AUTISM IN THE EYES OF A PERSON WHO LIVES WITH IT

June 10, 2008
By Pamela McLaren

Brian Lafferty, radio-TV-film major, holds an anthology of stories that he contributed to.

"If someone were to ask me what it feels like to be autistic, it would be hard for me to describe. I hardly ever think about it."
So starts an essay by Brian Lafferty, a Cal State Fullerton radio-TV-film major, who is proving that autism is not, in his own words, "a curse."
The essay is part of "Voices of Autism — The Healing Companion: Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength," an anthology of stories from the perspective of parents, caregivers, teachers, and friends.

"Voices of Autism," edited by The Healing Project, was published last month by LaChance Publishing as part of a "Voices of" book series that offers support, perspective, insight and information on life-threatening or chronic diseases.
Lafferty's autism was discovered in 1997, when he was 11.

"When I look back, there were signs but we didn't see them," said Brian's mom, Debbie Lafferty. "He was the fifth child after four girls, so we didn't think anything about his slowness in speaking. In other things, he was very quick, like learning how to read at 5 years of age."

Even with the diagnosis, the Laffertys decided to not place any special restrictions in Brian's life — except for moving him, in the seventh grade, from public school into the Winston School in Del Mar, where he served on the school paper and was senior class president.

"We gave him, instead, every opportunity," explained his proud mom. "And look where he is today."
After graduating from Winston School, Lafferty attended Palomar College where he discovered the college's radio/TV program. Then a friend told him about Cal State Fullerton and its radio-TV-film program. He transferred in spring 2007 and lives on campus during the school year. He hopes to graduate in 2009.

Q. What's your favorite class at Cal State Fullerton?

A. Television drama and screenwriting. During Communications Week last year, I listened to a presentation by TV writer/producer Stephen Cannell. I was able to talk to him afterward and decided that I wanted to write screenplays. I signed up for the TV drama course and did well.

Q. How did you find out about the "Voices of Autism" book?

A. I was taking a world cinema class from Dr. Gloria Monte (assistant professor of radio-TV-film). She knew I was autistic and told me about the publication. She set up a meeting for me with one of the publishing reps at LaChance Publishing, who asked me to write about how it feels to be autistic.

Q. How was that?

A. The hardest part was how to start. For assistance, I talked to one of my other professors, Bob Engels, and he helped me. I feel that my work was satisfactory. Some people think I have downplayed my success. It's hard to describe my experience because I have never experienced having something published other than in my high school newspaper before.

Q. What do you think about autism?

A. Autism has gotten a lot of negative publicity. Some view it as some sort of a curse, but I don't feel that it is. I have taken what other people see as a disadvantage and turned it into a positive. Parents who have children with autism should teach their children to see it as an advantage and, then, they'll go far.

VICTORIA !!!!!

VICTORY

Rms. 3:20 …for through the law comes the full knowledge of sin.
1Co 15:56-57
Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks
be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

There is a great ignorance today concerning the content of sin. The apostle Paul was quite plain as to the “full content of sin!” Including its application to us who believe and to those who do not believe.

The axiom of sin is that it brings death, always! This spiritual law of sin and death has never changed. However, there is victory to be found from sin and death, which is its result! This is cause for great rejoicing! But first let us understand what sin is and is not.

It is no more or no less than a violation of God’s full law! It is not to be added to or diminished from this Biblical dimension as is often done by so many. This desire and teaching by so many that every thing over and above God’s law is sin (if they chose to label it such) is nothing less than their attempt to make every one a sinner even after regeneration!

They do this to justify their “sinning saint doctrine,” which is designed by the devil himself to keep you a “slave of sin.” But the result of following that teaching is being shut out of the kingdom of God and His Christ who will not allow any sinner in! (Mat. 7:23)

However, all are found to be under sin that have not found the Victory Paul mentions above! If the “law of sin is death,” which is defeat, then “the law of the Spirit of life” (Rms. 8:2) is the Victory! But how does that law transfer to me? By “obeying Jesus’ words!”

Jn. 14:23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my word. Then my Father will love him, and we will go to him and make our home within him.”

