New Autism therapy - use their strengths

It is amazing how much faster our kids progress when using their strengths to connect and communicate with.  Anything that he enjoys is the best opportunity for speech..... much like most humans on the planet.  Pity it is not the most used "therapy",  even though he seems spoilt in a way, It is a hell of a lot cheaper than ABA therapy and a lot easier to swallow that ABA therapy too. 

The amazing Christmas speech therapy tool: http://youtu.be/TSLUklus-Go

Helping get a compliant ASD toddler

I have found if I am very clear and specific on the reason why something has to be done.....if I convince Edward it is a must he will comply.....just because mummy says so is never good enough.  Yes this info is the complete opposite of what the experts tell you to speak to your ASD toddlers.....but it works for us as long as I explain clearly enough and that Edward understands the why.
Another trick that works and also helps with interaction with others later is teaching the 'this now then that'
Mummy needs to finish washing the bottles then we can go out the back and play....just the way Edward loves numbers saying "one mummy washes bottles and two downstairs and play on the trampoline" that way he knows that I am not saying no forever, it will be the next thing we do and it help with teaching taking turns.

Me reversing autism

1) Using intellect over pretend play, using toys to show patterns of colour or sequencing.

2) Other children don't seem interested in the things our kids like.

3) After thinking past events through shows signs of expressing those events later.

4) Love life and or can be deep thinkers.

5) Brilliant hearing or can deep in thought and cut out outside noise.

6) Utilises more means of understanding the world around them, giving an advantage of looking for new answers that help with discoveries.

7) Brain utilises more areas, thinking is used way more than speech.

8) Prefers structure in life so randomness in non life essentials can be studied more comfortably.

Last but not least amazing concentration and focus that can push other concerns out of the picture.

Goodnight

Mummy:  Goodnight Edward, I love you
Edward:   Goodnight
Mummy's heart jumps for joy
Daddy:     Goodnight Edward
Edward:   Goodnight Edward

We are getting there :-)  and I am very happy and proud of how far we have come.

Worried about child's future

Someone asked in an ASD group are you scared for your child's future.

My answer :

Hell yes, all the time.  But I work in his life with the assumption that he will succeed and all means are to that end. To assume the opposite is to create a negative future.

Hair cut

Hair cut

Oh my goodness, no tears, no putting hands in the way of the hairdresser and he even let her use the little razor to trim the edges.  And notice last visit was tears, this time a smile. :-).

He grabbed hold of me the whole time and kept moving his head.  He also kept saying "all done" and "well done" suggesting that we could go now.  But this is still a momentous positive.

We have this cool app since August that I think has helped a lot http://tocaboca.com/app/toca-hairsalon-me/

Vent alert ----
I have been socialising Edward since 2 months old.  Taking him to swim class, 6 months before kindy he has been having kindy visits, taking him to SPACE, taking him to ygym, many zoo visits, 3 observatory visits, many hospice visits before mum passed, many friends visits, many creche visits, taking him to small poppies, he tries so very hard to get on with other children.  I most definitely have not been hiding him away from people.  It is sad in my eyes that just because he does not look like a special needs child it has to be my fault he is having social issues, that I have not done my damnedest to recognise his weaknesses and obviously done nothing and he is just spoilt.  In yet with all his lack of communication and lack of sitting on mat he has better numeracy skills than some 5 year olds and better spelling skills than some 6 year olds.....oh yeah that is my fault too...chained him to a table and made him learn to write and count and did not speak to him obviously.   If he managed to learn as much as he has his way....why oh why is his way of listening "wrong"?????  What more could I have done to teach my son social skills and non verbal and verbal communication?????

Maybe this might help, in this video Carly who is on the severe end of the spectrum and is non verbal finds her voice (I think the more our children get the chance to communicate the better they do), she is able to feel more in control of herself and her life.
Carly teaches us so much....never give up, don't set a limit on potential, don't listen to the experts (the experts believed because of outer appearance Carly was mentally deficient)

Our children learn and grow and when making noises Carly is able to concentrate on what she hears, quite the opposite of what we first thought right....anyway please watch.  If someone as severe as Carly can find her way out we NEED to believe in all our ASD kids and help them.
 Autistic Girl Expresses Unimaginable Intelligence: http://youtu.be/vNZVV4Ciccg

Be patient with "that parent"

