By Elayne Pearson, Special Needs Preparedness Specialist, CAS

Most children love Halloween, but it can be tricky―and downright scary for some. This holiday can be problematic for people with sensory issues―from the intense sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures bombarding them each October.  If you have a child affected by a special-need, especially autism, Halloween can be a complex time. It can conjure a cauldron of concerns―resulting in amplified anxiety, increased impulsivity, deeper withdrawal, and even insomnia and nightmares. Yikes!

Over the many years with Heidi Ann (our little pumpkin with Down syndrome and autism) I learned several strategies to make this crazy/creepy holiday not only a happier one for her, but a sane one for us. My acronym “HALLOWEEN” offers options, cautions, and examples to help set a better tone.

H=HOW. How will the holiday affect your child? Hopefully you can predict responses from past experiences and adapt accordingly. Some people crave and seek sensory stimulation, while others love calm predictability. For the latter, no event feels fun―if you don’t feel safe―and there are many aspects about Halloween which do not offer security. In general, individuals with impairments think literally; so I ask, “Do we really want to subject students to bloody knives, vampires, and skeletons?” Our goal then, should be like Goldilocks―search and create a happy medium that is “juuust right.”

I never allowed anything gruesome around the house, and wanted Heidi to feel even more at peace, so I replaced unsettling bats, spiders, and scary witches with friendly scarecrows, black cats, and goofy ghosts. Our girls loved getting pumpkins and decorating the front porch with corn stocks, squash, and fall leaves.

A=ATTITUDE. Most individuals with autism have difficulty processing satire, teasing, and “pranks.” Spook alleys can be over-stimulating, even traumatizing.  Do we want to ‘promote’ the concept of tricking or threatening people?

Instead, our family focused on making Halloween about clever costumes, creative jack-o-lanterns, and hot chocolate at the pumpkin patch.

L=LIGHT. This helps insure safety, plus it’s empowering. A good flashlight might be the difference between a meltdown and trauma, and a happy night. “Glow Sticks” are economical, but don’t illuminate very far.

Be careful when lighting candles for pumpkins; butane lighters and matches can become a fire obsession. I know two families, both with a teenaged son who found a lighter, and accidentally burned their home.

L=LOTS. Halloween has a lot of sugar, dyes, preservatives and chemicals through candy, face paints, and hair color sprays which suppresses the human immune system, clogs the liver, and inflames the brain. These substances open the door to the haunted house of hyperactivity, anxiety, and illness. I wonder, “Is tons of free candy worth the fallout?”

Proactive moms prepare before Halloween. We can all raise our body’s immunity with increased hydration, additional sleep, exercise, sunshine, supplements, and positive thoughts. I would double-dose Heidi’s multi-vitamin which included amino acids (for brain support) several days before and after Halloween, and she never got sick.

O=OPTIONS. I admire folks who opt out of buying huge bags of candy, and purchase pencils, stickers, small toys, or goofy teeth instead. This year I’m thinking about giving out balloons.

W=WHAT TO WEAR. Costumes for special-needs children are challenging so keep it simple. Recall past October weather to determine if your child needs a costume that fits over a sweatshirt or coat. Sensory issues are real. Will that clever fake straw collar of your cute scarecrow feel insanely itchy? Can your son handle a flashlight, cape, sword and shield, plus his goodie bag? Simplify.

E=EAT. Parents with children who have special needs frequently try to trick-or-treat before dark, so the evening meal often get ignored. Eating beforehand is a wise thing to keep blood sugar stable because you will soon be fighting those evil soldiers from Sugarland. Also, explain the need to save their treats for the at-home-safety-check.

My sister-in-law, Bonnie, started a fun tradition for their clan with an “Orange and Black Dinner” on Halloween. (Think carrot sticks, black olives, fresh orange slices, and sloppy joe meat poured in a hollowed-out pumpkin.) A sneaky mom is one who tries to concoct fun, safe, healthy holiday memories.

If you’re a parent to a munchkin with gluten-free, soy-free, and/or dairy-free sensitivities, follow the yellow brick road, and deliver appropriate treats to friends and trusted neighbors beforehand, insuring positive adventures in the Land of Au-tism.

E=ESTABLISH. Children do better with established routines (like brushing teeth before bed, vitamins with breakfast, exercise without soda pop). Everyone has weaker coping responses when were tired, so maintaining good sleep schedules this season is vital.

N=NEIGHBORS. I wish every neighborhood had only kind, law-abiding citizens, but statistics indicate otherwise. Tragically, the special-needs population is sometimes targeted by deeply troubled individuals―so listen to your gut instincts and follow intuition.  Some parents go only to the homes of friends and trustworthy neighbors on Halloween―and do not feel obligated to visit their entire apartment floor, building, or street, etc.

I pose a question for your worst-case, living nightmare scenario. If there is an abduction or emergency of your vulnerable loved one, have you set aside or given your local law enforcement recent, clear photos, descriptions, DNA samples, and described tendencies of him or her (such as non-compliance to verbal requests) plus your contact information? So glad I’ve done this for Miss Heidi, it really gives me more peace of mind.

