Autism Adventures; Silver Linings
Spring 2021:
It’s been 7 years since my son received his diagnosis. I’ve described some techniques that have helped him develop daily living abilities. The second year, about 2015, he started banging his head against the wall and meltdowns that literally lasted not just hours, but days. Sometimes these extended meltdowns would be triggered by me sitting down with him in an attempt to engage in functional play, like solving a four-piece puzzle, as taught to me by his first therapist.
A year later when we started using a communication device with him; I added a button for “Play with Mom” and another for “Be By Myself”. Him being able to choose between being alone and being social made a world of difference so I didn’t need to guess whether he wanted interaction or preferred some time alone for the moment.
Before the communication device we started with just one picture; a “break card” so rather than using “maladaptive” behaviors, such as screaming or running away or getting aggressive, he could instead ask for a break using functional communication.
Some days are still really tough, but we have come a long, long, long way; and it is a lot easier than it used to be. After several years of experience along with parent training from the BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts–or behavior consultants), I now feel I am finally equipped to be the kind of parent my son deserves.
Speech Apps
From February 4, 2017 (About 4 years after diagnosis)
This week I have amazing news! As my regular readers know, I had been struggling with my son’s predicament the past several months. His plight was that, being severely autistic, he needed at least 35 hours a week of developmental therapy, but only had access to less than 10 hours of services per week, much of which was not one-on-one therapy, and it wasn’t even half of what he needed. Furthermore, he’d been nearing the end of the rapid brain development window–the time period between the ages of two and six when the most significant improvements can be made.
But, now for the excellent news! My beautiful boy recently … FINALLY … got insurance approval for 30 hours per week of behavioral therapy. He just finished his first full week and he’s already made leaps and bounds.
Before the new therapists arrived I told my nonverbal 5 year old that new friends were coming to help him get the words that were in his mind to come out his mouth. During his first session I reminded him who these new people were and that they were going to help him with his words.
At the beginning of the second session with the new behavior therapist I noticed something unusual. My son was watching videos on my phone. I admit, watching videos is not unusual for him; but these weren’t just any videos. He was watching advertisements for communication apps. Communication app trailers! Could this have been a coincidence?
I grabbed a screenshot and spent time over the next couple days uploading pictures in the new communication app that my nonverbal 5 year old had handpicked. I used images of the PECS (pictures for words) that he’d already been using, and I added a category for feelings. Then I handed the phone to my son with the open app to see what he’d do.
At first he didn’t do anything. He seemed bored with it. He just wanted to watch videos … of the entertainment variety, rather than the educational trailers. A little disappointed, I thought that the transition was bound to take time.
Then just a few minutes later my son used the app to select the food category, then fruit loops. He also used the drink category to select juice. My son used a new means of communication to tell me what he wanted for breakfast. And that wasn’t all.
My intelligent child selected the feelings category. Out of six different emotions displayed, he tapped on the picture for “happy”. Then he gave me a hug. It might have been a coincidence … except that he repeated his choice three times. Three times my son tapped the picture for “happy”, followed by giving me hugs, cuddles, and laughter.
For the first time my son used a symbol to tell me how he felt. He was telling me not only that he was happy, but somehow it also meant that he was happy I’d prepared him for the therapists to come, that I’d listened to him and obtained an app that he wanted, that he’s ready to communicate on a higher level, that he wants to talk and he knows there is a way.
We used JABtalk for a few days, but the lag in loading time discouraged my son to give up on it shortly. So we switched to Proloquo2 afterward and have also discovered since then Cough Drop as another speech app option.
Thank you to the many people in my community for working with my son and helping him achieve the skills that have brought him this far: ABI (Autism Behavioral Intervention) for consistent efforts in ABA for two years, Browning Speech Therapy, Primary Children’s Occupational and Food Therapy, ABS (Alternative Behavior Strategies) for the 30 hours a week my son is now receiving, thank you to the insurance for covering his therapy, to the School District for incorporating diagnostic (special needs) programs into preschool, kindergarten, etc., to the children’s church program leaders for working with him, for friends’ and neighbors’ open hearts and understanding, to close family members for helping him and loving him often like no one else can;
And finally thank you to my son, for your determination, your confidence, hard work, strong spirit, and your amazing ability to move forward. I tell you what I tell your sister. You can do whatever you put your mind to do. You can be whatever you want to be. One day you’ll show us your hopes and dreams and we will help you achieve them. I love you truly and deeply.
You. Got. This!
Dear Reader, Thank You For Visiting! Click Here For The Full Spectrum Support Paperback or ebook:
Universe Rules 