My Singing & Dancing Dustin Video :) Another S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom Mini-Moment

              

Had a great visit with our family, but I think Dustin was getting a little too excited the day he knew we were going home :) (LOL) I caught him singing and dancing just in time too......Love you Sweetie !

    I don't think he was happy about getting caught on video, but seeing him in this light and even more to see him have "any" type of reaction like embarrassment was, well ,  I'm sorry kinda cool for this mom :)  If your a mom like me that is walking in those shoes of Autism.....I'm certain you know what I mean :) Isn't he Adorable :)

BIG HUGS!
S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom

"P.O.A ? Guardianship ? The Alternative 101 Video": S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom's (OCT.) Mommy Time-Out Need to Know Video

S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom
(Strong Mothers Altering Autism's Reality Together)

I am so happy you are here to watch this month's very informative video.I wanted to bring this to all of you last month, however, I injured my ankle and posted a different video in it's place. Of course, also informative:) This month I really hope you will share this video with mothers living with autism and other developmental disabilities such as Mental Retardation, Cerebral  Palsy, 
Prader- Willi Syndrome, and Spina Bifida.  I know you will not only find this video to be comforting, but it will certainly save you big dollars as well. So if that didn't intrigue you....lets not wait another moment to find out what my alternatives are regarding a Power of Attorney or Guardianship, which is needed when your special child turns 18 years old.
S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom has found the "Alternative" just for YOU! Please don't forget to share this and please be sure to read below FINAL IMPORTANT  NOTE:

BIG BIG HUGS!
 S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom


                       (Click on the Court Room  Below to Watch the Video)
                                                     

FINAL IMPORTANT  NOTE: (Be sure to read this!)  

>Form I: The Initial Plan & Form K. - Order Approving Initial Guardianship Plan of Advocate 
  It needs to be filled out and submitted 60 DAYS AFTER the date that is stated on your ACTUAL Guardianship Advocate Forms which was stamped by the judge in her chambers. As for the date on the Initial Form. My Guardianship Advocate documents are dated on August 20, 2014. Therefore, on the (I) Form , the date would be from August 20, 2014- August 19, 2015. FYI: There is no cost for this filing process.

> What happens ONE  YEAR  after I have become my son/daughter's Guardian Advocate?
Time to fill out FORM J : The Annual Plan and  FORM I . This is just to keep everything updated with the county.

>Form J: The Annual Plan & Form L. - Order Approving Annual Guardianship Plan of Advocate  Needs to be filled out and submitted EVERY  YEAR. So don't misplace the case number on your documents. This is your son/daughter's assigned number. You will need it every year when you fill out Form J. 
How to date the Annual Form ?....My Guardian Advocate Document was dated August 20, 2015. So on my "Annual Form" I will date it: August 20, 2015 to August 19, 2016. In addition, you will need to attach a current doctor's report along with Form J. 
Here is a Re-visable form for you to give your son/daughter's doctor to fill out : 
http://circuit8.org/web/forms/probate/guardianship/Physician's%20Report%20Adult%20Ward.doc
Again, there is no cost to do this filing process. Lastly, You can either bring this form to the court house in person or send it in by mail. Just remember, Form J is a form you will have to file every year. The court house will not send you this form in the mail or give you any reminders to have the annual form re-submitted. This is YOUR responsibility. So mark your calendar every year to renew (FORM J) .

2016' UPDATE! Yeah! I noticed that the clerks office updated their site for us :) 
If you are located in Lake County Florida...you can now get the forms you need for becoming a "Guardian Advocate" without having to revise forms from other counties like I had to . So Click on Dustin & I below to get your forms directly :) 
                                      (Click on Pic to get Forms in Lake County, Fl)
                                                                                 

   UPDATE!
Lake County Florida now has forms available for Guardian Advocacy !!! Yeah! 
So if you are a Lake County resident, just click on this link to fill out and print your forms.
https://www.lakecountyclerk.org/documents_and_forms/guardian_advocate_forms.aspx   

Volusia County Florida now has forms available :  http://www.volusiabar.org/zupload/user/files/guardianadvocatehandbook.pdf                                                                      

Guardian Advocate Re-Visaable FORMS & Manual Below:

" I Just loved this Willy Wonka Picture:) How fitting to the Topic"

(Click-On Willy Wonka to get your "Re-Visable" Forms & Manual)

BIG  HUGS & All the Best!

Please feel free to contact me if you're unable to find

 or put together a Spouse Consent Waiver Form. 

     

Kids Home Depot Workshop in Orange City: S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom and Son (18yrs) are Going. Come Join Us!

I called a head and informed Home Depot of Dustin's age and that he had autism. The age range for the kids shop is 5-12. Of course Dustin is 18 now, but still has the mind of 5 or 6yr old. The lady there was so sweet and said that it was not a problem. She thought it was great that I was wanting to bring him to the workshop:) He may not be in school any longer, but that doesn't mean I will stop trying to teach him something new and to continue working on his social skills. Feel free to join us Oct. 4th. It is FREE , but you do have to register FYI. Maybe this Home Depot isn't near you, if that's the case I still want to encourage you to contact a store near you. Check out their Kids Workshops to see their calendar dates and bring your special son/daughter :)

