Sunday, November 28, 2010
And the TSA makes a 4 year old disabled child take off his leg braces to walk through the detector...
The stupidity is mind numbing!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
X-Ray Nation | TSA Glass Box Mother Over Stored Breast Milk
X-Ray Nation | TSA Glass Box Mother Over Stored Breast Milk
A woman held up for over an hour, missing her flight, all over breast milk. You have to read this... narrative from the passenger directly.
I think all the stuff I have read about El Al's procedures has me supporting their approach. Certainly, we need to up the educational level of these TSA agents. Their inability to apply common sense is hurting the traveling public. Certainly the German fraus who had to check me in Munich and Frankfurt were infinitely more professional and educated than the security that we have over here. (Note to self, always wear a sports bra - no underwire!)
A woman held up for over an hour, missing her flight, all over breast milk. You have to read this... narrative from the passenger directly.
I think all the stuff I have read about El Al's procedures has me supporting their approach. Certainly, we need to up the educational level of these TSA agents. Their inability to apply common sense is hurting the traveling public. Certainly the German fraus who had to check me in Munich and Frankfurt were infinitely more professional and educated than the security that we have over here. (Note to self, always wear a sports bra - no underwire!)
The Longest 15 Minutes of my Life
So Jimmy had an adventure yesterday. We were at Manassas Mall with my mom yesterday. I had taken Jacob into the Toys R Us Express so he could spend a gift card from his birthday. My mom had taken Jimmy in the stroller to Macy's. Shortly after I walked in the store, I get a panicked phone call from my mom. Jimmy's out of the stroller and she thought she saw him headed for an exit. I run up to a cashier and ask her to call 911 and mall security, explaining the situation and his disability. I get a few customers to watch the parking lot exits until store security catches up to me. Then I get on the phone with 911.
First stroke of brilliant luck for me in that the 911 operator has an autistic older brother. She doesn't have to pepper me with too many questions about the disability and I don't have to waste time explaining, She gets it. The understands the seriousness of this and dispatches ten units with a K9. One finds me, the other finds my mom since we have fanned out (Jacob was being babysat at the cash wrap, on his best behavior since he was scared too.)
They are getting the information while everyone is searching, including the Macy's employees, who ran out of the store like it was on fire on Black Friday to look for my kid with the masses. Within three minute of the police arriving, it is a Macy's employee who brings him back to the store from the Food Court, where he had gone to play on the equipment. It's not a mall I go to regular, but he knows it well from going there with E all the time. He knew where he wanted to be, even if I didn't know where to find him.
Something in my head told me that it was unlikely he left the mall. And he won't go off with someone. But I was terrified he might go out those doors to the parking lot or the road. And that I wouldn't see him again, at least not alive. I cannot explain the emotional response. Nearly 24 hours later and I am not doing well, still shaking, still anxious, even though I got the best of endings. It's going to be a while before I am okay again.
We have a call into the Prince William County Sheriff's Office to get him a Lifesaver bracelet. Yes, I am lojacking my kid. Most jurisdictions see a 100% recovery rate with it. I hope to never need it again, but I want it there just in case after yesterday.
I don't have the words to express my gratitude to the Manassas Macy's, that 911 operator, and the responding officers. They brought my child back to me, a child who can't ask for help or even say he is lost or often his own name. No miracles for Christmas here, I think that card has been played.
First stroke of brilliant luck for me in that the 911 operator has an autistic older brother. She doesn't have to pepper me with too many questions about the disability and I don't have to waste time explaining, She gets it. The understands the seriousness of this and dispatches ten units with a K9. One finds me, the other finds my mom since we have fanned out (Jacob was being babysat at the cash wrap, on his best behavior since he was scared too.)
They are getting the information while everyone is searching, including the Macy's employees, who ran out of the store like it was on fire on Black Friday to look for my kid with the masses. Within three minute of the police arriving, it is a Macy's employee who brings him back to the store from the Food Court, where he had gone to play on the equipment. It's not a mall I go to regular, but he knows it well from going there with E all the time. He knew where he wanted to be, even if I didn't know where to find him.
Something in my head told me that it was unlikely he left the mall. And he won't go off with someone. But I was terrified he might go out those doors to the parking lot or the road. And that I wouldn't see him again, at least not alive. I cannot explain the emotional response. Nearly 24 hours later and I am not doing well, still shaking, still anxious, even though I got the best of endings. It's going to be a while before I am okay again.
