Looking back on 2008 I have to feel a sense of accomplishment. Although I did not meet all of my goals, I DID meet many of them and I am looking forward to 2009. I still can't believe how fast this year went by.
In 2008 we were able to diagnose my daughter with Wilson's Disease and get her checked out by some brilliant doctors at Children's Hospital. That was one of my biggest goals. I still can't believe how many years it took us to get a diagnosis. I am just thankful that I listened to my gut and persisted. If I had listened to previous doctors and ignored my instincts... who knows? I just don't want to even think about that. This year, we got my children into great schools and consequently they have some wonderful teachers who care about them. That was an answer to my prayers. Last year was the worst year, and I vowed to have a better year. This summer we adopted our Cookie, a mangy mutt that has captured our hearts, and is a joy to us all. We have made numerous new friends that will forever be part of our lives. We've also had old ones move back closer to us and that means the world to me as well. My parents and my extended family are all in good health. My husband and I are doing fantastic. What more could I ask for?
I thought I would post my New Year's Resolutions for 2009. This way, I would be accountable. My biggest priority is to be more organized. I need to not only organize my house, my life, my time, but also my thoughts and priorities. I think once I do that, the rest will fall into place. Next on my list, is to live a healthier lifestyle. Not only will this be good for me, but the entire family. I know that not only will I look better, but I will live longer if I do it. I want to finish projects that I began years ago. I think this goes along with being organized. I am convinced that is my major obstacle. I have many long-term goals and dreams, but I think I have enough for now to work on. This blog has been a great outlet for me. It has helped me organize my thoughts and learn more about who I am and what I need to work on.
Last, but definitely not least, I want to continue this blog. My goal is that it will reach all of those families who are desperate for information. My dream is that there will be a parent who has a child with a diagnosis and that they won't feel alone. They will read my story and know that there is hope. I don't pretend to have all the answers. I just promise to all those who read this blog that I will not stop researching and finding information on these topics. I promise that as long as I am able, I will fight for vaccine safety. Even if there is not a consensus on the autism link, there IS a consensus that parents want the safest vaccines and medicines for our children. We insist on research that is comprehensive and unbiased. We are molding our future and all these kids with problems will become adults with problems. We all know the status of our economy and we are about to have "change" come January 2009. I hope and pray that we can dig ourselves out of the hole we are in as a nation so that we will be able to care for all those adults with autism. Their parents will not be there forever and our tax dollars will not be enough.
Since this is my last post until 2009, I wanted to end on this note:
I wish you all a new year full of happiness, promise, and hope. May your trials and burdens be lifted and blessings pour upon you and your family. I have a testimony of Jesus Christ and I know that prayers are answered. We also have a kind and loving Heavenly Father who knows our trials and suffers along with us. All we have to do is remember that He is there and all we have to do is knock and he will open the door. You don't ever have to go through it alone.....NEVER!!
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
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Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Humor is Truly the Best Medicine
I was thinking about all the things that I struggle with and the challenges that mothers face all around the world. It's a common link that binds us women to one another. No matter what country, what race we are, what religion we may belong to, or even our economic status... there are some things that come with the calling of motherhood. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to share a little perspective on things that happen around our household and the way we try and deal with those things. Through a little patience and humor we have learned that nothing is really as bad as it seems at the time. The world won't end at that moment... even if it seems that way.
My youngest is the pickiest eater and it takes everything in the world to get him to eat nutritious things. It almost seems like he doesn't like to chew. If it takes him any effort at all, he won't usually touch it. However, I have recently learned that he loves dips. He loves artichoke dip in particular. He also likes spinach dip. That is one way I can get him to eat his "greens" without too much fuss. Tonight as I was tucking him into bed, I watched him as he laid there and proceeded to pick him nose and eat the contents thereof. How ironic... he won't touch the delicious meal I prepared for the family, but he doesn't give it a second thought to eat his snot. At least I can rest assured that he got his protein for the day. Right?
You know what they say, "if you can't beat them, join them." Well... the other day I was trying to watch a t.v. show that I was looking forward to seeing and the kids were loud and would not let me hear any of it. First, my oldest comes down and tattles on his younger brother. Then came my daughter crying and whining about something. Finally, the baby climbed on top of me and elbowed me on my chest. At that point I had enough. I was about to explode. All of a sudden I realized that I had DVR and could record my show. I did just that! I then turned off the t.v. and joined the kids outside and played. We had the funnest time laughing and running around. The best thing was that I later was able to watch my show UNINTERRUPTED!! Imagine that!!!
How long can a kid keep whining? My husband and I decided to test it out and see. On our way home from Disney last month my husband and I attempted to talk about some things, but one of our kids kept asking for something or proceeded to whine. Our daughter was the culprit this time. She was REALLY tired and could not get settled. My husband leaned over and said, "I bet she can't make it one minute without whining." I took the bet. For the last hour we actually kept track and she did not make it more than a minute. We were almost in tears from laughing so hard. Each time she would whine or cry then we looked at each other and looked at the clock and just burst out laughing. The funniest part was that my daughter would then start to cry thinking we were laughing at her. Eventually our oldest figured out something was going on and then HE started asking us what was funny. We had not laughed so hard in a very long time and it felt good.
Oh....I have to tell you all about our "slow toilet" incident. I noticed that our guest bathroom toilet was not flushing properly and eventually became clogged. I decided to hire some professionals who could remedy the problem. Before they started they told me that it would cost about $40 for them just to look and they would apply it towards the balance at the end. That's fair, I thought. They worked and worked on the blockage. It was clear that it was going to be major. They estimated it was going to be over $100 to clear it. They worked on getting their apparatus inside the toilet to attempt to clear the blockage. Whatever was in there was stuck and would not come out. One of the men came up to me with a worried look on his face and explained that their apparatus was stuck inside and they did not know what to do. They said that they would have to remove the toilet. That would cost another $100 and then they warned me that if they couldn't remove it they might have to bust the toilet to get it out. A brand new toilet would cost us a few hundred dollars. (I was thinking that at this rate it might be cheaper to just get a new toilet.) Anyways, to make a long story short... they ended up finding one of those "free toys" from a child's meal. (It was a toddler toy.) It was definitely pointing towards my #4 more and more. He had attempted to flush it down the toilet and it got stuck in the neck of the toilet where it curves. The men were able to wiggle it lose finally. In the end, our "free" toy end up costing us a couple hundred dollars. What could I do, but laugh? The men had a good sense of humor and shared a story with me to help me feel better. They told me that once a woman was using the bathroom and dropped her cellphone inside the toilet. Well..she didn't want to get her hands dirty and so she flushed the toilet thinking that she could just grab it with clean water. It didn't quite work out the way she expected. She ended up flushing her cellphone. Talk about flushing money down the toilet.... he he he.
I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. In the heat of the moment sometimes we forget to stop, take a deep breath, and exhale. If we step back and look at the bigger picture then we can appreciate the humor in the situation. In our household we definitely have to rely on our sense of humor or else we would go crazy. Who knows? Maybe we are already there. :)
******************************************
They say that those who laugh live longer.
I sure hope that's the case.
******************************************
My youngest is the pickiest eater and it takes everything in the world to get him to eat nutritious things. It almost seems like he doesn't like to chew. If it takes him any effort at all, he won't usually touch it. However, I have recently learned that he loves dips. He loves artichoke dip in particular. He also likes spinach dip. That is one way I can get him to eat his "greens" without too much fuss. Tonight as I was tucking him into bed, I watched him as he laid there and proceeded to pick him nose and eat the contents thereof. How ironic... he won't touch the delicious meal I prepared for the family, but he doesn't give it a second thought to eat his snot. At least I can rest assured that he got his protein for the day. Right?
