Finding and Fitting the Pieces

Do Persons with Autism Lack Empathy?

2015-04-04T03:42:00.000+08:00

A couple of weeks ago, the handle of our old broom broke as I was sweeping the yard. I tried fixing it while C (my eleven year old son with autism) was watching. My efforts failed and decided to dispose the broom instead. Frustrated, I spent almost an hour trying to mend it for nothing.
The next day, I was surprised to see the broom all fixed up. The handle was neatly and sturdily connected to the broom. I thanked my husband for it. But he replied,"No, I did not fix it." There are only the four of us in the house- me, my hubby, C, and our youngest son who is five years old. If it's not me, nor my husband who fixed the broken broom, then who did? While trying to figure out who, we saw C giggling while staring at us. And so we asked him,"did you fix the broom, dear?" With that radiant smile on his face, he replied, "yes."
That was not only about an old broken broom. What made us really happy was the fact that our son took the time to help us without being asked. He showed us he cares and we matter to him.

There was a misconception in the past that person with autism lack empathy. Apparently, they are unable to understand the kind of situation other persons around them might be into. With that being said, the appropriate or acceptable response cannot be elicited given a particular situation. This was strongly disapproved by persons and families who work and live with persons with autism. Those persons and families can really say that belief is false because they have felt their love and concern is reciprocated. Perhaps not by complex words and actions, but with a sweet smile, a gentle touch, a warm hug out of love, definitely not out of sensory input craving. These are hard to measure and document statistically since these can only be experienced by persons who actually live with someone with autism.
Good thing, one study theorized that persons with autism do not actually lack empathy (Article on that theory). Rather, they have an excess of empathy since they are overwhelmed and find it hard to cope up with others' emotions. Hence, empathic gestures may not be shown since they may withdraw and shut themselves out of the situation. It's a well-known finding that persons under the spectrum may be over or under sensitive or even delayed in processing of sensory inputs coming from the environment, including people around them (Article about Sensory Processing). Autism manifests differently with each affected individual. The time to attain developmental milestones, including the ability to express empathy varies greatly.
Empathy can be shown in many ways. One can express empathy by listening, through physical affection, and offering help or actually helping others. Persons with autism may or may not be able to express empathy. This does not mean they are unemotional. They do care. It's just that it's difficult for them to show it. Being considerate and understanding are also ways to show empathy.

Photo Credits:
Broom by Iamnee
Mother & Daughter by Dominici

Autism Parenting 101: Overcoming Frustration

2015-01-02T02:52:00.001+08:00

Most parents, if not all, begin to dream and aspire for their children as soon as they were born. It would begin to wanting their children to be healthy, to be good persons, to finish school, to be successful in whatever they would go into when they become adults. To sum it all up, parents simply want all the best for their children.

A painful phase in the life of parents of a child with autism is the "revelation"- the time when signs of autism become apparent. A beautiful and seemingly healthy child would come to their life. As doting parents, they would start weaving dreams and plans for his future. Until this child would begin to show indications that deviate from what a typical child should be. He would be needing help for him to improve in terms of behavior and development, and also to deal with his environment. Even his chances of going to a regular school may become uncertain. So is the possibility of earning a degree in college and getting a good job. Then questions like "what will happen to my child's future?" would start to come in. At this point, to have feelings of frustration is inevitable.

Our son is now 10 years old with the intellectual abilities of a 6 year old. When he was born, I also aspired to see him a successful and fulfilled man. Maybe he would become a doctor, too. Or an engineer like his grandfather. Or a tech savvy person like his dad. Since he has a significant delay in the areas of cognition and speech (part of autism symptom), these dreams I had for him seemed far from being realized. I harbored feelings of frustration for several months after my son was diagnosed having autism. Not because he may not become any of who and what I had dreamt of but because I worry too much about how he would live and what kind of life he would have when the time comes that we, his parents are no longer around. It is emotionally tiring to harbor feelings of frustration. We love our son so much. So we must find a way to help him be better. We realized we cannot do this rationally if we allow ourselves to be conquered by frustration. Thus, we chose to be hopeful and optimistic rather than stay in the dark recess of frustration.
After our son's diagnosis of autism, we never wasted time and he started to attend therapy sessions. We followed his doctor's recommendations and took part in every activity that would help him develop and accomplish therapy and academic goals. Sometimes, it takes longer time than expected for him to achieve certain goals in his program. However, our hearts have no more room for feelings of frustration anymore because we have filled it with so much hope, love, acceptance and faith that God has also a plan for him. We are happy with whatever achievements, big or small, our son may have.

Image Credits:
Depressed Man by Master Isolated Images
Family by Tueleksa
Jeremiah 29:11 by instapray.com

Autism and Acceptance

2014-11-22T02:44:00.001+08:00

My son C showed significant delay in his development as early as 10 months of age. At that age, he manifested loss of previously learned skills like glancing when his name is called, waving bye-bye and a few other baby skills. Until he turned two years old with unintelligible speech and extremely hyperactive. Not long after, we brought him to a developmental pediatrician who after an hour or so of evaluation, confirmed that he has autism spectrum disorder (for autism tell tale signs, go to Autism Tell Tale ). That sad day occurred eight years ago. My son is now ten years old. But whenever I recall that day in our life, my eyes still become teary. I still can feel that lump in my throat. That doesn't mean I still have not learned to accept the fact that my son is on the spectrum. I have long accepted that. I guess parents would never stop feeling hurt when their child is affected with life long disorder or any condition that will have tremendous effects on the quality of life.

From day one after knowing my son's condition, I went to check on the therapy center which the doctor recommended. Since time is a precious element in a child with autism, I took the soonest open schedule so my son could start occupational therapy. It has been studied that when interventions like occupational, behavioral, and speech therapy were instituted at an early age, the higher the chances would be for a favorable outcome. And so began our family's autism journey. Every aspect of our life changed- from finances to work schedules.
When something beyond our control happens in our lives - death in the family, failures and frustrations- life's golden rule would say to learn to accept so we could move on and start anew. Easier said than done, since acceptance is a process. With regards to my son, what helped us as his parents to accept the sad fact that he has a neurodevelopmental disorder is our deep love for him. We held on to that love. We have to be strong enough and face our life's situation. We focused on one objective- we must do something to help him. Through the years, we have learned to modify our expectations about our son and his condition. If he is unable to do this or that, it's okay. We learned to be happy with even his littlest achievement.
As for parents who just learned that their child has autism, hold on to that love you have for your child. With love, acceptance will come gradually. Once we have learned to accept, strength and optimism follow. We need that to carry on with life as "special parents".

Photo Credit:
Mother & Son by David Castillo

Conquering the Odds of Handwriting

2014-11-01T22:23:00.000+08:00

Most children with autism attend special education class with an individualized curriculum. They may eventually be transitioned to attend regular school depending on their cognitive abilities and developmental progress in terms of behavior. One huge determinant if a child is ready to be mainstreamed to a regular class is his handwriting. Would he be capable of copying what is written on the board; or answer written examinations? This is one common problem faced by a special learner in the traditional school setting in the Philippines.
Handwriting is a complex fine motor skill that requires eye and hand coordination.
Delay in these areas of development is the exact reason why children with autism have difficulty learning to write. And even when they learn to write, it is not as fast as any typical children their age. This matter can be properly addressed during occupational therapy sessions. However, there are ways which we can help them further in our homes or some place else other than the therapy center.

In the playground, let him climb up the monkey bars or climbing frame. This will help strengthen arm muscles. The muscles of the arm may not be directly involved in performing fine motor skills. However, a strong arm muscle may help them perform fine motor tasks with ease and sustain it for a longer period.
Watering plants in your home or garden. The act of lifting the watering can or pot will help tone arm muscle.
Let your kid be your kitchen helper by asking him to mix like for instance the pancake batter.
Initiate play by manipulating clothes pin, fastening it on a piece of cardboard or on anything creative and fun thing you can think of.
Let him crawl as he plays IE: obstacle course, play tent or tunnels.
Coloring, or even scribbling.
For children with artistic abilities, drawing and painting can be very engaging.

These are just a few ways how we can help our special learners conquer the odds of handwriting. It may take some time before they can actually learn to write legibly. As the saying goes, patience is a virtue.

