Parenting Children with Autism

A Survey

For April Autism Awareness month in 2010 I invited parents to share their stories on my blog.  13 parents told me about 19 children. As my unfortunately belated contribution to April Autism Awareness (my excuse being a 3 month old bub :)) I thought I would share with you a collation of common responses.

Strengths

When asked what their children loved, the top 5 responses were:

1. Technology such as computer and playstation games

2. TV or cartoon characters such as Superheroes, Thomas the tank Engine and Scooby Doo.

3. Their family

4. Gross motor activities like climbing and swimming.

5. Numbers – counting, arithmatic and reading them.



When asked what their children were good at, the top 5 responses were:

1. Using technology

2. Reading

3. Numbers (counting, arithmetic)

4. Gross motor activities

5. Affection (cuddling, kissing family)



When asked to recount a special moment, the most common response was about hearing their child say “I love you”. Others told of achievements such as a good report from school, a first invitation to a play date, first words and a successful holiday.

 

Difficulties

 
When asked what their child struggled with, the top 5 responses were:


1. Social skills - such as taking turns, joining in games with others, reading body language and understanding others’ perspectives.

2. Speech and/or language.

3. Noisy and busy environments.

4. Change, transitions and new experiences.

5. Running away or showing no fear of danger.

 

The Challenge of Parenting a child with ASD

 
Another question I asked parents was about the things they themselves struggled with whilst parenting their child or children who have ASDs. The most common response was that they struggled with the attitudes of strangers towards their children. They talked about the lack of understanding of their children’s needs, especially with regards to behaviour.


For example, several parents wrote about outings “going pear shaped” as their child had a meltdown whilst trying to cope with a new environment. They received comments from strangers – and sometimes friends and family – suggesting that the child was simply being naughty and stronger discipline was needed.

Another common theme was the difficulty in balancing the needs of multiple children in the family when one or more of those children have an ASD. One parent explained that they felt bad that their “quieter” child often did not receive as much attention as their other child whose overt behaviour needed more immediate and constant attention.

The other top 3 responses to this question included the difficulties in finding funding and services, seeing their child struggle with or be sent home from school, and coping with aggression and/or meltdowns.

 

For more information on what this means, and some strategies, you can purchase an information article for AU$2 using the button below.

For other articles, children's stories and information on bullying, visit:

http://www.learn2bebuddies.com.au/

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Learn2bebuddies in 2011

I know it is a bit late to be talking about New Years, but for me it feels like the year has only just begun as I wind down from wedding plans, the wedding and honeymoon. I don't know what it has brought for you, but for me 2011 has seen me gain a husband, a new extended family and a new home. All this has meant that Learn to be Buddies has been very quiet for a while.

But now it is time to get back into things... so I thought I would share a few things that will be happening this year.


Autism Awareness Month

Hopefully you will all be aware of Autism Awareness Month, which happens in April. Last year I interviewed a series of parents, who told their children's stories here to help build awareness. I also wrote a series of posts on Autism. You can browse last year's posts on this link. I hope to do something similar this year, so sign up to our newsletter, "like" our Facebook Fanpage or follow this blog if you want to be involved.

Learn to be Buddies will also be a sponsor of Autism Rainbow Day on the 1st of April. To find out about what happened on Rainbow Day last year, visit the Rainbowland Autism Services website. You also can follow what is happening on the day through Facebook.


Workshops and conferences

Last year we began running workshops for parents and teachers, as well as activity days and book readings for schools and preschools. The primary theme for these workshops was bullying. You can find out more, and purchase notes from these workshops, on our website.

A few bookings have been made for 2011, but there are available days if you think you would like for me to run a workshop for you or your school. Fill in our inquiry form with an expression of interest, or contact us via email.


Blogging

I will get back into writing blogs about behavioural issues and practical strategies in March. While many of the behaviours addressed will be relevant to children with Autism, the posts will be relevant to parents and teachers of children with other diagnoses as well. The posts may also help parents/teachers of children with no diagnoses as they support their children in the challenges they face in the classroom and in social interaction.

However, I want to make sure that I am writing on topics that my readers are interested in or need information about. So is there anything that you are struggling with at the moment? Or a topic you want to know more about? Please ask a question or suggest a topic here or privately through our enquiry form.

Just note that I am not the final authority on Autism or behavioural issues, nor am I a trained medical practitioner. I am a special education teacher and researcher. I will help you find reliable information. however, any information I provide here should not replace consultation or therapy with relevant, trained professionals.


Learn to be Buddies Resources

We will be getting back to developing more Learn to be Buddies resources this year. We were not able to publish Why Don't You Share? last year as planned, so this is the first goal for 2011. We will also be developing a new series of DVDs, resources, games and a book based on a story addressing the issue of following instructions.

We will also get back into publishing further information sheets. These will be made available in our online store, or for free on our website as we find sponsors.


Newsletters

We will begin getting the monthly Learn to be Buddies newsletters out again beginning in March. These will keep you up to date with events, information, blog themes, products and competitions to win our resources. You can subscribe to our newsletter on our website.

I am looking forward to getting back into this important work again....

Read more...

Autism Rainbow Day interview part 2

In the previous post you heard Jackie talk about her experience as a parent of children with Autism... the rest of the interview focuses on highlighting a few support services that might be useful for parents. Scroll down to find the relevant links.

"It is not about bad parenting, it is about the child's struggle with the environment."

About Stephen Wiltshire, the artist ("autistic savant") mentioned in this interview.

Links to the support services mentioned by Jackie and I:

Balance support group

Strive support group

Hunter Connect

PlayConnect

...

I hope the blogging at Learning to be Buddies this month has helped to build awareness, and make a little difference in the lives of families living with autism. Thank you so much to all parents who shared their stories. The feedback and hits on these posts show just how valuable your stories are in helping to build awareness and helping us see your children as Children first.

....

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Autism Rainbow Day

Happy Autism Rainbow Day!

Today I spent the morning recording a radio interview with Jackie Hays, a mother of 3 children with Autism. You can hear some of what she says below...

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Helping children with Autism reach their potential

This is a great video from ASPECT that gives some information about what autism is, and what things you might be able to do to help your child.

In the video you get to meet some families and their children who have autism. Professionals are also interviewed about what parents can do once their child is diagnosed. Their suggestions include:

• Research: as no two children with autism are exactly the same, each will need different forms of support. Find out about what approaches are out there by using the internet, talking to other parents, or using telephone advisory services (see www.learn2bebuddies.com.au/pages/autism/doesmychildhaveautism.html for a list)
• Have an individualised early intervention plan: Plan for ways you can help support their communication development, development of social play and behavioural abilities. Recognise that what you do at home is as important as specialist therapy.
• Visuals: Find visual ways of communicating with your child. For example, use objects (such as car keys), photos, line drawings or written words (for older children) to help them make links between spoken words and what they mean.
  

Read more...

Getting a diagnosis Part 2

Since the last post I have been listening to what parents have had to say about their response to their child's diagnosis on my Learn to be Buddies Facebook Fan page. Here are some of their responses

• Not surprised - parents often recognise that something is not quite right, especially if it is their second or third child.
  
• Relieved - often the relief came as a result of recognising that their child's behaviour was not a result of "bad parenting."
• Vindicated - parents' concerns can sometimes be dismissed by those from whom they seek advice and help. When their child is diagnosed it is a vindication of their concerns. It can re-affirm parents' trust in their knowledge of their children, and their parenting skills.
• "I just got on with it" - just getting on with the role of advocate for their child is another response that parents can have to the diagnosis of their child.

If you have a child who is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder... or any other condition... what was your response to the diagnosis?

If you think your child may have Autism, but don't know what to do next, visit www.learn2bebuddies.com.au/pages/autism/doesmychildhaveautism.html

Read more...

Dealing with a Diagnosis

When parents are urged to "get a diagnosis" for their child it is often the beginning of an emotional roller coaster. Every family responds in different ways, but there will be a time of adjustment...

LD Online identified the most common stages of adjustment.

1. Shock
2. Denial
3. Anger
4. Depression or helplessness
   
5. Acceptance
6. Hope and action

Mary gives us a little insight into these stages with her adjustment to the diagnosis of her third child. Chantelle tells us more in her blog post "To Cure or not to Cure?..."

The bottom line is that if you are a parent who is going through the process of diagnosis with your child, give yourself time to adjust. Recognise how you are feeling, work through the emotions ... and don't be afraid to ask for help.

If you are a teacher, family member or friend who thinks a parent should be more proactively pursuing diagnosis or therapy, remember that it is not that simple. Listen, affirm and avoid giving too much advice - this can just be overwhelming. We should be on stand-by: giving information and passing on contacts only when parents are ready for it.

We should never be judgemental. Parents need to find their own way to support their child, to choose their own road, at their own pace, based on advice that they feel they can trust.

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Tania's story

I have a son with autism. He is 4 years old.

He loves laughing, climbing and watching stuff fall. He loves Elmo, Wiggles and the Fairies. He loves his sister, his Mum, his Dad and his Pop. He loves traffic signs.

He is really good at recognising letters, shapes, directions, numbers and colours. He is pretty handy with computers.

He struggles to communicate and to relate to his peers. He struggles to understand how hard he is touching something. He struggles to stay quiet.

Sometimes I , as a parent, find it hard when he wants to be cuddled but he cannot stop his body hitting and kicking, especially when it is the middle of the night. I sometimes find it hard when people think he is being naughty when he is actually on his very best behaviour, especially when he has worked so hard to learn the new behaviour. Sometimes I find it hard to keep my patience with others who judge our family when they don't have all the facts and when people treat you like a remedial parent because I have a child with a disability. But most of all, I find it hard when he is stimming* and I cannot work out what he needs to feel calm.

But then I think about the special moments, like when he "tells" one of his jokes and giggles uncontrollably, or he almost interacts with another neurotypical child or when, with his limited vocabulary, says something that makes it clear to me that he understands more than we know.

My life is forever richer because of my little boy. He can light up the world with his smile. He brings joy to all that take the time get to know him. He will have a brilliant life.

* "Stimming" is short for self-stimulatory behaviour - read more here.

Tell your story
and help build Autism Awareness

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Financial help for respite and holidays

If you are a family who really need a holiday, but are finding it hard to afford the cost of activities such as Camp Autism, then this may help...

Mary passed on that Commonwealth Carers Respite Centres (Australia) can provide up to $300 towards your holiday. To find out if you are eligible, call 1800 059 059.

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Need a break?

As we have seen from the parent stories being told here, going out of a child's comfort zone and into a public place brings up a range of difficulties for families living with autism. This has a significant impact on families being able to go on holidays.

As Mary says on her website, "We had stopped taking holidays with our kids as it become too much of a concern. We would be more stressed on holidays than at home. We worried our kids would keep others awake. We wondered if other kids would harm or bully them."

But she and her husband did not stop there. They decided to find out whether other families felt the same, and whether they could do something about it.

The answer to both questions was, "Yes!"... and Camp Autism was born.


Camp Autism

Camp Autism is all about giving families living with ASDs the opportunity to relax and unwind in a supportive and non-judgemental context. As stated on their website,

"The aim of Camp Autism Inc is to provide respite to these families ... We hope families will build support networks with other families for mutual support, information sharing, and fellowship."

Where?

Camp Autism camps happen around the country - in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. They sell out quickly, so get in early!


When?

You can find a list of camps coming up here. The next available camp is happening on the 14th-16th of May in Geelong, Victoria. All the booking details are on the Camp Autism website.


What?

Want to know what happens at the camp? See some photos here: http://www.campautism.org/photo01.html


Want to know more?

Contact Camp Autism on info @ campautism.org

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Mary's story

I have three children with Autism.

Timothy is 13 and has Aspergers.

Timothy loves Maths and computers. At the moment he is also enjoying photography and everything pokemon.

Timothy was diagnosed when he was 4yrs old. Timothy really struggles with social situations. He will not answer our door or our telephone without prompting. Even if he knows and loves the person on the phone he refuses to chat.

Timothy has really come out of his shell with the new friends he has made at Camp Autism. I think because most of these kids also have Autism and understand his need to sometimes to walk away or ask questions.

Amy is 5 and has classic Autism.

Amy loves everything Tinkerbell. Amy also loves animals.

Amy has only just started talking in the last 2 years. Amy also is lactose intolerant and has Epilepsy. We have not been successful in toilet training with her and it is an ongoing concern as Amy started Prep this year and whilst she has no been bullied yet I wonder how accepting kids will be as they get older.

Kailyn is 3 and has High Functioning Autism and was diagnosed a week before her 3rd birthday.

Kailyn is extremely bright and can write her name and other family members' and has been reciting the alphabet and numbers from age 2.

Kailyn does not understand other children her own age. She gets very frustrated when they act like typical children and not do puzzles, write names and colour between the lines.

Though with Kailyn we had started seeing the signs at a very early age we chose to put our heads in the sand. Three children on the spectrum brought me to tears often with worry of how we would cope, find services etc. Kailyn has also been diagnosed with Epilepsy and Encopresis. Kailyn is partially toilet trained but due to the encopresis and the need for medication to make her use her bowels it is a daily struggle.

I think the biggest struggle for me personally as a parent is trying to find services and activities for my children. Government funding ends when they are 6 and I often wonder and then what? Timothy is already homeschooled because the education system was failing him. I wonder what next. I wonder about where it will take our family and what the journey ahead will be like. We currently live in a small town in North Queensland and I feel we are being forced to move to a capital city to sit on waiting lists with thousands of other families. The need is so great in Australia that there is not enough services to go around.

The most special moments for me in the past few years have been at Camp Autism. It is so nice to chat with other parents who understand the journey we are on. Its nice to see brothers and sisters of kids on the spectrum hanging out and comparing poo stories or laughing at the silly things kids do. But it breaks my heart to hear of the tears the bullying and ridicule these kids suffer at the hands not only of school yard friends but often of their own family members. Hearing that a smack would cure their brother or sister is not what these kids need to hear.

At times like this journey of raising kids with Autism we should be able to find support in our own family. Sadly this is not always the case. For me Camp Autism has gifted not only myself but my husband and children with a new family. A family of adults and kids who know what the word acceptance means, are always there with a shoulder to cry on , and a joke to make us laugh again. People often thank me for the work I do for Camp Autism, what they don’t realise is how much the camps and the families who attend give back to me. At these camps I am free to be myself and my kids can spin, flap, jump, wriggle, giggle and meltdown without fear of being called horrible names.

Tell your story
and help build Autism Awareness

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Money for Therapy

If you have a child under the age of six and you live in Australia, you may be eligible for up to $12000 to help you access early intervention services like speech and occupational therapy.

To be eligible for the early intervention funding package a child must have been seen by an Autism Advisor and deemed eligible to access the program before their sixth birthday. The $12,000 in funding under the early intervention component can be used until the child’s seventh birthday to a maximum of $6,000 per financial year.

The catch is that you must use approved Early Intervention Service Providers... some of which are listed here: http://fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/progserv/people/autism_panel/Pages/default.aspx This may not be an up-to-date, comprehensive list, so make sure you ask your Autism Advisor or local support group for more information (see the list at http://www.learn2bebuddies.com.au/pages/autism/doesmychildhaveautism.html)

To find out more about this and other funding, visit http://fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/progserv/people/HelpingChildrenWithAutism/Pages/default.aspx

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Jennifer's story (Part 2)

Jarrod

I have a son with autism and he 4 & 1/2 years old.

He loves playing with his play station game, loves matchbox cars & swimming.

He is really good at counting, play station games & numbers.

He struggles with certain textures, Showing certain emotions & being in busy places.

Sometimes I, as a parent, find it hard when he can’t understand why he can't do certain things, he has no fear which is very frightening at times. Having twins with ASD is also very hard at times.

But then I think about the special moments, like when his memory is awesome, he remembers things back to when he was approx 2 yrs of age. His concern for his twin brother Korbin. He may not show a great deal of emotion, but he certainly looks after his siblings. Or when he compliments his older sister on how pretty she looks.

Tell your story
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Sandy's Story

I have 3 sons with autistic traits/tendencies and they are 12 (HFA), 10 (AS/ADHD) & 8 (ADD) years old.

They love us dearly despite what they might say at times during meltdowns, they love computer games of any description including PS2 and wii and the younger two love running around outside with the neighbouring kids pretending to be soldiers, cops or whatever the flavour of the day is.

My boys are really good at avoiding all responsibility where possible, reading, sports (Master 10 & Master 8 especially), eating (except Master 10 who has serious food issues) and playing games on computers, PS2 or wii.

They all struggle with social interaction with others outside of the family and have trouble understanding social cues like personal space and when to talk/take turns at something.

Sometimes I, as a parent, find it hard when they are all being intense at the same time and my husband who has a much shorter fuse than I do goes off at them which only makes matters worse. I struggle to keep my own temper and my voice even at times and also get tired of feeling like I'm the only one who has to play the adult role and be in control of situations constantly. A self-confessed control freak, I get upset when my boys are having a power struggle and I lose my temper and yell at them. I also get frustrated with having to go through the same things over and over sometimes, and with feeling like my boys aren't learning very quickly if at all about behaviours.

But then I think about the special moments, like:

Master 12 had a sudden language explosion at age 3 when he gave us three sentences at once one morning where previously we had only had the occasional word like "Mum", "Dad" and "Car". He has literally not been quiet since and although that can be annoying at times, I would rather he dribbled verbally as a constant than return to a single word occasionally.

Master 10 declaring around age 5 that he liked "plain" pizza... could only get him to try it because I told him it only had tomato sauce on it, then the neighbour told him it had cheese on it, he stopped eating it but not for long. Could see the cogs turning in his mind as I told him he had been eating it for months and the pizza hadn't changed and was still yummy. He eventually overcame his foibles and tucked into a piece, now declaring that he loved "plain cheese" pizza. It has been a struggle to get him to eat all his life as he simply refuses to try new things and has restricted his diet heavily.

Master 8 comes up to me after a violent meltdown, wraps his arms around me and says "I'm sorry Mummy. I love you". All I want to do sometimes is push him away but I can't do that because he doesn't understand as he has little memory of his recent behaviour.

When all of them use the beautiful manners that we have hammered into them and I get complimented on their good behaviour and nice manners, all the while thinking "if you only knew" :)

Any of them proudly handing me a certificate from school or after school care with their name on it rewarded for good behaviour.

The phrases I live by these days include "you are never given in life any more than you can handle" and "only special parents are given the care of special children like ours, as they are the only ones qualified for the job". I am grateful for my own wacky sense of humour as I feel that is one reason I have survived and been able to get up on my board and surf the tide of autism as well as I have, not that I claim to be any kind of an expert. I am also grateful to my husband for being as supportive as he knows how, and for acknowledging both his and my ASD tendencies and making light of them, as it all helps make our unusual world go round.

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Rainbowland Autism Services

Listening to parents share their stories about their children who have autism we can recognise two key things:

1. Their children are loved and enrich the lives of their families
   
2. Their children - and the attitudes of others around them - can present daily challenges that can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining.
   

Families and their children with Autism need support. Sometimes this comes free through informal support networks. But many important services are expensive and not always accessible.


Rainbowland Autism Services

Parents are advocates for their children. But who will advocate for families when they feel disempowered, exhausted or unsupported?

Rainbowland Autism Services states that they are:

“a modern, innovative and energetic organisation that demonstrates its passion for helping families living with autism through its dynamic services and commitment to global autism awareness. RAS strives to advocate for the human rights of families and promote community awareness and inclusion at every opportunity."

One Campaign

One Campaign that has been driven by Rainbowland Autism Services is the campaign for families of children with developmental disabilities to be eligible for disability parking permits. Listen to this video clip to find out why this is so important. Especially listen to Jacob and his family's experiences in the carpark (starting from about the 2 minute mark).





Autism Rainbow Day

But one of the biggest campaigns is the current campaign to build Autism Awareness globally. It is not about raising money, but raising awareness.

The key event of this campaign is on the 30th of April. This has been nominated as Autism Rainbow Day.

On this day businesses, schools, social groups are being asked to build autism awareness by wearing a plain coloured t-shirt. In their press release they state that the colours are to represent the colours of the rainbow - and the autism spectrum.

To support this awareness campaign, follow these simple steps:

1. Join the Autism Rainbow Day Facebook Group
   
2. Download your Rainbow Day Poster - print it and hang it everywhere.
3. Tell your school and workplace about it - and hang more posters.
4. On Friday 30th wear a plain coloured t-shirt (and keep a few in your car to share with those who have forgotten :) )
5. When people ask why you are wearing bright colours, tell them about Autism. To help you with this, Allison has put together an Autism Awareness Sheet which you can pass on to people. *

It's that simple!

So get out there and spread awareness :)

--------

* You could also use the Learn to be Buddies Awareness sheets:
The Underlying Difficulties - and Strengths - of Autism
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Allison's Story

Kristie with Kelly Nester (Adelaide Newsreader)
at the Autism SA Masquerade Ball

I have a daughter with asperger’s syndrome and she is 11 years old.

She loves music more than anything else in the world. Every day she focuses on her singing and is pretty talented.

She is really good at singing and art. Kristie also painted the picture for the Autism Rainbow Day logo.

She struggles with language and gets anxious very easily. She also has difficulties reading other people’s body language and often thinks others don’t like her when they actually do.

Sometimes I, as a parent, find it hard when she misinterprets what is being said to her, which makes her sad. It is also difficult when she struggles with her school work because she becomes anxious to give something new a go, but she works very hard to overcome these problems.

But then I think about the special moments, like when she sang in front of 360 people at the Autism SA masquerade ball in October 2009. She was amazing and performed like a professional. It was one of those very special and proud moments as a parent.

Her performance:

I love her dearly and when she smiles, she lights up the room. Kristie is our little princess and we love her dearly.

Tell your story
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The Toy Bug: Educational Toys

Getting appropriate therapy and help for your child with Autism Spectrum Disorders can be very expensive, hard to access or can be complicated by your child's difficulty working with relative strangers outside the home.

So what can you do? One thing you can do is to find toys and games that you can use at home to help teach or reinforce skills that speech and/or occupational therapists would be teaching. This perhaps doesn't replace specialist help, but it can make a significant difference to your child's development.

The Toy Bug

The Toy Bug is an online store started by Jo (whose son you met in our last post). She started this store as a result of her own efforts to locate toys used by her son's therapists, or toys that could keep Lachie's attention and help with his development. Her aim is to ensure that other parents benefit from her experience and efforts.

In short, Jo has done the hard work for you. You just need to pop over to her site to scroll through her range of toys and equipment to find what may best suit your child's needs.


Here are some places you might be most interested in looking at on her site:

Lachie's favourites: I love this as it provides some hints about what a child of his age and characteristics might find most enjoyable.

On Sale: Because we all love a bargain :)

Reward Charts and Planners: Routine and explicit, visual clarification of routines and expectations are so important for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. These charts and planners are a great resource - and could be used in homes and in the classroom.

Books: Because she sells Dave is Brave :)


Donations for Camp Autism:

If you are looking for educational and sensory toys, then there is an added incentive to buy from the Toy Bug. The Toy Bug is donating 10% of its April sales to Camp Autism, an organisation that runs holiday camps for families and children with autism.

(Camp Autism website ... a post about this coming soon)

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Jo's Story

Lachlan

I have a son with Autism and he is 6 ½ years old.

He loves reading, numbers, puzzles, board games, swimming, going to the park and mum and dad.

He is really good at reading, math, giving hugs and has wonderful manners.

He struggles with noise, too many people, change without being informed way ahead of time, taking a different route to a place he often goes to (like school) and the most scary of all running away from us when out in public and having no fear of cars.

Sometimes I, as a parent, find it hard when people don’t have the understanding or awareness of Autism like when you are out in public and your child has a major meltdown and people stare or you hear comments about naughty children or when people do not understand that you cannot go to a specific outing as there are too many sensory issues for your child to hope with.

We recently went to a friend’s place for a BBQ and there were about 25 people there and we only lasted 10 minutes before our son had a major melt down due to the number of people and the noise. We were unable to calm him down so we had to go home and some of the people where like “what, you are going just because he is screaming” – they had no idea how hard it was for him. So as you can tell we don’t venture out much but I am hoping one day we might get to Australia Zoo or Sea World.

But then I think about the special moments, like when the children in his class could not believe how well he can read and they love him helping them with their reading.

When people compliment what lovely manners our son has – like when he greets someone at the checkout and says Hello …their name (that he reads from their tag), my name is Lachlan, how are you today? And that person is taken by surprise that he knows what their name is. Or when someone sneezes (no matter whom it is) and he says “Bless You”, and when they thank him he says “You’re welcome”.

When he comes and give you the biggest hug and says, "Hug to make you feel happy".

Tell your story
and help build Autism Awareness

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No Pity Please

Through My Eyes

Music by Fiona Johnson.
Words by Valerie Foley.
Sung by Thanh Bui

".... I don't need pity
I don't need tears
I just need someone to help me
Understand my fears

Show me you believe in me
Let me know that I'm OK
Help me feel safe in the world
And I will find my way

Because I'm not blind but I can't always see
I'm not deaf but things can sound strange to me
I'm not trapped but it's hard to feel free

Imagine what it's like to be me."

The recording of this song was made possible through the generous support of Thomas and Friends and HIT Entertainment.

Autism Spectrum Music ... Posted on YouTube August 17, 2009

This song is aimed to build awareness of what it might be like to live with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is available for download on iTunes Australia and all proceeds to Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) .

A blog post about helping peers empathise... not sympathise or take pity on... with children who have differing abilities.

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Michelle's story

Brayden

I have a son with autism and he is almost 10 years old.

He loves anything involving super heroes & special powers but only the goodies ! He loves Pokemon, Transformers, Bionicles, Bakugan and every super hero from Astro boy to Sonic the Hedgehog !

He is really good at construction, give him lego or Knex and he will build things out of his head that amaze me !

He struggles with school and controlling his temper, he doesn’t like noise around him or too much stimulation or being asked to ‘join in’.

Sometimes I, as a parent, find it hard when he gets out of control and I have to physically hold him down and when he gets sent home from school before 10am, and when he says horrible words to me out of anger.

But then I think about the special moments, like when he has learnt something new or had a good morning at school and comes home beaming with pride, when he sits and hugs me and tells me that he loves no one else as much as he loves me !!


Written By Michelle (SA)
Mother of Brayden (ASD ADHD)

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