You know what they say, "if you can't beat them, join them." Well... the other day I was trying to watch a t.v. show that I was looking forward to seeing and the kids were loud and would not let me hear any of it. First, my oldest comes down and tattles on his younger brother. Then came my daughter crying and whining about something. Finally, the baby climbed on top of me and elbowed me on my chest. At that point I had enough. I was about to explode. All of a sudden I realized that I had DVR and could record my show. I did just that! I then turned off the t.v. and joined the kids outside and played. We had the funnest time laughing and running around. The best thing was that I later was able to watch my show UNINTERRUPTED!! Imagine that!!!
How long can a kid keep whining? My husband and I decided to test it out and see. On our way home from Disney last month my husband and I attempted to talk about some things, but one of our kids kept asking for something or proceeded to whine. Our daughter was the culprit this time. She was REALLY tired and could not get settled. My husband leaned over and said, "I bet she can't make it one minute without whining." I took the bet. For the last hour we actually kept track and she did not make it more than a minute. We were almost in tears from laughing so hard. Each time she would whine or cry then we looked at each other and looked at the clock and just burst out laughing. The funniest part was that my daughter would then start to cry thinking we were laughing at her. Eventually our oldest figured out something was going on and then HE started asking us what was funny. We had not laughed so hard in a very long time and it felt good.
Oh....I have to tell you all about our "slow toilet" incident. I noticed that our guest bathroom toilet was not flushing properly and eventually became clogged. I decided to hire some professionals who could remedy the problem. Before they started they told me that it would cost about $40 for them just to look and they would apply it towards the balance at the end. That's fair, I thought. They worked and worked on the blockage. It was clear that it was going to be major. They estimated it was going to be over $100 to clear it. They worked on getting their apparatus inside the toilet to attempt to clear the blockage. Whatever was in there was stuck and would not come out. One of the men came up to me with a worried look on his face and explained that their apparatus was stuck inside and they did not know what to do. They said that they would have to remove the toilet. That would cost another $100 and then they warned me that if they couldn't remove it they might have to bust the toilet to get it out. A brand new toilet would cost us a few hundred dollars. (I was thinking that at this rate it might be cheaper to just get a new toilet.) Anyways, to make a long story short... they ended up finding one of those "free toys" from a child's meal. (It was a toddler toy.) It was definitely pointing towards my #4 more and more. He had attempted to flush it down the toilet and it got stuck in the neck of the toilet where it curves. The men were able to wiggle it lose finally. In the end, our "free" toy end up costing us a couple hundred dollars. What could I do, but laugh? The men had a good sense of humor and shared a story with me to help me feel better. They told me that once a woman was using the bathroom and dropped her cellphone inside the toilet. Well..she didn't want to get her hands dirty and so she flushed the toilet thinking that she could just grab it with clean water. It didn't quite work out the way she expected. She ended up flushing her cellphone. Talk about flushing money down the toilet.... he he he.
I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. In the heat of the moment sometimes we forget to stop, take a deep breath, and exhale. If we step back and look at the bigger picture then we can appreciate the humor in the situation. In our household we definitely have to rely on our sense of humor or else we would go crazy. Who knows? Maybe we are already there. :)
******************************************
They say that those who laugh live longer.
I sure hope that's the case.
******************************************
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Wilson's Disease Monitoring and Insurance Company Battles
I haven't written about my daughter in a long time and I thought I would update you all on her condition and how we are trying to stay on top of things.
Wilson's Disease, as many of you already know, is usually not diagnosed until the person is sick or has some acute liver problem. My daughter is an enigma of sorts and so doctors really don't know how to treat her. The biggest thing right now is that we are monitoring her and making sure to keep a close eye on her copper excretion. The way we do this is by doing 24-hour urine copper testing. Basically, they give you this huge jug and you have to collect ALL the urine that comes out of her body in a 24 hour period and place it inside the jug and keep it either on ice or in the fridge. The biggest challenge for us is catching her before she pees in the toilet. It's so easy to do. She's only five and when she has to go... she has to go. One thing I figured out to do was to place a potty-training seat on top of the toilet. That way if she forgets then it will remind her. We got the kind that just snaps on top of the regular toilet seat and has like a cup. I just pull the cup out and pour the urine into the jug. It's the perfect solution. (I recommend this to anyone who has to collect urine for a girl.... much easier than the little cup they give you.)
Her next appointment at the Children's Hospital is in January. They will take her blood and do the liver enzyme testing. That is so scary for me. I have to admit that at times I forget that she has Wilson's. It's not until I have to see those liver enzyme tests that it reminds me. Her liver enzymes were elevated last time they did them. They didn't make an issue of it when we last saw them, so I didn't think to look at them thoroughly. However, upon closer inspection I realized that some of the enzymes were double what they are supposed to be. Being a Medical Technologist is a double edged sword. It gives me the laboratory knowledge to understand the results of the testing.... However, it also means that I am aware of what those results mean. You know what they say... ignorance is bliss. Sometimes I wish I didn't know so much.
My battle with the insurance company has finally been resolved with my daughter. I am still working on the rest of the family though. The genetic testing cost approximately $2700.00 per person. Needless to say, the insurance company did not make it easy for us. First, they claimed it wasn't medically necessary. I was soooo upset about that! They asked for medical records and a statement from the doctor stating why the test was ordered. I was worried about future tests, so I asked her doctor to make sure she explained in no uncertain terms how necessary this testing was. She wrote the best letter for us and I hope that it covers any future testing we might have to do.
The next issue we had to deal with was the billing. They processed it all wrong and I had to straighten it out. They were submitting it and resubmitting it, and it began to look like they were trying to bill us twice for the same testing. Of course, the insurance company questioned it and had to go through the entire process again. In other words, we were fine and covered and then all of a sudden it was rejected again. UGH!! What a nightmare!
Right now I am waiting to hear from the hospital about the rest of our family. According to the insurance people they paid already and had other payments sent in early December, and we only owed a couple hundred dollars total. However, the hospital explained to me that they had not received any payments since October. Who is telling the truth? Who knows? I would bet on the hospital because they definitely want to get their money and the insurance company will do whatever they can to NOT pay for services. I am convinced that insurance companies are pure evil! We have private insurance and have been paying a hefty bill each month for years. Now that it's time to collect they are playing this game with us. It's not fair and not right.
My advice to those of you who have medical bills like us is to make sure you keep all insurance and testing documentation. I am sure glad I did! Also, make sure to log your phone calls. That is another thing that kills me.... the amount of time I have spent on the phone on hold or talking to others trying to resolve this has been unreal. Now they have a system at the hospital where you have to push "1" to continue to hold. That means you can't put the phone down for a second. You have to put your life on hold. The voice-activated ones are worse! Try speaking to a computer when you've got screaming kids in the background... it's nearly impossible! Of course, my kids have a phone radar. They know when I am on the phone and immediately their volume goes up by 300%.
I will update you all on how my daughter is doing after her January appointment. All we can do right now is pray that we are doing the right thing. It's basically in the Lord's hands right now, so I can't stress about something I have no control over. She is such a sweet spirit and warms the heart of everyone she comes in contact with. I know she's got a greater purpose on this earth. She's definitely a leader and a friend to everyone she knows. I can only imagine the woman she will one day become.
*************************************
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!! May 2009 bring
you peace, joy, and prosperity.
*************************************
Wilson's Disease, as many of you already know, is usually not diagnosed until the person is sick or has some acute liver problem. My daughter is an enigma of sorts and so doctors really don't know how to treat her. The biggest thing right now is that we are monitoring her and making sure to keep a close eye on her copper excretion. The way we do this is by doing 24-hour urine copper testing. Basically, they give you this huge jug and you have to collect ALL the urine that comes out of her body in a 24 hour period and place it inside the jug and keep it either on ice or in the fridge. The biggest challenge for us is catching her before she pees in the toilet. It's so easy to do. She's only five and when she has to go... she has to go. One thing I figured out to do was to place a potty-training seat on top of the toilet. That way if she forgets then it will remind her. We got the kind that just snaps on top of the regular toilet seat and has like a cup. I just pull the cup out and pour the urine into the jug. It's the perfect solution. (I recommend this to anyone who has to collect urine for a girl.... much easier than the little cup they give you.)
