#acceptautism

Video Implores Society to Accept Autism http://bit.ly/2afbyvQ

Video Implores Society to Accept Autism

When parents of autistic children want to know how to change an undesirable behavior, I often suggest that those parents first look at their own behavior. Whether we know it or not, our energy is transferred effortlessly from human to human. We need to be conscious of the kind of energy we are passing to other people. Take an inventory of how you are feeling before you approach your child. Are you stressed? You will transmit that stress to your child. Are you relaxed, calm, open? If so then that is the energy you will transmit. I suggest that we stop, breathe, and think before we act. That is always a good rule to follow in any situation. Stop. Breathe. Think. Then listen. When we stop and listen intently to children, we get their attention. This is how we begin to attain the much desired eye contact that is often lacking. So many times I have had a student who was either over-stimulated by sensory input from the environment or just “inside his own head” so much that their attention toward other people was simply non-existent. It was at those times that I stopped, took a breath, thought for a second, then silently went in fully armed with calm. Time and again this technique has proven to get the attention I sought from my students.  It amazes me every time I see it work. Before I came to this realization, I either tried to over-talk them or myself, or scrambled around trying to gain their attention. This is a case where less is more. When we are silent, we can really hear. It’s almost as if the child is wondering why all the noise stopped, and now their curiosity has peaked and they look at us and know that they can be heard.

Teachers, take a look at the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPCD). Since 2007, NPDC has worked to develop free professional resources for teachers, therapists, and technical assistance providers who work with individuals with ASD. Resources include detailed information on how to plan, implement, and monitor specific evidence-based practices. You can sign up for a free AFIRM account to access Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules @ http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/. They are wonderful!

Check out my website www.lindaponzioautism.org