Quite Places

I haven't written much in a while, life has been particularly difficult lately and has handed us some challenges with no clear path to take. Finding the time to post has not been easy and being able to string together a few complete sentences to create a coherent paragraph has been nearly impossible for me.

Raising an autistic teenager who now refuses to take prescribed medication is turning out to be one of the most challenging experiences ever in my life and right now that responsibly is all consuming.

At this moment, I'm sitting in a church parking lot on a rainy May morning. Not because I thought that's where God would be but mostly because I needed a quiet place to think. I like it when I can be by myself and in my own head away from the noise of other's thoughts and demands and away from an un-medicated emerging mental health crisis.

But, it is in those quiet places that do I meet God. Those quiet places can be almost anywhere, most often for me it's out in nature.

I must go now and take care of some responsibilities, but I'll try to post more often. And I'll keep trying to find those quiet moments alone with myself and God.

“Be still, and know that I am God"

Psalm 46:10

Peace , Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

School Stike For Climate

Sixteen year old Greta Thunberg from Stockholm Sweeden began a one person student strike in front of the Swedish Parliament last year to draw attention to climate change. Greta has now been joined by thousands of students around the globe and has spoken to world leaders on several occasions, Greta has even done a TED Talk. At the 2018 UN Climate Change Conference Greta said that "Until you start focusing on what needs to be done rather than what is politically possible, there is no hope. We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis."



In August 2019 Greta sailed across the Atlantic to participate in a climate conference in New York. You can follow Greta Thunberg on Twitter @GretaThunberg.

#fridaysforfuture   #schoolstrike4climate   #climatestrike

And Jehovah God taketh the man, and causeth him to rest in the garden of Eden, to serve it, and to keep it. (Genesis 2:15)

Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

UPDATED: 08/31/2019

Rituals

Rituals are deeply a part of being alive, and I suspect they are not just limited to humans. An old friend recently shared an article in ScientificAmerican “Why Rituals Work”, it presents some studies that show there are real benefits to rituals, religious or otherwise.

For me, being an un-churched Hippie Christian, I am aware of my personal need for rituals that possess deep meaning. Not that I need some religious ritual to appease an angry God, but I am seeking a point of contact between the spiritual and material worlds. Somewhere beyond Sunday, beyond beads and incense – not that these aren’t valid rituals it’s just that I am seeking simple daily personal practices. 

In my past job working with adults with disabilities and now raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) I see ritualistic behavior on the extreme end up close and personal every day. Ritualistic behaviors are one of the key diagnostic features of ASD, and they serve a very real purpose that is not always apparent to the observer.

Mostly, for those with ASD, ritualistic behaviors help provide relief from anxiety by allowing the individual some sense of order in an otherwise overwhelming world. Ritualistic behavior allows the ASD individual some limited control in their life that in turn calms them. They have a place and a practice that they can repeat with predictable results, something that they can excel at that gives them joy in a world that has too many expectations that seem impossible to them. 

I am trying to employ simple daily practices in my life such as walking and breathing to serve as ritual along with mindful conscious and unconscious prayer – being in the moment every possible moment. Even writing this blog post is part of my quest for ritual.

Peace, Love & Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Autism, Kids, and Animals

Here is our little one at the 2011 Walk For Autism. Everywhere we go she says "Excuse me, can I pet your dog?" Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder tend to connect with animals is such a way that one has to wonder if some form of communication is happening between them.

William Stillman, a writer and lecturer with autism, suggests in his book Autism and the God Connection that the Autistic experience often includes a special connection with the animal as well as the spiritual world.

Temple Grandin, Ph.D., assistant professor of animal science at Colorado State University, and author of the book Thinking in Pictures, relates how her Autistic brain thinks in pictures in much the same way animals think. Dr. Grandin's article Thinking the Way Animals Do gives some insight as to how our animal friends and our Autistic loved ones think alike.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are three different types of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs):

Autistic Disorder:
Also called “classic” autism, this is what most people think of when hearing the word “autism.” People with autistic disorder usually have significant language delays, social and communication challenges, and unusual behaviors and interests. Many people with autistic disorder also have intellectual disability.

