BrielleLaCosta's Autisable

Autism is NOT to blame for Sandy Hook Elementary

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:36:53 GMT

Since 2007, it has been my mission to work hands-on with Autism, learn more about it, help families cope, and most importantly help the world understand. Sadly, these days when someone is given the diganosis "Autistic" they are immediately misunderstood, made fun of, and stereotyped. Today, Autism and negativity go hand in hand, so WHY on earth did I see scrolling on the bottom of every channel "KILLER WAS AUTISTIC"- does that really matter or change what happened?

Having worked with children my entire life, they obviously hold a very special place in my heart. Being at work on Friday and watching the Yahoo! mainpage statistics grow higher was chilling and made me feel like it was 9/11 again. On that day, I watched the TV for hours watching the chaos unfold. As I saw thousands of people running for their lives, I sat there with a pit in my stomach asking, "...where is my Dad in that?" He was there on 9/11, in the WTC1 (the tower that was hit first) on the 25th floor. I remember the weeks afterwards being unbearable- attending funeral after funeral, reliving the pain each time. As I watched those parents waiting in the parking lot of Sandy Hook Elementary, the flashbacks for me were a little too much. The worst part is the combination of anger, shock and sadness; it is unbearable pain. Anger towards who did this, the constant question of why, and the shock that these special people were taken too soon. 20 precious children anxious for the holiday season never made it home that day. Seven teachers and staff responsible for shaping our world's future never made it home. How could someone ever commit such a heartless, cruel act?

Then the news started reporting "Killer was Autistic" and I have to admit, it angered and frustrated me. As if people don't think badly enough about Autism, now the news is basically reporting that because he had Autism, he did this. Most people are not going to take the time to investigate the validity of that statement. All it will do is just add to the rude comments and stigmas people with Autism already face. In the light of this tragedy, why is the focus now on mental disorders and Autism? It needs to stay focused on the children and teachers who lost their lives, and their families and friends asking why?

This isn't about his mental disorder(s), or the fact that he had Aspergers and fell on the spectrum. Is it going to change anything? Will it bring those who passed back? No. Adam Lanza's babysitter from over 10 years ago spoke out saying when he babysat, he was told to never turn his back. Well, thank you for telling America that Autism is incredibly dangerous and we must stay away. Do you have any idea how many ignorant people have asked me if this is typical for Autism? Autism does not even begin to explain what happened on Friday. Being diagnosed with Autism does not cause someone to be a mass murderer. It also does not make them any more likely to commit such an act. People with Autism are more often than not the ones who are the victims, not the culprits. The media should take an opportunity like this to gently explain that Autism is a neurological disorder, not a mental illness. So why aren't doctors and medical records coming out that say something like "depression" or "bipolar?" Let's be honest- today, it's easier to just slap the label of "Autism" on this tragedy and everyone responds "Ohhhh...well, yes, that makes perfect sense" and they won't question it further.

In times like these, it's surprising how comforting answers can be. Families and friends are crying out to God asking why? and reports are responding with "Autism and guns are to blame." Why Autism? Because in my opinion, it's a lot easier to be angry and blame Autism than depression, which has a lot of gray areas. How dare the news say that the millions of people diagnosed with Autism have something in common with a heartless murderer? The media will want you to believe that Autism was behind this. I am asking you, no matter what "expert" you see on TV or read in the paper has to say about Autism being the cause of this, do not fall for it. When I think of all the kids and teens with Autism I have worked with over the years, I look into their eyes and see love and innocence. Autism is NOT to blame here.

As you know, I have been deeply passionate about Autism for over five years. I am extremely defensive about it, and will always fight to make sure people know the truth about Autism. So I ask you, do not fall for the media hype. Do not take the time to look up Autism and murders. Instead, read about each life that was lost, that is what needs to be focused on. This tragedy needs to solely focus on the children and teachers who were lost, their friends and families, and the first responders. That's it- there is no need to constantly speak of the killer and glorify his name. What he did is unexplainable, and I don't think we will ever be able to understand why this happened.

This tragedy has been on my mind nonstop. My deepest sympathies to families and friends of everyone who was taken too soon. Those beautiful children and adults will never be forgotten. Sleep in Heavenly peace, sweet angels.

Hurricane Sandy

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:01:53 GMT

Most people know I was born and raised in New Jersey- I was even named after a town down the shore. My entire family is here, and I graduated from Rutgers University, the State University of NJ. Spending an incredible year as Miss NJ International 2010, and another amazing year as Miss NJ Galaxy 2011, NJ is my bread and butter. One week ago Hurricane Sandy viciously rolled in, and in the morning my world was barely recognizable.

