7 Random Things (Tagged By Julie)

People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things.
1. I completed the Mortuary Science Program at Community College, my Parents are in the "death business" so I thought it would be best to do the same.
2. I am Bipolar, I don't talk too much about it or give it too much attention because I'd like to think I have Bipolar Disorder but it doesn't have me, so it won't be mentioned on my blog much at all.
3. Sweets are my weakness, I really love Ben and Jerry's and jaw breakers of all things!
4. I am terrified of spiders! It doesn't help that I live in the desert where there are tons of creepy creatures, spiders, scorpions, snakes, lizard etc.
5. I very rarely wear shorts, my thighs are fat, he he.
6. K.C. is in a new school and on the days I am not busy I "spy" on him on the school playground and watch him play. I love to see him play and could watch for hours!
7. I am a Harry Potter fanatic! I love the books and the movies (book is better)!
Julie tagged me and is the nicest person. If you get a chance stop by her blog, she is awesome! http://jaabeemom.blogspot.com/

K.C.'s teacher sent home his IEP with some changes made to it for when he starts first grade in August. I asked for more OT because it helps him so much. On his IEP she had his diagnosis as Autism with MR (Mental Retardation). I just wonder how they determine that since he can't take an IQ test? How can one really tell? I mean I know K.C. is a very smart little boy it's just locked up inside him and we are trying to help him as much as we can so he can get it out.
The picture below is of our daily routine as we walk to the bus stop. K.C. makes a beeline for the mailbox and knows exactly which box is ours. He can't quite get the key in but tries and always shuts the box and then I lock it. He loves checking the mail and smiles the whole time. I am thinking of laminating this picture of him "checking mail" as a little chore type thingy for him to do. I am always with him and I think it should be o.k. I have all the locks on every window and both doors. I double and triple check the alarm all the time. I am so paranoid he will escape again. The detective hasn't called and I talked to K.C.'s case manager and she said she didn't even think he would call. I pray she's right, but if he does I am fully prepared.

Teasing

The school bus was about 20 minutes late today and I was beginning to go into panic mode. I was just about to call and seen it coming around the corner and put the phone away. K.C. was not a happy camper. His face was red, crying and looked tired. The bus driver told me that as K.C. was walking with the teacher to board the bus some students were making fun of him because of the harness he wears on the bus. I was angry. I wondered if this is what life is going to be like for him sometimes? I don't know what the teacher said to the students but I think the schedule delay totally threw K.C. off. He knows the routine of boarding the bus and when he got sidetracked from the other students who were making fun of him it threw him off. The bus driver said the teacher said from now on K.C. won't wear the harness out to the bus. She will put the harness on him when he's on the bus and not standing outside the bus. This part makes me angry because K.C. has in the past totally flat our refused to board the bus and head banged and did everything he could to not board the bus. We thought having the harness on him before he boarded the bus would give us a better chance of getting him strapped into the harness more quickly. Well I am angry because K.C. should not have to please anyone. So he wears a harness big deal. He should be able to do like we have always done but no, we have to change things and upset his routine because of what someone thinks? Ridiculous! I am going to talk to his teacher about it tomorrow and explain we are not changing his routine over some mean kids making fun of him. K.C. is K.C. and he doesn't have to change a darn thing! Why are children so cruel? Why do some folks think they must please society to "fit in" to their standards? I'll say it again, freaking ridiculous!

Safety

I ordered a safety sign from the Autism Society Of America. I was kinda disappointed at the size of the sign. As you can see in the photos on our window is the sign and it's so small. You actually have to get right up on it to see it. I was hoping it would be a little bit bigger in case there is an emergency you could see it easily. Do you guys think it's too small? I put one in the car window as well.

Autism Picnic 2007

We went to an Autism Picnic today and it was a lot of fun. K.C. would not leave home without his little DVD player. He did well at the picnic. Sometimes it was just too noisy and he would hold his ears and squint his eyes. As long as we took breaks every 15 to 20 minutes he seemed to be able to gather himself and did better. K.C. didn't participate in any activities but you could tell he was just taking it all in. He was looking around and smiling at times. His little DVD player would not leave his hands and I figured if I allowed him to bring it we might make it through the picnic. Big Brother rode a pony (K.C. watched) went down a huge slide, ate cotton candy, ice cream, hot dogs, Sun Chips and drank alot of soda. I did mange to get K.C. to eat sun chips and drink a Sprite. I brought his food in a backpack along with other things I thought I might need to prevent a meltdown. No meltdowns today! Two relatives came along with us to the picnic and Big Brother played with Lynn alot. It sure was a warm day in Arizona!

