Cassy

My name is Cassy, I'm a 26 year old mother and wife. I just got married on January 27th to Vic- he truly is my soulmate!!
I'm currently a full time student, studying nursing. I want to work with terminally ill children. I still have a little ways to go, but I'm headed in the right direction at least ;)
My two boys are the light of my life. My big boy, Joshua is getting ready to turn 7. He's very bright, and has a great sense of humor. He's a HUGE help with his little brother! My youngest, Izaya is 4 years old. His smile lights up a room. He's also very bright, but in ways that are quite different than most children. He was diagnosed with Autism and Sensory Integration Dysfunction in February of 2004. Since then, there have been many ups and downs...but he's taught me so much about myself and about life. My little child somehow manages to touch so many others' lives. Since his diagnoses, I've really tried to educate myself and others about Autism Spectrum Disorders. I want to do everything in my power to help Izaya excel to his fullest potential.
Here are a few of Izaya's little quirks that make me smile:
*He has every railroad track in town memorized, and knows when we're coming to one even before I do.
*He has an obsession with licking the back of his hands.
*He counts things to himself when he's happy.
*He watches the sunlight pass through the trees, and dances back and forth to follow the rays.
Here are a few Josh-isms (cute things Joshua says):
*I feel the oppression!
*Why don't you name your next baby dog? It's God spelled backwards.
*You're going to get a ticket from the police because you drive like a maniac!
Not being able to speak is not the same as not having anything to say.
1 in 150 children will be diagnosed with autism.
What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong neurological disability that affects a person's ability to communicate, understand language, play, and socially interact with others. The first signs of autism usually appear as developmental delays before age three. Autism is classified as a developmental disability because it interferes with the typical rate and patterns of childhood development. There are diagnoses closely related to autism such as PDD-NOS (pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified), Asperger's syndrome, and Rett's syndrome that are included in the category of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Characteristics
Every person with autism is different. However, there are some common characteristics of individuals with autism that may occur. Remember that although these are some common characteristics, no two persons with autism experience the world or behave in the same way.
-Difficulty in using and understanding language. Some children develop typical speech patterns until age two.
-Poorly developed social skills and unusual play with toys.
-Over or under sensitivity to sound, sight, taste, touch, or smell.
-Repetitive behaviors such as spinning objects or rocking.
-Certain behaviors exhibited to stimulate the senses, such as switching a light on and off repeatedly or humming loudly.
-Difficulty with changes to surroundings or routines.
-Very high levels of activity for long periods of time.
-Uneven skill development. Some skills are normal or superior for their age while others show significant delay.
-Challenging behaviors such as aggression, self-injury, or severe withdrawal.
Causes
Nobody knows what causes autism. Some scientists believe there is a biological cause that affects the working of the brain, but this has not been proven. It is possible there are many factors that could interact with one another which could cause different characteristics in each individual with autism. Parents do not cause autism. No factors in a child's experiences or in parenting styles are responsible for autism.
Treatment
1) Early and accurate diagnosis increases the child's opportunity for positive development and success.
2) Professional services for persons with autism may include speech and occupational therapy and require a cooperative effort between professionals and families.
3) Generally, persons with autism seem to make the best progress when they are in as normal a setting as possible and provided with individualized support and therapy to meet their needs.
4) By implementing treatment methods in all areas of life progress in persons with autism can be optimized.

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