets? Grab them here.
See you at the K!
May 4, 2014
@ 1:10 pm
as the Royals take on the Detroit Tigers
&  RAISE Awareness and 
ACCEPTANCE for Autism 








Friday, April 18, 2014

ASD KC KEY FOB FUNDRAISER


ASD KC key chains to help raise funds for 

AUTISM

awareness & ACCEPTANCE! 

$7.50 (shipped)

If you would like to order one please click BUY NOW 

below! 

THANKS friends!




Thursday, April 17, 2014

A Whole New World

And this friends is the mission of ASD KC! Working together with our communities to create "A WHOLE NEW WORLD" for our special children! An educated world full of hope, promise and acceptance!‪#‎educateeveryone‬ ‪#‎helphope‬ ‪#‎promotepromise‬ ‪#‎advocateforacceptance‬ ‪#‎createawholenewworld‬


Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Autism Day At the K

Are you going to Autism Awareness Day at Kauffman Stadium?
WE ARE!!!
Come on out and introduce yourself! I would LOVE to meet you and hear your story! 
I even had a special shirt made so I will be easier to find! 
Don't have tickets yet or want more information?
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/ticketing/group_offer.jsp?loc=autismspeaks

Sunday, April 13, 2014

I have a child with Autism...





I guess that is really a trick question. Even though there are 7 pictures it is only 4 children and ALL 4 are affected by ASD. 


#1- Is Gifted
#2- Neurotypical
#3- HFA, OCD, Anxiety
#4- Moderate Autistic (non-verbal until age 3)

Autism is so much more than what is portrayed on TV and the media. The spectrum is vast and all encompassing. 
As a parent of Autistic children there are days that I would like to shake the crap out of people for saying hurtful, judgmental things. Or for staring at me with looks that would make Cujo cry. I know what they are thinking, I know what they are saying under their breath, and I know what they post on fb hiding behind their computer screens. 
It hurts. I want cry. I want to whip my purse across their faces.
BUT MORE THAN THAT I WANT TO THROW EVERY PIECE OF KNOWLEDGE I HAVE ABOUT ASD AT THEM! EVERY.STINKIN.PIECE!!!
If I do not become an ASD advocate who will? Who will stand up for them when they cannot
stand up for themselves? Who will teach the neurotypical kids that ASD is not weird or creepy?

Yesterday, a friend of mine posted to fb that he had been to a big box store where he observed a parent ignoring his child while the child was having a meltdown. My friend was less than impressed with the bad parenting he observed. 
I GET IT! It is uncomfortable to be out in public and see a child screaming and acting like a brat! NO ONE wants to hear a child scream, including the parent. SO, I took that moment and commented letting him know that it is quite possible the child is Autistic and to think before judging. 
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT FLOORED ME! 

The 'floored me' comment was not my friend's but some he knows. Here is my question...
How does he/she know that most of these episodes are from bad parenting? 
It would seem from the comment that he/she has had their child meltdown in a store before, where is the compassion for other parents?
Does he/she actually think that ANY ASD behavior is preventable or predictable?
AND does he/she really think that because I know it is possible (high likely) for my child to have a meltdown while in public that I should forever keep them home so I am not disrespectful to the general public?


I mean really! What parent is proud when their child (ASD or Neurotypical) has a meltdown while in public? How many of them think "HEY, I am going to disrespect my community today and let my child tantrum while I sit and do nothing. 
I would love to say ALL but that would not be true, I am sure, but I guarantee it is the vast majority! I guess I am just surprised at how quickly we judge other parents. 
We HAVE to educate and raise awareness for ASD but more importantly
WE MUST TEACH
ACCEPTANCE! 
Do you agree?
Weigh in at www.facebook.com/asdkc



Tuesday, April 8, 2014

ASD KC? WHY?


I am not sure how many of my friends actually know that we have not just one but two boys on the spectrum. I am actually not even sure how many know that we even have one. I swear I tried to tell our story to anyone willing to listen. I share post after post trying to raise awareness for Autism on my personal and business page on Facebook. I thought I was doing enough and then it happened. I got a message from a friend asking if my son is autistic. UGH!

