International Issue

In America, most people know what autism is. Some people know how to help those with autism. But what about in other parts of this world! In India, for example, it seems that autism seldom goes unnoticed. Individuals with autism are regarded as outcasts of their society and not provided the care they need . This simply is inhumane treatment which stems from lack of knowledge about this disorder. This field needs caring therapists, teachers, doctors, and other professionals to genuinely love and nurture the growth of an autistic individual. It is sad that autism is on the rise but lack of experienced professionals in this field is even more sad. I hope to reach corners of this world where autism is present and not known about. I hope someone reading this finds my blogs helpful in dealing with daily life with an autistic individual, not only in America, but worldwide. 

Real Exposure

One size fits all rabbit costume


Social outings seem to decrease for families and random people caring for an autistic individual. While precautions are necessary in order to take an autistic individual on an outing, it is not impossible. Simple things such as locking car doors, being certain the autistic individual is strapped in and is away from the driver of the car, and also being certain there are objects in the car to occupy the autistic individuals time and energy. Books, colorful and shiny objects, and snacks are good items to have while traveling with your special person. Ipads, Iphones, or any other media device can also be great for this situation. Just be certain they are handled correctly.


Since it is not impossible to take an autistic individual out for a day of fun, why do many people prefer not to take them out? The answer lies in the amount experience and knowledge most caretakers, parents, and public have about autism. Most caretakers and parents feel embarrassed when a behavior outbreak occurs in public setting. They feel this because they know that not everyone knows what autism is but everyone is staring! I have been in similar situations myself. The  best thing to do is to take care of the behavior outbreak first, then explain what happened to whoever is questioning. It might be in your best interest to not to accept assistance from anyone but police or security. Try to get the autistic individual out of the situation but if you fail to do so, leave the individual alone to calm down and then escort her/him out of the situation. You can do this, it is time to teach the public through exposure to the "real autism".

Spread the Word

Encouragement for parents with autistic child/children seems to be scarce. The public does not seem to comprehend what autism is and how it affects all those involved. Teaching the public is a good thing and should be exercised regularly. I encourage parents to talk to others about autism. Tell them your struggles and let them know how strong you are. I truly believe that parents with developmentally disabled child/children are strong. Please help spread the word on autism.

A Thorough Selection

Please be careful when selecting a caregiver for your special person. Be certain to do a thorough background check, drug test, and ask questions. Please train the caregiver in the way you want him/her to provide care for your special person. Last but not least, drop in unannounced to check up on the work the caregiver is doing with your autistic individual. 

Truth

The autism field is filled with complexities. Professionals, whom you thought were really trying to help you, end up being money minded. There is nothing wrong with earning money for doing honest work. "Honesty" in honest work should be the emphasis for any professional in this field. From doctors to therapists to teachers, honesty can bring about results you never expected. Lying to a parent to make the parent feel better is not smart. The parent usually knows much more about her/his autistic child than any professional. So be real, please.

Success Through Small Goals

Success can be measured in terms of reaching small, worthwhile goals. Maybe these small goals are on the path to a bigger goal. An example: In order to save for a house that costs $300,000, you decide to save $30,000. Your goal is to save this amount in ten months. That means you will have to save $3,000 per month. Each month, if you manage to save this amount, you will feel successful because you are on the path to the bigger dream of purchasing a home. This same principal of success can be applied to teaching individuals with autism. You will not notice small goals being reached if you are not looking for them. Please try and revise your teaching plan for your special someone and include some small reachable goals in it, if it does not have them already.

The Hard Truth

The truth is that you need to be careful about whom you select as a caretaker for your autistic individual. Please be sure to do a thorough background check, fingerprint clearance, and drug test. But that isn't all! When you have selected the "right" person, please be certain to show up unannounced to check on the work this person is doing. If you find something out of the ordinary, please discipline the caretaker right away. All these are necessary for proper development of the autistic individual God has trusted to your care.

A Safe Place

Today I went on an outing with a client. During this outing, I was told that a particular child had been abused when he was younger. The abuse seemed to have been caused by his parents. The boy was put into a safer environment by the authorities. The current this boy is in seems to energize him. It was wonderful to see how happy he was and how much he was enjoying talking with friends. It seemed like they were not his friends but family. We need more safe places for the abused, developmentally disabled, and those who just need some help to live.

Is my child autistic?

Is my child autistic? I was asked this question several times during my career as a Therapist. My answer was always aimed to  refer the parents to their child's doctor. There are tests that must be performed to determine if someone is autistic. It is not as apparent as someone might think. If you are dealing with this question, please refer to your doctor.

Signing

Communication through the use of sign language is essential for individuals who non-verbal. It is their voice and should be treated with respect. Individual's with autism who might also be non-verbal can utilize sign language to their benefits. Teaching sign language to a person with autism is complicated but not impossible. It will require time and effort but the result will be worth it. Since autism is on the rise, I think it will be logical to require at least basic sign language classes at junior high school levels. This won't only help non verbal individuals with autism to communicate but also others who want a way to communicate with the non-verbal population.

Autism is ......

Have you ever been asked "what is autism"? How have you answered this question? I have a tough time answering this question, even with many years of experience in this field! I usually describe it at the spectrum level. It can range from mild to severe. The truth is that no one knows what autism is. I try my best to answer such a question and so should you. It is our duty, as those experienced with autism, to try our best to educate anyone who might ask such a question.

What is autism?

Please feel free to answer this question. What is autism?