Tonight I saw a screening of the movie Adam at the Seven Gables. I really, really liked it. I'm still processing everything I think about it. I think Hugh Dancy did a fantastic job in this role. His voice and timing, his mannerisms, the way he carried his body, his expressions when Adam was confused or clearly trying to work something out...all were excellent. The film is visually pretty with a great soundtrack. The story is intriguing; the two hours flew by. I'm glad I ended up going by myself, because it allowed me to just fully absorb what was happening on the screen without distraction. I got into it. There are laugh out loud parts, and there were moments I felt pretty emotional--from the movie itself, and from my own thoughts about the relationship between Adam and Beth. And, best of all, the ending wasn't tied up neatly with a far-fetched rom-com fairy tale finale.
Side note: I was particularly glad about this, because I saw 500 Days of Summer with Casey a couple of weeks ago, and it had one of those endings. I was really excited to see it, because I thought it would be different, and I was on board with how the movie defied the rom-com formula...until the very end. Suddenly we were in lalaland. Oh yes, that's exactly how things work out immediately after you have your heart broken. Not.
After the movie, Hugh Dancy and Max Mayer were there to talk about the movie and answer questions. That was a fun surprise! And, I mean, homina. It was interesting to hear about the story, filming, and the role of Adam from their perspective. Great night!
Showing posts with label AS/ASD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AS/ASD. Show all posts
Monday, August 03, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Many of you know that along with taking classes and reading books about autism, I've also gotten into blogs written by people who are on the spectrum. I'm a lurker. Well...and sometimes a commenter. Classes are interesting, and they help in the processing of concepts. Books provide a lot of useful information, especially in understanding the diagnostic criteria and some of the complexities of the disorder, or provide a more authentic perspective if they're written by a person who is autistic, but what I really want to learn is what life is like right now for the adults who have ASD. In my curious, let-me-see-your-truth sort of way that is, frankly, something I seem to crave in most aspects of life, I want to understand the best I can what it's like to be a person who perceives the world differently, or perhaps has strengths or faces challenges I don't due to neurological differences.
For me, the good stuff is all about relationships, friendships, love, sex, connection, and how people interact with each other and the world. I have so many questions. That list could be its own post. Real answers on these topics is hard to find in books and research papers. It wouldn't be appropriate or comfortable for me to bring these subjects up with the people I currently know who have an ASD. So, for now, I turn to the blogs. And, as I lurk, it's becoming clear how highly unique these experiences are for each individual. Not surprising, of course, but if you study something while being detached from the people for too long, it becomes far too easy to generalize. I feel like I'm in that danger zone. A book can tell me about special interests, theory of mind, organization skills, bullying, zapped energy, frustration, loneliness, comorbids, the need for lots of alone time, the inability to read social cues, teaching/intervention strategies, support systems, and on and on. I can spout off a lot of facts, let me tell you (and sometimes I do! My poor friends and family.). But, while interesting to learn, for me there is something sort of empty about swimming in all these facts. A big piece is missing. I'd like to speak with a person rather than look at a bulleted list, please.
It'd be nice if I could walk up to someone, tap them on the shoulder, and say, "Would you mind if I jumped in your head for five minutes, a few hours, or a day? I want to know how the world looks to you, how you feel, what you truly want. I want to see how we are the same and how we are different. I want the honest, uncensored, deeply personal truth of who you are. Sound ok?"
Yeah, yeah. I'm back from fantasyland now.
But wait! Yesterday I found an incredible blog that made me feel like I was doing this for a little bit: The Incipient Turvy. I happened on this blog from another one I like, and I randomly chose to read Part One of the Awkward Love series (at the bottom of the list on the overview page, following the link). I was immediately drawn in. And then I read parts two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine. I couldn't stop. It's my new favorite, and I think it's the best thing I've read in a long, long time. The author is simply an amazing writer who is deeply insightful, funny, and candid in describing his experiences, especially in dating and romance. I love the metaphors, especially the screensaver. I've thought about that a lot. These metaphors really do help you "get it." I liked the sections on social clumping and Red Rover. I think I like that he is roughly my age, but I'm not sure why. The Doctor seems very cool. I loved the part in a later post where the writer talks about, as a kid, prematurely starting to miss a moment while it's still happening, because you know it will soon be gone. Yes! I know exactly what he means, because I've done that all my life, but even more so as a kid too. I could gush on and on here about everything I liked, and sound like a huge dope, because it is every single bit of parts 1-9. So, I'll stop myself now and just encourage you to read all or parts of Awkward Love if you're interested. I so completely loved it.
For me, the good stuff is all about relationships, friendships, love, sex, connection, and how people interact with each other and the world. I have so many questions. That list could be its own post. Real answers on these topics is hard to find in books and research papers. It wouldn't be appropriate or comfortable for me to bring these subjects up with the people I currently know who have an ASD. So, for now, I turn to the blogs. And, as I lurk, it's becoming clear how highly unique these experiences are for each individual. Not surprising, of course, but if you study something while being detached from the people for too long, it becomes far too easy to generalize. I feel like I'm in that danger zone. A book can tell me about special interests, theory of mind, organization skills, bullying, zapped energy, frustration, loneliness, comorbids, the need for lots of alone time, the inability to read social cues, teaching/intervention strategies, support systems, and on and on. I can spout off a lot of facts, let me tell you (and sometimes I do! My poor friends and family.). But, while interesting to learn, for me there is something sort of empty about swimming in all these facts. A big piece is missing. I'd like to speak with a person rather than look at a bulleted list, please.
It'd be nice if I could walk up to someone, tap them on the shoulder, and say, "Would you mind if I jumped in your head for five minutes, a few hours, or a day? I want to know how the world looks to you, how you feel, what you truly want. I want to see how we are the same and how we are different. I want the honest, uncensored, deeply personal truth of who you are. Sound ok?"
Yeah, yeah. I'm back from fantasyland now.
But wait! Yesterday I found an incredible blog that made me feel like I was doing this for a little bit: The Incipient Turvy. I happened on this blog from another one I like, and I randomly chose to read Part One of the Awkward Love series (at the bottom of the list on the overview page, following the link). I was immediately drawn in. And then I read parts two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine. I couldn't stop. It's my new favorite, and I think it's the best thing I've read in a long, long time. The author is simply an amazing writer who is deeply insightful, funny, and candid in describing his experiences, especially in dating and romance. I love the metaphors, especially the screensaver. I've thought about that a lot. These metaphors really do help you "get it." I liked the sections on social clumping and Red Rover. I think I like that he is roughly my age, but I'm not sure why. The Doctor seems very cool. I loved the part in a later post where the writer talks about, as a kid, prematurely starting to miss a moment while it's still happening, because you know it will soon be gone. Yes! I know exactly what he means, because I've done that all my life, but even more so as a kid too. I could gush on and on here about everything I liked, and sound like a huge dope, because it is every single bit of parts 1-9. So, I'll stop myself now and just encourage you to read all or parts of Awkward Love if you're interested. I so completely loved it.
Friday, May 29, 2009
No access...
No access for me at the conference, so I'm writing quickly from a nearby Starbucks. Home of the green straw that was a topic at one of the talks this morning. The no internet is a bummer, but the conference is great! I'm learning lots and everyone has been super nice. I talked with this morning's speaker, Peter Gerhardt (who was fantastic, hilarious, and said so many important things) about prepping for what I want to do, and happily it sounds like I'm on the right track. Well, unless I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in Psych, which I don't think is in the cards. I'm ambitious to a point.
More soon!
