Autism- what to do at home to help?

[mum2peanut]

My heart is broken in two :gloomy:
My 2 and a half yr old niece has just had her first autism diagnosis, although they told my sis and BIL they need two to confirm it, it's inevitable that she has it. Sadly I had picked up on some things myself, but kept thinking/hoping it wasn't it. :no:
My sister and BIL don't really know much about Autism, so they are in severe shock, my sister struggled to tell me today, it was awful. Her main concern is DN being judged and picked on etc. My heart just goes out to them all.
Being a teacher I know a fair bit about Autism, and how to cater in the classroom. But was wondering if you could any tips for me to pass on to my sister to help DN development at home.
I've already told her we'll make a visual timetable for the day with photos of DN eating, drinking, playing, sleeping etc. What else do you suggest?
She's been told she in the mild to severe end od the spectrum, she doesn't talk at all, so she can't communicate. Thanks in advance.

[sam's mum]

routine, routine, routine.

Autistic kids have got to have a routine. Early intervention is one of the most important things as well. There are different avenues available depending on how much money you have to spend.

If I were you I would contact the Autism Association in your state and have then send information to you about becoming a member, services etc so that you can leave it at your sister's house for when they are ready to start reading it. Even if you went through it first and gave it some sort of priority. (so you can say, if you are only up to reading one thing, try this one... iykwim)

[mum2peanut]

Thanks, I did mention the routine thing to her. I'll get onto the Autism Association and see what they can send out.
Thanks.

[KarniF00l]

Awww hon :hugs: I can totally understand the shock you are in right now in regards to your DN.

My DD (4) got diagnosed with it a few months ago and it still shocks me even though I had a gut feeling about it a few years ago. Just let me say this, children or anyone with Autism are still a blessing regardless of anything. They are beautiful and special like all children.

sam's mum is right, it is all about routine. Step out of the routine and it's like their whole world crumbles. I started using Cue cards for my DD, because it takes her a fair bit to understand things verbally but with cue cards she seems to understand straight away what needs to be done. Ie, a picture of a person on a toilet, shows she needs to see if she needs to go. A picture of a bar of soap, shows she needs to wash her hands. A picture of a person in bed, shows that it's time to go to bed ect... you get the drift. These have helped me a great deal.

I've also put Calista into the ABC Learning Centre 3 days a week, I can't express enough how happy I am with the decision that was made. At first I was very reluctant. Calista has her own personal aide and started early learning intervention. Unbelievably she took to the change straight away with no hassles and in over a month she is now talking a lot clearer, she is doing more things for herself. She has higher hopes of the possibility of not needing to go to a special school now.

Saying that just because she gets the help at the ABC Learning Centre doesn't mean that we slack off at home. We are always trying to teach her things, it just takes a bit more time than it usually would.

All the best :hugs:

[mum2peanut]

Thnks Lauren. Sounds like you gyus are doing a fantastic job with Calista. I can only imagine the feeling that parents go thru cause I know as an Aunty how totally floored I am.
The Paed receommended that Indy start preschool to try to teach her some social skills and interaction, the only interaction she really has with kids is with my DD. Indy's really frightened of chn crying, screaming and being loud etc. So my sister is really worried about how she'll cope. She rang my DD's daycare centre and is going to put her in the same day as DD. They already have two autistic children and have specialists come into work with them and their family. Which sounds positive.
Indy is our precious angel ane we're just so worried about her. Luckily she is a cuddly girl, cause I'm sure she'll be getting the hell hugged out of her.

[sam's mum]

not sure what kind of autism you are referring to, but DD and I both have Asperger's which is Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Noise is a big thing for setting off unhappiness. Food is another thing. DD has trouble with things that aren't bland. Anything that has a strong taste she doesn't cope with, I am better than her, but still not great.

Texture is my big thing. If something is the 'wrong' texture, I can't handle it.

I hope that they get everything sorted, from what I have read since DD (and then I) got diagnosed early intervention is the best tool in the chest, and they have got an early diagnosis, so that is great.

[Shanaynay]

Sign language or picture cards might help the parents be able to communicate with her.
:hugs:

[mum2peanut]

Thanks Zoe :hugs: you know how close I am to Indy- that's why it's so hard.

Another question for you helpful ladies. If there's a situation or location that sets your child off do you avoid it? For example, DN doesn't really like shopping centres cause of all the noise. It is better for the child to not put them thru it or is exposure better, so that they get used to it.

[KarniF00l]

Any sort of loud noises will set them off. One example, Calista will go into hysterics when Mr Whippy drives past with his music on. So any sort of amplified sounds will affect them.

It's best to try and shield them away from loud noises because it is traumatic for them, even if it's only for a few minutes. They won't understand no matter how much you try and get them 'use' to it especially at a young age.

