Living with Autism

Here's a lovely new video made by Grace App Developer Steve Troughton-Smith.

For your interest, it explains how a person might request a particular DVD featuring our favourite little red monster, ask for help with choosing a chapter, request a snack, and a particular drink all using the features built in to the App. In essence the idea is to explain how Grace App gets you whatever you want.

xx

Just watched "You've got mail" with the previously quite adorable Meg Ryan and always loveable (to women at least) Tom Hanks. (why do men HATE Tom Hanks so much?!?)

So it got me to thinking about all the things that have changed since this supposedly era defining film was released.

* Big super store putting small personal but obviously much more expensive shop out of business.

Ok. This happens. It happened when we were all rich but we wanted more stock and we wanted more STUFF like coffee and muffins AND books at the same time. It also happens in small villages where a big shopping centre with a roof and free parking opens up out of town and suddenly your rainy parking officer infested main street becomes a pain in the butt. Then it becomes a dog shit footpathed, pound shop & thrift store boarded up wasteland.
However, when was the last time you went into Easons/Borders/Angus&Robertson to ask if your favourite author had anything new, and was told "no, but …

Remember how I said the Tabloids wouldn't cover "Life With Autism"  because they couldn't find a negative angle?
Seems The Irish Daily Star did.....


Don't worry, I am using that "Selfish" headline on Mr Hammie every time he fails to bring me tea or a glass of wine..

I was also kind of perplexed to see a thread on a Special Needs Discussion board saying how sad it made them feel??

I was heartened to hear from the producer who said that the show had got HUGE viewing figures and she was delighted. I had hoped that this would mean the media could start telling positive stories about disability and special needs without losing ratings.

As the show is no longer on Real Player you can't watch it but hopefully someone might get it uploaded to vimeo so you can watch it yourself and judge.

In any case I had some really good news to share. I made it on to a Beauty Blog!

I was in the chemist on Monday night getting Gracie's prescription filled (at the last …

In case you hadn't heard, The Domican Family (aka; Boo, Bratty and Mr Hammie et al) appeared in a television documentary last week called "Life With: Autism"

It was part 3 of a series of programs which demonstrate that life with a serious condition can be just as joyful and rewarding as any other, sometimes more so. We took a risk taking part but have to say that while the experience of filming and being interviewed was quite stressful, the final result was wonderful.

Gracie in her little nest
If you are in Ireland you can watch it on the above link. If you are outside of Ireland you have to wait until we can get it uploaded on to something else. When you do watch it you will get to meet not only my children but my other half, who finally gets to tell his side of the story. It was so positive in fact that the press department of the TV company had trouble getting any additional media coverage for it. Seems it is easy to latch on to a hard luck story like: "My Autism H…

From The Irish Daily Mail - "You" magazine, October 29th 2011.
A few corrections: The kids were in state autism schools from 2002-2008 and I ran an after school ABA program with Saplings Tutors. In 2008 first Liam, then Grace were accepted into Saplings Rathfarnham where we started playing around with the iPhone as a communication device.
While O2 supported our development process and donated 6 iPhones, Steve was totally responsible for coding and listing the App on iTunes where it was approved on March 11th 2011.
And if you can collect 85 old mobiles you can trade them in for an iPod Touch Gen 4. (not an iPhone)
If you collect more you can even get an iPad - go here to get involved.h

I need a Dollar Dollar, a dollar euro is what I need...

This is our Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland) Enda Kenny and yours truly. I had just asked him for a few billion euros....
Nah, not really. I had just been awarded the Elevate program by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland which will give me up to €35,000 of mentoring and structured business support and I thought I would grab a pic with our gracious leader.
The three main winners of the Impact awards are to share in €600,000 of grants and structured support and the Taoiseach made a point of how inspiring they are in their respective fields.
Congratulations from me to the lovely (really lovely) Sean Love of Fighting Words Creative Writing Centres. Niamh and Michelle from Women for Election  (kicking unequal representation's arse)  and  Micheal Kelly of Grow it Yourself whose speech made me want to go out and build a plastic tunnel in my backyard and start growing Bok Choi.

I also have to share with you the amazing work of Dara Hogan of…

I was terribly sad to hear of the passing of Steve Jobs; before you ask - yes, I read about it on Twitter, on my iPad as I was having my first coffee of the day.
Yup, I'm an Apple Fangirl but unlike the many others who took a bite of Apple Artistry and found they wanted more, I came to iWorld by a different route.

You see I am the mother of 2 autistic children who have both had severely delayed communication and as a result, extreme behavioural challenges in their lives.
Both eventually learned to communicate their needs using "pecs" which stands for Picture Exchange Communication System. To put it simply; when someone is not talking they often develop other techniques for getting what they want. They might start by leading you to the fridge or cupboard to get them a drink or snack, but if they can't get your attention they can try grabbing, dragging, pulling hair or biting you or themselves. Your natural reaction to quickly get what they want reinforces the negati…