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Sunday 2 April 2017

RJ's Annual #AutismAwareness Blog Hop + #Giveaway @Rjscott_author















**** Contest is now CLOSED *** 
Winners have been announced in the comments section!

I'm honoured to once again join RJ Scott and a host of other wonderful authors and bloggers in RJ's Annual blog hop, highlighting World Autism Awareness Day, April 2nd and National Autism Awareness Month. Each participant will share a fact, a post and a prize.


Follow this link to RJ's master post and join us for the entire month of April. You might just win a prize but more importantly you'll learn a thing or two. 


This year the theme is Animals 


FACT: Service Animals provide companionship and support for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders, when used in part with a child’s therapy. [Autism Canada]

Any dog lover will tell you that dogs have a sixth sense when it comes to understanding it's human's emotional needs and often respond appropriately. Like people, they can tell when you need a cuddle. Cats on the other hand can also seem to pick up on our angst but often seem unconcerned. They tend to come around when they need the attention. Even watching a tank full of fish can induce a calming sense.

In doing a bit of research for my post, I ran across a story of a family with two autistic sons. One child, has an especially deep relationship with the family’s dogs. However, his brother does not. The dogs are too unpredictable for him. Like any therapy or drug, sometimes it's not one-fits-all and a child's sensitivities as well as the family dynamic must be observed. But in some cases animal assisted therapies can make a big difference in a child's day-to-day life and progress.


Service Dogs can:
Provide increased safety for the child;
Help control the child by commanding the dog;
Passively teach the child responsibility;
Enjoy the right of full public access under the B.C. Guide Animal Act;
Lower aggression and frustration levels, leading to positive behavioural changes;
Provide comfort when the child is upset;
Add a degree of predictability to social settings for both the child and parents; and
Reduce social stress levels, allowing greater participation in education, as well as social and leisure activities. [Autism Canada]


Besides service dogs, there has also been great success with children and horses and of all things, Guinea Pigs, in a classroom setting. 

I found this year's topic a timely one. Over the past year, we lost our long-haired Chihuahua. We were lucky enough to have him enrich our lives for sixteen years. A long time perhaps for a small dog but not nearly long enough for us. Animals change lives.

Resources:
#LightItUpBlue

Information on Autism

The National Autistic Society

National Autism Association

Kerry Magro

The CDC

I'd like to thank RJ for all she does to promote Autism Awareness and education. 💙

ENTER MY GIVEAWAY

This past year, I've been lucky enough to write for three very different erotic anthologies, with some of the most prolific, talented and popular authors in the genre along with authors who I am also a fan of. So I felt doubly blessed for the acceptance while in the meantime doing some fan-girling of my own to have my name alongside theirs. 


Love and Lust in Space (erotic, sci-fi, romance) 


They say your screams can't be heard in space... Unless you have a partner or two! Eleven authors take you on a trip where any pairings are acceptable, locations vary from spaceships to strange and futuristic worlds, and interesting and exciting objects can be used in sex play.
Ladies Only (f/f, erotic romance)

Worth a Shot
Samara Wynne thinks she’s finally found the perfect roommate, but Katie’s keeping a secret that could turn their dream home into a nightmare.

The Woman Next Door
What’s a girl to do when her arch nemesis moves in next door?

The Tiny Blue House
I am Molly Knowles. Please, marry me.

In the Flesh
Working undercover, nothing is ever as it seems…

Window Dressing
Can Jessie work with a woman with the looks of a pixie and the personality of a dragon to complete the most important task of her career?

AND Last but not least

Sacred & Profane (taboo, priest, erotic, romance)


Ten stories of temptation, romance, and blasphemy

Not even men of the cloth are exempt from God’s greatest gift: Love. In Sacred and Profane: Priest Erotic Romance, you’ll find stories of clergymen stepping outside their vows, pastors weaving divinity into their seductions, nuns and parishioners confessing to their body’s every earthly desire, and more.

Are you aroused by the blasphemous dance of sex and religion? The dangerous edge of eroticism contained within submission to something beyond oneself? The taboo juxtaposition of holy and sensual? Then Sacred and Profane welcomes you.


I'll be giving away an e-copy of each anthology. To enter the contest, please leave a comment below. It can be as simple as the name of a pet/animal you love or have loved. Also leave an email address where I can reach you and what antho you might be interested in reading. I'll choose three winners on May 1st. 

And remember to follow the blog hop all month through!


12 comments:

  1. I don't have a pet right now, but they're wonderful! I'd pick LOVE AND LUST IN SPACE.

    Trix, vitajex(At)aol(Dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. My son, who has autism, was afraid of every animal: dogs, cats, ducks. The petting zoo was a nightmare. Just like the boy in your post the animals were too unpredictable for him.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have a cat, and I can assure that it makes a lot for my health... Whenever I get home stressed, she comes to me and her purring and sweet demeanour just soothes me.
    I would go for Sacred and Profane. Thank you
    susanaperez7140(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. Thank you for joining in... and you're welcome ;)

    Hugs Rj xxxxx

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  5. when he was alive my dad had Asperger's and the husky x we had for 10 years was his best buddy. we also ran a pet sitting business together and he LOVED hanging out with the dogs, yes he did have ones that were his 'favorites' lol. it's been a few years since he passed on and i always joke he's in heaven with all the dogs that have passed on that were special to him just hanging out all together

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

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  6. We've had a number of pets move through out household over the years but not anymore. I think I would like to give Love and Lust in Space a read.
    humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have had a variety of pets.
    For me the closest relationship was with a rabbit.
    lillianparkinson@sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dogs, Angel, Spunky, Ladybug, and SamSon.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Chico a Chihuahua.

    Women Only please.

    clopez8998@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Can't see how anyone lives without dogs; mine are a huge part of daily joy and comfort.
    Please enter me for Love and Lust in Space. twilight729(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  11. My 17 yr Old son is autistic and the only animal he isn't afraid of is our cat Tobi. Tobi is as protective over Tom as we are. Thank you so much. looney589@msn.com

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  12. I'd like to thank everyone of you for commenting and participating in RJ's Autism Awareness Blog Hop. I'd also like to Thank RJ for all she does. Much Love, RJ. And now for the drawing... drum roll, please...

    H.B. is the Winner of an e-copy of Love & Lust in Space,
    an89985 Winner of Ladies Only,
    AND
    booksandmore Winner of the Sacred and Profane Antho!

    Congratulations to all. I'll be contacting you shortly! Happy Reading.

    Thanks again, everyone.
    Blessings,
    H K

    ReplyDelete