UPDATE: Today is October 4, 2014. What a wonderful time we had! Dustin did great and the other
families there, with of course much younger children, were so friendly to us.They were absolutely sweet as can be. That's always a plus :) Unfortunately, I was disappointed in the employees of the workshop.
I was of course on crutches still because of the ligaments I pulled in my ankle , so in light of that, it would have been nice to have been offered a chair, stool, box.....sorry standing for almost an hour like that was not too comfortable. But I love my Dustin and endured the discomfort. I was a bit surprised that everyone was expected to stand for and hour or more? And what about those pregnant moms, that's a long time, you know? Then of course as you all can see ...Dustin is wearing a child's apron (LOL) Kind of expected that considering it's a kids workshop and Dustin is 18yr old now. However, I did call a head and we were the only ones like us there. And  clearly we were an unexpected guest. I know they have bigger aprons. But I guess one larger apron was being unreasonable and I didn't ask for one, hoping after seeing him in a smaller one, that just maybe Dustin would be offered a larger apron :(  I guess being a business owner myself I was  overall pleased with Home Depot's workshop itself and the crafts offered for free . It just would be nice if those little acts of kindness which mean a lot to me; well  there was none of that with any of the employees handling the workshop. Lastly, kind of puzzling, why did I register him online and have to do it again when we got there? I try to do things in advance because I know that with Dustin I have to get right to things once he's been informed of what we are doing before hand. So to have to (on crutches) fill out another registration form, I mean , REALLY? Any way, like I said, little acts of kindness mean a lot to me. Next week we're going to Lowes. I wonder how they will be in comparison with Home Depot now ? I guess I'll let you all know then :)  BIG HUGS S.M.A.A.R.T.Moms!!!

P.S. Dustin built this using wood,nails,hammer,paint, and stickers!

"Autism & Dental SURGERY Video " : S.M.A.A.R.T. Mom's (Sept) 2014' Mommy & Me Time-Out Video

S.M.A.A.R.T. Mom
(Strong Mothers Altering Autism's Reality Together)

Welcome back and Thanks for joining me once again. This was actually a video I intended on posting much earlier rather than now. However, I was more compelled to post The Prom, Graduation, and 18th Birthday Videos at that time. Unfortunately I've injured my ankle pretty good and the video I originally planned for everyone to watch will have to be post poned for a month or two. So in the mean time I do have some other insightful videos to view. I hope this video will be helpful to my moms out there that have wondered about future dental surgeries and autism. As always I'm here to bring you answers to your questions. Everyone out there I'm sure agrees that getting a molar pulled is far from joyful. But what about getting all four of them pulled AND the patient has Autism and is your son/daughter. You don't want to miss this very informative video S.M.A.A.R.T.Moms! I hope this helps you, like it has for me:) 
BIG HUGS!!
                                   
                   (Click-On the Photo to Watch September's Video)                                                                            

                                                                                   

My Son/Daughter is Turning 18yrs. old. Take the S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom Poll:

S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom Poll:

Many parents of children with Autism assume that they are automatically the guardian for their child, even though their child is Turning 18 years old or older than age 18. That just isn't the case, however. To establish guardianship it is necessary to petition the court and obtain a court order. 
(A) Yes. I knew this and the Process took over 6 months.

(B) No I didn't know this, I just assumed. I mean he/she is my biological child,

(C) Yes. I Knew and the cost to become a Guardian was Over $1500.

(D) No, I thought I could get a Power of Attorney & Medical Proxy.

(E) Yes. I knew and YES to (A) and (C). Just so you know MOMs!

(F) No. I didn't know that and Do I really Care ? Should I Care?

Want to add your Vote? Go to : S.M.A.A.R.T. Mom@Facebook.com

 I know this is the case in Florida. As for my son, he is unable to work and has just turned 18yrs. old. Although, anyone who keeps up with my S.M.A.A.R.T.Mom videos may like to know.....Hint Hint, I have found an "Alternative" for some of those moms out there, IF their state has similar statutes as Florida regarding guardianship for autistic s 18 or older  Keep a look out for September's video Ladies.....YOU don't want to miss this very informative and NEED TO KNOW video ! It will SAVE you $$$$, TIME, AND EASE that Anxiety and Stress that you will feel once you are aware of this; I know this stressed me out !
It never ceases to amaze me how our government says they are looking out for the well-being of our children and in this case our "Handicapped" children that for the majority have been this way since they were born or for 98% of their lives. Children who for example have Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and of course Autism , It just really strikes a nerve for me especially because 'I AM"  a mother that as lost her son to Autism at the young age of 13months. My whole mission in life after this devistating diagnosis was given  was to help my son the BEST I could and love him unconditionally. HE'S MY SON! So in light of that alone I can't help to feel like I am being condemned rather than being commended for EXPECTING AND WANTING to be there for my son "AFTER"  he is considered an ADULT by law > When in fact he is more like a 5 year old if not younger in other areas. When I found out about the ridiculous expectation and "Protocal by Law" that ALL parents even  biological parents at that and the most absurd hurdles we HAD to go through just to "BY LAW" be able to continue to care for our special autistic son/daughter or other disability, OMG!  As if living with Autism hasn't been heart-breaking and frustrating enough for the past 17yrs years! 

S.M.A.A.R.T.Moms out there! With all of My Heart  I really hope this next video helps some of you like it has me  BIG BIG HUGS !

"Our Baby is Turning "18? Video" S.M.A.A.R.T. Mom's (Aug) 2014' Mommy & Me Time-Out Video

S.M.A.A.R.T. Mom
(STRONG MOTHER'S ALTERING AUTISM'S REALITY TOGETHER)

S.M.A.A.R.T. Mom shares this very special day with You....
Our son who has Autism is turning 18 years old. Wow ! Where has the time gone?
Celebrating our children's 18th birthday is a HUGE event! So in light of that we invite you to join us for this Wonderful and Memorable day that we hold now so dear to our heart.
Happy Birthday to our Amazing Son, Dustin!

BIG HUGS !
          Love ,S.M.A.A.R.T. Mom

                                  (Click On the Photo to Watch the Video)