Autism Service Dog: Fundraiser

(Or, My Other Passion)

I promise this will be my only post on this subject, and I already feel uneasy doing ANY personal posts off the writerly/critiquerly topic, but this one is—well—way important to me. I'll try not to get all mushy.

As many of my earliest readers know, my 4-year-old son is autistic. He's a fantastic child and a true blessing in our lives, but he can't communicate. If he wanders off (as he so loves to do), he wouldn't be able to tell people his name. He's getting too big for strollers, doesn't like crowds, and craves heights (Yes, heights. Like, climbing. Oy.).

Luckily, he's been approved to receive an Autism Service Dog from a non-profit [501(c)(3)*] organization, 4 Paws for Ability. These service dogs are wonderful with autistic children both therapeutically—they are true friends, can calm down a child who is agitated, and will follow a child's verbal and non-verbal commands; and for safety reasons—they are trained to track children who wander off, and can be tethered to a child while walking through crowds or public places to avoid a lost-kid situation.

IT'S PERFECT FOR MY SON.

Because 4 Paws for Ability** is a non-profit organization, part of the deal for service dog placement is fundraising. Of the $22,000 it takes to train a service dog, each family is required to raise $13,000. I'm very lucky, because a have huge support from family and friends to help with the effort. We're planning a benefit event in the Chicago area on November 13^th. Right now? We're looking for donation items to raffle or auction off.

BOOKS would be great for raffle/silent auction baskets. Especially signed books. Or gift cards, or anything that you've seen at past benefits. If you know of anyone with such a stash, please contact me (mkaley3 at gmail dot com).

Since some of my writerly/critiquerly friends who cannot attend this event have already asked, I've set up a website for tax-deductible charitable donations here, or you can join Drew's FaceBook group and donate there, but pleasepleaseplease don't feel obligated. I have a long way to go, and I'm sure we'll get there.

After all, I'd do anything for my Drew.

Thanks for reading.

Drew in a time out for climbling: he's really broken up about it.

* Tax ID for 4 Paws for Ability: 31-1625484
**4 Paws finds many of their dogs at local shelters, which I love.

On the Spectrum

(Or, Autism Awareness Month)

I was inspired to do this post by Kim at BookEnds, who posted the Five Things she learned from her autistic son on her blog this morning. It’s a lovely entry. Go read it.

Like her son, my son, Drew, is diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

So because today begins Autism Awareness Month, and because Drew will be four years old on Monday, I thought I’d share some quick thoughts. If you see anyone whose profile picture has been tinted blue, they probably know someone with autism.

I wrote a poem (posted below) when Drew was about fifteen months old, already fearing his diagnosis. I played some denial games with myself, but couldn’t for long. I’d already had two kids, you see, and he didn’t develop as they had. My child couldn’t communicate verbally or nonverbally. He didn’t respond when we called his name.

Doctors wouldn’t tell me that he was autistic until more than a year later, not even when I asked. I didn’t wait, though. I googled the signs of autism, read books, and watched youtube videos of other autistic kids. Then I got him into early intervention and did some interventions of my own.

And he’s doing much better. He still has a hard time initiating speech, but he can read hundreds of words aloud. He can point to a picture of a gorilla if you ask him to, and he can say, “umbrella” if you’re holding one. But he can’t spontaneously tell me things like his head hurts. Instead, he puts my hand on his forehead. He’s moving in the right direction, though. Before these past six or so months, I never knew when he suffered from a headache.

One day, he’ll just say it. Maybe sometime soon.

Autism Awareness Month means a lot of things to a lot of people. For me, it’s about encouraging parents to follow their instincts and get their kids into intervention as soon as they see something that can be helped, whether it’s autism, a speech disorder, or any developmental delay. Drew's wonderful therapists have made a difference for my Drew, and I'm so grateful to have had them intervene at such an early age.

If you know any family with an autistic child, don’t be afraid to go blue this month for them. Clap in their corner.

~~~

My Spectrum

Oh, there He stands
on the kitchen table
No, no, baby

He kicks as i set Him on the floor

Banging cupboards
close and open and close
without blinking

like He’s sleeping with His eyes open

Neeeeee  He screams at
an angel’s reflection
in the oven

i wonder if He knows who He is

circling the floor

on His tippiest of toes
clapping, clapping

i catch Him in a hug and let go

Clicks make him turn
but He hears not my words
nor sees my face

Did i did i cause his condition?

Maaa, He cries out

after He bumps His knee

Maybe He knows

that i will always clap next to Him