What is with all this talk of AUTISM?

As a SLP major who is nearing the end of my school years, I have had about a complete 360 on my view of autism. I even literally quit my job as a behavior therapist who works with autistic kids because I felt I was being hypocritical.

Honestly. I think autism is the new ADD.

I do believe autism exists. I believe I worked with a girl who was about as pure of an example of autism as can be. And then, I see all these people in the clinic who are diagnosed as "autistic." Symbolic language disorder? Language Delay? Maybe yes. Autistic? NO.

I know about the spectrum from PDD to Aspergers to high functioning to full blown autism. You name it, I know about it.

I am a firm believer that if you label someone, these kids are going to live up to that label. I see no problem with parents seeking out therapy from private sources such as university clinics to get extra help for their children. I do, however, become angry when parents get angry at school districts because their "autistic" kids aren't receiving therapy through the school. Well, to get therapy at a school (aka FREE THERAPY), your kid (depending on the state) has to meet criteria, usually around 1.5-1.75 standard deviations below the mean. In other words, if 100 is average, and 15 is the standard deviation, then anywhere form 85-115 is "average." 1.5 standard deviations below average is around 63. And that is lenient criteria. In Wisconsin, it's 1.75 below. That's a pretty low score.

I believe autism exists. I also believe society believes in every kid being the best and superstar and most well behaved, and let's face it...that isn't gonna happen. Autistic kids only like certain texture foods is a common statement. Well, I gag whenever I eat yogurt or pudding. I have nervous tendencies. I am anti-social sometimes. Bright lights give me a headache. God, I hope I'm not autistic. Or PDD-NOS.

I'm not trying to be an ass or offensive, and I have no problem dealing with autistic kids, but I am really quite sick of hearing about this autism epidemic. I believe in autism. I also believe it's being over-diagnosed. And I believe labeling kids, especially with such a stigmatized word, is not going to solve anything.

I want a new hip hairstyle

I love this haircut on Lisa Rinna. I have NEVER had hair that looked anything like this, but I am very tempted to see if I could pull this off. My biggest fear is ending up looking like some short haired freak with a fat face. I always think short hair would make my face look huge. And I think my hair is thinner than Lisa Rinna's, but aren't there styling products for that? Ahhhh. I want this haircut.

How much money do Speech Pathologists make?

 

Average Speech Language Pathologist Salaries in St John, IN

In USD as of Jul 26, 2008			25k 50k 75k
Speech Language Pathologist	$63,000

 

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Average Speech Language Pathologist Salaries in Peachtree City, GA

In USD as of Jul 26, 2008			25k 50k 75k
Speech Language Pathologist	$60,000

 

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Average Speech Language Pathologist Salaries in Colorado Springs, CO

In USD as of Jul 26, 2008			25k 50k 75k
Speech Language Pathologist	$65,000

 

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Average Speech Language Pathologist Salaries in Greenville, SC

In USD as of Jul 26, 2008			20k 40k 60k
Speech Language Pathologist	$51,000

 

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Just a few of the places I am considering moving to when I graduate. Not too sure how accurate this salary website is, as I noticed it said something about SLPs making over $200,000 and I have never heard of such a thing in my entire life. Not real sure why it is significantly less around South Carolina. I have made a pact with myself that the ONLY reason why I would consider staying in the glorious Region is if I got a job with the LC School district. Actually, I am considered a Special Education aspect of teaching, so I would be employed by Westlake, not LC, and could end up at a Munster school as Westlake employs special education teachers for both the Lake Central and Munster schools. I am really leaning towards working in a school, but that might change after my placements. I know that I hate winter, but love summers in the Region, so if I got a job at a school anywhere else, I could escape winter here and have long summer visits. The best of both worlds.

And I know if I don't get out of here now, I never will, and will probably end up single and alone for the rest of my life. A regular "old maid."

Can I make some of that money now please? I am broke no joke.

Thank God for credit cards...and student loans arriving in a month...because I just bought tickets for me and my now married (as of a week ago!) friends to see.... in Merrillville!!! Holy BACON am I excited!

amazing wedding toast

When I was maid of honor at Lisa and Keith's wedding on Saturday, I sat up many nights concocting the perfect wedding toast. This is what I came up with. Of course, there were minor edits when it came time to give the speech. No way could I read anything word for word. That's not my style. People laughed. People cried. I would laugh, look at Lisa, and say "I'm sorry I can't look at you when I say this. I'm already shaking as it is." The photographer told me it was the best one she had ever heard. Hopefully, I will have some pictures of the wedding to post soon. Congrats to 2 of my best friends!

Hello everyone-
It is my great honor, my great pleasure, to stand up here and tell you a little bit about these 2 amazing people. And I'm gonna try to get through this without crying, but I can't promise you that. For those who don't know, Lisa and I met in high school. We were not best friends back then, but the moment I heard her do her first prank call, I thought "I have got to become friends with this girl!" So, if you've ever received a phone call from "LuLu at New Moon"--relax--it was just Lisa. You forgot your fried rice.