More soon!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tonight I watched The Boy Inside. The overview from the site:
"Award-winning filmmaker Marianne Kaplan shares her son’s struggle to graduate elementary school in this intensely personal documentary about growing up with Asperger Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism characterized by socially inappropriate behaviour. The Boy Inside follows 12-year-old Adam as he tries desperately to control his outbursts and make sense of bullies, girls and life in the real world. A rare insight into an increasingly common neurological disorder, this film is the story of a family on the edge as they work to overcome a form of autism the world is only now beginning to recognize. "
It was an emotionally intense movie to watch. I expected that somewhat, but it's even more so than I thought. Seeing the effects of Adam being bullied and excluded was heartwrenching to watch, especially when he so earnestly and completely wants to connect, wants to have friends, wants to have a girlfriend and a first kiss, wants to play basketball with his peers, wants to fit in, wants to be accepted for who he is, wants to understand the world around him, wants to feel not so alone. Seeing Adam's mom and dad work so hard to deal with his difficulties and make life in this world doable for him was both inspiring and painful. They meet up with a lot of dead ends, and they continue with love and determination. Marianne, especially, is Adam's champion in recognizing how much progress he's made and in her optimism for his future and potential for success.
I watched all of this feeling like an emotional jumble. I had a lot of thoughts. When Adam talked feeling hopelessness, despair, and like nowhere is a safe place for him right now, that hit me the hardest--the safe place. There are personal reasons why this is so, too complicated and, well, too personal and undefined to explain here. I'm fortunate to have many places in life where I feel safe and like I fit in. I believe every person should have that. How scary is the world otherwise? But, I've had someone share similar thoughts with me about having few "safe places" before, and while I processed the words at the time, I didn't fully understand the depth of the meaning. That conversation has stuck with me, probably because I had the nagging suspicion that I missed something. This part of the movie triggered that memory again. I don't think the discussion could have gone any differently at the time, but I wish somehow I'd gotten it then. I feel like it's one of those lost moments of human understanding. The feeling is like being a little kid who, in a careless second, accidentally lets go of her balloon and helplessly watches it drift away. The balloon is right there, but totally out of reach. It's gone.
Marianne Kaplan interviewed Temple Grandin who said something to the effect of, "If we took away all of the genes that lead to autism, the world would be a very boring place." Yes! I think so too.
I watched Adam's parents, and I thought, that looks really hard, yet...maybe I want to do that. Maybe I could choose to do that. I've noticed lately that the possibility of someday adopting a child who has AS/ASD has been cropping up in the back of my mind (I lean toward adoption), but I hadn't fully acknowledged it until today. In fact, the words came out of my mouth while at dinner tonight with a friend, before watching the movie, and that's when I realized its presence. She was supportive and said she could totally see it, which was nice. Obviously, I'm not in a place to pursue anything like that now. There would be a lot of factors to consider in making that decision. I don't even know if it's possible. If you were found suitable for adoption, I guess you could probably make a request. My circumstances would have to be right, and it'd require a lot of thought and understanding of what's involved. You don't just run out and adopt a kid with special needs on a whim, yet...maybe someday. And, then I immediately thought, is that weird? Do people do this? Maybe that's weird. So I IM'd my sister, Is this totally weird? She said no, not at all. Maybe it is, in fact, my calling.
Maybe.
The film is really well done. I recommend. Marianne Kaplan did an excellent job, and I'm glad I had a chance to watch it. I think it'd be incredibly challenging to show the world such a personal view of your family life. In trying to figure out how to get my hands on a copy, I had a nice email exchange with her. She responded quickly to my inquiry with very helpful information, and I really appreciated her taking the time to do that. Then, I had an email exchange with the helpful librarian at the Children's Hospital in Seattle, where they have a copy of The Boy Inside, and she let me know that the materials in their Autism Collection are available for the public to check out. In the end, I made an interlibrary request at school, which worked perfectly and taught me more about all the wonderful resources available there. Very cool. I'm loving the library right now for this and other school projects.
I have a lot more I'd like to say, but I must head off to bed. Tomorrow I'm attending the Autism Society's Best in the Northwest conference, and it's going to be a very early morning. I'm excited and a bit nervous, because I'm not sure what to expect. I'll have a baby computer with me, and I hope to blog about the sessions if I have internet access.
"Award-winning filmmaker Marianne Kaplan shares her son’s struggle to graduate elementary school in this intensely personal documentary about growing up with Asperger Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism characterized by socially inappropriate behaviour. The Boy Inside follows 12-year-old Adam as he tries desperately to control his outbursts and make sense of bullies, girls and life in the real world. A rare insight into an increasingly common neurological disorder, this film is the story of a family on the edge as they work to overcome a form of autism the world is only now beginning to recognize. "
It was an emotionally intense movie to watch. I expected that somewhat, but it's even more so than I thought. Seeing the effects of Adam being bullied and excluded was heartwrenching to watch, especially when he so earnestly and completely wants to connect, wants to have friends, wants to have a girlfriend and a first kiss, wants to play basketball with his peers, wants to fit in, wants to be accepted for who he is, wants to understand the world around him, wants to feel not so alone. Seeing Adam's mom and dad work so hard to deal with his difficulties and make life in this world doable for him was both inspiring and painful. They meet up with a lot of dead ends, and they continue with love and determination. Marianne, especially, is Adam's champion in recognizing how much progress he's made and in her optimism for his future and potential for success.
I watched all of this feeling like an emotional jumble. I had a lot of thoughts. When Adam talked feeling hopelessness, despair, and like nowhere is a safe place for him right now, that hit me the hardest--the safe place. There are personal reasons why this is so, too complicated and, well, too personal and undefined to explain here. I'm fortunate to have many places in life where I feel safe and like I fit in. I believe every person should have that. How scary is the world otherwise? But, I've had someone share similar thoughts with me about having few "safe places" before, and while I processed the words at the time, I didn't fully understand the depth of the meaning. That conversation has stuck with me, probably because I had the nagging suspicion that I missed something. This part of the movie triggered that memory again. I don't think the discussion could have gone any differently at the time, but I wish somehow I'd gotten it then. I feel like it's one of those lost moments of human understanding. The feeling is like being a little kid who, in a careless second, accidentally lets go of her balloon and helplessly watches it drift away. The balloon is right there, but totally out of reach. It's gone.
Marianne Kaplan interviewed Temple Grandin who said something to the effect of, "If we took away all of the genes that lead to autism, the world would be a very boring place." Yes! I think so too.
I watched Adam's parents, and I thought, that looks really hard, yet...maybe I want to do that. Maybe I could choose to do that. I've noticed lately that the possibility of someday adopting a child who has AS/ASD has been cropping up in the back of my mind (I lean toward adoption), but I hadn't fully acknowledged it until today. In fact, the words came out of my mouth while at dinner tonight with a friend, before watching the movie, and that's when I realized its presence. She was supportive and said she could totally see it, which was nice. Obviously, I'm not in a place to pursue anything like that now. There would be a lot of factors to consider in making that decision. I don't even know if it's possible. If you were found suitable for adoption, I guess you could probably make a request. My circumstances would have to be right, and it'd require a lot of thought and understanding of what's involved. You don't just run out and adopt a kid with special needs on a whim, yet...maybe someday. And, then I immediately thought, is that weird? Do people do this? Maybe that's weird. So I IM'd my sister, Is this totally weird? She said no, not at all. Maybe it is, in fact, my calling.
Maybe.
