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Rock Into Wednesday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Rock Into Wednesday

What color are you on now, I had asked Owen. “Yellow”, he replied quickly. Wow wow wow I was so excited he answered my random question. He had been playing a game and he was talking about the colors to himself so I started asking him questions and he kept up with the conversation. Sometimes he’s engaged with me talking to him but he isn’t responding to my questions. I love when he follows through with what I’m saying. Today was a little calmer than yesterday but still a little on edge. He went to spend some of the day with his grandma and I know that helped. As soon as we got home he wouldn’t stop asking when he would see her again. And then his questions turned in to him repeating the exact things we’ve been struggling with the last few days. But this time I could see the gleam in his eyes when he saw that he was pushing my buttons. I wish I could hide my emotions from him sometimes but he can read me like a book. I tried everything I could to distract him and I think it helped. We read and sang together. He did better at dinner, eating with his utensils, and eating a lot at that. After dinner was over he had many conversations with Siri. It’s great hearing him say “I want chocolate milk pwease in German” to Siri so he can hear his tablet talking to him. He wanted to listen to it in French, Italian, and Spanish. I’m not sure what other languages he asked for. “Single bells single bells single all the way” was his go-to song for the night and I always love when he sings it. This year feels like he is more connected to Christmas and every time I ask him about Santa or Rudolph he runs to the window looking for them. I tried to let go of all the yesterdays that sometimes weigh heavy on my heart and instead think about all the tomorrows yet to come and know that my boy is growing. I saw many victories today even through the challenges we faced. Never give up. Open your mind to the possibilities of what tomorrow will bring. Smiles to all and donut daze!
you’re just not hearing us
By: Fee Plumley
Tags: Neurodivergence, Autism, Ableism, Doubleempathyproblem, Sexism

when we — womxn, neurodivergent people — speak with directness, we’re heard as aggressive.

when we — womxn, neurodivergent people — speak in anger, we’re seen as a threat.

our neurodivergence means we speak directly, therefore we are frequently heard as aggressive.

our anger comes from the frustration of the battles we must fight daily just to survive, therefore we are frequently seen as a threat.

directness may be uncommon, but it isn’t aggression.

anger is an important emotion which signals the need for change, action, but it is not a threat.

imagine just trying to survive, find the support you need to recover and grow, in order to become as well as all of us deserve to be, to thrive.

then imagine waking up every morning and knowing that no matter what you do, the world just sees you as an aggressive threat.

imagine how angry that must make you.

and hurt.

and tired.

and alone.

we’re not an aggressive threat. you’re just not hearing us.
Ready Tuesday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Ready Tuesday

There’s no crying over spilled milk but there sure is crying when you are exhausted and in a pandemic. Today’s emotions come from Owen not understanding, or maybe understanding too well, that no matter how many times he wanted a certain video YouTube was not going to find it. The squealing, screaming, biting, and kicking seemed to rock our evening. He wants instant gratification and if I don’t answer right away he screams or sticks his tablet right in my face. If I’m in the middle of eating or drinking and he wants me to find something on his tablet I better find it on his tablet. And then when his tablet can’t find it the emotions are even stronger. The tablet is one of those things I love for him to have and I hate for him to have. The words, interactions, and skills he has learned from using it have truly been a blessing but it is also hard. If the internet goes out or he can’t have every app out there it’s difficult to explain why to him. Then add in when his table, nor I have all the answers the meltdowns can come fast and furious. Over the years he’s gone back and forth with biting as the answer. Tonight biting was the answer. He’s quick. He was sitting next to me and he grabbed my hand. It was in his mouth before I could even react. Luckily he actually responded when I told him not to bite me. The tears swell in my eyes thinking about it. I knew I had to work on his calming techniques with him at this point. We counted, we breathed, we ate dinner, and then we started the two-hour journey of bedtime. Flip-flop McGee was all over the bed. He was yelling for me to give him a “big hug” but then bending my fingers on my hand backwards as he was trying to fall asleep. He doesn’t get his own strength or that he could possibly hurt me. Each time he was close to sleep he would do something to completely wake himself back up again. I held back the tears and tried to remember the calmer I am the calmer he becomes. That is what I have to hold in my heart and know that together we will get through the rocky days. His laughter, singing, and randomly bursting out in French phrases kept me going today. I pray for sweet dreams for my boy and a brand new tomorrow. Focus on the positive side of life and the rest will follow. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Move Monday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Move Monday