Lisa and Keith have been 2 of my closest friends for about half a decade now. Generous. Intelligent. Level-headed. Honestly, I could rattle off adjectives describing them until the sun comes up tomorrow morning. This entire wedding experience has been amazing right down to this food here today. I mean, I was hoping for a boiling lava hot HOT POCKET. But, I guess prime rib and chicken kiev is pretty good too. I can’t wait to try that gorgeous cake. I look at it and all I can think is HOPE IT’S CHOCOLATE FOR MEEEEEE. If you've never heard of Jim Gaffigan, you really need to go on youtube or something and those last few sentences will make alot more sense I promise.

Marriage is a monumental moment in life. 700 years ago, a wise Italian poet named Dante Alighieri wrote “Remember tonight. For it is the beginning of always.” Now, the GPA on my college transcripts will tell you that I am no literature analyst, but I think Dante wanted us to view marriage as a promise. A belief in each other. Like a reward for persisting in life so long alone. I mean, God knows, we’ve all made mistakes. Tonight is when we decide to ignore and simply rise above the pain from our past.

At this very moment, we celebrate Lisa and Keith, their love, the chance they have taken, and the challenges that lie ahead. Hard times will pop-up, they always do. Gas prices will reach $13 a gallon. Probably tomorrow. You won’t be able to find the remote control for the TV. Grocery stores will be out of the fairy dust of the food community—Keith, you know this one. BACON bits.

I may not be the oldest here tonight; and I am DEFINITELY not the wisest, but I have learned this: People like Lisa and Keith are truly diamonds in the rough. And Love, Love is always an unfaltering and guiding force. When life gets hard, when things change, true love remains the same. HAVE FAITH in your love for each other. And I know that TOGETHER, you 2 can and will withstand anything that comes your way.

So, to Lisa, Keith, and everyone here who loves them, here’s to love, here’s to life, and here’s to tonight, the beginning of always.

Patrick Henry Hughes

12 hours ago, the name Patrick Henry Hughes meant nothing to me.

Thanks to Extreme Home Makeover, I witnessed this amazing human being. I have never seen a better episode, or more amazing father/son combination.

HERE is the website he maintains himself full of pictures, media, and information about him and the Extreme Home Makeover.

He is like Ray Charles, except without the drugs and womanizing. I look at this kid and am just in a sense of awe. He has every right to be so angry at the world, and yet he is so incredible. A musical prodigy. I am going to buy his CD.

What an inspiration. Thank God for people like Patrick Henry Hughes and his father.

"But when you are hungry, the Food Network's like porn..."

I think Jim Gaffigan is the funniest person on the planet.

I don't intend for this entry to be a shameless plug for a fellow Region Rat (he is originally from Chesterton), but dang, the guy is hilarious!

"WARNING! You just bought Hot Pockets! Hope you're drunk or heading home to a trailer!"

He is coming to Merrillville in August and I would sell my future first born child to go see him. I can type up quotes until my fingers fall off, but seriously, his facial expression and the little side voice that he does to imitate the audience's thoughts is unable to be conveyed through written words!

"I love our holiday traditions, like the Christmas tree, where we chop down a tree and we put it in our living room. Kinda sounds like the behavior of a drunk man. Some woman wakes up, "Honey, why is there a... a... pine tree... in our living room?" "I like it! We're gonna- we're gonna decorate it... for Jesus... And then I'm gonna hang my socks over the fireplace... fill 'em with candy... maybe I'll tie some leaves to the ceiling, see if I can get some action... and then I'm gonna puke on that couch... Merry Christmas."

"You know that Cinnabon odor? Like you're walking through the mall, and you're like "What's that smell? Aww I just got a cavity! Damn Cinnabon!"

"You can be a genius, you try and write a postcard you come across like a moron anyway: "This city's got big buildings, I like food, bye."

I'll admit that I read Jim Gaffigan quotes on my laptop during summer school. It's a necessity for my damn sanity. I don't understand why some people take summer courses by choice! Nothing thrilled me more than realizing that I am paying 95 cents a minute as I am simultaneously praying to get out of class early. There is absolutely no way to make that into a winning situation.

"Don't worry you know God has a sense of humor 'cause he was talking to Moses as a burning bush. Burning bush? Can you imagine if you were the first person Moses told about that:
"Yeah, God just talked to me as a burning bush"
..."Sure he did...Uh Moses, we think maybe you've been burnin some bush."

Kid client quote of the day:
Me (female): We have the same initials! Our first and last names start with the same letters.
8 year old male client: Really?!? Is your middle name Joseph too??

entry numero uno

I thought college was supposed to be this panacea type of place where the rest of my life would fall into place and I'd live "happily ever after."

HA.

I think I had the same assumption about high school. And Grad School. And here I am, 10 months away from being completely done with school (though I believe learning never ends), nowhere even close to where (take that literally and physically) I thought I would be.

I'm lost. I'm confused. Sometimes I self-diagnose myself as being bi-polar, but that's a whole new issue.

Tell me to describe myself in 100 words or less and I'd be the one who puts "n/a" or "impossible" or "next question please." I am opinionated and opinionless (I don't think that is actually a word). I hate sleeping, but I hate sleepovers where everyone stays up all night.

I love my major, but most of the time I have no clue what I want to do with my life.

I hope I'm not alone.

"Remember tonight...for it is the beginning of always":::Dante