Sensory Based Program

K.C.'s teacher says the program for Autism that K.C. will be attending in August is called a Sensory Based Program. I am going to be learning more about this program but welcome any comments in regards to the program. Do you Mom's or Dad's have you kiddos in a Sensory Based Program and has it worked well for you kiddos? I am a bit nervous for K.C. but he does have alot of sensory issues so this program may be ideal for him. The second picture is of K.C.'s monitor on the bus. I asked his permission to take the picture and he said it was o.k. He's a big fella and the nicest guy. K.C. seems to really like him. He takes quick glances in his direction and has a half smile when the monitor greets him. Things are going well so far at school. Big Brother has completed his testing but we won't know the results until September :( He was really excited about it. Lately Big Brother has been requesting "Pho" to eat almost every night and for Breakfast! He has been eating and putting the spiciest stuff in his food (just like his Daddy does). It actually rained here last night can you believe it? K.C. watched the rain (it's rare here when it does rain) and I let him walk into the back yard for a minute or two to get wet. It's been really warm here!

K.C. is in school again!

K.C. is attending school again. I haven't yet blogged about it but he started going about a week ago. He is doing very well in his new school! There are only 3 students in his class and it has made a real difference in the way K.C. get's on and off the bus. It seems he really wants to go! He is still in the harness to ride the bus but the bus driver reports he is doing well. I asked his teacher how and if he is approaching his classmates and she said he is "aloof." For 1 st grade K.C. will attend a full day program and then come home to his ABA sessions. So far so good! Way to go K.C.!

Been Sick :(

Hi Bloggers I' ve missed you all:) I have been sick with a nasty kidney infection :( I am finally over it thanks to anti biotics. I guess I haven't been drinking enough water these days, just Dr. Pepper :( The good news is I have kicked my Caffeine habit and haven't had any caffeine at all in 13 days! Now I am just drinking Sprite Zero, no caffeine or sugar!
The boys are doing well, K.C.'s therapies are going really well and he has been very co operative with his ABA instructor! I am very proud of him and so glad we have started ABA again. K.C. isn't able to trace lines so we have been working extra hard with him in this area. He still handles his pencil with a fisted grasp and does a very fast back and forth motion. We are trying to teach him how to hold the pencil properly and how to trace some simple lines. He needs lots of hand over hand and I have even found these chunky pencils that are easier for him to hold.
Big Brother has been a busy little fellow at school. He is taking alot of tests this week so he's been going to bed 30 minutes earlier this week. Yesterday he took the reading portion and today will be the writing portion. His teacher called and said Big Brother says he is going to score 100 on the testing. I said, "great" and she said, "no, it makes it harder for the other children." I asked her, "how do you figure?" She said if a child scores a 100 on these tests then the folks who give the test will make it that much harder for the children next time round. I told Big Brother to do his best and if he wants to make a 100 then I am totally behind him and he should go for it!! Big Brother has made a friend at school, his first friend really. He is a 8 year old boy from India. He really likes this little guy and I am thrilled that he's found a friend.
Passover was tough because I was sick. We had passover Seder at my Mom's house and I was just soooo sick. Big Brother read some Hebrew this year and that was the highlight of the evening for me. I cried, happy tears:)
Hope you all are well and had a great holiday with your families. I will be by your blogs soon:)

ABA, Starting Again

K.C.'s started his ABA therapy again:) For those of you who may not know, K.C. was doing ABA then stopped as I was trying to save money for a special Autism school in the fall for him. He is still going to go to the Autism school and do ABA. Family is helping with the cost thank God I am eternally grateful to them.
K.C. had a great first Monday mostly getting re acquainted with his therapist. He was very excited when she brought the states map he loves so much. We use the state map as a reward. He loves the map very much and searched the therapist with his eyes for the map as soon as she came through the door. It feels very right having him doing ABA again, a huge relief!
Big Brother went to a reading program at his school this evening with his Daddy. He is so happy that his Daddy is home and has stuck to him like glue, it sure makes me happy just seeing Big Brother happy.

Passover is just around the corner!

Passover is just around the corner! Thought this may bring a smile :)

I think this will be fine for Seder #2xx

Passover service for the impatient.

Opening prayers:Thanks, God, for creating wine. (Drink wine.)

Thanks for creating produce. (Eat parsley.)

Overview: Once we were slaves in Egypt. Now we're free. That's why we're doing this.