Asperger Syndrome:
People with Asperger syndrome usually have some milder symptoms of autistic disorder. They might have social challenges and unusual behaviors and interests. However, they typically do not have problems with language or intellectual disability.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS):
Also called “atypical autism”. People who meet some of the criteria for autistic disorder or Asperger syndrome, but not all, may be diagnosed with PDD-NOS. People with PDD-NOS usually have fewer and milder symptoms than those with autistic disorder. The symptoms might cause only social and communication challenges.

No matter where an individual falls on the "spectrum" the challenges are very real. As parents of a child diagnosed with PDD-NOS, it is frustrating to hear statements like "she is not that that impacted" or "she doesn't look disabled". Well, we just keep educating everyone about how differently girls on the spectrum present, and then we remind them that it is called a "Spectrum" disorder for a good reason.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Smelling The Light - Autism And Sensory Processing Disorder

This is a photo of a typical sensory moment for Bella. According to studies by The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation more than three-quarters (78%) of children with autistic spectrum disorders have significant symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder.

So what exactly is Sensory Processing Disorder? Here is a definition from The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation:

"Sensory processing refers to our ability to take in information through our senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing), organize and interpret that information, and make a meaningful response. For most people, this process is automatic. We hear someone talking to us, our brains receive that input and recognize it as a voice talking in a normal tone, and we respond appropriately.

Children who have a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), however, don’t experience such interactions in the same way. SPD affects the way their brains interpret the information that comes in; it also affects how they respond to that information with emotional, motor, and other reactions.

For example, some children are over-responsive to sensation and feel as if they're being constantly bombarded with sensory information. They may try to eliminate or minimize this perceived sensory overload by avoiding being touched or being particular about clothing.

Some children are under-responsive and have an almost insatiable desire for sensory stimulation. They may seek out constant stimulation by taking part in extreme activities, playing music loudly, or moving constantly. They sometimes don’t notice pain or objects that are too hot or cold, and may need high intensity input to get involved in activities. Still others have trouble distinguishing between different types of sensory stimulation."

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

April Is National Autism Awareness Month

The following article is from The Autism Society:

About Autism - Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

In December 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued their ADDM autism prevalence report. The report concluded that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 110 births in the United States and almost 1 in 70 boys. The issuance of this report caused a media uproar, but the news was not a surprise to the Autism Society or to the 1.5 million Americans living with the effects of autism spectrum disorder. Nonetheless, the spotlight shown on autism as a result of the prevalence increase opens opportunities for the nation to consider how to serve these families facing a lifetime of supports for their children.

Currently, the Autism Society estimates that the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from $3.5 million to $5 million, and that the United States is facing almost $90 billion annually in costs for autism (this figure includes research, insurance costs and non-covered expenses, Medicaid waivers for autism, educational spending, housing, transportation, employment, in addition to related therapeutic services and caregiver costs).
Know the Signs: Early Identification Can Change Lives

Autism is treatable. Children do not "outgrow" autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes.
Here are some signs to look for in the children in your life:

* Lack of or delay in spoken language
* Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
* Little or no eye contact
* Lack of interest in peer relationships
* Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
* Persistent fixation on parts of objects

For more info check out The Autism Society - National Autism Awareness Month website.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Understanding Our Little Girl

Last year, after a long two and a half year journey, we finalized the adoption of our granddaughter. She is such a loving and verbal child, yet we have been puzzled by some of her behaviors. Without disclosing too much personal info, lets just say the professionals can't agree on what to attribute her oddities to.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is the one thing that finally began to make sense to us. Boys are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders 4 to 1 over girls and the question is: "Are girls less predisposed to Autism or do they just present differently?". There is a lot of new information being published about the under diagnosis and miss-diagnosis of girls with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

This book has opened our eyes to her world in a new way...
Girls Under the Umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorders by Lori Ernsperger, Ph.D. & Danielle Wendel.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)