With the loss of my sons teacher he has regressed back to having a matchbox car with him in class. He will not leave the house unless he has the car in his pocket to take to school with him. He needs it during class to focus on what the new teacher talks about during her lesson.
This was the way it was with my sons last teacher. He can pay attention and listen to his teacher, but, he has to be spinning the wheels of the small car during the class. Even though he isn't watching her teach, he is listening. I don't know if he can't watch and understand what she is saying at the same time or its part of his autism in the way he learns.
My son took quite an attachment to his last teacher. Her up and leaving as fast as she did set him back to a regressed stage in his life. He was out of the routine of having the car in class. Maybe he needs to get to know his new teacher a bit and then he won't need the car anymore. With his teacher he knows leaving has really affected his routine of going to school.
I have read the new teachers note about herself. She graduated in 2008 with a special education degree. After graduation she was a long term substitute for a middle school autism program. Then she taught the last year and a half as the multi-categorical special education teacher for student's grades 1-8.
I hope in time that my son accepts this teacher like the old one. I'm very happy to know that his new teacher has experience in the autism expertise of her special education.
This is my online diary about my son diagnosed with autism at age 2. His progress and regressions. His behavior and his sensory overloads. Therapy and picture schedules. Drama and humor to figure out how his mind works.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Over Tired
The over tired mind of my son sets him into overdrive. It is complicated for him and for me to get him to rest. This is not only for nap time. Most days, there is no nap. By bed time he is really tired. One would think that being up all day would be no trouble at night going to bed.
With darkened eye lids and a screaming chuckle I know he is tired. He is running around the house and not stopping unless it's for water. Then he runs and laughs more. Hopefully his sister stays clear from him or he will hit her thinking it's part of the game.
His little sister thinks this is a game and joins in the fun. For me, it's trying to unwind him to get him ready for bed. Trying to separate the two so one can rest is a quite a task at hand. I literally have to let him run until he runs out of energy. I wish to stop this and settle him down. How to go about this?
I turn off the television, dim the lights and read them a book. Rocking them in my chair usually will help settle his nervous system. He calms down with the sound of my voice and having a blanket tightly wrapped around him. This goes well, unless, his sister and him start to push away at each other. They fight over me all the time. Giving them individual attention at this age while my wife and I work opposite shifts can't be done unless one falls asleep.
I would like to try and keep a set routine for bed time. Sometimes that routine gets broken mostly because I am over worked and very tired from my day job. This is when I let the t.v. on a cartoon that is turned down low for my daughter. She will lay on the couch and watch Yo Gabba Gabba, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Bear or Wubbzy. This gives me a little one on one with my son to help get him to sleep.
He does not like to lay down by himself. He needs me to lay by him until he falls asleep. Then I sneak away and get his sister ready for bed. Usually she isn't very hard to get to sleep on her own. Some nights I end up playing musical chairs with our bedrooms trying to keep Dane asleep in his own bed. He wakes up a lot during the night. I think he sleep walks. I get out of my bed and lay back by his side to get him to sleep. I want this routine broken. He is old enough where he needs to sleep in his own bed.
Our family doctor recommended melatonin, a natural vitamin, to help with his sleeplessness. 3 milligrams 1/2 hour before bedtime. It helps to release serotonin in the brain and helps him get sleepy. I have seen some positive effects of this. It does help unwind him and get him ready faster for bed time. He still seems to wake up during the night several times.
My wife and I work opposite shifts and hardly see each other. I know she is going though tough times dealing with the kids when I am not around. Then we switch. She goes to sleep and I get to raise them. It's like were two single parents.
With darkened eye lids and a screaming chuckle I know he is tired. He is running around the house and not stopping unless it's for water. Then he runs and laughs more. Hopefully his sister stays clear from him or he will hit her thinking it's part of the game.
His little sister thinks this is a game and joins in the fun. For me, it's trying to unwind him to get him ready for bed. Trying to separate the two so one can rest is a quite a task at hand. I literally have to let him run until he runs out of energy. I wish to stop this and settle him down. How to go about this?
I turn off the television, dim the lights and read them a book. Rocking them in my chair usually will help settle his nervous system. He calms down with the sound of my voice and having a blanket tightly wrapped around him. This goes well, unless, his sister and him start to push away at each other. They fight over me all the time. Giving them individual attention at this age while my wife and I work opposite shifts can't be done unless one falls asleep.