We have a call into the Prince William County Sheriff's Office to get him a Lifesaver bracelet. Yes, I am lojacking my kid. Most jurisdictions see a 100% recovery rate with it. I hope to never need it again, but I want it there just in case after yesterday.
I don't have the words to express my gratitude to the Manassas Macy's, that 911 operator, and the responding officers. They brought my child back to me, a child who can't ask for help or even say he is lost or often his own name. No miracles for Christmas here, I think that card has been played.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving
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| Probably the best photo I have ever gotten of the two boys. Jimmy bolted off Santa's lap immediately afterwards. |
TSA strip search of a child just got worse - he is autistic...
Not that I like believing Glenn Beck on anything ever, but according to this the child never tripped the detector and was autistic:
"Glenn Beck had Luke Tait, the college student who took the infamous video of the TSA agent doing a pat down of the shirtless little boy, on his show this morning to discuss the incident at the airport. During the interview, Beck said that he learned from a ‘refounder’ (Congressional insider) that the little boy didn’t actually set off the metal detectors as the TSA reported, but rather the boy had on a baggy shirt that caught the attention of the TSA and thats why they wanted to do a pat down. Beck said he also learned a detail that hasn’t been reported yet, that the little boy has autism."
The video on the page goes into detail.
These people are awful... really.
"Glenn Beck had Luke Tait, the college student who took the infamous video of the TSA agent doing a pat down of the shirtless little boy, on his show this morning to discuss the incident at the airport. During the interview, Beck said that he learned from a ‘refounder’ (Congressional insider) that the little boy didn’t actually set off the metal detectors as the TSA reported, but rather the boy had on a baggy shirt that caught the attention of the TSA and thats why they wanted to do a pat down. Beck said he also learned a detail that hasn’t been reported yet, that the little boy has autism."
The video on the page goes into detail.
These people are awful... really.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Child strip searched by the TSA... this weekend!
The boys will not fly until this nonsense is resolved. Can you imagine Jimmy having to submit to this? And he gets hand searched every flight because he can't walk through the medal detector by himself. Jacob would put up a lot of resistance if he was selected to. He wouldn't let a stranger, any stranger, run his hands all over him, even with me there.
I am far from a conservative or a libertarian, but honestly, we lost too much after 9/11. People don't need to be molested or stripped at airports. I know we need to keep our skies safe, but not from eight year olds.
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Texas to drop out of Medicaid?
A frightening post at Plinking Reality. Would Virginia do such a thing?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Off the backs of the disabled...
And surviving children of deceased parents, the Tea Party would make their cuts on the most vulnerable.
"Many conservatives and Tea Party candidates, including Michele Bachman and Joe Miller, are hoping to reform Social Security "entitlements," beginning with those recipients who are under the age of 55. This would effectively cut Social Security benefits for people who are either disabled or a survivor of deceased parents."
Can't mess with anyone above 55 without pissing off the AARP. But the disabled. Nobody sees them.
These people are Godless devils. Bring back the moderates.
"Many conservatives and Tea Party candidates, including Michele Bachman and Joe Miller, are hoping to reform Social Security "entitlements," beginning with those recipients who are under the age of 55. This would effectively cut Social Security benefits for people who are either disabled or a survivor of deceased parents."
Can't mess with anyone above 55 without pissing off the AARP. But the disabled. Nobody sees them.
These people are Godless devils. Bring back the moderates.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Thinking of Sharron Angle, those who thing Autism isn't real, and people with disabilities shouldn't be brought into this world...
About the eight minute mark, please...
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sharron Angle Redux: Autism Excuse Still Not Making Any Sense
Okay, she tried to clarify:
"KRNV News 4 asked Sharron Angle's campaign for comment yesterday, and her spokesperson Jerry Stacy sent us the following in an email just before noon today:
"Sharron believes that anyone affected with autism deserves the best medical coverage and treatment, and she speaks out against these expensive government mandates which falsely label other symptoms as autism because it creates this huge cottage industry that drives up health insurance cost while diluting the needed coverage for those patients affected by autism...and nobody is buying Senator Reid's latest despicable attempt of trying to distract voters from his failed record."
Vice-Chair for the Commission on Autism in Nevada Ralph Toddre released this statement today:
"What Ms. Angle claims about AB 162 is false. The bill is very specific that the coverage is for autism spectrum disorders. It does not create a "cottage industry." It covers medically necessary treatment and evidence-based therapy, as well as the screening and diagnosis. It is autism specific. Legislators and advocates made sure of that. Read the bill! You don't condemn a bill that provides for medical coverage and treatment because you think it will become diluted! One in 110 children in this country is affected by autism. That is more than juvenile diabetes, HIV, and childhood cancers combined. All of those are covered by insurance. Why should autism be discriminated against by insurance companies?""