Photo Credits:
Pencil Writing on Paper by Lamnee
Kid Playing by Photostock

Discovering One's Self Through Sports

2013-01-31T04:02:00.000+08:00

A lot has been said about how beneficial sports can be once you get into it. Getting into sports can strengthen the immune system and will certainly make one physically fit. The more important benefits one can derive in engaging in sports are mostly intangible, but becomes innate in one's mind and heart that will translate into becoming a better person. Not necessarily a champion in the chosen sport, but a champion in life.
Sports is not exclusive to the typical members of the population. There are sports events that celebrate the talents of the differently abled. Although sports demand physical, emotional and mental strength, talented differently abled individuals have proved they can play and win; lose in a game and still manage to stand with the head up high.
Engaging into a sport for a person challenged with autism may not be that easy. Considering the fact these persons may have behavioral and sensory issues; some lack the ability to speak or easily comprehend spoken language, learning to participate in a sports activity may be quite toilsome. Those thoughts occurred in my mind when I read a notice from my son's school about a Softball Clinic. I was hesitant in the beginning but eventually decided to let my son join and have the experience of playing softball.
Softball is played in a large, open field and requires the skill of throwing and catching a ball, batting and running . Learning the basics of the game may be arduous to someone with poor waiting skill and impulse control; with poor eye and hand coordination; and speech and language impairment. It is more challenging for those with difficulty in controlling sensory input. Like for instance being overwhelmed when given a series of instructions on what to do; affected by loud or unusual sound; poor sense of balance and perception of space making them move clumsily bumping into persons and objects or refuse to move fast (like running);
uncomfortable in either crowded or wide open places. Despite all these unwanted things that go with autism,I witnessed how my son and the other kids struggled, overcame and rose above the challenge.
The school's Softball Clinic was a two-day affair and aimed to teach kids the basics of the game. The first day was a tough one since what is required to be able to play the game were laid to them. The kids took turns in batting, throwing and catching the ball. Some kids got impatient and roamed around the field. Others would refuse to do the required task. Still some would cry and throw a fit. However, the coaches and teachers managed to pull it off and made that day productive.
The second and last day was surprising and filled with amazing revelations. Some kids showed how hard they can hit the ball and how fast they can run. Everyone showed what they gained in that two-day event. A kid at the sound of the whistle would scrunch his face and cover his ears in manifestation of discomfort on hearing that sound. But after a while, he held the bat firmly and hit the ball. Another kid who seemed to have difficulty in eliciting fast movement never gave up and managed to get back to base. The peculiarities of how the disorder affects them was apparent. But the courage and the heart to show what they attained was inspiring. That was a truly awesome reward for their teachers and coaches.
Sports activities such as this proved to be very helpful in nurturing special needs children. Engaging in sports can help them improve concentration and problem-solving skills; it can be a worthwhile outlet for kids with hyperactivity and would encourage movement to hypoactive ones. It is also a good way to learn social interaction.
The Softball Clinic ended. Everyone was grateful for the experience. The sponsor of this event was generous and too kind to have held an event like this for the children. More than the nice softball jersey that they gave as a keepsake, they left in the hearts of these children the confidence that they can be the best of what they can be.

Image Credits:
"Grass Baseball" by Idea go
"Boy Walking in Prairie" by chrisroll

Having an ID

2012-12-26T10:27:00.001+08:00

B is a 12 year old boy with autism. He was born to Filipino parents residing in London. Last year, his family spent Christmas in the Philippines.

It was B's first time to visit his parents' homeland and meet their relatives. Christmas is a much celebrated occasion in the Philippines. Parties, family reunions happen in this joyous season.
B and his family were invited to dinner with relatives and friends at a restaurant located in a mall in Quezon City three days before going back to London. Everyone was having a nice time feasting over a sumptuous meal and catching up with people whom they have not been with for quite a long time. Dinner was soon over. Everyone bids their goodbyes. Then they noticed B was not in his seat nor anywhere in the restaurant. The family reported B's loss to the mall security. Security camera footage was reviewed and showed B going out of the mall and headed towards E. Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). That was the end of the footage. Nobody knew where B went.

EDSA is a long and very busy road that provides access to the different cities of Metro Manila. Considering it was evening and the holiday rush, where does one would start looking for a boy who was completely unfamiliar with the place. B is non-verbal, throws a fit whenever he feels hungry, in a crowded place, or when he hears loud sounds. And that made his parents even more worried.
Because of this unfortunate event, his parents were so full of regrets. Blaming themselves for being overwhelmed by the presence of their relatives and friends. And most of all, for not giving their son B any sort of identification which could be useful at times like this.
The incident was reported to the police who did not waste any moment looking for B. Relatives and friends did their part to find B by appealing on radio stations, and posting on social media.
It took a couple of days before B was finally found. A manager of a fast food restaurant in Valenzuela City brought B to the police station. B apparently came into the restaurant that night. He gestured his desire to eat and was given food though he did not have money to pay for it. The restaurant staff presumed that B got lost. They asked for his name and got no answer.
Through the kindness of the fast food staff and manager, the joint effort of policemen from different stations, B was found and reunited with his family.

Children need to have some sort of ID which is most useful in cases of emergency. The ID would speak for the child in situations when he is unable to tell significant information about himself as in cases of accidents; when lost yet still very young to state those personal details; language and hearing impaired; children with neurodevelopmental disorders especially those who are non-verbal.
Individuals with autism, more so if with speech and language difficulties will benefit from wearing ID. The ID would speak to those who may be trying to help them. Therefore, IDs must contain pertinent details like the full name, address, phone number, medical condition (disorder, allergies), blood type, person to contact in case of emergency and his/her contact details.
For some children with autism, wearing an ID may be bothersome. Thus, it's hard to make them put it on. Here are ways which can be of help to make them have their IDs with them:

Always wear an ID when going out. Not only when going to school but practically everywhere he would go. Do this regularly so he would get used to it and becomes a routine.
If he feels uncomfortable wearing an ID with neck strap, you may put the ID on their belt loop.
Put tags on personal belongings used when going out like bags, jackets, and caps.

Parents would always want the safety of their children. However, unexpected and unwanted situations may come no matter how we want to avoid them. Having an ID can make a difference to a child in need and for persons willing to help them.

Photo Credits:
Colorful Taxis by think4photop
Tag by Frame Angel

The Special Education Teacher

2012-11-23T02:09:00.001+08:00

"Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. This process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials, accessible settings, and other interventions designed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and community..." - Wikipedia

That is how special education is defined by Wikipedia. Such heavy words that sounded too complex if it is put into action. That is the job of a special education teacher. A profession that requires more than a Bachelor's degree, but the heart and determination to cause change in the lives of the people they work with. The work of a special education teacher demands utmost patience, persevering determination to help students learn and improve, but not necessarily highly compensated.

In a special school for individuals with developmental disorder and mentally challenged, the number of students in each class may be much less compared to a typical class. The curriculum is individualized and made specifically for each student depending on his needs, capabilities and condition. A typical day in school may begin with chasing a hyperactive student running around. Activities and lessons must be carried out patiently because most students' attention span is short and fleeting and learning may come at a slower pace. Being a special needs educator, one must master the art of pulling students with autism out of their "own world" and redirect attention to the task. They have to be aware of their students' diet as some follow a certain regimen; behavioral peculiarities as to what could initiate meltdown and how to calm them down. Physically, these teachers have to be really strong to bear the slap, tug, pulling of hair as manifestations of some students' aggressive behavior and be quick to act against self-injurious behavior a student may also have. Despite the diverse traits and complex conditions special learners may have, it's amazing to see how rapport and respect are established between them and their teachers. A student may be non-verbal, low-functioning, with defiant behavior and yet recognizes teachers' authority.

Of the many positive attributes of a special education teacher, their being tactful is noteworthy. It seems natural for them to be sensitive enough to deal with others and manage to be firm yet kind in terms of action and uttered words in correcting students' misbehavior. They must have loved their job so much. It radiates and translates well into significant improvement that can help individuals with special needs achieve a better life.

