Even if insurance companies do pay, the whole process can take months, even years to get the funding for the correct wheelchair. Convaid— the company that invented the compact folding, adaptive assisted wheelchair—  is continuing their mission of enriching the lives of special needs families by providing easy-to-use, convenient and attractive wheelchairs, by helping families with alternative funding options to help raise money.

Through their Community Outreach program, Convaid created the new Fund-A-Chair Program. This new program is specifically designed for families to raise funds for the purchase of a lightweight Convaid Wheelchair.

Through the Fund-A-Chair Program, families can raise money with the help of the free fundraising site Youcaring.com. This allows families to easily accept donations from friends and family across the globe through an online trusted source.

“We created this program to give families another option when trying to raise funds for their much needed wheelchairs and other medical equipment,” said President of Convaid Chris Braun. “Often times families find that loved ones are more than willing to contribute $25 here or there, but don’t feel like it’s significant enough. By using the new program, people will see that every dollar does count.”

Every year ten of thousands of families choose Convaid for their children’s mobility needs. Convaid’s line of lightweight pediatric wheelchairs are custom made to meet each individual’s physical needs, improving not only the life of the user but the lives of the user’s entire family, by promoting mobility and independence.

The Fund-A-Chair Program goes live on June 1st, 2013. To kick off the program, for the entire month of June, Convaid will be giving program users who are able to meet or exceed their fundraising goals a 10% discount on all Convaid customized wheelchairs as well as a free basket or canopy with purchase.

“The challenges that families are facing for getting funding for wheelchairs and other mobility related equipment is far greater than it was even two years ago,” said Braun. “We want to help all these children and their families enjoy their freedom and lead full, active lives.

Families interested in creating a Fund-A-Chair Fundraiser page to purchase Convaid products can send their Youcaring.com page link to megan@convaid.com where it will be considered as a feature on the Convaid website to help encourage donations.

Families are also encouraged to use social media to help spread the word on their cause, as well as posting on the Convaid Facebook, Twitter , and Pinterest pages.

For more information on the Fund-A-Chair-Program and detailed instructions on how to get started please visit http://www.convaid.com/fund-a-chair.html or call 1-888-CONVAID.

The post Helping Families Who Need A Wheelchair appeared first on Autism Mom Blog.

Before we started using the Wearever mattress pad, my son’s room smelled really bad.  I couldn’t get the odor of urine out of my son’s room.  I was using a plain mattress cover for my autistic son’s bed, and that helped keep his mattress dry.  But they hold in the odor of urine, and they tear easily.  I was constantly buying new ones, and cleaning his mattress.  No matter how many times I cleaned his mattress, I couldn’t get the smell of urine out of the room.

The Wearever Mattress Pad with Wings is 36 inches by 32 inches, with 19 inch wings that extend out to be tucked under the mattress.  It fits a hospital or twin bed.  My son’s bed is a full size bed, so I wasn’t able to tuck the wings in under the mattress.  They do have a Quilted Mattress Pad that will fit a full size bed.  I’ve been using the Mattress Pad with Wings for a couple weeks.  Even with the wings not being tucked in, the mattress pad stayed in place.  My son doesn’t move around much at night.  Usually, the position he is in when he falls asleep is the position he wakes up in.

The morning after the first night we used this was surprising. I noticed that the smell of urine in his room was not strong.  After a week of using it, I only smelt the urine first thing in the morning.  It was a weak smell, and gathering up the mattress pad, to put it in the washing machine, was all that was needed to get rid of the smell.  I love the fact that this mattress pad holds up so well in the washer and dryer.  It can go through the washer and dryer over 200 times.  At a cost of $19.99, I can afford to replace this every five months.  It also holds 60 ounces of fluid.

I am excited that my husband and son will be able to take this camping with them.  They go on weekend camping trips with the Boy Scouts.  I’m sure you can understand the problems they face with my son not being potty trained at night.  I think that this mattress pad will help them a lot.  In a small tent, the smell of urine can be very difficult for both of them.  Plus, there is no way to wash my son’s sleeping bag when they are out camping.  The mattress pad folds up easily and will help protect my son’s sleeping bag during their camping trips.

I also would like to mention the fact that Wearever have men and women’s incontinence underwear/panties.  I wish my son was old enough to fit into the men’s incontinence underwear.  He will be in another year or two.  The smallest size they carry for men is an XS.  He is almost at that size.  With incontinence underwear, it’s important that you have the right size.  If it’s too big, you will have leakage.

