Articles by parents or for parents with special needs children
The National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) recently organised a talk by Raun K Kaufman, where he shared insights into “Autism Meltdown Turnaround.” The one and half hour session with international author, speaker and trainer left attendees wanting to learn more about the insightful techniques he shared which is part of the Autism Crisis Turnaround (ACT) Protocol.
When I was asked by Project Haans to write a piece about myths related to Down’s syndrome in conjunction with World Down Syndrome Day celebrations on the 21st of March, lines from the Serenity Prayer popped into my mind. This is because one of the most important lessons I have learned as a parent to a child with Down’s syndrome is to have the “serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is an autism spectrum profile that is characterised by an anxiety driven need to avoid everyday demands and expectations, and maintain control. The key point being anxiety driven!
Embrace Autism Malaysia (EAM) consists of parents with autistic children who attended the SonRise Program, a loving approach for individuals with autism. The SonRise Program empowers parents with key insights and techniques to bond with their autistic children at any age. In 2021, we launched are very first EAM Buddy Program whereby we recruited Buddies to play with our kids, the SonRise way.
Son-Rise is an approach used successfully for individuals with autism ranging from children to adults. The Son-Rise Program sees autism as a social-relational disorder, not a behavioural issue. A positive attitude and the belief that “our child can achieve more” is key to practicing the Son-Rise techniques. Take the cue from your child – observe them, play with them and only when they are ready, use their motivation to teach them skills.
A ‘labelled’ child carries the impressions others heap on him, for life. Dyslexia is a learning disability plagued by misconceptions. Common labels for children with dyslexia include ‘slow’, ‘unintelligent’ or even worse, ‘stupid’. Some are even left behind, overlooked or ignored in kindergarten or school settings.
Autism is not a disease. When I hear parents talk about fighting autism, being a warrior mom, how much they hate it and want to win or cure their kids… I get where they are coming from. But I still cringe inside.
This article summarises some of the misconceptions individuals have heard and experienced first hand by self-advocates, caregivers and practitioners. Autism is a spectrum, classified as a neurological deficit by the DSM-5 represented in 3 levels. These levels allow practitioners to determine the level of support needed. Since it is a spectrum, no two individuals on the spectrum are the same.
Although I had noticed all the autism signs in my daughters, it was a long journey towards getting them assessed and diagnosed. Whilst I was doing all this research, I felt like many of the descriptions fit me. Then, one evening I went to a talk organised by the National Autistic Society.
Buying presents for children can be daunting with so many options to choose from at toy stores. Children on the autism spectrum are more likely to have limited or fixed interest. So, it is understandable when those who are not caregivers or immediate family members are at a loss on what to buy for a child on the spectrum as gift. Here are some ideas to help you along the process.
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