As I watched TV in my condo Monday night, I thought I would be one of the fortunate ones- all our wires are underground. By 8:20pm I was left in complete darkness watching random flashes of blue and orange light in the sky. I lit candles, played a few games of Guess Who, then went to sleep cold and annoyed. I had no clue that the morning light would bring such pain. I woke up to several text messages from family, my parents and brother live on three acres surrounded by trees. My mom text me before 7am and said a tree fell on the house and destroyed a good part of it. I ran outside and saw branches everywhere, even on top of my car. My tire was flat, severely punctured from a branch- what a start to the day. After that mishap, I ignored the car damage, feared the worst and made my way to Warren Twp. I live 12 minutes away and it took an hour to get there- six detours later, and I finally found one road to get to my parent's house. The neighborhood was surreal, like a war zone. Every single house had a tree on a car, or a tree on top of a house. Some had multiple trees down, crushing both their cars and houses. The street was filled with neighbors I have never even met before, as wires and transformers were strewn across yards and the street. People were crying and hugging, it was so overwhelming I don't think anyone knew where to began. I felt so incredibly helpless when I saw my parent's house- three giant trees down in the backyard, a fourth tree crushed the fence, and the largest fifth tree fell on the house, crushing the side of the house- the deck, siding, roof, doors, lights, you name it and it was in pieces. To see all their hard work sprawled everywhere was devastating. One of the saddest parts for me was that we had two birdhouses in the backyard. That morning we saw the birds flying around aimlessly, and realized their houses were now in the neighbor's yard, absolutely destroyed.

I went back to my condo and packed a bag to head back to my parent's house. My condo had no power and no hot water, and I did not want to be alone. My parents did not have power either, but at least they had hot water, and I wanted to be with my family during this time. The next 72 hours were a blur, it was impossible to leave the house and there was nowhere to go. Every food place was closed, most roads closed- we felt trapped. The nights grew colder and darker, and with gas impossible to find, having a generator was useless. It is too expensive to run, and once gas runs out, you wait in line for hours for more. By Friday, we were desperate for power- it wasn't about TV, or having a computer- we wanted heat. With nothing to do but sit and think, I could not help but think of the others out there- several were better off and several worse off than us. We were going stir crazy, so were the kids in the neighborhood, as school is closed till at least next Monday. Then I started thinking- what about the families affected by Autism? Here we are shivering, and hungry- what about the families who can't explain to their child what is going on? Suddenly my circumstances did not seem so bad. Children that are used to routine and schedules were suddenly put in such an uncomfortable and unpredictable situation. There is virtually nowhere for parents to even take their kids- and what if there is a medical emergency? Most doctor offices are closed, and hospitals were just getting power back Friday. Several of these children enjoy things like the iPad, iPod, and playing with the iPhone. With no power, we have to charge these devices in our cars- which takes forever. One of two days can be bearable- but today is day 7 and 775,000 people are still without power. JCP&L (the main power company) issued a statement today saying they "don't know" when power will be restored to everyone. My parent's town is looking at another 9 days without power, and it is only getting colder.

I have not even watched the news yet, and I don't know what the rest of you are being shown. I just want to get the message across that we need desperately need help. People are getting stabbed and held at gunpoint for GAS. Generators and gas cans are being stolen at night, the looting is unreal. In the next few days, please think of the families affected by Autism, and special needs families in general. There are so many schools, programs, and nonprofits that have been destroyed. Most families did not think it would be this bad, and the lack of structure and routine is so hard on these kids. There are organizations who can help, and need your help as too! If you know a family affected by Hurricane Sandy, please let them know about these resources: http://www.lovethatmax.com/2012/11/disaster-relief-for-families-of-kids.html and of course Autism Speaks (I am blessed to be on the NJ Autism Speaks committee) is helping as well: http://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/autism-speaks-responds-hurricane-sandy

This is not meant for pity. As you watch the news, please think of the families who are left with nothing and are trying to calm a child with Autism at the same time. They are trying to explain why everything that was once familiar is now gone. But most of all, be grateful for what you do have. Never did I think things like hot water and gas would be a "luxury"- they are now. For those of you who are affected by Autism, and are also dealing with the Hurricane Sandy aftermath, I know how tough and tiring it is right now. Rest assured, you are given tough situations because you're strong enough to handle them. Keep the faith, be kind to each other, and together we will all rebuild.

Don't be such a hater

Sun, 06 May 2012 03:02:50 GMT

So...I decided not to write a blog for Autism Awareness month. Seems crazy right? Well, everyone else was writing lots of articles and blogs for the month, and it was great to see new people getting vocal about Autism. I enjoyed sitting back and watching people shine. Then May 1^st hit and it died down, and people seemed to go back to their normal routines. So why didn’t I write anything? Autism Awareness is something that should be “celebrated” all year, not just one month. I wanted this blog to be a reminder of that.

