Tivo alert for Sunday

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Registered: 01-19-2005
Tivo alert for Sunday
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Fri, 02-16-2007 - 9:02am

There are two autism-related programs on this weekend, just thought I'd post in case anyone is interested.

"Extreme Makeover, the Home Edition" Sunday will be about a Texas family with 6 kids, of whom 5 are ASD, varying degrees. They are apparently making over the house to acccommodate the kids needs. While the work is being done, the family will vacation at the Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, CO. Which coincidentally is where we went last summer and we had the best vacation ever. We did their summer program (the Texas family is skiing) but the folks at the ASC were wonderful. I think they are trying to put together a summer "camp" for kids and parents with ASD kids, but I havent' go the details yet. But I digress...

Also, "60 Minutes" on Sunday is doing a segment on UC Davis MIND institute and early intervention. Not sure of the details there, but saw the press release on the Autism Speaks website.

You'd think it was autism awareness month, or something, from the tv schedule! The cynical side of me wonders if it is bc "The View" got such high ratings for their show, but no matter, any awareness-raising is good.

Katherine

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-16-2007 - 10:15am

Are both on NBC out of curiosity? It was in February that NBC did that initial big thing on autism I think it was last year and started autism speaks. Maybe it was the year before but I know it was February. I wonder if Feb has some significance to the founders of autism speaks since the gentleman is also NBC CEO.

Curious.

Thanks for the heads up.

Renee

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Registered: 07-12-2005
Fri, 02-16-2007 - 2:52pm

Renee,

Extreme Makeover Home is on ABC. I know because it's on the 'It's Part Of The Schedule' list of shows in my house. My kids are really excited to see this Sunday's show.

~Candes

APOV on Autism

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Registered: 05-16-2006
Sat, 02-17-2007 - 8:28am

Renne 60 minutes is on CBS

I sent this post about Extreme Makeover aobut 2 weeks ago. I get an email when Autism TV is scheduled to come on.

I got my DVR set and again, I always come up feeling not totally satisfied. I agree it's good to educate the people who have NO clue but folks like us who live it EVERYDAY kinda know the deal already.

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Registered: 07-12-2005
Mon, 02-19-2007 - 6:43pm

Okay, so who watched it? I did.

I thought they did a pretty good job overall. There were a few things that bothered me about the program, most specifically when they set the 5yo boy's room up as a 'language friendly' room and acted as if that would fix everything for him. Don't get me wrong, I think it was great that they headed in that direction and decorated his room like that and got him the speakie. It just bugged me that the lady who did his room acted like all he needed was a speakie and some flash cards and he'd be able to verbalize as if by magic. She totally downplayed how much work it was going to take for this little boy to learn to verbalize. The room and speakie was a good start... but that's all it was, a start. And that doesn't even touch on how I feel about the fact that it implied that if he never ever learned to verbalize on his own that it the world would end and he'd never have a happy life.

Other than that, I was pretty happy with the show, and the things they incorporated into the house. They got quite a few things in there I would certainly love to have. Like a centrally located kitchen in an open floor plan so I can see everything all at once. Oh, and the laundry room! I loved the laundry room. I wish they'd emphacized the the fact that the massive amount of laundry the mom had to do wasn't JUST because she had so many kids. It looked to me like (like in my house) at least a third of that burden is generated by ASD quirks and/or unruliness. I have one DD that MUST change her clothes a few times a day. I have another that sneaks clean laundry back into the hampers if she can't figure out where to put it away. And then there's my DH, who thinks clean clothes is just as good for cleaning up spills as towels and rags. Oh yes, and the child who get sensory satisfaction out of pulling teh laundry out of the dryer while it's still hot so she can roll in it...

I liked the way they framed portions of the oldest girl's walls as artwork, but I wasn't thrilled abuot the tiny little framed areas they gave her in her new room. Jade, who is the artist in our house, said they should have panelled one entire wall in white board and gave her lifetime supply of dry-earase markers. I have to agree, lol.

The back yard was awesome! I want one! For those of you who didn't see it, they built a sensory playground in the back yard, with lots of tumbly things, water play, and spinny things. My kids would love that! They were drooling.

Okay, I'll shut up now, lol.

~Candes

APOV on Autism

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Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 02-19-2007 - 7:37pm

I missed them both!

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
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Registered: 05-16-2006
Mon, 02-19-2007 - 10:18pm

Paula~
Log onto You Tube. I'm sure the Autism segment from 60 minutes will be there.
That's how I caught The View episode.

Nora

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Registered: 03-20-2003
Mon, 02-19-2007 - 10:38pm

Candes,

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Registered: 01-19-2005
Mon, 02-19-2007 - 10:44pm

Candes, I wanted to say I agree with you about "Extreme Makeover" and especially the laundry thing. I only have one 4yo ASD boy and DH also creates quite a bit of laundry too. Guess what, for Christmas, I got the same Sears washer and dryer that was donated! Ok, mine is the next smaller size and I did not get the designer colors (mine is in the garage, so white is fine) but it makes laundry a breeze, fun, even! However, I kept asking myself, who is going to help this mom clean up the new huge house? Did they include a year of maid service for her? I also agree about the art work. We have a little artist here too. Fortunately, he is happy with paper, but it covers the walls throughout our house. Anyway, I did like the show opn balance. It seemed realistic with the family, though I worry how they will handle so much house. I wanted a bit more ASD-friendly stuff in the house somehow, more than the floor plan and the alarm camera systerm. Maybe an indoor OT/gym or some of those cool bouncy chairs for the watching tv. But on balance I enjoyed it, it was fun to watch.

Also, just from my selfish viewpoint, I wanted to seem more of their vacation since we used the same place, but in the summer.

Now "60 minutes" was another story. I usually like them, but in this case I felt the whole thing was poorly or rather irresponsibly done. SOOOO depressing. I don't disagree with the genetic element or the difficulty of early dx, however, they made it seem like "it's all genetic" "there's nothing you can do" "early intervention sometimes helps, not always, we can't predict if it will or not" "we want to dx early, but we really don't know how." If I were a mother of a toddler wondering about testing, I'd just go off the deep end after watching that show. Where was the hope? The whole tone I though was just bad. It really, really bothered me. I don't think it did anything useful. I know the UC-Davis MIND institute does good work. But this show made it seem like why bother, early intervention is a crap shoot, "autism is so mysterious we'll never understand it." That's not the message I think they wanted to send. I was very disappointed. I know the research is complex, but this segment did not do justice to anything, IMHO. I am surprised to say that I think The View did much better community service than this show.

Enough of my soap box. But we were tickled about the Sears HE washer and dryer. I researched so much before deciding and all of us seriously get a kick out of our new "toys." Sad in a way, I know, but I could understand the thrill of making laundry easier! Sears, the official home appliance supplier of ASD moms!

Katherine

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 02-19-2007 - 11:45pm

I am like Paula, missed them both. Even worse I walked in on the very last seconds of the extreme makeover one when they were standing outside and leaving the house. BUMMER!

Have looked online for both but no luck. Oh well. C'est la vie.

Renee

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Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 02-20-2007 - 12:20am

I watched the 60 min one, and altho it was good, I just wish the whole hour was devoted to it. 20 min was just not long enough.

I was very happy tho, that Tony watched it with me. He has slowely come around, but not quite. I was very glad to see that he saw the part of the kids not responding to their names when called. That is something our boys do constantly, and he knows that.

Anyway, I missed the other one. I will go check out youtube and see if I find something.

Lainie

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