Her next appointment at the Children's Hospital is in January. They will take her blood and do the liver enzyme testing. That is so scary for me. I have to admit that at times I forget that she has Wilson's. It's not until I have to see those liver enzyme tests that it reminds me. Her liver enzymes were elevated last time they did them. They didn't make an issue of it when we last saw them, so I didn't think to look at them thoroughly. However, upon closer inspection I realized that some of the enzymes were double what they are supposed to be. Being a Medical Technologist is a double edged sword. It gives me the laboratory knowledge to understand the results of the testing.... However, it also means that I am aware of what those results mean. You know what they say... ignorance is bliss. Sometimes I wish I didn't know so much.
My battle with the insurance company has finally been resolved with my daughter. I am still working on the rest of the family though. The genetic testing cost approximately $2700.00 per person. Needless to say, the insurance company did not make it easy for us. First, they claimed it wasn't medically necessary. I was soooo upset about that! They asked for medical records and a statement from the doctor stating why the test was ordered. I was worried about future tests, so I asked her doctor to make sure she explained in no uncertain terms how necessary this testing was. She wrote the best letter for us and I hope that it covers any future testing we might have to do.
The next issue we had to deal with was the billing. They processed it all wrong and I had to straighten it out. They were submitting it and resubmitting it, and it began to look like they were trying to bill us twice for the same testing. Of course, the insurance company questioned it and had to go through the entire process again. In other words, we were fine and covered and then all of a sudden it was rejected again. UGH!! What a nightmare!
Right now I am waiting to hear from the hospital about the rest of our family. According to the insurance people they paid already and had other payments sent in early December, and we only owed a couple hundred dollars total. However, the hospital explained to me that they had not received any payments since October. Who is telling the truth? Who knows? I would bet on the hospital because they definitely want to get their money and the insurance company will do whatever they can to NOT pay for services. I am convinced that insurance companies are pure evil! We have private insurance and have been paying a hefty bill each month for years. Now that it's time to collect they are playing this game with us. It's not fair and not right.
My advice to those of you who have medical bills like us is to make sure you keep all insurance and testing documentation. I am sure glad I did! Also, make sure to log your phone calls. That is another thing that kills me.... the amount of time I have spent on the phone on hold or talking to others trying to resolve this has been unreal. Now they have a system at the hospital where you have to push "1" to continue to hold. That means you can't put the phone down for a second. You have to put your life on hold. The voice-activated ones are worse! Try speaking to a computer when you've got screaming kids in the background... it's nearly impossible! Of course, my kids have a phone radar. They know when I am on the phone and immediately their volume goes up by 300%.
I will update you all on how my daughter is doing after her January appointment. All we can do right now is pray that we are doing the right thing. It's basically in the Lord's hands right now, so I can't stress about something I have no control over. She is such a sweet spirit and warms the heart of everyone she comes in contact with. I know she's got a greater purpose on this earth. She's definitely a leader and a friend to everyone she knows. I can only imagine the woman she will one day become.
*************************************
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!! May 2009 bring
you peace, joy, and prosperity.
*************************************
Sunday, December 21, 2008
One Too Many
There is something I have to get off my chest, and I thought this would be the perfect forum. Here we go....
Let's say that a toy manufacturer invents a toy and consequently distributes it through a major toy store all over the country. Let's say that the same manufacturer did not do a thorough testing evaluation to determine the safety of the toy before releasing it to the public. Once the toy hit the shelves it's a hit and so parents rush to the stores to buy this toy. Unfortunately, a few months later a parent gives the toy to their toddler who ends up dying of mercury poisoning because he put it in his mouth and the paint has mercury in it. The toy company has two options at this point. They could either pull the toys off the shelves and announce a recall, OR they could redesign the toys with a non-mercury based paint. If the company takes the toys off the shelves they still haven't lost anything. They sold thousands and only had one fatality that more than likely is settled out of court. If they decide to redesign the toy then it could take a little longer, they would have to admit there was something wrong with their product, and they could lose millions in the long-run. Hmmmm? What are they to do?
Vaccine manufacturers are in the same boat. The biggest difference is that their products are mandated and they are protected by the government against getting sued...thus the Vaccine Compensation Fund (VICP)and VAERS. Parents have no choice. They don't have to change their product or pull it off the shelf because frankly there is no need for it. Why should they? They make millions of dollars on the vaccines and the doctors push for it. They could add another dozen vaccines to the schedule and most parents would probably not give it another thought. Since it's for their child's well-being... why would they? Right?
Of course, I am being very sarcastic right now. If one child dies because of vaccines... in my opinion, that's one too many. I have met doctors who don't vaccinate their children. I have heard of doctors who delay vaccines but don't give a valid excuse of why they do it. They claim that it's better to wait until they are two months old, but don't believe that vaccines are dangerous. That's definitely conflicting opinions. What is it that they know that they don't want to tell us? Well...that's what this post is about. I am about to enlighten a few of you.
Myth #1: They have removed thimerosal from all childhood mandated vaccines.
Truth: The truth is that they have not TOTALLY removed it from all the vaccines and the flu vaccine still has it. I didn't believe it until I checked it out at the CDC official website. (I don't look at any of "quack" websites anymore.) There are traces of mercury still in many of the vaccines. They need to consider the cummulative amounts. In other words, they need to add up ALL of the mercury in ALL of the shots they give babies. It would NOT be "trace" amounts if you added it up.
Myth #2: All doctors believe that vaccines are safe and that the current schedule is the best one.Truth: My pediatric neurologist did not vaccinate his children and he knew of many doctors who believed that the toxins in vaccines interfered with normal brain development and immunity. Also, I know first-hand of doctors who do NOT follow the recommended CDC schedule of vaccination. They either wait until the baby is two months old OR they space out the vaccines a little farther apart.
Myth #3: The vaccine manufacturers have done extensive research to make sure that vaccines are safe. Truth: Hehehehehe.....LOL....ROFLOL....Okay...Seriously, do you think they pay a lot of money to independent researching companies? Nope! The NIH, FDA, CDC, and AHRQ are among the researching agencies... all government agencies. I don't believe in a "conspiracy theory". However, when the agencies that do the research have to rely on grants and private funds you know that there is room for corruption. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there is definitely a need for change there. If you don't believe me, then look at how long it takes for drugs to be recalled. I am sure you have noticed all the lawsuit commercials for different drugs. It all falls within the same FDA and CDC people.
Myth #4: They wouldn't recommend the vaccine even if they knew there were some potential adverse affects. Truth: WRONG.... so WRONG.... check this out: www.menactra.com
Under Safety Information it reads: "Side effects to Menactra vaccine include injection site pain, redness, and swelling; headache or fatigue. Other side effects may occur. Vaccination should be avoided by persons with known hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction) to any ingredient of the vaccine, including latex (which is used in the vial stopper), or by any persons previously diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. There is a potential for an increased chance of getting Guillain-Barré syndrome following vaccination. Vaccination with Menactra vaccine may not protect all individuals. "
This is just ONE of the MANY examples I can give you. For those of you who don't know what Guillain-Barre Syndrome is, let me explain. The Mayo Clinic defines it this way: "Guillain-Barre syndrome is an uncommon inflammatory disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves, typically causing severe weakness and numbness that usually starts in your extremities and quickly worsens. Eventually your whole body can become paralyzed, even the muscles used for breathing...Luckily, this potentially deadly disorder is relatively rare, occurring worldwide in only one or two people per 100,000....There is no cure for the disorder."
