Famous People in the Autism Spectrum

I was surprised to find out that Albert Einstein, the "smartest guy to ever live," had autism. It makes sense to me considering that people with autism seem to have a different mindset and a different way of thinking. I also found out that many other famous people in history may have also been included in the autism spectrum:

Bill Gates, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Beethoven, Van Gogh, Mozart, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Edison. It's crazy to me to think that I didn't know this before. It just proves that autism shouldn't have to hold anyone back, that they can still be anything they want to be; a poet, an author, a famous composer or artist, or even the smartest person to ever live.

Vaccines and Autism

In everything I read or see on t.v. about Autism, they always mention how vaccines are the cause. My sister is another big believer in this. Although it's not proven, researchers say that the Mercury found in almost all vaccines is what eventually leads to slow developing of the brain. This, they also say, is the cause of other disorders like Aspergers disease, which is really simular to Autism. Crazy to think how something that is supposed to cause prevention and do well for a child could cause such harm. As I get older, I want to learn more about this, because I have also heard that Autism is genitic; that both the father and the mother had what it took to cause it. But, this believe is becoming more and more popular. Jenny McCarthy has written about vaccines in all of her books that she has written about Autism.  "If the vaccine companies are not listening to us, it's their fault that the diseases are coming back. If you give us a safe vaccine, we'll use it. It shouldn't be polio versus autism."

Autism Walks

I hate that this year will be the first year in a while that I won't be able to go to any Autism walks. Usually, there is one in Terre Haute that we go to. We did last year and I loved everything about it; the walk itself, the people my family and I met, and hearing several inspirational stories throughout the day. I was looking foward to one in Indy, however, this year (this month especially) is way too hectic for my family and I to make it. It makes me frustrated, but I can only hope that it works out next year.

Austism Awarness Month

I wish the weather was warmer. Just yesterday it had snowed for several hours. However, I'm soo glad it's finally April! This means that the school year's finally almost over and the weather will at last warm up... hopefully. Along with the warm weather rolls in Autism Awarnes Month. At this time of the year there are several different Autism walks and other things going on that I like to go to. However, tomorrow, the first day of April, is the biggest walk of the year and it's always during the school day. I really wish I could go. I'm sure April first will end up landing on a weekend some year. Until then, I hope there will be other events my sister and I can go to. This is why April is my favorite time of year.

Terre Haute's Children's Museum

Not too long ago my brother and sister's families came down and we all set out to go to Terre Haute's new Children's Museum. It was super cool and I think my sixteen-year-old niece and I had more fun than the three younger kids. This place is very tiny, but it has enough cool things to do that I'm sure we didn't see it all. The reason why I bring this up is because of how disability-friendly the place seemed to be. Sometimes Braxton gets overwhelmed in places that have a lot going on, however, the museum had seperate little stations that were set-off from the others that allowed him to do his own thing. The miniature grocery store was my favorite. :)

Jenny McCarthy





My sister is obsessed with Jenny McCarthy. Jenny is a famous actress, author, model, and comedian. She had a son, Evan, back in 2002 who was diagnosed with Autism. Since then, Jenny has written several books about her expierences with motherhood and Evan's Autism. Even though my sister pretty much forced me into reading one of her books, I would never admit to her that I've read all of her books. She has a new one coming out soon and I'm super excited. My favorite so far: Louder than Words. Jenny is also very active with Autism, hosting events and running donations. She is truly inspiring and it's no wonder why my sister adores her so much.

Clock Work

It's hard waking up in the mornings. Especially when you're woken up, five in the morning, to screaming and someone jumping on your feet. This is how I would wake up all last week when Braxton came to visit. I didn't even bother setting my alarm clock, Braxton made sure to wake up just in time. "Get ready for schoooool!! Get up, get up!" Lately, Braxton has been obsessed with schedualing. When he's hungry, you better have lunch ready at noon. Sharp. When he's ready for bed, his head must hit the pillow at nine. Sharp. Likewise with all the pills and supplements he has to take everyday; you better have them and a glass of water ready by the time he needs them. It's just another funny thing I noticed when watching Braxton last week. This kid never gets boring.

Braxton's Improvement

This weekend Braxton came over for a visit. It was a full house with my brother, his wife, and two kids, and my sister, her husband, her daughter, and Braxton. It seems like everytime Braxton comes over, it's amazing how much he has improved since the last time I saw him. He talks a lot more and is interested in what people have to say. A year ago, we would never expect anything like this from him. A year ago Braxton would hardly even make eye contact with anyone and the only time he spoke was to get someone's attention. It truly is amazing how fast he is improving with all the medicine and the diet he's on. Now that he's improving as much as he is, I think it is likely that Braxton may end up just like every other "normal" kid his age.

"Warning: Braxton's Butter"

Every family meal we have together my mom has to be careful about what she fixes because Braxton has a broad list of thing he can't have. My sister has him on a gluton free diet. This means that Braxton can't have diary, breads, sugar, or anything that has gluton in it. Diets like these are supposed to lower the Mercury level in the brain which is associated with Autism. It's a pain in my mom's neck everytime she has to fix dinner for everyone, but it has made such an aprovement for Braxton.

We even have a drawer in our refridgerator for Braxton with things like dairy-free butter (yeah, there's such a thing) that's labled "Warning: Do Not Eat!! Braxton's Butter." I tried it on accident once... it's quite disgusting.

To be Care-Free

"Autism is about having a pure heart and being very sensitive… It is about finding a way to survive in an overwhelming, confusing world… It is about developing differently, in a different pace and with different leaps."



I can't imagine living in a world where everything seems overwhelming and confusing. A world where everyone is constantly judging me because I'm different and it's obvious. It's sad to me to think that this is the world that Braxton must live in every day. Mustn't he notice that he's different? Mustn't he care? I'm not so sure he even notices and I know for a fact that he wouldn't care if he did. I think this goes for all Autistic people. They all seem so independent. It must be inside them. Sure, they're dependent on others, like we all are. But there's something so different in them that makes them so care-free. Autism doesn't have to be defined with all negative details and explanations; there's some good in there too.