Having said all that―this season may actually be a good time to increase awareness and strengthen relationships. Going trick-or-treating to unfamiliar neighbors may be the perfect time to introduce yourselves and begin build bridges of understanding and needed support.

I’m so grateful our family had a circle of caring folks around us during Heidi’s difficult younger years when she was so impulsive and unpredictable. They honestly saved my sanity and possibly her life, at times.

Well, that ends my Halloween acronym.

Life may feel like a shipwreck, but we must keep swimming, search for things to keep us afloat, and sing in the life boats! May your Halloween be anchored in safe, uplifting memories for you and your crew. That’s the real treat.

Take care,

Elayne

This article may be reprinted, etc. as long as name/info. of author is included.

Comments or invitations for Elayne, email: hiddentreasuresofhealth@yahoo.com 

More information/support at www.hiddentreasuresofhealth.com

The post Is Your Special-Needs Halloween a Trick or a Treat? appeared first on Certified Autism Specialist.

Karen Jaggers, NCC, LPC, CAS

State/Country: Texas/, USA

School/ Organizations: University of Houston, MS/Mental Health Counselling – Capella University, CalSouthern University (PsyD Clinical Psychology candidate)

1) How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?
I have been working with individuals on the autism spectrum for over fifteen years.  I have long advocated for a certification in autism that is well rounded and encompasses more than behavior.  Its great that now parents and professionals can search for an autism specialist who has met a strong vetting process.

2) How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?
I believe adding the CAS credential to my other credentials is important because a large part of the individuals I work with as a psychotherapist are on the spectrum or families of these individuals.  By achieving the CAS designation, new clients can be assured that they are receiving information and advice from a professional with proven experience in autism.

3) How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?
My partner Dr. Debra Stokan (child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist) and myself take pride in our many years of experience helping families with autism spectrum disorder.  This designation further assures them that we are striving at all times to remain at the top of our fields in serving the autism community.

4) How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?
The reward that I get is seeing my clients become more successful as they work toward improving their social skills, behavior and personal independence skills.

5) What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?
My greatest challenge or roadblock is that there are so many families with autism, and that the numbers continue to explode.  My own son was diagnosed seventeen years ago and it was almost unheard of diagnosis.  Now its one of the more common diagnosis’ in young children today.

6) What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?
Seeing the progress that students have made is my greatest reward.  Its wonderful to be able to help families better understand their children and create plans to allow the individual to meet their greatest potential.

7) What do you enjoy most about your job?
I absolutely love my job.  What I enjoy most is knowing that even in the most difficult of cases I should be able to help this family and individual gain improvements that will affect their quality of life.

The post Featured Certified Autism Specialist: Karen Jaggers appeared first on Certified Autism Specialist.

Iuliia Sterpinska, Special Needs Teacher

State/Country: Ukraine, Europe

School/ Organizations: Pechersk School International

1) How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?
Earning the Certified Autism Specialist opened the door to “another reality” for me whereI feel competent, meaningful and able to deal with any challenges .

2) How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?
Thanks to the CAS credential I was able to find a job at Chadwick International School in South Korea and changed my position from Teacher Assistant to Special Education Needs Teacher.

3) How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?
CAS credential helped me learn how to moderate the programs for the students with autism so they were able to participate effectively in mainstream classroom activities and take part in school social life. To be honest, there are no autism trainings in Ukraine at all. Lots of Ukrainian people don’t know what autism is at all, so I’m the first IBCCES-CAS certified   specialist in my country.

4) How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?
To get positive feedback from parents, other teachers and administration.

5) What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?
Because of the absence of trainings in my country it was difficult for me to find good information about working with autistic and other disabled students. The second challenge was that English was my second language so in order to succeed with online training I had to learn lots of new specific terminology. But thank to IBCESS-CAS I succeed with all theses challenges.

6) What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?
My students reached great levels of success regardless of their academic, social and behavior life. The success was so noticeable that lots of teachers from our school came and told me about it. Verbal recognition from peers that acknowledges student growth is very rewarding too.

7) What do you enjoy most about your job?
SEN is my job, my passion and my lifestyle. Every day you come to school and see how successful your students are, how their lives are changing in a good way, knowing you can help even if they are struggling… This is the most enjoyable and satisfying part of my job.

The post Featured Certified Autism Specialist: Iuliia Sterpinska appeared first on Certified Autism Specialist.

By Elayne Pearson, Special Needs Preparedness Specialist, Author, and National Speaker

July is great for recalling our amazing heritage in this choice land. I adore the patriotic music, programs, and parades. However, there were many years when even attending a local July 4^th parade with Miss Heidi, our cute daughter with Down syndrome and autism, was very stressful. Personally, I loved the spirit of patriotism, the scalloped star-spangled bunting, and creating parade floats. Our four daughters in their crisp red, white, and blue outfits (and matching hair bows) undoubtedly felt the excitement in the air too, but our youngest, Heidi (who craved peace, quiet, and predictability) probably felt like she was entering a war zone, with random firecrackers, flashing police lights directing the excited mobs, smoke and BBQ odors from vendors, and bands playing with true vigor.  More than once, Heidi darted off in a “parade panic” and our family (also in a panic) thankfully always found her.