The language train was speeding down the track. Owen figured out how to change his tablet so he could listen to the videos in numerous languages. He was watching the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and changing it between all that was offered. He laughed so hard mimicking all the words coming from his tablet. At first, I wasn’t sure what he was laughing at and then he walked up to me and said, “it’s in English”. I still wasn’t sure what he was referencing. I asked him to show me and there was a list of maybe twenty languages that he was going through to hear each of the characters talk. He was reading the name of the languages as he selected them. So much goodness in all of that. To hear Owen speak in other languages is amazing. I struggle not to overthink the holidays. Owen has gone to see Santa numerous times over the years but this year I haven’t tried to take him with everything going on. I see the anxiety it brings him when I do take him but this is the first year I feel like he is making any kind of connection to it being Christmas time. I asked him if he wanted to see Santa. His response is always “nope” but today as he was watching Christmas videos and I was asking him if he wanted to see Santa he kept running to the window looking for him. He sings Christmas songs all year long like they are another nursery rhyme. I do see the growth this year though. I talk to him about why we celebrate Christmas but I wonder if this confuses him more. He couldn’t settle tonight. It took him hours to fall asleep and he kept trying to squish himself between the mattress and the bedrail. Every time I think I have the bedrail figured out he finds a loophole in it. We’ve been through so many styles but on all of them he loves pushing the rail and the resistance they give him. He finally fell asleep hours after we started getting ready for bed. And here it is almost midnight and I’m up. Most likely he’ll wake a couple of times during the night and then no matter what my eyes generally pop open around five. One day maybe I’ll figure out the right combination of all of the sleep steps. Until then I’ll dream of the hope for tomorrow. His laughter carried me throughout my day and it filled my heart with gladness. Find your joy, share your smile, and know that you can move mountains if you want. Smiles to all and donut daze!
AUTISM TOMORROW
Tags: Jac Jablonski, Autism, Model

AUTISM TOMORROW

In 2016, model Jacquelyn Jablonski noticed that after schooling age, there was a lack of critical programs for adults with autism—like her brother, Tommy, who is on the more severe end of the spectrum—to feel like they belong to a community and also get access to work opportunities. Thus, she decided to use her platform for change and launch Autism Tomorrow, an organization that builds platforms that support people with autism as they transition into adulthood.
6 Fun Ways to Incorporate Core Words into the Morning Routine Through Sabotage
By: Susan Berkowitz
Tags: Corewords, Autism, Augmentativecommunication

I know I’ve posted a lot about how important routines are for building language.

They are repetitive and provide lots of opportunities for hearing the same language over and over again.

They are sequential; so are good for teaching sequences and structures to go with the language.

They are great for building core words; the same core words can be used simply and easily:

on, off, up, down, hot, cold, more, stop…. you get it

If you follow me on social media, you’ll have noticed I’ve been posting a lot of photos recently with lists of core words that can be used during specific activities; including daily routines, play activities, outings, and more. Scroll through my Instagram feed to check them out.

It’s easy to add some fun and playfulness, too. Especially during all of these months stuck at home, a little goofiness just might be welcome.

Try putting socks on hands: no, wrong, different, stop, not there, silly

Try hovering over the cereal bowl with the orange juice carton: no, stop, wrong, different, silly, yuck, not like, not that

Try putting a button-down shirt or pants on backwards: turn, stop, different, wrong, not, back

Try putting yogurt on the toothbrush: not that, different, wrong, other, stop, this one, don’t like

Try putting pants on over his head: no, silly, not that way, not there, down, not up, silly, funny

Try giving him a fork to eat soup or cereal: no, not work, can’t, need different (be careful with this one; have the spoon readily available — you don’t want to cause frustration or a meltdown).

Try some of your own “goofs” or sabotages. Have some core word fun.
Voices of Misophones #9
By: Hear Our Misophonia
Tags: Autism, Mental Health, Misophoniaawareness, Misophonia

>About you:

What is your name and social media handle?

Regina; @KIWICHAMPAGN3 on twitter

Where are you from? And what do you do for a living?

I’m from Texas in the united states and I’m a high school student.

Any other diagnoses you’d like to mention?

No

What are your hobbies?

Play tennis, bake, & sew.

Favorite song?

Kiwi by harry styles

What is something you would tell your younger self to help get through misophonia?

It’s not your fault don’t stress out about it, and I would say it’s ok to walk away from situations you feel are uncomfortable.

What is some advice you’d like to give others?

Tell people you’re close with that you know will respect you about misophonia, if you don’t feel comfortable walk away and go breath outside or in the restroom.

>Questions about Misophonia:

What was your first experience with misophonia and how did you find out it was an actual condition?

When I was 9 and I used to eat with my little cousin I used to kick her out of my room for yelling, I found out about misophonia 2 years ago because I wanted to know what was wrong with me.

How do you cope with misophonia?

I usually go biking or go to my room to eat by myself.

