okay I did a quick check of the disney web site In November their is free dinning if you purchase a non-discounted 6-night/7-day Magic Your Way room and ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels So I would call disney and see about a famly suit and if you could get the free dinning if you book now. you can get a family suit at all-star music for a week with free dinning ( Nov 11-18) ( quick service meal plan) and 8 day park hopper tickets for $3,658. You could upgrade to the new art of Animation resorts family suits for $4048 same tickets and dates.

My son is using this program. If you have any questions.

We have stayed at both POP and POFQ. We love POFQ it is our favorite resort, small quiet good buses, great pool. Cons- the food is not good. POP - pros - cheap, Cons- long bus rides, very, very loud cafeteria, long walks to and from buses Have you thought about renting DVC point and staying at a villa? Or the family suits are AOA.

1. insurance coverage for treatments - my state has a law that autism treatment is covered and we have 'good' insurance put the ABA treatments have not been covered, neither have the OT treatments and we have had to fight for speech. 2. respite care

I have heard of people moving to our town from Hawaii and Florida for our public school's autism program. We went to a place in town for OT for SPD and the therapist told me they have families who made the two hour trip from Brooklyn for therapy there. Sounds great, but where are you? Your state and general area would be helpful. :)

My husband and I are looking at retirement and moving out of NY. I am looking for a area with a great autism treatment program, either through the public schools or one that our insurance will cover. Any ideas?

I read the article on Wikipedia SUNY New Paltz, and I'm thinking that it's not worth bothering about. Dh was horrified. I could tell you stories that you make you vomit. Again IMHO so not worth jumping through hoop to attend.

As a SUNY New Paltz alumni, my advise is don't bother. This is not a school that is worth jumping through hoops for. Of course I graduated many years ago and it may have gotten better, I don't think it would be possible for it to have gotten worst.

What about this...there seems to be a certain...financial status of Mormons. They seem, across the board, to be successful and wealthy. Am I imagining this? Or does the church somehow help its members achieve this financial success? Thank you for this. :) I have been working on the monthy bills while posting today. Balancing paycheck, making choices, the normal stuff. Your question made me smile. We are a one income family and my husband works as the water-meter foreman for the city water department. A good blue-collar job, I am grateful he has but we are not wealthy. The Lord has greatly blessed us, we have two wonderful son, a solid home and a knowledge of the gospel. But the Lord has not given us the blessing of wealth.

What is the difference between a ward and a stake? Is the ward the individual neighborhood "church" and the stake a collection of local wards? Or something else? Yup. A ward is a local unit. A branch is a very small local unit. A stake is a group of wards and branches in a geographic area. The size of area depends on density of members, for example in Utah there mite be several stakes in one town and in New York there might be many counties in one stake and in other countries only a few stakes in the whole country. Wards are presided over by a bishop, Branches by a branch president, Stakes by a stake president. None of these positions are paid.

Well this sounds very proper and everything but what does an LDS mom tell her son when he's caught sneaking around or doing something he shouldn't? Where is the fear of hell or the promise of eternal reward? Those are the details I am curious about. What motivates your normal Morman in their day to day life to go the extra mile? I tell my son " you know better ". Or "I think this is something you need to pray about." When he was younger " go to your room and think about what you did". As to what motivates me to go the extra mile, I believe that my Savior bled and died for me, so that I could be forgiven for my sins. I believe that his atonement was the single greatest act of love and service in all of time and space. He did this because He loves me, personally. When things get hard, and they do, I remember that love and it motivates me to keep moving forward.