Over the years I’ve learned a lot and offer terrific safety tips for parents of loved ones affected by autism. Truly there are three phases to managing any big event; before, during and after. My cheerful theme song? “Keep it up!”

Phase 1 – BEFORE the Big Parade

TEAM UP- Many people with special needs experience high anxiety and become impulsive when overwhelmed, and resort to fight or flight mode. It’s scary having individuals like my Heidi unexpectedly dart off, knowing when they finally stop running or are found, they’re hardly even able to say their name, let alone give personal information. While it may feel a little embarrassing, wise parents realize they need support from friends, family, trusted neighborhood watch groups, and local authorities to keep everyone safe. Start these conversations.

SPEAK UP- When Heidi was a teenager, I finally took a photo of her to our Sheriff’s office, and shared our cell phone numbers and address. They appreciated my pro-active connection. I indicated she had no fear of typical dangers, and may ignore their questions.  Also, Heidi could be enticed with a candy bar or soda pop (which has pros and cons). I shared information about her attraction to water (ponds, pools, and fountains), animals, and high places (like balconies and playground slides).  This simple step was a real comfort to me, and a real help for them. Just wish I’d done it sooner.

PRINT UP- Some parents create a special T-shirt, identification bracelet, or dog-tag-type necklace with vital information for their vulnerable children. Several choices are available, so tailor it to your needs. For example, does your child “mouth” everything? We invested in a sturdy metal bracelet for Heidi, because she’s so strong and broke pretty necklace chains. There are “buttons” which can be personalized then pinned on, or “safety stickers” printed up.

GATHER UP- The morning of the parade is too busy to organize all the things you may need, so a few days in advance gather the sunscreen, hats, blanket, safety harness, bug spray, medications, camera, extra undies/diapers, wet wipes, snacks, bubbles and umbrella. Be sure and freeze some water.

POWER UP- If your loved one needs batteries for hearing aids or power-generated items, like a wheelchair, make sure it’s juiced up in advance or pack spare batteries that are ready to go.

BUY UP- Depending on where you sit on the parade route, the procession can take a while to get there, and sometimes negative actions set in. Beforehand, pick up a new little toy or something appropriate to amuse your child while waiting.

Phase 2 – DURING the Parade and Park Activities

DIVIDE UP- Consider possible parade locations carefully, if your special child needs bathrooms close or a shady quieter area, you may want to “stake your claim” early with camp chairs, rope, or a couple of old blankets. Some parents split up the family arrival times, and keep their cell phones handy.

OPEN UP- Umbrellas are great for rain and shade, but another easy tip is blocking visual clutter. Super-excited children running around Heidi creates anxiety, so simply opening our umbrella in front of her while we waited for the pretty floats actually helped her.

LINK UP- After the parade confirm your child’s safety harness, or “buddy-up” to avoid separation. Having a pre-arranged meeting place if someone gets lost is smart. (Not the flag pole at the post office, because there may be several flags around that day, creating a lot of confusion.)

BREAK UP- Breaking up the marathon into small portions of quiet time somewhere, or even going home, might be wise to help ensure everyone lasting through the family BBQ and fireworks.

CUT UP- At the family picnic or park after, please remember hot dogs are the number one food which creates a choking hazard. Don’t let that spoil your holiday, please cut them into small pieces.

FILL UP- Before any fireworks are lit, fill a large bucket with water for dousing hot sparklers, matches, etc. Watch for dry weeds or wood in your area. Go over the safety rules and stick to them. Fireworks have blown off fingers and caused blindness, so please remember, safety saves.

LIGHT UP-  Even seemingly simple “sparklers” can cause burned hands if not handled properly. Swapping sparklers for glow sticks provides safe, inexpensive fun.

BACK UP- Frequently, individuals with disabilities have hyper-sensitive senses. The noise of the exploding fireworks, the smell of the smoke creating watery eyes, while sitting in the “prickly” grass, quite often is just too much. Consider moving into the house or your vehicle and watching the light-show from there.

Phase 3 – AFTER the Big Holiday

REST UP- Everyone will be pretty wiped out, so don’t plan anything that next day or two if possible. You all need a quiet, simple day with fairly normal routines.

FOLLOW UP- After it’s all over, evaluate the day and jot down some adjustment for next year. Thankfully, these courageous children are growing every year with our loving guidance and support. Over time we’ll come to new mutual understanding and find additional joy in family traditions and holidays.

CHIN UP- Keep smilin’ and carry on! You’re a modern-day patriot doing your part for your country.

~ Elayne Pearson, Founder of Hidden Treasures of Health, is a Special Needs Preparedness Specialist, author, and national speaker. She loves learning natural health tips and teaching trauma-recovery tools. Her hobbies include performing in musical theater productions, scrap-booking, and playing with her grandchildren.

