One

On one hand, I’m finding it hard to believe that Autismum is a year old today. On the other hand it feels that so much has been crammed into that year, not just blog-wise but life wise. Just before I started this blog I began writing for Nerditorial. I wrote a lot about science but could have easily written the same number of articles and twice more about autism and the controversies surrounding it but that’s not what the editors, Matt and Jeff, would have wanted. A piece I wrote there, Reviewers Reviewed, about the 1998 Lancet paper by Andrew Wakefield being retracted, got huge views and was shared by some big names (Simon Singh, Brian Cox and Dr Karl to name a few). I thought then, there might be people who’d want to read some more.

My first post, and indeed, the tone of many of my rants was inspired by self advocate Kathryn Bjornstadt. Her eloquent post – simply a reply to a comment on the Jenny McCarthy Body Count Facebook page said so much of what I had been feeling since realising that the anti-vaccination movement wasn’t dead and was/is teeming with cranks willing to belittle my child’s existence at any given opportunity.

Since that first post, the Pwd started nursery at the special school he will be attending full-time in just a couple of weeks and had the most wonderful year. My Hubby started a new job at the same time and got promoted and, for me, my writing seems to have taken off. All this, really and truly is down to one little boy who’s getting bigger every day. The Pwdin is my son, my pride and joy and my muse. I hadn’t written anything even vaguely creative since high school but here I am, making my way as a writer. The Pwd inspires me. Thank you, mammy’s ray of sunshine xx

So now, some thank yous….

Thanks everyone who has taken the time to read my rants, musings, moans and silliness – whether you have come here to support me or to tear strips off (try to anyway) you have helped make this blog what it is. The people who follow the blog and my regulars, Chris, Darwy, Lilady, Lizzy, Pinstriped Aspie, Catherina, Alit, Melody RN, Science Mom, LBRB Sullivan, aefountain, Zoey Roberts, 0mum22, Allison, Liz Ditz, Scott Hansen, Canadian Nurse (the amazing!) and all in the Born This Way Autism Facebook group. I’m sure I’ve missed someone but not intentionally – Thank you all.

Thanks to Derek Bartholomaus, creator of the Jenny McCarthy Body Count, for linking to Autismum in the very earliest days – you brought me my first readers and followers. Thanks to Jeff and Matt, editors of Nerditorial.com for giving me a start with writing again and for their total support as the Patriot Nurse Saga unfolded. Thanks too to the Skeptical Raptor who has supported this blog from the outset.

The regulars at Respectful Insolence have been very welcoming and supportive and I am very lucky to count many of them among my online friends. Liz and Lilady, your friendship, support and belief in me means the world. A certain plexiglass box of blinking lights sent my hits into the stratosphere with his post  The Best Retort Ever? Thank you, Orac.

Working and looking after the Pwd, as well as having a house full of  builders, keeping appointments, behavioural therapy, rugby  and all the other stuff in life means that, sometimes, I just don’t get blogging time so I am in the debt of those who have come to my rescue to keep Autismum alive – my guest bloggers. My Hubby has not only written for this blog but made it possible for me to write by entertaining and watching the Pwd. Vaximom’s post on Gaggie – oops I meant Guggie –  got a lot of people banned from that sanctimommy’s facebook page and the insights Steve Summers has offered into being autistic are invaluable. Fellow Nerd, Chris McKee’s moving piece about meeting his autistic step brother is my favourite post here. He has a big future ahead of him that McKee boy.

Now, I’m off to organise a prize draw and when the Pwd’s gone to bed I’ll be sitting down with some lemons drizzle cake and popping open a bottle of cava and raising a glass to all of you. Sorry if this is cheesy but it needed saying. Normal rantiness will be resumed shortly.