Currently Browsing: Diagnosis
Getting kids to wear shoes in the context of autism and agnosias
I was never one to wear shoes as a kid and didn’t think much of socks either. I felt they were suffocating my feet. It was like being blindfolded or having your hands in gloves all the time. So whether the ground was covered in frost or the Australian summer tarmac so hot the tar stuck to your...
What’s in an Acronym?
Do Autistic acronyms have you confused? Do you reach for a medical dictionary every time you ponder over the newest, greatest latest “breakthrough” that is conveniently represented with an unpronounceable acronym?
When you begin your quest to understand Autism and the many associated acronyms you...
The Family Dynamic: Post Diagnosis
I realized that my boy had Autism but was astonished with the severity of the diagnosis. “Chris is self injurious. If he does not speak by age five, he will probably never talk. He is mentally retarded, has speech and language disorders, PICA and intestinal issues. If I were you I would consider institutionalization.”...
The Guilt Factor
When a child is diagnosed with autism, parents develop a new vocabulary. Conversations contain words like ABA, receptive and expressive language, discrete trial training, eye contact, floor time and biomedical approaches. Parents share their joys, their fears, their strategies and their dreams. ...
Understanding the Mis-Understanding
“Your son fits into the Autistic Spectrum Disorder.” Her voice was clear yet somewhat monotone. How many times has she said these words to an unprepared parent? I silently cried as her message began to fill hollowness deep inside my heart. I stood and waited for the instruction manual that was sure...