~ For more helpful tips, tools, and techniques visit Elayne at www.hiddentreasuresofhealth.com

~ For speaking invitations, please email:  hiddentreasuresofhealth@yahoo.com

The post Problems with Parades and your Special Needs Child? Keep it “UP”! appeared first on Certified Autism Specialist.

Shaneé Howell, MSW, CAS, ITFS

State/Country: North Carolina, USA

School/ Organizations: Applied Family Services – NC

1) How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?
Earning the CAS credential has been extremely meaningful because of what it allows me to do for my clients. Because of the continuing education coursework that I have completed I have been able to guide families in the process of having their child evaluated, as well as being able to provide families with new tools learned in my continued studies.

2) How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?
The CAS credential has given validity to my passion of working with individuals with Autism, and has allowed for me to grow, and even to have new positions created where I can best use my skill set.

3) How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?
This credential has allowed for me to provide training to both parents and professionals who may not have been able to receive services otherwise.

4) How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?
I feel most proud of my work when a family that I’ve been working with gets excited about progress and can see their own growth through all of the work we’ve done as a team. Their heartfelt “Thank-you” makes all of the hard work worth it!

5) What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?
My greatest challenge is in pulling professionals together to work as a team. I’ve found that if the professionals can check in with one another and ensure that each of the goals they are working on coincide with the others the child and family is much more successful!
6) What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?
I feel most like a valuable contributor when my advice is sought out, from both parents and professionals. Knowing that they find my knowledge helpful to them makes me feel valued.

7) What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love that I get to have a positive impact not only in a child’s life but in their family dynamic as well. Giving children and parents the skill set to grow to a place where they not only function, but enjoy being around one another, is what motivates me to continue this work!

The post Featured Certified Autism Specialist: Shaneé Howell appeared first on Certified Autism Specialist.

Ezra Lockhart, M.Hlth.Sc.(D.D.), MCSE, CDC I, CAS, Behavior Therapist

State/Country: Anchorage, Alaska, USA

School/ Organizations: Catholic Social Services – Alaska

1) How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?

I am proud to be the first practitioner in Alaska to earn the Certified Autism Specialist credential.  Earning this internationally recognized credential provides those that I serve reassurances regarding my expertise in the field of autism support. I consider myself a global citizen and have studied in both the United States of America and Australia. Locating and obtaining board certification at the international level was important to me. Towards that aim, I found IBCCES and their autism credentialing track. For these reasons I find my CAS credential meaningful and satisfying.

2) How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?

I initially earned the Autism Certificate credential while working towards completing a master’s degree at the University of Sydney in Australia. After completing and publishing a dissertation on the topic of computer-based social and emotional skills training for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), I upgraded to the Certified Autism Specialist credential. Since earning my Certified Autism Specialist I have been accepted into a doctoral program to continue my research focusing on the ASD population.

3) How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?

Catholic Social Services, Family Disability Services is able with confidence to connect me with their client population to address specific acute and chronic issues. Mentioning that the agency has a CAS onboard helps to encourage parents and guardians that those in their care will be supported to the upmost professional standard by a highly qualified practitioner.

4) How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?

Receiving accolades of any kind is something I personally and professional appreciate. For my contribution to the autism community I received the Man of Excellence Award in 2013 from AHAINA Multicultural Center and the Seawolf Student Leader Award from the University of Alaska Anchorage, Student Life & Leadership. In 2015 I was presented an original painting from the Michael Tolleson Savant Art Center in Kent, Washington. The painting “Epiphany” was created by Michael Tolleson, an autistic savant. Creating a positive lasting impact to no matter the size to this community is my passion and career goal.

5) What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?

The greatest challenge I have seen in my 12 years delivering direct support is the ever constant changes in federal and state regulations governing Medicaid. I have witnessed how this drastically impacts from year-to-year access to and continuation of services for individuals who desperately need support. Working for a Medicaid provider agency I have seen across the board client support hour reductions that frankly break my heart as I understand how this will impact the quality of life and skill development for the clients I serve.

6) What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?

When working with clients one-on-one the constant feedback I get from their actions, achievements, and accomplishments makes me acutely aware of how valuable my contribution is to their overall success. Even when clients are struggling to achieve their goals the fact that they continue to try signifies for me the value of my practice.

7) What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy seeing change in the clients I serve regardless of how incremental that change may be. My reward is in their success. It is rewarding to know that I have the opportunity to impact clients in such a way that will have for them lifelong positive effects.

The post Featured Certified Autism Specialist: Ezra Lockhart appeared first on Certified Autism Specialist.

A few years ago, I encountered a set of notorious twins who challenged my classroom and behavior management skills honed carefully by years of teaching middle school students and parenting a “strong-willed” child. I had no formal ABA training; in fact, I was brand new to the school. I didn’t recall doing anything to merit these 15-year-old sophomores’ placement together in my class, especially in a period that ended up as the last class on Fridays. I’d been warned of their tendencies, their “attention-seeking” antics by my colleagues. Head-shaking, commiserating ninth-grade teachers wished me the perfunctory “good luck” after a disbelieving exclamation of “You have them BOTH in the same class!?”  I can still see the piteous looks on their faces.

