Archive for February, 2010

Temple Grandin didn’t talk until she was four years old and it was recommended that she be institutionalized for her autism after she was diagnosed. But by the time she was 18, everyone knew that Temple Grandin was meant for bigger and better things. Although this woman had frequent breakdowns and felt overwhelmed at the sensations around her, Temple has become one of the most influential members of the autistic community, and in February, the story of her life became the subject of a new HBO movie.

Temple Grandin, a full-length film that details Temple’s journey through autism to her current success, was shown on February 6 and received high acclaim from viewers, critics, and the autistic community. Parents of autistic children, as shown in many reviews, find the film to be hopeful and inspirational, as well as a unique glimpse into how the autistic mind works.
Temple’s mind, according to her, works like Google Images. She sees the world entirely in pictures, which has helped to her to notice details that others could not. Her visual thinking has since led her to become a doctor and professor of animal science, an inventor, and even an accomplished writer.

In a recent speech at the University of Massachusetts, Temple credited early educational intervention and the help of her science teachers in high school for “helping turn me around.”

“The worst thing you can do with an autistic kid is to do nothing,” she said. “It was my science teachers that got me turned around, because they got me interested in studying.”

Studying is something she has never stopped since. Temple how holds a degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce, a master’s degree in animal science from Arizona State University, and a doctorate from the University of Illinois. She has authored numerous books on both animal science and autism and speaks frequently about both around the nation. She has appeared on the Today Show, ABC’s Primetime Live, Larry King Live and has been written about in The New York Times, People, and U.S. News and World Report.

Temple’s story is one that should be heard, for both those with and without autism. Dedicated to helping others understand autism and better interact with those who have it, Temple continues to share the message of how the autistic see the world differently, but, as the character of her mother says in the HBO movie about her life, they are “different not less.”

You know where to get information and you know how early intervention programs work. So what can you do at home to continue the management of your child’s autism?

In all early intervention programs, there is one common theme: consistent, meaningful interaction. The worst thing a parent can do concerning an autistic child is to let him or her sit alone lining up objects all day, or playing with the same toys for hours without interacting with others.

The goal of early intervention programs is to encourage early management of your child’s symptoms and autistic behaviors so that he or she may have a better quality of life. As a parent, it is your responsibility to enact practices within your own home that can work in tandem with an educational early intervention program and help make symptoms easier to deal with. One thing you can do is give your child special toys that are designed to assist in his or her development.

NationalAutismResources.comis a place to find a variety of sensory toys that are fun to play with yet help your child work on sensory dysfunction in a way that can stimulate and bring about social interaction. For example, photo realistic gameslike memory match, opposites, and positions help to build your child’s vocabulary, while facial expression cardsmove beyond basic feelings to help autistic children look for cues for a variety of emotions – which will make interaction much easier for your child.

These special toys, coupled with consistent, meaningful interaction with your child, can help to make autism more manageable for both you and your child.

In our last post, we described how early intervention programs are found. In this post, we’ll talk a little bit more on how they work to assist in the management of your child’s autistic behaviors.

First of all, most early intervention programs share a common theme: consistent, meaningful interaction. Through the use of various support services and curriculum, these programs will work to educate you on how your child’s autism will impact his or her quality of life, as well as what you and your child can do to further manage the symptoms so that interaction and daily life can become easier.

Most programs involve a package of services, many of which are free of charge, no matter what your income. Most states provide specialized and/or inclusive preschool programs designed to build social and communication skills so that your child may have an easier time of interacting. Special toys, activities, games, and lessons are used to reinforce positive coping strategies, as well as to encourage more appropriate behaviors.

Many programs also offer standard therapies, such as speech, occupational therapy, social skills therapy, behavioral interventions, family therapy, and even Applied Behavior Analysis, so that symptoms can be managed and treated in the best way possible. Moreover, these programs often offer support services for parents, just like you, so that you too can learn more about autism as well as get the support you need. We know it’s difficult, but these programs will help to make it easier.