I know a lot of autistic people who are against the 'cure' discourse. Equally, I have a friend with an autistic child who put that on her FB status. I don't have the right to say very much about it, not having personal experience of autism, but the person I admire most in the rights-before-cure field is the blogger Ettina, whose musings are at [link] . My autistic friend's blog, which sometimes crosses into that subject, is also very good: [link] .

ETA: I forgot to say - today's post from Crooked Timber, the sociology blog, is dealing with the 'cure' vs. rights issue in relation to a different condition.

But doesn't this meme read just a bit ... condescending, maybe?

It's well-intended, I suppose, and it's probably in response to that horrific "Autism Speaks" video, which made autism out to be The Worst! Thing! that could ever happen to a family.

I'm sure there are people who would like a cure, while at the same time, a lot of people with autism don't see it as a "disease," but something that would not be as big of an issue as it is if society would just get on with the acceptance and accessibility.

(Or, basically, What You Said.)

Is it just me, or is it a little weird to send the bride and groom a request to "crash" at our place the night of the reception?

a little weird, but since you guys are always so welcoming, they may have taken a shot.

Tiny plane filled with morons. Thus begins my day.

Timelies, all.

Huh. TCF (friend, crush, drama, yada) just called me to tell me about a project he's working on in NOLA that is relevent to my interests. We're getting together at the end of this month to talk about it. Probably won't go anywhere, but nice of him to keep me in mind.

I need to go back to square one with all my coping mechanisms. For whatever reason (SAD, KBD, etc) all my routines have totally gone to shit and I'm a mess and a half. Got to work at 10 am today, which is an hour and a half late. Uggh uggh uggh.

So kick my ass outta here if you see me too much, thx.

ND - so why is this different? aside from the fact that it's usually a large plane filed with morons?

Warning! This a request for blantant hairpats and reassurance because when you can't find either within yourself, you look to those who can (hopefully) see it.

Emeline is turning into "that" kid at school. I just got *another* phone call from her very frustrated teacher because Em won't sit still, bounces all over the place, isn't doing her work, isn't listening, etc. I missed a couple of phone calls from the teacher which, totally my bad, but she sent a note home last night that we didn't get. There is something wrong there and I've been sitting in my car and at my desk, crying, and fighting with myself about what to do. Is it an attention thing? Is this behavior coinciding with Joe and I returning to school this week? Is it too much tv? Is it not enough parental interaction in the evenings? Should we start the testing processes for ADHD or other things? Should one of us go to school with her during the day? Does one of us need to quit going to school for awhile until the other one graduates?

It doesn't seem normal 5 year old behavior anymore. It seems bigger. But I am at a complete loss as to what to do. I don't want to have *that* kid that teachers dislike because they are behavioral issues.

Aww, honey. I don't have advice for you, being neither a teacher nor a parent, but I have hairpats galore. And next weekend I can administer them in person!

{{{Aims}}}

What smonster said except for the in-person part, booo.

{{{Aims}}}

((Aimee))

Don't be too hard on yourself parenting-wise. With two kids, we see vastly different behavior despite being in the same household.