What can we do?

[mia_mcdavid]

Our family was on the leading edge of the autism epidemic.  The mild case was born in '87; the severe one in '89.  Now so many more come behind us.

This article is about our life, and even more about what our life would be if we had not moved to Minnesota, home of pinko bleeding heart socialist government that actually took the burden off of us.

I

Comments

[davidschroth]

I'd opine that our lack of cleverness in figuring out how Tom contributes to society does not mean that Tom doesn't contribute to society.

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

[mia_mcdavid]

Indeed. Thank you for the reminder. I needed that.

[acmespaceship]

None of us are judged on the basis of how much we contribute to society. A sizable percentage of the neurologically typical population is a waste of food, oxygen and water by any objective standard. Isn't prison more expensive than $100k/year

[mia_mcdavid]

Very good points? How is LV these days?

[acmespaceship]

To my ongoing amazement, he is winding up his 3rd year at Northern and they still haven't kicked him out. Finals on Monday and Wednesday, Jury on Tuesday. Comes home for the summer on Thursday night, plays piano at a benefit on Friday night. Registers for summer classes at Triton Community sometime next week. Don't know if he'll ever find work, but with an extra semester or two he may well end up with a bachelor's degree. Go figure

[mia_mcdavid]

J is OK except for a BAD muscle spasm in his back; I think he's starting to believe me about chronic inactivity being hazardous. And, YES, we are coming for Worldcon!!! See you there. :-)

[amagpa]

See, my boys' services were cut by more than two-thirds the minute we moved into Minnesota. According to the sped directors I met with before moving, that decade between your boys and mine did a lot of damage to services made available

[mia_mcdavid]

There is some sort of farm for special-needs kids up north; I hadn't thought about it for J because he hates nature, but it might be an awfully good fit for P, given what you say about him and nature and farms and all. I'll try to look up the name.

[amagpa]

There are several farms for SN adults around, and that's not counting the very real possibility of us somehow incorporating our family farm back into our life. Or something. I've talked about it for years, and now on Fri. B has a third interview with a huge organic coop that also, coincidentally, employs many individuals with SN. God works in mysterious ways....

I'm convinced it's just a matter of finding each individual's niche.