Interview With Taylor Morris -- An Exceptional Teenage Girl with Aspergers

I have the distinct privilege of welcoming Taylor Morris to my blog today. Taylor is an amazing young girl, who has Aspergers Syndrome, and is bringing awareness to the value of self-advocating for children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Her insightful videos give answers to parents desperate to understand where their child’s mind is, why it goes there and how to reach them. I encourage you to take a minute and view Autism through the eyes of this exceptional young woman.

I have to admit that I am a little nervous to ask Taylor all of my questions – I think that is because I have never sat down and asked my ‘autism’ questions to a person with autism. I am overwhelmingly thankful that Taylor and her mother have agreed to have her participate in this interview. A big thank you to both of them for allowing me such an invaluable insight into autism and on behalf of me and my readers, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to better understand our children!

There really isn't anything better than hearing it directly from the source, is there?

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Welcome Taylor – thank you for joining me here on HLW3B! I have been intrigued by the videos on your website (www.meettaylormorris.com), discussing everything from your insider point of view of a therapy session as a preschooler to explaining your own world in calm detail. I think as a parent of a child with autism (HFA), I am mostly impressed with the confident and self-assured way you have of expressing yourself. To what do you attribute your ability to be so self aware?

I think I started being self-aware when my parents would remind me of the consequences of my actions. Having my parents tell me that something comes off as rude forces me to realize that I am one person who has to learn to function in a world with many others. This creates a self-awareness of my actions. My parents comments and hard lessons on the playground nudged me to realize the way I act and how present myself has much larger implications then I had previously thought. They taught me that being myself is much more then just doing whatever I want. From here I began to grow to be the person I am; I say what I truly believe but I calculate the implications of my actions as well. I believe this is what makes me come off as a mature self-aware person.

Squirmy Wormy Winner!

A big thank you to everyone who read and entered my interview with Squirmy Wormy author Lynda Farrington Wilson!

The very precise and scientific process of picking a winner today was performed by Matthew. And Matthew drew . . .

Jen

Congratulations Jen -- you are the winner of Squirmy Wormy.

Please email me and give me your address so I can get that book shipped to you -- and you can start working on self-regulation with your kiddos!

Thanks again to everyone -- and especially Lynda Farrington Wilson for helping support SPD Awareness and our children.

Next in my Autism Awareness Month posts will be my interview with Taylor Morris -- I am more excited than you can imagine!

Enjoy the weekend,
H

Earth Day Inspired Sensory Diet

The 40th annual Earth Day celebration happens to be on April 22nd, and I say, given that this is Autism Awareness Month, and from what I hear Occupational Therapy Month as well, I thought I would put my own sensory-spin on it.

Namely, how to get sensory input with a little help from Mother Nature in your own backyard. Isn’t great to know there is another ‘mother’ out there helping your little seeker?

Here are some ideas on how you can use this beautiful planet of ours to incorporate more nature in your nurture.

Sun: I think that the sun might be under valued by all of you who see it daily -- like maybe those of you in Arizona or California, but it is longed for by those of us in Seattle!  That dose of natural Vitamin D puts all of us in a better mood. Make sure your kids (and you) get plenty by venturing outside each day –

• Color with sidewalk chalk
• Read on the porch
• Have a picnic
• Set up an 'art studio' outside and let your little ones take inspriation from nature
• Lay in the grass
• Look for 'cloud animals' (or other imaginary shapes)
• Make sun-tea
• Trace your shadow – or just try to catch it
• Look for bugs in the grass

Squirmy Wormy Book Giveaway and Interview

I was talking with a parent last month about her son who has Autism. She was asking why he is always lying down and if that was a sensory issue.

YES! I was screaming – YES! It is a sign he is low, that his body needs some input to help engage.

She responded with the realization that instead of constantly telling her son to ‘sit up’ she could use that ‘clue’ about how his body was feeling to help him recognize what was going on, and find solutions to help him regulate his own body. And you all know that isn’t easy when you have a child with Autism that doesn’t communicate as well or as much as you, or they, would like.

And with that, the solution hit me like lightening: “You need to get your son the book Squirmy Wormy by Lynda Farrington Wilson to help teach him to regulate his own body!” I announced with a level of enthusiasm that is hard to get across in mere words.

We Will Be OK; Guest Post by Caitlin Wray

This is the second "Autism Awarness" gem I have up my sleeve this month -- a guest post by my friend (or at least she is in my head, not that I have actually met her or anything), Caitlin Wray who writes beautifully at the blog http://www.welcome-to-normal.com/ about her darling son Simon, who was recently diagnosed with Aspergers and her equally adorable 1 year old Seth -- not to mention her hubby and herself.  :) 

Her article is a personal account of the moment most of us have experienced-- the moment where a doctor says "Autism" and our world changes.  And yet stays the same -- all at the same time. 