The film is really well done. I recommend. Marianne Kaplan did an excellent job, and I'm glad I had a chance to watch it. I think it'd be incredibly challenging to show the world such a personal view of your family life. In trying to figure out how to get my hands on a copy, I had a nice email exchange with her. She responded quickly to my inquiry with very helpful information, and I really appreciated her taking the time to do that. Then, I had an email exchange with the helpful librarian at the Children's Hospital in Seattle, where they have a copy of The Boy Inside, and she let me know that the materials in their Autism Collection are available for the public to check out. In the end, I made an interlibrary request at school, which worked perfectly and taught me more about all the wonderful resources available there. Very cool. I'm loving the library right now for this and other school projects.
I have a lot more I'd like to say, but I must head off to bed. Tomorrow I'm attending the Autism Society's Best in the Northwest conference, and it's going to be a very early morning. I'm excited and a bit nervous, because I'm not sure what to expect. I'll have a baby computer with me, and I hope to blog about the sessions if I have internet access.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
There are some interesting autism items in the news.
First, I really loved Modern Love's Somewhere Inside, A Path to Empathy from Friday's NYTs. It's honest, insightful, funny, and, most importantly, gives a positive perspective of an AS/neurotypical (NT) intimate relationship. So many books and articles I read talk address the many challenges with very little focus on the positive. In a marriage combination that leads to an estimated 80% divorce rate, maybe this makes sense. The primary hurdles tend to be in communication and emotional relating (theory of mind issues included), which are integral for partners as they navigate the unpredictability and turmoil of life together. Without good communication and relating, it's easy to see how AS/NT relationships break down. Yet, this article provides a happy example of a couple in which both partners are committed to change that leads to improvement in the quality of the relationship.
It's probably helpful that Finch's wife, Kristen, is a speech therapist who works with children who have autism, since this gives her background and understanding of Asperger's. But, I'm impressed with David Finch's dedication to fixing and strengthening his relationship through change. I found the line, "Positive changes — me talking reasonably about a problem — were rewarded with her newfound joy in being in my company, which is what I craved more than anything" so sweet. I like his Journal of Best Practices to write down helpful tips to remember. So often men with AS are portrayed as frustratingly incapable of understanding their contributions to problems in relationships, or even attempting change, and this gives a fresh, more positive, viewpoint.
The second is the Newsweek article Erasing Autism. Wow. There is some weird grammatical stuff in there, with random hyphen placements and things, but the content is good. Some of the comments, however, are not. I worry about many of the same things the article explores in terms of curing or eliminating autism altogether. The spectrumness (I'm making up words now) of this disorder is at the center of the complexity of this issue. On the severe, low-functioning end, of course a cure or the elimination of the disorder may seem like a godsend to parents and maybe even the people who have ASD. But, on the other end, I can see how this is an incredibly scary prospect. How many people with AS or high-functioning autism (HFA), like Ari, would want that aspect of themselves taken away? I don't know for sure, but my intuition says very few. As scientific research progresses, who will decide what's right? Argh.
First, I really loved Modern Love's Somewhere Inside, A Path to Empathy from Friday's NYTs. It's honest, insightful, funny, and, most importantly, gives a positive perspective of an AS/neurotypical (NT) intimate relationship. So many books and articles I read talk address the many challenges with very little focus on the positive. In a marriage combination that leads to an estimated 80% divorce rate, maybe this makes sense. The primary hurdles tend to be in communication and emotional relating (theory of mind issues included), which are integral for partners as they navigate the unpredictability and turmoil of life together. Without good communication and relating, it's easy to see how AS/NT relationships break down. Yet, this article provides a happy example of a couple in which both partners are committed to change that leads to improvement in the quality of the relationship.
It's probably helpful that Finch's wife, Kristen, is a speech therapist who works with children who have autism, since this gives her background and understanding of Asperger's. But, I'm impressed with David Finch's dedication to fixing and strengthening his relationship through change. I found the line, "Positive changes — me talking reasonably about a problem — were rewarded with her newfound joy in being in my company, which is what I craved more than anything" so sweet. I like his Journal of Best Practices to write down helpful tips to remember. So often men with AS are portrayed as frustratingly incapable of understanding their contributions to problems in relationships, or even attempting change, and this gives a fresh, more positive, viewpoint.
The second is the Newsweek article Erasing Autism. Wow. There is some weird grammatical stuff in there, with random hyphen placements and things, but the content is good. Some of the comments, however, are not. I worry about many of the same things the article explores in terms of curing or eliminating autism altogether. The spectrumness (I'm making up words now) of this disorder is at the center of the complexity of this issue. On the severe, low-functioning end, of course a cure or the elimination of the disorder may seem like a godsend to parents and maybe even the people who have ASD. But, on the other end, I can see how this is an incredibly scary prospect. How many people with AS or high-functioning autism (HFA), like Ari, would want that aspect of themselves taken away? I don't know for sure, but my intuition says very few. As scientific research progresses, who will decide what's right? Argh.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
This has been a fairly quiet week in terms of blog material. Except, a big congrats to my sister who will be moving her and Trav into their new house in Oregon City in about a month! Yay!! I'm excited to head down to P-town to help them move and get settled in.
My week was spent working on my Reiki for Autism paper, and I was really happy with the information I found. There was more than I expected out there. I found a few practitioners across the U.S. who are using Reiki specifically for kids who have AS/ASD. So cool! This means that if I want to do this, I won't be starting from scratch on *how* to do it. One practitioner is actually in Portland, and she graciously answered a few questions for me over email. All of this is making me increasingly motivated to revive my own healing work and to take classes again, and I'd really like to have a chance to work with her.
For those of you who are interested in learning a little bit about this, I took some paragraphs from my paper and included them below, along with my sources. The purpose is to give you a good overview (even though the writing is far from perfect, which bugs me!) without making you read tons, and I hope the flow still works with some paragraphs omitted. The bottom line on the research is that there appears to be very little to none out there on Reiki, yet the CDC estimates that up to a third of children with autism will try complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), so it seems that more research and exploration of many CAM services is needed.
I think I'm going to take this summer off from regular classes and volunteer tutoring. I've been going strong for the past year at the tutoring center, and neither of my girls will participate in the summer reading program, so I think I'll either find something closer to home or work to do, or just take a few months off. There aren't any regular classes that fit with my work schedule this summer, so I think I'm going to make energy healing, reading the huge pile of books that has stacked up in my apartment over these past months, and figuring out what the heck I'm going to do about grad school my priority after spring quarter ends. It would be fun if I could find some sort of research project to participate in. I'd love the experience, so I'm going to look into it to see if it's an option.
Friends beware: I have a feeling I'm going to be eager to practice my energy healing techniques, which means I may be hounding you to be my subjects. (piano fingers) Just say yes! :-)
I think after Paris and Israel in the past year, I'm going to take a travel break. Maybe I'll do some smaller summer adventures, but I feel like my focus is elsewhere in the short-term. My travel bug is temporarily subdued.
Kitty and I made an emergency vet visit this week for symptoms that seemed pretty scary, which actually turned out to be a bladder infection. Poor thing. Her cute little grayness is getting pretty old, but this is something that will hopefully be fixed with a strong round of antibiotics. She seems much better.
Lymelife didn't happen last weekend, so I'm hoping to make it to the Seven Gables this weekend to see it. But, I watched Frost/Nixon this week. It was really interesting, and I learned a lot from it. I also started I've Loved You So Long, which seems very good, but I think I need to start over because I've missed some parts. Even if I don't understand most of it, I love hearing the French. And, I added the Garden State soundtrack to my player which is making me really want to watch the movie again, so I think I will soon. It makes me happy.
In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the gorgeous weather, steal some of my neighbors lilacs that are hanging over the fence, read, read, read to catch up with school, and prepare for my parents' visit next weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing them very much. I'm also looking forward the the Autism Society's Best in the Northwest Conference on the 29th. The event is focused on my area of interest--transitioning into adulthood. If there is wireless at the event, I'll plan to blog from there throughout the day.
