NO WHERE IN THIS JOURNAL ENTRY AM I TALKING ABOUT JENNY MCCARTHY.  THIS IS SIMPLY ABOUT AUTISM AWARENESS.  IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY FEELINGS FOR THAT PORN STAR.  ALL COMMENTS REGUARDING HER WILL BE DELETED.   SHE IS ONLY MENTIONED BECAUSE I AM TELLING THE STORY OF HOW THE CONVERSATION STARTED WITH THE OTHER WOMAN IN LINE.  IF YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THAT, IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, SO DON'T READ MY JOURNALS. Jonathan loves coins.  He saves them in a large green cup, a hotwheels bank, and at the bottom of his toy box.  Whenever he finds money, he puts it in one of those places.  Yesterday, I decided it was time to start new and cash in his savings.  We went up to Giant Eagle, the local grocery store, and used the Coin Star machine.  He had $41.77 after the fees for using it.  He took his ticket to the counter, and the woman handed him his money.  He decided that he wanted to buy Speghetti-O's (his favorite food), one of those tiny pumpkins, and a sucker.  I gave him the amount of money he needed to pay for them, and we got in line.  I stood there holding his hand as he called out all of the numbers he saw around him.  The woman in front of us had picked up a magazine, and she was reading it while she waited.  I think it was People Magazine, but I could be wrong.  I don't really read those things.  I mostly read parenting magazines, all though I have found that they never have anything that applies to me or my son because of his 'delays'.  I have to read the sections about 1 and 2 year olds, rather than the sections for preschoolers because the advice they give does not apply to him.So, the woman turns to me and says, "Isn't it just terrible what that Jenny McCarthy is going through?  I feel so bad for her!"  I looked at her with that 'are you serious' look that I give to my husband all too often.  I looked at the cover of the magazine she was reading, and sure enough, there was Jenny McCarthy, holding her little boy.  It said something about her and her son's 'devistating diagnosis'.  I looked back at the woman, and I told her, "My son is autistic.  Do I look devistated?"  She looked at Jonathan, and smiled sweetly at him.  She looked back at me and said, "But he doesn't look retarded?"  OH MY GOD!  HOW DARE SHE?????  I gave her this evil look, and I said, "That's because he's not, he's autistic."  Now, maybe I set myself up for that one, but as most of you know (from my previous journal entry), I think Jenny McCarthy is full of crap, and she is only out for sympathy and money.  And obviously, her public appearances are not helping with autism awareness if people are thinking that autism is a form of mental retardation.  It isn't, it's a developemental disorder, and telling the mother or father of a child with autism that it's mental retardation is probably one of the most hurtful and insensitive things you could say to them!  Even if it WAS mental retardation, it is rude and hurtful to say it.  Monday morning, Rob was driving to work, listening to a popular local radio show called 'Rover's Morning Glory'.   They had Jenny McCarthy talking on their show.  Of course, they were talking about autism- because it's her new money maker.  People were calling up the show, and some were making fun of autism.  Others were saying things like "All people with autism are like Rainman", and one said, "There's no such thing as autism, they're just idiot savants."  One woman called in, stating that she thought her daughter had autism because she is obsessed with some website called 'webkins'.  Needless to say, my husband was outraged by all of this.  How can we get through to people?  We tell everyone we know about autism, and it has become one of the main topics of conversation with us.  We are not alone with this, either.  There are so many groups out there- the ASA, and Autism Speaks are the two largest in the United States.  There are bumper stickers, awareness magnets, bracelets, tee-shirts, fundraiser walks, and many more things out there which are used to educate the general public and get funding for research, programs, and equal opportunities for people with autism.  Yet, no one knows what it is??  It seems that everyone thinks of "Rainman" when they hear the word 'autism'.  Don't get me wrong.  'Rainman' was a good movie.  But what people don't seem to understand is that autism has many degrees, and that is why it is called Autism Spectrum Disorder.  No two people with autism are the same.  They don't have the same tendencies or level of functioning.  They are all different, with different needs and difficulties.  Each on is unique.  I have yet to meet someone within the autism spectrum who is just like 'Rainman', or even one who is just like Jonathan.  I understand that most people are not trying to be rude when they talk about autism.  I also understand that parents of autistic children and adults, we tend to take it personally when people don't understand what autism is and say something rude.  They aren't trying to be rude, they just don't understand what it's like to go through this.  So, I am writing this journal entry to ask all of you who read it to go to Google.com and search autism.  Look at the websites.  Read what you can about autism.  And the next time you come across someone with an autistic child, remember that they are not all the same, and not all like 'Rainman'.  Remember that people with autism are not freaks, autistic kids are not spoiled brats because they have a tantrum, people with autism are not zombies without feelings.Oh, and no- people with autism will NOT help you cheat in Vegas.  (I actually had someone tell me that I should take him to Vegas so I can win alot of money.)