I want to see Lionel make an Autism Acceptance/ Awareness car or set

I agree.  maybe another design your own box car contest.

I am kind of planning that, atleast one car and hopefully big L will do thier own one day soon

Great Idea  !  

I would buy a train car about Autism ! 

as you know the Actor that plays Sheldon has Asperger's too ! 

You should Contact MTH as well ! 

He is based on some of the quirks that Aspie's have.  But also some of the stereotypes as well that are untrue.   I would contact MTH, but I personaly do not care for the company myself. I stick with Lionel.  But someone else is welcome to put the idea to MTH as well. Mike

ARTFUK DODGER,

 Mike  your idea is a good one, and maybe Lionel should be made aware of what a medical plus your Lionel Trains have been to a person like yourself with Autism.   I doubt they understand how much your Lionel Trains have helped you down thru the years.  I know they also helped my totally Deaf daughter learn her fine motor skills also, the Trains were in fact a big blessing.  What I see as a big stumbling block for the Lionel Company is the actual number of people who would purchase such a specialized Train. When we were helping out at Western Penn School for the Deaf (WPSD) years ago, when my daughter attended, I made the suggestion to the Lionel Company about producing a Christmas Deaf Train, for the Deaf Children, with special flashing lights and coloring.  Although they were very nice and thought someday they might produce a few Box Cars, Lionel could not justify making a full train, there were just not enough people who would purchase such a specialized train.  In the case of the Deaf, only 1% of our total American population is actually Deaf, I have no idea how many people are Autistic, you may have the exact same problem when selling the idea to Lionel or MTH.

PCRR/Dave 

I did relate to them how Lionel trains helped me from childhood and thru adulthood as I never put them away.  I would even chat with them on the phone if they wanted more info on how the trains helped me.   Mike

Maybe MTH will do an ES44 painted like a puzzle. They have been doing some cool painted ES44s recently, like the Halloween and the Breast Cancer, so this would be a nice addition to their fleet. I would certainly buy one if some of the proceeds went to an Autism Charity.

Clubs have Special run box cars.

Anyone know how much or what the break point is. How many does a club usually run off at one time? Who makes them, Lionel??

Gentlemen,

    Weaver use to be the company who made special trains like our Masonic 2-8-0, 414.  Even then a certain amount of  purchases had to guaranteed up front.  They were very good at doing Special Train runs, with most of the rolling stock being made here in Pa.  Unfortunately Weaver is gone now, getting one of the other companies to dive in when they know very limited money from sales is going to be made, is real tough these days.  A Special Lionel or MTH Box Car maybe the reality of the situation.

PCRR/Dave

As a father of 2 sons with Autism(1 is Aspergers), I would welcome it but I want hold my breath on it being produced.

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

ARTFUK DODGER,

 Mike  your idea is a good one, and maybe Lionel should be made aware of what a medical plus your Lionel Trains have been to a person like yourself with Autism.   I doubt they understand how much your Lionel Trains have helped you down thru the years.  I know they also helped my totally Deaf daughter learn her fine motor skills also, the Trains were in fact a big blessing.  What I see as a big stumbling block for the Lionel Company is the actual number of people who would purchase such a specialized Train. When we were helping out at Western Penn School for the Deaf (WPSD) years ago, when my daughter attended, I made the suggestion to the Lionel Company about producing a Christmas Deaf Train, for the Deaf Children, with special flashing lights and coloring.  Although they were very nice and thought someday they might produce a few Box Cars, Lionel could not justify making a full train, there were just not enough people who would purchase such a specialized train.  In the case of the Deaf, only 1% of our total American population is actually Deaf, I have no idea how many people are Autistic, you may have the exact same problem when selling the idea to Lionel or MTH.

PCRR/Dave 

Dave, The statistics are 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys. These numbers have changed a couple times the last few years

BTW, you might want to edit your post. 

RiverRailFan,

    Man I never knew the numbers were that high, maybe the sales on this Special Train would warrant production after all.  I know a lot of deaf children are also Autistic, usually totally Deaf children have more problems than just being deaf.  My daughter became Epileptic in her last year of high school, working with her computer.   Take care of your family.