Happy Belated Birthday to my wonderful friend Elizabeth! I had a lovely time celebrating with her, eating delicious food, and I appreciate how sweetly she accepted my homemade gift, which was, well, a little bit gaudy. I try!
***************************************************************
Reiki for Autism
My week was spent working on my Reiki for Autism paper, and I was really happy with the information I found. There was more than I expected out there. I found a few practitioners across the U.S. who are using Reiki specifically for kids who have AS/ASD. So cool! This means that if I want to do this, I won't be starting from scratch on *how* to do it. One practitioner is actually in Portland, and she graciously answered a few questions for me over email. All of this is making me increasingly motivated to revive my own healing work and to take classes again, and I'd really like to have a chance to work with her.
For those of you who are interested in learning a little bit about this, I took some paragraphs from my paper and included them below, along with my sources. The purpose is to give you a good overview (even though the writing is far from perfect, which bugs me!) without making you read tons, and I hope the flow still works with some paragraphs omitted. The bottom line on the research is that there appears to be very little to none out there on Reiki, yet the CDC estimates that up to a third of children with autism will try complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), so it seems that more research and exploration of many CAM services is needed.
I think I'm going to take this summer off from regular classes and volunteer tutoring. I've been going strong for the past year at the tutoring center, and neither of my girls will participate in the summer reading program, so I think I'll either find something closer to home or work to do, or just take a few months off. There aren't any regular classes that fit with my work schedule this summer, so I think I'm going to make energy healing, reading the huge pile of books that has stacked up in my apartment over these past months, and figuring out what the heck I'm going to do about grad school my priority after spring quarter ends. It would be fun if I could find some sort of research project to participate in. I'd love the experience, so I'm going to look into it to see if it's an option.
Friends beware: I have a feeling I'm going to be eager to practice my energy healing techniques, which means I may be hounding you to be my subjects. (piano fingers) Just say yes! :-)
I think after Paris and Israel in the past year, I'm going to take a travel break. Maybe I'll do some smaller summer adventures, but I feel like my focus is elsewhere in the short-term. My travel bug is temporarily subdued.
Kitty and I made an emergency vet visit this week for symptoms that seemed pretty scary, which actually turned out to be a bladder infection. Poor thing. Her cute little grayness is getting pretty old, but this is something that will hopefully be fixed with a strong round of antibiotics. She seems much better.
Lymelife didn't happen last weekend, so I'm hoping to make it to the Seven Gables this weekend to see it. But, I watched Frost/Nixon this week. It was really interesting, and I learned a lot from it. I also started I've Loved You So Long, which seems very good, but I think I need to start over because I've missed some parts. Even if I don't understand most of it, I love hearing the French. And, I added the Garden State soundtrack to my player which is making me really want to watch the movie again, so I think I will soon. It makes me happy.
In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the gorgeous weather, steal some of my neighbors lilacs that are hanging over the fence, read, read, read to catch up with school, and prepare for my parents' visit next weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing them very much. I'm also looking forward the the Autism Society's Best in the Northwest Conference on the 29th. The event is focused on my area of interest--transitioning into adulthood. If there is wireless at the event, I'll plan to blog from there throughout the day.
Happy Belated Birthday to my wonderful friend Elizabeth! I had a lovely time celebrating with her, eating delicious food, and I appreciate how sweetly she accepted my homemade gift, which was, well, a little bit gaudy. I try!
***************************************************************
Reiki for Autism
Reiki is a Japanese form of energy healing rooted in the belief that life force energy flows through all living things. The word can be broken down into two parts: Rei, which means “Universal Force” and ki, which means “energy”. The principle of Reiki is that each human being has the ability to connect with healing life force energy to strengthen up and rebalance the energy within themselves or others for mental, physical, and/or emotional benefits. When the flow of energy within a person is strong and at full force, a positive state of health exists. Conversely, if energy within a person is weak or blocked, this lack can manifest itself in physical ailments or emotional imbalances.
During a Reiki session, a client typically lies on a massage table or sits in a comfortable chair, fully clothed, and the practitioner uses light touch on the body, or places hands over the body with no touch. The purpose is to use the hands to move life force energy through the body to restore balance, either by removing excess energy and blocks, or by filling or increasing the amount needed. Not only is Reiki used for healing, but it also promotes wellness through stress reduction and relaxation. Depending on the needs of the client, Reiki can lessen or remove physical pain, calm when upset, or reduce stress when anxious. Many clients report a feeling of deep relaxation after a Reiki session. It is a safe treatment with no serious side effects reported. With classes and training, a person can learn Reiki techniques to use in self-care as well.
It’s important to remember that Reiki is not massage, and it is not attached to any particular religion. Reiki is not a “cure” for an ailment or illness, nor is it meant to replace conventional medicine, but it can be a complementary modality in a personal health or healing program. Over 40 hospitals in the
According to the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine website, a “2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included a comprehensive survey of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by Americans, more than 1.2 million adults had used an energy healing therapy, such as Reiki, in the previous year. The survey also found that approximately 161,000 children had used an energy healing therapy in the previous year.” In a national study conducted by researchers at the
I found that there are several Reiki practitioners in the United States who specialize in working with children who have autism spectrum disorders. While it’s not intended to be a cure for autism, the primary goal is to provide a calming effect, without drugs and without interfering with other treatments. Practitioners feel that one of the biggest difficulties for those who have autism is the extreme anxiety in everyday life over social interactions, transitions, and facing changes of the smallest degree. It often is used to manage sleep problems, anxiety, beginning stages of meltdowns, learning problems, sensory sensitivity, hyperactivity, perseverations, tight muscles, headaches, and stomach issues. In an email interview with Reiki Master Heather Long, who practices in Portland, OR., she explained that while she works with parents on their goals for the child, she’s found that consistently the primary goal is to reduce anxiety, improve sleep issues, and teach the client how to self soothe. Reiki gives these tools.
Reiki sessions for children don't involve lying down and seldom includes sitting still for long. For a child with sensory issues or who is stranger-shy, it can be done without touch. Before starting a session, Heather Long finds out if there are any touch sensory issues involved and, if so, may use no touch or deeper pressure than is traditionally used in energy healing. Reiki can even be done while the child is engaged in a favored activity, such as coloring or video games. Many Reiki practitioners understand that therapies for autism are expensive, and they encourage parents and caregivers to learn Reiki techniques to use with their children and as a stress reliever for themselves. At first this may be used along with the treatment provided by a practitioner, but the overall goal is to empower the parents to take over this treatment themselves. Children with autism may also be able to learn Reiki as a valuable tool for self-regulation and immediate relief during stressful situations.
When working with a child who has ASD, practitioners recommend first having the client participate in a preferred activity that will help initiate relaxing. For a child with autism, this may not be a typical relaxation technique, but it should be something that works for the person. The Reiki treatment can be given in a part of the child’s natural environment that he/she finds soothing. At the beginning, the practitioner will focus on drawing out negative energy from the child’s body, usually by infusing the child with Reiki energy to move the negative out. In order to help brain functioning, the management of thoughts and emotion, and communication skills, practitioners may spend significant time using the first eight hand positions on or near the head to clear and infuse with energy. Heather Long explained that she usually has shorter sessions with a child who has autism, and a practitioner may just spend an extended time working on one area of the body, like the hands, for 15 minutes rather than the traditional hour-plus sessions of hand positions all over the body. Reiki sessions for children rarely look like the typical lying down, dark room, meditative music, and candles sessions. While many people report deep feelings of relaxation, the releasing of toxins can initially lead to irritability, so the client should drink plenty of water after to help release the toxins from the body.
