State: Maine
Country: USA
Member since: Jan 23, 2007
Last logged in: Dec 01, 2008
My name is Shannon and I have a great husband and 2 amazing kids.
My oldest, Wynn, has autism and still struggles, after all these years of treatments and therapies, with anxiety and aggression. At his best, he is funny, intuitive and sensitive.
My daughter, 12 year old Haley, is strong and independent, creative and musical. She has been a shining example for Wynn and taught him many of his first words and skills by sheer example.
Steve is my husband of 19 years and partner in this endeavor to be a family in this crazy world of autism. Out of a need we had to have better communication with Wynn's team members, he created a web application called iAbida.com. It has been a project from his heart, and he makes it available to all families, around the globe, for free.
And me? In spite of being a terrible klutz, I have learned the fine art of juggling....motherhood, advocacy, household management and working from home. Foggyrock is my latest project--to fulfill my own need to be associated with other fantastic folks, like you, who I knew were out there.....Thank you for allowing me into your life through this community.
Favorite Compositions (6)
- New closet doors $200- Repairing four walls with holes - $100 and hours of ...Read more
By stevej on 01.01.70
Comments(5) My son Wynn has autism. As a result, his social skills are stunted. Neverl...Read more
By shannonj on 01.01.70
Comments(10) Every once in a while, the planetary structures all come together in just th...Read more
By shannonj on 01.01.70
Comments(2) My 12 year old son struggles, for some reason, with understanding the difference...Read more
By shannonj on 01.01.70
Comments(5) I’ve heard the weather reports and recognize that it is surely inevitable that I...Read more
By shannonj on 01.01.70
Comments(13)
shannonj's Compositions
by shannonj on 12.11.07 - public - 250 visits
I can't tell you how I used to dread taking my son out in public places when he was younger. Not because I was embarrassed of him or because he was out of control (which he was sometimes, I just wasn't embarrassed about it..), but because of the unsolicited comments that often were directed my way....It just stinks to have your child judged so harshly, when you know that, if folks just understood that he had autism, they would be much more sympathetic.
Things changed when my son first wore his t-shirt out that said:
I Have:
Beautiful Eyes,
A Goofy Sense of Humor,
Lots of Hugs to Give,
Autism.
I am not exaggerating when I say that people went out of their way, after reading the shirt, to hold open the door, to pat me on the back, to smile at my son and let us cut in line.
Once, in an airport, a young man actually chased us down the terminal to ask if he could carry my luggage so that I could give more attention to my son....I let him. I figured we had earned it:)....Then, in departing, this young man handed my son his Live Strong bracelet to play with and keep him occupied while we waited for the flight.
I watched him walk away, grateful for his compassion....and then laughed out loud when my son hurled the bracelet down the long hallway.......
T-shirt available at:
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/proddetail.php?prod=BoysHug
Comments(4)
janneane7
Posted on Wed, 12 Dec 2007
ANdy has lots of Hearts & Hands Walk for autism Shirts that he wears and a great one that says "It's a stimmy day" I think the absolutely help when out in public
Angela
Posted on Tue, 11 Dec 2007
I think it's time to order a few shirts - especially with Dave's upcoming deployment and I am going to be forced to take all four of my kids out at times with no help - yes I am ordering some t-shirts! :-) Thanks Shannon!
Angela
Posted on Tue, 11 Dec 2007
I love that shirt! Sometimes I have a tendency to go for the ones that are a bit more in your face... "Unless you have a child with autism, keep your parenting advice to yourself" - that one would be for me :-) I've often thought of getting the one you mentioned from NAA for Nathan. When he stims people just think he's out of control - he's just so ADHD at the same time moving from object to object that people don't realize that it really is stimming - he'll come home from a store and talk about each thing he stimmed on in the store for hours. argh... I remind myself to be thankful he is verbal :-0 and then I :-)
Wyndie
Posted on Tue, 11 Dec 2007
That's just amazing. So sad that it takes a big blinking sign to make people be less judgemental, but awesome that it works!!! I have to say autism has brought many things to us, one of them being to never judge someone! You just never know! That is so sweet about the boy in the airport, and so hysterical that the bracelet took it's own flight...