I think that the Wearever Mattress Pad with Wings is a great product for anyone dealing with a child that wets the bed.  It’s a lot easier to use, compared to a complete mattress cover.  Having one will make it easier for my parents when the kids spend the night.  It will also make it easier when we go on a family vacation.  I recommend this product 100%.  You can find information about Wearever at:

-          Wearever website: www.WeareverUS.com

-          Wearever Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WeareverUS

-          Wearever Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/WeareverUS

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While the Internet is a fantastic place to shop, it’s also a virtual landmine for naïve shoppers. If you aren’t careful you can become the victim of identity theft, fraud or some other scam. Or, you might inadvertently order a substandard product or overpay for something.

Here are some important tips to help you keep from getting ripped off online:

Avoid Fraud

To avoid fraud, never purchase products from on online retailer without using a credit card that offers fraud protection or a PayPal account. Print or save your online receipts and confirmations, and meticulously review your bank statements for unauthorized charges. If you shop online regularly, it’s a good idea toconsider an identity theft monitoring service.

Take the time to read the fine print before checking the “I agree” check box so you don’t inadvertently get a lot more than you bargained for. For example, you might snag a one year magazine subscription for $3.99, but the fine print includes an auto-renewal at $44.00 a year. Or, you’ll get a “free” product by paying shipping only, but then be locked into large monthly payments, or auto delivery.

Also, always review the merchant’s policies for returns, replacement and guarantees before buying. Review the company’s privacy policies—remember your personal information may be sold by other retailers so be sure to look for an opt-out option.

Look for the best prices

Don’t jump on a slashed price too quickly. Remember, online marketing is very sophisticated and includes inflated mark-ups so they can then show “slashed prices,” and other gimmicks to get you to purchase quickly and without doing your research.

One advantage of shopping online is the ability to price shop without driving around, wasting time and gas, to three or four different stores. In fact, shopping online you can literally price shop worldwide. Take the time to make sure you are getting the best price available. And, be sure to compare apples-to-apples—include shipping and processing charges in your price comparison.

Never purchase anything online without first searching for promo codes or online coupons. Some of my personal favorites are Khols free shipping offers and 20% off at Sports Authority coupons. Where ever you shop you’re likely to find coupon codes to help you net the best possible price. Use deal aggregate sites, for example search coupon deals at NerdWallet, or simply do a quick Google search to find coupons and codes.

Read reviews

One of your best defenses when shopping online are buyer reviews. While you cannot touch and feel the product before you purchase it to look at the quality, other buyers have. Look at the product’s overall rating and then read a variety of reviews. Even if you are buying from a site with only a few reviews, research the product on Amazon and check the extensive reviews there.

When purchasing from an online auction site like eBay, don’t purchase from sellers without extensive positive reviews—a track record of accurately representing their products in their auction descriptions, and shipping them as promised. Shop only from reputable, well established sellers, and of course use PayPal for additional buyer protections.

Go with your gut

Remember: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!

Use your common sense when shopping online. If a website looks sketchy or unprofessional it’s not worth the risk. Unless you are shopping for a specialty item try to stick to sites like Amazon that have a reputation for excellent customer service and good prices. Or, look for your favorite brick-and-mortar stores online like Khols, Best Buy, Target, and Toys-R-Us.

Shopping online is a great way to save time, money and hassle—if you are a saavy shopper who knows how to protect yourself and where to get the best deals. Happy shopping!>

The post How To Not Get Ripped Off Online appeared first on Autism Mom Blog.

We were once again members of the church that had baptized both of my children.  We were once again members of the church that allowed my autistic son into the educational classes.  We were once again welcomed into a caring, and supportive community.  There was a new educational director, and a new priest.  I was worried that they might not be as accepting of my son as their predecessors.  I was worried for nothing.  They were shocked at how my son was treated at the other church.  I was told my son could receive the same sacraments that any other member of the Catholic Church receives.

Last night, one of my proudest moments for my son, I attended his First Communion and Confirmation.  Because of his age, he received both sacraments together.  It was a beautiful ceremony.  My son had a great sponsor.  He is with my son’s Boy Scout troop, and was happy and honored to be my son’s sponsor.  My parents were there to watch their grandson during this momentous occasion.  Towards the end of the mass, when my son was about to go up for his First Communion, I started to cry.  I have never cried tears of pure joy.  Last night, I was so happy for my son.  I cried my first tears of absolute joy.

