doesn’t it amaze you | Autism PDD

Okay so as an adjunct to your post ...

Do you think ASD kids are actually MORE different from each other, than NT kids are, from each other?

Use illustrations to explain why (JK).

Linda, in some ways, yes, I do think they are much different. At least with my NT kids, their personalities were never the same, but they shared interests which sparked their friendships in the first place. They all spoke at relatively the same level, had playskills at an appropriate level, pouted over the same types of things, argued over the same things, enjoyed the same activities, etc. So, I think my NT kids had many more similarities with their NT peers over what my ASD son and his classmates have in common. Some of them talk, some don't, some have eye contact, some don't, some are able to use the potty, some aren't, some can play video games, and some cant'. They are all the same age with varying abilities.

I guess that's what I was trying to question with my first post
Im my son's classroom i have gotten the chance to meet all the kids and talk to them. They all are different. 2 are non verbal, one is approachable and the other isnt. The rest of the class are verbal. Some are hyper,some are calm and quiet. One cute girl has hearing devices but she does have some speech. All kids get along playing except th enon verbal hard to approach one. He gets a lot of music therapy in classroom and i have seen him improve in 6 months and has become more social.

Which is why when we are down... feeling overwhelmed... let's ponder on the predicament of other ASD kids....

There are always other autistics WORSE OFF than ours... in CERTAIN WAYS. Therapists or doctors may call it improvements but we know that there's so much more our kid can do... Against such expectations (which is good...to aim high that is), then we inevitably get overwhelmed when our kid falls shot.

Yet the same standards we set for our own kid, or even achievements achieved that we take for granted (i.e. having speech, ability to social-play etc)... we also see so much lacking in others.

So... take stock.... SAVOUR what we have... LOVE THEM for who they are... OUR CHILD...and work to the future for more AMAZING achievements....

how all of our kids have the same diagnosis, but are soooo different? I have so many friends with ASD kids through my son's schools over the years. They all have the autism label, and some similar traits, but boy, are they different.

Here's an example: My son was invited over for a playdate at one of his classmates homes a couple of days ago (they are both 6). They are in the same self contained class in school. They are considered to be similar in levels of function, that's why they are grouped in this particular program.. Anyway, when we arrived, my son was very nervous. He really has to be coaxed into getting into a new environment. The other little boy, I'll call him "D", was upstairs watching spongebob. His mom went up to get him, and I heard him scream (he is totally nonverbal). I yelled from the bottom of the steps,"D, Matt's here"!!.. He stopped screaming, and came down with this big smile on his face. He then approached my son, took his hand, and smiled right in his face. He was so happy to see him. My son, on the other hand, completely ignored him, didn't make eye contact, and stimmed during the whole visit.. "D" kept trying to follow him around, and Matt would just walk away, perseverating on a word, or throwing pebbles.

The strange thing is, my son has some language, although it's echolalia. D's mom was saying, "I wish my son could even echo", and I was thinking, "I would take your son's social interest and ability to focus". It's just so weird how they can be so different. I guess personality plays a big part in it, too.

I have a friend who's daughter is total opposite of my daughter!

Where she is totally social and tons of pretend play, hyper..more sensory issues than Sarah. Sarah has very high academic skills & musical talents & very calm...We joke and say how neat it would be to mold them together and they would balance each other out:)

You are so right boobear. My little guy is full of surprises!! He never ceases to amaze me