PCRR/Dave

I work with children and adults who are diognosed with asd.        I totally understand mike how trains are used to help you focus and avoid that meltdown   I would certainly support this project.    All the best to you   

Thanks for all the supportive posts guys.  Mike

I'd be in for a set.

I might consider a set.  I have been blessed that so far my children do not seem to show any signs of autism,  however I certainly know many families in the area dealing with these issues.  I think a gp9 with an autism puzzle paint scheme would be a  rather handsome piece of equipment and would be easily recognized at public displays. 

I agree, either the GP9 or my thoughts was a AA pair of the FT diesels, flatter sides for the puzzle scheme.  no handrails for young autistic kids to get snagged on.  Fine motor skills can be a challenge for kids with classic autism.  So the FT's might be easier to handle

WRGMILW posted:

Great Idea  !  

I would buy a train car about Autism ! 

as you know the Actor that plays Sheldon has Asperger's too ! 

 

who told you that?

http://content.time.com/time/m...9171,2048322,00.html

My son has autism and it is a very hard life to live.  Very expensive for the parents to pay out of pocket for all the therapy and medical bills too so any $$ left for trains is a miracle!  Luckily, he does enjoy O-sale trains.   I'm a Midwest rail ran (UPRR, Milw Road, Wis Central, Wis Southern roads) myself, but he saw a Chessie diesel and we had to get it. 

He calls it the "kitty cat train" (think about it!!!).  I even bought a fully scenic 4 x 10 layout this year to upgrade from my original 4x8 sheet.  If this is what it takes to give him a bit of serenity I'll keep buying more Chessie cars and locos.

I wouldn't buy a complete autism set, but a couple freight cars (boxcar or ???) would be ok with me.

I definitely support the project and would purchase cars and or an autism train.

Thanks Mike for sharing openly how your Lionel trains help you deal with life.  Your story sounds like it wants/needs to be written and published in a national magazine such as Time.  

I had no idea the numbers were so high either ... I learned something once again on this forum!  One in 68 children ( one in 42 boys ) is  astoundingly high!  Wow!! 

Perhaps too Williams by Bachman might be interested in the project .... or even Menards!

To BIGDODGETRAIN 

I thought I heard it on one of the late night shows . 

your link seems to prove i was wrong .  

I am amazed on the stats of kids with autism .  

Hopefully We could get LIONEL , MTH , & Bachmann (Williams Trains) involved in a project !  

My son has autism and it is a very hard life to live.  Very expensive for the parents to pay out of pocket for all the therapy and medical bills too so any $$ left for trains is a miracle! 

Quite so!  2 of my 4 kids have autism.  There are a LOT of services available depending on the state you live in.  Please check them out if you have not already done so.  You don't say how old the child is, but the earlier you can get help/services the better.

There are lots of services, Indiana will have an autism expo at the state fair grounds in Indianapolis in March.  If anybody wants the info and times, I can send it. Pretty much all the providers for the state of Indiana that deal with autism, for both adult and children will be there.  Isnt much for adults yet, but they are starting to work on that as people get it thru thier heads that children do not grow out of it.  And HFA/Asperger kids can be sucessfull adults with the proper supports in place through out thier lives.   Mike

WRGMILW posted:

You should Contact MTH as well ! 

 

As a proud father of a son who is on the spectrum I would most certainly support something like this.  My son enjoys our layout and especially enjoys looking at the bigger layouts of the local O-gauge clubs.  Most notable the NLOE.  I think any support would be wonderful.  My son really enjoys trains and at this point his mother and i have not discussed his diagnosis with him.  So having a Rail car or locomotive with the Autism speaks puzzle on the side of a locomotive would be pretty cool.  Merry Christmas everyone and great idea!

POTRZBE posted:

My son has autism and it is a very hard life to live.  Very expensive for the parents to pay out of pocket for all the therapy and medical bills too so any $$ left for trains is a miracle! 

Quite so!  2 of my 4 kids have autism.  There are a LOT of services available depending on the state you live in.  Please check them out if you have not already done so.  You don't say how old the child is, but the earlier you can get help/services the better.

