Scotty and his Autism

Sometimes I'll get emails or messages asking how our son Scotty is and how things are going since he was diagnosed with autism. Slow, but progress happens almost daily. We've had meetings with doctors about courses of action, tried a couple of medications and I think we got a rhythm now that makes him very happy (and US VERY HAPPY!). As you can imagine, there's all sorts of emotions that come with having an autistic child. There's things we cannot do and we get comments, stares and judgements accordingly. Its hard for us to do anything. Everything has to be planned around him and the possibilities. But I think now we've got a great stride and I am happy.

He's even progressing with his learning. A while back I bought him an Ipod and he's discovered the joys of youtube. He watches little cartoons and things on it, as well as he now seems to have an interest in playing Wheel of Fortune ad naseum. I don't mind because he learns letters. He's quite good at it.

This week I took a chance and decided to show him how to use a desktop computer. The mouse work took some doing, but he caught on. I gave him his own log in side and he's going to google and pulling things off the net. Mostly pictures he likes. Today he pulled off a ton and wanted them printed out. So I put them all on one page using InDesign and printed them out for him. He's extremely happy with it cause he did it too.

Point is, he used a mouse. Can type his own name and make selections he wants. I'm preparing him for a computer age. He's really taking to it and enjoying it.

Also, his vocabulary is expanding. He's trying new words. And he's added "please" and "Thank you" to everything, instead of just shouting what he wants as one word. He'll say "help please." and we'll help whatever it is he wants. Progress. I'll take it.

To my delight, lately he's been obsessed with Ghostbusters. So we started watching the cartoon series. Usually he will just watch the menus or the intro music to a cartoon. But he watches the episodes all the way through with me. He loves them.

Watching the old cartoon with him again has made me nostalgiac for my old love of the Ghostbusters cartoon days. As a kid I was a massive fan of it, and of course, the movies. The last Christmas I ever had when I was nine (long story..I discussed in on the blog here back in 2007. Give a read right HERE) I got the FIREHOUSE playset. I wish I could get it for him and even the figures. They are collectors items, rare and outrageously priced now, but I am hoping I can find a cheap lot somewhere. I'd love to play them again with him. I know it would be cool to watch and experience through his eyes again.

On the other kid front, James is making progress as well. He seems way more playful, interactive and talkative than bots did when he was that age. Still not saying many words however, which has us understandably concerned. But we are just playing it day to day at this point. Today he was saying "DADA" clearly over and over. And he's only 1 year and a few months old. No rush.

Anyway, thats the update on them. Thanks for all your messages and thoughts. We appreciate it, believe me. Now excuse me, I gotta go watch some cartoons with the kid.