Guest guest Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 Hi my name is Robin Deutsch and I have a daughter who is autistic. Marcy was first diagnosed with moderate high-functioning autism when she was only 5. I knew she was autistic by the time she was 18 months but trying to convince the doctors of this was difficult. Of course this was over 20 years ago when not that much was known about autism. At that time she had little language, would stiffen when you tried to cuddle with her, scream if things weren't in their normal position, had echolalia, had repetitive play and so many other things, but because she had some language and no head banging the doctors just thought she had delayed speech. She was kicked out of 3 preschools by the time she was 4. It was in the last preschool that one of the teachers told me she thought Marcy was autistic. Well because an educator told us this and wrote to our doctor he sent her over to CDRC (at the University) to be tested. A panel of doctors put her through all these tests and when it was over they told us their findings. It was indeed autism, high functioning moderate autism. Then they gave us their very grim prognoses. They told us that she would never go on to college, never hold a job, never make friends, and a lot of other nevers followed by that she would have to be put away someplace when she became an adult. Of course we didn't believe them and when we told them that that wouldn't happen to Marcy they just looked at us with that " we know what we are talking about and you know nothing " look. While we had more than our share of ups and downs through the years including bullying from other students and teachers alike, after all she was different so it would always be her fault, Marcy turned out to be an incredible young woman. Back when she was first diagnosed there weren't any programs or any real info out there. The internet wasn't even around yet. But we would play games and other things with her including a lot of play acting. Marcy has since gone on to graduate from a 2 year college with honors, she even started her own business and is now starting to speak at parent groups and autism conferences. Today getting her to shut up is the hardest part. Though things are sometimes difficult because she has also developed some mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and even schizophrenia she still manages to go on and wants to help others. She wants to inspire and encourage others with autism or mental health issues that anything is possible. You need to follow your dreams. Marcy was just written up in the recent issue (Feb. 2009) Dog Fancy magazine. This is because she is an artist. She draws animals because according to her they help her connect to the world. She even has her own website. She is also going to be in the book Artism Anew which is due out in February and if things go according to plan she will speak at the U.N. on Autism Awareness Day. We never listened to the doctors and even educators who gave up on her because we knew in our hearts that she was special and we believed in her dream of owning her own business one day. Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 Hi Robin, Welcome and thanks for sharing your story! I haven't received my Feb. issue of Dog Fancy yet, but I will look for the article. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 its wonderful to read, i am glad that some can reach through this autism and have a successful life. Unfortunately, it isn't for everyone, and i wish so much it was. My daughter is 14, she has speech, can shower, dress. Her diet is a shocker, she has no friends. the school is a good school, but, they cannot force people to be her friend, she just doesnt know how to relate now...age gap just too far. she still acts like a 6 year old in many aspects, and she may always will. I cannot force her not to watch kiddies shows and not to buy her dvds of her kids shows, its what she loves. I hope as a few more years progress, she may slowly show interest in other things, here's hoping. thanks for your encouraging email. Cheryl S [chez] To: Autism_in_Girls@...: robindeutsch@...: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:49:03 +0000Subject: newbie Hi my name is Robin Deutsch and I have a daughter who is autistic.Marcy was first diagnosed with moderate high-functioning autism whenshe was only 5. I knew she was autistic by the time she was 18 monthsbut trying to convince the doctors of this was difficult. Of coursethis was over 20 years ago when not that much was known about autism.At that time she had little language, would stiffen when you tried tocuddle with her, scream if things weren't in their normal position,had echolalia, had repetitive play and so many other things, butbecause she had some language and no head banging the doctors justthought she had delayed speech. She was kicked out of 3 preschools bythe time she was 4. It was in the last preschool that one of theteachers told me she thought Marcy was autistic. Well because aneducator told us this and wrote to our doctor he sent her over to CDRC(at the University) to be tested. A panel of doctors put her throughall these tests and when it was over they told us their findings. Itwas indeed autism, high functioning moderate autism. Then they gave ustheir very grim prognoses. They told us that she would never go on tocollege, never hold a job, never make friends, and a lot of othernevers followed by that she would have to be put away someplace whenshe became an adult. Of course we didn't believe them and when we told them that thatwouldn't happen to Marcy they just looked at us with that " we knowwhat we are talking about and you know nothing " look.While we had more than our share of ups and downs through the yearsincluding bullying from other students and teachers alike, after allshe was different so it would always be her fault, Marcy turned out tobe an incredible young