EMBRACING AUTISM
My name is Jeanette O'Donnell. I am the mother of 6 amazing children and the wife of an wonderful man.
5 of our children are in the Autism Spectrum. There is Caitlin, 17, severe Autism; Deirdre, 13, Asperger's Syndrome; Erin, 11, PDD-NOS, Meaghan, 10, NT (Neuro-typical); Patrick, 8, PDD-NOS, and Kiernan, 6, Severe Autism.
When our first child was diagnosed with Autism over 14 years ago, I made a promise to her that she would be whatever she wanted to be. I never realized that as time went on, my life would be filled with 6 children and so many challenges.
I never, ever wake up and wonder why I was given the task of being the mother to 6 children, let alone having 5 with Autism. I never questioned their existence or their diagnosis. My husband and I never let their Autism stop them from being the best they can be. We had to continue parenting and their Autism has never come into the realm of their being.
We have been blessed with some of the best educators, therapists and friends a family could ask for. We are overwhelmed with love and friendship from people who also want to see our children thrive.
We do not look at Autism as a gloom and doom sentence, but instead, we embrace our children and in turn we embrace their Autism.
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Melinda - on February 13, 2008
I most definitely agree with your comments about autism not being a doom and gloom sentence! I embrace Noah and all he is and will do my very best at making sure he can also do anything he desires with his life.storyguy - on February 13, 2008
Welcome to Trusera and thanks for sharing! What resources have you found most helpful for your children and family over the years? Do you have any tips for parents?mom26children - on February 13, 2008
Hi Melinda, Thanks for your nice comment. Our children need to know that nothing will stand in their way. That, I believe, is our jobs as their parents.mom26children - on February 13, 2008
Hi Storyguy,Thanks. The most valuable resource I have found is in the school system. We have been blessed with great educators in our children's lives.
Also, the most important therapies we have used for all of our children is Sensory Integration Therapy, Play Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy. These were valuable in teaching our children the tools they need, especially to play and be children.
MsClark - on February 13, 2008
Thank you, Jeanette. I see you as an excellent ambassador for autism and autism parenting. Nice to see you hear on Trusera!MsClark - on February 13, 2008
Ooops, make that "nice to see you HERE on Trusera!" :-)Maddy - on February 14, 2008
Yes! Away with the doom, gloom and despondency! Welcome!Pickel - on February 25, 2008
I read your story some time ago and was amazed at your strength.My son has institutional autism, a diagnosis not recognized by traditional medicine but mainly by neuro-psychologists in the adoption field.
I'm glad to see you stories here.
AutismRealityNB - on February 26, 2008
Yes, let us not speak of those severely autistic people who can not communicate on the internet, those who do injure themselves severely and those who do in fact live out their lives dependent on the care of strangers. Let us exclude those realities from our collective consciousness and pretend that autism is wonderful.My son is severely autistic. He brings me great joy each and every day. He has many, many fine qualities. But he is 12 and he will NOT be living an independent life and he has limited communication skills. I will not pretend that his autism is wonderful.
In my opinion the internet has too much of the autism as beauty and not enough hard nosed reality and advocacy on behalf of those who really need it. After 12 years of caring for a wonderful but severely autistic son I would be betraying him, and other severely autistic persons, to pretend that their realities, their harsh realities do not exist.
No offense intended.
Conor's Dad.
mom26children - on February 26, 2008
AutismRealityNB,I live with 2 severely autistic people. One is almost 7 and one is 17 years old. It appears they will never live independently either, but
they will live happily.
We must be looking at 2 different internets...all I see is the gloom and doom of Autism. I have decided to take that philosophy out of my home and make it a happier place for my children.
No offense taken, I get what you are saying....