Photo Credit:
Schoolboy & Teacher by Paul Gooddy

A Rightful Place

2012-09-30T23:30:00.000+08:00

J is a 28-year-old, high functional adult with autism. The time came that his learning abilities reached its plateau. This signaled his parents to put a stop to J's schooling and let him do other things that would still enhance him as a person.
The family owns a freight forwarding business and employed J to work as a data entry encoder. The years spent in special school and therapy center has prepared J to this new phase in his life. It may not be easy at the beginning, but with patience and guidance, J dealt with his new- found place in the society's work force reasonably well.
J has been working as a data entry encoder for a few years now. As an employee, he pays his taxes, therefore, contributing to the nation's progress. He is also a Social Security System (SSS) member which assures him of a pension on his retirement.

As for J, he did not only find his rightful place in the society. More importantly, he broke the impression that persons with autism will always be dependent to others for existence.

We often gauge a person's success according to his intellect and other abilities. Persons that are intellectual and educated are more likely to succeed and given high regard by society.
Persons with autism may have varying levels of intellect. Some maybe exceptionally intelligent while others may only have limited learning abilities. Regardless of their abilities, the increasing number of persons being affected by the disorder is more relevant. Most recognized cases of autism are children. However, they will not remain as children forever. The parents who look after them grow old and will not perpetually be by their side. What awaits in the future for these persons should not only be their families' concern. Individuals affected with autism and their families need much help from the society and the government. This should not be taken to mean dependence or being "burdens". A lot of high functional adults with autism can perform task in line with his interest exceptionally well. There are adults with autism who are capable to do maintenance jobs, work in farms, and sorting tasks in factories. They can also be employed as baggers, clerks and data entry encoders. Still some adults with autism finish college and work in companies. Most of them prove themselves as diligent workers. However, not all companies are considerate enough to hire persons with autism or even differently abled persons. Lucky are those born to families who own a business or a company. But what about those who are not. This is where the need for a system that will give persons under the spectrum opportunities to become self-sustaining individuals to the best of their potentials comes in. A society that will accept them as participating members of the working community would do so much in building their confidence and sense of belonging.
The autism community is hopeful that they can find their rightful place in the society. It's just a matter of concern for others and giving chances.

Photo Credit:
Finger on Keyboard by Stuart Miles
People Network by Vlado

So Called "Right to Life"

2012-08-27T09:13:00.000+08:00

I learned from one of the autism blogs I follow, Juniper Hill Farms, the heart-breaking story of Paul Corby.

Paul Corby is a young man of 23 years from Pennsylvania, U.S.A., who suffers from a very rare congenital heart disorder, left ventricular non-compaction (LVN). This disorder primarily affects the muscles of the heart, most commonly the left ventricle, which unnaturally appears spongy. This defect renders the heart ineffective in performing its function of circulating blood thus the danger for life-threatening complications. Paul survived three strokes and has been maintained on 19 sorts of medications daily. This being the case, a heart transplant would be the best treatment option.

Paul's mother Karen, posted on Change.org a petition urging the U.S. Senate to help her son get a heart transplant. What is the need for a mother to go through so much, even seeking the help of the country's legislators for her son to have that life-saving heart transplant? It is painful to know, but Paul was being denied placement on the national heart transplant list despite the severity of his condition. There were many reasons cited why he was denied having a heart transplant. One of them was that Paul has Autism.

Link to Paul Corby's Story by Joslyn Gray

Link to Karen Corby's Petition

Finances or unavailable facilities are common reasons why someone is denied therapeutic measures needed for a certain medical condition. Denying a person of something that would improve and prolong his life based on his intellectual or mental capacity is another thing.
Persons with autism may be different compared to ordinary persons. Their lives are full of complexities. Autism in itself is confounding. However different, complex, or confounding they may be. This doesn't mean that persons with autism have the right to life at a lesser extent.
A doctor may doubt about the likelihood a person with autism will thrive well after a major surgery. Considering the behavioral issues, the ability of an autistic person to perceive aftercare and drug interactions. However, it is noteworthy that a person with autism despite his limited abilities knows his medical condition, the suffering he has to go through brought about by that ailment, and his willingness to undergo a procedure knowing how beneficial and life saving that would be. Life has not always been easy for someone under the spectrum. The persons surrounding them help and guide them to get by. Their families and support groups; heaven-sent, persons with a good heart who would always be willing to help in any way they can is something to reckon with in relation to medical or surgical aftercare.
There were a lot of persons with autism in varying ages who have gone through major surgical procedures. Organ transplants were no exception. They managed to survive and adjust to their new life after the operation. Every medical procedure, especially major surgeries (ie. Organ transplant, neurosurgery) carry definite risks. Even medications taken by an individual have their own side effects. Despite the dangers and unwanted side effects, doctors prescribe medications or decide on performing a procedure when benefits outweigh the risks.
As for Paul Corby being denied placement on a heart transplant list due to a number of reasons, and having autism is one of them. I hope the person who decided on this would have a compassionate heart to look into Paul's will to live longer and fuller. Instead, may he look into these weaknesses as a motivation to do good and let the wonders of science improve and change the course of Paul's life.

This post is dedicated to Paul Corby with wishes for a good, healthy and happy life. To his mother Karen, your strength and courage as you stand by Paul is admirable.

Image Credits:
Human Heart Dream Designs

A Positive Look at Echolalia

2012-08-10T23:54:00.002+08:00

C, a 4 year old child with Autism, was brought to his Developmental Pediatrician for his mid year follow up. The mom gave the doctor an update regarding C's behavior and current concerns.

" Well, doctor, C's off task behavior was lessened according to his therapist. He can now follow more complex commands. However, he recently has this annoying habit of repeating words or phrases spoken by another person. Sometimes, he tends to repeat phrases from TV commercials. He sounded like a parrot when he does that," his mom told the doctor. The doctor smiled and replied in a mirthful tone, " That's a good sign. You should not feel bad about C sounding like a parrot. It is a positive indicator for future language development."

Individuals with Autism often have language difficulties. The lack of spontaneous, generative language skills pushed them to become echolalic. Echolalia is the most common form of unconventional verbal behavior exhibited by about 75 % of verbal persons with Autism. Echolalia is when the child repeats verbal information stated by others[1]. It could be words or phrases heard from actual conversational exchanges, TV commercials, movies; books read aloud and songs. Echolalia is of two types. It can be immediate (repetition of something recently heard) or delayed (repetition of previously heard information which could be after a few minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or years ago) [1].
Echolalia, although not so pleasant to hear, is something which should be taken positively for it can be a good prognostic sign of cognitive and linguistic maturation [2] than not saying or producing any sound as a means of interaction with others. We can utilize echolalia to further help children with Autism learn the meaningful use of these words or phrases to effectively communicate with others. As child interacts with others and becomes more exposed to communication, his vocabulary expands and language skills develop. Soon, the child would gradually loose tendency to repeat what others stated and would rely on self generated language to convey his thoughts or ideas.
There are two purposes why children with ASD use echolalia. They may use echolalia without the real intent to communicate (non-communicative) and the utterances may be in or out of context of the situation, ie. repeating words or phrases heard from a TV commercial, repeating verbal instructions of a routine directed upon himself like washing of hands, putting on clothes. Experts say they resort to meaningless utterances when they are in a situation that bring about auditory information overload making them feel stressed or anxious. This unconventional verbal behavior may be addressed by limiting and simplifying our words as we talk to the child. Sometimes, children under the spectrum resort to echolalia as a way to generate attention. Therapist's advice on this is to ignore the act so as not to encourage the habit.
On the other hand, echolalia may be used for the purpose of having meaningful communication with others. It is said that echolalia is for communicative purposes when the child uses it to help him engage in a conversation since he lack the language skills to respond spontaneously; to request or ask for something; to express his approval of something. When a child uses echolalia to convey certain message, we must take advantage of the imitation by providing appropriate response or direct him on how to properly ask for something, ie. a child may say, "Do you want some cookies?" in imitation of a question previously asked to him when he actually meant he wants some cookies. This is a good chance to demonstrate a more appropriate way to state what he actually wants by saying, " I want some cookies."
Therapists implement numerous methods on how to manage echolalia. However, what works best is on a case to case basis for no Autistic child is exactly the same. Whatever method of managing echolalia one might find to work best for a child, the same golden rule applies:
*Do not try to eliminate echolalia.
Keep in mind the language problem an Autistic child may have. It is a struggle for him to communicate. If at present all he could say were purely out of imitation, then every word he says is a cause to celebrate. After all, echolalia is an indication of " future language development."