So...you are basically taking the chance of giving your child this "uncommon inflammatory disorder" and horrific disease and "it may not protect all individuals". I guarantee that your doctor will tell you that it's worth the risk. However, not all parents will question this vaccine that can be given to children from age 2 to adults 55... CDC recommends this vaccine for children 11-18 years of age.
I think that if I were the parent of that one child who either died or contracted a horrible disease because of the shot, I would be totally devastated. It's not a matter of allergy or side-effects. I totally understand that there is going to be risks involved with anything like that. I am not that naive to think that medicine is 100% either. I know that. However, when the manufacturer and the CDC and the FDA all know that there is something like that going on and they still give the shots and mandate them until they can PROVE there is really nothing wrong then I think that is pure EVIL!!
Vaccines are just like medicine. It's all about profits. It takes something major to pull meds off the shelf. The same goes for the vaccines. They make so much money that they can afford to have some damages. That is why they continue to sell the products even though thousands of parents are screaming out, "My child has been injured! Please do something about it!" Only time will tell if they truly have the children's best interest at heart. I have a strong suspicion that once the minority becomes the majority then they won't be able to ignore it any longer. I pray it doesn't have to go so far.
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Thanks for taking the time to read this
post. It feels good to vent sometimes.
***************************************
Let's say that a toy manufacturer invents a toy and consequently distributes it through a major toy store all over the country. Let's say that the same manufacturer did not do a thorough testing evaluation to determine the safety of the toy before releasing it to the public. Once the toy hit the shelves it's a hit and so parents rush to the stores to buy this toy. Unfortunately, a few months later a parent gives the toy to their toddler who ends up dying of mercury poisoning because he put it in his mouth and the paint has mercury in it. The toy company has two options at this point. They could either pull the toys off the shelves and announce a recall, OR they could redesign the toys with a non-mercury based paint. If the company takes the toys off the shelves they still haven't lost anything. They sold thousands and only had one fatality that more than likely is settled out of court. If they decide to redesign the toy then it could take a little longer, they would have to admit there was something wrong with their product, and they could lose millions in the long-run. Hmmmm? What are they to do?
Vaccine manufacturers are in the same boat. The biggest difference is that their products are mandated and they are protected by the government against getting sued...thus the Vaccine Compensation Fund (VICP)and VAERS. Parents have no choice. They don't have to change their product or pull it off the shelf because frankly there is no need for it. Why should they? They make millions of dollars on the vaccines and the doctors push for it. They could add another dozen vaccines to the schedule and most parents would probably not give it another thought. Since it's for their child's well-being... why would they? Right?
Of course, I am being very sarcastic right now. If one child dies because of vaccines... in my opinion, that's one too many. I have met doctors who don't vaccinate their children. I have heard of doctors who delay vaccines but don't give a valid excuse of why they do it. They claim that it's better to wait until they are two months old, but don't believe that vaccines are dangerous. That's definitely conflicting opinions. What is it that they know that they don't want to tell us? Well...that's what this post is about. I am about to enlighten a few of you.
Myth #1: They have removed thimerosal from all childhood mandated vaccines.
Truth: The truth is that they have not TOTALLY removed it from all the vaccines and the flu vaccine still has it. I didn't believe it until I checked it out at the CDC official website. (I don't look at any of "quack" websites anymore.) There are traces of mercury still in many of the vaccines. They need to consider the cummulative amounts. In other words, they need to add up ALL of the mercury in ALL of the shots they give babies. It would NOT be "trace" amounts if you added it up.
Myth #2: All doctors believe that vaccines are safe and that the current schedule is the best one.Truth: My pediatric neurologist did not vaccinate his children and he knew of many doctors who believed that the toxins in vaccines interfered with normal brain development and immunity. Also, I know first-hand of doctors who do NOT follow the recommended CDC schedule of vaccination. They either wait until the baby is two months old OR they space out the vaccines a little farther apart.
Myth #3: The vaccine manufacturers have done extensive research to make sure that vaccines are safe. Truth: Hehehehehe.....LOL....ROFLOL....Okay...Seriously, do you think they pay a lot of money to independent researching companies? Nope! The NIH, FDA, CDC, and AHRQ are among the researching agencies... all government agencies. I don't believe in a "conspiracy theory". However, when the agencies that do the research have to rely on grants and private funds you know that there is room for corruption. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there is definitely a need for change there. If you don't believe me, then look at how long it takes for drugs to be recalled. I am sure you have noticed all the lawsuit commercials for different drugs. It all falls within the same FDA and CDC people.
Myth #4: They wouldn't recommend the vaccine even if they knew there were some potential adverse affects. Truth: WRONG.... so WRONG.... check this out: www.menactra.com
Under Safety Information it reads: "Side effects to Menactra vaccine include injection site pain, redness, and swelling; headache or fatigue. Other side effects may occur. Vaccination should be avoided by persons with known hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction) to any ingredient of the vaccine, including latex (which is used in the vial stopper), or by any persons previously diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. There is a potential for an increased chance of getting Guillain-Barré syndrome following vaccination. Vaccination with Menactra vaccine may not protect all individuals. "
This is just ONE of the MANY examples I can give you. For those of you who don't know what Guillain-Barre Syndrome is, let me explain. The Mayo Clinic defines it this way: "Guillain-Barre syndrome is an uncommon inflammatory disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves, typically causing severe weakness and numbness that usually starts in your extremities and quickly worsens. Eventually your whole body can become paralyzed, even the muscles used for breathing...Luckily, this potentially deadly disorder is relatively rare, occurring worldwide in only one or two people per 100,000....There is no cure for the disorder."
So...you are basically taking the chance of giving your child this "uncommon inflammatory disorder" and horrific disease and "it may not protect all individuals". I guarantee that your doctor will tell you that it's worth the risk. However, not all parents will question this vaccine that can be given to children from age 2 to adults 55... CDC recommends this vaccine for children 11-18 years of age.
I think that if I were the parent of that one child who either died or contracted a horrible disease because of the shot, I would be totally devastated. It's not a matter of allergy or side-effects. I totally understand that there is going to be risks involved with anything like that. I am not that naive to think that medicine is 100% either. I know that. However, when the manufacturer and the CDC and the FDA all know that there is something like that going on and they still give the shots and mandate them until they can PROVE there is really nothing wrong then I think that is pure EVIL!!
Vaccines are just like medicine. It's all about profits. It takes something major to pull meds off the shelf. The same goes for the vaccines. They make so much money that they can afford to have some damages. That is why they continue to sell the products even though thousands of parents are screaming out, "My child has been injured! Please do something about it!" Only time will tell if they truly have the children's best interest at heart. I have a strong suspicion that once the minority becomes the majority then they won't be able to ignore it any longer. I pray it doesn't have to go so far.
***************************************
Thanks for taking the time to read this
post. It feels good to vent sometimes.
***************************************
Monday, December 15, 2008
Omnibus Autism Proceeding Information
I never heard of the Omnibus Autism Proceeding until I happened to come across the terminology used over and over again when I was doing my research on vaccines and their link to autism. I decided one night to Google it and I was shocked at what I found out! There are so many people out there who have had children end up with autism (coincidentally) after either a shot or multiple shots that the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program had to come up with a system to deal with the approximately 5000 families. The bad news is that each family has to prove that vaccines injured their child.... the worst news is that there is a 3 year statute of limitations! (I will discuss that further in a moment.)
This is the link to the docket of the Omnibus Trial Hearing: http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/node/2718
I am lucky to have a wonderful husband who is a lawyer. I want to start off by saying that any information and comments I make on this post are not intended to be legal advice. I am just a mother who wants to make sure that others don't have to go through the same ordeal I did. I also want to spare you some mistakes I made.