I guess the other symptom was what... pregnancy. Still doesn't make any sense. If this was coming from Reid, I would still be screaming. This is just insane.
Why indeed shouldn't autism be in line with diabetes, HIV, and cancers? Heck, Jimmy has seizures as a comorbidity now. Tell me this is not medical.
Not too long ago, I was out with the boys (it was over the summer, one of the rare occasions I ventured out both.) A man asked me what was "wrong" with Jimmy. I said he was autistic. He said that I was irresponsible, asking if I had prenatal testing, that I should have "taken care of it" before I created a burden for society. I was stunned, but didn't respond the way I would have liked because I didn't want Jacob to notice. I am still sick about. It isn't the first unkind thing I have ever said to me, but it was the worst by far. When I hear people like Sharron Angle, it is comments like that echo in like my mind. Heartless people that see my son as less than human, soulless insurance companies (who often buy people like Sharron Angle and, yes, even Senator Reid in Washington to spout crap like this for them - though Reid has a better record on autism than Angle at the moment) that see him not as worthy of care as someone who has been in an accident or had a stroke. Everyone deserve a life and my son deserves to have his medical needs met under my health policy.
My Aunt, Uncle, and Dadoo get phone calls tomorrow. If Dadoo's son is a registered voter, he gets one too.
"KRNV News 4 asked Sharron Angle's campaign for comment yesterday, and her spokesperson Jerry Stacy sent us the following in an email just before noon today:
"Sharron believes that anyone affected with autism deserves the best medical coverage and treatment, and she speaks out against these expensive government mandates which falsely label other symptoms as autism because it creates this huge cottage industry that drives up health insurance cost while diluting the needed coverage for those patients affected by autism...and nobody is buying Senator Reid's latest despicable attempt of trying to distract voters from his failed record."
Vice-Chair for the Commission on Autism in Nevada Ralph Toddre released this statement today:
"What Ms. Angle claims about AB 162 is false. The bill is very specific that the coverage is for autism spectrum disorders. It does not create a "cottage industry." It covers medically necessary treatment and evidence-based therapy, as well as the screening and diagnosis. It is autism specific. Legislators and advocates made sure of that. Read the bill! You don't condemn a bill that provides for medical coverage and treatment because you think it will become diluted! One in 110 children in this country is affected by autism. That is more than juvenile diabetes, HIV, and childhood cancers combined. All of those are covered by insurance. Why should autism be discriminated against by insurance companies?""
I guess the other symptom was what... pregnancy. Still doesn't make any sense. If this was coming from Reid, I would still be screaming. This is just insane.
Why indeed shouldn't autism be in line with diabetes, HIV, and cancers? Heck, Jimmy has seizures as a comorbidity now. Tell me this is not medical.
Not too long ago, I was out with the boys (it was over the summer, one of the rare occasions I ventured out both.) A man asked me what was "wrong" with Jimmy. I said he was autistic. He said that I was irresponsible, asking if I had prenatal testing, that I should have "taken care of it" before I created a burden for society. I was stunned, but didn't respond the way I would have liked because I didn't want Jacob to notice. I am still sick about. It isn't the first unkind thing I have ever said to me, but it was the worst by far. When I hear people like Sharron Angle, it is comments like that echo in like my mind. Heartless people that see my son as less than human, soulless insurance companies (who often buy people like Sharron Angle and, yes, even Senator Reid in Washington to spout crap like this for them - though Reid has a better record on autism than Angle at the moment) that see him not as worthy of care as someone who has been in an accident or had a stroke. Everyone deserve a life and my son deserves to have his medical needs met under my health policy.
My Aunt, Uncle, and Dadoo get phone calls tomorrow. If Dadoo's son is a registered voter, he gets one too.
Tea Party Member Sharron Angle Against Autism Insurance Coverage
I was sort of shocked when I heard her comments. To say she comes of as ill informed is an understatement. Doesn't want to pay for babies? What's next, cancer? She doesn't understand how insurance works on a basic level. Moreover, she completely lacks compassion for autistic families in her comments. Her backpedalling makes her worse. I actually talked to someone from her campaign to see if they could clarify her comment or put them in a context where they would make some sense. While I found it completely kind of her campaign worker to take the time to call, the staffer could not articulate any sort of reason for those comments. He mentioned pregnancy and autism, which means he didn't have a grasp of what she said either. Click the link to watch the ABC news story.
