The Autism Blog

https://youtu.be/KOsoBC2L3IU/

Seattle Children’s in conjunction with local experts is proud to offer Autism 101 in Spanish. This video, the first is an upcoming series, is titled “What is Autism?” The 19 minute video features a local pediatrician and early educator as well as one local family’s journey.  

El Hospital de Seattle Children’s junto con expertos locales, se enorgullece en presentar Autismo 101 en Español. Este video, es el primero de una próxima serie, se titula “¿Qué es Autismo?”. Este video de 19 minutos, presenta a un pediatra local y un maestro de educación temprana, así también como la experiencia de una familia local.

Please join us for Autism 207: Autism and Sleep Issues  

We welcome ARNPs from Seattle Children’s Autism Center to present this month.

Presenters: Karen Sporn, ARNP, Katelyn Cotter, ARNP and Dora Hall, ARNP

Children with autism can have sleep issues, which can be hard on both the child and their family. In this 200 class we will discuss the importance of sleep, sleep problems and their potential causes, and strategies to improve sleep in children with autism.

Date: October 21, 2021

Time: 7-8:30 pm PT

Registration is not required

Watch live on Seattle Children’s Facebook page

Following the presentation, it can be viewed on Seattle Children’s Facebook and will be added to Seattle Children’s Autism 200 Series YouTube Channel within two weeks of the lecture date:   Thursday, October 21, 2021.

Please join us for Autism 206: Access to Care and Services in Homes, Schools and Communities

Maximizing education and health benefits to support individuals and their families throughout the lifespan

Presenter: Arzu Forough, President & CEO, Washington Autism Alliance. Ms. Forough brings over 25 years of experience in training and development to her position, including leadership development, government relations and non-profit management.In 2007 she founded Washington Autism Alliance and developed the “Autism IEP supplement: Best Practice Guidelines for educating students with autism”. Her IEP supplement as well as guidelines for training teachers was legally adopted by the Washington State legislature in 2008 and became the requirement for all teachers working with learners with Autism Spectrum Disorders statewide.

Arzu introduced Shayan’s Law, Autism Insurance Parity to the Washington State legislature, petitioned the state Health technology Assessment of evidence based treatment of autism and ignited multiple legal actions that have clarified state and federal laws mandating insurance benefits for those with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Date: September 16, 2021

Time: 7-8:30 pm PT

Registration is not required

Watch live on Seattle Children’s Facebook page

Following the presentation, it can be viewed on Seattle Children’s Facebook and will be added to Seattle Children’s Autism 200 Series YouTube Channel within two weeks of the lecture date:   Thursday, September 16, 2021.

      First, when the pandemic began I was in a Toastmasters meeting and then I got home and found out that we have a pandemic going on from my Dad. At this point we did not know what that meant and everything was closed down for a couple of weeks.  Then we got used to working virtually with Zoom, Facetime, Teams and other resources.  As we were going through this I got really anxious about the unknown and what was going to happen during the pandemic and how long it was going to last.  I know this. Because of my condition I did not want to get sick. I started watching local media coverage to figure out what was going on and as I was doing my research I found out that individuals with developmental disabilities are able to get the vaccine as soon as it became available after doing the vaccine research and trials.  My first shot was at a mass vaccination site on the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe.  We were in the car and I felt weird getting the shot the first time, but then I felt okay getting the shot.  My second shot was at the Alyssa Burnett Center with the UW Mobile Unit. After getting the second shot is when my immune system activated. I ended up being in bed for a couple of days with a slight fever, headache, and a sore arm. I continue to wear a mask to this day even though I am fully vaccinated and continue to follow public health guidelines. And I feel better since being vaccinated going out in public and my anxiety is better. I’m nervous to find out what will happen next. Whether we will need a booster shot or if we are good with what we have now.

Hello, my name is Ben Moore. I’m an autistic adult, and I’m writing to you, the reader, to explain what the process of going through a worldwide pandemic (and getting the COVID-19 vaccine) have been like from an autistic point of view. Keep in mind that my view and experiences living through these turbulent times will not match the experience of every other autistic person out there.

At the start of the COVID pandemic last March, my life wasn’t at its most serene. I was hospitalized for non-COVID related issues when the first cases started appearing, so I was kind of frightened that I might catch it, and that it would only compound my health problems in the moment. Thankfully, that did not happen, even though patients with COVID were being quarantined on the floor directly above me.

Afterwards, my experience in the pandemic has been much like everyone else’s – trying to maintain social contact in a socially-distanced world, and re-thinking how we go about our lives in the new era of online learning and meetings using applications such as Zoom and Microsoft teams.

When I first heard via the news that Pfizer and Moderna were developing mRNA-based vaccines to the coronavirus, I was excited and hopeful. Finally, I could look forward to life “returning to normal” once herd immunity were reached. I felt this optimistic leading into the morning of my appointment for receiving the first shot.

With the prick and jab of the small needle, my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was a success! I went home, and after a few hours, and persisting for a couple of days, were a minorly sore left arm (the arm I got poked in), and a tad bit of general fatigue. That was it – nothing too bad! Compared to my first shot, there were no observable aftereffects post-second shot.

Now that I’m vaccinated fully, and the state’s mask mandate has been rescinded, I’m looking forward to meeting up with all of my friends at the ABC – the Alyssa Burnett Adult Life Center – once again, so that we can continue to laugh and grow together.

One last thing I’d like to say is, if you’re autistic – and even if you aren’t – getting the COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine isn’t scary, and it doesn’t hurt. Please, if you haven’t gotten in your doses, please do! If not for yourself, then for everybody else who, for whatever reason out of medical necessity, cannot.

May we all soon embrace each other with open arms once again!