All About Autism

[sharonkhoo]

nugget:

But I told him is okay to be special. Special is not bad thing. I say those super heros all have special powers and his special power is he can read very well. That's why he was chosen to lead the class in reading. I have to keep his self esteem up. If he think lowly of himself.. everything will go down the hill.

I think it's very important that parents believe that 'special' doesn't have to have negative connotations. Kids will pick up your feelings. On the other hand, I feel that it is misleading and unfair to kids to tell them that the sky's the limit, because I don't believe it is. I tell my daughter that she is special, and different, and as long as she is happy in herself, we will be happy for her. That involves being independent, being able to earn enough to support herself (and being sensible enough to live within her means), enjoying and seeing value in whatever work she does, having some close relationships etc. It will not be the same for every person, but inner contentment is what we aim for. And we give the same message to our NT girl too, although we know the future for her will be very different even though she follows the same principles.

[nugget]

slmkhoo:

I think it's very important that parents believe that 'special' doesn't have to have negative connotations. Kids will pick up your feelings. On the other hand, I feel that it is misleading and unfair to kids to tell them that the sky's the limit, because I don't believe it is. I tell my daughter that she is special, and different, and as long as she is happy in herself, we will be happy for her. That involves being independent, being able to earn enough to support herself (and being sensible enough to live within her means), enjoying and seeing value in whatever work she does, having some close relationships etc. It will not be the same for every person, but inner contentment is what we aim for. And we give the same message to our NT girl too, although we know the future for her will be very different even though she follows the same principles.

Yes I totally agree with you. I always feel being ASD is just being different. They think differently that's all. And recently his form teacher also acknowledged that as well.

Teacher say things he wrote are different from other kids in class. He see/ perceive things differently from other people. I am so glad the teacher understand that. I am really praying hard that he keep meeting kind souls in his life.

ASD kids are just different, not less!

[nugget]

Last year when I was out with my sister, my son actually had a meltdown… My sis saw how I have to dealt with it and I explained to her what was the trigger and this is how he is like when he has a meltdown.


Then I resigned and said, "Nevermind, at least end of the day, I always have him by my side and he will always have me until the day I am gone."

My sis said something which touches my heart. She said "You should not think that way… you should always believe that one day, there will be a girl who will see through all these, accepts, understand and love him for how innocent and simple his is and truly want to be with him." I am really glad my sister think of him that way.

I never see my son in that way before. But what she said is right. My son indeed is very nice to be with. Innocent, simple and sweet in his own ways.

[sharonkhoo]

I was just sent this link to an interview with a mother who has an autistic child (also in the interview) and was told that he would never speak. She went against professionals' advice by focusing on his interests rather than on what he could not do, and he is now studying high level physics at 15yo. I also like something else she said - that you are only as good as your teacher, and by letting her kids explore what interests them, they can teach themselves to the limits of their own ability, which could be higher than the teachers. Here's the link:


http://themotherlist.com/mother-tore-la ... en-genius/

[DesertWind]

nugget:

... you should always believe that one day, there will be a girl who will see through all these, accepts, understand and love him for how innocent and simple his is and truly want to be with him.\" I am really glad my sister think of him that way. I never see my son in that way before. But what she said is right. My son indeed is very nice to be with. Innocent, simple and sweet in his own ways.

Wow, nugget, you have a good sister!
Believe it or not, yesterday I prayed for the first time for the future girl in my boy's life. That in time to come, he will meet a great help-mate who will really love him for who he is and his lovely and kind soul. So that she will take care of him when I am gone. How is it possible when we are all in such a realistic (materialistic) world I don't know. That's why got to start praying now!

[mashy]

slmkhoo:

I was just sent this link to an interview with a mother who has an autistic child (also in the interview) and was told that he would never speak. She went against professionals' advice by focusing on his interests rather than on what he could not do, and he is now studying high level physics at 15yo. I also like something else she said - that you are only as good as your teacher, and by letting her kids explore what interests them, they can teach themselves to the limits of their own ability, which could be higher than the teachers. Here's the link:


http://themotherlist.com/mother-tore-la ... en-genius/

I read her book. It's a truly inspiring book.

[scang]

Receive this info:


There is a talk on Sensory Integration: A Gateway to Learning, Attention & Behaviour to be conducted on 10Apr and a follow up talk on the next day, 11th April on Sensory Profiles and Diets: Beyond Clinical Intervention. By AWWA Resource Centre (Hougang).

If anyone interested in attending, can drop me a pm with your email, so that I can ask the person to send you the details.

[scang]

scang:

Receive this info:


There is a talk on Sensory Integration: A Gateway to Learning, Attention & Behaviour to be conducted on 10Apr and a follow up talk on the next day, 11th April on Sensory Profiles and Diets: Beyond Clinical Intervention. By AWWA Resource Centre (Hougang).

If anyone interested in attending, can drop me a pm with your email, so that I can ask the person to send you the details.

Found the info at AWWA website.

RSC: Sensory Integration: A gateway to learning, attention and behavior Module 1
http://www.awwa.org.sg/index.php?option ... 160873325b

RSC: Sensory Profiles and Diets: From Clinical Intervention to Functional, Practical home and school based solutions Module 2
http://www.awwa.org.sg/index.php?option ... 4c1e37c3e3

[Double E]

Mummies

Pathlight has opened registration for their open house. I have signed up for the October session. Email them if you are keen to check out Pathlight

On meeting the love of their lives in future, seriously, I don’t dare to think of that. I will just take each day as it comes. My son is now more sociable, wants to play with others but he doesn’t know how to do it appropriately and he ended up irritating other kids and his cousin. I felt a sharp pain in my heart when I heard other kids tell him to go away. It’s like, finally he now takes interest in others but yet, he is not given the chance to grow as other kids have no patience to entertain him. I have to keep reminding him that if he asks someone else to play with him, and if the person says no, he has to walk away and not keep asking the same question or pulling their hands. The only person that accepts his way of playing is my gal, his younger sister. She is his best playmate.

Anyway, he turns 5 today. Getting closer to the 7 year old mark and by next year, I have to decide whether to send him to pathlight or mainstream. I really dread it. Sometimes, I wish time stand stills.

[mashy]

Double E:

Mummies

Pathlight has opened registration for their open house. I have signed up for the October session. Email them if you are keen to check out Pathlight

On meeting the love of their lives in future, seriously, I don't dare to think of that. I will just take each day as it comes. My son is now more sociable, wants to play with others but he doesn't know how to do it appropriately and he ended up irritating other kids and his cousin. I felt a sharp pain in my heart when I heard other kids tell him to go away. It's like, finally he now takes interest in others but yet, he is not given the chance to grow as other kids have no patience to entertain him. I have to keep reminding him that if he asks someone else to play with him, and if the person says no, he has to walk away and not keep asking the same question or pulling their hands. The only person that accepts his way of playing is my gal, his younger sister. She is his best playmate.

Anyway, he turns 5 today. Getting closer to the 7 year old mark and by next year, I have to decide whether to send him to pathlight or mainstream. I really dread it. Sometimes, I wish time stand stills.

happy Birthday to your boy! Don't wish for time to stand still. That will only mean that he won't progress from beyond what he is now. He is just 5. It will get better. I'm sure many mothers here with older kids can attest to that. They have made friends and learned to adjust as they grow older. Why worry about the future that is so far ahead? Even the future of an NT kid is unknown. Isn't it great that he has a great playmate in his sister? How many of us has tons of friends and calls everyone in their Facebook friend list their BFF? Not that many. Just a good friend or sibling is good enough.