The mother of these boys (who is an absolute angel) was in email contact with me daily to monitor their behavior and progress. There were diagnoses and accommodations plans lined up to help us teachers with these boys, which I kept within arm’s reach to reference for ideas. I slogged through a few months of redirecting, ignoring, minimizing, clarifying, one-on-one conferencing with the student, conferencing with the parents, etc. etc. etc. all the while documenting and classifying interventions; until one day, I unknowingly started implementing positive behavior supports.

My daughter’s therapist taught me to use PBS and token economies at home, so I began applying the same ideas in the classroom. Every day, I found a way to complement each student, especially those twins. It wasn’t easy, but as an example, when class clown #1 was asked to read aloud, and he did so in a silly accent, I praised him for his oratorical prowess. It actually worked. I got compliance. I got work turned in. I got on task behavior. I survived the twins, and instead of joining in the finger wagging in the teacher’s lounge, I was fist pumping my way through midterms.

I was lucky enough to teach one of the twins again in summer school two years later. When they both graduated, I couldn’t contain the pride I felt in how they’d both matured and succeeded in spite of their past behaviors, their diagnoses, and all of the teachers who wrote them off as “bad kids.”

When working with children, whether as a parent or a teacher, we have to be creative and willing to try the unexpected. I don’t consider myself a guru of behavior analysis or classroom management, but I learned to find the positive in each of them and the benefit of changing my approach. With all we know of motivation and affective filter, we must strive to support students with positivity. At least try it to see if it makes a difference. In my experience, it truly does.

About the author: Kelly Noda worked in nonprofits for five years and taught writing and public speaking in middle school, high school, and college for ten years. She has a degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Alabama and studied psycholinguistics and rhetoric at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of West Florida and serving The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards as Director of Development.

The post Using Positive Supports to Manage Behavior in the Classroom appeared first on Certified Autism Specialist.

By: Elayne Pearson, Special Needs Preparedness Specialist, Author/Life Coach/Motivational Speaker

February brings to my mind cold and prickly weather, but also warm and fuzzy thoughts of Valentine’s Day. It’s a favorite holiday of mine because I think we all need to express our love and appreciation more. Okay, at home, more love and at work, more appreciation.

“Ah love, it’s a grand thing,” Lady Cluck wistfully observes, while gazing at the dreamy Maid Marion in Disney’s Robin Hood, and I truly agree with her.

For years, our home rang with the delightful music and scenes from that show and many Disney classics, because Heidi, our beloved little girl with Down syndrome, adored all things Disney. A few years later her sweet personality shifted into anxious and baffling behaviors (before most had even heard the word autism) and our videos went from being a simple joy — to a deep need of Heidi’s to collect and constantly carry with her.

Fast forward to Heidi’s teen years. It seemed like a true emotional addiction to perfectly line up all her movies on the floor and stare at them, while emitting an odd sustained growl. If we moved them, she freaked. Life looked perfect at the Pearson home on the outside, but inside, life was complex and draining. (Thank goodness our family generally enjoyed hearing her movies play constantly, and today are sane individuals.)

Looking back, I’m grateful Heidi saw examples of make-believe characters portray principles of perseverance and that love conquers all. Actually, this happened in her daily life, but her mind affected by autism and Down’s syndrome couldn’t relate to the examples around, so I slowly built bridges by referencing life experiences and emotions to Heidi through her movies — because they were more real to her — than real life.

Countless times when her movie finished I’d say, “See, Heidi, everything turns out great when we keep going and are brave. It always works out in the end.”

I still believe “happily ever afters” can come true.

There are other great examples which inspire me to be a little better person. I especially felt that as I cared for my very ill husband with acute kidney failure on Christmas Eve. (Believe me, it’s quite different caring for my “disabled” spouse, than both of us helping our handicapped daughter.) Our difficult experiences gave us deeper admiration and “built bridges of the heart” to individuals who take care of their beloved spouse for months, years, and even decades.

I’ve been amazed at the remarkable historical accomplishment of the building of the mile-long Brooklyn Bridge, suspended over the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan New York in the 1880s. Yet, it’s become more relevant lately when I learned more about the woman behind the scenes.

John Roebling, a brilliant bridge builder attempted a seemingly impossible feat, and after explaining future obstacles and goals, convinced his son, Washington Roebling, an up-and-coming engineer to partner with him. They finally convinced bankers to finance it at an estimated 18 million dollars, and hired huge crews of men to create the “impossible” road (and walkway). The bridge was to be finished in five years, but a few months into the job, an accident, crushing John’s foot resulted in partial amputation. Some believe tetanus was a factor, because within days, he died, leaving his son in charge. Only Washington Roebling, and to a tiny degree, his wife Emily, knew John’s lofty vision and complex strategies. The venture was about to be scrapped, but together they persevered.