When you go to the website you can actually click on the links to audio recording of the proceedings. I have to warn you that a lot of them are lengthy and you have to listen to a lot of legal discussions. However, there are some wonderful testimonies by MEDICAL doctors that you would be wise to listen to. I am not a medical doctor so what I say doesn't have as much merit as someone who has YEARS of medical experience. There are hours of testimony recorded and I urge you to listen to some of them. These are the directions on how to get to the recordings: 1) Place your mouse over "Vaccine Information" on the left-hand side of the page 2)Then click on "Autism Proceeding" (that will take you to the audio recordings and transcripts). You can listen to the proceedings while doing other things such as checking emails, etc... the audio will continue to play until you stop it. Also, you can click on the transcripts and read it a lot faster.
I read through most of the transcripts about two years ago. It was so interesting to me that I literally spent four hours one night reading through them. I had to stop myself because I became a little obsessed with the whole thing. I gave myself a break and then continued and found out that there were dozens of doctors and researchers involved in this case and even Johns Hopkins has a group working on a way to counteract the affects of vaccines on kids with autism.... possibly developing a "cure". I am totally convinced that if the public knew about this then something would get done quickly. All I want... all anyone wants is for vaccines to be safe. We already take a risk each time we give our kids shots and we shouldn't have to take more risks in the safety of the ingredients in shots. Everyone already knows that mercury is toxic. In small amounts it causes all sorts of brain damage. That's not rocket science. However, this trial or "proceeding" is to prove once and for all that vaccines can and DO cause autism in SOME children and that parents need to be aware of it.... especially if autism runs in their family.
My hope is that if enough people demand greener vaccines then the vaccine manufacturers will feel the pinch in their pockets and profits will drop to the extent that they will have NO choice but to meet the demands of concerned parents. It just doesn't have to be this way.
Now, I am ready to explain the process that needs to be executed as soon as possible, the time restrictions (statute of limitations), and how to best organize yourself to prepare documentation and your case. First of all, and most importantly, there is a 3 year statute of limitations on the Omnibus Autism Proceeding. That means that you have three years from the time of onset of injury to file your case. Simply put, if your child received shots and was injured more than 3 years ago, then you are out of luck. Even if it's an obvious injury... even if there is documentation... even if your child DIED.... you have only 3 years!!! This is one of the reasons I wanted to write this post. We were lucky and got our papers filed to the month of our 3 year cut-off. However, with my #2 (which we have a stronger case) we were out of luck. It happened more than 3 years ago. If you think you have a case then I urge you to act quickly.
The first step is to visit: http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/omnibusproceeding.htm
(Click on "Omnibus Autism Proceeding" on the right-hand side of the screen and it will direct you to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. You can see a "Sample Filing" under the "Vaccine Information".) I was blessed to have a husband who could do it correctly. His legal background has helped us tremendously. I strongly recommend getting legal advice. However, it IS possible to do it yourself. You don't HAVE to get a lawyer to file your claim. Also, once it goes to D.C. you will be assigned legal counsel. They will handle things over there and you won't have to travel to Washington, D.C. I was kind of worried about that.
Next thing you need to do is get copies of all your medical records from all of the doctors that have treated or seen your child. I have to warn you that some doctors will charge you for this. One of my doctors charged me PER PAGE!! I had another doctor who was sweet enough to make the copies for FREE! Once you obtain these records you need to make copies... I would suggest 5 copies because you will need 3 just for filing. It's better to have extra just in case. Make sure that the notes and important information are legible on your copies. You might need to adjust the copier to make it darker in some cases. The medical records will become part of your exhibits or evidence and you want to make sure that the court can read them. Try to organize them in order and by doctor. In my case, I put each doctor in a separate "Exhibit" and placed all the laboratory testing and documentation made by that particular doctor. It made it easier to find information as needed. You have to submit your medical records either binded or electronically. We chose to do it on paper because we felt better about that. However, if you are computer savvy then you might prefer the electronic method. The website explains how to do it either way.
When you file your claim then you will receive directions from the court as to what they need and the deadlines. I URGE you to read it thoroughly and take note of the deadlines. We came very close a few times. Believe me, they aren't going to make it easy for you. The important thing is to keep copies of everything just in case and when you put together your exhibits and documentation make sure you make a copy for yourself. Learn from my mistake. You will need to send three copies of most everything and if you accidentally forget you can easily just copy what you have versus trying to figure out what you sent.
One thing I would like to discuss is how do you know if you have a case or not? Who needs to file a claim? What are the theories of causation? Good questions. First of all, there are THREE theories of causation. The first theory says that any mercury-containing vaccine can cause autism. The second says that mercury-containing vaccines PLUS MMR cause autism. The third says that only the MMR causes autism. (Very condensed version for sure. You can read more in depth in the website.) You will need to choose one theory of causation. We chose the first. My belief is that the cumulative effect of mercury-containing vaccines caused my child to have autism. We are extremely lucky that we were able to treat the damage caused by the vaccines, and she is much better now... not completely recovered, but she is a totally different child. I have to admit that I was hesitant about filing this claim. However, after much thought and prayer I realized that we HAD to. It wasn't only for our children, but for all those out there that don't have a voice. There are thousands of families that can't file because their child was injured more than 3 years ago. That is a travesty of justice, in my humble opinion. It doesn't change the fact that they were injured and those families have to live with the consequences.
Once you submit all of your evidence and affidavit then you will submit a statement of completion letting them know that you are done submitting information to the court. At this point it is in the hands of the court to look at the testimony and evidence and you will receive updates on what is going on. I looked at the docket and saw many cases that have been pending for years. So... this is definitely not going to be over any time soon. It is going to take years before it's over. One thing I forgot to mention is not to panic if the court calls you. I received a few calls from them and they were all very sweet. They will call if they need something or have a question. Also, don't hesitate to call THEM as well. Their number is on the correspondence that you will receive. Each case is assigned a different judge (or Special Masters), legal counsel, etc. so you will need to wait for them to send you the paperwork before you will know that information.
To recap:
1) Statute of limitations: 3 years
2) Make a decision on theory of causation. There are three theories.
3) Get copies of medical records and all evidence necessary for your case.
4) Go to the website and get information on filing your claim
5) The court will contact you via mail with all important information and instructions. Read it carefully and follow the deadlines.
6) Don't panic if they call you and don't hesitate to call them if you have ANY questions. Everyone I have spoken to has been very helpful and nice.
7) Be patient because this could take a very long time.
*****************************************
"One can never consent to creep when one
feels an impulse to soar."-Helen Keller
*****************************************
This is the link to the docket of the Omnibus Trial Hearing: http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/node/2718
I am lucky to have a wonderful husband who is a lawyer. I want to start off by saying that any information and comments I make on this post are not intended to be legal advice. I am just a mother who wants to make sure that others don't have to go through the same ordeal I did. I also want to spare you some mistakes I made.
When you go to the website you can actually click on the links to audio recording of the proceedings. I have to warn you that a lot of them are lengthy and you have to listen to a lot of legal discussions. However, there are some wonderful testimonies by MEDICAL doctors that you would be wise to listen to. I am not a medical doctor so what I say doesn't have as much merit as someone who has YEARS of medical experience. There are hours of testimony recorded and I urge you to listen to some of them. These are the directions on how to get to the recordings: 1) Place your mouse over "Vaccine Information" on the left-hand side of the page 2)Then click on "Autism Proceeding" (that will take you to the audio recordings and transcripts). You can listen to the proceedings while doing other things such as checking emails, etc... the audio will continue to play until you stop it. Also, you can click on the transcripts and read it a lot faster.