I would like to try and keep a set routine for bed time. Sometimes that routine gets broken mostly because I am over worked and very tired from my day job. This is when I let the t.v. on a cartoon that is turned down low for my daughter. She will lay on the couch and watch Yo Gabba Gabba, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Bear or Wubbzy. This gives me a little one on one with my son to help get him to sleep.
He does not like to lay down by himself. He needs me to lay by him until he falls asleep. Then I sneak away and get his sister ready for bed. Usually she isn't very hard to get to sleep on her own. Some nights I end up playing musical chairs with our bedrooms trying to keep Dane asleep in his own bed. He wakes up a lot during the night. I think he sleep walks. I get out of my bed and lay back by his side to get him to sleep. I want this routine broken. He is old enough where he needs to sleep in his own bed.
Our family doctor recommended melatonin, a natural vitamin, to help with his sleeplessness. 3 milligrams 1/2 hour before bedtime. It helps to release serotonin in the brain and helps him get sleepy. I have seen some positive effects of this. It does help unwind him and get him ready faster for bed time. He still seems to wake up during the night several times.
My wife and I work opposite shifts and hardly see each other. I know she is going though tough times dealing with the kids when I am not around. Then we switch. She goes to sleep and I get to raise them. It's like were two single parents.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
"MIRRORING"
Mirroring is a term used when a person copies another while in a social interaction. This includes body language, tones of voice, gestures, attitude and other aspects of communication. My daughter has taken on some of these mirroring situations. She copy's gestures and attitude of my sons autistic traits.
This is hard to deal with when I am teaching my son not to do something. I have to show him something like a social story to explain why he shouldn't do that, like hit his sister. My daughter understands why she should not do something wrong. Since my son has a harder time to understand these situations, my daughter thinks it is okay to keep wrong doing. She thinks, if he can do that so can I.
What really grinds my gears is when one tells the other to do something they know is wrong. They think that by telling the other that they won't get into trouble because the other one did it. That's actually smart thinking but they are both in trouble.
Some days I have to lock myself in the bathroom to shave or shower and I can hear both kids outside the door telling one another to "Kick the door." I have real trouble getting away for just a couple minutes to get something done myself. They are always fighting over me.
We used to have this really loud flushing toilet. When Dane was very little he would scream, even in a dead sleep it would wake him, and come to the bathroom door and do a bicycle kick. He has kicked doors so hard that he broke the trim off one of them. This was way before he was diagnosed with autism and we didn't know what to think. He taught his sister how to do this. I am in the bathroom and they are outside kicking it down.
We changed the toilet a while later. I sort of broke the insides trying to fix the loud noise. I was trying to make it quieter by replacing the insides of the old tank. I guess it was a blessing because our new toilet uses a lot less water and Dane doesn't freak out over the sound of the flush he once did. Sometimes he misses out on flushing it and throws a tantrum trying to flush it over and over while the tank is refilling. I wish he could understand that some things he misses out on and other things he is too little to do himself. Either way, he needs to control his emotions and get over something he wasn't involved in. He needs to understand that is the way life is. Sometimes you can do it, sometimes you can't. Get over it already and move on.
This is hard to deal with when I am teaching my son not to do something. I have to show him something like a social story to explain why he shouldn't do that, like hit his sister. My daughter understands why she should not do something wrong. Since my son has a harder time to understand these situations, my daughter thinks it is okay to keep wrong doing. She thinks, if he can do that so can I.
What really grinds my gears is when one tells the other to do something they know is wrong. They think that by telling the other that they won't get into trouble because the other one did it. That's actually smart thinking but they are both in trouble.
Some days I have to lock myself in the bathroom to shave or shower and I can hear both kids outside the door telling one another to "Kick the door." I have real trouble getting away for just a couple minutes to get something done myself. They are always fighting over me.
We used to have this really loud flushing toilet. When Dane was very little he would scream, even in a dead sleep it would wake him, and come to the bathroom door and do a bicycle kick. He has kicked doors so hard that he broke the trim off one of them. This was way before he was diagnosed with autism and we didn't know what to think. He taught his sister how to do this. I am in the bathroom and they are outside kicking it down.