With no electric lights, power tools, or cell phones to complete all the elements of bridge building, such as creating massive steel/wire cables, molding cement underwater, rigging pulleys with animal teams, figuring counter weights for granite slabs, as well as estimating wind and water factors, it’s a marvel it actually came to fruition.

At the construction site, while frequently going up and down the caissons (the water tight chambers used to dig into the sand towards bedrock, pour cement, and anchor cables, etc.) Washington Roebling got “caisson disease” as it was called. Today it’s known as the bends or decompression sickness, a complex illness affecting the nervous system, joints, and spine. He became too weak and ill to go to work. Using a telescope from the couple’s Brooklyn home, he watched over the project while Emily became his secretary, eyes, ears, and voice. She took care of him at home and symbolically built another bridge as the messenger of detailed instructions to the various crews of men at work. Under his assistance, Emily Roebling studied higher mathematics and bridge engineering, and soon became very fluent in the construction of bridges.

Around the 10 year mark, the cables were completed and the roadways were beginning to be put down, but the extreme delays, defective materials, public outcry, and several deaths during construction, and the fact that Washington Roebling hadn’t actually set foot on the bridge in nearly 10 years due to his disability, made him a convenient scapegoat. He narrowly missed being voted off as chief engineer.

Different versions indicate that after Washington became homebound, there were periods where he was unable to speak, yet with his mind sharp as ever, he created a method of communication with Emily by lifting his finger.

Wow. After being around people with limited speech/language for decades, I truly admire this amazing couple. With so many limitations, they still made it work. It thrills me to realize this incredible suspension bridge of 3,460 feet took almost 14 years to finish, but thanks to Emily’s astonishing efforts, her husband remained chief engineer of construction. Together, they created a crowning accomplishment.

It was said of Emily Roebling, “She is a woman of infinite tact and wisest counsel” and “invaluable.” Washington suggested his wife be the first to cross the bridge, and as she passed by in an open carriage, hundreds of workers raised their hats and cheered.  Against all odds, this valiant husband and wife team literally changed the world.

In my comparatively simple world, I’m thankful my husband is doing excellently under my diligent care, and his doctors’ recommendations. We’re both very grateful for bridges carefully built over the years by teachers, therapists, bus drivers, and care providers of our darling daughter with many special needs. Miss Heidi is 28 and lives semi-independently from us with remarkable, big-hearted “professional parents” and staff, plus her beloved dogs and cat. (Bless ‘em all, they listen to Disney’s Robin Hood a lot).

Remember, even a simple valentine or thank you note can build bridges within difficult situations, link lives or organizations together, and heal homes with hurting hearts. Happy Valentine’s Day, from my heart to yours.

This article may be copied, with attributes to author, Elayne Pearson. She is excited to be working towards credentials with IBCCES. As Special Needs Preparedness Specialist, Elayne has decades of commitment to the disability community and presents at various preparedness expos or other events. To invite Elayne, email hiddentreasuresofhealth@yahoo.com

The post Building Bridges, Linking Lives, and Healing Hearts appeared first on Certified Autism Specialist.

By Elayne Pearson, Special Needs Preparedness Specialist – Author/Life Coach/Motivational Speaker

It’s dawn. The sun sprinkles glorious golden bronze glitter on the navy blue ocean out beyond our little time-share balcony, or lanai, as they call it here in Hawaii.  My husband, Rod, and I love the Islands, because they transport and replenish us. We love the cultures, foods, and people here.

I’m supposed to relax, but it’s kind of hard, because for over 25 years on any vacation with Heidi, our beautiful daughter with Down syndrome and late-onset autism, it honestly was not relaxing for our family.  We had to watch her constantly.  Thank goodness (out of real desperation) I searched and gradually found drug-free solutions to calm her accelerated central nervous system and level out her baffling emotions.

While sipping my peppermint tea to lesson jet-lag, I ponder how life challenges have put us on a path to serve and strengthen others, and I feel peace. Herbal tea is just one benefit I learned because of Heidi. It’s calming and creates a healthy clarity for me. Our family discovered Mother Nature truly provides the perfect prescription for our health and wellbeing.

Two decades hand-in-hand with autism has sparked a passion in me to share preparedness tips, tools, and techniques for parents and others who work with people with special needs. Our family was frequently in “emergency mode.” We had to be prepared for Heidi’s many unexpected responses to things around her and protect her from her own lack of knowledge, and impulsivity in response of her overly heightened senses and more. We learned tons from our experiences and thankfully survived “Hurricane Heidi.”

Yesterday on the radio of our rental car we heard updates about an actual Hurricane headed to these Islands, and I knew we could be in peril, but I wasn’t afraid. I recalled our first emergency experience here with Hurricane Iniki in 1992, when we splurged for our 14th wedding anniversary, and stayed on Oahu.  We were terrified that four daughters at home—ranging from ages four to 12—could become orphans. Thankfully we survived the week without harm.  Countless tourists on Kauai were stranded for 3 weeks from wide-spread damages, including the airport.

