A kindergarten teacher invites students to tell an autistic classmate why they dislike him. - By Bonnie Goldstein - Slate Magazine
A bit more of the story on Alex Barton. There's also a Facebook group now, with lots of contact information to send cards and letters to the family and school board.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
A kindergarten teacher invites students to tell an autistic classmate why they dislike him. - police documents
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Rachael Ray as an Islamic terrorist? Right.
Dunkin' Donuts yanks Rachael Ray ad - The Boston Globe
I might not particularly like her, but this is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read. It's scary when someone like Michelle Malkin has any influence at all.
LI researcher pinpoints autistic behavior -- -- Newsday.com
LI researcher pinpoints autistic behavior -- -- Newsday.com
Fascinating. I sometimes get so caught up in the "politics" of the autism world that I forget how much very good research is going on right now.
Monday, May 26, 2008
The New Wave of Autism Rights Activists -- New York Magazine
The New Wave of Autism Rights Activists -- New York Magazine
A very good look at not only the Neurodiversity movement, but all of the other "factions" in the autistic world.
After 12 years of being the mother of autistic children, I'd say that most of my frustration at this stage is just trying to navigate through all of the bitterness and factionalism to find actual information to help my kids live the happiest lives possible.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
I didn't think that anything could make me laugh today
We are the World, done by Japanese impersonators
YouTube - we are the world in japan
via boingboing
5 Year Old Autistic boy voted out of class
Teacher lets Morningside students vote out classmate, 5 : St. Lucie County : TCPalm
After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, Alex, his Morningside Elementary teacher Wendy Portillo said they were going to take a vote, Barton said.
By a 14 to 2 margin, the students voted Alex — who is in the process of being diagnosed with autism — out of the class.
I am not sure why this teacher hasn't been fired yet. I can't imagine doing this at any age, but FIVE???? Isn't kindergarten when children are supposed to be learning how to get along with others?
The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network is encouraging people to contact the appropriate school authorities to express their outrage politely.
Morningside Elementary School Principal:
Mrs. Marcia Cully
cullym@stlucie.k12.fl.us
(772) 337-6730
St. Lucie County Schools Superintendent:
Michael J. Lannon
4204 Okeechobee Road
Ft. Pierce 34947-5414
Phone: 772/429-3925
FAX: 772/429-3916
e-mail: lannonm@stlucie.k12.fl.us
St. Lucie County School Board Chair:
Carol Hilson
772-519-0397
HilsonC@stlucie.k12.fl.us
Vice Chair:
Judith Miller
772-528-4545
MillerJ@stlucie.k12.fl.us
This is appalling- children deserve a better world than what they are being given. Not only Alex, but the children who were taught to "vote him off"...they deserve to be taught about acceptance and differences and tolerance and the wonderful gifts that people who are "different" bring to all of our lives.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The Most Curious Thing - Errol Morris - Zoom - New York Times Blog
"The following essay shows how a photograph aided and abetted a terrible miscarriage of justice."
Fascinating essay. Sometimes things aren't as simple as they appear.
Pirate’s Booty - Los Angeles Magazine
June 2008 - Pirate’s Booty - Los Angeles Magazine
Interesting piece about playing Jack Sparrow at Disneyland.
Pa. gets permission to spend Medicaid money on adult autism
Wonderful news for a lot of families! I didn't realize that this wasn't already happening in the United States.
Sphere: Related ContentWednesday, May 21, 2008
I'll be back in a week or so!
Going away to take care of some things in my life, so wish me luck. And here's a picture of my favourite happy looking seal to tide you over :-) I call him "durfy seal" because he looks like he's the happiest "special needs" seal ever, and he makes me smile.
CASSETTE FROM MY EX
CASSETTE FROM MY EX
Who doesn't have old mixed tapes from ex-lovers lying around? This is a fun site.
(My husband and I were also talking the other day about the lost art of making mixed tapes...mixed CDs just aren't quite as much fun.)
Effect Measure : Once again: dead bodies don't cause disease epidemics
Effect Measure : Once again: dead bodies don't cause disease epidemics
Interesting...I had no idea. For some reason it seems that we grow up "knowing" that dead bodies cause disease after an epidemic, so it's nice to see an explanation of why they don't.
Why Every Man Should Go to a Barbershop | The Art of Manliness
Why Every Man Should Go to a Barbershop | The Art of Manliness
This is quickly becoming one of my favourite blogs...the writing is just great, and the articles are almost always interesting (even though I'm not a man). It's a fun place to browse around!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Organic Batter Blaster ™ - Original Pancake and Waffle Batter
Organic Batter Blaster ™ - Original Pancake and Waffle Batter
I thought that this was a joke. I was wrong.
See the video!
Turning the Pages™, the British Library
Turning the Pages™, the British Library
This site gives me goosebumps (I'm a book nerd).
Look at old (and very delicate) books online, with incredibly gorgeous colours and detail. It's worth taking a peek at.
(Don't forget to look at the Golden Haggadah from right to left...I haven't had much coffee yet, so it took me a minute to remember!)
Incredible.
Thanks to mental floss for the link.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
PETA Thinks Ashton Kutcher Is Just Ducky
The PETA Files: PETA Thinks Ashton Kutcher Is Just Ducky
You've got to give it up to PETA for managing to find ANY reason at all to ask someone to work for them. (I can't imagine actually writing that letter as I'd probably be laughing too hard.)
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