We changed the toilet a while later. I sort of broke the insides trying to fix the loud noise. I was trying to make it quieter by replacing the insides of the old tank. I guess it was a blessing because our new toilet uses a lot less water and Dane doesn't freak out over the sound of the flush he once did. Sometimes he misses out on flushing it and throws a tantrum trying to flush it over and over while the tank is refilling. I wish he could understand that some things he misses out on and other things he is too little to do himself. Either way, he needs to control his emotions and get over something he wasn't involved in. He needs to understand that is the way life is. Sometimes you can do it, sometimes you can't. Get over it already and move on.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Paying Attention in Class
My son used to always have a matchbox car with him when he went to school. It helped him focus and pay attention during class. While the teacher was doing her scheduled class, Dane would take out his matchbox car and spin the wheels.
We had a discussion about this at Danes Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting . His teacher said that having the little car was no trouble in class as long as he is paying attention and not playing with it.
To make sure he was paying attention and not spacing off was she would kneel down after she had her classroom talk and ask him what she was talking about. At this age he's learning mostly colors, numbers and letters in early education. He would tell her the letter she was talking about. Even though he wasn't watching her, he was listening intently. Spinning the wheels is his way of focusing on her words.
During nap-time, Dane would lay down and take out his car and spin the wheels while the other children napped. His mind is so over active that it is hard for him to relax and close his eyes.
From matchbox cars to pennies. Dane needs exactly 3 pennies in his pocket before he goes to school. He doesn't take them out of his pocket like the matchbox car. Every so often he takes his hand and pats his pocket to hear them clink against each other. He still doesn't make much eye contact with his teacher but he is still focusing by patting his pocket. In time I am guessing he will get sick of the pennies and advert to something else.
An autistic child receives information differently then the normal mind. By looking like their not paying attention and listening to you, they are, in a different way. My son doesn't always understand what were saying to him. Showing him pictures and speaking slow has helped him understand better. As his brain grows I think he will be able to process information faster and not always need several explanations to explain something.
We had a discussion about this at Danes Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting . His teacher said that having the little car was no trouble in class as long as he is paying attention and not playing with it.
To make sure he was paying attention and not spacing off was she would kneel down after she had her classroom talk and ask him what she was talking about. At this age he's learning mostly colors, numbers and letters in early education. He would tell her the letter she was talking about. Even though he wasn't watching her, he was listening intently. Spinning the wheels is his way of focusing on her words.
During nap-time, Dane would lay down and take out his car and spin the wheels while the other children napped. His mind is so over active that it is hard for him to relax and close his eyes.
From matchbox cars to pennies. Dane needs exactly 3 pennies in his pocket before he goes to school. He doesn't take them out of his pocket like the matchbox car. Every so often he takes his hand and pats his pocket to hear them clink against each other. He still doesn't make much eye contact with his teacher but he is still focusing by patting his pocket. In time I am guessing he will get sick of the pennies and advert to something else.
An autistic child receives information differently then the normal mind. By looking like their not paying attention and listening to you, they are, in a different way. My son doesn't always understand what were saying to him. Showing him pictures and speaking slow has helped him understand better. As his brain grows I think he will be able to process information faster and not always need several explanations to explain something.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
shift change bs
My wife was the only one to sign up from her 3rd shift back-up position and move to the 2nd shift spot. Same job, different shift. Our employer is giving her the run around and not giving her a strait answer why she isn't going to 2nd. They go against their policy and write their own rules. How does a job posting with confidential sign ups in the office leak out who signs up?
One woman went to the HR office and asked who signed up. The HR lady said that my wife did. That woman blabbed about my wife signing up and said something to the office. That woman just doesn't want to train anyone to do her job when she is gone. Why is it any of her business why my wife wants/needs to get on 2nd.
First of all, it's hard on her body staying up all night. She's always tired and doesn't know when to sleep. Second, my sons intensive autism therapy is 2 days a week for 3 hours. My wife has to leave work and come home. That's 20 miles right there. She takes a quick shower, grabs some coffee and then travels another 40 miles one way to my sons therapy. For the next 3 hours and then the drive home shes extremely wiped out. And 3rd, it's hard on our marriage. We never see each other and we raise our kids pretty much alone.
They better straiten this out really quick. If my wife doesn't transfer, she'll give up her back-up job on the spot. Then what? 2nd and 3rd will both need those positions filled. How stupid are they? Follow company policy, give her the transfer and then post a 3rd shift back-up position. She has a one week window of weather or not she wants it and can transfer back to 3rd. At least give her that option. I am so sick of company politics and their rule bending. I suppose if we were union we could file a grievance. But were not.