Please be patient with that parent in the waiting room....yes the gorgeous little guy next to your child looks "normal", you have no idea why we are jumpy and worried about our son showing signs of being a little pushy....lucky for you we are.....we are concerned that our son will bite your child....you did not seem to notice that our son did not walk up, look at your child and and gently show signs that they wanted to join in.  But our son didn't, he smiled when he saw the toy, sat next to your child and then started playing with the big wooden toy, saw your boy on the side he wanted and started to push your boy out of the way.   This is when you decided that we were shite parents because we could see the next step for our son was to reach in for your son's hand to show him exactly what he thought.  But no you advise us that you are a fully qualified ECE teacher (preschool teacher), so you reason with the boys.....when you notice that your son is having to make all the allowances you take your son for a walk.....because obviously we have no idea how to raise our son.  And to be honest I really could not be bothered explaining that Edward is autistic and having to apologise yet again when I an feeling I really have no reason to apologise....  For your assumptions.  You did not seem to realise that Edward said oh if any words in front of you would have been 2 words max.   - vent from this autism mummy.

Hi there,

In my humble opinion my theory on autistic children seems extremely logical to me with Occam's razor making the most sense in looking at our asd children (with genetics of parents or grandparents with computing, engineering, physics backgrounds).  Sorry this is not dated.....If your child is now way older and this is an old article I would love to hear your thoughts on my theory.

And when you have time to just be a bit open with my theory....not concerned about the ramifications (because they can be disconcerting) or be so negative (because you are too scared of a positive outcome....parents out there are and that is sad) then you might just say "she might be on to something".

My son loved watching educational videos at a young age, and even after a diagnosis of moderate autism and even now at 3 years and 5 months he is partially verbal he is able to read words... not so good at putting them together (but if you think about the fact that he is still on the frontier of learning how to verbally put sentences together this makes a ton of sense).  After reading negative talk from parents time and time again..........and positive talk from parents.... I can only come to one conclusion.  

These are the important sentences - Autistic children and gifted children sit on the same spectrum.

I hear from gifted parent who poor their hearts out about how the education system is failing their child.  Their child refuses to do the work because they did it 3 years ago at home and it is like asking an adult to start sucking on a dummy (Americans call them pacifiers).  You might get a few adults who will humour you but effectively if you start enforcing it they will start putting their foot down and say "stuff you".  

Does this behaviour remind you of our Autistic children????   Especially the non verbal children who get annoyed, stressed and down right peeved with things in their lives that even if verbal are unable to explain to us?????

I believe so....very much so.

Parents of children with gifted children complain/ so show concern that their child can be very sensitive to texture, sound, light, taste, social situations......Where have you heard that before???

What is the difference between a gifted child and an autistic one??? Severity I believe is the answer.

Why is Dr Simon Baron Cohen (Professor of Developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge)interested in getting autistic kids into what they are good at?  Leading them into fields of engineering and computer programming etc??? Aren't these professions considered for the ultra geeky???   Ummmm yes

Our autistic children, just like gifted children flourish in environments when they can play (the way they play), they play lining up, intrigued in geometric designs and patterns, some art, painting as they are beautifully gifted in the visual spatial area.  When encouraged our kids do so very well (be it hyperlexic which is our children's focus on letters and words or be it insects and bugs like a buddy Darwin or even Quantum Theory like a very encouraged and encouraging young man called Jacob Barnett).

Disclaimer - This part I can't fully discount.  There MAY be children who how ever much you encourage their focus to help them learn to embrace the world around them and they don't succeed, but I have not come across any such family or child yet.

Again most of this is theory including what I know for a fact that my son has difficulties but is also extremely intelligent.  I have met more severe children on the spectrum and the more they are encouraged the more they join us in this world and the more they show their brilliance.

reference to this article - http://www.autismtoday.com/hyperlexiamistaking-a-disabled-child-as-gifted/#comment-7104

Dear Autism NZ I think you are the leader in understanding and parents with children on the spectrum and you do a great job......yes there is a BUT.
I was wondering since recently more non verbal children are communicating with communication aids that are proving that non verbal children aren't slow or unintelligent just based on the term "non verbal".
And also because Dr Kanner's  " classic autism" when looking at his notes sounds awfully like the old diagnosis of Aspergers which is no longer diagnosed using the current dsm5.
Because the above is all true and I can give you references if you request them.

Can you please remove this from your website or at least rephrase it.  As it marginalises many diagnosed people including my son.

Your websites words that I feel need to be reworded -
"This term includes Asperger syndrome, which is a form of autism at the higher functioning end of the autism spectrum. People with Asperger syndrome are of average (or higher) intelligence and generally have fewer problems with language, often speaking fluently, though their words can sometimes sound formal and ideas which are abstract, metaphorical or idiomatic may cause confusion and be taken literally. Unlike individuals with 'classic' autism, who often appear withdrawn and uninterested in the world around them, many people with Asperger syndrome try hard to be sociable and do not dislike human contact. However, they still find it hard to understand non-verbal signals, including facial expressions."