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The items I want to talk about are designed to pamper yourself.  They are from the DONA line in their store.  I received the DONA cleanse body scrub, the DONA Sensual Chromotherapy, and the DONA Sensual Massage oil.  The DONA Sensual Chromotherapy is an aromatic liquid that changes the color of your bath water.  You use the amount you want to get the desired color.  All three of these products have a fruity scent to them.  I immediately thought of oranges when I used them.

My favorite of the three is the massage oil.  I’ve been having problems with my neck and upper back.  My husband used the DONA Sensual Massage oil to massage the areas that have been hurting me.  When he started rubbing the oil in, I could feel my skin warming up.  My muscles started to relax, and the pain eased up.  It did more good for me than the medicines my doctor had me on.

I also enjoyed taking some time in the bath tub to review the body scrub and chromotherapy.  I don’t usually get time to take a bath.  It’s a quick shower, and then back out to take care of the kids.  It was so nice to just relax, and let my husband take care of the kids.  Afterwards, I felt relaxed and ready to deal with anything.

That’s one of the reasons that I agreed to do this review before Mother’s Day.  If you are looking for something special to celebrate Mother’s Day with, Spicy Subscriptions is a good idea.  It makes a great gift for the mom that is constantly stressed out.  Moms of autistic children deal with a high level of stress.  It becomes a part of our life.  Sometimes, the stress can get so bad that our body starts to fight back.  I believe that is what has been happening to me with my neck and back problems.  I’m so over-stressed that my body is starting to rebel.

This review was the perfect reminder that I don’t take care of myself the way I should.  It’s a reminder of how much my family depends on me to take care of myself, so that I can take care of them.  With the Spicy Subscriptions monthly boxes, you get a variety of full-sized products and samples.  You can also visit The Spice Shop to purchase the items individually.  Spicy Subscriptions has provided a coupon code for my readers.  It’s autismlearningfelt, and is good for 5% off of your order.  I think you will enjoy their boxes as much as I enjoyed mine.

The post Mother’s Day With Spicy Subscriptions appeared first on Autism Mom Blog.

I had taken my son there a few years back, so I wasn’t worried about how he would react to being aboard the battleship.  I was expecting everything to be great.  It was, except for a little problem at the first set of stairs we had to go down.  My NT daughter balked.  She was scared, and did not want to go down them.  I tried everything to entice her down the steps.  It was a wonderful stranger that finally got her down them.  The kind lady talked with my daughter, and guided her down the steps.  There was something about her that made my daughter feel safe.  I was so grateful to this angel that took the time to help us.

There were so many things that I did not remember from our previous visit.  I didn’t remember the engine room, or the kitchen (galley).  I remember going through the galley before, but the details of what I saw were vague.  I didn’t remember the ovens for baking bread, or the big mixing bowls.  I remembered the sleeping areas, but forgot how tight quarters they were.

I have found that the best time for my family to visit is when they first open up.  You can find out their seasonal times on the USS North Carolina Battleship website.  My son doesn’t do well in crowds, so it’s always best for us to arrive before everyone else does.  This worked out great for us, until we came upon a tour group that had arrived early, too.  We waited for a little bit, but my on was getting more and more anxious as time went by.  There were others that were stopped with us, and a line of people had formed.  We were stuck in a really narrow area, and could not move.  Finally, we decided to interrupt the tour group.  We excused ourselves, and walked through the group to move onto the next area.  I felt a little bad about that, at first.  But, when the others waiting with us followed our lead, I felt a little better.

We spent two hours touring the battleship.  Afterwards, we were all tired.  My kids had a great time, and loved checking out everything on the ship.  Especially my son.  He loves to explore new things.  A few times, we had trouble keeping up with him.  I didn’t mind.  It’s really nice when everyone in the family is enjoying themselves.  That’s a hard thing to accomplish when you have an autistic child.

If you are planning a visit to the USS North Carolina Battleship in Wilmington, NC, with an autistic child, keep a couple things in mind.  They give out wrist bands that you have to wear when you get your ticket.  For NT’s, that isn’t a problem.  For an autistic child, there might be sensory issues with this.  If you think this will be a problem for your child, call ahead of time and see if there’s an alternative to putting it on the wrist.  Next, there are the stairs.  They aren’t easy to get up and down for anyone.  And, they can be a little scary for some children.  You also need to keep in mind the narrow areas of the ship.  I liked them, because it meant that my son couldn’t dart off to another area.  In the open areas of the battleship, My husband and I would take turns chasing after him.  Last, but not least, is the number of other visits there when you arrive.  If you go off-season, or right when they open, you have a better chance of avoiding a lot of other tourists visiting the ship.