What is the Mormon teaching on abortion? From the Church's Web site - Official position The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, the Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience, and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions. The Church allows for possible exceptions for its members when: Pregnancy results from rape or incest, or A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth. The Church teaches its members that even these rare exceptions do not justify abortion automatically. Abortion is a most serious matter and should be considered only after the persons involved have consulted with their local church leaders and feel through personal prayer that their decision is correct. The Church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion. Why do you avoid caffeine and alcohol? Our Bodies Are Temples of God One of the great blessings we received when we came to earth was a physical body. We need a physical body to become like our Heavenly Father. Our bodies are so important that the Lord calls them temples of God (see 1 Corinthians 3:16–17; 6:19–20). Our bodies are holy. Because our bodies are important, our Father in Heaven wants us to take good care of them. He knows that we can be happier, better people if we are healthy. The Holy Ghost can be with us if our bodies and minds are clean. Our Father knows that we face temptations to treat our bodies unwisely or to take harmful things into them. For this reason He has told us which things are good for our health and which things are bad. Much of the information God has given us concerning good health is found in Doctrine and Covenants 89. This revelation is called the Word of Wisdom. We must obey the Word of Wisdom to be worthy to enter the temple. If we do not obey the Word of Wisdom, the Lord’s Spirit withdraws from us. If we defile the “temple of God,†which is our body, we hurt ourselves physically and spiritually. We Are Commanded Not to Take Certain Things into Our Bodies The Lord commands us not to use wine and strong drinks, meaning drinks containing alcohol. The First Presidency has taught that strong drink often brings cruelty, poverty, disease, and plague into the home. It often is a cause of dishonesty, loss of chastity, and loss of good judgment. It is a curse to all who drink it. (See “Message of the First Presidency,†Improvement Era, Nov. 1942, 686.) Expectant mothers who drink can cause physical and mental damage to their children. Many automobile accidents are caused each year by people who drink alcohol. The Lord has also told us that “tobacco is not for the body†(D&C 89:8). It is harmful to our bodies and our spirits. We should not smoke cigarettes or cigars or use chewing tobacco. Scientists have shown that tobacco causes many diseases and can harm unborn children. The Lord also counsels us against the use of “hot drinks†(D&C 89:9). Church leaders have said that this means coffee and tea, which contain harmful substances. We should avoid all drinks that contain harmful substances. We should not use drugs except when they are necessary as medicine. Some drugs are even more harmful than alcohol and tobacco (which are also drugs). Those who misuse drugs need to seek help, pray for strength, and counsel with their bishop so they can fully repent and become clean. We should avoid anything that we know is harmful to our bodies. We should not use any substance that is habit forming. We should also avoid overeating. The Word of Wisdom does not tell us everything to avoid or consume, but it does give us guidelines. It is a valuable temporal law. It is also a great spiritual law. By living the Word of Wisdom, we become stronger spiritually. We purify our bodies so the Spirit of the Lord can dwell with us.

Great talk by Elder Maxwell, I miss his talks. I hope we can help you understand more about what we believe. No I am not waiting on my own planet.:tongue_smilie: But yes I believe that Heavenly Father is the father of my spirit and that His work and His glory is to being to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. I believe that through the atonement of Christ I can become a "joint heir with Christ", gaining all that the Father hath. I believe that the Holy Spirit, teaches, guides, comforts and supports me on my daily journey. I hope that helps.