Winner of the Ulitmate Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder

Thank you to everyone who entered -- and a big thank you to Dr. Roya Ostovar for autographing a copy of her book for us!  I have to say that I am just enamoured with the fact that my readers took it upon themselves to refer to her as "Dr. O" -- we are such a welcoming group! 

I asked Nick to draw the name from slips of paper in a hat, so you know, this is our standard way of doing a random drawing, and he pulled ---

Jennifer

And in Nick's words, spoken directly into the slip of paper like a microphone, "Congratulations, Jennifer, you are the winner!"

All you need to do is email me your contact information, address and full name, before Friday, and I will send you the book.  Unfortunately, if you are buried under laundry or involved in solving a three day meltdown and are unable to get to me, I will choose another winner on Friday at 6pm PST.

Thanks again to everyone -- stay tuned for my next Autism Awareness Month gem-- a guest post from Caitlin Wray from http://www.welcome-to-normal.com/, after that I will be interviewing Lynda Farrington Wilson author of Squirmy Wormy, wrapping up with a GREAT interview with Taylor Morris from http://www.meettaylormorris.com/.

It's a great April here on HLW3B!  Now if only the sun would shine...

H

Dr. Roya Ostovar, Interview and Book Giveaway

I am very excited to be hosting Dr. Roya Ostovar, author of The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder on HLW3B today. Dr. Ostovar is a clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the Director of Ostovar Pediatric Psychology and Consultation in Belmont, Massachusetts (http://www.royaostovar.com/).

Her new book, The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder, provides much needed information on everything from the direction of new research to practical solutions for taking your sensational child on vacation – and, I am not kidding when I say this, virtually everything in between.

I am sure you are not surprised to hear that I jumped at the chance to ask Dr. Ostovar more about Sensory Processing Disorder. Truly, how often do you get the chance to go straight to the doctor with your questions – no appointments, no co-pays, no nurses, no screening, no assessments– just straight to the doctor?! This was an opportunity I could NOT say no to!

I was also happy to find out that Dr. Ostovar was willing to give an autographed copy of her book to one of my readers. Check out the bottom of the interview for details on how you could be the lucky winner!

And with that, grab your coffee, and let’s start the show.

Autism Awareness

Today is Autism Awareness Day -- and in honor of this day and my son Gabriel, along with all of YOUR sons and daughters, I have planned an amazing line up of interviews and guest bloggers throughout the month of April.

We begin the month with Dr. Roya Ostovar, author of The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder who will give us a fresh new discussion on SPD, and also share her experience working with kids on the spectrum in her private practice. She has some great insights into sensory issues, and is gracious enough to be giving away a copy of her book.

Then we are going to talk about 'Diagnosis Day', when you first hear out of a doctor's mouth, "your child has autism"; a day that changes everything, and nothing, all at the same time. My friend Caitlin Wray is going to share her relatively new experience, after her son was diagnosed this year.

Lynda Farrington Wilson will join us, with a great interview sharing her book Squirmy Wormy, a story based on her experience with her son, who has autism, and will highlight ways to help kids learn to manage their own sensory needs. Self regulation is key! I am also thrilled to say that Lynda has kindly offered to give away a copy of her book as well.

Then, my son Gabriel will make his debut here on HLW3B, as he leads a child-to-child interview with Taylor Morris, a teenage girl with Aspergers who will be here talking about the value of self-advocating and allowing us to see her world from the inside out. If you haven't had the chance to see Taylor, check her out here. This promises to be an amazing interview -- and an one you can actually share with your own kids.

Today is a day for awareness, to help bring understanding, but it is also more importantly, a day to celebrate the differences among all of us!

Are you wearing blue?
H

Book Signing: This is Gabriel Making Sense of School

I wanted to be sure that you all were the FIRST to know!

This is Gabriel Making Sense of School

Book signing by local author Hartley Steiner

The Spotted Cow, Mill Creek Town Center

Saturday, April 24, from 2-4pm

KIDS WELCOME!

This is a great local coffee and ice cream venue that is kind enough to host my event. The owner's kids go to school with Nick and Gabe -- nothing better than supporting local business!

You will find more information coming soon at SensoryPlanet.com, including the ability to RSVP and reserve a copy of the book This is Gabriel Making Sense of School to be signed at the event.

Check out Hartley on the morning show on NW Cable News Wednesday morning at 8am talking about SPD and her book (link to be posted after 3/31 interview at 8am PST).

Crossing my fingers that all my local friends and followers will come out and see me!

H