I read through most of the transcripts about two years ago. It was so interesting to me that I literally spent four hours one night reading through them. I had to stop myself because I became a little obsessed with the whole thing. I gave myself a break and then continued and found out that there were dozens of doctors and researchers involved in this case and even Johns Hopkins has a group working on a way to counteract the affects of vaccines on kids with autism.... possibly developing a "cure". I am totally convinced that if the public knew about this then something would get done quickly. All I want... all anyone wants is for vaccines to be safe. We already take a risk each time we give our kids shots and we shouldn't have to take more risks in the safety of the ingredients in shots. Everyone already knows that mercury is toxic. In small amounts it causes all sorts of brain damage. That's not rocket science. However, this trial or "proceeding" is to prove once and for all that vaccines can and DO cause autism in SOME children and that parents need to be aware of it.... especially if autism runs in their family.
My hope is that if enough people demand greener vaccines then the vaccine manufacturers will feel the pinch in their pockets and profits will drop to the extent that they will have NO choice but to meet the demands of concerned parents. It just doesn't have to be this way.
Now, I am ready to explain the process that needs to be executed as soon as possible, the time restrictions (statute of limitations), and how to best organize yourself to prepare documentation and your case. First of all, and most importantly, there is a 3 year statute of limitations on the Omnibus Autism Proceeding. That means that you have three years from the time of onset of injury to file your case. Simply put, if your child received shots and was injured more than 3 years ago, then you are out of luck. Even if it's an obvious injury... even if there is documentation... even if your child DIED.... you have only 3 years!!! This is one of the reasons I wanted to write this post. We were lucky and got our papers filed to the month of our 3 year cut-off. However, with my #2 (which we have a stronger case) we were out of luck. It happened more than 3 years ago. If you think you have a case then I urge you to act quickly.
The first step is to visit: http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/omnibusproceeding.htm
(Click on "Omnibus Autism Proceeding" on the right-hand side of the screen and it will direct you to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. You can see a "Sample Filing" under the "Vaccine Information".) I was blessed to have a husband who could do it correctly. His legal background has helped us tremendously. I strongly recommend getting legal advice. However, it IS possible to do it yourself. You don't HAVE to get a lawyer to file your claim. Also, once it goes to D.C. you will be assigned legal counsel. They will handle things over there and you won't have to travel to Washington, D.C. I was kind of worried about that.
Next thing you need to do is get copies of all your medical records from all of the doctors that have treated or seen your child. I have to warn you that some doctors will charge you for this. One of my doctors charged me PER PAGE!! I had another doctor who was sweet enough to make the copies for FREE! Once you obtain these records you need to make copies... I would suggest 5 copies because you will need 3 just for filing. It's better to have extra just in case. Make sure that the notes and important information are legible on your copies. You might need to adjust the copier to make it darker in some cases. The medical records will become part of your exhibits or evidence and you want to make sure that the court can read them. Try to organize them in order and by doctor. In my case, I put each doctor in a separate "Exhibit" and placed all the laboratory testing and documentation made by that particular doctor. It made it easier to find information as needed. You have to submit your medical records either binded or electronically. We chose to do it on paper because we felt better about that. However, if you are computer savvy then you might prefer the electronic method. The website explains how to do it either way.
When you file your claim then you will receive directions from the court as to what they need and the deadlines. I URGE you to read it thoroughly and take note of the deadlines. We came very close a few times. Believe me, they aren't going to make it easy for you. The important thing is to keep copies of everything just in case and when you put together your exhibits and documentation make sure you make a copy for yourself. Learn from my mistake. You will need to send three copies of most everything and if you accidentally forget you can easily just copy what you have versus trying to figure out what you sent.
One thing I would like to discuss is how do you know if you have a case or not? Who needs to file a claim? What are the theories of causation? Good questions. First of all, there are THREE theories of causation. The first theory says that any mercury-containing vaccine can cause autism. The second says that mercury-containing vaccines PLUS MMR cause autism. The third says that only the MMR causes autism. (Very condensed version for sure. You can read more in depth in the website.) You will need to choose one theory of causation. We chose the first. My belief is that the cumulative effect of mercury-containing vaccines caused my child to have autism. We are extremely lucky that we were able to treat the damage caused by the vaccines, and she is much better now... not completely recovered, but she is a totally different child. I have to admit that I was hesitant about filing this claim. However, after much thought and prayer I realized that we HAD to. It wasn't only for our children, but for all those out there that don't have a voice. There are thousands of families that can't file because their child was injured more than 3 years ago. That is a travesty of justice, in my humble opinion. It doesn't change the fact that they were injured and those families have to live with the consequences.
Once you submit all of your evidence and affidavit then you will submit a statement of completion letting them know that you are done submitting information to the court. At this point it is in the hands of the court to look at the testimony and evidence and you will receive updates on what is going on. I looked at the docket and saw many cases that have been pending for years. So... this is definitely not going to be over any time soon. It is going to take years before it's over. One thing I forgot to mention is not to panic if the court calls you. I received a few calls from them and they were all very sweet. They will call if they need something or have a question. Also, don't hesitate to call THEM as well. Their number is on the correspondence that you will receive. Each case is assigned a different judge (or Special Masters), legal counsel, etc. so you will need to wait for them to send you the paperwork before you will know that information.
To recap:
1) Statute of limitations: 3 years
2) Make a decision on theory of causation. There are three theories.
3) Get copies of medical records and all evidence necessary for your case.
4) Go to the website and get information on filing your claim
5) The court will contact you via mail with all important information and instructions. Read it carefully and follow the deadlines.
6) Don't panic if they call you and don't hesitate to call them if you have ANY questions. Everyone I have spoken to has been very helpful and nice.
7) Be patient because this could take a very long time.
*****************************************
"One can never consent to creep when one
feels an impulse to soar."-Helen Keller
*****************************************
What is a Learning Disability ..... Part III
*Again.... I want to remind you all that this is information is taken from the F.A.T. City Learning Disability Workshop hosted by Richard D. Lavoie.
Experiencing Frustration, Anxiety, and Tension:
LD children experience these feelings when teachers:
1) use throwaway sarcasms which may make the rest of the class laugh but create a victim out of the LD child;
2) move through question and answer periods so rapidly that LD children cannot keep up and choose not to volunteer, or when called on, cannot answer;
3) become intimidating, and demand that LD students "Look at them" when they speak to them.
Inability to Process Language:
LD children's inability to process language as rapidly as others may make it necessary for teachers to:
1) move less rapidly through classroom discussion, especially the question and answer periods;
2) take the LD child aside and promise only to call on him or her when standing in front of the student's desk. That way, only the teacher and LD student know when the student is required to answer.
Risk Taking:
Sometimes intimidating situations in the classroom make LD students hesitant to take risks. This leads to:
1) lack of participation in classroom discussion for fear of giving a wrong answer which will be ridiculed;
2) LD students developing into LD adults who are reluctant to take chances.
Visual Perception:
The visual perception problems of LD students make it difficult for them to immediately understand what they are looking at. This problem is exacerbated by teachers who:
1) urge the LD student to "try harder" to understand what he or she is having trouble making sense of;
2) attempt to "bribe" such students by offering them an early recess or less homework, etc.;
3) attempt to threaten the student by withdrawing such things as recess, etc.;
4) engage in "blaming the victim" by accusing the LD child of not trying hard enough.
Reading Comprehension:
LD students have trouble with reading comprehension even if they know and recognize individual words within a sentence.
They may be dyslexic or they may not have a grasp of the background information required to understand what they are reading.
The Effect of Visual Perception on Behavior:
Often the LD child gets into trouble and does now know what he or she did wrong. Misperceptions of visual stimuli can lead the LD student to give incorrect answers or respond inappropriately to situations.
Visual-Motor Coordination:
Difficulties with visual-motor coordination often make the writing process very difficult for LD students.
Oral Expression:
The inability to retrieve stored linguistic information the way others can is called dysnomia. Teachers can help with this problem by giving the LD student more time to answer and respond to questions.
