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My heroes just happen to have autism

I am going to start with Dr. Temple Grandin. Why is she so special you may ask? She is the first person that explained to me what it was like to have ASD. She was diagnosed in the 1950’s when this was considered virtually a death sentence. People did not know how to treat them or what to do. She was blessed with a mom who did not give up.

Dr. Grandin is an adult with autism that can tell us what it feels like. Why they stim, why they have a hard time looking in a person’s eyes while talking to them, what they need. I highly recommend reading her books (Thinking in Pictures, Animals in Translation, Different….not less, The Autistic Brain) , looking her up on the computer and watching the HBO movie about her titled “Temple Grandin” starring Claire Danes. She is a contributing adult, a DOCTOR!! She has a successful career as a livestock-handling equipment designer, one of very few in the world. She is intelligent and makes a huge difference in society.

temple

My next hero is a little newer to the world. Her name is Carly Fleischman. A young lady with ASD. What makes her special, a hero? I am afraid that I can not explain her accomplishments in a way that will do her justice. Carly was diagnosed with autism, oral-motor apraxia and cognitive delay as a child. In other words, she did not develop like her twin. Did not speak or act like a typical child. She would hit herself, appeared mentally deficient. How could anyone tell how smart she was if she could not speak? Well, there are many ways to communicate. Her parents did not give up on her either. Through therapy and including her in the family, she communicated! One day she typed her needs on the computer. That was the day her family realized their daughter was trapped inside of her self. She was able to explain that the reason she kept hitting herself was because she felt like a thousand ants were crawling on her skin. That helped me understand why one of the children I worked with would hit themselves. For them, it served a need.

Where is Carly today? She did go to college and is trying to start a “talk” show! The first non-verbal talk show that she will host. She utilizes a voice app on her tablet. Her first trial interview was with Channing Tatum! It was hilarious and really showed her intelligence and humor. I encourage you to look up Carly on YouTube, Facebook, and her read her book “Carly’s Voice.”

carly

Can you cure Autism?

 

After one week of therapy with a little guy barely two, dad stops me at the door and says, “How many cases have you seen where the child is cured after one week?” I was glad that his father was sitting there, a retired physical therapist. I looked over at grandpa and asked him how many PT patients were cured after one week and he chuckled and said none. While different therapies,  they both take time. This example shows you the desperation some parents feel. I loved this family. Everyone was on board to help this sweet little boy. I felt for the dad. Happily after intensive ABA therapy we saw huge positive changes. No cure, just moving in the right direction.

Curing Autism is an interesting concept. Something that every parent wonders. You can cure a disease not a disorder. Cure literally means, “recovery or relief from a disease.”  Cure is what doctors do for a broken wrist. You can work on a disorder though. Don’t be discouraged to know that if you have a disorder, you will have it the rest of your life.

Let me explain. My son has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). He went through years of therapy when he was younger. He is now a senior in college, on the Dean’s honor list, he has friends and is thriving just like any one of his friends. His OCD was not cured. He learned how to deal with the disorder. Same thing with Autism Spectrum Disorder. So how do you help someone with ASD?

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the most effective treatment for autism according to the American Medical Association, the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Academy of Pediatrics. ABA focuses on reducing inappropriate behaviors, as well as increasing appropriate social skills.  People with ASD learn how to behave, socialize and communicate appropriately in society. Every parent’s prayer to have their child succeed in life, to the best of their ability. That is what ABA does. Therapists work in a positive, natural environment. The earlier treatment starts, the better.

You may not be able to cure ASD but you sure can make a huge difference in their lives to help them fit into society just like their peers. If someone tells you they can cure ASD please run the other way. There are a lot of crazy websites out there making these claims.

Remember you can cure a disease not a disorder! What you can do is help a person with ASD be the best person possible.

Person first! They are NOT autistic

It is important to use the correct language when speaking about our loved ones. They are your son, daughter, grandchild, friend etc. The diagnosis did not suddenly change them into something different. They are your loved one with a disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Look at them as the person they are. Talk to them, play with them, and especially love them just the same. Some people with ASD may not communicate or behave the same way other people in society do. They may be looked at differently or misunderstood. Just because a person can not speak or flaps and rocks does not mean they can’t understand you. I have worked with some amazing children with autism that don’t “look” like they are listening or understand but they do! They will giggle or laugh at my silly joke. One time I mentioned to a mom that we needed to take the tablet away so we could continue with therapy. The child slapped me! She had no language skills and rocked and appeared to be in her own world. She knew exactly what I was saying. You may wonder if being slapped upset me? No, I love when these kids prove to us that they understand everything we say!