What is the reaction when you explain it to others?

I’ve only told a few friends about it and some of them respect me and tell me to say anything when I feel triggered by any noises, and my family just tells me that I need to stop being dramatic and that it’s my fault and I can’t be like that.

Why should people take misophonia seriously?

It’s something very triggering and I can’t concentrate on things other than the noise someone or something is making, many times it makes me very anxious and I start having panic attacks when my misophonia is at its worst (it’s usually worse when I’m stressed).

How can day to day life become more accessible for Misophones? (For example: Changes in the classroom, work place or society)

By not allowing people to eat in class.

How has misophonia affected your relationships? (Familial, platonic, romantic, work etc)

I can’t eat a meal with my family because I get mad and we start fighting, my family makes fun of my misophonia and say I won’t ever get in a relationship with my problems.

How did/does misophonia affect your journey through school?

There are many times where I can’t go to the restroom to calm down, and during tests when it’s very quiet and a person starts sniffing or coughing ore makes a noise that triggers me I can’t concentrate on anything other than that person.

How did/does misophonia affect you at work?

It makes me work slower.

Have you gained any new triggers and/or has the reaction to triggers changed over the years?

Yes, at first it was just chewing but now I have hundreds of triggers the most common ones people can’t control is hiccups and coughing and sniffling.
Lead Sunday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Lead Sunday

I was hoping two nights of pretty good sleep would turn into a third but he woke early and energetic. Owen fell asleep easily last night but didn’t stay asleep for long. It’s one of the things that is so hard. If he could sleep through the night it would help him in so many ways. And it sure would help me too. He’s making so many connections now. I showed him pictures of different weighted blankets and asked him if he wanted the rocket ship or dinosaur design. Instead of answering directly he turned and started talking about his rocket ship. He began singing a made-up song, picking up his rocket ship that was on his trampoline. I figured he wanted the rocket ship but showed him one more pattern that had sea life on it. He saw the whale and he said, “how bout dis one”, his go-to phrase now when he likes something. I think any of the three would have made him happy because he has dinosaurs in his bedroom, rocket ships are something he loves because of originally watching them on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and the sea life he loves at bath time and especially “de whale”. He has a large weighted blanket that he goes back and forth on if he uses it but I’m getting him a small one for the car. I’m hoping it will help with his anxiety and sensory issues he has when he is in the car. He gets so upset when we have to stop for any reason, yelling at me that’s it’s green, even if we aren’t at a light. We shall see how he feels about the blanket and new activities I have planned for car rides. I taught him how to use Siri on his tablet. He loves all of the different languages so I asked Siri to translate “I want chocolate milk please”. Owen laughed and laughed and laughed with delight as Siri sprang to life answering all the language requests he made over and over again. I was happy for the laughter today. The stress has been overwhelming for a while so to have that laughter did my heart good. “Are you happy today”, his words dancing through my head. Yes, my sweet baby O I am happy today. Find your happiness, celebrate your joys, and know that you can do great things if you set your mind to it. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Spectrum
By: Lisa Alletson
Tags: Poetry Sunday, Daughters, Parenting, Autism, Poetry

Spectrum

Photo by Lisa Alletson (author) of her daughter

My daughter wears my DNA like a casualty,

drifts through conversations with melodic logic.

When she speaks in the language of my ancestors

I know she’s caught something with her mind –

a dinosaur or the swamp root of a poem.

Her centre is her own.

Sometimes she huddles on the beach like driftwood,

golden gaps of sunshine in her silhouette

as if her body has bullet holes

and I can see the brightness of her soul.

Blue-skinned, she seems, breathing slow and low,

drawing narwhals in the air or covering her ears.

She tells me in a voice of dusk pebbles,

Mom, you are a maiasaura. A good mother lizard.

We schedule a hug.

Her shadow catches in my throat.

She grows deep, a creature of thrum and ashes,

knows she is different from others.

When she’s clumsy she giggles, like any kid,

but the clay of her mind can be bloodish,

a nerve ball tender to touch,

a constantly knitted refrain.

The school day comes violently, spinning too bright,

the forcing of norms does not fit the build of her mind.

She closes her eyes and rocks, tick tock, to find a kind face,

a good space. Returns home bent with hurt.

In the evening she wraps herself tight

in an old breeze, wanders

the playground to feast on leftover laughter,

blown kisses fallen to the ground.

In the half-light she looks grey,

an abandoned painting.

I find her shivering under a tree

her courage discarded on a rock.

I drink her tears,

wrap her under my skin.

Life after life, she sobs. Too much.

I nod and we walk away.

But my daughter can hear the sun.

We dance to the sound of unfurling leaves

sing to the shift of birch skin.