Image Credits:
Parrot by Salvatore Vuono
Boy Shouting by Tina Phillips
References:
1. Susan Stokes, Increasing Expressive Skills For Verbal Children with Autism, CESA7,
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
2. Lovaas

Fun Based Learning

2012-07-22T13:56:00.001+08:00

Jigsaw Puzzle

Special needs children when not attending school or therapy sessions should be provided with worthwhile activities at home. Activities that would keep them busy so as not to encourage emergence of self stimulatory behaviors. Or better yet, provide them with activities that would address different sensory issues or motor problems they may have. We can always improvise from whatever we have at home. Like for instance an old coin bank or box with small slit where your child can slip poker chips or coins for fine motor improvement; old plastic jars or containers with screw lid which your child can open and close to strengthen
his grip. Still there are many other ways to improvise therapy devices or toys with special purpose.

Parents often opt to improvise these special needs toys because very rarely you will see them in toy stores. There is this one shop in Multiply Philippines that especially caught my attention- the "Autism Shop". Its an online shop that carries special needs toys, books and other products that can be helpful to children with Autism, their parents and therapists looking for devices for therapy rooms. Here are some of the items which the shop offers:

Shape Sorting Game

1. Jigsaw Puzzles - can help child improve visual discrimination, form constancy and visual memory.
As most children with Autism are visual learners, toys addressing visual perceptual skills would be most helpful.
2. Shape Sorting Game - works on shape and color recognition and eye hand coordination.

Mix and Match Puzzle

3. Action Flashcards - can help increase a child's vocabulary and skills of daily living.
4. Aroma Dough - organic and gluten free scented clay to work on a child's tactile and olfactory sense.
5. Mix and Match Puzzles - stimulates child's creativity. The shop offers dressing up mix and match puzzle which can help introduce the concept of dressing up.
Other interesting stuffs:
6. Organic Mosquito Repellant - protect kids from being bitten by mosquitoes without exposing them to harmful chemicals.
7. Books on Autism

Aroma Dough

The Autism Shop still has more. If you aim to recreate a mini therapy area right into your own home or just want to provide your child toys that can address his special needs, help him learn and still have fun, then you may want to check out this online store :
Autism Shop (http://autism.multiply.com/)

Credits:
All photos are published with permission from the Autism Shop.

Disclosure:
The author is not in any way connected with the store mentioned nor compensated to promote it.
The article is written only for the purpose of providing information.

Autism Science Then and Now

2012-06-08T10:15:00.001+08:00

Several decades ago, there was a poor understanding of what Autism was. It was in the 1960's that it became recognized as a different entity from psychotic disorders. Since then, Autism has been a focus of many researches determined to find out its causes and how it can be treated. Those researches led us today to the knowledge that genetics and the environment are involved in its causation. However, it is not clear how and why while the number of affected children is continuously rising. And there is no known cure as yet.
There are still a lot of stones to be unturned to discover all that we need to know about Autism and find the cure. If not the cure, a more effective way to treat it at least. Or ultimately, finding a way to prevent it.
The medical field has not stop its quest. In fact, here are some of the recent findings and development from studies and researches scientists have been conducting.

Autism Risk Assessment Test (ARISk)
ARISk is a genetic test introduced by IntraGen. It can identify the risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in children 6 months and older who have older siblings affected by the disorder. Genetics has been pointed out as a major factor in the development of ASD. According to studies, siblings of affected children are at higher risk to have the disorder compared to the general population.
The ARISk is a non invasive test that utilizes a buccal swab and can be done in your doctors' clinic.
The benefits of this test having been able to identify the risk of having ASD, the child can be closely monitored for delays in developmental milestones and more importantly, intervention therapy if deemed necessary can be given which can result to better outcomes when initiated early.
A genetic screen for Autism for children with no family history of ASD is being worked on by IntraGen.
Visit ARISk for more information and how to avail of the test.

MSNP1AS Gene
MSNP1AS is a newly discovered Autism gene which is found 12 times higher than normal in brains of persons with Autism. This gene inhibits the production of a protein called moesin which is important to both early brain development and immune function. This discovery can lead scientists to embark on new research projects aimed to expound knowledge about this gene and find ways to improve symptoms of Autism if not preventing it from occurring.
To know more about this, read on the article A Noncoding RNA Antisense to Moesin at 5p14.1 in Autism

Oxytocin in Autism
Oxytocin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland and can act as a neurotransmitter in the brain. It is involved in social behavior as in recognition and bonding. A study done in 1998 found significantly lower levels of oxytocin in blood plasma of children with Autism[1]. Another study done in 2003 found a decrease in occurrence of repetitive behaviors when oxytocin was administered intravenously to individuals with Autism[2]. Over the years until the present time, a number of other studies utilizing oxytocin to improve social behavior of autistic individuals have been done and yielded promising results. However, these results do not warrant the use of oxytocin to treat Autism today. There are still a lot of things to search for, prove and validate before something be used for therapeutic purposes. The knowledge derived from previous studies would be of help to many groups of scientists working on the possibility of using oxytocin as a treatment modality in Autism.

Despite the numerous studies done on Autism and still a lot more going on, everything from its etiology to treatment remains inconclusive. Behavioral therapy and the use of highly controlled learning environments remained the cornerstone of treatment.

Knowing your child has Autism is heart breaking and the fact that there is no known cure for it (as yet) will tear you apart and the hardest thing to accept. It will leave parents a feeling of hopelessness. But parents of autistic children or any special needs parents for that matter should not stay that way for long. As parents, they are the primary source of affection and care and most importantly, they are the stronghold that would help their children face the challenge life has given and to fight the battle they never chose.

Image Credit:
DNA Helix in a Tube by Victor Habbick
Father Giving Hand to a Child by TCJ2020

References:
1. Modahl C, Green L, Fein D et al. (1998). "Plasma oxytocin levels in autistic children"
2. Hollander E, Novotny S, Hanratty M et al.. (2003). "Oxytocin infusion reduces repetitive
behaviors in adults with autism and Asperger's disorders"

Believing He Can

2012-05-30T00:02:00.000+08:00

We were eating at a fast food restaurant when an ad on the wall caught my son's attention. The ad was aimed to recruit children for the summer kiddie crew workshop. The ad showed happy faces of children convincing enough and made my son wanting to join.
I was a little worried he might not be accepted to join in typical summer programs. But I still tried to inquire about it. The restaurant manager enthusiastically stated all the requirements for joining. But I just had one question to ask her, "Do you accept children with special needs?" The manager paused and then replied " Yes, we do. It's the restaurant's policy to accept every child who wishes to be a kiddie crew." I told the manager a little something about my son. She reaffirmed that my son's condition won't be a problem although they have not experienced having someone like him in the previous years they have been doing the workshop. Upon hearing that, I had my son registered.
A few days before he started as a restaurant kiddie crew, I had a lot of "what ifs" and worried thoughts. What if he could not understand what he would be asked to do? What if he becomes hyperactive, runs around and break something? What if he could not get along with other kiddie crews?
My boy is already 8 years old, able to write his name, a sight reader, with tendency to be echolalic sometimes and gets confused with multiple instructions but with very good work behavior. I was worried to let him be in a place where people may not have a single idea of what Autism is and how people with Autism are. This would be the first time my son would be participating in an activity where the people he would be working with were not trained to deal with children with special needs.
My son's most awaited day came. He was excited to be in his kiddie crew uniform. The first day began with a short parent and kiddie crew orientation. The kids were asked to introduce themselves. My son has speech and language delay but he managed to state his full name and age clearly as he stood up in front of everyone without a trace of jitteriness.

