Why might it mean more to me and mine than other families? Because my littlest man, D, has a form of autism known as Asperger's Syndrome (AS)
Many people can't see it when they first meet him, spend a little longer with him and he seems a little quirky, longer again, you'll see that he is a little different than most boys his age.
David shows a number of the typical traits, however, every AS child is different.
Some AS people have difficulty understanding &/or mastering sarcasm or colloquialism, and usually refer strictly to the literal definition. We find this sometimes to be the case with D, although, amusingly, he seems to be developing a healthy sense of sarcasm and using it appropriately.
Dealing with emotions (intra and interpersonal) and associated non verbal cues still proves very difficult to conquer (especially maintaining eye contact or smiling at inappropriate times). How to react appropriately does not come easily..These are skills that need to be developed and practiced over and over.
It also needs to be said that although individuals with AS might seem distant or arrogant or rude, this would be an incorrect judgment. They feel everything, and sometimes their senses go into overload and the result is a meltdown of some description.
Can you imagine what it would be like to have all your senses assaulted/ overstimulated all at once? Let me give you an example - loud music thumping, high pitch noise, sudden loud bangs, bright/flashing lights hurting your eyes, sudden unexpected movements, uncontrollable emotions welling up inside with no words to help describe them, awful/unexpected tastes or textured food in your mouth, uncomfortable/scratchy/awful textured clothes/furniture/items, overpowering smells/odours ?? It would be like torture, right? Well, for some with AS, and other forms of autism, that is sometimes what life is like, every single day.
One thing I want you to understand about our little man, is that he is a bright spark, but the way his thought processes work, it takes a little longer for it to be communicated. Trying to articulate or synthesize a written response is terribly frustrating at times, particularly when fine motor skills let you down. Cue: technological aids...
We are about to venture down the path of letting D use an iPad to help him do his school work.
A very basic example is when he has to proofread and edit texts. With a few taps, D can complete the task that normally takes him twice as long to complete with a pen. Let's also say how much easier and less frustrating it is for him to type and edit drafts and final versions of text. It actually levels the playing field within the classroom- he is able to complete tasks within the same timeframe as his peers, with less pressure and decreased chances of disengaging from school work. Can you imagine how it would feel for a young child to constantly be behind the rest of the class with writing because your body lets you down? (ie collaborating and synthesising thoughts and simultaneously trying to coordinate your brain and hand to work, coupled with muscle fatigue)
I am so proud of how far my boy has come, and I'm looking forward to see what great plans God has in store for him. (Jeremiah 29:11)
TGBTG
Anje xo
Great post Anje - and how awesome about that sarcasm coming out! Might seem like a weird thing to get excited over to most people, but I know it's those little things that really mean so much. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you! David often makes me laugh with what he comes out with- bless him!
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