Her soul lives in the blood of rivers

moans through the forest.

She hears everything.

Alone, we bathe in the suds of the sun

watch the orange dawn of a butterfly,

speak of mammals and robin song

and why the Congo changed its name.

For on the days she can inhabit

the wholeness of her verse

she soars melodic over earth

dancing with the universe.

I don’t label myself an autism warrior.

That gives me credit.

I carry guilt made of covert creatures,

wet wings stuck to their bodies.

At dawn I let them out,

they unfurl their wings and flee.

At night they return, watch me,

cold planets in my throat.

But I will sing to my daughter as long as I live:

My love,

You don’t have to smile for me

You can rock your body to peace

You don’t have to leave to cry

You can flap your hands when you need

You don’t need to say hi

to respond

to do anything

but be.

You are the world where I live.

*************************************************************

Originally published by the League of Canadian Poets in “Fresh Voices”.
Open To Saturday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Open To Saturday

I’ve been reading with Owen every day and I got him a couple of new books. One of them was called Corduroy. As soon as I told him the name of the book he broke out into song. “Corduroy corduroy corduroy corduroy corduroy”, he sang to the tune of Old MacDonald, then immediately went into “dashing through the snow with a one horse sleigh”. I love when he sings his own version of songs. He’s like my budding little songwriter. I’m always amazed what he sings and how he puts it together. He has an amazing tone to his voice as well. He plays his different instruments and will sing his own version of songs. The other day he was sitting in his chair with his foot strumming his ukulele, singing at the top of his lungs, watching a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode. It amazes me how the episodes he loved as a toddler he still loves today. When we were done reading his books I went to fix breakfast. He was still sitting on the couch playing on his tablet. I opened a drawer and he was beside me before I could even get the utensils out. I closed the drawer as his foot was tapping and the squeal was starting. He stood inspecting the now closed drawer and each drawer near it. This is becoming a new thing for him. It’s beyond hard for him to see something out of order even if nothing is ever in order he sees an order in our chaos. He was going to spend the day with his grandma. When we got in the car it wouldn’t start. He doesn’t understand when things randomly don’t go as planned and how do you explain a broken car. I took the key back out of the ignition and this was all he could handle. He started screaming to put the key back in. The waterfall of words moved in and out of saying words that fit the situation and others where he couldn’t process what was happening. I had to get him to go back inside the house. Luckily my friend came to jump the car and we were shortly on our way. He asked me, “are you happy today”. I told him that he makes me happy. We grow and learn together, working through are emotions. His smile keeps me moving forward. Follow your dreams, learn to let go, and know that tomorrow is a brand new day. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Both Friday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Both Friday

Just a hundred yesterdays ago I wondered if Owen would talk. I had to believe he would, I told him he could do it, and I had to stay positive about it, but I still questioned it. The doctors told me he might not talk but I kept reminding Owen he could do anything he set his mind to. And today my boy is talking up a storm, singing in French, and screaming at the tv in Spanish. Well, it seems like he is screaming in every language now. The connections he is making are incredible. He was singing, “red orange yellow green blue”, with an episode of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and playing his xylophone that has the colors as the notes. He was hitting the colors as he was singing. He was full of energy today, much more than me. He doesn’t understand that I can’t handle all of his emotions and my emotions at the same time. He also doesn’t understand that I can not instantaneously do something he wants. He will stick his tablet right in my face or in my hands wanting me to help him, screaming if I don’t jump to attention. I try to get him to understand we have to work together and that he has to wait a minute sometimes. I tell him to ask for help so I know that he wants me to do something. It’s still a hard concept for him. He did his own countdown for bed but kept adding five more minutes to the timing. I tried to do bedtime a little differently hoping it wouldn’t take three hours again, instead it took two and I fell asleep waiting for him to fall asleep. The fake snoring gets me every time. I dream of what’s to come for tomorrow and I know that he will keep growing and growing. Find your strength, believe in the hope of tomorrow, and know that you are important. Smiles to all and donut daze!
True Thursday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