It does seem to be what your state has for programs. I live near Chicago and I have not paid a dime out of my pocket. Me youngest sons therapy started with Easter Seals. I've been lucky that the local schools have schools just for special needs kids and programs that work with them.

I thankfully got a train running on my layout today.  I got the track care package from a fellow forum member, enough to get the whole outside loop and some of the inside done.  Just short straight track to finish.  I am thankfull as between holiday stress, my wife's father passing  on last saturday, and trying to comfort her(an almost impossible concept for someone with Aspergers) my coping skills were beyond overload.  When I went to Lowe's to get paint for the layout top, I went into an almost 10 min shutdown.  I couldn't speak, barely could move.  Thankfully I was down a little used isle looking for something.  When an employee stopped to see if I needed anything, I couldn't speak, the words were not there.  I pointed to my wrist band I wear that says that I'm autistic and he nodded, asked if I was ok, which while I wasn't I would be ok in a few min.  So I nodded yes.  I put 3 hours of run time on the Santa Fe's and am in much more refreshed mood tonight.   This is how important my trains are to me, both for sheer enjoyment, but as a coping tool to survive life.   What is really needed is more autism acceptance, that it does not go away once you turn 18 and adults still need supports in place to make it thru the rest of thier life, even those with HFA or Aspergers(ASD level 1).   I place around a 1.5 on the new scale.  My AQ score is a 41 our of 50, anything above 31 is considered autistic and further testing is warrented.   I really appreciate all the support this thread has had, I hope it moves others to suggest this car/train idea to both major companies.  I of coarse did to Lionel.  I might do a pair of beater 2343's into the puzzle scheme, having that lady that does custom painting do them.   Just need that 2 rail stuff I bought on a whim to sell so I can get a second pair of 2343's.    Thanks again for the support everybody.  It means more to me than many may realize.   Merry Christmas.   Mike

I wouldn't buy anything from them knowing that even any amount - even a penny - was going to Lionel or any other company.  If you would like to support autism awareness send your money directly to an organization which supports folks with autism or directly to a family which needs it.  Buying trains is counterproductive.

- Greg

Really Greg,  ya have a bad xmas?   Anything that increases awareness, allows parents of autistic train buffs and adults like myself show our autistic pride.  You sir are a kill joy.    Mike

I had a great Christmas and while I respect your opinion,  in my reality, trains hold no interest whatsoever to someone with autism.   Neither does spending money on items when the money goes somewhere other than autism support.  If any company donates 100% of the purchase price of an item to the cause I'm in, if not, I'll pass and give the money directly to the cause. Giving money to a company to cover their costs doesn't support any cause, it just supports the company.  Just my opinion which happens to be different from yours.

In my reality, the last thing my son wants is to draw attention to the fact he's different. That will come later. Right now the focus is on learning skills which allow him to accept himself and function in a world that is a very different and confusing place than that which to him would be considered "normal".   Money going directly to that is what is important to me.

-Greg

Thats the whole point Greg, he is, like myself different.  We will always be different.  I, like most adult autistics just want to be accepted in life, have a few support systems in place to assist with job placement and support for either independant living(which pretty much every adult I have spoken to wants no matter where they are on the spectrum) or if necessary a safe residential living arrangement.  A "cure" isnt what the majority want, and even then thats decades in the future when we are able to catch this before the child is born and change things at the genetic level.   I think we will get there eventualy.  But for now, awareness, awareness that it doesnt go away the day you turn 18.  You have it your whole life, there are days I cope well, there are days that I dont.  But ask most any adult autistic, they want acceptance.  Acceptance from society that while different, we can still lead productive lives and contribute in our own ways.  Most all autistics have a strenght that can be used for job, for me I have a prodigy level mechanical level ablity.  But I have to get past my fears to realize my alibites.  My autism wasnt caught as a child, not till adulthood so I am just learning how to  better cope and understand how to function better.  Since I fall under HFA, I was just seen as a quirky, introverted/shy kid that had no or limited social skills.   I developed my own coping skills as your boy will.  But he has the advantage of professional help that I did not.  That will be a huge help.  For those that can afford to give, I highly recommend it, and i will still purchase anything train wise that also supports the cause.  To me it has a dual purpose.  I am proud to be different, and for those in society that cannot or will not accept me for who i am...there is the door, dont let it hit you on the way out.    Mike

