About two weeks ago when the Arthur episode, “When Carl met George,” aired, Gus was home for spring break. We watched most of the episode together, and we had a brief conversation about how he and Carl had some similarities. Gus has known for some time that his brain works a little differently from most others, but he never had a name for the condition. Now he does. It was…interesting when I first told him that he has Asperger’s. A couple of his responses:
“Is that some new kind of burger?”
“What’s an ass?”
I explained that the word was Asperger’s and spelled it for him. “It’s named after Hans Asperger, who discovered the condition.”
“What’s an asp?”
“An asp is a kind of snake, but the guy’s name was Asperger, not Asp-burger.”
“So it’s a snake burger?”
We finally got the semantics worked out, and he didn’t seem interested in discussing it further, so I let the conversation drop.
A few days later, we talked about some of the challenges he has because of his Asperger’s, like sensitivity to sounds, but we also talked about some of the resulting strengths, like his unbelievably strong memory.
I don’t know why I ever worried how he might react to this information. The next thing I knew, he was sitting on the couch with MM, who was making a blubbering sound with her lips (no doubt trying to get his attention). Instead of whining or yelling at her, he said, “Could you please stop making that noise? I have Asperger’s.” She stopped. That was the end of that. Like most things, he’s taken it in stride. And for that, I am grateful.
I am, as of yet, uncaffeinated, but will attempt to write anyway. Today is World Autism Day (I just almost typed Awe-tism; what could that mean?), to be followed by Autism Awareness Month. I am thankful:
that autism is receiving more and more balanced attention every day. While no one can deny the challenges inherent in living with autism, whether as an autistic individual or as a parent, it is not necessarily a life sentence of doom. Education and support makes an enormous difference! The more we learn, the better we all cope, so keep spreading those positive messages of hope and acceptance!
that Ari Ne’eman was nominated by the president to serve on the National Council for Disability. Even though the senate hasn’t confirmed the appointment, the fact that he is the first autistic to be considered for the position is a huge step forward. Autistics should have representation on this council. If you can spare the time, drop a line to your senator to support Ari’s confirmation!
that it’s spring break and we’ve actually got a few nice days ahead so that I can spend a couple of relaxed days with Gus and MM.
In honor of Autism Awareness Month a different question for you today: What are you doing to raise awareness about the many facets of autism? Have a great day & an even better weekend!
Thanks to a tweet by @sarawinter_ I learned that the PBS Kids show Arthur will be airing an episode featuring a character with Asperger’s Syndrome. If my research skills haven’t failed me, the episode, titled “When Carl Met George,” should be shown on April 5. Here’s a clip from the episode that offers a very kid-friendly explanation of Asperger’s:
We’ve never actually sat down with Gus and discussed his Asperger’s beyond acknowledging that his brain sometimes works a little differently from others. This may be a way to approach the topic with him – haven’t quite decided on that yet. I also wonder if viewing this clip might be a way for some of the typically -developed kids who interact with him to better understand him; then again, I’m not sure if emailing it to a parent might be overstepping boundaries or being a little too heavy-handed since no one has actually asked. I may broach it with a couple of people. Some days, he’s not the only one with trouble navigating social situations.
We’ve known for a long time that Gus needs the sensory input that he gets from using his large motor muscles. He is always more focused and present after even a few minutes of exercise. Because he also tends to have somewhat low muscle tone, strengthening exercises are essential for him. It’s not always easy to get him away from his video games, so it helps when he finds something he loves to do. He’s taken to bowling, he likes to ride his bike, and now he wants to learn to skate. So, bring on the rollerblades.
What do we hope he gets out of learning to skate?
It’s fun and he likes it. He should do things that he enjoys, especially when they get him to put down the game controller.
He has pretty good balance and this is something he can potentially do really well, which will make him feel good about himself while playing to his strengths.
Rollerblading is great for strengthening, particularly the lower body, but also the core muscles, which Gus very much needs. It’s also pretty calming for him. Strengthening his core will also have a positive impact on how he uses his other muscles and will even improve his fine motor skills (we’ve seen this already since he started physical therapy last year).
An added bonus to our new rollerblade therapy is that I can do it with both kids (what – you thought Gus was going to be able to do something without MM wanting to do it too?), which is great for my own physical and mental health. Even though DH doesn’t skate, he enjoys running, so he’s not excluded either. It’s a win on every level for all of us.
A few tips that worked for us:
Safety gear! If for no other reason, it makes the child feel safer. And after the first fall (and there will be a first fall, second, third, tenth…) even those who didn’t want to wear the pads will appreciate them. Just ask MM who stopped fussing about the wrist guards before we were halfway around the track.
Start out on grass or some other soft surface. I had the kids walk through grass on their skates and they went back into the grass when they felt tired or wobbly or nervous.
Find a flat a surface as possible. We took the kids around a local pond. Mostly I pulled them along as they gained their balance, and we also worked on using the brakes.
March. One thing I noticed when Gus had his ice skating lesson a couple of weeks ago was that his teacher had him march while she held his hands and pulled. That got him used to being on one blade. I found the same method to work on wheels.