Reading and Decoding:
LD students are often dyslexic and they cannot decode information as quickly as others can.
Auditory and Visual Capabilities:
LD students often need to hear a written passage before they are able to comprehend it. Many LD students benefit from having books on audiotape.
Fairness:
Teachers are urged to reexamine the notion of what is "fair." "Fair" does not mean that every child gets the same treatment, but that every child gets what he or she needs.
..........................................
The last point is one of the most important ones in this post! I had problems with my #2's kindergarten teacher because she would use that reasoning all the time. She couldn't make special exceptions for my child because it wouldn't be "fair" or that if she did that for MY child then she would have to do it for ALL.... which is something that needs to change! For example, my #2 had trouble settling down for nap time and I asked if he could just have a book or something quiet to do since he no longer took naps... well, the answer was, "it wouldn't be fair." SOOOOOOOOOO frustrating!!!!
*************************************
What is fairness? Do we cater to the
few in spite of the majority... or do
we let let those few fall between the
cracks?
*************************************
Experiencing Frustration, Anxiety, and Tension:
LD children experience these feelings when teachers:
1) use throwaway sarcasms which may make the rest of the class laugh but create a victim out of the LD child;
2) move through question and answer periods so rapidly that LD children cannot keep up and choose not to volunteer, or when called on, cannot answer;
3) become intimidating, and demand that LD students "Look at them" when they speak to them.
Inability to Process Language:
LD children's inability to process language as rapidly as others may make it necessary for teachers to:
1) move less rapidly through classroom discussion, especially the question and answer periods;
2) take the LD child aside and promise only to call on him or her when standing in front of the student's desk. That way, only the teacher and LD student know when the student is required to answer.
Risk Taking:
Sometimes intimidating situations in the classroom make LD students hesitant to take risks. This leads to:
1) lack of participation in classroom discussion for fear of giving a wrong answer which will be ridiculed;
2) LD students developing into LD adults who are reluctant to take chances.
Visual Perception:
The visual perception problems of LD students make it difficult for them to immediately understand what they are looking at. This problem is exacerbated by teachers who:
1) urge the LD student to "try harder" to understand what he or she is having trouble making sense of;
2) attempt to "bribe" such students by offering them an early recess or less homework, etc.;
3) attempt to threaten the student by withdrawing such things as recess, etc.;
4) engage in "blaming the victim" by accusing the LD child of not trying hard enough.
Reading Comprehension:
LD students have trouble with reading comprehension even if they know and recognize individual words within a sentence.
They may be dyslexic or they may not have a grasp of the background information required to understand what they are reading.
The Effect of Visual Perception on Behavior:
Often the LD child gets into trouble and does now know what he or she did wrong. Misperceptions of visual stimuli can lead the LD student to give incorrect answers or respond inappropriately to situations.
Visual-Motor Coordination:
Difficulties with visual-motor coordination often make the writing process very difficult for LD students.
Oral Expression:
The inability to retrieve stored linguistic information the way others can is called dysnomia. Teachers can help with this problem by giving the LD student more time to answer and respond to questions.
Reading and Decoding:
LD students are often dyslexic and they cannot decode information as quickly as others can.
Auditory and Visual Capabilities:
LD students often need to hear a written passage before they are able to comprehend it. Many LD students benefit from having books on audiotape.
Fairness:
Teachers are urged to reexamine the notion of what is "fair." "Fair" does not mean that every child gets the same treatment, but that every child gets what he or she needs.
..........................................
The last point is one of the most important ones in this post! I had problems with my #2's kindergarten teacher because she would use that reasoning all the time. She couldn't make special exceptions for my child because it wouldn't be "fair" or that if she did that for MY child then she would have to do it for ALL.... which is something that needs to change! For example, my #2 had trouble settling down for nap time and I asked if he could just have a book or something quiet to do since he no longer took naps... well, the answer was, "it wouldn't be fair." SOOOOOOOOOO frustrating!!!!
*************************************
What is fairness? Do we cater to the
few in spite of the majority... or do
we let let those few fall between the
cracks?
*************************************
Thursday, December 4, 2008
What is a Learning Disability ....... Part II
What are the early warning signs of learning disabilities? That's an excellent question parents and educators should ask. Children with learning disabilities exhibit a wide range of symptoms. These include problems with reading, mathematics, comprehension, writing, spoken language, or reasoning abilities. Hyperactivity, inattention and perceptual coordination may also be associated with learning disabilities but are not learning disabilities themselves. The primary characteristic of a learning disability is a significant difference between a child's achievement in some areas and his or her overall intelligence.
Learning disabilities typically affect five general areas:
1. Spoken Language: delays, disorders, and deviations in listening and speaking
2. Written language: difficulties with reading, writing, and spelling
3. Arithmetic: difficulty in performing arithmetic operations or in understanding basic concepts
4. Reasoning: difficulty in organizing and integrating thoughts
5. Memory: difficulty in remembering information and instructions.
(At this point I would like to comment on what has been discussed so far. As you can see there is a significant amount of information and it can be a bit overwhelming. I just want to say that the early warning signs that are about to follow are not comprehensive but extensive. Just because your child has any of these "signs" doesn't mean he is automatically "learning disabled". This is just a list that a parent can look at if they have reasons to believe that their child might be or if there is any question as to the possibility of testing or early intervention.)
Among the symptoms commonly related to learning disabilities are:
* poor performance on group tests
* difficulty discriminating size, shape, color
* difficulty with temporal (time) concepts
* distorted concept of body image
* reversals in writing and reading
* general awkwardness
* poor visual-motor coordination
* hyperactivity
* difficulty copying accurately from a model
* slowness in completing work
* poor organizational skills
* easily confused with instructions
* difficulty with abstract reasoning and/or problem-solving
* disorganized thinking
* often obsesses on one topic or idea
* poor short-term or long-term memory
* impulsive behavior; lack of reflective thought prior to action
* low tolerance for frustration
* excessive movement during sleep
* poor peer relationships
* overly excitable during group play
* poor social judgment
* inappropriate, unselective, and often excessive display of affection
* lags in development milestones (e.g.,motor, language)
* behavior often inappropriate for situation
* failure to see consequences for his actions
* overly gullible; easily led by peers
* excessive variation in mood and responsiveness
* poor adjustment to environmental changes
* overly distractible; difficulty concentrating
* difficulty making decisions
* lack of hand preference or mixed dominance
* difficulty with tasks requiring sequencing
When considering these symptoms, it is important to remain mindful of the following:
* No one will have all these symptoms
* Among LD populations, some symptoms are more common than others
* All people have at least two or three of these symptoms to some degree
* The number of symptoms seen in a particular child does not give an indication as to whether the disability is mild or severe. It is important to consider if the behaviors are chronic and appear in clusters.
(I hope this information helps some of you who have questions about your child. My hope is that perhaps some educators will also benefit from this information as well. In my next post I will discuss some specific examples and ideas presented in "The F.A.T. City Learning Disability Workshop".
*********************************************************
Next time: Experiencing Frustration, Anxiety, and Tension
*********************************************************
Learning disabilities typically affect five general areas:
1. Spoken Language: delays, disorders, and deviations in listening and speaking
2. Written language: difficulties with reading, writing, and spelling
3. Arithmetic: difficulty in performing arithmetic operations or in understanding basic concepts
4. Reasoning: difficulty in organizing and integrating thoughts
5. Memory: difficulty in remembering information and instructions.
(At this point I would like to comment on what has been discussed so far. As you can see there is a significant amount of information and it can be a bit overwhelming. I just want to say that the early warning signs that are about to follow are not comprehensive but extensive. Just because your child has any of these "signs" doesn't mean he is automatically "learning disabled". This is just a list that a parent can look at if they have reasons to believe that their child might be or if there is any question as to the possibility of testing or early intervention.)
