Here is a great article with a checklist on what you need to consider before starting your own business:

Should I Start my Own Business

What a great story, check out this company that loves to hire adults with Autism and Aspergers:

“The software testers at Aspiritech are a collection of characters. Katie Levin talks nonstop. Brian Tozzo hates driving. Jamie Specht is bothered by bright lights, vacuum cleaners and the feel of carpeting against her skin. Rider Hallenstein draws cartoons of himself as a DeLorean sports car. Rick Alexander finds it unnerving to sit near other people.”

Read the full story here

Pencils

I just read this interesting article about how children conceived during certain perios of the year (dec-Mar) have a higher diagnosis of Autism. I’m not sure what to make of this. My son has Aspergers and was borrn in June so he doesn’t fall within that timeline but I’d be interested to see a larger study.

What do you think about this?

I have a new client and the wife is a Scentsy distributor. I’ve only gone to one party and that wa a couple of years ago and did not buy anything but I did like the products. In talking with my client last nigt I found out there is a holder that they offer and donate 100% of the net profits to Autism Speaks. I love it!

You can check it out here:

Scentsy Autism Speaks

There was an article out a couple of months ago that I am just getting around to reading. I’ve been so consumed with work that alas this poor blog is getting more and more neglected and not sure when I’ll be able to really devote the time I want to it. But I did want to share this story. I had an IEP meeting for my on with the school this week and I am thankful that my son receives certain special services through the school district. The state on the other hand provides no benefits for my son and dealing with Blue Cross Blue Shield is such a nightmare that I cannot wait to get better insurance.  At least he has coverage through my ex-husband’s plan but every month I get notices from the facility where he has his psychiatrist appointments that the bills are not paid. They have paid for most visits but for some reason there are two lingering bills back from September and October of last year. Now here’s what they had to say when the facility called them for payment. The insurance compoany actually asked them to diagnose my son with something else. I know totally crazy right? What on earth. For some reason they have a harder time paying for an Asperger’s Diagnosis than something else. It’s enough to pull out one’s hair I say.  I’d sooner take them to court for discrimination than ask the Dr.’s to rediagnose him just so the bills can be paid. Here’s the thing – they have paid for most of the bills and these two are exactly the same – same billing and coding – it makes no sense!!! They don’t talk to me as it’s my exes’ insurance and I’m not sure how oftern he contacts them to get it straightened out. It’s just so frustrating.

Ok so here’s the article I read in the Wall Street Journal on insurance coverage:

More Autism Coverage

Help turn this tragedy into something consoling for the mother.

Savanna Martin Scholarship Fund

Wow! I just read this story. Getting caught up on some old email but this was very interesting. Kudos to this software company is Chicago hiring Aspies to work for them. I’ll warn you, if you read the comments below be prepared to be offended.

Last year my son had a project to write a letter to the New York Times. Instead he came home with a letter to Nintendo telling them he had created 64 new video games and would they please come talk to him and would they also put on their website that the games were coming soon. I have to say, I thought that was amazing. And he could tell you these games in his head. He realy hates that Waluigi doesn’t get as much exposure as the other characters.

Anyway, please check out this article. Would love to know what you think and if you are a parent, what fields do your kids talk about go into (if they do). If you are an adult aspie, I’m curious to know how you handle employment.

Does Asperger’s Make You a Better Software Coder

So I have come up with something that I think is working pretty well with my son. We have gone through a lot of videos for social stories that he has related to but now I have a new plan. My son is consumed with Club Penguin right now. Every now and then he takes a break for Mario or Legos but Club Penguin is his favorite love. So what I have started recently is telling him bed time stories with his favorite characters that help with social understanding.

We started off with a school setting and a new Puffle came to the school. I went through and discussed how some different groups tried to get the Puffle to join them but the Puffle was never really comfortable with any of them and they had rules and cliques, etc. Finally another Puffle befriended him when he was sitting all alone at the lunch table.

The next was a story about the Puffles putting on a school play and one very bossy Puffle was the director and the actor Puffles ended up not showing up for practice any more. It turned out well those as another Puffle had a talk with this bossy Puffle and helped him to see that how he was treating everyone else was not very nice.

Now we are on the Puffle Olympics and are learning more about sports, teamwork, winning and losing and the importance of practice and commitment.

Why not take whatever obsession your child has and turn it into a way to create social stories. When my son was younger he loved vacuum cleaners and if you remember there was a vacuum cleaner in Teletubbies and the Brave Little Toaster movie so if need be I could even tell a story about vacuums but I have to admit the Puffles is slightly easier. Why not give it a go. You’ll see your child will be more involved in the story and will be able to remember and relate better since it’s something he/se is really into.

So my son was supposed to be going to a school mates house to work on a Science project. Now he has known this boy for a couple of years and last year they were actually friends. The boy has been here a couple of times and he went to the boy’s house for his birthday the year before last. He was invited this year but forgot to tell me about when it was. I guess it really wasn’t that important to him. But when he said he needed to do a project and that he was working with this other boy I thought ok. So after telling me a couple of times he was going to the boy’s house this Friday after school, I called the mom to make sure she was picking them up. Now it’s interesting to know that this boy has a cousin with Asperger’s and I am told they are the best of friends.

So when 5:00 rolled around and I went to pick up my son, I saw the other boy riding his bike around the street with my son nowhere to be seen. My son has not had many play dates at other’s children’s houses, maybe two plus two birthday parties. I know he isn’t that comfortable at other houses. He likes his routine and things he is familiar with. This family knows he has Asperger’s as well. So when I get my son I find out that the Science project was not approved yet. The boy’s hamster is apparently having babies so they are going to document that. Not sure if that will get the thumbs up or not but they should have checked into that more thoroughly.

So when my son gets in the van I ask why he other boy was outside. The mom had said they were in and out all day. He was there for about 2 hours after school. I found it odd that the boy just left my son in the house and went to ride his bike. I always try to teach my son that you stay with your guest and take turns with what each other wants to do. Well my son said he was homesick and he had an ok time but the other boy left him a lot. Well I don’t know what a lot is in his eyes but it was clear he did not have a very good time. When I had said to the other mom that it seemed like a wash she said well at least they had a play date. Just doesn’t seem like my son had a good time.

My question is does anyone else out there have issues like this with their kids going to houses for a play date or project to work on and have their kids get alienated or abandoned. And if so, what have you done about it.