It was a three hours a day, five day activity workshop wherein the kids were exposed to work in a fast food restaurant - doing some light kitchen work like preparing spaghetti and hamburger, getting customers' orders at the counter , of course under the guidance and supervision of the employees. Aside from working in the restaurant, kids were also given fun activities like painting, singing and dancing.
My son enjoyed each day spent at the workshop. The employees were all nice and patient with the kids bustling around with them. Petty incidences did happen involving my son and other kids, too like sampling how crunchy the fried chicken was, sipping sodas, licking sundae cones and other antics kids may possibly do. The restaurant has a very good policy in this kiddie crew workshop. They have rules and guidelines but do not prevent kids from being kids. The kids were working while immensely having fun.
The workshop ended with a graduation ceremony wherein the participants, my son included, were given certificates. They sang the kiddie crew theme which some of the lines struck me.
As we gather here today
We make a pledge to serve others
To be the best
Let nothing bring us down
Always say " we can"
Let the whole world know
We're gonna make things happen.

Eventually, my son made me realize there was nothing to worry about after all. My son discovered and learned new things, gained new friends. Being his mother, this experience reminded me that the day will come my boy will be on his own to discover what else life has in store for him. For the meantime, I will continue to guide and help him to be the best to the fullest of his potentials. So when that day comes, he is ready.

Every summer, many activities or programs are being offered for children. From swimming lessons, basketball and other sports clinic, art and painting classes, talent workshops to livelihood training and many more. All are apt to keep children engaged in activities that would contribute to their being while out of school for the summer break. Summer is over (in the Philippines) and school will soon open. But some of these activities or programs are still open for those who want to pursue. Swimming and other sports classes, dance and voice lessons, lessons on learning to play musical instruments are some programs that are offered the whole year round.
Children under the spectrum can likewise benefit from these activities. It can develop whatever talents they may have. It helps in establishing their sense of self worth and confidence and likewise improve socialization skills.
In choosing which program or activity you may want your child to get into, consider the following:

Your child's interests . The activity should be something that your child wants to make it enjoyable for him.
The length of time spent in each session. Most children under the spectrum have a short attention span.
Number of participants if the session is held in groups. The lesser the number of participants, the more beneficial it would be. Some children with Autism gets easily distracted and bothered which may happen if they are amidst a number of other people. On the instructor's part, it is easier to handle a group with a small number of participants and may allow extra attention rendered to those who may need it.
Let the instructor or trainer know your child's condition, his strengths, limitations and weaknesses.

Children under the spectrum are born with talents. Its up to the people around them to discover it. Exposing them to various activities may lead not only to discovery of hidden talents but also livelihood skills with which they can be trained further to make it a means of living in the future. After all, the reason behind all these measures we give is for them to have a better chance to a fuller life.

Saying Goodbye to Nappies

2012-05-17T12:07:00.001+08:00

Toilet training a child with autism is one hard feat for their parents. Sometimes, toilet training takes years before it could be learned. What makes it harder is the fact that most toilet training techniques known are ineffective for children under the spectrum. Parents need to work hand in hand with their child's therapist to make the toilet training technique implemented work effectively.

Toilet training is usually started in typical children at age 2-3 when good bladder control has been attained. This is evident when the nappy is dry when they wake up in the morning. But in the case of children with Autism, many things should be taken into consideration. The presence of gastrointestinal problems like constipation or the child's receptiveness may affect toilet training.

Visual Potty Chart

My son C attained good bladder control at age 2 but was not ready to receive toilet training instructions since his attention span was short and fleeting with poor communication skills. He was afraid of the toilet bowl and gets startled when he heard the flush of the toilet.
When he turned 4, he felt uncomfortable wearing pull up diapers and would remove it once he had peed or pooped on it. I took advantage of this and started bringing him to the toilet every hour and ask him to pee. His therapist did the same thing when C was in school and gave me visual potty cards to be used at home.

Our early attempts were not successful because C could not get the purpose of bringing him to the toilet every hour. Visual potty cards along with simple verbal instructions were ineffective. So the therapist, being male just like C, made an actual demonstration of peeing along with short and easy to understand verbal instructions. It was the real act of voiding that made him understand what to do should the need arises. This worked on C and from then on, he would say "wee-wee" while making his way to the toilet to pee.
The issue of micturating has been resolved. He never wore his pull up diapers even when going to bed at night. But he would ask to put them on whenever he felt the urge to defecate. I began toilet training for stool by asking him to sit on the toilet bowl. He was afraid doing it so I sat on the toilet and had him sit on my lap while I sang his favorite songs from Barney's. After doing that several times, the tension of sitting on the toilet vanished. But still our attempts to make him poop on the loo were unsuccessful.
Until one day while putting C's toys and stuff in order, I saw this compact disc entitled Baby Songs which his grandmother gave him I forgot when. It was a musical video featuring children and tackles issues like sharing toys with friends, worries about being away from mom and most of all- toilet training. The toilet training music video was entitled "Today I took my diapers off". It showed cute toddlers sitting in the potty and demonstrating how easy and fun toileting can be. It made me realize too, that C may be frightened to sit on the toilet thinking he might fall. He was too big to sit on his potty trainer but still too small to sit on the toilet.
The Baby Song music videos became his favorite and watching them became part of his daily routine. I watched with him often especially on the toilet training part of the video and would tell him that big boys like him should do it on the toilet, not on diapers which are only for babies. He would smile and I took that as an approval. After a few days, I took him shopping and asked him what toilet training seat would he like. He was smiling again and picked up the seat with a yellow duck which was somewhat similar with the one he saw on the music video. From then on, our toileting dilemma were all gone. He would go to the toilet and pee on his own and would ask for his "duckie toilet seat" when he felt the need for it.
It certainly not easy to have a special child toilet trained. It entailed a lot of patience and avoidance of getting mad whenever your child fails to do as told. Getting angry during potty training wont help but may only result to your child being traumatized by the experience. Different techniques have been used by parents. But all of these techniques have one thing in common- "patience".
If you wish to see the video that helped me potty train my child, kindly check "Today I Took My Diapers Off". Hope it helps your child, too.

Photo Credit:
Aerial View of Cute Kid by Photostock

A Pencil Heavy as a Log

2012-05-07T12:36:00.000+08:00

Being a child with Autism, C had difficulty learning to write. Though he always had drills to work on his fine motor skills in his Occupational Therapy sessions, learning to write was given emphasis in his program when he was aged 5.

To hold a pencil or crayon in the proper way (tripod grip) was an agony for him as if he was holding a heavy log. It was even more difficult when he was asked to do writing exercises making up and down strokes.
While typical children enjoys coloring activities, it seemed to be a very tiring activity for C. He was sweating, his lips tucked showing his eagerness to do the task while his hand moved unsteadily.

Handwriting may seem to be an arduous task for C. But surprisingly, he never refused to do it even when at home. He would finish every writing exercises presented to him. It was heart breaking watching him making strokes while struggling to hold his pencil. He wrote as if really his pencil was heavy as a log.
But that was then. After two years of hard work, C's efforts paid off. He can now write his name and a few common words. Lately he is into drawing, particularly shapes, then coloring them afterwards. Writing and drawing used to be a strenuous thing to do for him.
Now, he enjoys doing it. The pencil is not as heavy as a log after all now that he can write with ease.

It took a long time for C to learn how to write. His handwriting and drawings may not be exceptional. But those little achievements are big enough for him to be proud of. We should value even the littlest achievement a special child may ever have for we do not know what he has to overcome or go through just to accomplish that.
At the end of this school year, a Recognition Ceremony was held. C was awarded Most Improved in Writing Skill. That crowned all the concerted efforts of his teachers, therapists and parents, and most of all his determination to overcome the challenge of what seemed to be impossible for him to achieve.

Handwriting is often learned with difficulty by most children with Autism. Even the high functioning ones find it hard to master this skill. Handwriting may seem of less importance to special children since the primary goal of education and therapy is to make them self reliant individuals later on in life hence putting more emphasis on daily living skills and sensory integration. But handwriting becomes important when the child is envisioned capable of being mainstreamed or included in regular school. The regular class requires a lot of writing and copying making it hard for Autistic children to cope up even when intellectually they are at par with their classmates who do not belong to the spectrum. Special learners can benefit from the advent of the computer wherein simple press and click should do the job and handwriting would no longer be necessary. But that is not the setting in our schools.
Reason behind this handwriting difficulty is in relation with the problem with fine motor control as found out by Bastian and colleagues in a study done in Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. With poor motor control found even in high functioning children with Autism, not only handwriting is affected but also the use of eating utensils. But there is a lot of hope. When this fine motor problem is properly addressed with the help of occupational therapy, handwriting can be learned although it may took a lot of effort. Some children under the spectrum even have more legible handwriting than some typical children.

