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For those in southern California next week, I will be speaking at this conference and signing my soon to be released book.  Very soon it will be for sale on Amazon and I will keep you posted.

As my book gets closer to publication, I will be sharing some essays written by people who know me to introduce me to people who do not. Today I am sharing what my friend, Cathy Gomez, wrote. Cathy was my aide in school for the past two years.

As Ido’s Behavior Interventionist for four years, I was initially able to see him communicate with his mom every time I did a home session. It was very fluid and natural. I also went through the process of training to communicate with Ido. It was very difficult at the beginning because we had to build trust and a relationship. Ido was so anxious, but that slowly lessened. We practiced every other day and each time we got a little better until we reached the point that he was able to fluently communicate his thoughts to me. I was able to see the progress as well as Ido’s frustration when I misunderstood him. Recently it has been so exciting to watch Ido type on his iPad. The iPad will allow Ido to become more and more independent in so many more ways.   

As my book gets closer to publication, I will be sharing some essays written by people who know me to introduce me to those who do not. The first is by Tami Barmache, lovely friend, and mother of a son with autism.

I love to unwind watching my favorite chefs. I have some tapes I’ve seen over and over. If I need true relaxation I watch Jacques Pepin, master chef, teaching techniques or recipes. I imagine all the dishes in my mind. I love the really knowledgeable, talented, ungimmicked chefs. They never pretend to be hilarious, or have personalities bigger than their  recipes. They are just knowledgeable, interested in what they do, and fun to watch.

My second favorite is Ming Tsai who fuses Asian and Western cuisine. Third is Italian chef, Lorenza DeMedici. Her recipes look so delicious I really would like to try them all. I like watching them and listening to them enthusiastically teach. It is the best method to relax.

I heard a crazed man murdered people at a Batman screening. I want to express my sympathy to all the relatives and friends of the dead. I hope those injured heal quickly, body and soul.

Today I saw my grandmother. She is not the same woman in a lot of ways because inside her disease is sort of devouring her. She is too weak to walk so she needs a wheelchair to go anywhere. She is tired, like a deep weariness I never saw before. Her spark is not as bright, but it is still there at times. I thought about her being a beloved human being and a genuinely great mom and grand mom. She has overcome overwhelming challenges in her life. I saw how she coped with humor and smiles after operations in the past, but this time it’s much harder. Her illness is advancing. We can’t stop it and her body is too weak to continue fighting all the time. I think and think about how I will cope when she is gone. I know it will be so so so sad. The one thing that gives me happiness is that she is surrounded by loving children and grandchildren. It is lucky to have lots of people who love you. She is deserving of that because people felt loved by her too.

Dear Readers, Recently my book was being considered by a publisher. They loved my writing and were excited about my book. The marketing division decided that I am not well known enough yet. They want to see my number of fans and blog readers increase. If you enjoy my writing and want a chance to learn more about autism in depth from my book, can you help me spread the word about my blog and facebook page to the people you know who would be interested? Thanks, I would be very appreciative.

I love hiking in nature, yet I complain often while I do it. I mean, I complain in my non-talking style. For at least a mile I keep saying, “Go home”, yet I love the trails, the pretty scenery, the trees, the exercise, the pace, and the joy of my dogs. It is weird. I am really happy to be there but if we turned around I would go. Once I’m in a groove, I’m better. I know a guy who mostly leaves places right after arriving. He is overwhelmed and wants to flee. In autism the urge to flee is common. I think many people feel this way, like, “Get me out of here NOW!!”, but in autism we have a harder time ignoring the pressure of the moment. I think many people with autism feel overwhelmed and may try to escape. This is like a panic attack, in my opinion. If I feel relaxed I get no urge to flee. I know many autistic people get overwhelmed in places that are overly stimulating. In hiking it is different because I truly enjoy it. It is almost like a tic or something when I say “go home”, but I am glad my parents insist I walk the entire loop. It is lovely being ignored- ha ha- because my mouth isn’t speaking what I truly want.

Hi Readers,
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Thanks for stopping by.
Ido