State: Maryland
Country:
Member since: Feb 02, 2008
Last logged in: Jul 10, 2008
Hello I am Miss Tee, the proud Mom of Double Agent TBRAIN. TBRAIN is a pre-teen that dubs as an Aspie & an Epie and is the Co-Founder of the Hidden Inspirations Project (HIP) Kids a non profit initiative based in PG County Maryland to represent students mildly impacted by hidden disabilities such as Aspergers Syndrome, Autism, Epilepsy, ADD/ADHD, Diabetes, Asthma, Speech Differences, etc. that cause barriers to learning and establishing social relationships with typical peers.
TBRAIN has maintained a 4.0 GPA all nine out of ten semesters since the sixth grade. He is the Alto & Tenor Sax 1st chair in the school's symphonic band and received a rating of " 1 " at the 2008 PG County Solo & Ensemble Festival for his Tenor Sax performance (Level III music). He was recently awarded the 2008 Martin Luther King Foundation of PG County's Student Leader Award for personal achievements and community service. As the lone tenor sax player, he performed at the Strathmore Music Hall as a member of the District Metropolitan Youth Orchestra.
These are remarkable achievements alone; however, Trenton's specialists at Children's Hospital are baffled by his continued success because he manages two major medical conditions: 1) Aspergers Syndrome (Age 10) and 2) Epilepsy (Age 9). See www.gazette.net search "Gilstrap" click on Son inspires Brandywine woman to action. Trenton with his fearless, confident and kind hearted spirit has inspired our family to start a non profit organization called Mind Expansion Community Service (MECS), Inc. by pushing against his medical challenges and standing up to represent a unique group of students that are mildly impacted by hidden disabilities. There is support for the moderate to severe groups but not those that are mildly impacted.
Trenton's dream is to bridge the social gap between typical and differently-abled students through awareness and social networking. Our program merges music (universal language), science (brain and body functions), socio-medical conditions (Autism, Epilepsy, Asthma, Diabetes, Speech Limitations, etc) and social sensitivity (accept and respect differences) to reduce peer to peer "social tension", i.e. teasing, bullying, isolation, incorrect labeling, etc to fight myths that surround these socio-medical differences, i.e. speech impairments translate into mental retardation, seizures are signs of mental illness and possessions of the spirit, etc.
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TBrainsMom's Compositions
by TBrainsMom on 02.02.08 - public - 138 visits
He was slated for special education classes. They said he would not be able to read or write by 1st grade because he did not speak with understanding and he had very little expression or reaction to things around him they even thought he had hearing problems. However that Tiny Voice (God) told me to fight (research)and work through the weird moments.....Remember: His bio should be read as an inspiration of what is possible. While your kids my not experience this level of progress, we encourage you to find your child's strengths, build their self esteem, create a place for them to thrive and think outside the diagnosis.
Comments(6)
Guichetta
Posted on Sun, 3 Feb 2008
The positive attitude, working with what you have and embracing it is exactly what I am all about!! I hope to be able to participate in the world at that level someday soon. My son speaks english, he lives in Canada, he is strong physically and he is AFFECTED by autism. No more than his heritage,lives in country or skills define him neither does autism
stevej
Posted on Sat, 2 Feb 2008
I also love the word awetism. Very good. Your bio was very inspirational. We can't ever give up. Our 13 year old can speak, but can't read, write or understand many life situations. His agressions were so bad he was hospitalized twice, the last for a year and a half. But he's home again and we don't want to ever give up hope. Your attitude is right on the mark. Thanks
4muskateers
Posted on Sat, 2 Feb 2008
Julian will be thirteen in 2 weeks, he still doen't speak to us. But he does love music. He like the classical and the mariachi music. He will even follow a waltz. But do you know of anything that we can do to get through this speech barrier? FYI: unfortunately Julian is one of the 1 in a million childrern who are vaccine injured. So thinking outside the box has never been my problem, it has been everyone elses.
4muskateers
Posted on Sat, 2 Feb 2008
WOW. I love what you are doing. It is great to hear all of what your son has conquered. My friend has 2 sons one is an aspie and the other is high functioning autism, the aspie is a 3rd year student at Fresno State U, and the other one is a senior in regualar ed. The senior has been in many plays on stage at local theaters, and he sings and playes the piano. The FSU son speaks Janpanese and fences and is terrific at graphic design. This lady was my great inspiration, she of all the people I know was the only one who believed I could homeschool Julian, and teach him the importantance of his place in this world. If only I were closer to you, the world of my son would expand even more. Oh!!!!! if your son could learn to play the sax, then so can I. Playing the sax has been my childhood dream, and today my childhood flame has been re-ignited. With GOD's blessing I will learn to play the sax by the time I am 80. I am 46 now so I still have some time.
TBrainsMom
Posted on Sat, 2 Feb 2008
I love that word....AWETISM I will share that with my social group. Really once you learn to accept those quirky things about them you can really enjoy them! Thanks for your time
AWETISM
Posted on Sat, 2 Feb 2008
Hello Welcome ! That is a AWE-some Bio. My son has AWETISM . My brother-in law has a girfriend who's son has Aspergers. Your Bio is very moving. Thanks