I’m looking forward to visiting the USS North Carolina Battleship again.  I think we’ll plan to go again in the fall.

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When my son was younger, I tried to get his school to teach him sign language.  His teacher had told me that he was using some signs in the classroom.  I was told by the school’s speech therapist that my son could not learn sign language.  Her reasoning was that he couldn’t reciprocate in the signing, so it was pointless to teach him.  I never understood that.  I didn’t give up.  I kept using simple signs with him, and his teachers continued to use some in the classroom.

Through the years, he has done a sign here and there.  Never consistent.  But it was obvious that he was understanding the signs we did with him.  In situations where we couldn’t talk, I’d use a sign and he would react to the sign.  Now, it is with great pride and happiness that I can say that my son “told me” that he loves me.  He has learned to sign “I Love You.”  I’ve waited 14 years to have my son say that to me.  I never gave up, and I will never forget that moment.

He has learned to sign about a dozen different words.  He doesn’t get them all perfect, but that will take time.  His school, his private therapists, and us at home, are all using sign language with him.  We all keep in close contact with each other, updating one another on his progress.

My son’s therapists are so excited about how much progress he has made just this year.  My daughter is also extremely excited that her brother is using sign language.  She has been getting me to teach her, and she has been teaching herself.  I have a book of signs, and we all reference it.  What I love about this form of communication for my son is that he loves it.  He signs with us, and he does it with a big grin. It’s a quicker, and easier way to communicate.  Everyday, I look forward to talking with my son.  It just proves to me that nothing is off limits for my son.  It might take time, but he can learn anything we teach him.

The post 14 Year Old Autism Child Learns Sign Language appeared first on Autism Mom Blog.

I hear it a lot from parents that have a child with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).  It’s even more shocking when I hear that a teacher has “diagnosed” their child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and have demanded that the parent send their child to the doctor to be put on medication.

This happens a lot with parents of autistic children.  Teachers that are not used to working with an autistic child will ask that the child be put on meds.  As if  that will make everything better.  Sometimes it helps.  With some autistic children, medication can help certain behaviors.  But, with children like mine, medication can cause more harm than good.

I also believe that it is not the place of a teacher to diagnose a child.  This should be done by professionals that deal with pediatric developmental delays.  A lot of doctors won’t even make a diagnosis of Autism or ADHD.  Instead, they refer you to a specialist.  Sometimes, a child can be diagnosed with ADHD by mistake.  The same goes with Autism.  It’s important that your child receive the appropriate diagnosis.

If your child has a diagnosis of either ADHD or Autism, and is not on medication, don’t let school personnel make you put your child on medication.  That is something for you and your child’s doctor to determine.  It is not up to the school.  They do not have the right to demand that you medicate your child.

If you need help, there are support groups you can turn to.  There are clinics that specialize in autism or ADHD.  Seek them out, and find out how to help your child from those that are educated in advising parents about autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  My son is 14, and I still deal with teachers that think my son should be on a medicine for his attention.  They think it will help.  My son’s doctors disagree.  I disagree.  Medicines can help some children with attention difficulties, but others needed to be treated with behavior therapy.  My son has made great progress with therapy.  Don’t be bullied into medicating your child if you feel that it is wrong.  You know your child best.

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.

The post ADHD and Autism Medicine Treatment Requests appeared first on Autism Mom Blog.

We arrived right when it opened.  This allowed us to be able to pick out the right place to sit.  It had to be in the center, so that my husband and I could see our kids at all times.  Of course, my husband followed our son around and helped him play the games.  I was given 3 Guest Passes to use during our visit.  I invited a friend and her children to go with us.  She used one Guest Pass, and we used one.  Each pass covered the cost of `1 large pizza, 4 drinks, and 30 tokens.  Before we left, 2 hours later, I handed off the third one to a mother that just came in with her two kids.  She was so happy to get it.

Of course, it didn’t take long for Chuck E. Cheese to fill up with people.  By that time, my son was comfortable and enjoying the place.  Chuck E. Cheese is a great place for an autistic child that is a sensory seeker, like my son.  If your autistic child shuns crowds, noises, and flashing lights, this might not be the place for you.  But, if your child loves all of these stimuli’s, you should try it out.

We enjoyed the pizza.  It was gobbled down by all of us.  Especially my son.  He loves pizza.  My son had a favorite game.  It was the pharaoh one.  He loved putting the token in and watching it fall down.  He also found the game based on his favorite tv game show, The Price is Right.  He spent some of his tokens on that game.

One of the most important things about Chuck E. Cheese is how they stamp you and your child when you enter.  My son can not stand to have anything on his skin.  He doesn’t like to be touched.  So, I was holding my breath when she stamped my son’t arm.  My husband helped.  She was really quick about it, and got it done with the first attempt.  That is so important.  My son will give you one chance, and that is it.  If she did not get it accomplished in the first attempt, he wouldn’t have given her another opportunity.  It’s important that the child and adult is stamped.  This ensures that the right child goes home with the right child.  I kept an eye on that area of Chuck E. Cheese.  At no time was the door left un-monitored.

We had a great time at Chuck E. Cheese.  Both of my kids would love to do a birthday party there.  I look forward to the next time we are able to go.

The post Chuck E Cheese and Autistic Children appeared first on Autism Mom Blog.

One of my favorite memories of camping involves several of their products.  My parents would pack the eggs in a little Coleman egg holder, and cook them on a Coleman stove.  We would get up early, and the Coleman lantern would be giving the extra light needed in the early morning.  I’d sit, bundled up in a blanket, and watch my parents cooking eggs and bacon on the Coleman stove.

Now, I’m grown up and have two kids of my own.  My parents handed down to my family what was left of their camping equipment.  It wasn’t much, and the majority of them were Coleman products.  The lantern and egg holder only lasted one camping trip for my family.  We replaced them both with the new Coleman lantern and egg holder.  The stove lasted a couple camping trips.  It was so sad when it stopped working, and was beyond repair.  The most important thing that I have to say about these products is that they lasted a long time.  They were almost 30 years old when they needed to be replaced.

I haven’t replaced the stove, yet.  My husband and I were at a camping/outdoor store last weekend, and we were looking at some camping stoves.  I saw one that was a stove and an oven.  I almost drooled over it.  But, it wasn’t for us.  Why?  Besides the fact that we don’t have the money to buy one right now, it wasn’t a Coleman.  My husband looked at it and said to me, “It’s not a Coleman.”  That was the end of that discussion.  Our next stove has to be a Coleman.  When out camping, it’s important to have dependable, long lasting camping equipment.  As far as I am concerned, Coleman provides both.

Last week, The Coleman Company, Inc contacted me about a new, limited-edition LED High Power Lantern that is currently available for purchase.  It is only available to purchase online, www.coleman.com, for the months of March and April.  The cost is $29.99.  The Coleman Company, Inc has partnered with Autism Speaks to raise funds and awareness.  $5 of each purchase will be donated to Autism Speaks.

“Coleman is pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Autism Speaks and support such a worthy cause,” said David Allen, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Americas for Coleman. “In honor of National Autism Day, Coleman will launch a special-edition lantern. Five dollars of the proceeds from each lantern sold will go directly to Autism Speaks to help fund research into causes, prevention, treatments and a cure.”

The special-edition lantern features a blue exterior color and a blue illumination setting, in reference to the annual Light it Up Blue event hosted by Autism Speaks.

“We are excited to partner with Coleman and appreciate its efforts to help raise funds and awareness of autism,” said Alec Elbert, chief strategy and development officer, Autism Speaks. “Thanks to Coleman’s support, we can encourage everyone, whether they are touched by autism or not, to help make a difference in the lives of our neighbors by purchasing a blue special-edition Coleman lantern. This lantern will illuminate the issue of autism well beyond April and Autism Awareness Month.”

This special-edition lantern is powered by a Cree LED and outputs 200 lumens of light on its high setting. It retails for $29.99 and is sold exclusively through Coleman.com. The lantern will be on sale throughout the months of March and April in preparation for and recognition of Autism Awareness Month.

I was asked if I would write a post about this special lantern.  Without hesitating, I said “yes.”  The only thing I asked in return for writing about this lantern was if they would consider doing a giveaway on my blog.  I’m not getting any form of compensation for doing this giveaway. The giveaway will be for one blue special-edition Coleman lantern. This giveaway begins today and ends April 4, 2012.  The winner will be posted on April 5, 2013, using Rafflecopter.  This giveaway is open to the US only, and you must be 18 or older to enter.  I will email the winner on April 5, 2013, and the winner will have 48 hours to reply.  If I do not receive a reply within 48 hours, I will pick a new winner.

UPDATE 3/22  - Guess what my husband bought without telling me?  Yes.  It arrived today.  It’s even prettier than the picture.  I’m going to love taking my blue Coleman lantern camping next month.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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