Geez! Be angry then!
i like it
much better than the self pity you hear alot when a child is diagnosed with autism
doctor's here in the states where they rip you off and get paid bazillions of dollars for 15 mins of their days arent much better about treating a patient like a human either. but there is also this fear that if they label a child autistic that the parent will flip out and try to kill them... maybe not so far fetched with some of the reactions i have seen. for us as it sounds for you it was a relief to know there was a direction to go after years of worry and waiting and then you get into service limbo and the worry and waiting turns to anger and frustration, quite rightfully so. as far as severity goes with the autism you might just have to ask out right. my son was also diagnosed with mental retardation and i asked the severity out right because it wasnt in any of the paper work. with MR the ranges go from Mild, to Moderate, to Severe, to Profound. i know my son is severely autistic, i am not sure if the same range is used though. at this stage with what you are describing it sounds like you son is more in the moderate range with his delays and regressions. and as i am sure you know autism is a cool neurological difference that is flexible and with treatment your son can go up in range and maybe some day off the spectrum all together. there seems to be two distinct types of autism. one, like my son, where you are born that way. and two where you are fairly neurotypical and then for some reason you have a regression between 1 1/2 and 2 years, more like your son. the second group seem to have more luck with putting aside their autistic tendancies, most likely because it hasnt been their meat and potatoes their entire lives. High functioning just means more or less how neurotypical they can look and how much stuff they can do for themselves. (NOBODY HIT ME HERE I AM GOING TO BRING UP RAIN MAN) The man that rain man was based on was a savant. a really BEAUTIFUL mind. the way his brain worked just brings shivers to my spine! (maybe i am a little bit nerdy) but as far as his autism goes he was severely autistic. the man didnt even dress himself and he was not able to maintain conversation. he man was a genius, but was he high functioning? probably not. this is why you are going to have a hard time pinning professionals on a functionality level, it's all about perspective and how one decides what makes a person "functioning"
Okay, enough about that. The pictures
the pictures are a GREAT idea. we were offended at first by the idea that the "professionals" wanted our son to use the PECS cards (picture exchange system) but they definately have their place. if you can get in on a actually PECS training, i advise it. they made lots of good points that embarassed me for being so pig headed
but alot of autistic brains are VERY visual based. you will in the long run be helping your son with his SPEECH by using the cards... how you ask?
he can look at a picture of something he wants and its concrete, he knows he wants that, but he is having any autitory processing problems then you could be sounding like charlie brown's teacher when he is not responding to you. and that can come and go. he might be able to process speak fine, when he isnt over stimulated, under stress, looking at you, etc. but if he has the card then he gives it to you, then you can say what the card is. you can show him the picture, oh, you want a cookie? cookie... and give him one and now his brain is starting to get words for what the objects he wants are. tricky
everything builds on the basics. and your son might be light years ahead but they will wanted to start at step one to make sure he really understands the concept but with the way you describe your son i am sure he will pick it up fast and they do have a means for sentence building in later steps for easier communication with PECS. patience with communication and lots of consistancy! what everyone decides is the best route everyone needs to use!
we have a very uhm... autistic consultant for isaac autism. she is great! not many people like her though. just as honest and straight forward as can be no matter the consequences. she did my son's toiletting program. she has a great mind for these sort of things and its a hard program to start with. hard emotionally for the parent! basically she took an entire day of sitting next to the bathroom, playing games he likes and working on programs and giving him all kinds of drinks... and every 10 to 15 mins they (the consultant and the worker) would take and sit him on the toilet for 5 to 10 mins or until he toiletted. he wet out alot the first day but he did very well too. by the end of the day he was toiletting on the half hour and then when he was doing well with that we moved him to and hour and so on. when isaac is home he is let to toilet independantly now, though i do have to ask him if he has to pee when i see the pee pee dance
the key to all of this was just to tell him "its time to potty", taking him straight to the toilet, putting him on, making no eye contact, NO TALKING WHILE HE WAS ON THE TOILET, and then having a big ole "great job" "yay! for Isaac" etc party when he peed or poohed to reinforce that using the toilet is good! a lot of parents use tricked to get there kids to toilet, like my sister used reading a book. well then her daughter would be sitting there for 45 mins or more because she liked to be read to! thats why the program was set up the way it was for isaac. we didnt want him to think go to the bathroom was play time, he was suppose to be "on task" while in the bathroom and then he got his fun afterwards
oh boy! i wrote a lot! hope your not asleep!
and good luck!
though really i must say everyone should enjoy a nice liver now and then
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