kirton family featured in people

Kirton Family Featured In People Magazine Article

Today our long expected article about our family has hit the news

stands. Sharon Cotliar, our reporter, originally called me 2-3 days

after our local paper had an article about us. That was in June 2007.

She visited with our family for 3 days the week of July the 10th.

In between then and December, when our photographer Ken stayed for 3

days, she would check in with us and assure us that even with various

delays they were still very interested in our story.

We are VERY happy with the story and pictures. Sharon has captured us

and our situation to perfection. Because of her limited space she

cannot go into as many details as she would have liked, soooooooo I

thought I fill in a bit more here.

First, any questions you have, please put them here. I will be

compiling them to create a FAQ section on the main website:

http://www.autismbites.com/.

The t-shirt Ammon is wearing on page 91 is of our own design, Robin

did the face and I put the words with the face. We have a total of 30

different combinations. (See link for t-shirts to the left). We hope

that by having our story told that we can:

1) increase the awareness and understanding of Autism.

2) from our example (we know we're not perfect) that it can give hope

to other parents struggling with their marriage and children.

3) jump start our efforts to create our AutismBites Foundation. The

goal is to help put funds directly into parents hands for whatever,

without a lot of red tape and hoops to jump through.

4) since a lot celebrities read People also, we're hoping some will

step forward to help with our fund raising efforts for the AutismBites

Foundation.

Well, got to go, four of the children have been sick this week and now

Robin is not feeling well. We'll do our best to update this blog and

add addition info to the website that my sister-in-law is helping me

with.

Dad

Posted by Dadof6Autistickids at 1/25/2008 12:47:00 PM

Labels: AutismBites Foundation, Magazine, Media

38 comments:

Amanda Panda said...

My name is Amanda. I just read the article in People Magazine.

I just want to say thank you so much for sharing your story. I

cried reading the article. Especially when I saw the picture of

your husband hugging your little boy. The picture reminds me of

my daughter and how sometimes I just hug her tight, because

it's all I can do. I too am an LDS mother of a 3 year old with

autism. My husband is in the Army and has only been home fromt

he time she was born until she was 6 weeks old, and again from

when she was 13 months old-26 months old. He is overseas right

now and due back this summer. It is hard, because he doesn't

know her well. I am used to having to explain her to neighbors

and strangers, but I will tell my husband about what a tough

day we had, and he will say something like, "Well don't let her

do that." Don't you wish it was that easy? Friends who tell me

their 1 year olds know better, and why havent I taught her not

to do this or that. I teach all day long, until we fall into

bed exhausted. Anyway, it is just ownderful to read your blog

and know that if there is anyone who understands this, you guys

do. I am not alone for once. It means so much that you were

willing to share. Have to go! She just poured her juice over

the baby's head, lol. What can you do, but laugh, right?

January 25, 2008 5:44 PM

Focus On This! said...

I just finished reading the article of your family in People. I

am an ESE teacher in Florida and teach a few students with

Autism that are in an inclusion setting. They are the reason I

love going to work each day. I admire their parents and

teachers and families that are part of their lives. Thanks for

sharing your amazing story with the world. YOU ARE AMAZING!!

January 25, 2008 7:25 PM

amie said...

I just wanted to let you know of a fantastic book that you may

be interested in. It is called Gut and Psychology Syndrome by

Natasha Campbell-McBride MD. It talks about how most children

with Autism also have problems with the flora in their

digestive track. They need more healthy bacteria. I am finding

this book fascinating and very helpful.

January 25, 2008 8:12 PM

kate said...

Read about you in People. I have three boys with ASD diagnoses

(8, 6, and 4), a 3 month old baby girl, and a disabled husband.

Everyone tells me they don't know how I do it. I tell them I

don't know either.

You guys are my heroes!