True Thursday

Owen stood as close as he could to the tv screaming French phrases and then singing a Spanish song as something completely different was playing on the screen. All of these words and songs he learned from watching Disney Junior on YouTube. I’ve always thought he considers all languages as one big happy language and the older he gets I’m pretty sure I’m right. I’m slowly getting him to ask for the other languages though. He now asks for Disney Junior in “Latina”, “Italianana”, “Germaaan”, “Spanisd”, and “Frenche”. He also asks for “avocado” but I think he is trying to say a cooking show’s host’s name. Plus, he asks for it in other languages that I can’t even distinguish. And the stronger his English becomes the more he asks me to find videos in all of these languages. Trying to convince him I cannot say all the words in all the languages frustrates him to no end. And then the screaming is out of control. I’m taking a different approach now and hoping that he will realize we don’t scream at each other. One step at a time I remind myself. He understands no personal space. He will get an inch from my nose or walk up and pull my hair out of the blue. We talk about it all the time and tonight he actually walked up to me, got real close to touching my hair but didn’t. Five minutes later he did though. He jumps constantly through our house. We have a small trampoline and lots of sensory toys but he still jumps up and down a lot. I can feel my whole house shake when he does it and I keep wondering when we will end up in the basement. I think we might need to add a little support to the floors. It took him three hours to fall asleep. “One plus one ecos two two plus two ecos fours fours ecos touch the monster’s eyes to wake it up it’s time to go to sweep” and this is where the fake snoring begins. “It’s time to go to sleep night night everybody”, he continued and then more fake snoring. I didn’t know one can fake snore for an hour but one can. His words are filled from videos and apps that he plays. He kept laughing, jumping all over the bed, and then he gave himself several high fives and finally calmed down enough to fall asleep. This momma is tired today and possibly a little cranky but according to Owen “you happy today” so I will let his smile guide me. Don’t give up on the happiness yet to come. Keep pushing forward and know that tomorrow is a brand new day. Smiles to all and donut daze!
My autism diagnosis
By: Signe Björklund
Tags: Real Life Experiences, Autism, Story Time, Testing

I am autistic and this how I received my diagnosis in February 2020.

In 2017 a doctor first voiced his suspicions I was troubled by anxiety and how he also taught I might have autism. He told my mom to get me a therapist for my anxiety and sent referral to clinic to do testing for autism. There was a long queue to the clinic and we waited for about a year before I got my first appointment. It was mostly talking and for a few months I had many appointments doing different tests and talking. My parents and school as well as I got to answer loads of questions. Both me and my parents answered that I struggled but my school saw no problems. The clinic didn’t really believe my school and because I was already changing schools soon they decided to put my testing on pause until then and ask my new school. So my pasting was put on pause.

About a year passed and I changed schools. The clinic decided to take up my testing again and I answered some more questions. My school also got to answer questions and this time they saw the same problems I did! Woohoo! Three years after someone first talked about me being autistic I received the diagnosis Autism level two and General Anxiety Disorder.

I am proud to be autistic and will not hide it. It’s who I am. I am very thankful to received my diagnosis but I am sad that I as a girl got diagnos relatively early considered I am a girl. In women and girls its common not to get an autism diagnosis until late teenage years or adulthood because we are very good at masking. Masking means we hide out autistic traits to fit in wit neurotypicals. Boys are not as good at this and will receive a diagnosis earlier. Most research regarding autism is also often made with small boys.
Autism Diaries
By: Tom Mclaughlin
Tags: Autism, Family

Autism Diaries

Photo by Thiébaud Faix on Unsplash

He is upstairs now, yelling and swearing in his bedroom. This can be traced back to a disagreement we had over a chore.

He said he didn’t have time. I pointed out how he needs to contribute. He yelled at me and called me names.

I left the room as I usually do. My wife tends to handle him better. I have a tendency to tell him like it is, which leads to him complaining about his rights being violated/ ‘I have free speech’/ ‘no conditions!’ He wants something one way, yet doesn’t realize that, acknowledges the reason as to why he can’t get what he wants, yet cannot work through the logic.
I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE: FACE BLINDNESS
Tags: Autism, Perception, Neuroscience, Social, Psychology

Image by Alex Iby on Unsplash

Imagine looking at the face of the person you love the most in the world, and not being able to recognize them. You hear their voice and it’s them; you get their smell and it’s them. Yet, there is a huge void where their face is supposed to be. You look at their face, but you can’t make sense of it- who is it in front of you? And even worse, when you look at mirror, you can’t even recognize yourself.

This is exactly what people suffering from prosopagnosia feel like every single day of their lives.

Prosopagnosia (also known as “face blindness”) is a perceptual disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces. It should not be confused with a memory problem- there is no problem in the memory of these patients. Rather, this condition involves a problem of perception. A region in the brain called fusiform gyrus, which is responsible for higher processing of visual information, fails to process face stimuli properly. The fusiform gyrus involves an area called the fusiform face are (FFA) specialized for face recognition. Studies using brain imaging techniques like fMRI and EEG show that damage to the fusiform gyrus, FFA, and/or its surrounding regions results in prosopagnosia; and it is not yet a curable disorder.