Some one will protest and say, “but we can’t do it!” No, the flesh can’t do it is true! But the spirit born of the Spirit can (Jn. 3:6)! Now, having been so born, “we must walk in newness of life” and walk in the Spirit we were born in.

Is it still the flesh only? Then you will continue to sin! But if born to the Spirit, you put to death “the deeds of the flesh” you will live and be granted eternal life! This is the VICTORY.

Busquemos Al Senor

"Soy Testigo de Cristo quien murio por nosotros y hoy vive por
nosotros .
Para mi nuestro creador es tan real como la comida que
necesitamos diario .
En especial con todo lo que El Senor a puesto enfrente
de mi les ago saber
que si no hay Duda de su excistencia ."

Salmos 119
(Nueva Versión Internacional)

"Dichosos los que guardan sus *estatutos

y de todo corazón lo buscan."

Busco al Senor en todo momento posible porque se que sin el soy nada y con El lo puedo todo . Tengo 2 anos de constante oracion al Senor por mi familia. Pero la verdad El Senor sabe que han avido pocas las veses cuales yo y mi esposo hemos llorado en su presencia clamando su asistencia por nuestros hijos .

Queridos Hermanos estoy aca para decirles que no solo hemos clamado pero el Senor nos a escuchado de manera Sorprendente . El Senor es maravilloso en toda su Gloria . Como madre de ninos especiales les ago saber que todo lo que los medicos les diga que no es posible . Ya con eso les han mentido pues con nuestro Cristo todo lo es posible y mas .

Busco a mi Cristo diario , Pero hay momentos de prueva dificil que no solo buscamos pero aclamamos en el nombre de Cristo y en unos dias ya respondia . Que maravilloso es El Senor ,

Busquemos a El Senor juntos hermanos todos los dias todo el dia .

OREMOS:

Padre Santo escucha nuestra plegaria hoy dia pues somos debiles y sin ti , no somos nada . Gracias por amarnos tal como somos y po rperdonar nuestro specados .
En el santo nombre de Jesus AMEN!!


Tengan un dia de muchas bendiciones

Su hermana ,

Gloria

DILIGENCIA !!!

" Oh ! Que hariamos por andar mas serca con Dios ?"

Esta es la plegaria de muchas personas que en su desesperacion tratan de buscar a Dios . El camino sagrado de poder caminar junto a nuestro Creador . La simple accion de poderse llamar hijo del Unico Dios verdadero . Poder sentir por unos momentos la libertad que solo el Espiritu Santo nos da . Poder mirar alos cielos y quedarte en imprecion por la grandeza de el Creador .

Les digo que solamente por medio de la Diligencia puesta en el corazon se pueden sentir estas cosas y mucho mas .

El Primer Amor!!

Es claro que cuando El Senor orava a su padre lo siguiente el amor dado por su padre fue llave para nuetra salvacion actualmente ,

Juan 17:24

(Nueva Versión Internacional)

"Padre, quiero que los que
me has dado estén conmigo donde yo estoy. Que vean mi gloria, la gloria que me
has dado porque me amaste desde antes de la creación del mundo."

Piensas que tu has escojido al Senor . Ni te has dado cuenta que fue El Senor quien te escojio a ti . Te saco de la tempestad del Pecado , Que mas esperas pero de sentarte y recibir toda la bendicion que El Senor te promete !!. Le pides al Senor le adoramos y ya eso es todo , Seguimos sentados esperando El Cielo ?.

Se te a olvidado la Diligencia ...

Perseveracion e n todo momento ya sea porque te fue bien o porque te fue mal . Ya sea porque hoy llovio o porque hoy hay sol . La verdad de esta situacion es que con Cristo no hay dias malos ni dias oscuros . Hay dias de mucha Diligencia con El Senor , Porque con el somos y lo podemos todo Hermanos . Y sin El Senor somos y podemos nada .

Hechos 3:19

(Nueva Versión Internacional)

"Por tanto, para que sean borrados sus pecados, arrepiéntanse y vuélvanse a Dios, a fin de que vengan tiempos de descanso de parte del Señor"

La DILIGENCIA Hermanos es clave para todo Cristiano verdadero , La DILIGENCIA nos hace sobrepasar todos los obstaculos y pruebas venideras . Que nunca se nos olvide que...

