Kalispell Support Group Meeting
The next Kalispell Support Group meeting will be on Monday, May 28th at the Summit Medical Fitness Center at 205 Sunnyview Lane in Kalispell. The meeting will be from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in Conference Room #1and is open to all parents, caregivers, professionals and kids. For more information, call Tim at (406) 257-8758.
Spread the Word
When they were originally introduced, the terms “mental retardation” or “mentally retarded” were medical terms with a specifically clinical connotation; however, the pejorative forms, “retard” and “retarded” have been used widely in today’s society to degrade and insult people with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, when “retard” and “retarded” are used as synonyms for “dumb” or “stupid” by people without disabilities, it only reinforces painful stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities being less valued members of humanity.
Click on the banner to sign a pledge to end the use of the R-word.
Joel's Gift of Hope
I parked at the Alzheimer’s center where my mother-in-law lived
and paused, saying the quickest of prayers. I glanced at my
11-year-old son, Joel, in the backseat. He was totally absorbed in
the photo album he had insisted on bringing along. Joel has autism,
and although I had reminded him that his grandmother couldn’t
remember things the way she used to and might not be as interested
in the photos as he was, I couldn’t be sure that he completely
understood what I was saying. I just hoped he wouldn’t be
disappointed by his grandma’s reaction.
Joel looked up. “See Grandma!” he exclaimed. Clutching the album, he
bounded out of the car and up to the building entrance and marched
in. I trudged along after him. We hadn’t even crossed the lobby when
my senses were assailed by the smell of disinfectants and cafeteria
food.
“Mmm, hamburgers,” Joel said, sniffing the air like we were at a
barbecue.
The Montana Autism Society of America is several volunteer groups united in one mission - to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), resource local autism programs, provide support for families affected by autism and unite people in the state of Montana.