It was nice to watch people come from the woodwork to honor Autism in April. There were countless articles that were inspiring, and houses were lit up blue! Why did it stop there? Autism doesn’t just last a month; it’s a lifetime of ups and downs. Sure, the extra support in April is great- but with Autism being the “top” developmental disorder right now, why aren’t more people rallying year long?

I got to be part of several wonderful benefits for Autism this past month. My favorite? I was absolutely honored to cohost the Funny Business radio show with Ed Asner last week. For those of you who may have missed the memo...he starred in Mary Tyler Moore, acted in countless fantastic films…but my favorite…he was Santa Claus in Elf and the old guy in Up!! He has a son and a grandson with Autism. You can check it out here! Thank you to Mike Bova who let me be part of this. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/funnybusinessradio/2012/05/02/brielle-lacosta-zack-gonzlez-ed-asner-jenny-mccarthy

Don’t forget!!! Autism Speaks here in NJ is having their annual walk this October. I want to see everyone there! Several corporations will match donations- does yours? Put a team together and come out and walk! No, it is not a mini-marathon. No, it does not require you to start training now for it. No, it’s not a race where you will be sweating and sprinting towards the finish line (well, I mean, you can…but you may be the only one). It is a fantastic day for families to get out there and walk to support Autism!

Okay, time to get to the point. I must warn you that this blog is not going to consist of butterflies and rainbows. I witnessed something yesterday that really annoyed me…leading me to the name for this blog. A lot of people ask me, “What was the hardest part about being involved in pageantry?” It’s simple: the “haters.” There is no better word to describe them. My definition of a hater: someone who shows jealousy, hatred, spreads lies about you, picks you apart, doesn’t believe in you, and would love to see you fail. Sadly, these people are everywhere. To be honest, this was the hardest part I had to overcome. It was incredibly difficult to be at an event for Autism, or any cause for that matter, and notice the glares, hear the whispers, and have people criticize to my face. They have never met me and they don’t know my story. I didn’t understand, and had to keep cool and not become defensive. Often it brought me to tears, and I did not understand how people could be so cruel. Where am I going with this?

Yesterday I was at my beloved Target when I noticed a child- I would say about 9 or 10 years old, sitting in the cart while his mother pushed him. Obviously, he was too large for the cart and it certainly drew attention. While perusing the food aisles, we ended up in the peanut butter aisle together. Now it was pretty obvious the boy had Autism. He made several sounds and flapped every 30 seconds or so. We were only a few feet away from each other, so I said hi. The mother looked pretty surprised and prompted her son to say hi back. He had big blue eyes and a faint smile as she moved his hand for him to wave. I said to the boy enthusiastically, “how are you?!” This is where I just could not believe it.

The mother said abruptly, “Oh, he doesn’t understand that. He’s Autistic. He can’t talk or understand you.” First of all, how could you talk that way about your child? Second of all, why aren’t you his number one advocate? Aren’t you happy I did not run the other way when I entered that aisle? I’ve seen the way the public acts towards Autism. But the worst part…why does she have to be such a hater? I know she is his mother, but seriously, who is she to say he doesn’t understand? She has already decided he will amount to nothing. Who says? I cannot tell you how many times I have witnessed children with autism not receiving the teaching they deserve because their instructor/teacher “assumes” the child just won’t get it. Just because many are nonverbal, does not mean they won’t understand. Why are most people such haters when it comes to Autism? Then they wonder why some of these children act out and become aggressive? Trust me, these kids understand. There are so many articles on the Internet about nonverbal children with Autism who used an iPad to type how they feel. Several of them made it clear they have understood everything- their entire life. Like I said before, I had an extremely difficult time dealing with the haters and that was just occasionally. Can you imagine dealing with it everyday- and also having Autism, and not having a voice to defend yourself?

If you have a child with Autism, I know you’ve faced frustrations and felt like your child may act out “on purpose.” This may be true- but why are they doing it? They are people too, with emotions, who UNDERSTAND. I cannot stress this enough. If you’re a teacher, I beg you not to give up and just give children with Autism “busy work,” or a puzzle to entertain them while they are in your class. Most of society won’t even bother to try- children and adults with autism don’t have many people fighting for them as individuals. When I visited Celebrate The Children, some of their nonverbal children were learning CALCULUS. It was inspiring. Trust me, these children with Autism understood and could complete problems- silently. Have you attempted something like this? Do you truly know what your child is capable of? Please remember, nonverbal does not equal dumb. So I guess all I am trying to say is, don’t be such a hater.