I would like to share some writing exercises. They were from my son's Occupational Therapist and we used these at home when he was still in the process of strengthening his grip and firming his strokes. I would ask him to trace or follow the broken lines and reward him with my appreciation and encouraging words when he was done.

May I also share this website, Therapy Street for Kids, which I find very helpful and rich in easy to follow guidelines and techniques that can be implemented at home and enhance your child's Occupational Therapy Program. This site also contains valuable information on fine motor stregthening, pre-writing and handwriting skills.
I hope these would also help your child or a loved one get over the challenges of handwriting and finds out that the pencil is not heavy as a log after all.

Photo Credits:
School Boy by Arvind Balaraman

Bullied for Being Different

2012-05-01T16:37:00.001+08:00

N's parents always thought that there was something different about him but did not pay much attention about it until N went to school for the first time at age 5. His teacher said he could not cope with the lessons and was actually behaving differently compared to his classmates. Because of being "different", his parents were advised to have N evaluated by a doctor who confirmed that N has Autism.
Since then, N studied at a special school. His progress in academic and communication skills were quite remarkable. After several years of faring in a special school, he was recommended to be mainstreamed into a regular school.
A big transition in N's life unfolds. The eight year old boy was assessed and qualified to join in the 1st Grade Class. The first month of the school year went on smoothly for N. But the subsequent month was filled with grim.
There was a time N would miss eating during recess because his snack bag was missing. He would come home with scribbles at the back of his polo shirt. Some of his school stuffs like pencils or pad paper were lost and apparently big boys took them from his bag. When asked who were those kids and why they did that to him, he would just lock himself in deafening silence. But his eyes could not hide the feelings of sadness and fear.

His parents brought this concern to his teacher. It was not easy digging up facts about the unpleasant incidents that happened to N because he was always alone since he had no friends. The teacher then found out that a group of boys from the 5th Grade were behind these atrocious acts.
The bullies receive a short term punishment. N was relieved, but not for long. When the bullies got back from suspension, of course they no longer took N's snack bag or school stuffs, nor scribbled at the back of his polo shirt. This time, they resorted to a more vicious but discreet way of bullying - verbal abuse. Verbal abuse may not leave physical evidences, but it is powerful enough to dishearten and inflict wounds in one's emotions.
N have gotten tired of all those kids who ridiculed and refused to accept him. One morning, he resisted his mother in getting him ready for school. He was asked why he did not want to go to school and N replied in a melancholy tone, "they say I am abnoy", ( "abnoy" is a Filipino slang for abnormal). Tears welled in his eyes. His mother's heart was shattered seeing his boy emotionally tormented.
N never returned to that school. His parents were equally traumatized by the experience. N went back to the special school and continued his studies. His parents still in search for another regular school. This time their fingers are tightly crossed and really hoping for a school with a more friendly environment. A school that supports someone like N to be educated and have a better chance to a fuller life.

Bullying is an aggressive behavior that may be physical or verbal common among school aged children. School bullying should not be regarded as part of growing up. School administrators must find ways to prevent it and address it properly should an incidence of bullying had already occurred.
Children who are victims of bullying experience real suffering that can interfere with their social and emotional development and school performance. Studies have shown that one out of ten students drop out of school because they are bullied. Some victims of bullying ended up committing suicide.
Children targeted by bullies are often passive and easily intimidated, have few or no friends at all. They may also be smaller or younger that seem to be unfit to defend themselves. Other kids are picked on by bullies because of their physical appearances ( e.g. being fat or too thin) or because of noticeable peculiarities.
Special needs children particularly those under the Autism Spectrum are proven to fit in the profile of favorite targets of these bullies. They are oftentimes alone since it is not easy for them to get along with others and make friends. Some kids under the spectrum even when they have improved significantly in academic performance still have self stimulatory behaviors ( e.g. hand flapping, waving, body rocking) that made them be perceived as "different" in the midst of typical children. Being "different" is not a reason for others to tease, ridicule, or hurt someone.
A typical child may have difficulty figuring out what to do if he is a victim of bullying. It is even harder for someone under the spectrum to do so given the fact that some of them may have limitations in their ability to communicate or express themselves. Being depressed and reluctant to go to school are some signs that a child might be undergoing a problem in school. Parents should talk to their child about it and ask the help of his teacher or guidance counselor.
Schools, especially those which have mainstreaming program for special learners, should have concrete guidelines on addressing the issue of bullying. School bullying should not be regarded as a petty issue between students because it can have a great impact and can scar a person's emotions for life.

Photo Credits:
Sad Boy by David Castillo Dominici
Children in the School Yard by Vlado

Juniper Hill Farms, an Autism Haven

2012-04-22T00:23:00.001+08:00

Much has been said about children with Autism. Have you ever wondered how would their life be when they become adults? Are they capable of living independently?
Meet Andy, Brent, Patrick, Jose, Michael and Ray. Despite being regarded as individuals with special needs, they proved their worth as men and equally productive members of the society. Let's take a look and learn from their lives at Juniper Hill Farms.

Sunflower farm

Juniper Hill Farms is an 8 acre farm land situated in Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The farm grows sunflowers which are being sold to local businesses and markets. Its also a fiber farm that produces angora, cashmere and alpaca.

Busy tending the animals

Diane Belnavis, a recreation therapist who have been working with people under the spectrum for so long started this community. It all began when they bought an abandoned house situated in a farm land in the Summer of 2009. By Fall of 2010, they established this community of flower and fiber farmers comprised of a few local folks, six men with Autism and their support group.
Juniper Hill Farm was built with the strong purpose of forming and maintaining a replicable model of independent living for adults on the Autism Spectrum. One may think its some sort of special needs institution or living facility. Contrary to that, they are renting the house they live in, with support people that visit once in a while to make sure things are going well, along with Diane who happens to live with them. Ray, Patrick and Brent rent the rancher at the top of the hill. While Jose, Michael and Andy lives down the hill. They may be receiving their monthly Social Security Income from the government but they did not stop at that since they work in the farm and some do in between jobs. Ray works twice a week cleaning two different gyms in West Chester, Pennsylvania. His employers are very impressed with the work attitude that he has. Brent on the other hand makes blankets then eventually selling them as additional means of living.

Ray at the gym

Brent making a fabulous flag blanket

While everyday life may not be easy for someone with Autism taking into consideration the difficulties each one in the spectrum may experience like faulty sensory processing, impaired social and communication abilities, they managed to live and co-exist with one another. There may be a lot of differences like for instance their food favorites to begin with. But what is important is that they know how to respect each others' interests and passions. They accepted and cared for each other just like a family.

There are still a lot more coming for Juniper Hill Farms. Along with their sunflowers, zinnias will soon bloom. The animal population in the farm is no longer limited to fiber animals as they now have chicken, geese, pot bellied pigs, donkey and emu.

I hope there would be more like Diane who see Autism with a positive perspective when what everybody else see is tragedy and misery.
And if still one would ask if people under the spectrum could ever be self sufficient and productive?
A resounding yes would be the answer. ' need proof? Meet Andy, Brent, Patrick, Jose, Michael and Ray of Juniper Hill farms.

Acknowledgement :
Ms.Diane Belnavis for granting permission to cover the story.
Andy, Brent, Patrick, Jose, Michael and Ray for the inspiration.
Photo credits Juniper Hill Farms

Brother's Keeper

2012-04-18T09:41:00.000+08:00

It was truly a trying time when the couple found out that J, their eldest son has autism.
J has severe autism. Though his parents knew about his disorder, no intervention was given to him until the age of 9 due to lack of knowledge in properly addressing his needs.
J is now 29 years old. Like most individuals with severe autism, he has very poor communication skills, not even capable of using non verbal gestures, depends on others even on his toileting needs, with aggressive and self-injurious behavior.