Resources
National Institutes of Health Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/reiki/
International Association of Reiki Professionals: http://iarp.org/
Department of Health & Human Services, Center for Disease Control & Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.htm#Complementary
Reiki Master Heather Long’s website: http://www.reikiautism.com/
Alternative Autism Solutions: http://www.alternativeautismsolutions.com/Energy_Healing.html
How to Use Reiki with Autistic Children: http://www.ehow.com/how_2228350_use-reiki-autistic-children.html
Autistic Children Use Alternative Therapy, United Press International, March 13th, 2009: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/03/13/Autistic-children-use-alternative-therapy/UPI-94591236997959/
Hanson, E. et al. (September 15, 2006). Use of complementary and alternative medicine among children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Kurtz, Lisa. (2008). Understanding controversial therapies for children with autism, attention deficit disorder, and other learning disabilities: A guide to complementary and alternative medicine. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Mehl-Madrona, L. (2000). Effective therapies for autism and other developmental disorders. Originally published in Autism/Asperger’s Digest as Enhancing Conventional Medicine: Alternative Medicine's Place in Treating Autism.
http://www.healing-arts.org/children/lmm-autism-article1.htm
Friday, May 08, 2009
While the nerd herd scrambles to see Star Trek this weekend, I'm super excited about Lymelife! I think I will have to go. And, yeah, yeah, I hear the critics are raving about Star Trek, and I'm sure if I saw it I'd have a lot more to talk about with my work crowd, but a Trekkie I am not, nor will I ever be. But, you know, live long and prosper. I guess.
I'm moving on from MM Mode (the triple M), and am now in denial of ever feeling bad at all. I go into What Was That About? Mode and pretend like it never happened. Until the next round. I was listening to Be So Happy by the Heartless Bastards on my walk, and I was like Yes! "I could be so happy if I wasn't so sad. I could be so funny, if I wasn't a drag." It's the Triple M theme song!
I'm also really into listening to Tegan & Sara's The Con right now and Aqueduct's I Sold Gold. The oldies but goodies are getting some serious play time.
My parents are coming to visit over Memorial Day weekend! I'm very excited, because my mom hasn't been up to Seattle in a couple of years now, and I'm going to take her to the Queen Mary for a late Mother's Day celebratory tea. It may look snooty, but it is incredibly delicious. Rex said he'd come to Seattle only if he doesn't have to go to "that Queen Mary." I was cracking up.
My class continues to be so interesting to me. Soon I have a paper due on a non-research based intervention/therapy, and I'm thinking about focusing on energy healing treatments, such as Reiki. I'm struggling with this, because while the woo-woo/intuitive part of me very strongly believes that energy plays a key role in ASD, my logical side doesn't want to sound like a New Agey freak in a paper I'm submitting to a professor. I've gone back and forth with my little insecure voice giving me the business about choosing something "safer" to talk about. But, I think the little voice is getting the big boot on this one. This is what interests me and what I believe in, so I'm going to gather more information and discuss it. If there isn't enough to go on in this one specific area, I may incorporate in other things like yoga and meditation, although I suspect meditation alone may not be all that useful for a brain that's hardwired to perseverate and uses so much energy to engage in the world, but the concentration and physical side in yoga may. We shall see. There is some info out there, and I'm sure I'll tell you as I discover more. That's what I do.
All of these thoughts have sparked an interest in me to expand my own energy healing practices in a way that could be helpful to someone who has AS/ASD specifically. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this or where to start--I haven't taken a healing class in ages--and I certainly don't envision it being a career, but it feels right to pursue it. Everything in me says it will be useful somehow, and even though I don't know how yet, I've learned trusting in that feeling always leads to good things. Unlike little insecure voice, which has often led me astray and deserves a hard stomp! It gets quieter and quieter.
I have more class-related things to talk about. We discussed the "culture of autism" the other day. I have thoughts about that, as well as the recent parent panel. More soon!
I'm moving on from MM Mode (the triple M), and am now in denial of ever feeling bad at all. I go into What Was That About? Mode and pretend like it never happened. Until the next round. I was listening to Be So Happy by the Heartless Bastards on my walk, and I was like Yes! "I could be so happy if I wasn't so sad. I could be so funny, if I wasn't a drag." It's the Triple M theme song!
I'm also really into listening to Tegan & Sara's The Con right now and Aqueduct's I Sold Gold. The oldies but goodies are getting some serious play time.
My parents are coming to visit over Memorial Day weekend! I'm very excited, because my mom hasn't been up to Seattle in a couple of years now, and I'm going to take her to the Queen Mary for a late Mother's Day celebratory tea. It may look snooty, but it is incredibly delicious. Rex said he'd come to Seattle only if he doesn't have to go to "that Queen Mary." I was cracking up.
My class continues to be so interesting to me. Soon I have a paper due on a non-research based intervention/therapy, and I'm thinking about focusing on energy healing treatments, such as Reiki. I'm struggling with this, because while the woo-woo/intuitive part of me very strongly believes that energy plays a key role in ASD, my logical side doesn't want to sound like a New Agey freak in a paper I'm submitting to a professor. I've gone back and forth with my little insecure voice giving me the business about choosing something "safer" to talk about. But, I think the little voice is getting the big boot on this one. This is what interests me and what I believe in, so I'm going to gather more information and discuss it. If there isn't enough to go on in this one specific area, I may incorporate in other things like yoga and meditation, although I suspect meditation alone may not be all that useful for a brain that's hardwired to perseverate and uses so much energy to engage in the world, but the concentration and physical side in yoga may. We shall see. There is some info out there, and I'm sure I'll tell you as I discover more. That's what I do.
All of these thoughts have sparked an interest in me to expand my own energy healing practices in a way that could be helpful to someone who has AS/ASD specifically. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this or where to start--I haven't taken a healing class in ages--and I certainly don't envision it being a career, but it feels right to pursue it. Everything in me says it will be useful somehow, and even though I don't know how yet, I've learned trusting in that feeling always leads to good things. Unlike little insecure voice, which has often led me astray and deserves a hard stomp! It gets quieter and quieter.
I have more class-related things to talk about. We discussed the "culture of autism" the other day. I have thoughts about that, as well as the recent parent panel. More soon!
Monday, April 27, 2009
I was really impressed with the Stories of Autism photo exhibit the other night. I’ve realized in writing the blog that sometimes it’s incredibly difficult to convey my thoughts and feelings about things in words. I end up saying stuff like, it’s great! I loved it! It’s super cool! over and over again, but there is no real meaning attached to that. It’s frustrating, because what I want to do is transport you into the moment with me, and say, “see this? Experience it with me, and then you’ll understand where I’m coming from, and I’ll know what you think about it, and we’ll have understanding.” I think good writers are supposed to be able to do that with their words, but clearly I struggle and end up defaulting to, “It’s awesome!” :-)
I walked around this echo-y room with old wood floors at Wallingford Center looking at these beautiful black and white photos of kids hanging on the walls. I didn’t realize that all would be from the Seattle area. If you check out the link above, you can see most of them. They’re all fantastic, although I have to say the smile in Sam’s eyes made me smile the most. What drew me in, though, were the short story cards placed next to each picture written by the parent/parents of each of kids which gave varying perspectives and insights on having a child who is on the autism spectrum. Some were incredibly positive. Some, not so much. Many talked about the humor brought into the family’s lives by the child who has ASD. A few addressed the parents’ concerns for the future of their children. They all were unique, poignant, and personal. For a pic of two brothers, the mother wrote about how her oldest son is learning to cope with being awkward, and the younger is just starting to learn that he is awkward. I liked that line a lot for its honesty. One shared how her son’s intense concentration helped him run a marathon in record time. Another parent shared how it isn’t typical for a seven year old to spend his summer figuring out two to the 200th power or writing code with numbers, to confront older children hurting a little bird, with no thought of the consequences to himself, or, in fourth grade, to stand up in front of his class to talk about differences and how bullying is wrong. While none of these things are typical, I’d sure love to meet this kid.
