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10 Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew.
1. I am a child with autism. I am not "autistic."
My autism is one aspect of my total character. It does not define me as a person.
2. My sensory perceptions are disordered.
This means the ordinary sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches of everyday life that you may not even notice can be downright
painful for me. The very environment in which I have to live often seems hostile. I may appear withdrawn or belligerent to
you, but I am really just trying to defend myself. A "simple" trip to the grocery store may be hell for me. My hearing may
be hyper acute. Dozens of people are talking at once. The loud speaker booms today's special. Music whines from the sound
system. Cash registers beep and cough. A coffee grinder is chugging. The meat cutter screeches, babies wail, carts creak,
the fluorescent lighting hums. The fluorescent light is too bright. It makes the room pulsate and hurts my eyes. Sometimes
the pulsating light bounces off everything and distorts what I am seeing. The space seems to be constantly changing. There's
glare from windows, moving fans on the ceiling, so many bodies in constant motion, too many items for me to be able to focus
and I may compensate with tunnel vision. All this affects my vestibular sense, and now I can't even tell where my body is
in space. I may stumble, bump into things, or simply lay down to try and regroup.
3. Please remember to distinguish between won't (I choose
not to) and can't (I'm not able to). Receptive and expressive language are both difficult for me. It isn't that I don't listen
to instructions. It's that I can't understand you. When you call to me from across the room, this is what I hear: "*&^%$#@,
Kate. #$%^*&^%$&*" Instead, come speak directly to me in plain words: "Please put your book in your desk, Kate. It's
time to go to lunch." This tells me what you want me to do and what is going to happen next. Now it'smuch easier for me to
comply.
4. I am a concrete thinker. I interpret language
literally. It's very confusing for me when you say, "Hold your horses, cowboy!" when what you really mean is "Please stop
running." Idioms, puns, nuances, double entendres and sarcasm are lost on me.
5. Be patient with my limited vocabulary.
It's hard for me to tell you what I need when I don't know the words to describe my feelings. I may be hungry, frustrated,
frightened or confused, but right now those words are beyond my ability to express. Be alert for body language, withdrawal,
agitation, or other signs that something is wrong.
6. Because language is
so difficult for me, I am very visually oriented. Show me how to do something rather than just telling me. And please be prepared
to show me many times. Lots of patient repetition helps me learn. A visual schedule is extremely helpful as I move through
my day. Like your day planner, it relieves me of the stress of having to remember what comes next, makes for smooth transitions
between activities, and helps me manage my time and meet your expectations. Here's a great web site for learning more about
visual schedules: http://www.cesa7.k12.wi.us/newweb/content/rsn/autism.asp
7. Focus and build on what I can do rather than what I
can't do. Like any other human, I can't learn in an environment where I'm constantly made to feel that I'm not good enough
or that I need fixing. Trying anything new when I am almost sure to be met with criticism, however constructive, becomes something
to be avoided. Look for my strengths and you'll find them. There's more than one right way to do most things.
8. Help me with social interactions. It may
look like I don't want to play with the other kids on the playground, but sometimes it's just that I simply don't know how
to start a conversation or enter a play situation. If you can encourage other children to invite me to join them at kickball
or shooting baskets, I may be delighted to be included.
9. Try to identify what triggers my meltdowns.
This is termed "the antecedent." Meltdowns, blowups, tantrums or whatever you want to call them are evenmore horrid for me
than they are for you. They occur because one or more of my senses has gone into overload. If you can figure out why my meltdowns
occur, they can be prevented.
10. If you are a family member, please love me unconditionally.
Banish thoughts such as, "If he would just ..." and "Why can't she ... ?" You didn't fulfill every last expectation your parents
had for you, and you wouldn't like being constantly reminded of it. I didn't choose to have autism. With your support and
guidance, the possibilities are broader than you might think. I promise you I'm worth it. It all comes down to three words:
Patience. Patience. Patience.
Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes
You Knew
By Ellen Notbohm. This excerpt is available
at:
http://www.southflorida.com/sfparenting/sfe-sfpautism,0,6196233.story
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