In a perfect world, nobody would want their kids to be political pawns. But when the tea party holds autistic kids up and mandates are wrong, I will get involved. My aunt, uncle, and a man whom I have known for 30 years all live in the Las Vegas area and all are voters in that election. I will be making some phone calls. These are voters that don't have autistic kids of their own but who love Jimmy and I. I think my calls to them will make a difference in their votes on November 2. (After Richard Saslaw and Tim Kaine, I also hang up on Democratic fundraisers - I have no use for them either.)
In a perfect world, nobody would want their kids to be political pawns. But when the tea party holds autistic kids up and mandates are wrong, I will get involved. My aunt, uncle, and a man whom I have known for 30 years all live in the Las Vegas area and all are voters in that election. I will be making some phone calls. These are voters that don't have autistic kids of their own but who love Jimmy and I. I think my calls to them will make a difference in their votes on November 2. (After Richard Saslaw and Tim Kaine, I also hang up on Democratic fundraisers - I have no use for them either.)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Attention Jennifer Aniston
... on behalf of my autistic son, whom the word has been directed at more than once by unkind soulless shells walking this Earth, I would like to invite you to remove the term "retard" from your vocabulary. Perhaps, as a suitable mea culpa, you could make donations to ARC, Autism Speaks, and other groups representing those with intellectual and developmental disabilities whom you offended with the use of that term. K thx.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Jimmy's photo collection
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| The image labels were Baby, Cat, Dog Olive, Mom2, and Trick Daddy. He put them all in a folder. His perfect family? |
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
What I have been up to...
I know it has been a long while since I have posted. Fatigue mostly. Mommy burn out. A summer school job. A trip courtesy of the in-laws (really, the nicest gift ever.)
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Crying babies, laughing Jimmy
Jimmy's latest YouTube obsession is fairly disturbing. He laughs at crying babies on YouTube. First, I don't know why people put videos of their babies crying on YouTube - those aren't the moments I like to remember. Second, I can't fathom Jimmy's interest. This is the one I can find vaguely amusing...
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Mother drowns child with autism: I love Scarlett, I hate autism
This story kind of rattled me after my afternoon with Jimmy. I had to carry him out of Fair Oaks with E's help. His adaptive stroller is dead, so we tried an outing without it. Never again. It was so bad, security came around to see what was up. Horrifying. He's eight. What happens when he is eighteen?
We go on Friday to see about a new stroller. If we don't get one through insurance, I don't know if I can leave my house with him again.
She's back...
It's been a long two months...
School's out for the boys and all but over for me. I think I have avoided this blog because I have just been overwhelmed emotionally. We got the gift of a week overseas (my first) for our tenth anniversary and all of the sudden, it was, get your passport, get your affairs, in order, you are getting on a plane that goes over the ocean. I panicked. I think the reality of 40 hit too. My mortality hit me like a brick and I was in a two month tailspin. Work and school board were only diversionary to the anxiety that has consumed me. Even though I have a little part time job doing some clerical stuff at the high school while Jimmy is in summer school and Jacob is in camp, I feel like the pressure is off. Time isn't moving so quickly. I can deal again. I am not as raw a nerve.
Katie, the middle of the niece's, is coming to help me this week - with the cat, she brings the estrogren level into balance in the house. It's nice. I pick her up in a couple of hours.
So with summer upon us, IEPs completed, Jimmy is now a third grade, Jacob is moving into the first, and my blog is back.
School's out for the boys and all but over for me. I think I have avoided this blog because I have just been overwhelmed emotionally. We got the gift of a week overseas (my first) for our tenth anniversary and all of the sudden, it was, get your passport, get your affairs, in order, you are getting on a plane that goes over the ocean. I panicked. I think the reality of 40 hit too. My mortality hit me like a brick and I was in a two month tailspin. Work and school board were only diversionary to the anxiety that has consumed me. Even though I have a little part time job doing some clerical stuff at the high school while Jimmy is in summer school and Jacob is in camp, I feel like the pressure is off. Time isn't moving so quickly. I can deal again. I am not as raw a nerve.
Katie, the middle of the niece's, is coming to help me this week - with the cat, she brings the estrogren level into balance in the house. It's nice. I pick her up in a couple of hours.
So with summer upon us, IEPs completed, Jimmy is now a third grade, Jacob is moving into the first, and my blog is back.
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