AutismWonderland

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Sesame Place Photos, News & Upcoming Events!

I am a Sesame Place Blog Ambassador. I was not compensated for this post but was provided with a 2013 Season Pass for myself and complimentary admission for my family.

We went to the opening Day at Sesame Place a few weeks ago (I was just trying to finish up my thesis and didn't get a chance to post before today.) We had a blast!

I didn't realize (or think to ask) about the water rides, but they were open. I know! We didn't pack bathing suits or towels and The Boy really really wanted to go have "splashing water fun" so we bought a suit and towel there. I especially love the towel, it's something we could use for the rest of the season. And since it was barely 70 degrees, The Boy had the run of The Count's Splash Castle. (Note to self: next year go prepared.)

Oh yeah...he's running in there! He was in heaven.

The Flyin Fish with Dad

Now for the NEWS!

Starting May 22, Sesame Place will be OPEN EVERY DAY. Guest can visit as often as they like and play all season by purchasing a Season Pass for as low as six monthly payments of $16.17. Offer ends June 30! Sesame Place Book Online

For park hours: SesamePlace Park Info/Park Hours.

MEMORIAL DAY FIREWORKSDon’t miss our ALL NEW fireworks show, set to Sesame Street music! Rock out with Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and Count von Count, as their music fills the air and the sky is covered with colorful bursts of brilliance. Be sure to watch us paint the sky red (and green and blue) from inside the park. This impressive display will certainly give you something to celebrate! Fireworks will begin at 9:00pm. Sunday only.

Sesame Place Memorial-Day-Weekend-Fireworks

LAURIE BERKNER IS COMING JUNE 1-2Best-selling, award-winning children’s recording artist Laurie Berkner has been a professional musician for 20 years. Get ready to sing and dance with Laurie Berkner when she takes The You & Me Tour to Sesame Place June 1-2! Paid Park admission is required. Pricing: ages 2 and up $10.00 + tax. Infants under 2 are free, but require a reservation.
http://sesameplace.com/en/langhorne/Events/Laurie-Berkner-The-You-and-Me-Tour

For a list of all upcoming events: Sesame Place Events

GETAWAY PACKAGESOur Spring Celebration Getaway Package includes admission after 3pm plus the next day FREE! Don’t miss out on this great deal - offer ends June 3. http://sesameplace.com/en/langhorne/Stay/Getaway-Packages/Spring-Celebration

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We cannot wait for our next trip back up to Sesame Place - we are hoping to do a little weekend getaway soon! We still haven't seen Sesame Place at night and I'm really looking forward to seeing the park all lit up.

I am a Sesame Place Blog Ambassador. I was not compensated for this post but was provided with a 2013 Season Pass for myself and complimentary admission for my family.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Are We Ready to Adopt a Child?

When I was eleven years old my parents decided to open our home to a foster child. I will never forget the first and only newborn baby that entered our lives. We called him “CJ” and he was five days old. He was tiny and plump, with thick ink black hair.

CJ changed the whole dynamic of our home; I saw a side of my mother I had never seen before. I remember coming home from school hearing my mother singing, laughing, fussing over this little baby that needed her in a way my brother and I no longer did. Even my father and brother who rarely showed affection, enjoyed CJ’s company.

Four days later, CJ’s paternal grandmother decided she would be his guardian and CJ was gone.

It was the first time I saw my mother cry. In only four days CJ made us all fall in love. And more than two decades later, I still think of him.

A few months after CJ left, a social worker rang our bell one rainy Tuesday night with a wobbly toddler wearing a yellow and white sweatsuit. Her name was Jennifer. We were cautious at first, not wanting to get too attached. But it didn’t take long for Jennifer to feel like she was part of our family. And we fell in love with her as easily as we did with CJ. Years later when Jennifer was finally eligible for adoption, we didn’t even have to think about it.

In these last few months, I’ve been considering adopting a child of my own.

Read the rest click on the link --> Things to Consider When Thinking of Adoption

Honoring #MikaelaLynch

The Boy is a wanderer.

I will never forget the night when at 2 am, I heard the locks to our apartment door open. How quickly I stumbled out of my running down the hall trying to stop my 3 year old son from walking out.

Or the day while out at a large park for a BBQ, I looked away for one second and when I looked back - The Boy was gone. I yelled out his name - two, three times before he reappeared. Not to the sound of my panicked voice calling out to him, but because he had emerged from one of the play tunnels.

When we go out to crowded places like museums, amusement parks or the beach, The Husband and I always have one hand on The Boy, scared to let go. It would only take a matter of seconds for him to slip away. And I can't tell you how many times, I've had to jump up and sprint to get The Boy after he's broken away from me. How many times, I've yelled out for him to "STOP" and he just keeps going. It's scary.

The Boy loves the water. He has no fear of it - or of much else for that matter. He has no awareness of danger. He is so impulsive and moves so quickly that trips to the beach are more stressful than relaxing. And I know that I cannot take my eyes off of him. But there is always a fear. That the second I look away, anything could happen...

Last week, 9 year-old Mikaela Lynch wandered away from her family. Days later her little body was found in the water. Days after Mikaela's tragic death, 8 year-old Owen Black also wandered away from his family. He was also found in the water.

My heart aches for these families, losing a child is an unspeakable loss.

But my heart also aches because during this time of grief, their parenting is called into question. The parents are being judged.

Too often parents of special needs children are judged. We are judged when our child is having a public meltdown. Why can't we control our kids better? And when children with autism go missing and tragedy occurs, instead of showing support, some individuals are quick to point a finger and lay blame. Why weren't they being watched?

When I think of these families, these children. I cannot help but think it could so easily be The Boy. The Boy is a wanderer too. And the thought alone is too painful.

This week, in honor of Mikaela special needs bloggers are linking up with Sunday Stillwell to show our support for her loved ones and our gratitude to first responders.

If you are not familiar with autism and/or wandering - here are some facts* you should know:

Children with ASD are eight times more likely to [wander] between the ages of 7 and 10 than their typically-developing [children]. Dangers associated with wandering include drowning, getting struck by a vehicle, falling from a high place, dehydration, hyperthermia, abduction, victimization and assault.

According to data released in April 2011 by the Interactive Autism Network (IAN) through the Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI):

Roughly half, or 49%, of children with a autism attempt to elope from a safe environment, a rate nearly four times higher than their unaffected siblings

More than one third of children with autism who wander/elope are never or rarely able to communicate their name, address, or phone number

Two in three parents of elopers reported their missing children had a “close call” with a traffic injury

32% of parents reported a “close call” with a possible drowning

In 2012, the National Autism Association found that from 2009 to 2011, accidental drowning accounted for 91% total U.S. deaths reported in children with autism subsequent to wandering, and that 23% of total wandering-related deaths occurred while the child was in the care of someone other than a parent.

What precautions can we take?

AWAARE.org a site dedicated to prevent wandering within the Autism Community has created materials that focuses on wandering-prevention, and first-responder notification: