Psychological damage caused by using government disability support services, by Autism and Oughtisms (NZ). Raw and real! Describes the “mask/act” many parents have to participate in, in order to access support for their children, and how exhausting that is. She feels that her emotions and experiences aren’t considered important, and that there must be a better way to run the system, that doesn’t crush the people it’s meant to help.
Lesser-known, similar conditions
My Child’s Doctor Got it Wrong! Did Yours? by Daniela Drake MD. I found this article interesting, not from the “Is ADHD over-diagnosed” perspective, but the list of lesser-known other conditions that can either cause behaviours similar to ADHD, or co-occur with it.
Counting by 7s
Counting by 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Aspergers is never mentioned in this book, but the main character has many stereotypical traits. She is endearing, quirky, funny – and when tragedy disrupts her ordered world, she learns to adapt more easily to her changing circumstances.
Autistics over/under-explaining
The Little Professor is Compensating for Something: Theory of Mind and Pedantic Speech, by Kirsten Lindsmith. “Autistics have a tendency to either not explain enough, or to over-explain every detail. This is because autistic people have difficulty intuitively and unconsciously inferring the mental states of the people they’re talking to. Cognitive empathy can be learned, but during the rapid back and forth of conversation, that level of intentional reasoning is far more difficult.”
A language without words
A language without words, by Sophie’s Trains (Respectfully Connected blog). The author writes about her non-verbal daughter, and the various AAC methods they tried without great interest from their daughter, before realising that their daughter was happy and communicating in her own way. An interesting perspective of the value we place on words and speech.
Managing their own behaviour
How to teach children to manage their own behaviour. An explanation, with good examples, of connecting with your child, finding out his thoughts, exploring his feelings, then problem-solving a solution. Modelling these steps will help children to learn how to manage their own emotions and behaviour.
Abstraction and Context
All about Abstraction and Context, by Karla Fisher. Karla explains her thought processes of going from pictures to words to phrases, and how this can lead to misunderstandings. She urges parents to ask clarifying questions when a child is obstinate about being right – because they might well be, and it can be damaging to the child to be constantly told they’re wrong when they know they’re right. She acknowledges that these children also need to learn to be wrong, but they can better learn that when they also know that their context differences are accepted.
Compliance
Compliance is for prisoners, not students, by Gary (Dads of Disability). A great article about the use of the (lazy, non-descriptive) word “compliant” when referring to special needs students. It wouldn’t be used with their peers, and shouldn’t be a goal. The author gives examples of alternative, more specific feedback, that the child’s caregivers can act upon.
Welcome to Autism World
Welcome to Autism World, by Leia Prime (Respectfully Connected blog). A list of her top 10 pieces of advice for parents of newly diagnosed children. Very understanding, accepting and wise. Would also be useful to parents who have been on the journey awhile.
Facebook for SN families
What Facebook means to special needs families, by Rachel Engel. Facebook is annoying, overused and overexposed – but it means never feeling alone. There are groups for all kinds of diagnoses, where parents share their experiences and photos, ask for advice and receive feedback. They can vent and express their fears with people who truly understand – even at 2am!
lovenlearning 