Superbowl Sunday! Poems, DSM-5 and Autism Speaks!

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:42:46 GMT

Superbowl Sunday! Football, Poems & DSM-5

Time for one of my favorite days of the year...Superbowl Sunday! Obviously I am rooting for the Giants! On Friday I went to the Autism Speaks Awards Reception in Princeton, it was such a fun night! They honored the top teams, individual fundraisers and shared some new studies with us. I am honored and thrilled to be the 2012 Publicity Chair for Autism Speaks (Central NJ) and hope this year's walk is the biggest yet! I will be blogging a lot about Autism Speaks, since I have been volunteering with them for a few years now, and I think they are wonderful. I wanted to talk about a few things that some of you have asked me to blog about! Feel free to send me ideas

First off, I highly recommend that you check out this blog! Anthony is on the spectrum, and writes this wonderful and VERY thorough blog about sports. He also writes a personal blog, but this is GREAT for Superbowl Sunday! http://theautisticsportsnerdsblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-weekend.html

Second, I mentioned before that I received a book in the mail called "Inside Out: Stories and Poems From an Autistic Mind" which was published in October, 2011. This book of poems and stories is written by Russell Lehmann, who is a 21 year old adult with high-functioning Autism. You can pick up a copy at www.autisticpoet.com which is Russell's personal website. Through poems and stories, Russell gives us insight into how his mind works. Some of these poems are quite dark, but it really shows what hard times he has gone through while growing up. He explains through these poems how depression, anxiety, OCD, an eating disorder and Autism have molded him into the person he is now. One of the things that I find most fascinating is the mind of someone with Autism. This book is one of those opportunities to take a deeper look, and Russell does this perfectly by laying it all on the line and being 100% open. I really recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn what life is really like for someone growing up with Autism- from ridicule to heart break, this book has it all. Follow him on Twitter too! @AutisticPoet

Third, let's dive into the new DSM-5...MANY of you have been sending e-mails and asking my thoughts via Twitter. From what I have heard, the biggest concern is from parents who fear the loss of state services and the loss of their child's diagnosis. The Huffington Post recently addressed concerns and they say: "When the APA publishes the DSM-5, people who have already met the criteria for autism in the current DSM-IV will not suddenly lose their current diagnosis as some parents have feared, nor will they lose state services. But several studies recently published in child psychiatry journals suggest that it will be more difficult for new generations of high-functioning autistic people to receive a diagnosis because the DSM-5 criteria are too strict. But in its efforts to make diagnosis more accurate, the APA may have raised the bar for autism a little too high, neglecting autistic people whose symptoms are not as severe as others." So..what will the qualifications be now you may ask? The Huffington Post goes on to say, "Essentially, to qualify for a diagnosis of autistic disorder in DSM-IV, a patient must show at least six of 12 symptoms, which are divided into three groups: deficits in social interaction; deficits in communication; and repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests. In contrast, the DSM-5 divides seven symptoms of ASD into two main groups: deficits in social communication and social interaction; and restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests."

The DSM-5 will be published May, 2013 so expect to be hearing a lot about this until then. Autism Speaks recently released a statement regarding this issue, and they have already voiced their concerns about the changes with the DSM-5 committee. On their website, they say:

"Autism Speaks is committing substantial effort and resources to fund definitive research to ensure that the final definition of ASD meets the following criteria:

1. Assures that all those who struggle with autism symptoms receive the treatment, services and benefits they need, without discrimination;

2. Affirms that ASD can be a lifelong diagnosis, while allowing for treatment and services to change with an individual’s evolving needs;

3. Supports the importance of early ASD diagnosis and treatment as essential for helping individuals achieve their best possible outcomes and avoids creating barriers."

These next few months should be very interesting, as I am sure this will be debated back and forth for quite some time. My main concern is that no one loses their diagnosis OR services, and the criteria is not so strict that it becomes very difficult to be diagnosed on the spectrum. If criteria is too strict, thousands of children will be left without the services they need and deserve, and it will create huge financial turmoil for families. Well that is all for today! Hope you all have a fantastic Superbowl Sunday!

Autism, Brain Cancer, and "Would you rather..."

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:20:28 GMT

I am almost 100% better, bronchitis is something I get about four times a year and it wrecks me. My lungs are in rough shape from my car accident a few years ago! Anyway, I have been trying to think of some great amazing topic for my next blog- but that's no fun. I rather just write what comes to mind. I hope you are all doing well, and thanks again for reading!

After my first few posts a lot of you have asked me questions to still get to the bottom of why I "care." I'm not real sure why it is such a shock that I care very much about Autism and bringing about awareness...? It's sad how people assume that since I have no personal connection to Autism, I "must be trying to gain something from it." Untrue! Just because I'm not a parent, or have a family member with Autism, does not mean I don't get it. Working fulltime with Autism provided me 8-9 hours a day of interactions, and many parents don't even get that much time with their children because they get home from work late and their child goes to bed three hours later. I have seen the ups and downs, and I have seen families torn apart by financial burdens and not knowing where to turn. Parents these days, ESPECIALLY parents coping with Autism, don't have a ton of free time- so why not do the advocating for them? You would be shocked how many people look at me as if I have six heads when I say I advocate for Autism. I often hear "oh, the slow kids?', or "do they do crazy Math?!" Ohhh society. It's interesting and frightening how many people will give you every detail of Kim Kardashian's pending divorce (no offense Kim, people love you, keep rockin it!), but they don't have a clue how prevalent Autism is, or what exactly it is. Why am I not seeing popular TV shows air episodes where Autism is given a spotlight? I personally am tired of seeing a few TV specials air shows about how amazing high functioning Autism is. Why not show the low functioning AND high functioning? Show the nonverbal kids, the tantrums, the biting/hitting/kicking, and the stereotypical behavior. I just do not think our country will "get it" till they see how severe it can be. Show the parents who sleep three hours a night and are working two or three jobs just to afford medical care, show the siblings who are having a hard time coping. THAT is the kind of stuff the world needs to see, not reality shows about partying.

So another popular question which I have just recently decided to address during a few interviews is "and..why did you pick Brain Cancer to advocate for as well? Autism and brain cancer?" Just over a year ago my Dad was diagnosed with brain cancer, at just 52 years old. Ever have something happen that literally makes you feel like your world stopped turning, but everyone else keeps going? That's what this was for me. My Dad is one of the toughest, strongest people I have ever met. He owned a fantastic successful business, he raced Motocross for Honda, he could do it all. People absolutely love him, and I have NEVER heard him raise his voice or yell. Never ever. Honestly, I didn't really know how to deal with it, so I chose not to discuss it. The few people that knew about it begged me to make my platform brain cancer, but I just couldn't. I NEVER want to come across like I am seeking pity, or advocating for something that will directly benefit me. I have been seriously affected by this, but I don't know much about it. I have not been directly affected by Autism, but love learning about it and have a passion for it- see the difference? My Dad had emergency surgery to remove a tumor the size of a grapefruit. Sadly, they were not able to remove the entire tumor from his brain, and were forced to leave part of the tumor. My Dad goes to chemo twice a month, and it is incredible to see his spirits are still high. Sooo...that is why I also chose brain cancer as well, it is becoming more common and several doctors are looking at cell phone usage...

You know those stupid "Would you rather" games? Would you rather be deaf or blind? Never have to eat again or never have to drink again? My brother and I play that from time to time, and I was thinking about this today. Would you rather have a child with Cancer or Autism? Let me tell you, I rather have a child with anything BUT Autism. Sounds extreme? Let me explain why. With cancer, or diabetes, etc., you can have a test or a CT scan, etc and your doctor will say "Okay, you have _____ and it is stage _____, the prognosis is ______ and this is the treatment _______. We will run this test, start you with this medicine, come back in four weeks." With Autism, parents are like rag dolls going back and forth for a diagnosis, then a second diagnosis, maybe a third just to be sure, then a genetics specialist, a developmental pediatrician, a neurologist, it goes on and on. Each doctor always has something new to say, and before you know it you have compiled a list of 20 different potential problems and not a clue where to start. It's overwhelming and it seems like if a child is slightly delayed, they are immediately slapped with the label of Autism. I cannot tell you how many parents I have met thought for a year or two that their child had Autism, only to find out the child was simply delayed. Anyway, with Autism, parents will just hear "Your child has Autism..." then crickets. There is no prognosis, no "stage," no "this is what's next." It is 100% a mystery. There are great days, and there are terrible days. With cancer, etc there is a start and there is an end, and a lot of details in between. Autism does not have a known start and end...with Autism, there is a start and then a million unanswered questions. Every day is trial and error, some things work for awhile and then suddenly stop, sleeping patterns are thrown off and one of the WORST parts- many times the child cannot even communicate what hurts or what is bothering them. There is no knowing what will come next, and that is terrifying. Every disease and developmental disorder is awful, but I really cannot think of anything more stressful, frightening and heart breaking as Autism...can you?

I'm still here!

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:15:19 GMT

I have not forgotten about any of you! Sadly, bronchitis and a sinus infection have tripped me up this week! I was given a new inhaler, steroids, and the infamous Z-pack to help me along. This cold air is killing me and I have slept through the week!