Hurricane Iniki blew our vacation plans, yet lit a fire in us to become better prepared for any natural disaster or emergency. Little by little we began. Over the years, when teaching moments came I tried to help our girls think proactively and creatively and say, “If that bad thing happened here, these creative options are how we’ll help it turn out good. We can handle this!” Today, our neuro-typical daughters are happy wives and capable mothers, raising beautiful families, and Miss Heidi is doing great in her Host Home program.

So with a powerful storm headed our way, I’m choosing proactivity and sharing some helpful observations and tips, because you never know when and where an emergency will strike. The key? KEEP IT UP!

TEAM UP ~ Earlier Rod and I enjoyed chatting with our friendly shuttle driver, Johnny, and our bellman, Loton.  Statistics indicate people who are connected before a disaster fare better during it, and afterwards, too. Let’s get to know everyone at work, church, and in the neighborhood, because together, you can team up to help save lives and salvage property.

LINK UP ~ Experiencing Hurricane Iniki was a wake-up call for us as parents, and we officially asked Rod’s brother and his wife to raise our precious daughters, should we pass on, plus be legal guardians for Miss Heidi after she turned 18. Decide on a “Plan B” in your own life.

SHIELD UP ~ Here in Hawaii, they have laws protecting turtles and sea lions, we, too, need to watch out and protect fragile people with disabilities and special needs in the event of a fire, earthquake, or flooding. Please create safety plans in your realm for this vulnerable and valuable part of our population.

GEAR UP ~ Like a typical woman, my purse is actually a stylish survival bag. I’ve always have a variety of things to be prepared like pens, small notebook, tissues, small knife, and nail clippers. Some coins and cash are needed when machines can’t scan “plastic.” I always have water and healthy snacks like raisins, almonds, or granola bars with me. For wounds I have band-aids and tiny bottles of essential oil. Being prepared feels great.

FILL UP ~ Water is the MOST vital survival resource. Think hydration, cooking, washing wounds, and cleaning up.  I recall filling our motel bathtub during Hurricane Iniki. At home, we have several large water containers.

SWAP UP ~ Teach children there are options right before our eyes when we think creatively. Some substitutes: a penny becomes a screwdriver and dental floss has multiple uses.

GATHER UP ~ Our time-share kitchen has a broom plus a carpet sweeper. Excellent. Now is the time to gather non-electric tools, like manual can openers.

PLUG UP ~ Foam Ear plugs from our plane ride helps with sleep. But I’ll keep them in my emergency backpack for those with sensitive hearing issues to muffle noise during a disaster.

CUT UP– I love paper towels and wet wipes, but after a disaster, they run out quickly. T-shirts to the rescue! So versatile, they can strain water, become a clean bandage wrap, a general cleaning rag, tie a splint and more. They can be easily cut into squares or torn and are soft to the skin. If Heidi was with us during a natural disaster and had an “accident” in her pants (not unusual with intense fright) I could use our soft t-shirt cloths to help clean her up.

LIGHT UP ~ Our cute little washer/dryer combo at the time-share had another useful preparedness item, in the dryer lint trap. It’s fire kindling. If Rod needed to start a small fire outside and there were no dry leaves or twigs, lint is fire tinder, and it’s free and easy.

EAT UP ~ When the power is out, we must find alternative ways to cook and keep food safe. Luckily there is fishing, farms, fruit trees, and berry bushes here.

OPEN UP ~ Hawaiians have big, open hearts and their kind aloha spirit truly exemplifies the attitude we all need in a disaster or wartime, or really every day.

After the storm passed by some folks relaxing by the pool said, “Oh, I could live here forever! Right? It’s perfect!” I agreed. However, I realized it may even be the worst-case scenario, and we really could survive and thrive here.  Let’s keep it up!

Special Needs Preparedness Specialist, Elayne Pearson, has decades of commitment to the Disability Community as an advocate, author, and columnist. Pearson is a certified Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member and presents at various Preparedness Events. She is excited to be working towards credentials with IBCCES for her Autism Certificate. To invite Elayne to speak in your area, email hiddentreasuresofhealth@yahoo.com This article may be copied, with attributes to author.

The post “Keep it UP!” Helpful Hints from Hawaii appeared first on Certified Autism Specialist.

From Planting Seeds to Harvesting Success

The other day a neighbor offered me some fresh garden produce and I happily accepted. My husband and I haven’t taken the effort to build up our rather alkali soil to produce a decent garden, so I truly appreciated the gift.

Later, after I saw the box of zucchini squash and some odd looking green bell pepper-looking things, I realized I would need to actually create meals with them. (Silly me, I had imagined my delivery box would contain picture perfect long carrots with the frilly green stems on top like Bugs Bunny eats, and shiny red tomatoes that make any salad or sandwich even better — both requiring little preparation.) Heck, I wasn’t even sure if some were cucumbers or zucchini and if those odd looking green items were mild green bell peppers or hot and spicy peppers. Yet, I felt compelled to use them. You see, I was raised with the old pioneer adage: “Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”

The busy lady and convenience-loving woman in me quickly realized I’d have to take the time to go through the recipes books, ensure all of the ingredients were available, and bake it to just the right time — without being sure if I’d have success with the effort. (Frankly some of my experiments have been eaten with great anticipation, then when the meal concluded, the leftovers were quietly transferred to the trash.)