Getting these kids out of bed, dressed and in the car at 5 in the morning is not easy. They do not help me one bit in the least. They curl up and whine. One day Dane locked me out of the house. He eventually let me back in and I made it to work on time.
If and when my wife gets on 2nd shift I think that will be for the best. She will be able to sleep at night and take Dane to his therapy before work. I won't have to get the kids ready so early in the morning with me. That will be peachy. They only thing is that our daycare will have to watch my daughter all week for a couple hours until I get out of work. I will have to pick Dane up from school right after. I hope this gets easier in time.
One woman went to the HR office and asked who signed up. The HR lady said that my wife did. That woman blabbed about my wife signing up and said something to the office. That woman just doesn't want to train anyone to do her job when she is gone. Why is it any of her business why my wife wants/needs to get on 2nd.
First of all, it's hard on her body staying up all night. She's always tired and doesn't know when to sleep. Second, my sons intensive autism therapy is 2 days a week for 3 hours. My wife has to leave work and come home. That's 20 miles right there. She takes a quick shower, grabs some coffee and then travels another 40 miles one way to my sons therapy. For the next 3 hours and then the drive home shes extremely wiped out. And 3rd, it's hard on our marriage. We never see each other and we raise our kids pretty much alone.
They better straiten this out really quick. If my wife doesn't transfer, she'll give up her back-up job on the spot. Then what? 2nd and 3rd will both need those positions filled. How stupid are they? Follow company policy, give her the transfer and then post a 3rd shift back-up position. She has a one week window of weather or not she wants it and can transfer back to 3rd. At least give her that option. I am so sick of company politics and their rule bending. I suppose if we were union we could file a grievance. But were not.
Getting these kids out of bed, dressed and in the car at 5 in the morning is not easy. They do not help me one bit in the least. They curl up and whine. One day Dane locked me out of the house. He eventually let me back in and I made it to work on time.
If and when my wife gets on 2nd shift I think that will be for the best. She will be able to sleep at night and take Dane to his therapy before work. I won't have to get the kids ready so early in the morning with me. That will be peachy. They only thing is that our daycare will have to watch my daughter all week for a couple hours until I get out of work. I will have to pick Dane up from school right after. I hope this gets easier in time.
Monday, April 18, 2011
"SELF HARM"
I don't understand the emotions involved in the autistic mind of my son. When he has his mind set on something he has to do it now or see it. When told "no" and trying to explain is like opening pandora's box. Nothing seems to calm him down. The littlest things can set him off into a meltdown.
This is where he starts to say and do things that are not normal. He is so upset that he will bite his hand and/or bang his head on the floor or hit the floor. He will say things like, "I'll break my teeth." He will put a cloth in his mouth like his shirt or blanket and pull. Why does he get so upset? Because I told him "No." There are boundaries he needs to understand and follow the rules. Just like everybody else. When he's like this I am at a total loss. I try to advert his attention to something else. Mostly the meltdown just has to run its course. After that it's a difference of night and day with what just happened.
When trying to control outbreaks like this, remain calm. The frustration you show feeds into that emotion. Even trying a stern voice doesn't help in this case. Most children can understand who is in control. You are. Keep your voice calm and try to explain "Why" to the child. I've tried this but I think my wife does a much better job. I think he can sense the frustration in my voice or something. He seems to get a grip on himself faster with her than me trying to talk him out of his anxiety.
It doesn't help much that we have to work opposite shifts and live like we are single parents. His little sister doesn't seem to help much when she pushes his buttons. She knows what's wrong and still she'll mess up his row of cars or take something he likes. Then he hits her. I hate that and I try to get control over that and explain that that makes her sad and it hurts her and I have to show him a no-hitting social story.
This is where he starts to say and do things that are not normal. He is so upset that he will bite his hand and/or bang his head on the floor or hit the floor. He will say things like, "I'll break my teeth." He will put a cloth in his mouth like his shirt or blanket and pull. Why does he get so upset? Because I told him "No." There are boundaries he needs to understand and follow the rules. Just like everybody else. When he's like this I am at a total loss. I try to advert his attention to something else. Mostly the meltdown just has to run its course. After that it's a difference of night and day with what just happened.
