Holidays Coping with Change
Whether they are teenagers or toddlers, as I have already written, one common perception about autism is that autistic people do not like change. In some ways this is most definitely the case, although personally I don't think it is quite that simple - is anything to do with autism simple Ben has, for a long time, insisted on the same yellow cup, the same yellow spoon, the same bowl, the same bedtime routine.Mr Rigidity himself. If I am silly enough to do something more than once with him in...
Applied Behavioural Analysis ABA Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention
ABA is intensive behavioural intervention based on the premise that all behaviours can be learned through a series of small steps which can then be built upon and positive reinforcement given. ABA programmes are usually for up to forty hours a week after baseline skills have been identified and a programme then drawn up accordingly. Whilst some criticize ABA for being narrow and controlling, others report significant gains after following their approach. Are you left scratching your head and...
Sense of self
One area that is particularly problematic for Ben and I am sure many other autistic children, is his sense of self. For many years, I, Portage (the pre-school home education service) and anyone else working with Ben, spent a great deal of time and effort attempting to teach him that he was Ben. When I realized that Ben was not deaf, I very much wanted him to turn to his name or to know that he was the Ben that I was talking to and talking about. Every single day without any exception at all for...
Home education websites
Http www.he-special.org.uk Home education link for the UK. http www.education-otherwise.org Another home education link. US National Home Education Network (NHEN). Other useful websites Disney World information for disabled travellers. Financial help for UK families caring for children with disabilities (means tested). Advice and information on bullying for parents, teachers and children. www.tapestrylfecentre.com Link to Tapestry Life Centre. Independent assessments by Lisa Blakemore-Brown,...
Dyspraxia
Over the years, dyspraxia has been given several names. Clumsy child syndrome, developmental coordination disorder, minimal cerebral dysfunction .call it what you will, dyspraxia is a very real problem to many people, children and adults alike. Dyspraxia or developmental coordination disorder is likely to affect many people with autism. It is debatable as to whether dyspraxia is an autistic spectrum disorder in itselfor whether it is a co-morbid condition that accompanies another spectrum...
Autism nightmares
It is crucial that all parents and professionals recognize that autistic children think differently, feel differently and react differently to typically developing children. It is imperative that we teach their siblings this and that we are confident that others understand just how impor tant safety issues are - particularly for autistic children who often react differently to pain or cannot tell us they are in distress. Eighteen months ago Ben seemed to be locked into his own silent world,...
Routine and change
Most writings on autism state that autistic people do not like change and need routine. Whilst this may be true in most cases, there are always exceptions. In fact a friend ofmine has an undoubtedly autistic son who certainly doesn't seem to show any noticeable difference in his behaviour regardless of where he is taken, how his routine is disrupted or how his environment changes. However he is non verbal and most definitely has the triad of impairments. As I have stated so many times, autism...
Time to shop
Ben has great difficulty coping with going shopping - the noise, the crowds, the fluorescent lights are all too much for my sensitive little chap. Joe also has great difficulties, finding it all too exciting and stimulating. I have great difficulty coping with going shopping with them I therefore reserve shopping trips for 'desensitizing exercises' rather than as a necessity. For those of you with an autistic child who has difficulties with shopping for whatever reason, I would say don't give...
Autism
As I have just written about the cocktail of different kinds of autism both within my family and in each of my boys, I apologize for the fact that I am now going to write mainly about Ben. The main reason for this is because although Luke has Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism, although Joe has AD HD and a kaleidoscope of different autistic spectrum 'differences' and Matthew has many autistic ways, woven into the dyspraxia and dyslexia, autism is Ben's main diagnosis and his endearing (and not...
Dangers of dyspraxia
Many of you parents reading this will have dyspraxic children, even if dyspraxia is an 'added extra' amidst other shades of autism. You will know all too well how many cups of coffee have been knocked over by your child, how many plates have been smashed and how many bumps and bruises you have nursed over the years. I am no different. Parents or carers ofchildren with dyspraxia should be given automatic passes to the emergency room at the local hospital Here's a quick example of how dyspraxia...
