Shaping Families

Autism: Finding Help

You hear a lot about autism in the news: studies, research, and statistics, as well as disagreement, theories and confusion about underlying causes. This week and next Shaping Families talks—one-on-one, with two moms about their experiences living with autistic children. This week’s guest is Karen McCormick, a mother talking about life with her son, Cole.

Listen - Transcript - Study Guide

Centerpiece

Harvey Yoder

In recent years a nephew and a niece have each had a child with some form of autism, and close friends of ours have had a grandchild diagnosed with it. In the latter case, his mother started a blog called “rainmom” on which she posted everyday episodes of her son’s unusual behaviors and his problems with impulse control.

Shenandoah Valley Autism Partnership – local organization offering support, resources and information for families.

WEBSITES

The Autism Society – U.S.
The Autism Society – Canada 
Autism Speaks – research, fundraising, family services 
Links to various resources on autism 
Children of Destiny website – a daily scripture reading and prayer for parents and families/friends of folks with autism.

BLOGS:

There are probably thousands of blogs dealing with autism but here are two good ones that came to our attention. Feel free to add your own autism blog recommendations to our Facebook page for Shaping Families.

Rainmom - Blog that Harvey Yoder refers to in his Centerpiece segment, written by his friend’s daughter

Life is a Spectrum – blog by Amanda Broadfoot, includes links to her favorite bloggers on the topic 

BOOKS

Two booklets available free online:

“A Brief Parent Guide on Autism Spectrum Disorders” can be downloaded at  

A booklet called “Autism Spectrum Disorders” is available in its entirety online:

An extensivelist of non-fiction books on the topic:

Also check resources at your local public library. In areas where there are autism support groups, some libraries have an entire section of materials.

Dietary changes are successful for some in struggling with autism. Here is one cookbook: The Gluten Free Gourmet Cooks Fast and Healthy: Wheat Free with Less Fuss and Fat by Bette Hagman. ISBN: 0805039813 (paperback, 396 pages, Henry Holt, 1997)

Act Like A Community

Burton Buller

So much of our own hopes and dreams end up being played out in our children. What parent can help but see a bright future for their newborn infant as it takes its first breath?

Next week we’ll have the second in a two-part series on autism. Our guests are LaWanda Hayes and her son, Jonathan, from Atlanta, Ga. Jonathan is only 11 but creates delightful, award-winning art which has been exhibited in galleries; he hopes to become an architect. LaWanda discusses their challenges and also dreams for the future.

Boden Torte (Fruit Flan)

Charlotte Penner is one of the authors of the book, Mennonite Girls Can Cook. She says, "This recipe is more like a sugar cookie than a light cake. It has a firm texture and does not get soggy with the fruit in it. My mother has been baking this for years. In fact it was the dessert at their wedding over 50 years ago. She baked all the Boden tortes herself, and, as a result didn’t bake them for many years after that. However, she has made them many times since then, serving them for Sunday Faspa when we were growing up. Now I carry on the tradition."

• Shaping Families Update - May 12
• Shaping Families Update - May 5
• Shaping Families Update - April 28
• Shaping Families Update - April 21

The Shaping Families free offer from this week’s program is no longer available. Visit our online store at www.MennoMedia.org/store if you would like to purchase the item offered. Some items are not offered on the store.