Four questions:1. What's up with the matzoh?2. What's the deal with horseradish?3. What's with the dipping of the herbs?4. What's this whole slouching at the table business?

Answers:1. When we left Egypt, we were in a hurry. There was no time for making decent bread.2. Life was bitter, like horseradish. 3. It's called symbolism. 4. Free people get to slouch.

< class="apple-style-span">A funny story: Once, these five rabbis talked all night, then it was morning. (Heat soup now.)

The four kinds of children and how to deal with them: Wise child-explain Passover.Simple child-explain Passover slowly.Silent child-explain Passover loudly. Wicked child-browbeat in front of the relatives.

Speaking of children: We hid some matzoh. Whoever finds it gets five bucks.

The story of Passover: It's a long time ago. We're slaves in Egypt. Pharaoh is a nightmare. We cry out for help. God brings plagues upon the Egyptians. We escape, bake some matzoh. God parts the Red Sea. We make it through; the Egyptians aren't so lucky. We wander 40 years in the desert, eat manna, ge t the Torah, wind up in Israel, get a new temple, enjoy several years without being persecuted again. (Let brisket cool now.)

The 10 Plagues: Blood, Frogs, Lice-you name it.

The singing of "Dayenu":If God had gotten us out of Egypt and not punished our enemies, it would've been enough.

If he'd punished our enemies and not parted the Red Sea, it would've been enough.

If he'd parted the Red Sea-(Remove gefilte fish from refrigerator now.)

Eat matzoh. Drink more wine. Slouch.

Thanks again, God, for everything.

SERVE MEAL.

I Got Him!

This is rare everyone so look at these eyes while you have the chance! I actually got a photo of my little guy looking at the camera! Eye contact in this house is so rare with K.C. that when I did get a photo of him looking at me, I just stared at it. Seeing the photo of K.C. with eye contact is incredible to me because it made me feel like he was connected 100%. I have the feeling I'll be looking at this photo a lot.

K.C.'s Eczema is clearing up! He is still itchy but it's wayyyyy better! Hooray for Steroids? I never though Steroids were good for anything until they helped with K.C.'s Eczema.

K.C. has been eating these pizza's and he LOVES THEM! Did I mention he loves them? They are Soy cheese pizza's and the amazing this is the soy hasn't bothered him! Thank God I have found something he will eat! Let's hope he keeps eating them!

I rented Flushed Away from Blockbuster and K.C. loves the previews! Only the previews, not the movie. God Forbid we try to watch the movie.

Big Brother is doing well, he has been drawing alot in his free time. Tomorrow we may go hiking, the weather has been reasonable so far. 81 tomorrow so I am pretty sure we will go hiking.

ABA and Autism School

ABA and Autism School****** Thinking alot about school and ABA these days. K.C. As many of you many already know that I have been homeschooling K.C. To be honest, it isn't going as planned. It is very hard to teach K.C., very very hard. What makes it hard is that I cannot tell if I am getting through to him or not. He stims and stims and stims. It's very hard to keep him focused as his attention span is about 3 seconds and then, finger flicking, three more seconds then more finger flicking. K.C.'s daddy says I must get him back into his ABA program and get him into school in the fall (I was going to do this). Money is a huge concern as ABA is extremely expensive but worth every penny! I wanted to send K.C. to a private Autism school in the fall so I gave up the ABA to save money for the school. I begged my Parents for help to pay for the ABA and they agreed (thank God, I am so grateful to them) Now we should be able to do both and get back on track with K.C. I just can't really teach K.C. It's hard because he has no words, cannot nod his head yes or no and his eye contact has gotten so rare I have to get on my knees and look up at him when I am sitting with him trying to teach him. I was hoping to get some kind of response from his eyes that yes, he may be picking up on what I am trying to teach him, but, it hasn't worked as he turns away from my eyes in a split second. Much to do with K.C.! He can learn, he is smart, but he needs a real teacher, ABA therapist etc. Let's pray the transition back into his ABA programs goes smoothly, I really believe it will:)

Park Pictures

Playing at that park with one itchy kiddo and one little boy who loves his dart gun!

Thank You, To Everyone.

I am so thankful to you guys for the ideas on how to keep K.C. safe. Our kids are so fast, can open even the most difficult locks, it really is amazing. Thank you for sharing your escape stories with me. God is watching over our children, I am thanking God every second to have K.C. with us still.
I feel traumatized, totally traumatized.
K.C. is o.k. today, it's as if nothing ever happened.
It sure does take everything we got to care for our Autistic children, every ounce of energy, strength, patience and most of all love.
(((Hugs to you all))) Tina.