Among the symptoms commonly related to learning disabilities are:
* poor performance on group tests
* difficulty discriminating size, shape, color
* difficulty with temporal (time) concepts
* distorted concept of body image
* reversals in writing and reading
* general awkwardness
* poor visual-motor coordination
* hyperactivity
* difficulty copying accurately from a model
* slowness in completing work
* poor organizational skills
* easily confused with instructions
* difficulty with abstract reasoning and/or problem-solving
* disorganized thinking
* often obsesses on one topic or idea
* poor short-term or long-term memory
* impulsive behavior; lack of reflective thought prior to action
* low tolerance for frustration
* excessive movement during sleep
* poor peer relationships
* overly excitable during group play
* poor social judgment
* inappropriate, unselective, and often excessive display of affection
* lags in development milestones (e.g.,motor, language)
* behavior often inappropriate for situation
* failure to see consequences for his actions
* overly gullible; easily led by peers
* excessive variation in mood and responsiveness
* poor adjustment to environmental changes
* overly distractible; difficulty concentrating
* difficulty making decisions
* lack of hand preference or mixed dominance
* difficulty with tasks requiring sequencing
When considering these symptoms, it is important to remain mindful of the following:
* No one will have all these symptoms
* Among LD populations, some symptoms are more common than others
* All people have at least two or three of these symptoms to some degree
* The number of symptoms seen in a particular child does not give an indication as to whether the disability is mild or severe. It is important to consider if the behaviors are chronic and appear in clusters.
(I hope this information helps some of you who have questions about your child. My hope is that perhaps some educators will also benefit from this information as well. In my next post I will discuss some specific examples and ideas presented in "The F.A.T. City Learning Disability Workshop".
*********************************************************
Next time: Experiencing Frustration, Anxiety, and Tension
*********************************************************
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
What is a Learning Disability? ........(Part I )
*Note*: Please read this post even if you don't have a child who is learning disabled. I know that many of you will one day (if not already) meet or know someone who has been affected. This information is for ALL parents and educators.
The following information was taken from the notes given to me when I went to the workshop given by Churchill Academy. We had the opportunity of seeing the "F.A.T City Learning Disability Workshop" hosted by Richard D. Lavoie. I have already explained how wonderful the movie was and how much my husband and I learned.
I have to admit that I used to have misconceptions and prejudgments about people who were in "special education" when I was growing up. I thought people who were Learning Disabled (LD) were dumb and couldn't learn. I thought it meant that they were "mentally retarded". However, being LD doesn't mean that at all. After going to this workshop I have a better understanding of what it means.
One of the main points made at the workshop was that there is no clear and widely accepted definition of "learning disabilities", and because of the nature of the field and ongoing debate on the issue of definition there are currently at least twelve definitions that appear in the professional literature! However, they DO agree on certain factors:
1) The learning disabled have difficulties with academic achievement and progress; discrepancies exist between a person's potential for learning and what he actually learns.
2) The learning disabled show an uneven pattern of development (language development, physical development, academic development).
3) Learning problems are NOT due to environmental disadvantage.
4) Learning problems are NOT due to mental retardation or emotional disturbance.
The term "learning disability" was coined by Dr. Samuel Kirk in 1962. It is often referred to as the "hidden handicap" because there is no outward appearance of the disability. Children with learning disabilities appear to be no different than their normal peers.
I think that last statement is one of the most important things I want people to know. There are so many times when teachers and educators misunderstand the behavior of kids. Just imagine being a child who has difficulty processing information (perhaps you have dyslexia) and a teacher puts you on the spot constantly and belittles you in front of the class. Imagine how much your self-esteem would suffer. What about that kid who cannot concentrate on the teacher because he has to work extra hard to block out distractions such as noises outside or someone tapping their pencil on their desk. Imagine the improvement in classroom behavior and academic achievement if educators learned the different types of challenges some kids face. Not only that, but think of the practicality for parents. What if we could understand why our kids behave the way they do?
What Causes Learning Disabilities? That is a good question. Here are some general observations that have been found:
1) Some children develop and mature at a slower rate than others in the same age group. As a result, they may not be able to do the expected school work. This kind of learning disability is called "maturational lag."
2) Some children with normal vision and hearing may misinterpret everyday sights and sounds because of some unexplained disorder of the nervous system.
3) Injuries before birth or in early childhood may account for some later learning problems.
4) Children born prematurely and children who had medical problems soon after birth sometimes have learning disabilities.
5) Learning disabilities tend to run in families, so some learning disabilities may be inherited.
6) Learning disabilities are more common in boys than girls, possibly because boys tend to mature more slowly.
7) Some learning disabilities appear to be linked to the irregular spelling, pronunciation, and structure of the English language. The incidence of learning disabilities is lower in Spanish or Italian-speaking countries.
Interesting stuff, huh? Don't worry....there's more, but I will continue the topic another day.
*******************************************
Next time: What are the early warning signs
of learning disabilities.
*******************************************
The following information was taken from the notes given to me when I went to the workshop given by Churchill Academy. We had the opportunity of seeing the "F.A.T City Learning Disability Workshop" hosted by Richard D. Lavoie. I have already explained how wonderful the movie was and how much my husband and I learned.
I have to admit that I used to have misconceptions and prejudgments about people who were in "special education" when I was growing up. I thought people who were Learning Disabled (LD) were dumb and couldn't learn. I thought it meant that they were "mentally retarded". However, being LD doesn't mean that at all. After going to this workshop I have a better understanding of what it means.
One of the main points made at the workshop was that there is no clear and widely accepted definition of "learning disabilities", and because of the nature of the field and ongoing debate on the issue of definition there are currently at least twelve definitions that appear in the professional literature! However, they DO agree on certain factors:
1) The learning disabled have difficulties with academic achievement and progress; discrepancies exist between a person's potential for learning and what he actually learns.
2) The learning disabled show an uneven pattern of development (language development, physical development, academic development).
3) Learning problems are NOT due to environmental disadvantage.
4) Learning problems are NOT due to mental retardation or emotional disturbance.
The term "learning disability" was coined by Dr. Samuel Kirk in 1962. It is often referred to as the "hidden handicap" because there is no outward appearance of the disability. Children with learning disabilities appear to be no different than their normal peers.
I think that last statement is one of the most important things I want people to know. There are so many times when teachers and educators misunderstand the behavior of kids. Just imagine being a child who has difficulty processing information (perhaps you have dyslexia) and a teacher puts you on the spot constantly and belittles you in front of the class. Imagine how much your self-esteem would suffer. What about that kid who cannot concentrate on the teacher because he has to work extra hard to block out distractions such as noises outside or someone tapping their pencil on their desk. Imagine the improvement in classroom behavior and academic achievement if educators learned the different types of challenges some kids face. Not only that, but think of the practicality for parents. What if we could understand why our kids behave the way they do?
What Causes Learning Disabilities? That is a good question. Here are some general observations that have been found:
1) Some children develop and mature at a slower rate than others in the same age group. As a result, they may not be able to do the expected school work. This kind of learning disability is called "maturational lag."
2) Some children with normal vision and hearing may misinterpret everyday sights and sounds because of some unexplained disorder of the nervous system.
3) Injuries before birth or in early childhood may account for some later learning problems.
4) Children born prematurely and children who had medical problems soon after birth sometimes have learning disabilities.
5) Learning disabilities tend to run in families, so some learning disabilities may be inherited.
6) Learning disabilities are more common in boys than girls, possibly because boys tend to mature more slowly.
7) Some learning disabilities appear to be linked to the irregular spelling, pronunciation, and structure of the English language. The incidence of learning disabilities is lower in Spanish or Italian-speaking countries.
Interesting stuff, huh? Don't worry....there's more, but I will continue the topic another day.
*******************************************
Next time: What are the early warning signs
of learning disabilities.
*******************************************
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