DISCUSSION - People with Special Needs and Webkinz

[Blackie_Lab2003]

Originally Posted by PaperButterfly

My Webkinz smile moment of the day:
We have a Webkinz striped snake, called Slinky. DS has been working on “SSSSS” sound in speech therapy, because having trouble with “s” words. I found DS walking around the house the other day, with a big silly grin on his face. He was swinging Slinky crazily around and around by the tail, saying “ssssss” over and over again. When I asked him if he liked Slinky, he repeated “slinky” perfectly over and over again!!

Reminds me of my brother. We have a dog named Sparky, and I invented the nickname "Sparkledoodle" for him, and he LOVES that name! A couple of times I've seen him walk around Sparky saying "Ssparkle doodle!"

By the way, I just have to ask one thing...what does DS mean?

[Electrabuzz1]

Originally Posted by Blackie_Lab2003

Reminds me of my brother. We have a dog named Sparky, and I invented the nickname "Sparkledoodle" for him, and he LOVES that name! A couple of times I've seen him walk around Sparky saying "Ssparkle doodle!"

By the way, I just have to ask one thing...what does DS mean?

Hi Blackie_Lab, is it late for you too?

DS stands for Dear Son or Dearest son. I love that nickname too.

---------- Electrabuzz1 added 1 Minutes and 32 Seconds later ----------

Originally Posted by Blackie_Lab2003

...and siblings. I wrote a wonderfully large post of how I help my brothers with Webkinz World.

And definitely siblings! Your input has been wonderful!!!

---------- Electrabuzz1 added 7 Minutes and 14 Seconds later ----------

Originally Posted by PaperButterfly

My Webkinz smile moment of the day:
We have a Webkinz striped snake, called Slinky. DS has been working on “SSSSS” sound in speech therapy, because having trouble with “s” words. I found DS walking around the house the other day, with a big silly grin on his face. He was swinging Slinky crazily around and around by the tail, saying “ssssss” over and over again. When I asked him if he liked Slinky, he repeated “slinky” perfectly over and over again!!

I have a similar story that is not really Webkinz involved. Most people fail to see the humour in it but maybe you will "get" it.

My son also struggled with language issues until he was quite old. We can understand him now but other people still struggle. When he was quite old and would have been talking fluently if he were a typical child he was still not stringing together words to create sentences. One early day at the end of November we were all leaving the house to attend a function and to our amazement it was snowing. And even further to our amazement our son sprouts out "Holy Cow, it's @#*@ing snowing. Yes, that was the "F" word. My husband and I just looked at each other and started laughing and crying. I will always remember that moment.

[PaperButterfly]

Electrabuzz, that’s priceless. I’m still laughing!
Thanks for sharing! You have officially uncrankified me! I get to start out this morning with a grin on my sleepy face. DS started getting up at 6:00 am again as his wake up time, and I haven’t readjusted yet.

Originally Posted by Blackie_Lab2003

Reminds me of my brother. We have a dog named Sparky, and I invented the nickname "Sparkledoodle" for him, and he LOVES that name! A couple of times I've seen him walk around Sparky saying "Ssparkle doodle!"

Originally Posted by Blackie_Lab2003

By the way, I just have to ask one thing...what does DS mean?

Love the name "Sparkledoodle", that's adorable. Mind it I borrow it? That would make a great name. I always keep a name list for my yet to buy Webbies.

As for DS, I like to also think of if as Delighful Son. If you haven't already found it, there is a great thread on abbreviations.

http://www.webkinzinsider.com/forum/9829-webkinz-insider-t297003.html

[Blackie_Lab2003]

Originally Posted by PaperButterfly

Electrabuzz, that’s priceless. I’m still laughing!
Thanks for sharing! You have officially uncrankified me! I get to start out this morning with a grin on my sleepy face. DS started getting up at 6:00 am again as his wake up time, and I haven’t readjusted yet.



Love the name "Sparkledoodle", that's adorable. Mind it I borrow it? That would make a great name. I always keep a name list for my yet to buy Webbies.

As for DS, I like to also think of if as Delighful Son. If you haven't already found it, there is a great thread on abbreviations.

http://www.webkinzinsider.com/forum/9829-webkinz-insider-t297003.html

Thanks for telling me, y'all. I may start using DB for dearest brothers for my brothers.

I'm quite relieved because they drank the hot chocolate I made for them. Even though we didn't have any marshmallows and the whip cream refused to give me whip cream.

And sure! You can use the name, Sparkledoodle! It's meant for my future Magical Retriever, but I don't think I'll be getting him.

---------- Blackie_Lab2003 added 1 Minutes and 55 Seconds later ----------

Originally Posted by Electrabuzz1

Hi Blackie_Lab, is it late for you too?

DS stands for Dear Son or Dearest son. I love that nickname too.

---------- Electrabuzz1 added 1 Minutes and 32 Seconds later ----------



And definitely siblings! Your input has been wonderful!!!

---------- Electrabuzz1 added 7 Minutes and 14 Seconds later ----------



I have a similar story that is not really Webkinz involved. Most people fail to see the humour in it but maybe you will "get" it.

My son also struggled with language issues until he was quite old. We can understand him now but other people still struggle. When he was quite old and would have been talking fluently if he were a typical child he was still not stringing together words to create sentences. One early day at the end of November we were all leaving the house to attend a function and to our amazement it was snowing. And even further to our amazement our son sprouts out "Holy Cow, it's @#*@ing snowing. Yes, that was the "F" word. My husband and I just looked at each other and started laughing and crying. I will always remember that moment.