The Most Horrifying Day Ever.

This has been the most horrifying day of my life ever. I am still a nervous wreck and thanking God every moment we still have K.C. with us. This is how it started. Last night K.C. would not go to sleep until about 2:30 a.m. When he did get to sleep he woke again itching and itching at 4:00 this morning. I gave him the liquid the Dr. gave us to take by mouth which was for itching and supposed to make him very sleepy. I also put the cream on him for the Eczema but he was still awake when it was time for Big Brother to be off to school. Took Big Brother to school, K.C. fell asleep in the car and he actually walked into the house half asleep and headed for the sofa. He feel asleep. My Mom always told me, "when he sleeps you sleep so you can recharge." Well I did just that. I woke up about 15 minutes later and could not find K.C. I searched the house twice and then noticed the front door with a tiny bit of light coming through the crack and knew he had escaped. I ran out the door and looked in every direction and didn't see him. I ran back home and called 911 and told then I couldn't find him, he's Autistic, his name, what he was wearing. God I was so horrified my throat felt like it was closing and I couldn't breath. I cannot begin to tell you how many thoughts rushed through my mind. I stayed on the phone with the operator and told her there was a canal behind our condo to hurry to hurry and she said the police was looking as we were talking. A patrol car came and I signaled him. The officer stepped out and said we found a little boy about 7 years old with no clothes on near Dobson and Southern Rd. I thought he was dead I swear I did. He didn't bring K.C. to me but took me to where they had found him. There were three Police Cars and I seen K.C. standing with two male officers wearing an over sized t shirt and drinking a sunny delight. Before I could run over to him a female Officer asked me, "is that your son?" I said "yes" and she said he was found in traffic and a motorist had to stop to get out of his car and stop traffic from coming and another motorist took K.C. out of the traffic. The motorist took his shirt off and put it on K.C. and by that time neighbors had come out and the motorist who saved K.C. from getting killed on that street left. I thank God that motorist was there, I thank God he is still here with us tonight. God gave us a second chance. I thought about how I had named him Chance, my first son, my Autistic son. I could not find any words to tell the officer only tears. She was really letting me have. I deserved it I still deserve it, I feel now I don't deserve to have him because he almost got killed. I will never forgive myself ever. The male officers brought K.C. to me and K.C. just walked past me and was trying to walk to the flashing police lights. The female officer said, "he's getting away from you again." The male officer said he should have been wearing an I.D. bracelet. The officers drove us home and came inside with us and asked more questions. I did my best to explain that we were both taking a nap, we had been up most the night, I have the backyard pad locked shut, the front door has two locks on the inside and a security door on the outside. A total of four locks. The alarm WAS NOT ON. Last night College Boy went for his nightly run, when he came back I told him to be sure to lock the doors. I forgot to tell him to turn the alarm on. The alarm was off. The officer wrote as I explained and in the end she said she was forwarding this incident to a Detective and it would be up to him to decide if he wants to file Neglect charges against me. I was in shock. To think I could lose K.C. and send him to a foster home kills me. I was negligent. K.C. is my responsibility and I am supposed to protect him always. This is not going to happen again ever. The officer did tell me to go to Home Depot and buy these locks to put on each door. You have to have a key to get the lock open, only a key will open it. She said I would hear from a detective in about three weeks. Am I going to lose K.C.? Should I get a lawyer? Is there an Autism Advocacy group that can help if the Detective presses charges? I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose my son. I am getting an ID bracelet, I realized that when K.C. escaped he went the same direction we always take day after day and I should have known he would have went that direction as he hates to change routes. Thank God we are getting a second Chance. I am so grateful to the Motorist and to God.