I have a grand daughter with Aspergers and would definitely buy a set or a car.  I doubt very much that Lionel would consider a request from an individual but Autism Speaks is huge and that might be where to start, asking them to contact Lionel and suggest producing an Autism set in conjunction with Autism Speaks with some of the proceeds from the sets going to Autism Speaks.  That I feel would be a more successful strategy.  

Nick

Giving money to a company to cover their costs doesn't support any cause, it just supports the company.  Just my opinion which happens to be different from yours.

That's not the way the real world works.  Companies who make pink ribbons or train cars have to cover their costs.  If they donate proceeds or a percentage of proceeds, whatever charity  benefits, well, they benefit.

I fired off a nicely written email to Autism Speaks to try and kick start the idea.   Hope everybody is having a good day.  I am so far.   Mike

Good luck with your quest Mike.

Greg

Greg Houser posted:

In my reality, the last thing my son wants is to draw attention to the fact he's different. 

I work with someone who has a son with this and that's how he/they feel, too. Parents of kids with autism, from as I understand it, are split between those who say, "my kid has autism" every other sentence and can rarely discuss anything else, and the opposite ones who don't want to discuss it at all and don't want anyone to make their kid feel more different than they already do. I'm not sure that among those who have this in their lives, many would buy such a set.

So, the real question is how many would it sell?

Any business is going to want to know that up-front, regardless. Lionel (nor any other model RR company) are not non-profit ventures. You must prove to them that there's an actual legit business need, otherwise they lose money in the development/production/shipping costs.

As the old folks say, I have no dog in this hunt as I'm not related to anyone with this issue and don't model in 3-rail, though...

I went to the "World's Greatest Hobby" on tour show today.  Spoke to the Lionel rep there and he said that a special car for this is on the table.  No date or time frame, but that with the purchase of the Weaver tooling and some freight cars being produced state side now, that special runs like this would become a thing of reality for Lionel.  At one of the other WGH shows, they did a fund raising for Autism Speaks, so they are familiar with the group and that many autistic children are toy train fans.   Show was completely packed with adults and kids alike.  Probably more so today as we are supposed to get snow over night, so tricky travel tomorrow.  I got there a min or two before the 10am opening, very short line both at the door and getting into the fairgrounds.   We left around 1pm, line was still out the door and much longer, and the line into the fairgrounds was huge. Now they did have atleast 2 other events at the fairgrounds today.  All the booths were nice, the S scale ES44's from Lionel are stunning, along with the scale Berkshire's.   Mike

I would buy a car or 2, as an asperger 

Greg Houser posted:

I had a great Christmas and while I respect your opinion,  in my reality, trains hold no interest whatsoever to someone with autism.   .

-Greg

 

WOW!!!

we at the club have adopted over 7 families whos' children have autism, when they come to the layout their parents say they have more fun then anywhere else they go!!!

artfull dodger posted:

I went to the "World's Greatest Hobby" on tour show today.  Spoke to the Lionel rep there and he said that a special car for this is on the table.  No date or time frame, but that with the purchase of the Weaver tooling and some freight cars being produced state side now, that special runs like this would become a thing of reality for Lionel.  At one of the other WGH shows, they did a fund raising for Autism Speaks, so they are familiar with the group and that many autistic children are toy train fans.   Show was completely packed with adults and kids alike.  Probably more so today as we are supposed to get snow over night, so tricky travel tomorrow.  I got there a min or two before the 10am opening, very short line both at the door and getting into the fairgrounds.   We left around 1pm, line was still out the door and much longer, and the line into the fairgrounds was huge. Now they did have atleast 2 other events at the fairgrounds today.  All the booths were nice, the S scale ES44's from Lionel are stunning, along with the scale Berkshire's.   Mike

this is great news!