Our Story:
After we had Lawson we were so thankful that everyone made it out a live that we just cherished every moment with him with our biased eyes of perfection. (You can read about his birth story here.) When we took him in for his 2 year well-baby check our pediatrician expressed a minimal concern for language delay and asked us to contact First Steps for an evaluation. We did! He did not qualify. His cognitive delay was only 45% and he needed to have a 50% cognitive delay to qualify.  We figured that he was just behind because he was a preemie.
Knowing that we could have him evaluated again by our local PAT  in 6 months we really thought nothing about it. As soon as the district re-opened after the Holiday break I called to have set up his evaluation. As a former teacher, that has administered the DIAL, I was SHOCKED that my sweet baby scored a 3. However, even with my training my I had no idea what that really meant and continued to think it was due to him being so early.
After that he was sent to for further testing at our local districts Special Education Center. While we waited for the results we set up an appointment with a Developmental Pediatrician and researched. We researched until my eyes hurt. Do you have any idea how many disabilities there are out there? I shutter at the thought of all the diagnoses I came up with waiting for results.
And then it happened. I was sitting drinking my morning coffee reading some blogs my "friends" write and it hit me. I stumbled upon the latest post on Sweet Song Bird. I have no idea why I stopped to read this particular article but I did. As I read about the journey her family had my jaw just kept opening wider and wider. SHE WAS DESCRIBING MY CHILD.
-The tantrums Lawson had could be wild, violent, and unending

-He did not know his name or mine (actually he called EVERYONE Dustin)

-He communicated by grunting and pointing and when that did not work he had a melt down

-He ALWAYS walked on his toes

-He fell ALL the time

-He never 'played' with toys only looked at them as if trying to figure out how they were put together and what all he could do with them

-A few times if I left him alone to go potty I would return to find him on top on the refrigerator

-If the door were not secure he would leave the house and walk out into the street (twice he was returned by a stranger that found him wandering while we had sitters - we now have special locks on the doors)

-He had no interest in playing with his siblings

-The only way to calm him during tantrums was to literally lay on top of him (something we lovingly refer to as a 'mommy blanket' now)

- He memorized the most amazing things for a child his age. The one that shocked me the most was during the testing phase he did not know ANY of his colors but the end of the day HE KNEW THEM ALL. He know all his letters (forwards, backwards, and upside down - literally)

-He could watch episodes of cartoon and recite them word for word OR even do the motions.

-He was/is a genius with technology (he can do things on an iPad, Computer, Wii, and with our Cable that even I do not understand)

-If we turned on the vacuum he would lay in front of it and try to get sucked in

-Unusual noises sent him over the edge or more accurately in to the fetal position with his hands over his ears

-He could stand at the window for literally hours and repeat the same two words over and over and over and over 'Hi Dustin'

-He HATED bath time

-YOU CANNOT TOUCH HIS EARS

I knew...I knew then he was on the spectrum. A spectrum I knew nothing about!

His development pediatrician confirmed that Lawson was non-verbal and moderately autistic. This was after Lawson hid under the table in his office for a majority of the 2 hour eval because the doctor tried to look at his hands.

Not sure how many of you know this but there are special needs that can be ruled out with blood work. We had to do this...not sure if anyone has ever tried/seen an Autistic child get blood drawn but let me tell you YOU NEED AN ARMY! It took 3 adults (me, my husband, and the nurse) to hold him and try to get his blood. NOT FUN! They cancelled his MRI until his anxiety can be controlled more.

Now, at least we knew what was going with Lawson (aka Aussie) but where were we supposed to go now?

Keep following our journey as we try to build awareness and acceptance in our community.

Do you have an autistic child? How did you find out?

One face of the many faces of ASD KC - Lawson (Do you have a child living with Autism in the Kansas City area? Please send pictures to jennireeve@puzzlingplaythings.com to have them included in our 'Faces of ASD KC' slide show.)