This is HOT!!!

[Lancelot]

Well at least I got your attention for the Autism Ride Chicago

For all of you that know me, you know I am a loud, cigar smoking, motorcycle riding, son-of-a-gun, (some of you can insert a more appropriate adjective for me here).

But there is a softer side as well. And here it is.

My niece and nephew have both been diagnosed as autistic and several of my friends have children who are autistic and it is a rising concern that I feel strongly about.

So when I saw a way to combine my passion for motorcycles with my concern over autism, I jumped!

My firm, the Consumer Advocacy Center, P.C. will be donating $2,500.00 to this cause and I will be riding in the event.

I will personally be riding in the Autism Motorcycle Ride in Chicago on September 16, 2007 and would like to solicit donations from those of you that may also support this cause.

This is a link to my Autism Ride web page.

http://www.canridenow.org/faf/r.asp?...0&e=1226485495

Please donate or Ride or forward this message to others.
__________________
Lance

"It's the action, not the fruit of the action that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. That does not mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing,there will be no results." ~Mahatma Gandhi

[itchin]

Good luck on your ride. I unfortunately cant make it. Mighty big of you. I have an 8 year old who is autistic. They are certainly a puzzle. He was diagnosed with a high functioning form of Autism called Aspergers syndrome. Of course they dont like to be knocked off there schedule, ( actually physically painful for them) but his main issue is the lack of social etticut,(sp). They just have no clue as to what is socially acceptable. Socializing is almost non-existent. Most of his conversations are movie qoutes.

The intelligence level is freakish. He taught himself to play the piano with a small keyboard so we bought a used piano. Within a month he was playin Bach and Beethoven. He also is preoccupied with time. Makes us write a schedule of events for every day. Like i said, a puzzle. Good luck.

[andymott]

Lancelot

Good show. It's a good thing to be able to combine two things you have strong feelings about, and doing things for others is always worthwhile.
I hope it goes better than you imagine.

Itchin

I've worked with a few people with Asperger's, and they certainly keep you on your toes - no two alike! I used to teach outdoor activities to kids (climbing, kayaking etc), and had a number of groups with various challenging problems, some physical, some mental. They always got more out of me, simply because they were doing things they found much harder than 'ordinary' kids would, and often worked much harder to achieve their goals because of this.
On a side not, have you read 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in teh Night-Time'? It's written from the perspective of a boy with Asperger's, and gives an amusing yet poignant insight into the condition. Recommended.

[itchin]

Thanks for the kind words Andy, i will pick a copy up today. He is quite a boy. Keeps us laughin. We call him worm cause he is SOOOO tall and skinny for an 8 year old.

As i said, his conversations are mostly qoutes from the tv. He may not even be watchin it but he hears it. The other day at the mall he walked over to a little seventeen year old girl and in his best Joey from friends voice says, " Hey, how you doin", and gives her his version of a wink which was both eyes blinkin and a ****e eatin grin. She just laughed.

Lately, i will shut the tv off and make him have a conversation with me about his day.

[cheapbastard]

good luck with the event. Hope it turns out well.

[Whisperinsmith]

Lancelot,
My daughter works with autistic children along with other consulting work. She is the epitomy of professionalism, but once in awhile an innocent story with no names leaks out. And the stories break my heart, but with early intervention and diligent work by parents, there are amazing success stories. It is so difficult for parents to never feel the normal connection to their child, yet a connection is there. Please encourage working with these children as much as possible.

To hear both neice and nephew have this affliction just bears out the studies showing genetic carriers. I hate to harp upon stem cell research in this sensitive post, but the numbers of autistic children are exploding.

Good luck with your ride. I'll be there in spirit.

[welshrob]

Good luck with the event, always great to see motorcyclists doing their bit, wish I wasn`t so far away.

[INTFIT]

I admire people who put a little back into the community, well done!
My main riding buddy has a counciling background as well as being trained in graphic design. When his nephew was diagnosed with autisim he put a lot of time into building web sites and fact sheets (for free) for an autisim support organisation here in Australia.

[Lancelot]

Any Chicago riders want to meet downtown to go to the event with me? My local motorcycle group is going and I am the ride coordinator for the downtown section, figure of the 40 of us, 10 are from downtown. It would be great not to be the olny Triumph or Rocket in the group.

Call me 312-498-9560 to hook up for the ride.