Yes, it was late. I couldn't sleep last night so I got on my laptop.

Thanks!

And I get the story! I just had to read the first sentence again.

[LittleDog]

Originally Posted by PaperButterfly

Hey everyone – Littledog, Twinzkinz, Electrabuzz, thanks for all the support and input. I really appreciate it.

We have used a large ball in the past with DS PT. Funny thing is trying to get him to do his “exercises” with in he gets so silly because he loves balls so much and thinks it’s a toy.



Electrabuzz love the Saturday program your DS attends I’m going to do some research, see if I can find anything in our area.

My Webkinz smile moment of the day:
We have a Webkinz striped snake, called Slinky. DS has been working on “SSSSS” sound in speech therapy, because having trouble with “s” words. I found DS walking around the house the other day, with a big silly grin on his face. He was swinging Slinky crazily around and around by the tail, saying “ssssss” over and over again. When I asked him if he liked Slinky, he repeated “slinky” perfectly over and over again!!

Having your child think that the ball is a toy is perfect! I once had an administrator tell me...that things should not be so fun....How wrong she was! If it is fun; it is reinforcing. Swirling around a snake and saying the SSS sound is perfect, because it will stick with them and they will be able to generalize that sound...because it is enmeshed with their "relaxed" being. SSSlinky sssnake sssnake sssimply lovesss hisss sssauagessss. How much better can you do than that ?

[Blackie_Lab2003]

Hey, guys! I'm going to write a story about what it's like for a Webkinz who's owner has 4 Autistic siblings - 1 with Autism, 1 with Aspergers, 2 with PDD-NOS. There was also a possible chance that i could have gotten 4 Autistic siblings, but I was spared.

So, I ran through this thread to snatch some ideas, and I might even post it on WI, so don't be surprised if one of your experiences is in it.

So, if anyone has any ideas (and has experiences with Webkinz and Autism), please PM me.

[Electrabuzz1]

Originally Posted by Blackie_Lab2003

Hey, guys! I'm going to write a story about what it's like for a Webkinz who's owner has 4 Autistic siblings - 1 with Autism, 1 with Aspergers, 2 with PDD-NOS. There was also a possible chance that i could have gotten 4 Autistic siblings, but I was spared.

So, I ran through this thread to snatch some ideas, and I might even post it on WI, so don't be surprised if one of your experiences is in it.

So, if anyone has any ideas (and has experiences with Webkinz and Autism), please PM me.

It sounds like a story that I would love to read. Good luck and I will see if I can think of anything.

Hmmm . . . There was the time my PDD NOS son held down the flushing handle on the toilet while water pored everywhere and he shouted "Call 911, Call 911" over and over. My younger son came running, hit the water, slid and landed on his back in the water running down our hall. Of course, I had just got them all dressed up to leave for my Grandmother's funeral and I just needed 2 minutes to put some make up on. It is definitely one of those moments you look back on and laugh.

[TwinzKinz]

Just a quick question, hopefully someone here has dealings with a non-verbal child.
My DS (fragile-x) has only 4 recognizable ASL/hand signs, some success with PECS. Any other suggestions on how to help him communicate more fully?

[Electrabuzz1]

Originally Posted by TwinzKinz

Just a quick question, hopefully someone here has dealings with a non-verbal child.
My DS (fragile-x) has only 4 recognizable ASL/hand signs, some success with PECS. Any other suggestions on how to help him communicate more fully?

Hello TwinzKinz,
My son is verbal in that he can talk but not carry a conversation so we do not face the challenges that you do in that area. We do have a lot of friends who have children who are non-verbal but I do not see that they are making a lot of headway. It is certainly a challenging issue. I will see a number of them at my son's Saturday morning progam and I will ask if they have any tips.
I read up a little on Fragile-x this morning after reading your post. I believe that is one of the things that my husband and I were tested for after our son's birth. I was interested to see that Fragile-x is the most common cause of autism. I had not heard that before.

[TwinzKinz]

Originally Posted by Electrabuzz1

Hello TwinzKinz,
My son is verbal in that he can talk but not carry a conversation so we do not face the challenges that you do in that area. We do have a lot of friends who have children who are non-verbal but I do not see that they are making a lot of headway. It is certainly a challenging issue. I will see a number of them at my son's Saturday morning progam and I will ask if they have any tips.
I read up a little on Fragile-x this morning after reading your post. I believe that is one of the things that my husband and I were tested for after our son's birth. I was interested to see that Fragile-x is the most common cause of autism. I had not heard that before.

Thanks for any efforts undertaken, The fragile-x relationship with autism is something I find a little frustrating due to lack of general information in the medical communities.

My son was originally labeled PDD-NOS, possibly autistic tendencies (at the age of one pretty hard to diagnose fully). To my son's pediatrician credit this was quickly associated to an unknown cause and therefore was directed to further specialists. Was in the middle of arranging whole batteries of tests when an aide for my niece attended an Autism clinic where one of the speakers spoke on her family which had three fragile-x children and some of there traits and characteristics. The Aide literally ran to my sister in law exclaiming she knew my niece had it and the labels were all wrong (ADD, ADHD, with Autistic behaviour) My sister in law pushed for genetic testing which arrived as confirming the genetic markers, having this history in the family opened doors for easy access to genetic testing and confirmation instead of the pending neurology, psychology battery of tests.

Lots has changed in the years since and the information may be more widely spread but more needs to change. The more information that gets spread around (like here) the greater the chance of someone getting that correct diagnosis, or aided properly with methods that worked for that child. Thanks for the rant room.