Book Spotlight - "What Color is Monday" by Carrie Cariello

Do you know someone with Autism?  Chances are - you do. 

1 in 68 American Children have been diagnosed as being on the Autism spectrum.  My son is Autistic.

To Read more about Autism - visit the Autism Speaks Website

"What Color is Monday" by Carrie Cariello

Book description from Carrie Cariello's website

Raising five children would be challenge enough for most parents, but when one of them has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, life becomes a bit more chaotic, a lot more emotional, and full of fascinating glimpses into a unique child’s different way of thinking. In this moving memoir, Carrie Cariello invites us to take a peek into exactly what it takes to get through each day juggling the needs of her whole family. Through hilarious mishaps, honest insights, and heartfelt letters addressed to her children, she shows us the beauty and wonder of raising a child who views the world through a different lens, and how ultimately autism changed her family for the better.

I have been reading "What Color is Monday" and find it very interesting and insightful.  I really like how this Author explains Autism and helps the reader to understand it better.

World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 is a time to shine a bright light on autism as a growing global public health priority. To commemorate this, Autism Speaks started the Light It Up Blue (#LIUB) autism awareness campaign. 

Visit the Light It Up Blue website 

autismspeaks.org/liub/how-to-liub

Book Spotlight - Carly's Voice by Arthur Fleischmann with Carly Fleischmann

I recently received a book called "Carly's Voice".  This book is about the struggles that Carly has gone thru, but also her journey of learning how to communicate on her computer with her family and the many people that follow her on Facebook and Twitter!   I'm really enjoying this insightful book about Carly and how she found her voice.  
I'm a Autism Advocate and recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about Autism!

About the book:
At the age of two, Carly Fleischmann was diagnosed with severe autism and an oral motor condition that prevented her from speaking. Doctors predicted that she would never intellectually develop beyond the abilities of a small child. Although she made some progress after years of intensive behavioral and communication therapy, Carly remained largely unreachable. Then, at the age of ten, she had a breakthrough.

While working with her devoted therapists Howie and Barb, Carly reached over to their laptop and typed in “HELP TEETH HURT,” much to everyone’s astonishment.

This was the beginning of Carly’s journey toward self-realization. Although Carly still struggles with all the symptoms of autism, which she describes with uncanny accuracy and detail, she now has regular, witty, and profound conversations on the computer with her family, her therapists, and the many thousands of people who follow her via her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

In Carly’s Voice, her father, Arthur Fleischmann, blends Carly’s own words with his story of getting to know his remarkable daughter. One of the first books to explore firsthand the challenges of living with autism, it brings readers inside a once-secret world and in the company of an inspiring young woman who has found her voice and her mission.

About the Authors:

ARTHUR FLEISCHMANN lives with his wife, Tammy Starr, and their three children, Matthew, Taryn, and Carly, in Toronto, Canada. Born in New York, he grew up in the Boston area and attended Brandeis University, where he graduated with a B.A. in English Literature and Economics. He later earned an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

CARLY FLEISCHMANN lives in Toronto, Canada, and attends a mainstream high school where she is enrolled in gifted classes. She corresponds with her thousands of friends and followers via Twitter and Facebook and is a passionate advocate for those living with autism. 

Visit Carly's Voice website

"Changing the world of Autism"

For more information about Autism, visit my Autism & Special Needs Links Page

Follow Melissa's board Autism on Pinterest.


Sharing at Friendship Friday 144 @ Create with Joy

Autism - One Step at a Time

Today, I am honored to be a Guest - Post at  "The Cookie Puzzle"! 

Autism - One Step at a Time
You can read my post  here

I shared some information about our Journey with Autism and the upcoming
 Autism Walk that we will be joining next month.

Kim has a wonderful blog with Cookies, Recipes, and 
lots more great information!
Thanks Kim for having me share my story!  =)

The winners of the "True Love" giveaway are Joy, Kim and Cynthia.
Emails have been sent!  Thanks to everyone that entered!

Sharing at some of my favorite Parties!

Light it up Blue! April is Autism Awareness Month

April 2nd is "Light it up Blue" day!

Please visit the Light it up Blue site to see the many ways that you can 

help support Autism!

Autism is now being diagnosed in 1 out of 88 children in America! 

Watch this Video - "Who's your 1 in 88?"