A few things to check out until I get another post up here! I have gotten the opportunity to discuss Autism right and left lately! I was on a fabulous talk show last Saturday called My Good Nanny, based in Georgia, which can be found here

---> http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mgnradio/2012/01/07/house-of-motivation--ms-new-jersey-2011-brielle-lacosta

I was on another great show last night where we discussed Autism and Brain Cancer...that can be found here

---> http://jtm.d7.greengeckodesign.com/mystifyed-live-ft-brielle-lacosta

Finally, I am truly honored to be recognized around the world for my work. Our World Today, based out of Australia wrote a wonderful article about my work with Autism which can be found here --->

http://www.ourworldtoday.com.au/news/article/queen-of-hearts

If I can be a part of an upcoming event, take part in a school tour, speak at an assembly or to an organization please let me know! I promise I will be back soon with another updated blog to discuss an array of Autism related issues.

GO GIANTS!

Hanging out at Rebecca School in NYC!

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:13:14 GMT

It is school week for me! I had the honor of being invited to tour and meet the students at Rebecca School, which is one of the MetSchools in NYC. A little bit about this school from their website...

"Rebecca School is a therapeutic day school for children ages 4 to 21, promoting the education and development of children with neurodevelopmental disorders of relating and communicating, including PDD and autism. We utilize the Developmental Individual Differences Relationship-based (DIR®) model. The DIR® Methodology developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan proceeds from the core belief that relationships are the foundation of learning. At Rebecca School, we consider the variations in individual motor and sensory processing systems and tailor each child’s program to his or her specific needs. There is no “one-size-fits-all” for children with neurodevelopmental delays in relating and communicating. Each child has unique strengths to be developed and limitations to be remediated. Our goal is not to fit the child to the program but to fit the program to the child."

As you know, I visited Celebrate The Children two days ago which also follows this same DIR® model. Since studying ABA in 2007, it was quite an interesting experience for me to see schools that practice a different model other than ABA. I am always interested in learning about treatment options, and seeing what works and what doesn't, so this was like a crash course in the DIR model. I think it is really important to see both ABA & DIR models in action, especially if you're looking for a school for your child. ABA and DIR are very different, and I think there are several pros and cons to both...that's another blog for another time! For now, to learn more check out http://www.rebeccaschool.org

I arrived at the school at 10am and was greeted by a few of the staff members to bring me on a tour and meet the students. It is located right in the heart of New York City, and is five floors and 60,000 square feet! I noticed some of the same things I noticed at CTC- plenty of staff (all engaged with the students) and tons of smiling faces. Each classroom has sensory equipment like trampolines, mats, and big beanbag chairs. The DIR model really focuses on relationship building and giving respect to the students, which was very evident here. This school offers quite a bit to the students, including an awesome playground- ON THE ROOF! Two classes were swimming at a local YMCA (how fun!), one class was playing in quite a large gym which included a rock wall, hockey nets, scooters and more! Another class was having a dance party (which was adorable), and other classes were learning and just enjoying each other's company. Rebecca School has a fabulous art and ceramics room complete with lots of clay and a kiln which the kids love. They also have two sensory gyms full of the coolest equipment- giant swings, tons of mats, and lots of things to play and climb on! In the hallways you will find kids laughing as they crawl through popup tunnels. They have outstanding music therapists who work hard to help children engage in conversations through music. The older kids go out and shop for their own groceries for the week- they make a list, figure out the money need, and take a trip to the store with the help of teachers. Amazing!

On the wall of each classroom you will find each child's name, and pictures of what interests them underneath. I noticed both CTC and Rebecca School did this, which is part of the DIR model- to figure out what the child TRULY enjoys and then help them learn more about it. That's what life should be about, right? Doing what you love and learning more about it. Both schools take the time to figure this out, another example of the respect they have for each student- and treating them as individuals. Every Friday the students are dismissed early so the staff can have ongoing group training on a variety of topics. It is so nice to see a school want to constantly learn more and provide their staff with such valuable knowledge!

I had such a great time visiting Rebecca School, and I encourage all of you to go to their site to learn more. They also have a daily open-door policy..so if you want to visit your child for lunch, you can! Want to sit in on a class? No problem! WHENEVER you want! Some parents who work in NYC come to spend their lunch breaks with their child..I love hearing things like that! Thank you Rebecca School for inviting me into your fabulous facility, and letting me meet your wonderful students. Another day I will never forget!

Visting Celebrate The Children- what a school!