Have patience and don’t freak out over falls. I always find that the less upset I get over a spill, the less my kids get upset. They really are resilient, even the ones with special needs.
It’s been so nice out this week, I just had to get out and enjoy the sunshine! So I missed Thursday, but this week I am thankful…
…for the first day of Spring! Happy Equinox, Happy Spring!
…that when I’ve taken the kids out this week, Gus did really well, not only staying close by (instead of wandering off) but also playing with some neighborhood kids. Yesterday, we went to the park and he played Tag with a group of children he’d never met. Things are looking good for the summer!
…that Spring Break is coming up. I’ll be even happier when the regular school year ends. I think we’re all getting a bit of spring fever, so no one wants to get up in the morning, no one wants to do homework in the afternoon. Even though Gus goes to school in the summer, the days are shorter and there’s no homework, so we can still have fun. I can’t wait!
What are you thankful for this week? Have a great weekend!
Welcome back to Thursday, only one day away from Friday! This week I am thankful…
…that the snow finally stopped! I think one more snow day after 3 straight would have sent everyone over the edge. Snow days are great, but there is such a thing as excess.
…that Gus is doing really well learning multiplication! Not only does he grasp the underlying concept, but he really seems excited by it. He used to get these math drills for homework of addition and subtraction that were as bad as pulling teeth to get him to do. If he did 12-15 problems in a sitting, it was a big achievement. He got 2 sheets this week of multiplication problems – easily 30 on the page – and once he stopped fussing because I told him one was wrong, he breezed through the rest. It’s always nice when he enjoys his schoolwork!
…to my friend G who sent me an article on the new NBC series Parenthood. Apparently one of the main characters is an 8-year-old boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. This seems to be a significant story line. The show’s producer has a teenage son with Asperger’s, so I’m hopeful that the portrayal will be accurate and dealt with sensitively. I believe the episode where the child is diagnosed will air next Tuesday. I’m looking forward to it.
What are you thankful for this week? Have a great weekend, and see ya soon!
Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal carried an article on Temple Grandin, whom they refer to as, “the most famous autistic woman in the world.” I’m in the process (finally!) of reading Thinking in Pictures, in which she gives a very concrete glimpse into her mind and the mind of many individuals on the autism spectrum, so I jumped at the chance to read what she has to say. Some of the topics she comments on:
Vaccines - “you still vaccinate. Delay it a bit, space them out.”
Diet and medication, specifically, the GFCF diet and antidepressants, which have benefitted many.
High expectations – “Why don’t you talk about becoming a chemist, or a computer programmer, or a botanist?” – and not letting the disability rule.
The spike in autism – “You know the geeks have always been here…Now they’re getting labeled Aspergers.”
I recommend reading the article for yourself – Dr. Grandin holds much more wisdom than I can do justice to here. She’s an amazing individual, and I look forward to reviewing her book when I’m done. Have a great day!
How fortunate for me that our annual review and IEP meeting happened to fall on a Thursday. So I can cage two birds at once (I see no reason for violence and killing of innocent creatures). What is instilling gratitude this week?
I am thankful that we got all of Gus’s services renewed for next year without much of a fuss. Furthermore, by all accounts, he has shown a good deal of improvement since last year. He still (obviously) has some major issues to overcome, but he’s better than he was last year, and that’s all we can ask of him.
I am thankful that Gus’s evaluations came back with no surprises, even if the stark truth of the numbers is still a little saddening in areas: IQ and verbal ability in the superior range for his age; the social skills, pragmatic communication & self-care ability of a 3-5 year old. His math skills are age-appropriate. We knew all this, but it’s always good to see, in a concrete way, where his strengths and weaknesses are. We just have to keep plugging away at those challenges.
I am thankful for the advice of The Coffee Klatch on Twitter to bring some treats to the meeting. I don’t know how much goodwill the box of Munchkins established, but it was good that I had something to stuff in my mouth when the chairperson, again, inappropriately, tried to tell us that we should consider medicating Gus. It’s hard to punch someone in the mouth or cuss them out when you’ve got a yummy jelly donut in your gob. Fortunate for both of us, I would say. I don’t advocate violence, but I do get the impulse every once in a while – I’m only human – and this is the 2nd time in as many years as she’s pulled that. Schools don’t have the right to pressure parents into medicating their special needs children, period. She knows this. She prefaces her statements with an acknowledgment that she shouldn’t be making them, and then makes them anyway. I don’t think she’s ever even seen Gus in person, yet feels qualified to spout medical advice. Perhaps she’s been moonlighting as a psychiatrist, I don’t know. Whatever. Pass the donuts, please.
Now that my mini-rant is done, what are you thankful for this week?
About two weeks ago when the Arthur episode, “When Carl met George,” aired, Gus was home for spring break. We watched most of the episode together, and we had a brief conversation about how he and Carl had some similarities. Gus has known for some time that his brain works a little differently from most others, but he never had a name for the condition. Now he does. It was…interesting when I first told him that he has Asperger’s. A couple of his responses:
