>Wednesday’s Woman–Corrine Morgan-Thomas, Miracle Run

November 24, 2010 by Jenny Herman 20 Comments

>I have to say that I am giddy with excitement over this week’s Wednesday’s Woman! Today’s lady has had a Lifetime TV movie made about her, and she’s willing to visit my humble blog. WOW! I couldn’t get to sleep the night she told me, “Sure!”

About a month or so ago, a friend of mine found Corrine’s movie, Miracle Run, on Hulu. I won’t go into great detail, but I was amazed at the way they were able to get the kids to act so much like spectrum kids, and the feelings I have shared with Corrine. This made me want to learn more about her. And that, friends, is how we came to today’s Wednesday’s Woman! Be watching future posts for a review and giveaway of her book! Here is Corrine in her own words. . . .

(Corrine Morgan Thomas, Mary Louise Parker, Doug Thomas)

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I am the mother of the twin boys, Phillip and Stephen, in the movie, Miracle Run. This movie is about some of the obstacles faced raising autistic twins. It addresses my fight with the school district, getting therapy for the twins, and hardest of all, including them into society.

In my 20’s, I had my life planned out; I would find a well-paying job in accounting, and live a comfortable life. When the twins were diagnosed with autism, at UCLA, my life changed in one millimeter of a second. I didn’t have time to grieve; my children needed help. It didn’t take long to discover there wasn’t too much help, to help alleviate the symptoms, and society was not empathetic to a child with autism. It broke my heart.

There are things a parent can do. You have to have a certain attitude about your child, and that is that he or she is worthy. There are laws that protect your child, (especially in the United States) , but your overall attitude every day, every second is that nothing is “wrong” with your child, but that you are preparing him for the future. When Stephen and Phillip went to normal public school, I got up every morning and prepared them, dressed them, and got them on the bus. When they returned home, they did homework. School not only gave them an educational setting, but it overlapped as far as giving them social skills, behavior skills and the much needed stability they needed. A school setting is a critical setting for the future of an autistic child. Then there is the IEP.

An IEP (individualized educational program) can be the nightmare of nightmares for a parent of a special needs child. I know parents who have cried, screamed, name called, sued, and almost had a breakdown during this meeting. One mother I know dressed improperly and brought lots of snacks with her, (she weighed much over two hundred pounds), yelled at a teacher because her autistic son wasn’t given his “oreo cookies” at a class party, and demanded they let her be the aide.

My advice; lead the meeting, comport yourself properly, work with them. You are not going to change the universe; not in that setting. Speech therapy is important, get as much time as you can, it will never be enough. I believe the lowest functioning child should attend school, make sure his health and safety needs are met, and start working on the services. It is a process. Remember, your child is fragile and the world is a little scary for him.

Acceptance. That word deserves its own sentence, because behind all those tears, searches, school IEP’s, and that’s what we are reaching for our child and ourselves. I believe every autistic child needs to go out in every social setting. You would be surprised of the support you will get–and from the people you get it from.

(Stephen)

One of the many obstacles parents with special needs children face is financial. It is difficult to work full-time when you know you are the only person who understands and can deal with your child’s behavior. Costs of different therapies are not covered by insurance companies. I remember times I was scrambling for food money, let alone bill money, and it was such an interference, so anti-productive to the growth of a family. That is one of the things I am trying to change, to give much more financial benefits to a family with autistic children.

(Phillip)

Sometimes you may find yourself in one of those “embarrassing” situations. That is when you get the chance to teach the world about your autistic child. The first part of the movie shows a scene of the boys screaming then urinating in a grocery store. I didn’t go in that grocery store for five years, literally, after that happened. But I should have returned the next day, you have to teach people that are narrow-minded, by ‘showing up’ with your child.

Today, Phillip and Stephen are doing very well. They are 28 years-old–still autistic, but happy. Phillip went through years of dealing with Tourette’s syndrome in addition to the autism. Stephen withdrew but later found himself in drafting and writing. They both have friends of all ages, went to college, give public speeches and know how to get money out of me. We have a cottage on our property for Phillip, and Stephen lives in a motorhome on our property when we are not traveling.

Don’t worry, the future is good for our children, I see that. Programs in school are growing, help with employment and life skills are available. Help change the world–one child at a time.

Corrine Morgan Thomas is working on her second book: Finding Phil ; An Intervention of Applied Behavioral Analysis

Published: The Miraclerun, Corrine Morgan Thomas with Gary Brozek. (2009)

Author: Jenny Herman

Jenny Herman is not anyone special or a hero. She's just a working special needs homeschool mom who uses the Power of One to "just keep swimming". Visit her blog jennyherman.com to learn more.