The causes of prosopagnosia can be stroke, traumatic brain injury, and sometimes neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This kind of prosopagnosia is often termed “acquired prosopagnosia”. However, it is mostly affecting people beginning at birth- so, “developmental prosopagnosia”.

Social Implications

Image by Jesus Rocha on Unsplash

At first sight, prosopagnosia may not hit you as a big, serious problem. What is the big deal if you can’t recognize faces, right? But that’s not the case. People with prosopagnosia suffer seriously in their social lives. Think about it: You go outside and don’t recognize anyone you see. Someone says hi to you, but you don’t know who it is — it can be someone you know, or a stranger trying to harm you. This is why social anxiety disorder is often comorbid (occuring at the same time with) prosopagnosia often. This prevents them from going out as frequently as other people, which may result in becming lonely and as a result, depressive symptoms can appear. So, prosopagnosia is not only about not being able to recognize faces; it has much more severe consequences.
Every child develops differently and at a different pace.
By: Nayi Disha Resource Centre
Tags: Parenting, Autism, Preschool, Developmentaldisability, Early Stage

Every child develops differently and at a different pace. However, the development of some children may present red flags indicative of developmental delay of varying nature. In most cases, early recognition of these developmental red flags can pave way to early intervention. Intervening early can go a long way in improving learning and behavioral challenges this child may face later in life.

This infographic serves to help you spot early signs a parent must be perceptive of, so a child with a high risk for Autism may seek help as early as possible
How can I keep my students engaged in the digital classroom?
By: Dr. William Lane
Tags: Education, Autism, Virtual Learning, Special Education, Distance Education

William Iven / Unsplash

How are you keeping your students excited during remote learning?

While watching television last night, I noticed an insurance company’s advertisement that showed two young adults playing a video game. At the end, they indicated the game was boring and decided to move on to something else.

Is this the attitude your students are feeling about your lessons? Remember that excitement and interest are quick to fade. The next shiny object or thrill is “just around the corner”!

Here are some ideas for adding student engagement to your lessons:

1️. Response cards.

Is there a procedure in place to ask for help? Have students hold up card that indicates their thinking or understanding of concept (i.e. true/false, yes/no, need help/OK I got this, etc.). If one student has a concern or does not understand the directions, there are probably others.

2️. Stimulation.

Are you connecting the day’s lesson with something going on in your students’ lives? Plan interactive or real-world experiences into your lessons.

3️. Involvement.

Do you integrate ways for students to “physically” participate? Students cannot learn if they are not actively involved in the lesson. Remember: “He who is doing the work is the one who is learning.”

As we enter the holiday season and you prepare for another unconventional semester, here is a list of my top websites for special education teachers.

From information about special education law and accessible programming to online learning activities that you can share with your students, this mix of free and premium resources will help you better prepare for another year of learning, whether it is in-person, virtual, or a hybrid of both.
You Got To Remember Wednesday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

You Got To Remember Wednesday

I woke up with a start. Owen was yelling at me. I really couldn’t even comprehend what he was saying. I looked at the clock. It had a three in it. Without my glasses, I couldn’t see exactly what time it was but certainly not time to wake up and definitely not time for him to be screaming at me. I was still way too asleep to be thinking about what he was yelling about. I sat up and he calmed down. He wanted his tablet. I told him no and my being awake got that potty train rolling. This made Owen even madder. It didn’t matter. I had to go. Sometimes I forget that I’m in charge and have to run the ship even if I think I’m going to run it aground. I told him that we don’t yell at each other and that we were going back to bed after he went potty. Oh boy, that was fun. More screaming. I had put my glasses on and realized it wasn’t even three o’clock. His screams rock me during the day but at night it’s like ice on my spine. You don’t know why or how long the screams are going to last. And it’s the middle of the non-sleeping night momma can’t think through every scenario. Somehow I convinced him to get back in bed. He was asleep in seconds. Me, every single noise was a noise. All I can do is pray. He seems to only sleep through the night right now if I sleep in his bed. At least one of us gets sleep. It’s like sleeping with an octopus that wants to explore all the ends of the earth while reciting French, thinking about being at a football recital that doesn’t know if it should be playing a game or dancing the waltz. So I’m tired. He woke up refreshed and ready to party. I opened a drawer in the kitchen. He yells, “you done”, comes rushing into the kitchen, and slams the drawer closed. He can’t handle any of the drawers being open at all now. I go back and forth with him explaining that drawers can be opened and then they are closed. I let him open them, close them, we work on the timing of how long the drawers can be open, I’ve named the drawers and I’ve even begged him to get over it. That last one didn’t even register for him. It’s the process. Not long ago the door lock bothered him so he has moved forward. Tomorrow will be a brand new day. His smile, hugs, and random “I wuv ewe” throughout the day is what keeps me going. Give yourself credit for moving forward. Today is a stepping stone for tomorrow. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Using a Virtual World to deliver an intervention on conversation skills for autistic adults (Marie Curie Fellowship)
By: Dr Yurgos Politis
Tags: Cocreation, Virtual Worlds, Autism, Participatory Design, Autistic