Tina

Eczema

( My blog is going wacky tonight, my blogroll is at the bottom of the page, haven't a clue as to why)
We have finally found out why K.C. is stripping all the time. I should have known or been able to figure it out. I wrote a post awhile back called, "What is this?" It's here, http://autismschmatism.blogspot.com/2007/02/what-is-this.html I thought he was having a food allergy but I took him to the Dr. yet again and she said its Eczema. K.C. is still itchy and it even looks painful especially behind his knees. The itch won't stop because the Dr. said it's a flare up. The Dr. gave us some stuff called Dermatop, it's a topical steroid. I put it on K.C. tonight and he did not like it period. I am praying it helps soon cause the Dr. said it would leave scars. He has crusty looking spots right now and I could see how it would leave scars cause he picks and picks at the scabs, just pulling them off, (gross I know, sorry I am so graphic) If your kiddos start to itch and itch and their itching turns crusty and if you've tried Benadryl and all the other lotion and it isn't working it could be Eczema.
K.C. did something today as I helped him get dressed. Today I said, "pull pants up." He did it!!!!! He did it straight away and when I cheered him on, Pants up, good boy!" He smiled!!!! He's getting it. Before you know it he'll be doing it all by himself! When I put his shirt on, I'll just put his head through the shirt and his arms in. I leave the shirt up to his chest to see if he'll pull it down just right and he does. Little by little so he continues to try and not get frustrated. Frustration is the last thing we want cause he's trying hard and he's happy. During free time from homeschooling in the day K.C. has been watching Gumby. He picked Gumby out all by himself. He really seems to like the video. So when his skin gets better and the stripping his clothes off ends (I pray it ends when the Eczema gets better, that is until there is another flare up) he'll be able to go outside and bounce on his horse.

Help, K.C. won't stop running around in the nude!

K.C. has been taking his clothes off every single chance he gets! It has gotten so bad I do not know what to do. He's very fast when he takes his clothes and will do it anywhere. I took him shopping with me and right in the store he tried to take his clothes off. I stopped him but when I do stop him he screams at the top of his lungs and bites (not me but himself). I tried duct taping his diaper but he gets so angry that he bites and screams so much my ears are still ringing from earlier. How am I going to get him to keep his clothes on? The more I try and keep clothes on him the worse it gets. We have new neighbors that bought the condo next door and they can see into our backyard from upstairs. K.C. stripped his clothes off in the backyard and when I went outside to hurry him inside I noticed the new neighbor staring down into our backyard at us. K.C. screams, bites and this goes on for a good 1 1/2 until he's soaking wet with sweat from crying/screaming. I haven't changed detergents and he isn't wearing new clothes. I have noticed his hearing is sensitive (always sensitive but more so this week) too. I was sitting in the kitchen and saw K.C. run to the door and look out. I looked and saw nobody but about a minute later College Boy pulled into driveway. Does anyone have any ideas of how I can get him to keep his clothes on? It's hard because he understands very little. I am keeping K.C. in the house during break times from homeschooling because he strips his clothes off in the backyard. I am going to go to Home Depot and ask the guys if there is something I can add to my fence to keep the new neighbors from peering down at us and watching K.C. Help I need ideas!

Going Places

K.C. is doing very well going places. He had a Dr.s appointment and made it through the whole visit without crying. The stairs that led to the Dr.s office was blocked off for repair and we had to use the elevator. K.C. has always been terrified of the elevator so as we walked on, he tried to run back out of the elevator but I caught him just in time. I held him very close to me as I pushed the button to the elevator to go up. As soon as the elevator went up he dropped down to his knees and took a deep breath as if the air were knocked out of him. Same thing on the way down, the elevator throws him off completely (his balance). He didn't cry, just looked very "thrown off." There were only two children in the office (I try my best when I call the Dr. to get an appointment when there are few people as possible.) The Dr.s office understands thankfully. The children in the office were about K.C.'s age maybe a little older. I watched K.C. around the children to see if maybe he would take notice in them. There Mommy kept staring at K.C. because he was making his noises. She seemed nice cause she smiled. The two kids were playing in a toy car, one kiddo at the steering wheel and another next to him. K.C. looked at them out the corners of his eyes. One child got up and walked over to K.C. K.C. was watching the fish. The little kiddo sat next to him and looked at him, I could see the kid trying to make eye contact, a connection, maybe make friends but K.C. never looked at him. K.C. got up and as I watched him move through the office I realized he never looked at anyone and moved very quickly as if no one was in the room. The way he walked and just moved through the office was very different. It's hard to describe. Had anyone been sitting on the floor he would have just ran them over. I did manage to get K.C. to the fish tank again and the little kid sat on the other side of us looking at the fish. I did say to K.C., "the little boy is looking at the fish just like we are." K.C. screeched. That screech had meaning, it meant, "yeah I know that little kid is there but don't mention him." I did call Mesa Parks and Recreation today and they were able to give me a number to call. I called the place. It is supposed to be a play group that gets together on Tuesday's and Thursday's. 5 and 6 years old playing together, the lady told me there were many toys, crafts and even songs that they did together. She said at the present time there were only 11 kids in the group. I asked her to sign us up thinking we could give it a try! I was really thinking this would be a great opportunity for K.C....then I told her he was Autistic. That's when it feel apart. She would not accept him into the group. I was so angry I hung the phone up on her. Jeez it's just a playgroup, play is all. I am going to keep searching. K.C. is doing well going places I thought it may be a good idea to try to get him involved with other kids. Even if he doesn't appear to be playing with them I know he's going to be watching them out the corners of his eyes and I know he'll learn. I will continue the search, tomorrow I am going to call Easter Seals, wish us luck!