I will be honest I don't understand the catholic view of God. The idea of one God in three persons is difficult for me to understand. So that being said I will try to help you understand the LDS/ my view of God. The Church's first article of faith states, “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.†These three beings make up the Godhead. They preside over this world and all other creations of our Father in Heaven. The true doctrine of the Godhead was lost in the apostasy that followed the Savior's mortal ministry and the deaths of His Apostles. This doctrine began to be restored when 14-year-old Joseph Smith received his First Vision (see Joseph Smith—History 1:17). From the Prophet's account of the First Vision and from his other teachings, we know that the members of the Godhead are three separate beings. The Father and the Son have tangible bodies of flesh and bones, and the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit (see D&C 130:22). Although the members of the Godhead are distinct beings with distinct roles, they are one in purpose and doctrine. They are perfectly united in bringing to pass Heavenly Father's divine plan of salvation. God the Father God the Father is the Supreme Being in whom we believe and whom we worship. He is the ultimate Creator, Ruler, and Preserver of all things. He is perfect, has all power, and knows all things. He “has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's†(D&C 130:22). The Father of Our Spirits One of life's great questions is “Who am I?†A beloved Primary song helps even little children answer this question. We sing, “I am a child of God, and he has sent me here.†The knowledge that we are children of God provides strength, comfort, and hope. We are all literally children of God, spiritually begotten in the premortal life. As His children, we can be assured that we have divine, eternal potential and that He will help us in our sincere efforts to reach that potential. JESUS CHRIST Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of God. He is our Redeemer. Each of these titles points to the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. Jesus suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, giving each of God’s children the gift of repentance and forgiveness. Only by His mercy and grace can anyone be saved. His subsequent resurrection prepared the way for every person to overcome physical death as well. These events are called the Atonement. In short, Jesus Christ saves us from sin and death. For that, He is very literally our Savior and Redeemer. In the future Jesus Christ will return to reign on earth in peace for a thousand years. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He will be our Lord forever. The HOLY GHOST The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a personage of spirit, without a body of flesh and bones. He is often referred to as the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, or the Comforter. Roles of the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, fulfilling several roles to help us live righteously and receive the blessings of the gospel. He “witnesses of the Father and the Son†(2 Nephi 31:18) and reveals and teaches “the truth of all things†(Moroni 10:5). We can receive a sure testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ only by the power of the Holy Ghost. His communication to our spirit carries far more certainty than any communication we can receive through our natural senses. As we strive to stay on the path that leads to eternal life, the Holy Ghost can guide us in our decisions and protect us from physical and spiritual danger.

Originally Posted by blessedwinter I have not read all of the links/posts yet, but is it in the Book of Mormon where all of this extra information is, about Adam and Eve, why we are here on earth, etc? Is that all in the Book of Mormon? Is there a link you can share on how the Book of Mormon does or does not contradict Scripture? A lot of doctrine about the fall and it's place in the great plan of happiness is found in the Book of Mormon, but some is found in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price as well as the Bible, mostly in the Old Testiment. As for a link about how the Book of Mormon does not contradict the Bible, try http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon/

Active LDS member From the LDS.org web site Adam’s Role in Bringing Us Mortality BY PRESIDENT JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH (1876–1972) When Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, he was in the presence of God our Eternal Father. He talked with the Father and the Father with him. But something happened, and it had to happen: Adam partook of certain fruit. My Bible, the King James Version, [speaks in a commentator’s note] of Adam’s Fall [as] “man’s shameful fall.†Well, it wasn’t a shameful fall at all. Adam came here to bring mortality upon the earth, and that resulted in the shutting out from the presence of the Eternal Father of both Adam and Eve and their posterity. The Son of God comes upon the scene from that time henceforth as our Redeemer. … It is the Savior who stands between mankind and our Heavenly Father. … The Son is the mediator between mankind and the Eternal Father. You seldom hear a prayer that isn’t offered to our Heavenly Father in the name of His Beloved Son, and that’s right. Christ came into this world to represent His Father. He came into this world to teach mankind who His Father is, why we should worship Him, how we should worship Him. He performed the greatest work that was ever performed in this mortal world by the shedding of His blood, which paid a debt that mankind owes to the Eternal Father, and which debt we inherited after the Fall of Adam. They Opened the Door Adam did only what he had to do. He partook of that fruit for one good reason, and that was to open the door to bring you and me and everyone else into this world, for Adam and Eve could have remained in the Garden of Eden; they could have been there to this day, if Eve hadn’t done something. One of these days, if I ever get to where I can speak to Mother Eve, I want to thank her for tempting Adam to partake of the fruit. He accepted the temptation, with the result that children came into this world. … If she hadn’t had that influence over Adam, and if Adam had done according to the commandment first given to him, they would still be in the Garden of Eden and we would not be here at all. We wouldn’t have come into this world. So the commentators made a great mistake when they put in the Bible … “man’s shameful fall.†Well, that was what the Lord expected Adam to do, because that opened the door to mortality; and we came here into this mortal world to receive a training in mortality that we could not get anywhere else or in any other way. We came here into this world to partake of all the vicissitudes, to receive the lessons that we receive in mortality from or in a mortal world. And so we become subject to pain, to sickness. We are blessed for keeping the commandments of the Lord with all that He has given us, which, if we will follow and be true and faithful, will bring us back again into the presence of God our Eternal Father, as sons and daughters of God, entitled to the fulness of celestial glory. Privileged to Be Mortal That great blessing of celestial glory could never have come to us without a period of time in mortality, and so we came here in this mortal world. We are in school, the mortal school, to gain the experiences, the training, the joys, and the sufferings that we partake of, that we might be educated in all these things and be prepared, if we are faithful and true to the commandments of the Lord, to become sons and daughters of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ; and in His presence to go on to a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever, and perhaps through our faithfulness to have the opportunity of building worlds and peopling them. Brethren and sisters, let’s thank the Lord, when we pray, for Adam. If it hadn’t been for Adam, I wouldn’t be here; you wouldn’t be here; we would be waiting in the heavens as spirits pleading for somebody … to pass through a certain condition that brought upon us mortality. We are in the mortal life to get an experience, a training, that we couldn’t get any other way. And in order [for us] to become gods, it is necessary for us to know something about pain, about sickness, and about the other things that we partake of in this school of mortality. So don’t let us, brethren and sisters, complain about Adam and wish he hadn’t done something that he did. I want to thank him. I am glad to have the privilege of being here and going through mortality, and if I will be true and faithful to the covenants and obligations that are upon me as a member of the Church and in the kingdom of God, I may have the privilege of coming back into the presence of the Eternal Father; and that will come to you as it will to me, sons and daughters of God entitled to the fulness of celestial glory.

