They Spent Money on This?

This is a recent study on autism:

“Men who do not find the shape of the curvier woman most attractive could be more likely to father children with autism, according to a study.

Researchers showed 100 men with autistic children pictures of curvy women; women with athletic frames and more rounded women and found that they do not have a preference on which figure they find more attractive.

The new research from the University of Bath suggests that fathers of autistic children do not share the preference of men across the world for the curvier woman.”

Here are the recent statistics:

- 1 in 150 children

- 4:1 ratio of boys to girls

- 1 in 98 boys

- Fastest growing developmental disability

- 100 billion annual costs

- In ten years the annual costs are projected at 200-400 billion.

- Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3rds with early intervention.

- A family with a child with autism will fund 3 to 5 million dollars of services throughout the lifetime of the child.

- More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than cancer, diabetes, Downs Syndrome and AIDS combined.

- Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of most of the more prevalent childhood disorders.

- Approximately 1 million individuals in the US have autism.

And someone is spending money on whether or not dads preferred Marilyn Monroe or Olive Oyl?

2008, I knew thee too well

2008 is over….

Every New Year’s day I try to look forward with optimism to the New Year. This year I won’t. I have decided to consider 2009 a rebuilding year.

I have watched family and friends lose their jobs, their houses and their marriages. I have doctors wanting to subject my children to tests that will be hours of shear terror for them since they don’t have the language skills to understand the tests. The tests are also unnecessary. For once, I hope the HMO refuses to authorize the procedure. (24 hour EEG for a child with no seizure activity who is super sensitive to all sensory input and it took two techs to swaddle him and restrain him for the 15-minute one.) DH had his ankle fused and screwed and is still non-weight bearing. Family does nothing but pick fights with us. Can’t let any get together go by without at least one snide comment.

I don’t know what the answer is but I am beginning to believe that I should hope for the best and expect the worst….seems the best way to keep sane in this world.

So, here’s to 2010…if I play my cards right in 2009, then I can greet you with optimism. If not, well, it will be another rebuilding year. Maybe I’m the Detroit Lions…