In many of the stories, parents shared their distress of seeing their once happy, healthy babies suddenly withdraw and change as they developed with autism. I can’t imagine what that would be like, and I don’t blame the parents for wanting to know what happened. Some referred to autism as a disease or plague that MUST BE CURED. I talked with a mother at the show who said to me that ASD manifests itself differently in each person, like cancer might in any individual. I really struggled with this, and it continues to weigh heavily on my mind. Although I know autism can be debilitating in certain areas to those even mildly or moderately affected, let alone severely, I have a hard time likening it to cancer. The comparison just feels wrong to me. I guess I don’t think of it as a disease that takes over your body with the intent to kill you. Instead, I think of it as one facet of who a person is. But, maybe if you're a parent who perceives that the child you knew, or the child you hoped would be, was taken away by autism, you have a different view.
I have a lot of confusion going on in my head about AS/ASD right now. I spend a lot of time thinking and reading and learning and talking about this, but taking a class or two and reading certainly don't make me an expert (unlike with fashion!). I’m searching for understanding as I consider what I’d like to do and what advocacy actually means. There are a lot of hot-button issues out there that draw great controversy between parents, educators, medicine, science, any joe-shmoe who has an opinion, and people who have AS/ASD. I can see both sides, but it’s murky waters in my mind. It’s terribly unclear to me what’s right, if anything is. Am I even entitled to have an opinion? After all, I’m not a parent of a child with ASD. I don’t know what they go through or how challenging it is to raise and care for a child on the spectrum. I’m a “neurotypical”, so there’s no firsthand knowledge here. I have limited experience in interacting and working with people who have AS/ASD, and even if I did, I don’t think I could speak for what another individual wants or needs. I don’t know what it’s like to navigate this world with a real or perceived disability. Logically and emotionally, I understand the argument for interventions and a cure, but I also get why there might be some resentment on the ASD side, especially for the high functioning, for being subjected to behavior modification and interventions designed to make a person more “normal.” My question is: what’s so great about being quote-unquote normal anyway? I mean, Really???
Yada, yada, yada. I know that if more than a handful of people read my blog I might get bombarded with opinions from all sides about this, and in most cases, what I’d probably say to each person is, you’re right. The thought of that makes me want to put my hands over my ears and curl up into a little ball. It’s all so overwhelming. I understand the benefits and privilege of being able to function “normally” in this world. I can’t pretend to understand the pain and challenges of parents who want to see their children, at any age, connect and behave in typical ways. I get why parents worry about what will happen to their children as they age. I know that a lot of methods backed by research and evidence have been proven effective in helping kids with AS/ASD learn, socialize, communicate, and make progress developmentally. I know that if there was a cure some people would snap it up in an instant, and others would choose to refrain, and I think that’s ok. Above all, if it’s expressed in any way, I think it’s most important to listen to and respect what the person with ASD wants and feels.
The idea of normal scares me a bit. I’m often drawn to differences. In my own life, I’ve experienced feeling like an awkward outsider on many occasions. I’ve noticed that I think differently than others, and I’m fascinated by others who think differently too. It’s a good thing. I’ve been reading a book on Asperger’s syndrome and relationships, and the author tells a story about a subject who went to a dinner party hosted by a woman who was really into motorcycles. For some reason the man with AS couldn’t believe that a woman would be that into motorcycles, and he didn’t hide his disbelief. The real clincher came when the woman talked about her new boyfriend and how thrilled she was that he was equally into bikes. The man with AS was totally taken aback and responded with something to the effect of, “A boyfriend? Why do you even need a boyfriend when you have that throbbing piece of metal between your legs???” Ha! Love it! How often do you encounter someone who speaks his/her mind so openly? Now, since I’m a person who really thrives with emotional connection and relating to other people, I probably wouldn’t be a great romantic match with a person with AS, but what I want to know is, can I get this guy’s phone number to invite him to a dinner party? In the grand scheme of life, I think differences like this make things more interesting and colorful, not terrible.
Difference…disability…difference…disability. Maybe one or the other, maybe both. Maybe it depends. I don’t know. If there are two camps, I’m darting back and forth between them trying to figure it out.
I walked around this echo-y room with old wood floors at Wallingford Center looking at these beautiful black and white photos of kids hanging on the walls. I didn’t realize that all would be from the Seattle area. If you check out the link above, you can see most of them. They’re all fantastic, although I have to say the smile in Sam’s eyes made me smile the most. What drew me in, though, were the short story cards placed next to each picture written by the parent/parents of each of kids which gave varying perspectives and insights on having a child who is on the autism spectrum. Some were incredibly positive. Some, not so much. Many talked about the humor brought into the family’s lives by the child who has ASD. A few addressed the parents’ concerns for the future of their children. They all were unique, poignant, and personal. For a pic of two brothers, the mother wrote about how her oldest son is learning to cope with being awkward, and the younger is just starting to learn that he is awkward. I liked that line a lot for its honesty. One shared how her son’s intense concentration helped him run a marathon in record time. Another parent shared how it isn’t typical for a seven year old to spend his summer figuring out two to the 200th power or writing code with numbers, to confront older children hurting a little bird, with no thought of the consequences to himself, or, in fourth grade, to stand up in front of his class to talk about differences and how bullying is wrong. While none of these things are typical, I’d sure love to meet this kid.
In many of the stories, parents shared their distress of seeing their once happy, healthy babies suddenly withdraw and change as they developed with autism. I can’t imagine what that would be like, and I don’t blame the parents for wanting to know what happened. Some referred to autism as a disease or plague that MUST BE CURED. I talked with a mother at the show who said to me that ASD manifests itself differently in each person, like cancer might in any individual. I really struggled with this, and it continues to weigh heavily on my mind. Although I know autism can be debilitating in certain areas to those even mildly or moderately affected, let alone severely, I have a hard time likening it to cancer. The comparison just feels wrong to me. I guess I don’t think of it as a disease that takes over your body with the intent to kill you. Instead, I think of it as one facet of who a person is. But, maybe if you're a parent who perceives that the child you knew, or the child you hoped would be, was taken away by autism, you have a different view.
I have a lot of confusion going on in my head about AS/ASD right now. I spend a lot of time thinking and reading and learning and talking about this, but taking a class or two and reading certainly don't make me an expert (unlike with fashion!). I’m searching for understanding as I consider what I’d like to do and what advocacy actually means. There are a lot of hot-button issues out there that draw great controversy between parents, educators, medicine, science, any joe-shmoe who has an opinion, and people who have AS/ASD. I can see both sides, but it’s murky waters in my mind. It’s terribly unclear to me what’s right, if anything is. Am I even entitled to have an opinion? After all, I’m not a parent of a child with ASD. I don’t know what they go through or how challenging it is to raise and care for a child on the spectrum. I’m a “neurotypical”, so there’s no firsthand knowledge here. I have limited experience in interacting and working with people who have AS/ASD, and even if I did, I don’t think I could speak for what another individual wants or needs. I don’t know what it’s like to navigate this world with a real or perceived disability. Logically and emotionally, I understand the argument for interventions and a cure, but I also get why there might be some resentment on the ASD side, especially for the high functioning, for being subjected to behavior modification and interventions designed to make a person more “normal.” My question is: what’s so great about being quote-unquote normal anyway? I mean, Really???
