Newsgroups: bit.listserv.autism
Date:         Fri, 11 Sep 1992 13:15:43 EDT
              <AUTISM@SJUVM.BITNET>
From:         RJKOPP@SUVM.BITNET
Subject:      Re: On hungry flies ...

From a layman's standpoint I say do a little of both, avoidance but
also explanation of some that "slip out!".  The problem with trying
to avoid such things all together is that you may try to avoid it,
I as a parent may try to avoid it, but when this child is out in the
public around people who don't realize how some of these saying can
be taken literally, it is somewhat important for the child to know that
it is not meant literal, maybe it doesn't make sense to them, but I
think letting them know it is not meant literally is important in
keeping their stress levels down.

The idea of trying to get them to use them themselves, I can't really
feel that fantastic about.  I don't think it's good to try to get these
kids to do something that is that unnatural for them and that they can't
understand, with the understanding being the key.  They don't really have
to know how to use them to survive in the world, but I think they need to
know not everything is literal.

As for the other question of what Autism is, I think that this has to be
looked at more and researched more and see just how often a real "norm"
is present.  I have met some autistic kids, who are labelled autistic,
and I have met others that are not labelled autistic but really strike
me as autistic.  I don't know if it's the same "radar" as Jim says but
it just seems like a feeling, the way the kids do certain things, the
way they express themselves, if they can and how some things just seem
to be so persistant in their personalities.  The part that disturbs me
is that I wonder how many of the kids that aren't labelled autistic
are getting what would be best for them to learn the easiest.

I had just gone off on a line about inclusive education in relation to this
and realized that wasn't the question, so I deleted it all for another time!

I think that the definition of Autism has to be more open and include more
than what it has.  (This may be an opinion based on our community as
Bob mentioned, but as Jim also said and I have come to learn the importance
of the correct label can make a lot of difference).  I think ultimatly
I would like to see the label of Autism subdivided to identify certain
types that can differ strongly from other types.  From a parental view point
it would help to know what to expect of your child.  I think this sub-divided
label is what should be used in the school placements also.  I also think it
needs to be assigned by a specialist in Autism or related field.  I think
many labels get assigned from a general appearance type of diagnosis where
the professional may not be that familiar with autism, may not be familiar
with the programs the school district has, and makes a overall general
diagnosis.  In the past I think it probably would have been MR.  In my
district this would mean the difference in placement since we have programs
setup for different diagnosis, such as MR, Autism, and ED and so on.
In other words I wonder if the term Autistic may be too general, maybe it
needs to be Autistic/subdivision.  Thus defining the particular type of
autism the child has.

One thing I also just noticed that I typed up further was decreasing
stress level.  My daughter often has many "stress" appearing traits that
I often wonder how common they are.  Some of these are drinking in one
gulp, so that when she gets done she takes a long gasp of breath.
Many of the things like rocking and "moaning" often to be related to and
causative of stress (kind of a snow-ball effect).  Possibly rocking because
she doesn't feel good then the rocking becomes stronger and it appears to
be making her feel worse, then she rocks harder.  (She also has other times
rocking is just a relaxation for her and it works, but it is different and
you can see the difference).  I wonder if that is why some of the B vitamins
seem to have effects, since many have been known or proposed to reduce stress.


Thanks,
Ray Kopp
Syracuse, New York
Internet:rjkopp@mailbox.syr.edu
Bitnet:RJKOPP@SUVM.BITNET
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