William Stillman

The Autism Whisperer

William Stillman has been dubbed "The Autism Whisperer," by talk show host Frankie Picasso, for his innate ability to understand and interpret children and adults on the autism spectrum. Lisa Jo Rudy, About.com's autism moderator, has said, "William Stillman is one of the few who can translate the workings of the autistic mind to the neuro-typical community." And Kelly Jad'on, of Internet news outlet BasilandSpice.com, stated, "William Stillman dares to go where few have gone before; without a doubt, he is the forerunner of the beginning of a movement which will alter the development and future of mankind." 

Coronation & Fire Monitors

Hi, this is Blue's Mom calling to see how his day went & if it was good, I'd like to check him out thirty minutes early for Homecoming Cornonation. He had a great day, but I have to tell you what he did! On the way out the door to the playground, he stopped, pulling off & folding his brand new fire monitor shirt carefully. He asked me if I'd please hold it for him so it wouldn't get dirty while he was playing. I'll have him ready for you when you get here. :) Thank you!

I picked him up five minutes later from the office. He was extrememly excited as we got into the truck & he found his surprise snack & drink. He stopped a quarter of a mile from the school suddenly serious & said where...are we going? I answered to Coronation-you want to see your Sunday School teacher, Ms. Kaylee in it, don't you? He said MOM. Are you SERIOUS?! You took me out of school for Coronation?! Turn around & take me back so I can learn. Please.

FIfteen minutes later, he was walking through his dad's door, yelling DAD, you are NOT gonna believe this-Mom checked me out early to go to Coronation when I could've been LEARNING. UGH... Bye, Mom! Love you!

TreeTopInc

Typical & Non-Typical Kids ROCK! :)

Two days, speedbump, three days

Celebrations come few & far between at times & when they do, they are HUGE i tell ya! Ye ol' gorgeous boy of 8 year old persuasion had another excellent day!  He wrote an exceptional amount in his writing lab & his teacher noted it with his 80% B grade. There is a zero difference between his 80% B & another's 100%. His effort is a huge joy to my heart. :) 


Eighteen months & a complete change of school staff later, times making changes & yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus. There ARE reasons to believe & little by little, it's coming together.


Just breathe, darlin.


As quoted by a dear friend in the last few days, "Dear Lord, I know there is but one set of footprints & it is because you are carrying (us) me during this time of trial & struggle." I have faith, hope &  deeply abiding love, the three strongest forces known to any. Another day, another tiny piece of our puzzle comes together.

Amen

In the battle of good versus evil in an autistic mind, is there truly a winner? If behaviors are modified with medicines and behavior modification plans, does that change a child that would not be privy to those changes or demands were they not neurologically impaired? If writing is a trigger for upset, distress and bad behavior, what is a middle of the road modification that is truly a win win situation-one that will benefit that child as well as teachers...as well as the parents that struggle in the darkest night to make sense of a battle that would be a mere blip on the road of another's life?

Today a (nother) new beginning. Today a behavior modification support plan was studied for both strength & weakness, short-term goals & longevity, reminding us all gently to look for even a mere act of GOODness & comment on it, send home a note of joy-your child did this!, in effect, catching him being good instead of the negavtivity that reigns down from all angles.

I make no excuses as I struggle alongside my child to understand my child, to remain his faith, his belief, his anchor. His heart breaks, my heart breaks. His laughter shines, my laughter shines. We are in this growth opportunity together, our God, he, I, his step-father, his school staff, his dr.s and the people that love us, pray with us & struggle through it with us.

For all of this, I give thanks to God. I give thanks for the bad that I can appreciate the good. I give thanks for the frustration that I can appreciate the humor. The heartache so I can appreciate the full blown love of my child, a child that has & will continue to teach me more about parenting than any book or training ever will.

Forever

I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you forever...

Sometimes a note can take a person back to a time that is no longer, yet remains dancing in past memories...a place where September calls, leaves change softly as Tuesday whispers in the stillness.
Eyes closed, reliving, remembering, realizing that glow of a fall day would slowly bring clarity, focus and self awareness.

Trampolining sunbeams

I'll do two problems & go jump, Mom, okay? (the compromising has begun-eights sheets of writing classwork or homework has that effect on him.) I'll take eight problems or two rows & then you can jump. Ummm, no, that's not what I said, Mom. I'm willing to compromise with you & meet you in the middle, Elijah. That is NOT the middle & I'm not doing any working with you. Not. Gonna. Happen.

Tomorrow is another day to seam together the dream team we've assembled, teachers, special ed teachers, the principal & his mom & stepdad.

Until then, we'll snuggle, hug, give (s) mooches & say his prayers as this day ends & another begins.

(James 1:3) 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

(Hebrews 11:1) 1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.