Yada, yada, yada. I know that if more than a handful of people read my blog I might get bombarded with opinions from all sides about this, and in most cases, what I’d probably say to each person is, you’re right. The thought of that makes me want to put my hands over my ears and curl up into a little ball. It’s all so overwhelming. I understand the benefits and privilege of being able to function “normally” in this world. I can’t pretend to understand the pain and challenges of parents who want to see their children, at any age, connect and behave in typical ways. I get why parents worry about what will happen to their children as they age. I know that a lot of methods backed by research and evidence have been proven effective in helping kids with AS/ASD learn, socialize, communicate, and make progress developmentally. I know that if there was a cure some people would snap it up in an instant, and others would choose to refrain, and I think that’s ok. Above all, if it’s expressed in any way, I think it’s most important to listen to and respect what the person with ASD wants and feels.
The idea of normal scares me a bit. I’m often drawn to differences. In my own life, I’ve experienced feeling like an awkward outsider on many occasions. I’ve noticed that I think differently than others, and I’m fascinated by others who think differently too. It’s a good thing. I’ve been reading a book on Asperger’s syndrome and relationships, and the author tells a story about a subject who went to a dinner party hosted by a woman who was really into motorcycles. For some reason the man with AS couldn’t believe that a woman would be that into motorcycles, and he didn’t hide his disbelief. The real clincher came when the woman talked about her new boyfriend and how thrilled she was that he was equally into bikes. The man with AS was totally taken aback and responded with something to the effect of, “A boyfriend? Why do you even need a boyfriend when you have that throbbing piece of metal between your legs???” Ha! Love it! How often do you encounter someone who speaks his/her mind so openly? Now, since I’m a person who really thrives with emotional connection and relating to other people, I probably wouldn’t be a great romantic match with a person with AS, but what I want to know is, can I get this guy’s phone number to invite him to a dinner party? In the grand scheme of life, I think differences like this make things more interesting and colorful, not terrible.
Difference…disability…difference…disability. Maybe one or the other, maybe both. Maybe it depends. I don’t know. If there are two camps, I’m darting back and forth between them trying to figure it out.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
When you are the whale, you are the parade
I had a great time Friday evening attending a gathering to see my friend's fabulous New Zealand trip picture show, and then meeting up with friend Casey at Park Pub for hours to laugh about annoying tour guide experiences, among other things. This was my first time at the Park Pub, and in spite of the vinegary taste of the white wine I ordered, I really liked the vibe and food in this place a lot. A new hangout that's just down the street! Casey had a very good chimay blue. I would know, because instead of just ordering another drink, I made my big glass of bad wine (after glasses of very good wine at the first get-together) last the entire night and just helped myself to whatever drinks he had. I see that I fit into the People Who Will Just Have a Bite of What You're Having category on Lindy West's list of The Different Kinds of People That There Are. Order your own chimay!
I've thought about it, and I have a few categories I'd like to add to that list. One is Tour Guides Who Talk Incessantly on the Bus, Starting Their Rambling With "Ehhhhhh" Over the Loud Speaker, When You'd Rather Listen to Your MP3 Player or Doze Off.
I brought my Israel book, at Casey's request, but then the poor guy had to listen to my lecture about everything I learned, observed, or had an opinion about from that trip. I was a bit rusty but still managed to talk and talk. He was a good sport about the whole thing. I don't think I've laughed as much since Paris.
I'm really into the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs song "Zero." Although, when I looked up the lyrics I see that Karen O is singing "Your zero-oh" while I'm singing "You're a ZERO-OH!" as I'm wrapped up in the cool music and thoughts about who I might like to dedicate this song to if I had the chance. :) I'm a little off the mark.
After Friday, it's been a pretty much AS focused weekend. I spent a lot of time reading and taking notes from Eating an Artichoke for my book review, and then consulting my copy of the Complete Guide to AS by Tony Attwood. I finished Artichoke today, which was easy to do, because it was an engaging, fast read. Echo Fling wrote the book in 1999 (published in 2000), after dealing with years of doctors visits with wrong diagnosis, figuring out special education accommodations for an unclear disability, and basically navigating family life with a child with AS before having a pediatric neurologist give the correct diagnosis. Even then, at that time information and methods for teaching students with AS were pretty limited, so she had to figure out so much on her own with very little guidance. It's interesting to reflect on what has changed in the last 10 years in terms of awareness, research, published information, and intervention/coping strategies.
In my mind, Fling could have authored this book from a place of frustration, anger, self-pity, or exhaustion, and I would have understood. But no. She writes from a calm, compassionate, and matter of fact standpoint that I very much admire. As I learn more about AS/ASD, I feel like I'm starting to comprehend a bit how tiring and difficult it can be to learn to deal with this world, but this book showed the weight of responsibility and uncertainty for the parents too. Fling faced a lot of parenting challenges and dead ends in what has turned out to be her life's work to help her son. She so clearly has unconditional love for Jimmy, and she demonstrates pure devotion and patience in her efforts as a mother. She gets him in a way that no one else does and has experienced many successes over the years in helping him learn to function in the mainstream world. As a mother, she is a great advocate for him. And, from what she describes, he is a delightful boy (man now) with so many unique and extraordinary qualities.
Yet, in spite of the positive tone of the book, she was clear about the challenges. I kept notes, and I filled up an entire page of bullet points on difficulties faced by Jimmy and the Fling family as a result of the differences posed by AS. Very little is simple. Jimmy had to be taught how to communicate (initially used lines from favorite movies to do this), read expressions, and understand feelings, things most kids learn from "osmosis" from observing and interacting with the people around them. Teaching this requires starting with the very basics. He learns differently and can get confused easily if he's expected to do too much at once. Learning to dress himself and tie his shoes took a lot of time and effort. He has pretty big sound and tactile sensory issues that make things like going to an amusement park stressful, even if he looks forward to going for weeks in advance. For years he'd only wear one brand of socks and finding an acceptable alternative after he grew out of his preferred type took several tries. Christmas, other holidays, and trips have to be modified to avoid overload. Halloween was a stressful no-go most of the time, even though he liked dressing up. He had a lot of fear and anxiety about the act of trick or treating itself.
Jimmy has a preference for sameness and consistency and will ask the same questions about what's going to happen over and over again for reassurance, driving his mother a bit nuts. Change is really difficult and requires a lot of preparation, and he had a hard time (years) adjusting to the arrival of his sister. He'd become extremely upset if his mom changed something as minor has the color of his sheets. If Jimmy learns something incorrectly, it takes a huge amount of time to undo what was learned incorrectly and then process the right information. He doesn't like much physical contact and leans to hug. He obsesses and willfully won't let things go. As a kid, he obsessed over Thomas the Tank Engine and Toy Story, demanding that his mom purchase each one of the Thomas trains for his collection. He struggled to make friends and dealt with bullying. It was heartbreaking to note how upset Jimmy felt if he knew other people were laughing at or making fun of him, but most often he didn't know it was happening unless someone told him. It took a lot of time and great effort for him to control his stimming (hand flapping, humming) in public. Something as simple as ordering a cheeseburger or a pizza or inviting a friend over for a sleepover is an ordeal.
The list goes on, but you get the idea. The adjustments a family will make with a child who has AS/ASD are enormous. It's hard to imagine, and I don't think I truly understood the impact before. I'm not sure that I can now, either, but I've had a glimpse of what life is like for the parents and families.
Following up on Artichoke, tonight I watched Mozart and the Whale. Overall, I thought it was great, and I loved that there was such fantastic humor and good music throughout. I was deeply moved by the story, although I don't think I can describe why exactly. As was said quite a bit in the movie, I don't know what to say. I felt incredibly emotional while watching it, but not in a sad way really. It just got me.