Though I wasn’t itching to cook from scratch that day, it just felt like the right thing to do. So I combed through the zucchini recipes, matching them with my ingredients on hand, and—low and behold—they turned out to be the best muffins I’ve ever made. They were melt-in-your-mouth amazing.

Munching on them, I marveled at what a journey I was a small part of, from that humble seed, into the soil, to the farmer’s harvest, and then my effort leading to a bounty for our plates and palate.

Seeds are interesting things. I recalled a time in our life with Heidi, our daughter, who was born with Down syndrome was a happy little toddler. I took her to the local schools.  First, as “show-and-tell” for her very proud sisters, and later, we presented positive handicapped awareness classes. (Over 25 years ago, it was perfectly acceptable to use the word handicapped; in fact, it was politically correct to say instead of mongoloid or retarded. Every several years it changes.) Heidi, her sisters and I were symbolically planting seeds of awareness and achievements. Our family hoped our efforts would pay off, and gratefully, everyone accepted sweet little Heidi. Life was good.

As a teenager Heidi still had the darling munchkin look, but had become severely affected by autism, with high anxiety manifesting in repetitive actions, heart-breaking emotional indifference, and frightening impulsiveness. I had to stop the class presentations, life was just too complex. All I could do was hope that other parents, teachers, and leaders watered and weeded those early seedlings and perhaps plant fertile new seeds of understanding and support.

When Heidi was about 15, I recall seriously doubting that she and I were good advocates for the disabled community any more. I was still in survival mode, longing for the years of opportunities to make a meaningful difference.

One hot August afternoon, the friendly blonde teenager bagging my groceries at the local store had asked, “So, are you Heidi’s mom?”

“I am! Let’s see,” I stalled trying to place her face and put it with a name, but to no avail. “I’m sorry, so how do you know her?” Smiling I asked,  “Oh, were you one of her peer tutors at school?”

“Oh, I wish I could have done that. No, my schedule wouldn’t let me. Actually,” she chuckled, “I was a first grader, when you and Heidi came in and spoke to our class about being nice to handicapped kids, and how they are actually quite talented in different ways. Stuff like that.”

“Oh wow, you can remember us from that long ago?” I asked in amazement.

“Yep, I never forgot both of you or your message,” she replied. “You were so happy in spite of the challenges.”

“Really? Wow, how kind of you to share that,” I quietly replied. “Honestly, it all turned out to be harder than I thought.”

“Well, Heidi was just cute and so, well, lovable. You know, I had never seen a real child with Down syndrome before her. You taught us that she had to work twice as hard to crawl and walk, because her muscles were soft. I remember she was super flexible and could even do the Chinese splits,” she gushed as we walked into the scorching parking lot with my grocery cart.

“True, Heidi was amazing,” I said with a dash of bittersweetness. I couldn’t tell people that I missed the gal she used to be, but it was true.

“Anyway,” she confided while lifting the grocery bags into my car, “I just wanted you to know that your little class presentation positively impacted my life. I’m seriously thinking about going into the disability field.”

“Hey, do it,” I heartily responded, “We need good people like you in the trenches. Oh how we need good folks helping these kids. It’s an uphill climb. Wow, you’ve really made my day. Thanks so much!”

As I pulled my car out of the parking lot, I realized I had forgotten to ask her name, eventually knowing it wasn’t necessary. Deep within I knew it was important to continue communicating about disabilities, whether it was Down syndrome and autism, or anything in-between.  Each conversation, class or interaction would symbolically plant, water, weed or cultivate additional seeds of advocacy — and I’d do it wherever I could. This was a day of harvest for us; an emotional bumper crop of many years of laboring in the vineyards of life, for those who courageously live with constant challenges every day, every minute, every second.

I believe individuals within the autism spectrum disorder quietly beckon the rest of us to stand a little taller and be a little better. Hopefully, because of folks like Heidi, we’ve not only joined this field to earn a living, but also joined the greater movement to become better human beings.  That’s the true prize to be won.

So tonight I’ll serve my hubby the last of those zucchini muffins. We’ll savor the yummy homemade, home grown food. It’s another example helping me realize that by small and simple means, great things are coming to pass.

Keep it up, friends. It’s all good. God bless.

Elayne Pearson, Special Needs Preparedness Specialist, is an award-winning writer, speaker, and poet. As a dedicated disability advocate for over 27 years, she currently is a special needs newspaper columnist in the Rocky Mountain region, and is working towards her Autism Certificate from IBCCES. Additionally, as a Special Needs Preparedness Expert, Elayne recently spoke at the prestigious Autism Society of America National Conference in Denver, Colorado. To contact or invite her to your school/business/organization, Email: handinhand247@yahoo.com or hiddentreasuresofhealth@yahoo.com

The post “Hand in Hand” with Elayne appeared first on Certified Autism Specialist.