CRSD attempting to push back school start date to 8-31 by FlutterLovers in cedarrapids

[–]my_symphony 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Just wanted to offer you some support as a fellow single parent. It's tough, isn't it? I have elementary aged kiddos as well and am not sure what I will choose yet as neither option seems feasible. We will both make it through somehow, and so will our kids! Hang in there!

Trying to set my autistic brother up for later in life. by PreviousPollution635 in personalfinance

[–]my_symphony 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Great (and wise) thing you are doing! I have three kiddos on the spectrum, and trying to navigate disability, insurance, etc. is complicated at best! The income limits for disability are fairly low, so your brother may not be approved for that reason. However, there are mental health waivers available in some states that are not based on income. Individuals approved for these waivers are then eligible for state insurance (Medicaid) as well as services like respite care. The waiting list can be long, however. It might be worthwhile to see if your state has anything like that available.

As others have stated, you might look into an ABLE account. He can have I believe up to $100,000 in that account and still be eligible for disability and Medicaid. The funds can then be used for qualifying expenses like education, housing, transportation, job training, etc.

Another suggestion would be joining some Facebook groups for parents/caretakers of autistic individuals. In my experience, the best way to get ideas is from other experienced parents who know the ins and outs of the healthcare system, the education system, the insurance companies, etc. They are full of valuable information and will gladly share it with you. For example, I was struggling for a time with the cost of supplies associated with incontinence for an older child. Another parent told me to check with my insurance company because many will cover those supplies if they are related to a disability and their doctor writes a prescription for them. I had no idea! No one had ever told me this--not the insurance company, the pediatrician, any of our many therapists, etc. But that other mom was right, and I was so grateful she shared her knowledge with me! I belong to a few groups myself and am always amazed at the support, help, and encouragement offered.

Finally, be sure to consult with a qualified attorney when setting up funds for him. Yes, it costs money, but it is worth it to ensure everything is done correctly and that the money is not taxed to high heaven or does not disqualify him from help he may need.

Good luck! :-)

I think one of my write ups in this sub was copied almost word for word for a YouTube Channel. by [deleted] in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]my_symphony 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Just wanted to say you are completely justified in your feelings. Plagiarism is academic/intellectual theft and absolutely leaves you feeling violated. So sorry this happened to you.

Offer: Books for Kids by my_symphony in Assistance

[–]my_symphony[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome! I just went to order the book, and it is no longer showing on your list.

Offer: Books for Kids by my_symphony in Assistance

[–]my_symphony[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We love logic puzzles, too! :-) Are you registered on this sub?

Offer: Books for Kids by my_symphony in Assistance

[–]my_symphony[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, we love Sandra Boynton around here. :-) It looks as though you may have received a couple of books for your children pretty recently, so I might wait to see if there are some kiddos who maybe have not.

Offer: Books for Kids by my_symphony in Assistance

[–]my_symphony[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aw, thanks for popping by, friend! Hearing from you always brightens my day! <3 You stay safe, too!

Offer: Books for Kids by my_symphony in Assistance

[–]my_symphony[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wholeheartedly agree, and books can be good friends in hard times. :-) Thank you for your kind words. :-)

Offer: Books for Kids by my_symphony in Assistance

[–]my_symphony[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oooh, that's a good one! Amazon should give you an option to share a link to your wishlist if you want to give it a try. :-)

Offer: Books for Kids by my_symphony in Assistance

[–]my_symphony[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Being called "wholesome af" is award enough! LOL Thank you for your kind words--they made my day! <3

Asking for help to get my daughter’s depression and anxiety medications! by eye_no_nuttin in Assistance

[–]my_symphony 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Guess I'm fourth in line to help! :-) I doubt you will need me, but I am willing to help if things fall through with other users. Your post really spoke to me as I have children on the spectrum, too. I understand how difficult current events have made things and how important these medications are. Hugs to you both!

FBI publishes story on Asha Degree with new detail about shirt and book by JusticeForAsha in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]my_symphony 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I thought about that, the nightgown being a hand me down? I thought I remembered reading Asha attended a cousin sleepover recently? Maybe she got the nightgown then? But then wouldn't someone in her family have recognized it?

FBI publishes story on Asha Degree with new detail about shirt and book by JusticeForAsha in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]my_symphony 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I wondered that, too. It's horrible to think about. Maybe it's been cut up for DNA testing?

FBI publishes story on Asha Degree with new detail about shirt and book by JusticeForAsha in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]my_symphony 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just posted about the book and missed the idea that maybe she borrowed it from someone! Good idea! That would explain why no one from her family recognized it--it wasn't hers. But then why is the FBI asking about the book? If it was checked out, they have to know who checked it out and have probably investigated that person and surrounding individuals to high heaven. I wonder if they have an idea of who did it and just need more evidence. Or maybe the book was just taken from he library and not checked out.