 There are lots of ways to show your support to a family that has an Autistic Child

•   Volunteer your time or resources
•  Take part in Autism Walks and Fundraisers
• Buy items to help promote Autism Awareness - visit here

My Son is mildly Autistic and we are joining our local Autism Care Walk this Saturday, this will be our 4th year, and we always have lots of fun!

For more information about Autism, visit the Autism Society's webpage, and Ive also listed several sites about Autism on the left side of my blog.

For some helpful ideas and links - visit my Pinterest Autism Board 

Sharing at Inspire me Monday @ Create with Joy
and  Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherines Corner

Review: Words Get in the Way by Nan Rossiter

ISBN: 978-0-7582-4668-4
Format: Trade Paperback
April 2012

From the author of The Gin & Chowder Club comes an exquisitely heartfelt and uplifting novel that explores the infinite reach of a mother’s love—and the gift of second chances…

The modest ranch house where Callie Wyeth grew up looks just as she remembers it—right down to the well-worn sheets in the linen closet. But in the years since Callie lived here, almost everything else has changed. Her father, once indomitable, is in poor health. And Callie is a single mother with a beautiful little boy, Henry, who has just been diagnosed with autism.

Returning to this quiet New Hampshire community seems the best thing to do, for both her father and her son’s sake. Even if it means facing Linden Finch, the one she loved and left for reasons she’s sure he’ll never forgive. Linden is stunned that Callie is back—and that she has a son. Yet in the warm, funny relationship that develops between Henry and Linden’s menagerie of rescued farm animals, Callie begins to find hope. Not just that her son might break through the wall of silence separating him from the world, but that she too can make a new start amid the places and people that have never left her heart…

From:  http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

**************************************

   I loved this story!
  The story of Callie and her little boy Henry, is so sweet.  Henry has just been diagnosed with Autism and while Callie dosent know that much about autism yet.., she understands what her Son is saying to her. 
They go back to visit Callie's father, who is not doing well. While Callie and Henry settle in at her father's home, she hopes to find her good friend Linden. They have a romantic past, and both of them hope to rebuild their friendship, even though quite a bit of time has passed since they last saw each other.
Linden has two friendly and helpful dogs that help him on his farm, and when they meet Henry, a strong bond forms between them.  
With warm characters and a friendly "small town" setting, this is a book that any fan of romance would love!

"Autism speaks".....its time to listen.

For more information on Nan Rossiter,

 visit her website at

http://www.nanrossiter.com

                                         

Linking up to the following parties 

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherines Corner

Adorned from Above blog hop @ Adorned from Above

Lets Get Social Sunday @ My Turn for us

Winner of the Autism Necklace

Thanks to everyone that entered my Drawing for the Autism Necklace as part of the  "Autism Awarness Giveaway Hop" !

 

The winner is... Julie ! 

Congratulations!!

 

Annual Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop

Annual Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop

April 11th to 17th

Hosted by:

Lindsay @ Just Another Book Addict:

http://justanotherbookaddict.blogspot.com/

Heather @ Fire and Ice Photo: 

http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/

Pixie @ Page Turners:

http://www.pageturnersblog.com/

Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/

April is Autism Awareness Month. 
 To help spread the word about Autism we are hosting a giveaway hop.

Over 75 blogs are each hosting a Giveaway!

Each participating blog is hosting a giveaway.  You will find lots of variety among the prizes.  Some of the blogs are giving away prizes that relate to autism, other blogs are giving away gift cards or other prizes and posting information about autism to help make others aware.

I know the causes and treatment of autism can bring controversy.  The point of this giveaway hop is simply to make people more aware about the subject by sharing information and experiences. 

For More Information about Autism:

http://www.autismspeaks.org/index.php
http://www.autism-society.org/

http://autism-resources.com/

Information about Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

http://www.templegrandin.com/templehome.html


Partners Resource Network
http://www.partnerstx.org/Resources/Autism/autism_activityTransition.html

Learn more about Act Today - Joe Mantegna

 (Spokesperson for ACT Today for Military Families) and Joey Travolta's
 (Founder of Inclusion Films) amazing charity work

Visit  http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_talk/topics/show/105756

I have also listed several Autism blog links in the upper left corner of my blog. 
 These are wonderful sites with lots of helpful links!

In honor of this Giveaway - Im giving away this very pretty necklace!