Edward would have been diagnosed with autism under the dsm4, and to the majority that meet Edward that is what they see ......mean while at home.  This is what we see.
Edward for teachers movie short version: http://youtu.be/5k2VA_MZwNE

These people who are diagnosed through to severe and are non verbal (including my partially verbal son are my proof that the statement is not correct)
Carly Fleishmann (going to university this year, still non verbal) http://youtu.be/vNZVV4Ciccg , http://carlysvoice.com/home/aboutcarly/

"I am not able to talk out of my mouth, however I have found another way to communicate by spelling on my computer. (and yes that is me typing on the computer by myself)

I used to think I was the only kid with autism who communicates by spelling but last year I met a group of kids that communicate the same way. In fact some are even faster at typing then I am."

Michael Weinstein (Non verbal) http://www.goldenhatfoundation.org/about-us/blog/125-golden-hat-foundation-blog-70211

"That was when I realized several things. I was not retarded at all, but I was very handicapped by my lack of ability to speak. People assume that if you cannot speak, then you must be retarded. Most people who are trained in special education know nothing about autism, although they think they are the autism experts. "

Dillan Barmache - (Non verbal) http://abc7.com/news/non-verbal-teen-with-autism-gives-grad-speech/96359/

""Always look inside other people's experience in order to gain another perspective," Dillan said on stage. For years, Dillan's ideas used to be trapped inside his head. Today they're spilling out with the aid of his tablet computer."

Jake Willmann (non verbal)  - http://youtu.be/q4pU9980Hm0

"

Autistic child is also math genius"


Rylan Kirksey (non verbal) - At 2 years, adding and spelling

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/25613637/tennessee-boy-with-autism-communicates-with-yard-sale-play-mat


Dashiell (minimally verbal)

http://www.specialneeds.com/children-and-parents/autism/autism-beyond-nonverbal-label

"“I wish people didn’t make fun of me. They don’t see me. They only see my disability. If they only knew I am an intelligent man who is saddened by people who tease me. I hope my story will help others understand that autism is not a disease you might catch but a condition that gives me the ability to see things that others don’t."

If you can't trust these people above to be a true representation of "classic autism", how about a recent study.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8749.1987.tb08506.x/abstract

"Seventeen children with classical Kanner autism and three children with Asperger syndrome, all of whom had Full-scale IQs above 65, were subjected to a neurobiological assessment, including CAT scan, auditory brainstem response, EEG, chromosomal cultures, cerebrospinal fluid, blood and urine examinations and a thorough physical examination. 15 of the 20 children had ‘definite abnormalities’ on at least one of these examinations. It is concluded that the number of cases of ‘non-organic’ autism, even among children with relatively higher intelligence, "

And Dr Kanners observations of his patients....
From -
http://abnormaldiversity.blogspot.co.nz/2008/05/kanner-autism.html?m=1

"In his 1943 article Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact, Kanner said:

"With the non-language items of the Binet and Merril-Palmer tests, she [case 6, Virginia S.] achieved an IQ of 94. 'Without a doubt' commented the psychologist, 'her intelligence is superior to this'"

"A Binet test was attempted ... He [case 8, Alfred L.] finally complied in most instances in a manner that clearly indicated that he wanted to get through with the particular intrusion; this was repeated with each individual item in the test. In the end he achieved an IQ of 140." [Note: Alfred L and Virginia S were the only two children who cooperated enough for an IQ test.]

"Even though most of these children were at one point or another looked upon as feebleminded, they are all unquestioning endowed with good cognitive potentialities... The astounding vocabulary of the speaking children, the excellent memory for events of several years before, the phenomenal rote memory for poems and names, and the precise recollection of complex patterns and sequences, bespeak good intelligence in the sense in which this word is commonly used.""

I ask, neigh plead that you change this wording because parents are getting the wrong idea of their children's capabilities and hurdles.  As I see our very bright children with hurdles....some bigger than others totally, but still intelligent children with hurdles.  Being non-verbal does not equal low intelligence at all, just ask Steven Hawking.  And if I can't convince Autism NZ to please reconsider wording how do I help my son further?  How do I help other people realise his potential????

Yours sincerely,
Suzanne Warburton (crazy possibly undx on the spectrum mum of a brilliant partially verbal moderately ASD 3 year old)