--Meganar
P.S. Facebook friends, Paris pics are now up on my page. :)
I've thought about it, and I have a few categories I'd like to add to that list. One is Tour Guides Who Talk Incessantly on the Bus, Starting Their Rambling With "Ehhhhhh" Over the Loud Speaker, When You'd Rather Listen to Your MP3 Player or Doze Off.
I brought my Israel book, at Casey's request, but then the poor guy had to listen to my lecture about everything I learned, observed, or had an opinion about from that trip. I was a bit rusty but still managed to talk and talk. He was a good sport about the whole thing. I don't think I've laughed as much since Paris.
I'm really into the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs song "Zero." Although, when I looked up the lyrics I see that Karen O is singing "Your zero-oh" while I'm singing "You're a ZERO-OH!" as I'm wrapped up in the cool music and thoughts about who I might like to dedicate this song to if I had the chance. :) I'm a little off the mark.
After Friday, it's been a pretty much AS focused weekend. I spent a lot of time reading and taking notes from Eating an Artichoke for my book review, and then consulting my copy of the Complete Guide to AS by Tony Attwood. I finished Artichoke today, which was easy to do, because it was an engaging, fast read. Echo Fling wrote the book in 1999 (published in 2000), after dealing with years of doctors visits with wrong diagnosis, figuring out special education accommodations for an unclear disability, and basically navigating family life with a child with AS before having a pediatric neurologist give the correct diagnosis. Even then, at that time information and methods for teaching students with AS were pretty limited, so she had to figure out so much on her own with very little guidance. It's interesting to reflect on what has changed in the last 10 years in terms of awareness, research, published information, and intervention/coping strategies.
In my mind, Fling could have authored this book from a place of frustration, anger, self-pity, or exhaustion, and I would have understood. But no. She writes from a calm, compassionate, and matter of fact standpoint that I very much admire. As I learn more about AS/ASD, I feel like I'm starting to comprehend a bit how tiring and difficult it can be to learn to deal with this world, but this book showed the weight of responsibility and uncertainty for the parents too. Fling faced a lot of parenting challenges and dead ends in what has turned out to be her life's work to help her son. She so clearly has unconditional love for Jimmy, and she demonstrates pure devotion and patience in her efforts as a mother. She gets him in a way that no one else does and has experienced many successes over the years in helping him learn to function in the mainstream world. As a mother, she is a great advocate for him. And, from what she describes, he is a delightful boy (man now) with so many unique and extraordinary qualities.
Yet, in spite of the positive tone of the book, she was clear about the challenges. I kept notes, and I filled up an entire page of bullet points on difficulties faced by Jimmy and the Fling family as a result of the differences posed by AS. Very little is simple. Jimmy had to be taught how to communicate (initially used lines from favorite movies to do this), read expressions, and understand feelings, things most kids learn from "osmosis" from observing and interacting with the people around them. Teaching this requires starting with the very basics. He learns differently and can get confused easily if he's expected to do too much at once. Learning to dress himself and tie his shoes took a lot of time and effort. He has pretty big sound and tactile sensory issues that make things like going to an amusement park stressful, even if he looks forward to going for weeks in advance. For years he'd only wear one brand of socks and finding an acceptable alternative after he grew out of his preferred type took several tries. Christmas, other holidays, and trips have to be modified to avoid overload. Halloween was a stressful no-go most of the time, even though he liked dressing up. He had a lot of fear and anxiety about the act of trick or treating itself.
Jimmy has a preference for sameness and consistency and will ask the same questions about what's going to happen over and over again for reassurance, driving his mother a bit nuts. Change is really difficult and requires a lot of preparation, and he had a hard time (years) adjusting to the arrival of his sister. He'd become extremely upset if his mom changed something as minor has the color of his sheets. If Jimmy learns something incorrectly, it takes a huge amount of time to undo what was learned incorrectly and then process the right information. He doesn't like much physical contact and leans to hug. He obsesses and willfully won't let things go. As a kid, he obsessed over Thomas the Tank Engine and Toy Story, demanding that his mom purchase each one of the Thomas trains for his collection. He struggled to make friends and dealt with bullying. It was heartbreaking to note how upset Jimmy felt if he knew other people were laughing at or making fun of him, but most often he didn't know it was happening unless someone told him. It took a lot of time and great effort for him to control his stimming (hand flapping, humming) in public. Something as simple as ordering a cheeseburger or a pizza or inviting a friend over for a sleepover is an ordeal.
The list goes on, but you get the idea. The adjustments a family will make with a child who has AS/ASD are enormous. It's hard to imagine, and I don't think I truly understood the impact before. I'm not sure that I can now, either, but I've had a glimpse of what life is like for the parents and families.
Following up on Artichoke, tonight I watched Mozart and the Whale. Overall, I thought it was great, and I loved that there was such fantastic humor and good music throughout. I was deeply moved by the story, although I don't think I can describe why exactly. As was said quite a bit in the movie, I don't know what to say. I felt incredibly emotional while watching it, but not in a sad way really. It just got me.
--Meganar
P.S. Facebook friends, Paris pics are now up on my page. :)
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Odd News
Some might pose the question: if you love the Eiffel Tower so much, why don't you marry it? Well, I would, BUT IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE! Yikes. Can you imagine having the Eiff as your "partner"? What are you and the Eiff up to tonight? Oh, not much, just hangin out. Dude, it is such a workaholic!
I don't know, man. The Eiff is super attractive, but I just feel like I might be looking for a bit more. I miss it, though. Lots.
On an unrelated note, I started my class this evening, and it was great. Two and a half hours of hearing about and talking about autism spectrum disorders with people who are as interested (and, in many cases, way more knowledgeable) as I am is very cool. In today's class, we watched videos on the Autism Speaks site that shows comparisons between typical development behaviors in kids and signs of ASD. The differences are very interesting to observe. Tonight is the start of reading Eating an Artichoke.
Since being home, I'm in this weirdo phase where I get tired at a normal time, rather than my usual crazy night owl time, and I *gasp* go to bed. Then, I wake up every morning at precisely 6:48am. It's bizarre! 6:48am! The past couple of days I've been able to go back to sleep for a bit until the alarm goes off. But, when the first wake-up happens, I open my eyes and think, it's 6:48am. Then I check the clock. Yep. My dreams have been really wacky too. Something happened in Frahnce. Plus, when I wake up after a good night of sleep and turn the radio to listen while getting ready, I now have the urge to dance. So I do.
I don't know, man. The Eiff is super attractive, but I just feel like I might be looking for a bit more. I miss it, though. Lots.
On an unrelated note, I started my class this evening, and it was great. Two and a half hours of hearing about and talking about autism spectrum disorders with people who are as interested (and, in many cases, way more knowledgeable) as I am is very cool. In today's class, we watched videos on the Autism Speaks site that shows comparisons between typical development behaviors in kids and signs of ASD. The differences are very interesting to observe. Tonight is the start of reading Eating an Artichoke.
Since being home, I'm in this weirdo phase where I get tired at a normal time, rather than my usual crazy night owl time, and I *gasp* go to bed. Then, I wake up every morning at precisely 6:48am. It's bizarre! 6:48am! The past couple of days I've been able to go back to sleep for a bit until the alarm goes off. But, when the first wake-up happens, I open my eyes and think, it's 6:48am. Then I check the clock. Yep. My dreams have been really wacky too. Something happened in Frahnce. Plus, when I wake up after a good night of sleep and turn the radio to listen while getting ready, I now have the urge to dance. So I do.
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