"Petition against changes to Autism Spectrum Diagnostic Criteria"

Dear Autism Community,


I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:


"Petition against changes to Autism Spectrum Diagnostic Criteria"
This petition is against the proposed changes to the DSM-V, which would eliminate high functioning ASD patients (PDD-NOS, Aspberger's and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder) from the Autism Spectrum. More than 3/4 of high-functioning autistics would no longer be considered autistic, placing their access to social and school services in jeopardy. Changing the name of their diagnosis from ASD to another name does not make them any less autistic. Basic formative differences exist in all autistic children's brains - including enlarged white matter growth in the first year of life leading to a large cranial size in infancy; reduced brain stem size and function, and confused neural connections, which lead to sensory and social difficulties. These formative differences exist in patients with PDD-NOS and Aspberger's as well. Changing a name will merely shift the tide, rather than stopping the epidemic, and it shifts focus from the real problem - and that is the root cause of autism, which must be addressed.


I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes just a few seconds of your time. Please sign the petition below and be sure to share with everyone you know! 

Create a Petition by iPetitions.com

Thanks!


Lorrie Servati
Family & Friends Autism Team "Nathan's Voice" support almost 9 year old Nathan in his daily struggle to function with Asperger's Syndrome. Changing the manual won't change the fact that these individuals are still affected by this disorder ...it will however keep them from receiving the services they now receive and will still continue to need in the future. Making these changes to the manual will mean the available resources will be taken away from these students, "robbing" them of the "trust" and "routine" they have built in the system that is supposed to "protect" them!

The Rubbermaid "Give the Gift of Organization" Contest

Hi Faithful Followers,


I just entered my family in the Give the Gift of Organization Contest and we need your vote to help us win!!


You can view my entry and vote for us here:

Contest details

 Thanks and wish us luck! 


 Lorrie

YOU could Win a Kindle Fire & Apple iPad2 (US & Can)

Rafflecopter is celebrating the launch of their new app with a giveaway! 
Enter to win a Kindle Fire and an Apple iPad2! When you enter the giveaway below, 
make sure to say that Nathan's Voice referred you! Open to US & Canada.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas with the Family

     My wish is that everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends! Our family opted to have a stress-free Christmas Lunch at a local Hotel Restaurant this year. This was in lieu of our traditional, push-up-your-sleeves, rush-around-getting-everything-ready, and hope-you-get-a-chance-to-say-something-to-everyone, before they leave your house, Christmas Day get together. We made reservations in hopes that everyone would be able to make it but, my Dad had decided to help at a local soup kitchen instead of being in close proximity to my Mother AND the whole reason she was joining us from out of state was because she was convinced my brother could make it...he found out Thursday, after Mom had picked up her rental car, that he wasn't going to be able to be here! It was becoming even more frustrating than I thought it already was but, the key word is "survival"!!

      My Mom, my sister, her family, my daughter, her new family and my oldest son joined us for a really nice Christmas Buffet spread. We exchanged hugs, cards and gifts for the children, the grandchildren, the nieces and nephews before separating but, not until our Mom had taken pictures of our respective families! My sister actually told her, with a very straight face, that's why her family had taken a professional family picture!! lol I had to keep from laughing out loud when she said it! I had a nice visit with our Mom after she unpacked at her motel not far from my house. This made it possible for us not to be interrupted by the boys at our very cramped house while we caught up. This was the first Christmas in ten years that Mom had joined us.
     Today was special for me because I was able to spend some time with my brother and help him get moved into his new apartment closer to me. It was a surprise when he called me yesterday afternoon and asked for me to help him this morning. I had other plans which I quickly shifted in excitement, looking forward to seeing him for the first time in almost a year and a half. I had forgotten how much taller my younger brother is than I am...I shadow him by almost 6 inches! We had lunch, hung out some more and then I eventually drove myself back home. He called me just a little while ago to give me his new phone number and thanked me for helping him today. Awe!!
     Now, all I need is to see if I can get my Dad to join us for a movie and dinner one night after the New Year, when everything returns to as normal as possible. He recently started a new job and that might be challenging. Otherwise, it has been a great Christmas week!!!
     I hope that everyone has a safe and Happy New Year in 2012! Thanks for taking time to read my blog...I hope you check out the resources, the Guest Bloggers and hang in there for the next giveaway!!

Lorrie

"Adventures of One Sock" series update

                                                                                  My friend, Roy Ruiz, is working on the "Adventures of One Sock"

 book series and has joined Kickstarter for help with project funding! Every lit bit helps, click HERE to join the fun and make this Adventure last!


If you haven't had a chance to read the first book, click on the picture of the book cover shown above to get a copy of your own!!

Nate Rocks the Boat - Book 2 in the Nate Rocks Series

     I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends! I want to share something with you.

     If YOU have not had the chance to read Nate Rocks the World by Karen Pokras Toz, you still have a chance to get either a digital copy and/or a signed copy of the 1st book in the series by becoming a backer of the 2nd book Nate Rocks the Boat. My 9 year old Nate won a signed copy of the 1st book, Nate Rocks the World, in a blog giveaway earlier this month. We are looking forward to this next book because my two boys are going to spend a week at day camp this coming summer! Click HERE to help make this project possible!!



1-DAY Giveaway to WIN a Christmas DVD!!

Congratulations
to our WINNER...
Candace Dysinger
Final Finale to our

Cheerful Children's Christmas Movie Giveaway!!

ENTER this giveaway for a great DVD of Christmas stories!

♥ YOU can earn up to 30 ENTRIES towards the giveaway!! 

This giveaway is ONLY 1-DAY so don't miss out!!
♥Giveaway starts Wednesday December 21st midnight EST AND
    ends Thursday December 22nd midnight EST

♥ Please click HERE to ENTER!


♥ MOVIE DESCRIPTION:
Ten holiday favorites filled to the brim with Christmas spirit and heartwarming stories. Featuring the voices of Hilary Duff, Haylie Duff, Mary Tyler Moore, Jane Seymour, Tony Curtis and more. Includes How the Toys Saved Christmas, In Search of Santa, Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever, The Littlest Light on the Christmas Tree, Jack Frost, Santa's Surprise, A Christmas Visit, Christmas Comes But Once a Year, Hector's Hectic Life, Snow Foolin'.