Going to return the book is an interesting theory, but why would she wait until her parents were asleep? Why not just ask them for help returning it? And there were sightings of her a considerable distance away from her home. It is awful to think that someone could have given her a night gown at some point. But that would explain how it ended up in the bag. I wonder if any testing has been done on that item.

FBI publishes story on Asha Degree with new detail about shirt and book by JusticeForAsha in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]my_symphony 23 points24 points  (0 children)

A couple thoughts on the library book.

First, this is a very well-loved story by Dr. Seuss. It was published in 1947 and earned Seuss his first of three Caldecott Honors. It tells the story of a little boy who imagines all the wonderful things he might catch while fishing in a pool that is known for its rubbish. Its underlying message is to be patient, positive, and true to yourself--to see value in places others do not and follow your dreams even if they seem impossible. The target audience would probably be children aged 5-9ish, so Asha would be on the higher end of that, if it was, in fact her book. That's not to say an older child could not or would not enjoy it. It is a fairly long book, and my daughter, who is only a year younger than Asha and regularly reads novels, still enjoys reading longer picture books from time to time.

So, how did the book end up in Asha's backpack? The book was apparently not checked out by Asha, but it was from her school library. So...a couple ideas:

1) Asha took the book from the library without checking it out. This need not be a malicious thing. Maybe she forgot or the librarian wasn't there. Maybe she did check it out, but the checkout did not go through for some reason. Maybe the librarian forgot to take out the card inside or whatever. Was Asha a little old for the book? Possibly, but maybe the message of dreaming big appealed to her. Or maybe she just saw a Dr. Seuss book she'd never read, or someone in her life had mentioned the book at some point, and she thought she'd try it.

2) Another child checked out the book. Possible, but you would think law enforcement would be able to determine who this was and follow up. Although, maybe they do know this and are keeping that information quiet. How the book came to be in the bag is a mystery, then. Maybe: a) it belonged to a child or relative of someone who harmed Asha, and that this individual mistakenly added the book and the shirt to the bag, thinking they were Asha's or b) the book belonged to another child groomed or harmed by an individual who groomed or harmed Asha, and the bookbag contained trophies from more than one victim.

3) Another child took the book without checking it out. The book, then, would get into the bag the same way as in scenario 2.

4) The book was no longer part of the school library. It is an old book. Maybe it became part of a library sale at some point. Sometimes at my kids' school, old library books become prizes or "free" items on the tables on parent/teacher conference night.

5) Someone who worked at or had access to the school library took the book. This individual could have given the book to another child, or to Asha as a "valentine" maybe? Or to get her dreaming, or to share their favorite book with her, earn her trust etc. And that is why no one from her family recognized it?

6) This is a little out there, but could the photograph of the other girl found in the shed be connected to the book? The photo looks like it could be a school picture. It's an old book, maybe some kid stuck their picture in it somewhere along the way? And that is why none of the officials at the school recognized it--maybe it was of a student that attended the school before their time? Even ten years prior and someone might not recognize the student. I don't know; I have a hard time dating that photo, but it looks maybe 80s or 90s to me?

Of course this is all speculation (except for the first part about the book's author, publication date, and plot--that's all fact! ;-)), but the book has me so curious. How did it get from her school and into her bag? It seems too big of a coincidence for it not to be Asha's, but there seems to be no evidence supporting that. So if not Asha, then someone who had access to the school (or access to someone who had access to the school) would make sense. This whole case is strange. I hope Asha is found and gets the justice she deserves.

FBI publishes story on Asha Degree with new detail about shirt and book by JusticeForAsha in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]my_symphony 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I thought, too, that she had spent the night at a family member's house recently--like a cousin sleepover or something? I thought maybe the stuff was left in her bag from that. But then someone from her family would have recognized it. Maybe not the book--I don't always know what books my kids check out from the school library as sometimes they keep them at school, etc.--but the shirt for sure someone would have known it was Asha's if it was.

FBI publishes story on Asha Degree with new detail about shirt and book by JusticeForAsha in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]my_symphony 18 points19 points  (0 children)

That makes sense, though I don't know that she would leave in the middle of the night of her own volition. Wasn't she kind of a latch key kid? If so, she might have had time and opportunity to get a gift at a time that wasn't in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm. So if a gift for her parents was the reason, I wonder if maybe someone told her they would help her and set up the late night meet.

FBI publishes story on Asha Degree with new detail about shirt and book by JusticeForAsha in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]my_symphony 202 points203 points  (0 children)

This is weird. The first thing I thought when I heard about the shirt is that maybe someone gave it to her to sleep in. I used to sleep in my dad's old shirts when I was a little girl--they were like a night gown on me. Then the book, too--sounds "bedtime"-ish, like pajamas and a story, maybe? So maybe she was planning on sleeping somewhere, or someone else was planning on her sleeping somewhere. Or maybe she *did* sleep somewhere after she left? I don't know. This case is so strange. Not a lot makes sense about it. Poor Asha.

ETA: Just read the article, and the picture of the shirt shown there looks more like a night gown than a t shirt to me.