DS2 was diagnosed with classic autism at 2 .

No TVs in any bedrooms in our house. Not for the children and not for the parents.

Ideas for your DD 1.Local private school - if one is available, acceptable and affordable. 2.Local Charter school - if one is available and acceptable. 3.Texas Virtual Academy - online charter school ( k12)- 4. Online private school - keystone, Laurel Springs School, etc. 5. Online University based high school program- University of Texas at Austen High school program, Indiana University High School, University of Oklahoma High School, etc.

I understand your concerns. I have been doing my parents bills for over ten years. I made up a budget with them and I pay all the bills when they come in and give them each an allowance each week in cash for food and extras. It is not fun or easy, but it means that I don't have to keep bailing them out of financial problems. So I keep doing it. Good luck setting up a budget. I would lose the second car.

I live in NY and am homeschooling my niece. I write the report and my sister mails them in. Both I and my sister are listed as teachers. It is okay with the regs. to hire a tutor to teach your children so that is how we file the paperwork. :)

Drudge has it as the headline. More public school craziness. So glad I can homeschool. :001_smile:

Not the same but close..... "New York State regulations prohibit colleges within the state from granting a degree to a student unless that student has a state-recognized high school diploma or has met a substitute requirement. The approved substitutes include obtaining a GED diploma (either via a test or via a 24-credit-hour college program) or obtaining a letter from the student's school district superintendent stating that the student has received the substantial equivalent of a high school education. Because New York homeschoolers do not receive state-recognized high school diplomas, they must meet one of the substitute requirements. Under the new rules, the 24-credit-hour college program's subject distribution requirements have been relaxed. Also, because some homeschoolers believe there is an unacceptable stigma associated with a GED diploma, the 24-credit-hour option is no longer associated with the GED. Students also have the option of passing the five Regents exams that are required of public school students. Additionally, the state's homeschooling regulation was changed to address the issue of compulsory school age students who want to go to college full-time. Such students' IHIPs now need to include a list of the courses to be taken." * Take from the NYHEN web site So if you homeschool your high school student in NY want the student wants to go to college in New York you need to jump thru a few extra hoops.

Okay I call the IRS.... Long Wait on hold....... 1 hour latter the IRS representative told me that my son tuition for college classes was eligible for the life time learning credit. Yah! :)

Okay, folks. Background. My son is a high school junior being homeschooled in NY. He took an online college class with BYU- Idaho last year(2011). Question – can I deduct the tuition on my federal and/or state taxes? My hope is that someone has faces this before and can give me some information. Thanks