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Jennifer Warwick
Expert Guru
My first experience with autism was not voluntary, but I would not trade it for all the stars in the universe. It took 6 years after my son was born before we got his official diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism. However, we already knew we had hitched a ride on a rollercoaster full of unexpected twists and turns and highs and lows. I had a B.S. in Biochemistry I wasn't putting to very good use up until to this point, but I was no stranger to medical and scientific research. So that is what I did; I scoured the internet for all the information I could find. I studied journal articles, read books, listened to experts in the field, and most importantly, learned from other parents in the same position. There have been significant advances in the past 10 years since my son was born. More parents and pediatricians are aware of the need to scrutinize any developmental delays a child might have, rather than taking a "wait and see" approach. For the past year, I have been able to put my writing skills, scientific background, and personal experiences to good use. I have been writing medical histories for a Developmental Pediatrician who is a well-known expert in the field of autism. I am honored to be a part of the diagnosis process for parents who are new to autism. I am looking forward to being able to share what I have learned and experienced with others outside of my own community. The world autism can be daunting. There is so much information available desperately in need of being sorted, condensed, and verified for accuracy. I have witnessed first hand the "snake oil salesmen" preying on vulnerable parents desperate for help. There are also hot topics in the autism community which need to be handled, albeit gently. For instance, what is the cause of autism--is it genetics or environmental. Also, can autism be cured? I am passionate about providing information on this topic.
Interview
What books have most influenced your life? I have mostly used books to escape life, rather than be influenced by them. Kurt Vonnegut's works, such as Breakfast of Champions, Dead Eye Dick, and Bluebeard helped me survive college. I also love classic mysteries like Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. However, if I was being fully honest, my favorite book right now is the Black Belt Kakuro.
Who are your favorite music artists? I hate to limit myself to just a few favorite music artists. I'll listen to almost anything from Chopin, Beethoven, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Marty Robbins, Talking Heads, Lily Allen, The Corrs, Charlotte Martin, Idina Menzel, XTC....
What are your favorite websites and why? Miniclips.com--Sometimes I just need to rest my brain by doing puzzles. No role playing games for me, though, I have enough reality of my own.
Where else can people find you on the web? I'm on the email loop for my local autism society and a blog site coming soon.
What are your professional highlights? Starting my writing career. I came to a realization after I had my 3rd child that I needed to write. I was always too afraid of not being the perfect writer I envisioned in my mind. However, the difficult situations my family and I endured during that time in our lives made me realize that perfection was neither the purpose nor goal of writing.
What advice do you have for the journey of life? Take a deep breath and try to find the goodness in everything you're dealt. But if you can't, know that crap can be easily molded and reshaped into something better.
What are you most passionate about in life? Enjoying my family.
What ticks you off? When I am late for appointments.
Any thoughts or ideas on living a greener life? If it's sitting in your closet, then you have no reason to keep it. Give it away. These are tough economic times, and what you no longer need someone could have a real use for.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I really do have my quiet moments.
Philosophy
With four children all diagnosed with special needs, I would have to say my philosophy on life is: "One problem at a time." While there are days where clearly there is more than one issue needing to be resolved, focusing on the quantitiy of problems will only leave me exasperated. Instead, I try to break them down and deal with the biggest issue first. There are rare times when fixing dinner is my only problem to solve. However, more often than not dinner becomes the least of my worries. In those cases, if a bowl of Cheerios is good enough for breakfast, then it is good enough for dinner. This leaves me with time to approach the bigger challenge.
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