Hi I am new to your website and wondering if any of you have ideas for therapies I can do at home with my son 3. He was diagnosed with autism at 2 1/2 along with Sensory Intergration Disorder among other things. He has been on the waiting list for speech and physical therapy since Jan. They are still saying anywhere from 3 months to another year before they can get him in. We have finally gotten him in for Occupational therapy but it doesn't seem to be making a difference as there is no structure and he is pretty much allowed to play wherever he would like in the therapy room as long as there are no other children present. Any suggestions for things I can do at home with him would be helpful.
amie
mom of jason 3 and sam 6 months
Hi Amie welcome to the board!
Not knowing your son it is difficult to suggest what type of therapy to try for him as each child on the spectrum has different severities and responds differently. Also keep in mind we are parents and not therapists so whats right for one kid might not be what worls best for another.
Is your son verbal? Echolalic? Does he sign?
The best thing I think pretty much everyone would agree on is consistency! A predictable structured consistent routine. If he point for things don't just hand it to him.... try to ask do you want the ball? (pause) Yes? (pause) or no (pause) and try to get him to answer you even if you have to have the conversation for him in the beginning.
Things he knows and likes to say / hear say the beginning and leave off the ending so he will try to respond with it (example row row row your________...... gently down the _____)
Once he starts to answe the yes / no then change it a bit to... do you want the ball or the truck?
Get on his level and play with him bring toys to your eyes to encourqage eye contact. PRAISE EVERY EFFORT no matter how small! Good Looking I like to see your eyes good words! things like that.
If you are able get a large therapy ball you can lay or sit him on and roll him on. It helps them focus so they are better able to pay attention.... it also calms them down. A small exercise trampoline can also work well or even an exercise ball or a bouncey ball with the handle for the lil ones.
Consistency! Did I mention that already??? Consistency is SO important to these kids. Repetition is how they learn so if you ask when he wants a drink "Do you want milk Yes? or no?" and even though you may have to answer for him yes and encourage him to say yes..... make sure everyone who cares for him does it the same way..... he will then learn what is expected and begin to make progress.
Heres something else I have heard many people talk about as far as for Speech..... My son is almost 10 so I never tried it........
Vocabulary Videos for Autistic Toddlers
The Vocabulary Builder video series has proven to be very effective for toddlers with language delays due to autism. Click here to read what parents have to say about these videos.
Sponsored by: http://www.babybumblebee.com
Here are some sensory ideas too that may be helpful........
Sensory Integration - Must Read
How to know if its sensory / What to do
Sensory Defensiveness & Sensory Diet
Sensory Integration & Teaching Strategies
hi amie,
welcome to the board! there is not much left for me to say after michelle, cause this is pretty much what we all do every day she is 110% right about consistancy it is so important it can not be stressed any more so every thing u do dont forget it, it is pretty much the key to them learning to function. the onlything is we have the therapist, make sure u get ABA therapist this is most effective by far. keep on them to make sure u get the services ASAP the time is rediculas, your childs future depend on it, so bug them every day if u have to.
good luck!
sonia
Hello Amie- welcome!
I would encourage you to try to contact other parents in your area with special needs children. I can't believe you've been waiting since January! Other parents may give you helpful advice on how to expedite the system.
In the meantime- here is my list of resources:
Books: ( All were available through my local library)
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The Out-of-Sync Child has fun by Carol Stock Krano The child with special needs by greenspan Videos: Signing time volume 1 & 2 Baby Bumble Bee Vocabulary builder series. |
You can also check with Unlocking autism their site is http://www.unlockingautism.org/ They have a NATIONAL CALL CENTER 866-366-3361 that might be able to help you and a Parent 2 Parent Network that can connect you with a parent in your area to help you find resources.
Unfortunately sometimes waiting lists are extremely long! Good Luck getting the help you need ASAP
Here's a video that helps teach social skills: http://www.modelmekids.com
It is for the child to watch and helps teach things like how to share, listen, take turns, etc. What's nice is that it uses other kids to do the teaching instead of an adult.
They are all wonderful resources.amie,
The best I can tell you to do without going into great detail of every little theraputic idea is to interact with your child as much as possible. My son had about a 10 month break with no speech and OT because of insurance difficulties and the difference with the early intervention system where I am now. I played with my son a lot. I encouraged social pretend play. I spoke to him constantly so that he would hear appropriate language. Anytime he would speak I would praise him in some way to encourage more vocals. "good talking" etc. I read to him a lot and point out pictures and describe the story and whats going on. When I was doing something like the dishes etc I would say, "Look adam...mommy is washing dishes." I found that everything you do during the day can turn into a therapy of some kind. I got the book "the out of sync child" For idea's on sensory. It's a great book that actually breaks everything down and gives you idea's for all different sensory problems. For a social atmosphere I took him to a local kids type gym that had open gym and it only cost a couple of dollars for the hour and he got to be around kids his own age. I also if i were going to mcdonalds anyway...I would go to the play area so that he could be around other kids. We also signed up at the local library for story time and that was free. I took him to parks to find other children too. I made picture flash cards to build his vocabulary. Just pictures of every day objects. Flash cards are really easy to make and there are so many types you can make. Colors, shapes, numbers, alphabet, objects etc. The picture cards also work well with visual schedules if that is something that you are interested in. Even though Adam wasn't in those therapies he still flourished and I truly believe it's because I worked so hard with him. I am not a therapist...I'm a mom. I just worked on things that I felt needed work. I started out by making a list of goals that I wanted for him in all different areas. Language was a big one, Social, Sensory, etc. And I went from there. I would take time in each day to work on each goal category. Don't know if this helps or not. Take care,
Karrie
Hi
Jason is echolaic but does sign some we are trying to learn more sign so that we can understand what he needs. He made eye contact yesterday for the first time in almost two years. Which was a totally amazing thing. We have tried repetion but it has not seemed to work so far. We are also trying the PEC's to communicate with him. Thanks for the tips on all the books I will have to try and find some time to read them. The other issue we have run into is that when he is around other children he treats them as objects and is very aggresive with them. If any of you have any ideas on how to help with that please let me know. I know for OT they usually will only let one other child in the room that he is in because he can't handle more than that. It is a struggle somedays just to have him and the baby in the house because I worry about what he might do to the baby. Well I have babbled enough. thank you again for all the great information.
Nita