Life Tips Daily

A few months ago I had the opportunity to listen to a presentation about autism at the NAtural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage. I was inspired by the many paths that can be explored to assist families and autistic individuals chart a healing journey. Please visit the link to learn lots more. The foloowing are excerpts from the newsletter.

A diagnosis is not a life sentence… for a child or their family.

Dear #firstname#,

We are constantly bombarded with statements about Autism’s “devastating” effect on families. Such a grim prognosis may come from the media, the “experts” and sometimes even our families and friends. Although Autism can be challenging because of behaviors, the heart of dealing with Autism is not about modifying behavior but establishing relationships (and then behaviors change).

Most treatments for Autism attempt to change a child’s behavior alone. As you may already know The Son-Rise Program is different. At the Autism Treatment Center of America we provide help for Autism and challenging behaviors, but we go so much further. In addition to teaching you to work with your child to treat the behaviors associated with Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger’s Syndrome, and other developmental difficulties, we also teach you to:

Establish a warm, interactive rapport with your child.
Implement effective educational techniques.
Enable your child to move beyond repetitive “stimming” behaviors.
Move through challenging behaviors (such as tantrums or hitting).
Become a confident teacher and advocate for your child.
Motivate your child to learn-and to enjoy learning.
Optimize your child’s learning environment.
Jump-start speech and language development.
Relax and have fun-without giving up what you want for yourself and your child.
Recruit and train a team of volunteers and helpers.
Find a sense of peace and comfort with your child’s present challenges.
Create and sustain an attitude of hope and optimism about your child’s future.
So the next time you hear about the “huge impact” that having a child with Autism has on a family please think about what kind of impact you want that to be. For some families this means devastation… for Son-Rise families, more often than not, a diagnosis of Autism can be seen as a blessing.

Read what parents have written about us here.

Please click on the link above.

Part 2: Tip of the Month…

A fun Son-Rise Program game that you can initiate.

Puzzle Hunt

Goal: To inspire an increased interactive attention span.

Motivations: Pictures or puzzles and going on rides.

Preparation: Print out a large picture of one of your child’s favorite characters (Thomas the Tank, Barney, Mickey etc). Laminate the picture (to make a sturdy re-usable game) and cut into pieces to make a puzzle. When you enter the room put the pieces up on the shelf.

Initiating the Game: When your child gives you a Green Light* introduce the game by getting one or two pieces of the puzzle down from the shelf. Explain excitedly to your child what the picture will be when it is complete. Also tell your child that the way to get more pieces is for him/her to get on your back so you can ride around the room to find the next piece. Keep initiating this game each time your child gives you a Green Light until s/he gets on your back.

Building the Motivation Level: Ride around the room with your child on your back (or in your arms, etc.) in a variety of fun ways and pick up one puzzle piece at a time. Each time you pick up a piece take it back to the table and add it into the puzzle. Show your child how exciting it is to watch the picture grow and grow and see the character start to emerge.

Requesting: The goal here is to increase the duration of your child’s interactive attention span, so the only thing to request is that your child climb back up and you go get another puzzle piece. If your child begins to ism (or stim) before completing the puzzle, join him/her until you get another Green Light then reintroduce the puzzle game. Keep reintroducing the puzzle game until either the puzzle is completed or the session is over.

* Green Light: After child has been exclusive s/he will signal availability to social interaction through a “Green Light”. There are three types of Green Lights: Eye contact; Language; Physical contact.

More games that you can use at home right away to help your child can be found on our website.

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