There is more inside....

The photos were taken today, at Chuck E. Cheeses. K.C. did well and I have noticed he tries to point more. The second photo (bit blurry) is of K.C. pointing with his pinky finger. He is learning to point more but uses his pinky. Now if we could just get him to point at the right times like when he needs something that will be huge! It will happen in time:) I have been thinking alot these days about High Functioning versus Low Functioning Autistic children. While K.C. isn't verbal yet, I feel there is so much inside him, I can see it in his eyes. It's almost as if there is so much going on inside his brain but it's locked up and we just haven't found a way of getting it out. Watching him today, I wondered if K.C. thinks in words in his head? When I talk to him is he answering in his head? There is just so much more inside him, I know he's an intelligent little boy even though some may describe him as low functioning.
I watched an amazing young lady named, Amanda Baggs on CNN. http://ballastexistenz.autistics.org/ Watching her opened my eyes, she is really amazing:) I thought of my son, how there is so much inside him, I want to do everything I can to help him communicate.
I have also been thinking alot these days about a hobby of some sort for K.C. I know he would be good at collecting things but he'd become obsessed with lining his collected items up. Tomorrow I am going to call Mesa Parks and Recreation to see if there is any programs for K.C. This weekend I bought Big Brother roller blades, he really likes them. He asked and asked for me to get a pair for K.C. so he could have someone to skate with. There has to be an activity that they both can do together that will hold K.C.'s attention just long enough. If anyone has any ideas that would be great!



Big Brother pictured above ^ he had a great time as well!

Teeth/Park/Ignorance

Check it out guys! K.C. put the toothbrush in his mouth without being asked, all by himself! I have been helping K.C. brush his teeth every single night, my hand over his, sometimes him not being very happy about it. Well he totally caught me off guard when he walked into the bathroom and put the toothbrush in his mouth and moved it around a bit! It's hard for him to do the back and forth motion but we are going to work at it everyday just as we have been. I am so proud of him. It actually rained here today and I am hoping it sticks around for a couple more days. We don't see enough rain here, what do I expect, after all we do live in the desert, he he. I took the Boys to the park yesterday to play. K.C. did great, there were quite a few kids at the park. Sometimes I am amazed and I mean amazed at what ADULTS say to each other especially when what they are saying is about your KID and them not realizing that the kid they are talking abouts Mommy is standing right next to them! There were about 20 to 30 kids playing at the park, parents standing around watching their children. I was watching K.C. walk across the wobbly bridge. (yep he finally got on it and walked slowly across) In the middle of the bridge he decided he would sit in the middle and zone out and flick his fingers in front of his eyes at about light speed. I know when K.C. does this it's very hard to bring him back until he's finished. Well he was holding up traffic on the bridge and I noticed Big Brother had covered his eyes when he looked in my direction (meaning yep Mom, you are about to have one very angry kid and I don't want to watch) Before I made my way over to K.C. I waited and listened to the 'ladies' talk. The children on the bridge were simply going around K.C. and I didn't see an urgency in moving him. One lady said, 'oh my gosh look at that kid, the lights are on but nobody is home.' The other lady said nothing just looked on. The lady with the big mouth wouldn't shut up. The next thing she said was , 'I think he's a mental retard, aren't their parks for 'THEM' in the state?' I walked over to both ladies and said, " You know I saw a television program the other day and it was all about Autism and children." "I think that little boy maybe Autistic, of course I'm not an expert but it does look similar to what I saw on the television the other day, it was very interesting. "It was also reported that 1 in 150 children are born with Autism these days." The big mouth lady listened to what I said and watched K.C. I then told her, "you know Retarded ain't bad." I walked over to K.C. and said, "time to go home." Big Brother ran up to us and we left. I looked over my shoulder and the big mouth lady made direct eye contact with me and it looked as though she whispered, "I'm sorry." I smiled at her. Maybe just maybe that lady will go home and read about Autism. Maybe just maybe she will understand.