The parents are not complaining for they sincerely love J but admitted having a tough life. In every decision they would have to make- regarding work schedule, taking trips, whether to attend social gatherings - J would always have to be considered since they take turns looking after him. Even J's younger brother takes part on this responsibility.
R, the younger brother, is an architect. At an early age, their parents made him realize his elder brother's condition. The two brothers grew up very close to each other. R was taught to respect and love J as an older sibling. Their parents made known to him how significant he is in his brother's life. R took this to heart. An overseas job opportunity came but he turned it down because he does not want his aging parents to be left alone taking care of J. When it comes to having romantic relationship, R would want a woman who will accept and care for J as if his own brother.
Their parents are so pleased with how their sons treat each other. They are so proud of R for the kind man he turned out to be. As for J , he is still the son and the brother who made them experience a challenging and tough life but brought out the best in each one of them.
J has severe autism. Despite being so, his parents no longer worry about him just like before. Because they know even when their time ends, J has a brother who would love and take care of him.

Persons having Severe Autism, also called Low-Functioning Autism have greater difficulty with social skills and communication. They also have sensory processing disorder rendering them too sensitive or not sensitive enough to various stimuli making them unable to appropriately react or cope up with the different situations encountered in daily life. Sensory processing disorder along with the inability to communicate to express themselves adequately often lead them to exhibit challenging behaviors such as self injury ( e.g. head banging, hand biting, excessive scratching ) and aggression ( e.g. hitting, biting, pinching, throwing objects ).
A child with Severe Autism also have greater difficulty learning. As with other Autism Spectrum Disorders, early intervention is just as important. In the case of Severe Autism, education and therapy should be geared towards functional living programs that may help the child to live, work and become socially accepted members of the community.
Individualized Education Program (IEP) should include life skills and discovering a child's potentials and skills then eventually developing them.
Children have a limited time spent with their teachers and therapists. That is why parents are encouraged to get involved and at the very least try to know something about their child's disorder as this may contribute greatly in achieving IEP goals. Parents may ask teachers how they may reinforce at home what has been learned in school.
Parents may also ask the therapist on how they can manage their child's behavioral and sensory issues at home. Consistency in approach is crucial in managing whatever issues a child may have. How a particular issue is being dealt with at the therapy center must be the same at home. Ultimately, the goal is to help them become self- sufficient individuals to the best of their potentials.
Parents have a key role in the life of their children - typical or special ones. More than anyone else, it is the parents obligation to raise their children well; help and guide them to be the best of what they can be.

Posted by Red

Image Credits:
Vintage picture of two young children by Chrisroll
Back view of school boy sitting by Imagerymajestic

Finding Toys with a Purpose

2012-04-13T10:32:00.000+08:00

All children love toys. Special needs kids are no exception. Actually, playing with toys can be a great way for them to have fun while their different sensory issues and development of some skills are being dealt with all at the same time. You just have to find the right toy that can serve that purpose. Also,consider your child's interest to make play time truly enjoyable.

To find a purposive toy, you may want to consider these pointers:

1. Toys that perk up the senses

toys that light up - good for visual stimulation
picture books
toys that make sounds
toy clay - for tactile stimulation

2. Toys that develop motor skills

crayons and coloring books - for development of fine motor skill
paints & water colors - develop fine motor skill, creativity and self expression
building blocks
sorting and matching toys
bicycle - helps in achieving good sense of balance

3. Toys that help improve social skills

board games - give emphasis on social interaction, turn taking, frustration tolerance

4. Toys for speech and language development

story and nursery rhyme books
language interactive toys

5. Toys that reflect their interest

if your child is interested in music, then a toy musical instrument or a toy microphone would be best
paints, coloring pens with sketch pad if your child is into drawing and art works
beading play set and other craft kits

These toys and games can be fun while engaging kids in activities that address their special needs. But the love and support from a family is the most special among his needs. No kind of toy could ever give that.

Posted by Red

Photo Credits:

Boy playing with blocks ; Happy family on vacation by Photostock

The Need to Have a "World of their Own"

2012-04-09T13:26:00.005+08:00

Our senses help us discover, learn and understand the world we live in and everything around us. Our perception or reactions to various stimuli that we encounter in our day to day living is governed by our senses.
Our body is equipped with a lot of senses. The five most recognized of them are:

sight
hearing
taste
smell
touch

In addition to that, other senses include:

thermoception - sense of temperature
proprioception - sense of position.location,orientation and movement of the body and its parts
vestibular sense - sense of balance
nociception - sense of pain

All these senses receive stimuli from inside the body or from the environment and convert these into electrical information which are then carried by cells specialized to conduct impulses (neurons) to the brain where it gets processed for meanings. The body then will produce an appropriate response. This may not be the same for people challenged with Autism.
People under the Autism Spectrum have difficulty in processing information that comes into the brain through the senses. There are also instances where they can experience fluctuations in sensory processing leading to over or being under sensitive to sensory input from one or more of the senses. Sensory processing can also be delayed and distorted.
These unusual ways of processing sensory information as it comes to the brain affect the ability to produce appropriate responses. These may manifest differently in each individual but more often than not would result to confusion, anxiety and fearfulness making it hard for them to understand people they interact with and their environment.
To site examples of how serious these irregularities in sensory system can affect them:

bright lights may bring about stinging sensation to the eyes
hearing sounds as too loud or too soft
light touch may feels like a pinch
may be very sensitive to different tastes or textures of food and vomits easily
poor vestibular sense may bring about cravings for excessive movement or may dislike any movement
may have intense emotional reactions and have difficulty calming down in response to certain stimuli e.g. crowded and noisy places, sudden change in routine, loud music

In their everyday life, it so sad that they have to struggle and find ways to cope up and shut themselves off from the undesirable effects of faulty sensory processing giving rise to inappropriate, odd behaviors that stigmatize persons with Autism. The display of "challenged behavior" is a coping mechanism to shield themselves from overwhelming sensory input to the point of retreating to their "own world". Because in their "own world", they can block off those stimuli so they can be calm and relieved from pain, confusion and distress.

They may do these to cope up and recover:

When other senses seem to be not working well, they use other reliable senses like the senses of touch and smell to understand their environment

smells, licks, or taps object

At times when they cannot deal with all the sensory information coming in, they shut down one or some of the senses, thus other senses are able to function better:

behaving as if deaf

rocks unconsciously during other activities

This may just be a little bit of information of how a person under the spectrum experiences the world. Its not easy to live in a world of this kind when the very basic tool to survive- the sensory system for that matter- is not functioning at its best.

If you happen to know, work with, live or love someone with Autism, take time to know how they experience the world and why there is a need for them to retreat into their "own world". In this way, we can accept and understand them better. We can render their much needed support. Perhaps when that happens, there would be no need for them to have "a world of their own".

Posted by Red

Image Credits:
Spring smile by Tina Phillips
Surprised cartoon boy by Grant Cochrane

Reference:

Sensory Issues in Autism, The Autism & Practice Group, 2007

Silent Worshiper

2012-04-05T08:00:00.000+08:00

D is a 36 year old , non- verbal person with autism. During his younger years, he had his special education (SPED) in a public school and never had any sort of therapy. Despite his condition, he cannot be considered a "burden" since he helps in the family owned poultry farm which is their source of livelihood.
Every Sunday, D never fails to fulfill his spiritual obligations. As he comes inside the prayer hall, he would quickly go to his favorite spot at the corner where he would sit in silence. When greeted, he would respond by waving a little and make a peculiar sound.

You would see a different D during praise and worship. His arms extended up high, eyes shut, his face so tranquil. One can feel his out pouring faith and complete surrender to his creator. Without saying a word, he can express his deep faith and love of God. D may not be able to talk. But prayers are best heard when we do it in silence.

There is no known cure for Autism as yet. Still, there are a lot of things about the disorder awaiting to be discovered. The number of individuals suffering from it is increasing. In spite of that, let us keep our faith and hopes up.
In observance of Lent, let me end this post with a prayer written by Vernon Corea who happens to have an Autistic grandson.

Gracious Father,

Thank you for giving us your Son

To teach us and forgive us.

He suffered and died for us,

And while He was on this earth,

He healed the sick

And touched the lives of everyone.

We now commit the lives

Of all the Autistic people of our nation

Into your loving care.

