Travels of Frank S and the Autism Express car

Its to bad your not in Florida. My daughter is on the lower end (Moderate to severe with Developmental delays). It would be great for my two other kids to meet someone who can function. Also would be a good way to maybe inspire others at her school F.A.C.E. Florida Autism Center for Excellence)   parents and teachers that there is hope.

My formal diagnosis is Asperger's Syndrome, but under the new DSM manual my therapist who diagnosed me says I would be somewhere between 1.5 and 2 on the 1-3 levels of ASD.  Some days I am not to bad, other days I need supports to function.  I can become non verbal when highly overwhelmed or injured.  My 2 subjects of intense interest are trains and old lawn mowers.  I turned the 2nd one into my career by learning how to repair them.  I am hoping to take my trains and set them up at a show or two this coming winter.   Mike

My daughters formal diagnosis is Autism moderate to severe with developmental delay. In some ways like a 10yearold in a 16 year old body. In other ways just like any other 16 year old. Either way every day it a new challenge. Guys like you give me hope that some day she will be alright in the end.

We are seeing much more in the ways of support for adult autistics now, with more being developed every day.  Seen yesterday they are building a neighborhood just for adult autistics in Knoxville TN, kind of like condos, with some being group with staff on hand, some like a normal condo shared by 2 autistics and some for just one person, all depending on income level and thier need for support staff.  All housing has easy access to support staff as needed.  I suspect we will see more of this in the coming years as all these kids grow past the age were most current supports are phased out.  I am planning the next passenger car for the train now, bought sticker paper at Staples office store yesterday after my wife and I went out to dinner.   Mike

Hopefully will start see more options here in Florida. My biggest fear is what happen after she turn 21 as she will still need a lot of support.

Good thing is I will be able to keep her under my TRICARE coverage until she turns 26. But still because of the affordable care act a lot of providers have dropped out of TRICARE and MEDICARE/MEDICAD. TRICARE more due to the Stricter reporting and vetting to prevent fraud(which is good). MEDICARE/MEDICAD (Rampet Fraud)not as strict but more for what they will get paid. Once again due to cuts to pay for the Obama Care. Ok been a long week due to her being real sick. But you provide encouragement with your posts and that helps.

Started organizing my train room, put up some shelves to hold most of the G scale I have, need to put one more shelf in yet to clear off my overhead loop in the living room so I can run trains this winter.  Also got started putting up the new benchwork for the small 2 rail O scale layout I am going to build this winter.  The top shelf are my friend's steamers that I caretake, only train that is mine is the cable car that is waiting on a battery to be installed.   Mike

Ooooh a vertical boiler! : cool: If you can, grab some close up photos of that the next time its down; please.

That is a Regner 2 truck shay.  Mostly wood that I built from a kit for him.  I will see if I can get a better pic tomorrow.  The engine to the left of it is also from Regner, called Lumberjack.  The other 2 are 7/8ths scale engines, Emma and Fairymead, both from Accucraft.   When he is gone, I am suppose to be getting his G scale stuff.   Mike