New autism book features Medina family's story
50 essays look at love, laughter
Photographer: WEWS
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 12/09/2011
MEDINA, Ohio - There have been many books written about autism -- but according to the editor, very few like "Wit and Wisdom from the Parents of Special Needs Kids."
The recently-published book is a compilation of nearly 50 essays from parents of autistic children around the country. It is currently available through Amazon.
Rhonda Logan of Medina County is one of the contributing authors. Her essay, titled "Thunderstorm," describes how her family works to calm and reassure her 17-year-old autistic son Tommy who experiences anxiety and agitation during thunderstorms.
Logan told NewsChannel5 she agreed to participate in the project to help show some of the lighter moments that often occur within households dealing with autism.
"We don't always have to cry, let's laugh -- it is crazy things that they do and we have crazy lives and that's OK," said Logan.
In the case of a thunderstorm, the Logan family initiates a number of protocols including, putting the family pets in the basement, continuing with Tommy's highly regimented schedule and playing the "who's taller game" -- where family members stand on tiptoes measuring themselves against Tommy as a way to calm him. According to Rhonda Logan, the who's taller game can continue for hours.
Logan said, like many of the authors featured in "Wit and Wisdom," she publishes an online blog to share experiences and provide support to other parents.
Click on the following link to connect to Rhonda Logan's blog.
http://www.pugariffic.blogspot.com
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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