We ask You to lay Your hands on them

And give them Your peace

Give them the power of the Holy Spirit

To make them whole.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Preparing for Your Visit to the Doctor

2012-04-04T08:00:00.000+08:00

Making an appointment to see a Developmental Pediatrician is not as easy as one would think. Since there are only a few doctors within this sub-specialty, it may take months or even a year before your child gets an evaluation. This is especially true if you would like your child to be seen by the illustrious doctors of this field. So when that day comes, make sure you are prepared and make the long wait all worthwhile.
Here are some tips to help you prepare and hints of what your doctor might do to make the fullest out of that visit.

List down :

all the observed changes in your child's behavior
all the medications your child is taking
your child's eating habits and food preference

Questions you may want to ask your doctor:

why do you think my child does or doesn't have Autism ?
if my child does have Autism, what are the things or changes to expect?
what kind of intervention does my child needs and where to get it?
how would I deal with each behavioral and sensory issues my child has?
how would I learn more about Autism?

The doctor might ask you about these things:

your child's developmental milestones so bring in the baby book
what made you decide to bring in your child for consult
anyone in the family with Autism
other symptom that may seem unrelated to Autism ( e.g. diarrhea, constipation )
favorite activity
changes in level of frustration ( e.g. throwing tantrums )
sleeping pattern

Do not be afraid to ask questions. Be strong enough to hear whatever the outcome of the evaluation would be. Its better that both parents are present. If this is not possible, ask a family member or a friend to come with you for emotional support.
At the end of the visit, the doctor will give a summary of the assessment report which contains information about your child's current developmental status, the diagnosis and the recommended intervention e.g. Applied Behavioral Analysis, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy.

Posted by Red

Photo Credit:
Notebook & pen by Jiggoja

Finding a Developmental Pediatrician

2012-04-03T10:39:00.001+08:00

A Developmental Pediatrician is a doctor trained and gained expertise to evaluate and care for children with developmental, learning and behavioral problems. There are only a few doctors in this Pediatric sub-specialty so it may take sometime to make an appointment with them. Their clinics may be found in a number of big hospitals in Metro Manila. It would cost PHP3,000 for a child to be evaluated.
Ask about professional fees whenever you make an inquiry about the doctor as this may vary depending on the area or location of the clinic. This may not be affordable to some families making financial aspect a big factor why some children suspected having some form of developmental disorder are left undiagnosed hence being denied of intervention and treatment.
There are two government hospitals in Metro Manila that offer developmental assessment at minimal to no fees at all:

1. Philippine Children's Medical Center (PCMC), located in Quezon Ave., Agham Rd., Quezon City.
Contact No. 924-66-01 local 325. Screening would cost PHP210. If referral to a Developmental Pediatrician is found necessary, full evaluation costs PHP1,000.

2. Philippine General Hospital (PGH), located in Taft Avenue, Manila. Contact No. 554-84-00 local 2123. Full evaluation is free of charge.

For those residing in the provinces, you may check the nearby government hospitals if they have such services. If none, then consulting a private Developmental Pediatrician would be the option. Autism Pinoy has a list of doctors from Metro Manila and select provinces.

I hope the Department of Health would come up with projects that would make medical care more accessible to every Filipinos with special needs.

N.B. Fees mentioned are based on inquiries made as of this writing.

Posted by Red

Image Credit:
Doctor coat with stethoscope by Salvatore Vuono

Autism Tell Tale

2012-04-02T10:54:00.001+08:00

* Updated June 5, 2012

Being the first born and only grandchild, everyone in the family is so fond of C. His parents have big dreams for him.
As he was growing, he was like any other child until he reached 10 months of age. He seemed not to look at people, nor responding to his name anymore. When someone tries to play with him, asking him to do "flying kiss", "close open", he did not mind as if no one was playing with him.
At 18 months, C was not saying any words yet. He was still incapable of doing communicative gestures like waving bye-bye or pointing.
By age 2, C had no vocabulary and still babbling like a 6 month old. He was hyperactive- running around aimlessly, mesmerized by spinning objects like the blades of the electric fan. His mother noticed all these alarming behavioral manifestations, but clinged to the common belief that boys develop later than girls. And that C will soon catch up.

The early behavioral manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) may show at 12 months of age but valid screening can be obtained when child reaches 16 months of age.[1].
According to First Signs , the very early indicators, the so called RED FLAGS of Autism include:

1. failure to elicit social smile and other joyful expressions by 6 months of age and thereafter
2. no back and forth sharing of sounds and smiles by 9 months of age and thereafter
3. no babbling by 12 months
4. no gesturing (pointing, waving bye-bye) by 12 months
5. does not say single words by 16 months
6. does not say 2 word spontaneous phrases by 24 months (not just echoing)
7. losing language or social skills at any age

A baby visits a pediatric clinic every month for wellness check up.
And these things should not be missed during routine developmental examination done by a Pediatrician. The daily observation of parents and other household members are of utmost importance as well. If any or all of these signs are observed in a child, it is not conclusive of Autism , but rather indicates the need for further evaluation by a Developmental Pediatrician or Pediatric Neurologist. Your Pediatrician should be the one to give you referral.
Other behavioral manifestations that are commonly observed according to the Mayo Clinic are as follows:

1. Performs repetitive movements
e.g. rocking, spinning, hand flapping
2. Develops specific routines or rituals
e.g. arranging objects in same direction
3. Becomes disturbed at the slightest change in routine or rituals
4. Moves constantly
5. May be fascinated by parts of an object
e.g. spinning wheels of toy car, electric fan, hands of clock
6. May be unusually sensitive to light, sound, touch but oblivious to pain

There are milestones that girls develop at a faster pace than boys, e.g. fine motor ( like holding tiny objects, writing) and language. Boys on the other hand develop at a faster pace than girls when it comes to gross motor skills (running, balancing). But children achieve developmental milestones at their own pace and do not necessarily follow the exact timeline most parenting books would say. Children with Autism usually show significant signs of delay in development mostly at age 18 months[2]. As a parent, if you have that gut feeling that there might be something wrong with your child, discuss your concerns with your doctor. Keep in mind that early diagnosis and appropriate intervention can make a difference and can lead to better prognosis.

Photo Credits:
Red flag on beach ; Boy playing with toy cars on a table by Stuart Miles
References:
1. Autism Speaks - Learn the Signs of Autism
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Ribbon of Many Hues

2012-04-01T16:30:00.000+08:00

*Updated April 14, 2012

The Puzzle Ribbon- designed with multicolored pieces of jigsaw puzzle is the awareness ribbon symbolizing Autism [1]. The jigsaw puzzle pattern perfectly represents the complicated nature of the disorder. The various colors and shapes represent the fact that Autism can affect anyone regardless of race and socio-economic status. The radiant hues signify hope that people with Autism will have better lives through early diagnosis and appropriate intervention.
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the brain's normal development leading to social impairment, communication difficulties, restricted stereotyped patterns of behavior[2]. Physical attributes are unaffected. They look just like any other children but their behavioral patterns are different from those of typical children.

Autism was used to be a rare disorder, but now its prevalence rate has increased tremendously around the world affecting 1 in 88 children, 1 in 54 boys. It is more predominant in boys than girls with a ratio of 5:1 [3]. In the Philippines, almost 1 million Filipinos are affected with Autism [4].
Recent development indicates both genetics and environment play a role in its causation. But exactly how and why is still uncertain.
The 2nd day of April of every year is World Autism Awareness Day as declared on November 2007 by the United Nations General Assembly [5]. April is Autism Awareness Month.
In the Philippines, the 3rd week of January is Autism Consciousness Week as designated by Presidential Proclamation No. 711 signed on January 4, 1996 [6].
It is used to be thought that Autism is just a fate that has to be accepted no matter how emotionally devastating it can be. But acceptance is not synonymous with hopelessness . The day will come that research can identify the causes and cure for Autism. Until then, let us keep our hopes up for the best outcome.

References:
1. Autism Society- Puzzle Ribbon
2. National Institute of Neurological Disorder & Stroke
3. Centers for Disease Control
4. mb.com.ph - editorial, Jan. 25, 2012
5. U.N. Press Release Note No. 6138
6. National Council for Disability Affairs