DSMIV and Dsmiv Tr 31500 Diagnostic criteria for Reading Disorder Dyslexia
Reading achievement, as measured by individually administered standardized tests of reading accuracy or comprehension, is substantially below that expected given the person's chronological age, measured intelligence, and age-appropriate education. B. The disturbance in Criterion A significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities of daily living that require reading skills. C. If a sensory deficit is present, the reading difficulties are in excess of those usually associated...
Multicoloured Mayhem
Parenting the Many Shades of Adolescents and Children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome and AD HI) Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome A User Guide to Adolescence A User Guide to the GF CF Diet for Autism, Asperger Syndrome and AD HD Foreword by Marilyn Le Breton ISBN 1 84310 055 X Asperger's Syndrome A Guide for Parents and Professionals Tony Attwood Foreword by Lorna Wing ISBN 1 85302 249 9 Living with the Ups, the Downs and Things in Between Edited by Liane Holliday Willey Foreword by Luke...
Gluten and caseinfree diet Opiod excess theory
Whilst I love my boys and their differences dearly, I would give the world to ensure they are healthy and happy. For them, that meant eradicating their bowel problems. Many children on the autistic spectrum have bowel problems - not all, but many. Indeed there seems to be a growing number of autistic children who have a combination of autism, food intolerances and bowel disorders. As I have already written in Joe's story, Joe had horrendous and seemingly inexplicable diarrhoea. Luke had always...
Anxieties of Asperger Syndrome
Unfortunately the world is fraught with danger for any child. It is a sad fact but we have to teach our children far more than basic safety issues such as safety in the home and road safety. From a very early age both at home and at school, children are taught to say no to strangers, what to do if someone touches them in an unwanted manner.it seems that all sorts of sinister dangers lurk around the corner. For any child these are hard messages to grasp but for a child with Asperger Syndrome...
An Autism Cocktail
Add a liberal dose of autism, a pinch of Asperger Syndrome, a generous helping of AD HD and a dash of sensory and motor problems to an already frantic family and one may be excused for thinking that it would be a recipe for disaster In fact the situation is quite the opposite .it produces a taste of diversity, a zest for knowledge and a yearning for understanding. Many people object to the use of a spectrum as an analogy to define the many variations of autism. It is considered to be too two...
Disney World diaries
Well this is it - D-day has finally arrived I had phoned the airline and warned them of my children, arranged their diets, arranged extra leg room and special assistance, and all in all I was feeling fairly well prepared. Arriving at Manchester Airport I was firmly convinced that I was going to park the carand stroll a few metres away to ourterminal. I had been told that I would then be met by an assistant who would aid me with the children, luggage, etc. - sounds perfect how na ve am I After...
Holidays Coping with Change 183
Disney World diaries 185 A change is as good as a rest 200 Travel tips 201 Disney advice 203 Autism nightmares 205 A tribute to Emma-Jane 207 AD HD hazards 211 Anxieties of Asperger Syndrome 213 Dangers of dyspraxia 217 Safety suggestions 220 12. The Parents' Survival Guide 223 A time for everything 225 Count your blessings 226 Maintaining your own identity 227 Sleeping sickness 228 Survival skills 232 13. A Conclusion to the Chaos 237 Appendix Diagnostic Criteria (With apologies to those of...
DSMIV 31400 Diagnostic criteria for Attention DeficitHyperactivity Disorder
Inattention 6 (or more) of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level (a) often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities (b) often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities (c) often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly (d) often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish...
The story ofLuke
Although I already had three children and although Matthew was hardly typical, when Luke was born there was no way that I could have ever been prepared for him. Luke was a beautiful baby who was born screaming and screaming and screaming A picture of a rare occasion when he was quiet After the hospital staff decided that given I was an experienced mother, he might settle better at home, I was discharged sooner than was originally planned. Still Luke screamed. The days turned into weeks and the...