When trying to control outbreaks like this, remain calm. The frustration you show feeds into that emotion. Even trying a stern voice doesn't help in this case. Most children can understand who is in control. You are. Keep your voice calm and try to explain "Why" to the child. I've tried this but I think my wife does a much better job. I think he can sense the frustration in my voice or something. He seems to get a grip on himself faster with her than me trying to talk him out of his anxiety.
It doesn't help much that we have to work opposite shifts and live like we are single parents. His little sister doesn't seem to help much when she pushes his buttons. She knows what's wrong and still she'll mess up his row of cars or take something he likes. Then he hits her. I hate that and I try to get control over that and explain that that makes her sad and it hurts her and I have to show him a no-hitting social story.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Day 1 of Intensive Therapy
My sons first day of therapy went very well. The therapist came in and asked my son if he wanted to play. He took her by the hand and went into a room where we watched from the other side through a 2 way mirror. This was mostly "play therapy" on his first day. The therapists do not want any disturbances from the parents or other siblings. This is intensive one one one focus working with my son.
We got some interesting observations and learned something about them. When my son is moaning he is crying for sensory stimulation. He also has little seizures which I have noticed when he was still a baby starting to sit up on his own. Soon he will have to have an electroencephalogram (EEG) scan done on his brain. They want to trigger a seizure to find out what causes them. I think they do this by flashing lights at him while monitoring his brain waves. I'm not sure though what they will do. I pray it's not epilepsy. 1 in 4 autistic children have seizures from what I have read.
The therapists ordered us a weighted vest to help with his sensory issues. We tried a weighted blanket in the past when he was being observed through the Birth to Three program. At the time we didn't know how to use it. The same with that little brush they gave us to brush him when he was having sensory-overload. We were supposed to brush his arms to stimulate his nervous system every couple hours. I don't know what ever happened to that brush. I know we gave the blanket back and shrugged our shoulders because we were new parents. A baby doesn't come with directions and what were we supposed to know about autism at the time?
As parents of a child with special needs you learn as you go. I am trying to document what therapy does for my son as to help my readers new to autism learn more about what they may expect. Parenting autism is hard work. Keep faith and hope that the future is bright filled with happiness.
We got some interesting observations and learned something about them. When my son is moaning he is crying for sensory stimulation. He also has little seizures which I have noticed when he was still a baby starting to sit up on his own. Soon he will have to have an electroencephalogram (EEG) scan done on his brain. They want to trigger a seizure to find out what causes them. I think they do this by flashing lights at him while monitoring his brain waves. I'm not sure though what they will do. I pray it's not epilepsy. 1 in 4 autistic children have seizures from what I have read.
The therapists ordered us a weighted vest to help with his sensory issues. We tried a weighted blanket in the past when he was being observed through the Birth to Three program. At the time we didn't know how to use it. The same with that little brush they gave us to brush him when he was having sensory-overload. We were supposed to brush his arms to stimulate his nervous system every couple hours. I don't know what ever happened to that brush. I know we gave the blanket back and shrugged our shoulders because we were new parents. A baby doesn't come with directions and what were we supposed to know about autism at the time?
As parents of a child with special needs you learn as you go. I am trying to document what therapy does for my son as to help my readers new to autism learn more about what they may expect. Parenting autism is hard work. Keep faith and hope that the future is bright filled with happiness.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Therapy Drama
Over a month ago we were set to have my sons "intensive therapy" to treat his autism. The day of the appointment, the center called and canceled. They said that one of their doctors went to the emergency room. I can understand that. Even doctors get hurt. The center said that "They would call back and set up another appointment."
Days turn into weeks. They did not call back. What's going on here? We call them and again, "We'll call you." Another week goes by. Same answer. This is getting a little ridiculous. Our case worker called us to see how things are going with my sons therapy. We tell her that they never called us back.
Our case worker calls the center and asks, "What is going on?" The center tells our case worker that, "We canceled our appointment with them!" We explain to our case worker what happened and within a couple days we finally got him a new appointment to start his therapy.
Is this a problem of mixed communication or did they have no intent on calling us back due to budget cuts? A co-worker of mine also has not heard back from this center for his son with autism. Something just doesn't seem right here.
Days turn into weeks. They did not call back. What's going on here? We call them and again, "We'll call you." Another week goes by. Same answer. This is getting a little ridiculous. Our case worker called us to see how things are going with my sons therapy. We tell her that they never called us back.