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:09:36 GMT

Hi everyone! First, I just want to thank everyone who took the time out of their busy lives to read my blog. I hope that answers some of your questions about how I got involved with Autism. To be clear, no, I do not have any personal connection to Autism, it is simply a passion. I have lots of exciting things to tell you! First, I went to an amazing school today called Celebrate The Children today in Dover, NJ (more to come below), it was an amazing day and I met some incredible kids! Second, I received an awesome package today- it was a book titled "Inside Out - Stories and Poems From an Autistic Mind" by Russell Lehmann. I am really excited to read it and let you know what I think! Third, I got a wonderful email from an inspirational person named Anthony, an adult with Autism, who wanted to share his blogs with me. He writes two incredible blogs that you NEED to check out!!

His personal blog is about his experience growing up with Autism, and his second blog is a very detailed sports blog! These are so worth checking out. Find him on twitter, @AutisticAJ his blogs are great! Sooo...

http://autismaj.blogspot.com/2012/01/nicky-and-i-play-sonic-3.html) http://theautisticsportsnerdsblog.blogspot.com/

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a school for Autism here in NJ called Celebrate The Children (www.ctcschool.org) and they asked me to come for a tour and meet their students. CTC is a not-for-profit private school located in Wharton & Dover (two buildings) and they are a NJ state approved school specializing in working with children who have alternative learning styles. The school was opened in 2004 with only three students- now they have over 100! CTC is praised for their use of the DIR(r) model, which is part of each service the school offers and is the core model of each facet of their educational and professional models. If you are unfamiliar with this, check out:

http://www.ctcschool.org/AboutCTC/DIRrOverviewDevelopmentalLevels/tabid/88/Default.aspx

I arrived at 10:30am and was greeted by lots of smiling children, the nicest staff, and the most colorful walls you've ever seen. Each classroom had made big "Welcome Brielle" signs for me and they even wrote down questions for me prior to my arrival! The school was incredible- the classrooms are huge, the building has three levels, and it was full of happy kids and staff- and I mean legitimately happy. In one of the first classrooms I visited the students were learning Geometry, and they were using Pi in a bunch of equations (Math is NOT my strong suit, I probably should have stayed for the class). I was so impressed by the student participation! I'm sure many of you are thinking "oh, probably a high functioning class"...but would you believe me if I said MANY of the kids in that room were nonverbal? In my experience, when kids are nonverbal suddenly their abilities are overlooked and things like Geometry are not even attempted with them. This doesn't happen at CTC, they really take the time to figure out what each child is capable of, AND what each child has an interest in! Every student can choose to take some classes that they have an interest in like cake decorating or photography! I have never seen or heard of a school like this, the schools I have worked in have been pretty strict ABA with quiet hallways and classrooms with very standard activities, so CTC was a whole new experience for me! It was clear that the students truly enjoyed being there.

In another classroom we played some of the games from the game show "Minute to Win It" and the kids were awesome at it- it helps them learn problem solving and fine motor skills as well (like balancing 5 giant water jugs on top of one another or bouncing pencils into a cup). It was so much fun, and they really enjoyed the games too! In another classroom the teacher asked students to group themselves based on common answers- everyone who ate the same breakfast gets into little groups, etc. It was truly amazing to see these kids socialize with each other and get into groups on their own. Again, these students are across the spectrum, this is not just high functioning kids, and like I said many are nonverbal. It was fascinating to watch. Many of them have iPads which they use to type what they want to communicate and an aid will read aloud what it says. One of the students was completely nonverbal, and once he got an iPad he typed "thank you so much for helping me." Can you imagine being there when that happened? Wondering all along if he understood you, and then one day knowing for sure he has understood perfectly and is grateful for your time? Individuals with Autism are often so misunderstood and their talents are skills often go unnoticed. Many people assume that if a child is nonverbal, he/she must not have a clue what's going on- not true at all. Even if they cannot speak, many of them know EXACTLY what is going on around them, do not underestimate them! These kids are WAY smarter than society gives them credit for.

Then it was lunch time! The school has it's own school store and occasionally they cook in there as well- today they made tacos which is in my top 5 favorite foods, so I was ecstatic! All the students eat together in one room, and when they finish their lunch they are free to socialize or do something they enjoy. While I finished eating, an adorable boy was rocking out on his bass guitar on the stage (he was really good), one was swinging on a swing, and others were talking to each other! It was so awesome to see kids do what THEY wanted to do instead of following direction after direction. I have been to a LOT of schools, and I am telling you, I have never seen a school for Autism filled with so many smiling faces.

We took one more trip to Wharton where the little kids go to school- so cute! They were making Powerpoint presentations on Mac computers, practicing math, and doing arts and crafts. I was so impressed! Both buildings were so colorful and cheery, it was such a warm atmosphere. So that was my day! They gave me an awesome shirt, water bottle, and a handmade plate for me too!