woman.Back when she was first diagnosed there weren't any programs or anyreal info out there. The internet wasn't even around yet. But we wouldplay games and other things with her including a lot of play acting.Marcy has since gone on to graduate from a 2 year college with honors,she even started her own business and is now starting to speak atparent groups and autism conferences. Today getting her to shut up isthe hardest part.Though things are sometimes difficult because she has also developedsome mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and evenschizophrenia she still manages to go on and wants to help others. Shewants to inspire and encourage others with autism or mental healthissues that anything is possible. You need to follow your dreams.Marcy was just written up in the recent issue (Feb. 2009) Dog Fancymagazine. This is because she is an artist. She draws animals becauseaccording to her they help her connect to the world. She even has herown website.She is also going to be in the book Artism Anew which is due out inFebruary and if things go according to plan she will speak at the U.N.on Autism Awareness Day. We never listened to the doctors and even educators who gave up on herbecause we knew in our hearts that she was special and we believed inher dream of owning her own business one day.Robin _________________________________________________________________ Holiday cheer from Messenger. Download free emoticons today! http://livelife.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=669758 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 http://speakup.today.com Autism is not just a diagnosis.... Subject: RE: newbie To: autism_in_girls Date: Tuesday, December 30, 2008, 1:18 PM its wonderful to read, i am glad that some can reach through this autism and have a successful life. Unfortunately, it isn't for everyone, and i wish so much it was. My daughter is 14, she has speech, can shower, dress. Her diet is a shocker, she has no friends. the school is a good school, but, they cannot force people to be her friend, she just doesnt know how to relate now...age gap just too far. she still acts like a 6 year old in many aspects, and she may always will. I cannot force her not to watch kiddies shows and not to buy her dvds of her kids shows, its what she loves. I hope as a few more years progress, she may slowly show interest in other things, here's hoping. thanks for your encouraging email. Cheryl S [chez] To: Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. comFrom: robindeutsch@ comcast.netDate: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:49:03 +0000Subject: newbie Hi my name is Robin Deutsch and I have a daughter who is autistic.Marcy was first diagnosed with moderate high-functioning autism whenshe was only 5. I knew she was autistic by the time she was 18 monthsbut trying to convince the doctors of this was difficult. Of coursethis was over 20 years ago when not that much was known about autism.At that time she had little language, would stiffen when you tried tocuddle with her, scream if things weren't in their normal position,had echolalia, had repetitive play and so many other things, butbecause she had some language and no head banging the doctors justthought she had delayed speech. She was kicked out of 3 preschools bythe time she was 4. It was in the last preschool that one of theteachers told me she thought Marcy was autistic. Well because aneducator told us this and wrote to our doctor he sent her over to CDRC(at the University) to be tested. A panel of doctors put her throughall these tests and when it was over they told us their findings. Itwas indeed autism, high functioning moderate autism. Then they gave ustheir very grim prognoses. They told us that she would never go on tocollege, never hold a job, never make friends, and a lot of othernevers followed by that she would have to be put away someplace whenshe became an adult. Of course we didn't believe them and when we told them that thatwouldn't happen to Marcy they just looked at us with that " we knowwhat we are talking about and you know nothing " look.While we had more than our share of ups and downs through the yearsincluding bullying from other students and teachers alike, after allshe was different so it would always be her fault, Marcy turned out tobe an incredible young woman.Back when she was first diagnosed there weren't any programs or anyreal info out there. The internet wasn't even around yet. But we wouldplay games and other things with her including a lot of play acting.Marcy has since gone on to graduate from a 2 year college with honors,she even started her own business and is now starting to speak atparent groups and autism conferences. Today getting her to shut up isthe hardest part.Though things are sometimes difficult because she has also developedsome mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and evenschizophrenia she still manages to go on and wants to help others. Shewants to inspire and encourage others with autism or mental healthissues that anything is possible. You need to follow your dreams.Marcy was just written up in the recent issue (Feb. 2009) Dog Fancymagazine. This is because she is an artist. She draws animals becauseaccording to her they help her connect to the world. She even has herown website.She is also going to be in the book Artism Anew which is due out inFebruary and if things go according to plan she will speak at the U.N.on Autism Awareness Day. We never listened to the doctors and even educators who gave up on herbecause we knew in our hearts that she was special and we believed inher dream of owning her own business one day.Robin ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ Holiday cheer from Messenger. Download free emoticons today! http://livelife. ninemsn.com. au/article. aspx?id=669758 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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