My Marie Curie project is part of the ASSISTID programme and co-funded by RESPECT and the European Commission. It is entitled Virtual Learning for people with ASD (VL4ASD). I came up with this title and my proposal in mid 2015, when i was not yet aware of the Neurodiversity paradigm and thus i now feel uncomfortable with the title! I could have used the term Autism Spectrum Condition or even better, on the Autism Spectrum or of course preferably, autistic people (VL4AP). But, hindsight etc etc…

The project developed training on conversation skills for people in the moderate/mild end of the autism spectrum, which was delivered with a 9-week Multiple Baseline Design through a Virtual World. During the exploratory phase of the Virtual World, he became aware of the Participatory Design approaches to technology development, which he since then has embraced. Therefore, the development of the Virtual World had involvement by autistic young adults (18–25 year-olds) or people with expertise/experience of autism at every phase of the project (from inception of idea to delivery), so that the final outcome better met the needs and preferences of the population. For the analysis of the results, i worked with a team that developed and validated a new assessment tool that is an adaptation of the Conversation Skills Rating Scale. The validated tool, Conversation skills Assessment Tool (ChAT), we hope will prove useful to speech pathologists, special education teachers and other disability experts.

Upon my return from the US (where I was a visiting scholar at Michigan State University for the first two years), I decided to create a new mini project so that i have the chance to work with Daughters of Charity (DoC) clients, who were one of the funders. That project also employed a Participatory Design approach with adult learners with IDs who are attending a 2-year programme at Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (now Technological University Dublin, Blanchardstown campus). The project is ongoing, and it aims to create training on a daily living task (doing online shopping) with and for people with Intellectual Disabilities, which would be delivered through a Virtual World in the future.
Why Did It Take 37 Years For Anyone to Notice I Had Autism?
By: Chelsey Flood
Tags: Autism, Neurodiversity, Addiction, Mental Health, Psychology

All my life, I’ve felt different. Weird, bewildered, unfeminine. I’ve watched from the sidelines and waited to understand how to join in. I’ve worried and fretted over rules that other people seem to know instinctively. I’ve literally sweated over things that other people barely noticed.

And all my life people have insisted that there’s nothing wrong with me.

You just need to try harder!

Go easy on yourself!

Try to have more confidence!

And so I struggled along. Getting bashed about every day by obstacles no one else could see and that I didn’t understand. Dusting myself off and trying hard all over again the next day.

Except for when I couldn’t. Because I was exhausted.

Earlier this year, I had one of these episodes of exhaustion. My anxiety got so bad that I couldn’t manage all my responsibilities, and I was forced to hold my hands up and ask for help.

After a lot of searching and asking and requesting and pleading and complaining, eventually, finally, it led to my diagnosis.

It turns out I am Autistic.

So what were the specific things that I struggled with, that led me here? And how do I plan to deal with them going forward?
There was no fire today.
By: Lynn Smith
Tags: Autism, Teachers, Special Education, NYC, Covid 19

Instead I had book club. Book club is a sacred time in my week. Working two jobs, renovating my kitchen and managing a new baby kitten keeps me busy most days and nights. But not Tuesdays. Tuesdays are reserved for intellectual debate, emotional reflection and a few glasses of wine with four other women I teach with. Some in the helping industries might call it “self-care”…in fact, my school just had me go through a training that talked all about how important it is to take time for “self care.”

So it made sense then that an hour and a half into our discussion about cultural appropriation and removing racist stereotypes from our conscious and unconscious thoughts and behaviors (yes, this is how teachers have fun) that we would be interrupted by an important message from our work supervisor. The Covid testing and tracing team finally came to a determination that they aren’t ready to come to a determination, so since it is 8:30 at night and your work day ended only five hours ago, our school building will be closed for another 24 hours. Groan. Not that there is anything bad about skipping the commute and logging in to teach my students in the comfort of my cozy slippers — there most certainly are advantages. I groan because I think of all the wasted time I spent prepping in-person lessons for this week that won’t be taught. I groan when I think about how it took “them” until 8:30 at night to make a decision. I groan when I think about the annoyed voices I’ll hear on the phone when I have to call parents (after their children have already gone to bed) and let them know there is no in-person school tomorrow. I groan when I think about how now, at 9pm, I will need to prep and prepare for three additional 50 minute remote video lessons for the next day. And then I stop groaning.