CTC has children from across the country, and even a few from other countries. If you are looking for a different school and want something that isn't strict ABA, I strongly suggest you check this school out. They cater to each child, and RESPECT each child there. Take a tour, and you will see exactly what I mean. Time magazine even did a very impressive article on this school! I was inspired by what they are doing with these students. Oh I forgot to mention! The older ones (17 years old) had jobs, real jobs not just busy work! This school truly has it all.

Thank you for checking out my blog and I hope I gave you something new to think about!!

Wow! First blog! Let me introduce myself...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:13:05 GMT

Hi everyone and Happy New Year!! I hope 2012 is your best year yet! I am brand new to Autisable and so excited to start connecting with you all and learning more about you all. I decided that a good start would probably be to tell you all about myself and answer the #1 question I get...."What made you get involved with Autism?" Just to get things straight, I happen to capitalize "Autism." Sometimes people criticize me for that, but in my opinion if Autism is dominating the world right now, then it deserves a capital "A". Anyway...

I started working with Autism in 2007, shortly before I graduated college. I was at that point in my life where I was graduating and had no idea where my life was going. I was working towards my Bachelors degree in Psychology and was double minoring in Sociology & Criminology (fun fact: I was 2 classes shy of minoring in Spanish. I still count it, I took it all through high school and college!). I was working at Donald Trump's golf course, and although there is obvious potential with the Trump Organization, I knew that wouldn't make me happy. I didn't want some career that I hated, and was just a means to pay bills. That's average and why be average? It's just as close to the bottom as it is to the top. So one day at work, a colleague brought his son in who had Autism. I noticed he stayed alone, often in a corner, not speaking to anyone. What I noticed the MOST, was the way people acted towards him- several just ignored him, others acted as if he was contaminated. I remember being really bothered by this, and at the front desk computer I started googling "Autism" (my classes mentioned it but BARELY touched upon it). Once I saw I could work with Autism just with a Bachelors degree- and in PSYCHOLOGY nonetheless, I was so excited and knew I had to give it a try.

To make things even better, I learned a brand new school for Autism was just built in my town to hold 250 kids! I remember being so scared and totally out of my element as I just plain showed up at the school and asked if they were hiring. I had no experience, and was graduating in eight months...and they hired me! Of course I wanted to work with the little kids (I worked at a daycare in high school- the Toddler room!) and figured it would be a good fit. On my first day, I was shocked and terrified to find out I was placed in the Secondary classroom, which consisted of teenagers 13-17 years old..and they were all bigger than me. Long story short, I absolutely loved that room and from that day forward, requested to work with teenagers and adults (no offense little kids!). Most people are surprised by this, teens and adults are stereotyped as being much more difficult and not as "fun." Not the case at all. I had the best time with them. I always want to do more and more, and was so intrigued by Autism I wanted to be trained thoroughly and really get into the analysis of it. I was hired September 2008 by Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI), which is regarded as the world leader in the research and treatment of Autism. Needless to say, I got the absolute best training available of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) AND got to work in the adult program with individuals ranging from 17 years old to 45 years old! I learned more there than my whole time in college studying Psychology. It is constant hands on training that I am so grateful for. I worked as a Life Coach, and got to spend quality time at group homes, the workplace, and in the school setting with these individuals and had such a great time. It was so much more than a job- you really form a bond with them, like family.

On December 5, 2009 my life changed forever when I was crowned Miss New Jersey International 2010. I hit the ground running, and had obviously made Autism my platform. I made over 100 appearances during my reigning year on behalf of Autism. I spoke to thousands of people, volunteered with countless organizations and best of all made people aware of Autism and the high rate, especially here in NJ. It was the most amazing year of my life. I was invited to the State Assembly twice, the State Senate, and was awarded by my town. Rutgers University named me an Outstanding Alumnae and I was invited to be one of two speakers at the annual prestigious Zagoren Lecture. Bloomingdale's named me one of four influential women in NJ and I got to be part of a Sam Edelman campaign! I served as the International Spokesperson for the Luca John Foundation, a 2010 & 2011 Chair for Central NJ Autism Speaks, a NJ Spokesperson for the American Lung Association and countless more amazing honors! My title came to an end in March 2011, and I decided to give pageants one more shot..and was crowned Miss NJ Galaxy 2011, and went on to the worldwide pageant to compete for the title of Miss Galaxy. There began another year advocating for Autism! Here we are today, my time as a titleholder is almost up but I am only moving on to bigger and better things. I am going to continue to advocate for Autism, and tomorrow am visiting a school in NJ called Celebrate the Children. I am beyond excited to hangout with them all day!!

I hope this helps as an introduction to me

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:40:14 GMT

Hi everyone! I'm just getting started on Autisable... Drop me a comment if you've got some ideas on what to do first - or just to say, "Hi!"