ASK Camp - Autism Ontario

18
The Autism Newslink Summer 2005
Interested in writing a
review of the latest resource
book entitled, Helping your Child
with Autism Spectrum Disorder
– A Step-by-Step Workbook for
Families? A draw will occur if
we receive numerous offers. If
you are selected, we will send
you a copy of the book to
keep as our thanks and ask
for a 600-word review of the
book to be printed in the
next issue of Newslink.
Contact Autism Society Ontario at
mail@autismsociety.on.ca by July 29, 2005.
The Art Auction is back by
popular demand!
Join us at the St. Lawrence Hall downtown
Toronto (corner of Jarvis and King) on
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
for a fantastic evening of drinks, hors
d’oeuvres and an excellent selection of
Canadian and International art. The evening
begins at 6:00 p.m.
Silent auction followed by Live Auction.
Watch for more details at
www.autismsociety.on.ca
You are cordially invited to join
The ASO Simcoe County Chapter
and
The Barrie Civitan Club
members, their friends and families for
An Evening for Autism
Saturday October 22, 2005
to celebrate the special individuals in our lives with
Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Cocktails begin at 6:30pm
followed by a Dinner, Dance and Silent Auction at the
Holiday Inn, 20 Fairview Road, Barrie, Ontario.
Cost per person is $45
Proceeds go towards providing Respite Funds for families of ASD
individuals across Simcoe County.
For further information contact
The Evening for Autism Hotline at 705-726-9082 ext 441
or E-mail mail@simcoe-autism.ca.
ASO Charitable Registration # 11924 8789 RR0001
bookreview
My Sad Is All
Gone
by Thelma Wheatley
reviewed by Natalie Whatley,
Parent
My Sad is All Gone is
difficult to read. As
a parent of a child
with autism, it was heartwrenching
to read so much
that was familiar yet so much
that was beyond imagining.
Thelma Wheatley pulls no
punches in describing life with
Julian who shows so much promise in his
early years but by adolescence is prone to frequent rage
behaviour. Despite personal tragedies over the years that add
to the incredible challenges facing Thelma and her family, this
book holds out hope that Julian can be helped.
The story begins in the office of the renowned Dr. Rakka at
the Hospital for Sick Children’s Child Development Clinic in
Toronto where Thelma and her husband Alec anxiously await
the words that will forever change their lives: their child is
“mentally retarded” and autistic. There is an immediate opening
at a residential treatment centre that they are urged to take
advantage of so that they don’t “throw away” their lives on him.
For Thelma and Alec this is unthinkable—and so begins their
ongoing commitment to help their beautiful 4-year old “Jules”
realize his potential.
From Julian’s infancy, Thelma had nagging fears that there
was something wrong: Jules did not seem to miss her when she
was gone; he “preferred to trickle grains of sand through his
fingers over and over…” With a few apt phrases she captures the
isolation of mothers of children with special needs, children who
are “slow” and different from their peers. You are able to feel the
anxious need to show that everything is as it should be—“Julian
just needs his nap”—as she catches that subtle glance between
two other mothers on a neighbour’s patio. Despite peculiarities
in Julian’s behaviour, there were indications of normal and even
advanced development. This is the insidiousness of autism—our
children’s “scattered” skills that we grasp at with hope that all
will be well, that they will grow out of it.
In school classes for the “trainable mentally retarded,” Julian
learns to read, write and do simple arithmetic. He makes friends
and participates in a variety of activities such as the Special
Olympics and summer day programs run by Community Living
Mississauga. Disturbing psychotic behaviours arise as Julian
enters adolescence. Episodes of extreme agitation, self-abuse,
destruction of property and aggression towards others become
more frequent. Seemingly trivial incidents set him off. On a
holiday to Cape Cod, Julian refuses to leave the cottage, terrified
by the unfamiliar shower curtains. After three intolerable days
in a cramped motel room, Thelma and Alec head home from
their “holiday from hell.”