Lamentaciones 3:23

(Nueva Versión Internacional)

"Cada mañana se renuevan sus bondades ,muy
grande es su fidelidad! "

Sigan adelante con Cristo Hermanos . Siendo DILIGENTES hasta su llegada .

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 101

Here he is my big boy in OT

Mi hijo david a tomado terapia acupacional por hacerca de 2 meses , Parese que son pocos pero ya muestra una gran mejoria encuanto a sus motores finos . No cabe duda que las terapias junto con mucha oracion no suelen fallar . El Senor nos abendecido con personas muy buenas para el crecimiento de nuestros hijos .



Mateo 7:7-8
(Nueva Versión Internacional)

"Pidan, y se les dará; busquen, y encontrarán; llamen, y se les abrirá. Porque todo el que pide, recibe; el que busca, encuentra; y al que llama, se le abre. "

David has been taking occupational therapy now for a couple of months , Doesn't sound like much but it has improved his fine motor skills so much he is now able t o put his pants all by himself . so many other things are still needed but I'm sure he will see improvent soon . The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful therapist who takes her time with him and is very loving .

There is no dought in my mind that the Lord is at work with my children .

Matthew 7:7-8

(New International Version)

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "

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What Is Occupational Therapy and Who Might Need It?

Occupational therapy — a treatment that focuses on helping people achieve independence in all areas of their lives — can offer kids with various needs positive, fun activities to improve their cognitive, physical, and motor skills and enhance their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.
Some people may think that occupational therapy is only for adults; children, after all, do not have occupations. But a child's main job is playing and learning, and an occupational therapist can evaluate a child's skills for play activities, school performance, and activities of daily living and compare them with what is developmentally appropriate for that age group.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), in addition to dealing with an individual's physical well-being, OT practitioners address psychological, social, and environmental factors that may hinder an individual's functioning in different ways. This unique approach makes occupational therapy a vital part of health care for some kids.
So who might use an occupational therapy practitioner? According to AOTA, kids with the following medical problems may benefit from OT:
birth injuries or birth defects
sensory processing/integrative disorders
traumatic injuries (brain or spinal cord)
learning problems

autism
pervasive developmental disorders
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
mental health or behavioral problems
broken bones or other orthopedic injuries
developmental delays
post-surgical conditions
burns
spina bifida
traumatic amputations
cancer
severe hand injuries
multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and other chronic illnesses
One of the activities that occupational therapists can address to meet children's needs is working on fine motor skills so that kids can grasp and release toys and develop good handwriting skills. Occupational therapists also address hand–eye coordination to improve play skills, such as hitting a target, batting a ball, or copying from a blackboard.

LA PALABRA DE HOY

Buenos dias Hermanos . Good morning Brothers here is something to
think about and something that will make you laugh this morning

Psalm 119:1, (NIV)

"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD."

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Webster describes the word blameless as the following :
"free from guilt or blame "

We have to follow laws every single day on the road while driving , Must follow social etiquette's in lots of areas of our life . God is seeing your work in everyday life with your struggles and difficulties . Sometimes we are so consumed in the importance of our social life and following the secular laws which by the way you should follow . But we aren't paying attention to what is important . LOVE !!! "God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. " John 3:16 .

I have learned in my personal walk with the Lord that if I have LOVE I have it all . And all things are possible because of LOVE . And who is love ?. The Lord . So if the walls are falling apart for you at this moment allow the healing of the word LOVE enter in your heart and you will see what a difference it will make in your life .

Make today the day you feel BLAMELESS of stress , anxiety, hate , anger, suffering of any kind . Maybe you are having a difficulty with your children , with your co-worker , your neighbor , your family member , etc. Whatever the case may be I'm here to tell you today that there is a choice you can make . You can chose to have Blame a the end of this day or you can be BLAMELESS starting today .

" Levanto mis manos aunque tenga mil problemas "

" I raise my hands even though I have a million Problems "

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PRAY:

Lord Allow me today to start a good week, Give me the strength to accept all that comes my way with a positive mind and clean heart . Allow all negativity to move away from me this week Lord , I trust in you God . In the name of your son Jesus . AMEN!!.

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Have a blessed week.