Sunday, April 13, 2014

Autism Blog Hop: Ch-ch-ch-changes




Topic: Difficulties with transition can lead to social isolation, mental health problems & continued dependence on parents Parents of young people with autism have described transition to adulthood like falling off a cliff-edge.

Point of interest... there is a prize/giveaway here. Just comment in the comments section about how this may or may not apply to your life, and if you know someone with autism. Or think you might. At the end of the month I'll pick one lucky winner to receive their choice of one book from my backlist, and another to receive a ten dollar gift card to either Amazon, or ARe.







Well. Imagine it like this. You go to help out a friend. She’s gotten mandated at work and won’t be home in time to get her kids ready for the bus. Not a big deal as you share a house. But one of her kids, a sweet little guy whom you secretly like best, freaks out when you try to help him put his tennis shoes on. Not a tantrum, there’s no I wanna get my way bull. No. His beautiful brown eyes are straining wide open, his breaths coming in gasps. He’s rocking in place and won’t answer when you try to ask what’s wrong. His twin is dressed, shoes on, waiting eagerly at the door for the big yellow bus to take him away to school.

Not this little guy. He’s keening low in his throat, and when you touch his arm to pat him the way that always soothes your daughter, he sort of shrieks and crawls into an impossibly small space under the end table.

What happened?

You offered him the right shoe first. They were the Nike’s and he only wears the Converse to school. You didn’t sing the cleanup song while you were putting the breakfast dishes in the sink, or maybe it’s just that he’s never practiced doing these things with you instead of his mom. He’s got ASD *autism spectrum disorder*, and you’ve just knocked him down the emotional equivalent of a steep flight of stairs.

Transition is hard for everyone on some levels, but for kids and adults with autism it can be debilitating. We all get that it would be wrong to ask a blind person to traverse a city block by themselves without preparing them first… well, imagine that the autistic person is blind too, but instead of being physically blind they suffer from a very specific type of emotional blindness. Asking them to make changes, big or small without adequate preparation—and the amount and type required will differ from person to person—is akin to tossing a blind person who has never been taught to use a guide dog or a cane out of your car at a random intersection in a foreign city and expecting them to be fine. The very thought is incomprehensible. It should be just as incomprehensible to fail to give those who deal daily with the challenges of ASD adequate preparation for changes.

You may work with, teach, go to school with, or even be the parent of someone with ASD. Educating yourself about ways to make your interactions easier for the person with ASD will benefit you both in the short and long term. Especially important for teachers, parents, and mentors is making sure you give yourself and your ASD child time enough to make the transition to adulthood as seamlessly as possible.

Here are some resources you can utilize to educate yourself and get started on your journey to successfully navigating the challenges you face:


http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/understanding-behaviour/change-preparing-a-person-with-an-autism-spectrum-disorder-for-change.aspx


http://www.autismconsortium.org/families/transitioning-to-adulthood

For a wealth of related blogs on Autism go to the website of the incomparable Rj Scott!

AUTISM AWARENESS BLOG HOP: hosted by Rj Scott

13 comments:

  1. We all get that it would be wrong to ask a blind person to traverse a city block by themselves without preparing them first… well, imagine that the autistic person is blind too, but instead of being physically blind they suffer from a very specific type of emotional blindness.

    Perfect Cherie.... :) XXXXXX thank you for taking part... :)

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    Replies
    1. Rj, I was honored to be asked. Thank you so much for setting this all up. :)

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  2. my dad had aspbergers and he did find it so hard to transition. he didn't find out til he was 50 that he had it and for years no one understood like WHY he would have such spectacular melt downs. fortunatly he did have someone to help him learn to cope and understand what having aspbergers ment

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. parisfan, I'm so happy your dad had someone to help him.

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  3. I never realised how very difficult it could be if your child has autism. Routine seems to be the answer in a lot of cases. Understanding the condition is very important and this Blog Hop has been a great idea.

    ShirleyAnn@speakman40.freeserve.co.uk

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    Replies
    1. Yes, ShirleyAnn, it's huge. Raising awareness is a key part of advocating for these parents and their kidlets. :)

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  4. Replies
    1. My pleasure, Cath C. The more people know, the more able they are to understand and show compassion. It's a total win/win.

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  5. I don't know anyone with autism. But it has been a learning experience reading about all the care and patience a parent or sibling has to have when interacting with someone who is autistic. I, myself have issues with change but I can only imagine how distressing it can be for someone who is autistic.

    humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com

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  6. I don't know anyone with Autism myself, but the blind person analogy was spectacular. I think I understand the change issues a little better. Thanks for participating.
    alishead1 @ yahoo.com

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  7. I've never (to my knowledge, anyway) met an autistic person. This hop is educating me in so many different ways though! And it's absolutely fascinating. Thank you for sharing with us!

    ashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com

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  8. Hina, Alishea, and Ashley,
    thank you for taking the time to both read these blogs, and leave comments. It's much appreciated. :)

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  9. I know how much I hate change, so I can't even imagine how difficult it is for a person with autism. I know it's been said, but the blind person analogy really helped. Thank you all so much for this blog hop, it's been an extremely educational experience!

    mary (at) ferretrescue (dot) com

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What's your take?