I Believe It's All Inside...

For those who are new to the world of autism spectrum disorders, do not be fooled, kiddos on the spectrum are not "dumb"! They are not "less than", they are not "ignorant"! They are not "stupid", a word which, I believe should be struck from our language all together(since it can never be used in a positive way). Our kiddos - meant as in all of our kiddos, not just mine - are very, very smart! Regardless of the diagnosis, they are all capable and very smart, it's just a matter of helping them to get it out. The door simply needs to be "opened" for them to come through. They all have information inside, all of those things that were done or said, it's all still in there. They know what's being said around them and understand a lot more than you think. We've seen fairly good progress in just the few years the boys have been going to school and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). Like many kiddos, our boys had a major regression before being diagnosed with autism.

Before: good eye contact

After: Not so good

Gjournaletting Better: with ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) & school

The eye contact was one of the most important things to me (beside talking), it is a true connection with my babes. When they began ABA, they are generally looking through you. Then slowly as they worked on holding the gaze, you could see the pieces fall into place. It seemed to me like, "Oh, hey, there you are mom". We still have to say "look at me", and sometimes we have to say it a few times before they will. Before their regression, the boys had learned animals and their sounds, shapes and some colors. Thankfully, with intensive ABA, it is coming back. Slowly, but it is happening. Speech and language is still a big issue, but we at least we are having progress there as well. I still research all the options and programs available, we are definitely hopeful.

ABASpeech

CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy)PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)

From our observation, we see the frustration our boys have while trying to do and say certain things. We know the information is in there, and every once in a while we see what I call "breakthrough moments". Those times when the boys do or say something that almost makes you forget they have autism. They seem like the same little boys they were before they regressed.

Now these are our observations, but I encourage you to keep pictures and notes from as far back as you can remember and up to the present (If you haven't already). Then keep a journal of progresses and set backs (these let you know what you need to work on with your kiddos). This will help you to not only keep information for reference, but can also encourage you when those discouraging days come.

If you haven't seen these articles, you may find them interesting, I did. I've read these more than once over the year(s), and for me It simply proves the point that everything we teach, do and say; our autistic kiddos hear and see. So now that's on the inside too, just waiting to come out somehow... so be careful what you say and do around your kiddos. These are some example of how computers and iPads are making a difference, helping people with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) communicate with the outside.

Carly Fleischmann - diagnosed at age 2 with severe autism - learned to communicate with computer
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/14/tech/mobile/carly-fleischmann-mobile-autism

How Five Preschool Children with Autism Responded to Computers
http://www.wiu.edu/thecenter/articles/autism.html

And one of my favorites: P.S. 177 autistic band
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/07/05/autistic-students-perform-ipad-band-concert-in-new-york-to-grateful-ears/

I found all of these stories quite encouraging, and I hope you will too, if you haven't already read them.

From a mother's heart - remember that just because spectrum kiddos don't appear intelligent, does not mean they aren't. It's just locked inside, it's up to us to draw it out.