Do people with autism have super talents? When you talk to people about autism, do they ask if you or your loved one has a special gift? What talent do you possess?
Everyone of us has unique talents. I feel like I have a unique talent, I don't share this with people because I think it's kind of weird to think of it as a talent, but as I have watched my son I realize talents come in all shapes and sizes. My talent is the desire to have friends around often and to enjoy having them in my home. I realized this was a talent when I observed that most people don't like this, and then it occurred to me that a talent can be an ability that you possess that is not common in others. It's all about finding what is unique about you and then accepting it as a talent.
My son Hagen, is on the autism spectrum. He is a wonderful little boy with unique talents. This summer has been a joy to find a new talent of his. He can swim!!! (with a life vest, only because I make him). You are probably thinking to yourself "That is not unique, most people can swim". Here is the uncommon part, he is two years old, he can hold his breath longer than most kids, he can freestyle and breast stroke (all self taught). He can roll on his back when he is tired and he loves to be thrown high in the air and dropped in the pool. Here is a short video to demonstrate.
My son does have a super talent. Is he better than someone else? No, just enhanced by his unique outlook and feel to life. Our own individual journeys make us who we are. Each one of us has the ability to have super talents. I just think for my son, and maybe for others on the autism spectrum, it's easier to reach SUPER status. What do you think? What talent do you have? What talent does your child have? How have you found this talent? What do you do to make it super? Do you have a video you would like to share?
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Summer, Summer, Summer: Promoting Executive Skills!
It comes as no surprise to many of you that our youngsters have some difficulties staying on top of things in school. For example, forgetting to turn in homework, not completing assignments, not keeping track of assignments, and not knowing due dates. Well, all these things have something in common. They are what we call executive functioning skills. Executive skills are those involved in planning and completing activities, organization, time management, and metacognition. Although many of you, parents and teachers, as well as myself, have worked tirelessly to get our youngsters on track with these tasks, we must remember that these are skills that take time to develop and that it is a slow process. Many parents have asked me how they can promote these skills in the summertime so that the progress made is not lost. Here are just a few suggestions of what you can do to promote these skills in the much less-structured summertime:
• Create a weekly/daily schedule and review it with the child regularly. For children a bit older have them keep their own schedule and review it with them.
• Have a reflection time to review how things are going. Discuss what is and is not working, what to do about it, etc.
• Give the child responsibilities around the home as well as expectations of when they should be completed.
• Talk to your child about concepts of time and time management. Have the child estimate how long it will take to complete tasks, and afterward review with them the actual time it took to complete the task.
• Create summertime goals with the child. For older children, have them be multi-step goals that require them to keep up on things.
Anything that requires planning, organization, reflection, time management, etc., will keep their brains working and promote these skills so that they are ready to tackle the upcoming school year!
Morgan Dahle, M. Ed
Adolescent Director
• Create a weekly/daily schedule and review it with the child regularly. For children a bit older have them keep their own schedule and review it with them.
• Have a reflection time to review how things are going. Discuss what is and is not working, what to do about it, etc.
• Give the child responsibilities around the home as well as expectations of when they should be completed.
• Talk to your child about concepts of time and time management. Have the child estimate how long it will take to complete tasks, and afterward review with them the actual time it took to complete the task.
• Create summertime goals with the child. For older children, have them be multi-step goals that require them to keep up on things.
Anything that requires planning, organization, reflection, time management, etc., will keep their brains working and promote these skills so that they are ready to tackle the upcoming school year!
Morgan Dahle, M. Ed
Adolescent Director
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Disciplining Young Children with ASD
By Rachelle Blair-Thatcher
“How do I discipline my child with autism?”
Disciplining young children is difficult!
Disciplining young children with ASD can feel impossible!
Although there is no such thing as a “one size fits all solution”, I have found a remedy that can greatly improve our approach. One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is, “What is our child communicating?”
The answer to this question may provide helpful insight and understanding. It is important to realize that very young children under the age of 3 do not usually choose to misbehave. Rather, they are interested in surviving and thriving in their environment. As we view the behavior we want to change, we must consider why it occurs? Then, we can determine how to addressed it.
3 Piece Pie
Development
Personality
Special Needs
Development – Often as parents, we need to be reminded of “typical” behavior. It is easy for us to forget that all 2, 3 & 4 year olds can be challenging at times. For a child with ASD we need to celebrate the milestones. We want to celebrate the developmental milestones and as parents remember that the child is progressing. Often, it can feel like a double edged sword. On one hand; we are excited they are not in a constant state of self stimulatory behavior BUT, on the other hand; now they are screaming and chasing little sister. The typical social/emotional development for a 2 ½ - 3 year old includes: showing independence, demonstration of extreme emotional shifts and paradoxical responses, talking with a loud, urgent and dictatorial and demanding voice. In addition, children this age resist change, are extremely ritualistic and experience difficulty with transitions. STOP!!! Does this sound like anyone you know?
The differences between children with ASD and our “nuerotypical” counterparts is that the “nuerotypical” children transition through this developmental stage whereas, children with ASD often times do not.
Personality – Each of us have a distinct personality that makes us who we are. Children with ASD are no different! I have met children and adults with autism that are hilarious. I have also met others that are very grumpy and angry all of the time. So, whether your child is sweet and sensitive or funny and grumpy, personality must be considered when disciplining your child.
Special Need – Your child may have extreme sensory disregulation and/or disabilities. It is critical that you evaluate limitations and require reasonable expectations of your child. We want your child to be successful. Recognize, YOUR CHILD’S SPECIAL NEEDS ARE NOT YOUR ENTIRE CHILD! Special needs are only one part of who they are, so, they need you to know when to push harder and expect more or when to give them a break!