A groan demonstrates annoyance and unwillingness toward a situation. And we are not annoyed or unwilling. In fact, as my colleagues and I rerouted our book club discussion into dividing up parents to call, coordinating our new instructional schedules for the remote teaching we would do in the morning and collaboratively replanning our lessons, I was struck by how much we are not annoyed or unwilling. We are too willing to drop our own self care to make sure our families are informed. We are too willing to use our time that should be devoted to fun and friendship to instead tidying up the mess that the Mayor has made. And we are far too willing to apologize for the late notice when we just found out ourselves!

We are not annoyed and unwilling — we are willing but now we are angry.
Glad Tuesday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Glad Tuesday

What stage of acceptance are you at for anything, everything, today, tomorrow, the future. I keep pondering the question that has no answers and no ending. The Queen of overthinking reporting for duty once again. The things that should make Owen sleepy generally have the opposite effect on him. I gave him a lavender bath. Before the bath, he was yawning and could hardly keep his eyes open but he always has to take a bath. We must do the routine. I very rarely use lavender because he likes to drink the bath water and I have to watch him like a hawk when he has soap in the tub. He got out of the tub like he was ready to take a five-mile run and two hours later he’s finally asleep. He would almost be asleep and then pop up, get not even an inch from my nose, and scream. I have to remind myself of the victories. The dude is growing. He climbed in my lap today and I thought he is solid as a rock, all muscle, and must have gained ten pounds. For early breakfast, he ate cereal and two waffles. We got up at five so there was a lot of time for second breakfast that consisted of eggs. I asked if he wanted some and he said no but he ate at least one before I asked if he wanted more. He said, “one more time”. So I gave him a little more. And then he ate mine off my plate when I got up to get more coffee. The bottomless pit continued. Not an hour later he asked for veggie straws and he said, “you want a donut”. Unfortunately, we had no donuts and he really doesn’t like sweets anyways. He has become a typing machine. He wanted to find animal sounds on YouTube. He had it pulled up on the tv. He started typing in “a n i m” saying the letters as he typed and when animal sounds came up in the list he selected and said, “hello zebra”. I am trying to teach him how to find things. He has no concept of where things are located. Like tonight I asked him to take the water jug from the front door to the kitchen. I broke it down in steps for him but he has a hard time working through each step and stopping for further instructions. Plus, he doesn’t understand when I say a location like floor or ceiling. I finally got close to him and walked him through each step. When he carried the jug to the kitchen I asked him multiple times to sit it down but that process was hard he brought it back in the living room until I made him take it back in the kitchen. I am celebrating that he got it to the kitchen. One step at a time we grow and together we walk forward. Find your happiness, share your joy, and let the world see your smile. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Only Monday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Only Monday

To say I’m tired is an understatement. I’m not sure if emotional is before or after tired in the list but here I sit. The yelling is getting louder and more often. Owen can quickly read me and he sees how yelling immediately snaps me to attention. It’s hard to not show any emotions towards the screams. Some of his screaming isn’t used as an attention-getter but instead, it’s a reaction to something he doesn’t understand or can’t emotionally process at that moment. And I’m sure there is even more to it than I understand. There is no way to even explain the pandemic to him and how things are taken away as quickly as they are given back. He’s not sleeping much which means I’m not sleeping at all. This isn’t new but it’s one of those times where I wish we could sleep. He randomly yells, “goat” or “toaster” when we are working through emotions or if he doesn’t know the answer to a question I have asked him. I haven’t figure out his connection to those words but there is usually a reason. He doesn’t always use the word that is associated with the object. Like “birthday candle” meant “toenail” until recently and still occasionally says it. He also understands a lot more languages than I can even imagine and he certainly doesn’t understand why I don’t. He was watching the 101 Dalmatians. He would stop on the same dog each time that looked like it was frowning. He would say, “he sad ot oh” each time. I figure he has 101 emotions that he needs to work through. He then started watching it in Spanish. He stopped at the same place each time. French came next when he pulled up a different video and started serenading me with the song. All languages are like one big happy language to him. I told him he could have apple juice for lunch. He said, “no” but drank it. Before I poured his glass I asked him if he would rather have grape juice. He didn’t reply so I gave him the apple juice. For dinner, he asked for grape juice and drank it supporting a huge grape juice mustache. This is a big thing for him because chocolate almond milk is his go-to drink and about the only sweet thing, he truly has, unlike his momma who would love it if I lived on a ‘desserted’ island. I was reminded throughout the day how much his smile is what keeps pushing me forward. Through hidden tears and crocodile ones that fell to the floor I grew today. Find your motivation and keep moving forward. Smiles to all and donut daze!