A Lot Can Change in 10 Years
I learn that someone I’ve known for a long time has just had a baby and, after sending off a “congrats and hope you’re all well!” email and going throughout the day (waiting for Charlie’s bus, loading up the car with the materials for his home ABA program and heading to the office for a meeting, picking up my parents at the train, dashing to Walgreen’s before the pharmacy closes), a number creeps into my head:
18 to 24 months.
That’s the ages that young children are now to be screened for autism, per the American Academy of Pediatrics‘ call for universal autism screening, as announced one week ago. I guess it will be noted (I hope it will) that there’s someone with autism in the family. I wonder what it would be like if Jim and I were now the parents of a newborn baby, in a world in which autism is becoming a common diagnosis.
I hope new parents can just hear a bit about how, while the past 10 1/2 years raising Charlie have been a tumult of worry, too much fun, and surprises, they have been years of love (as in “love you to pieces type of love) and hope upon hope, even through some very trying, wrenching times. It’s been quite an adventure and I don’t expect that will change
Welcome to the world—I’ll tell Charlie there’s a new friend.
5 opinions for A Lot Can Change in 10 Years
Nicole
Nov 6, 2007 at 1:12 am
Hi Kristina,
I’m sorry that this is not related to your post, but I went to a conference on Post Secondary Education for Students with Developmental Disabilities on Monday. It was interesting and I definetely thought of you while I was there.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Nov 6, 2007 at 1:32 am
Sounds really interesting! What kinds of topics were discussed?
Nicole
Nov 6, 2007 at 2:35 am
The focus was on thinking college for all students and that Post Secondary Education (PSE) helps prepare students with cognitive impairments for competitive employment and independent living and facilitates development of social, academic, and self-determination skills. There were presentations on transition to college, state initiatives, college-career connection, advocacy on campus, peer mentoring, universal course design, successful programs in various states, etc. There was also a panel of PSE students who shared their experiences.
Rochelle
Nov 6, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Hi, Kristina…
It is a very different world from 10 years ago. I was talking about this screening and, as a parent whose children have been on Medicaid, I hope this screening requires doctors–regardless of one’s insurance–to screen for autism.
I tried numerous times to get the doctors and diagnosticians to look more closely into my son’s “quirky” behaviors but nothing happened… There aren’t the resources for low-income parents to screen for autism and community/free clinics don’t have the time or resources to screen children like the ought to.
I hope this screening at 18-24 months enables low-income parents to get the resources/screenings that they need.
(Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday in Atl)
Markus
Nov 7, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Hi Kristina,
I enjoy reading your blog very much.
We have a 4 year old son with autism and a new 4 month old son. We’re keeping a close eye on the new addition. I find myself guilty of scanning him over and over for poor eye contact and any stimming behavior, etc.. Not fair of me, but I’m hoping he won’t be autistic like his older brother. Then yesterday while giving him a bottle the little guy ambushed me staring in my eyes, smiling, laughing and cooing back and forth with me. I try to remember back years ago with our first son and thought that he to did all of these things well. We didn’t notice anything strange until about 2 years old (poor eye contact, poor listening/attention, lack of imitation). I enjoyed your post about this because I’m sure a lot of parents of children are worried about what might (or might now) be coming their way in terms of autism in their newborn children. Even if our second son is autistic, we will be very well prepared to get him the help he needs early, and of course, just love him like no tomorrow.
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