Example:
Mom says, “Every time I take my 3 year old to the store he screams.”
The child’s functions socially at 30 months. We know that it is typical for that age to experience difficulty with transitions. The child’s personality is usually sweet and sensitive. The child is scared and in distress and screams as we enter the store. We know that he is extremely sensitive to loud noises.
Solution:
Rather than punishing the child, we recognize that he is not “misbehaving”, he is disregulated and over stimulated by the loud noises in the store.
We implement supportive techniques and teach him how to regulate.
We all know that in the world of autism, “ If you have met one child with autism, you have met one child with autism.” By using The 3 Piece Pie your awareness of your child’s experience will improve and you will enhance your skills to analyze your child’s behavior and choose your methods of discipline.
“How do I discipline my child with autism?”
Disciplining young children is difficult!
Disciplining young children with ASD can feel impossible!
Although there is no such thing as a “one size fits all solution”, I have found a remedy that can greatly improve our approach. One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is, “What is our child communicating?”
The answer to this question may provide helpful insight and understanding. It is important to realize that very young children under the age of 3 do not usually choose to misbehave. Rather, they are interested in surviving and thriving in their environment. As we view the behavior we want to change, we must consider why it occurs? Then, we can determine how to addressed it.
3 Piece Pie
Development
Personality
Special Needs
Development – Often as parents, we need to be reminded of “typical” behavior. It is easy for us to forget that all 2, 3 & 4 year olds can be challenging at times. For a child with ASD we need to celebrate the milestones. We want to celebrate the developmental milestones and as parents remember that the child is progressing. Often, it can feel like a double edged sword. On one hand; we are excited they are not in a constant state of self stimulatory behavior BUT, on the other hand; now they are screaming and chasing little sister. The typical social/emotional development for a 2 ½ - 3 year old includes: showing independence, demonstration of extreme emotional shifts and paradoxical responses, talking with a loud, urgent and dictatorial and demanding voice. In addition, children this age resist change, are extremely ritualistic and experience difficulty with transitions. STOP!!! Does this sound like anyone you know?
The differences between children with ASD and our “nuerotypical” counterparts is that the “nuerotypical” children transition through this developmental stage whereas, children with ASD often times do not.
Personality – Each of us have a distinct personality that makes us who we are. Children with ASD are no different! I have met children and adults with autism that are hilarious. I have also met others that are very grumpy and angry all of the time. So, whether your child is sweet and sensitive or funny and grumpy, personality must be considered when disciplining your child.
Special Need – Your child may have extreme sensory disregulation and/or disabilities. It is critical that you evaluate limitations and require reasonable expectations of your child. We want your child to be successful. Recognize, YOUR CHILD’S SPECIAL NEEDS ARE NOT YOUR ENTIRE CHILD! Special needs are only one part of who they are, so, they need you to know when to push harder and expect more or when to give them a break!
Example:
Mom says, “Every time I take my 3 year old to the store he screams.”
The child’s functions socially at 30 months. We know that it is typical for that age to experience difficulty with transitions. The child’s personality is usually sweet and sensitive. The child is scared and in distress and screams as we enter the store. We know that he is extremely sensitive to loud noises.
Solution:
Rather than punishing the child, we recognize that he is not “misbehaving”, he is disregulated and over stimulated by the loud noises in the store.
We implement supportive techniques and teach him how to regulate.
We all know that in the world of autism, “ If you have met one child with autism, you have met one child with autism.” By using The 3 Piece Pie your awareness of your child’s experience will improve and you will enhance your skills to analyze your child’s behavior and choose your methods of discipline.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
JOY in the JOURNEY
I am new to the world of autism and am still learning new things every day. As we stepped into this world 5 months ago I felt so alone, although there were many people and places on the net sending me to groups I didn't feel connected to anyone. I felt like it was up to me and yet I felt like I wasn't doing enough for my son (up until a month ago when we got help at Autism Journeys). I just wanted to read about someone elses experience and know that I was doing the right things and everything was going to be ok! I can finally say I am doing all I can do for my son and my family and everything is going to be OK!
Now that I have a handle on things, I thought it might be a good idea to keep record of the JOYS in our lives, instead of always thinking about what I should or could be doing, I started focusing on what we have done and accomplished. The JOY in the world of autism is different from the world with the older three children of mine. I have JOY when my cries if I leave him. I have JOY when he looks at me. I have JOY if he bites me. I have JOY when he says Hi or Bye (these are few and far between). I have JOY that one of the only consistent things my son does is kiss me on command. The JOYS I have are simple to everyone else, but to us they are HUGE accomplishments in our everyday lives. As I record these JOYS I realize how blessed I am. What an amazing family I have and exactly how far we have all come.
I know the days are hard and overwhelming at times, but there are few days when there isn't at least one JOYFUL experience to record. What JOY have you experienced recently, I would love to hear about it?
Now that I have a handle on things, I thought it might be a good idea to keep record of the JOYS in our lives, instead of always thinking about what I should or could be doing, I started focusing on what we have done and accomplished. The JOY in the world of autism is different from the world with the older three children of mine. I have JOY when my cries if I leave him. I have JOY when he looks at me. I have JOY if he bites me. I have JOY when he says Hi or Bye (these are few and far between). I have JOY that one of the only consistent things my son does is kiss me on command. The JOYS I have are simple to everyone else, but to us they are HUGE accomplishments in our everyday lives. As I record these JOYS I realize how blessed I am. What an amazing family I have and exactly how far we have all come.
I know the days are hard and overwhelming at times, but there are few days when there isn't at least one JOYFUL experience to record. What JOY have you experienced recently, I would love to hear about it?
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