HTH

[kiwimay]

Hi mum2peanut

See if you can access a computer program called boardmaker or Writing with symbols. I am a special ed teacher and these are two programs we use extensively with kids with autism. basically they allow you to print off pictures/icons of absolutely everything so you make routine timetables and communictaion books with them.

Good luck. Kids with autism are challenging but you get so much back watching and being part of their development.

[KarniF00l]

Mia, just wanted to pass on these links to you. (hope that's okay mods)

Autism Help (http://www.autismhelp.info/htm/printfiles_index.htm)

Half way down the page in bold it says sensory issues and underneath that is a clickable link for auditory sensitivity.

There's another great site with lots of helpful information. Autism-help.org (http://www.autism-help.org/)

ETA: Also, do a google search on Autism but include your state, it'll bring up support networks in your local area for Autism.

[mum2peanut]

Hi mum2peanut

See if you can access a computer program called boardmaker or Writing with symbols. I am a special ed teacher and these are two programs we use extensively with kids with autism.

Thanks, I have access to boardmaker at school so I'll be using that for sure. At the moment we think she'll respond better to photos of herself, just cause she might not realise what the things in the pictures are, but I'll def use BM later on.

Lauren: thanks for those links I'll have a look at them now. Might pick your brain a fair bit if that's okay? :o

[KarniF00l]

Lauren: thanks for those links I'll have a look at them now. Might pick your brain a fair bit if that's okay? :o

You're more than welcome to Mia. Feel free to PM me also if you want. :)

[mum2peanut]

Lauren: thanks so much for the links to those two sites they are fantastic, I'll be passing them onto my sister. In regards to milestones, eg. talking, toilet training etc, when did these things happen for Calista? Indy is a bit younger than her, and although I realise all chn are different just wondering when she reached particular milestones. Also how does Calista cope with her brothers and sisters? Does she interact with them? My niece is an only child but she sees my DD pretty much everyday. Just wondering. Thanks, Mia

[Can I?]

Great links Lauren!! Thanks for posting them.

Mia - I hope everything is going OK for you and your family - it's so hard to get this diagnosis. I have a little boy who is 5 and has been diagnosed with autism (mild). We still have our struggles but things are so much better than when he was diagnosed.

He also has auditory sensitivity and finds shopping ventres etc quite unbearable. At first we just stopped taking him. After about 8 months, we began slowly introducing it again. We would take him just in to go to the atm for example. We slowly built up the length of time that we went for. He can now comfortably manage about 45 mins in a supermarket and maybe 20 in a shopping centre (After a year of gradual introduction). As soon as we see signs of stress we try to leave. We found that using a walkman with the wiggles playing helped as well - but it wasn't the total solution we were hoping for.

Please feel free to ask as many questions as you need to, we love talking about our special kids, and even if a suggestion doesn't work for your precious little neice, it might work for someone else.

[KarniF00l]

Lauren: thanks so much for the links to those two sites they are fantastic, I'll be passing them onto my sister. In regards to milestones, eg. talking, toilet training etc, when did these things happen for Calista? Indy is a bit younger than her, and although I realise all chn are different just wondering when she reached particular milestones. Also how does Calista cope with her brothers and sisters? Does she interact with them? My niece is an only child but she sees my DD pretty much everyday. Just wondering. Thanks, Mia

You're more than welcome.

Calista has Asperger's, which is low on the Autism spectrum. Her milestones were crawling at 16 months, walking at 22 months, and didn't say her first word (mum) until 25 months of age. Though her speech is getting better since starting at the ABC Learning centre, she still mumbles a lot so it's hard for others who don't spend a great amount of time with her daily to understand what she's saying or trying to say. We started toilet training Calista at 3. We also trained DS2 (at the time 2 years old) the same time. I think training them at the same time was very helpful to get Calista to understand because she would see Jye do something so then she would watch and follow, as she does with pretty much everything. It took roughly 4-5 months to fully toilet train her. Of course she still has those little accidents.

Calista gets along really well with the others, and vice versa. DS1 (6) knows that he needs to be patient with Calista, though some days he comes home from school grumpy and tired and gets frustrated and loses his patience with her which then we need to remind him or simple pull them apart and put them in separate rooms. Calista and Jye are very close but I think that may have something to do with them being 14 months apart. Calista is gentle with DD2 (almost 16months old). All and all she does have a very gentle nature and will help anyone, especially her siblings. There's a lot of days where she does want to be by herself and play alone, the kids have learnt to accept that and just let her be until she feels she wants to play with them.

Not all children with Aspergers/Autism are the same, so you'll probably hear or read about children with the same disability yet totally different attributes from each other.

Hope that helps Mia.

[zera06]

hey i dont know if this is much help but my mum is a specail needs teacher .

And she deals with austim alot so if u do need any help dont hesitate to ask and i can ge some advice.

[mum2peanut]

Coool thanks Zera06 :)