Our case worker calls the center and asks, "What is going on?" The center tells our case worker that, "We canceled our appointment with them!" We explain to our case worker what happened and within a couple days we finally got him a new appointment to start his therapy.
Is this a problem of mixed communication or did they have no intent on calling us back due to budget cuts? A co-worker of mine also has not heard back from this center for his son with autism. Something just doesn't seem right here.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Spring Time
Finally a nearly warm day with no snow left on the ground. Yesterday would have been awesome with the nice weather, which it was, until 3 storms moved on through the area. We were in the red zone and tornado watch till 2 a.m. An area within 30 miles got nailed with a tornado in the west. Another area school and 5,000 people without power about 45 miles in the east got hit also. We got high winds about 40 mph and some heavy rain fall. Hail showers in the north golf ball size. I'm glad that didn't hit us.
I got home from work and Ally was a beast. I picked up Dane from school and all he wanted to do was play with his pin wheels and go for a bike ride. I was tired but I pulled Ally in the wagon and Dane rode through the water puddles in his big wheel to the end of the block. When we got back I put water in his water table and he played with that for a while and got all wet. Usually a small drop of water bothers him and he wants to change right away. I don't know why tonight was different but he wasn't trying to take his shirt off when it was wet.
Our neighbor is a police man. Dane was pointing his finger at his car at the stop sign yelling,"Daddy, police car!" The cop put on his lights for him and then drove off. Dane thought that was cool. It's good to know we live in a patrolled area with little crime. Living next to a cop helps also.
A neighbor lady stopped by with her dog. Of course the kids want to pet it and say "Hello." I was on the phone and had to hang up to talk to a neighbor I've never met before about her dog. I wish the kids wouldn't try to bother all the people going for a walk and make me start conversations with them. She didn't seem to mind though.
Got the kids in the house around 7:30 and they watched "Disneys Little Einsteins." I don't know what they like so much about that cartoon. After a while I think it get's annoying. We have the On Demand feature with our cable and they can watch it when ever they want. I try and tell them it's not on so hopefully they will watch something else. Ally knows I'm lying and she demands to watch it. If they'd only play some different episodes.
Dane has his therapy at 9 a.m. tomorrow for 3 hours. My wife has to get home from working all night, get home, shower and head out 40 miles to meet his therapists. I don't know how she does it. She might be getting on 2nd shift to where she will be able to sleep at night. That will damper our daycare plans and we will have to figure something out on that note. I guess everything happens for a "good" reason, right?
Small clip someone captured of the weather that day.
I got home from work and Ally was a beast. I picked up Dane from school and all he wanted to do was play with his pin wheels and go for a bike ride. I was tired but I pulled Ally in the wagon and Dane rode through the water puddles in his big wheel to the end of the block. When we got back I put water in his water table and he played with that for a while and got all wet. Usually a small drop of water bothers him and he wants to change right away. I don't know why tonight was different but he wasn't trying to take his shirt off when it was wet.
Our neighbor is a police man. Dane was pointing his finger at his car at the stop sign yelling,"Daddy, police car!" The cop put on his lights for him and then drove off. Dane thought that was cool. It's good to know we live in a patrolled area with little crime. Living next to a cop helps also.
A neighbor lady stopped by with her dog. Of course the kids want to pet it and say "Hello." I was on the phone and had to hang up to talk to a neighbor I've never met before about her dog. I wish the kids wouldn't try to bother all the people going for a walk and make me start conversations with them. She didn't seem to mind though.
Got the kids in the house around 7:30 and they watched "Disneys Little Einsteins." I don't know what they like so much about that cartoon. After a while I think it get's annoying. We have the On Demand feature with our cable and they can watch it when ever they want. I try and tell them it's not on so hopefully they will watch something else. Ally knows I'm lying and she demands to watch it. If they'd only play some different episodes.
Dane has his therapy at 9 a.m. tomorrow for 3 hours. My wife has to get home from working all night, get home, shower and head out 40 miles to meet his therapists. I don't know how she does it. She might be getting on 2nd shift to where she will be able to sleep at night. That will damper our daycare plans and we will have to figure something out on that note. I guess everything happens for a "good" reason, right?
