Saturday, September 6, 2008

Let's Go To The Movies!!

Here's my critique. It ain't Ebert and Whoever, but it's something:

http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/story/540106.html

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

First Day of School



Today was an important day, Jack's first official day at preschool.  And from all accounts, it was a great day!  
Kelley and Jack met Cynthia, his lead therapist, at First Experiences, with flowers in hand, ready to give to his teacher, Miss Toni.  Cynthia will attend with Jack, as his aide.  He will be going on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for 3 1/2 hours.  Next year, he will go for 3 days a week, and then Kindergarten will be 5 days per week.

But, back to today. 
After arriving, they went to find Miss Toni, to hand off the lovely bouquet of flowers.  Jack greeted Miss Toni with a big hug and the flowers.

During his time at school, he was able to do everything that was asked of him, sitting well during circle time, listening intently to Miss Toni.  He got to do the counting of the students in the room, and did it correctly!

There was a little girl in class, I'll call her O. (but it's not Oprah), who Jack seemed fascinated with.  He wanted to hold her hand and generally be where she was.  She finally had enough, they say, and she told him to stop following her.  Hang in there, Jack.  There'll be plenty more women.

He had a great day.  We pray that he will continue to shine in this new life adventure.


Sunday, August 17, 2008

My Little Retard

I was given an assignment by my wife:  Go see "Tropic Thunder", and then write about it and the painful things that it includes.  I've read reviews and news articles, and I knew that I would be properly scrutinized if I commented but hadn't seen the movie.  So, I paid my ten bucks (when did that happen?), got a hot dog combo, and settled in for the late night showing.  The place was packed.

As I was driving to the movie, I wondered, "what if I actually like and laugh at this?".  I'm the father of a child with a developmental disability, I can't like this?  But, the truth is, I think Ben Stiller & Jack Black are funny.  So there was this outside chance that I would come home and have to say...it was funny.

It was funny.  In parts, it was.  But from the outset, it was clear that this was going to be an R-rated comedy.  I'm not a prude, trust me.  At my age, I still laugh at farts.  But this was one of those movies that pushes HARD to go over the top to win your laugh.

And then came the retard scenes.

I understand parody.  I truly do.  There were plenty of groups made fun of.  But here's the thing:  As they include Robert Downey Jr. as an australian (and white) actor who gets "skin repigmentation" to look black, along side a black actor (Brandon T. Jackson), the inevitable "n**ger" word shows up.  And Brandon (aka "Alpa Chino") explains the obvious to him.  So, they were able to include a black man to stand-up for his group that is being parodied.  They never give that chance to a person with intellectual disabilities.  Instead, the word "retard" continually gets thrown around.  And it gets the biggest laugh.  Why is that?  People with intellectual disabilities have long been a persecuted group, more than any other because they cover every known group of people.  They are killed in some cultures, or raped, because they are not seen as human.  Oh, and the jokes.

But it's okay.  The movie will go away.  And we can start worrying about some other group.  Hey, maybe Ben Stiller and the gang are writing a funny kike movie, or something funny about kids with AIDS!  Keep working for those charities, guys.  You're doing great things!  Don't worry Ben, I'm just being satirical.





Thursday, August 14, 2008

So Many Changes

Jack will be starting preschool next week, as a part of his ABA program.  Originally we thought he might just attend for 1 1/2 hours per day each day he's there, but now we want to try a full (4 hour) day.  His therapists say he's ready, and I am so excited for him to go. 

This is another of those new experiences for us.  It is a huge change, to be putting this little guy out into a social setting that he doesn't yet understand the way his peers do.  But it is a change that we know must happen.  And, if we have learned anything so far, it is that Jack is always up for a challenge.

And, Kelley has prepared him for this change, to an extent.  She had taken him once a week for a few weeks before the last school year ended so that he could get to know the surroundings and his teacher.  He loved it, and I know he will thrive.  

This opportunity for socialization will mean greater independence for Jack in the future.  Of course, there will also be academic learning, but this will be a great time for him to get exposure to social understanding from his peers.  And, as his teacher and the administration have expressed, it is a chance for a boy to give understanding of what autism is to his neurotypical peers.

Everyone will win with this change

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Summertime Swimming

One of the things that we really wanted this summer was for Jack to learn to swim.  Of course, his safety around water was a huge concern, but we also wanted him to get some physical exercise, and to have fun!  It was, for the first year, a success all around.  Jack is becoming very sure of himself and less fearful of the water.  His friend Dominic, who is 1 1/2 years younger, has been a great role model for this.  And, twice-weekly lessons with Victoria and multiple evening swim sessions at our friends' new salt water pool have all helped.

He has a nice little summertime tan, too!

The World of Autism

I am a sensitive person, and I truly don't aim to hurt anyone's feelings, but I know that there are people living with autism who question the idea that we should be "curing" autism.  They live each day as autistic people, contributing to our world.  To say that autism should be "cured", to them, is a statement that perhaps their lives as autistics aren't valid.  

When I speak of wanting to "cure" my son's autism, it is in no way to reduce who he is now or who he will be in the future, but to give him a chance in his life to be independent and not reliant on anyone else.  That is what parents are supposed to do, right?  I don't feel that we are attempting to change who Jack is.  He is and always will be the person he was born to be.  But give him a fighting chance?  You bet we will.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

This Is Our Blog; We have A Website

I thought I knew something about the ol' Internet.  Turns out I didn't.  But now I'm learning!  We have created a website (www.fundsforjack.com) that will give information about autism, and specifically give information about our son, Jack, and we hope to use the internet in the way that it seems to be most beneficial these days:  as a tool for fundraising, to help with the enormous costs of medical treatments for Jack.  I'll post more about that later.

Please offer your comments.

Thanks for your prayers and support.