Small clip someone captured of the weather that day.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
"RESEARCHING EARLY AUTISM"
Sitting at my parents house I couldn't help notice their World Book Encyclopedias. Copyright 1975. More than a little outdated. I grab the A version and flip to the meaning of Autism. I didn't expect to find it but for sure it was in there. This is what I found.
An American psychiatrist named Leo Kanner first identified autism in 1943. He believed it to be an inborn disorder of body chemistry. Researchers had discovered abnormal amounts of chemicals in blood and urine of autistic children. Some experts at the time believed that autism was caused by child-rearing practices of the mother. Today, we know that is untrue.
In 1975, 1 child in 30,000 had symptoms of autism. The most noticeable was a strange, vacant stare. About 75 percent of autistic children were male. What happened since then that cases of autism skyrocketed to about 1 in every 110 children? 1 in 70 for boys.
Symptoms displayed at this time were unresponsiveness, detachment, insistence on sameness and gracefulness. Those still are present signs today to help identify the disorder in small children.
I also found out tonight that 1 in 80 people with autism are in the military. What's up with that?
Autism can't be cured but it can be treated. We still love our children unconditionally and wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. We have to learn to live with how they grow into our world and except them because they are our children. We want the best for them. The best therapy and safety. We want them to grow up and make us proud. We have to stay by their side and help guide them in the right direction. This is our job as parents.
An American psychiatrist named Leo Kanner first identified autism in 1943. He believed it to be an inborn disorder of body chemistry. Researchers had discovered abnormal amounts of chemicals in blood and urine of autistic children. Some experts at the time believed that autism was caused by child-rearing practices of the mother. Today, we know that is untrue.
In 1975, 1 child in 30,000 had symptoms of autism. The most noticeable was a strange, vacant stare. About 75 percent of autistic children were male. What happened since then that cases of autism skyrocketed to about 1 in every 110 children? 1 in 70 for boys.
Symptoms displayed at this time were unresponsiveness, detachment, insistence on sameness and gracefulness. Those still are present signs today to help identify the disorder in small children.
I also found out tonight that 1 in 80 people with autism are in the military. What's up with that?
Autism can't be cured but it can be treated. We still love our children unconditionally and wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. We have to learn to live with how they grow into our world and except them because they are our children. We want the best for them. The best therapy and safety. We want them to grow up and make us proud. We have to stay by their side and help guide them in the right direction. This is our job as parents.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
World Autism Day. April 2nd. Autism Awareness.
April is the month of autism awareness. 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with autism. 1 in 70 are males.
I was reading the local paper this morning. There was a 25 year old man with autism telling a 7th grade class what it was like to live with autism. That is very exciting how we have grown ups who know what it's like and describe in detail how they think.
This person didn't talk until he was the age of 7. The children asked him what his favorite movies, books and what he was good at. He went on to tell the children that if they ask him the capital of a country that he could name it. He is good at maps and books of the bible and sings in the church's choir.
The kids asked him that if there was a cure for autism if he would take it. He said "No. I like being who I am." That is so awesome that he would say that and tell kids to be content and happy with who they are. There are days where I don't understand myself and where I'm going. That answer is very inspiring to me.
The man talking to the class was one of the teachers former students. His mother stated that "Autism is a puzzle. We're not trying to solve the person, just the disability." Good words from a mother who raised an autistic child and what she had dealt with.
The best way for students and others to ask questions and learn about autism is to hear from someone who lives with it. As parents it's going to be a long road and an even longer road for our autistic children. Keep hope alive.
I was reading the local paper this morning. There was a 25 year old man with autism telling a 7th grade class what it was like to live with autism. That is very exciting how we have grown ups who know what it's like and describe in detail how they think.
This person didn't talk until he was the age of 7. The children asked him what his favorite movies, books and what he was good at. He went on to tell the children that if they ask him the capital of a country that he could name it. He is good at maps and books of the bible and sings in the church's choir.
The kids asked him that if there was a cure for autism if he would take it. He said "No. I like being who I am." That is so awesome that he would say that and tell kids to be content and happy with who they are. There are days where I don't understand myself and where I'm going. That answer is very inspiring to me.
The man talking to the class was one of the teachers former students. His mother stated that "Autism is a puzzle. We're not trying to solve the person, just the disability." Good words from a mother who raised an autistic child and what she had dealt with.
The best way for students and others to ask questions and learn about autism is to hear from someone who lives with it. As parents it's going to be a long road and an even longer road for our autistic children. Keep hope alive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)