The Monster at the End of This Book

Image via Wikipedia

One of the first apps I got on my son’s iPad was something I wanted for myself. The Monster at the End of This Book was one of my favorite books growing up.  When I saw it was at the iPad store, and it still had Grover, and not Elmo (which they had when my daughter was the age for this), I had to download it!

It keeps true to story, and is interactive in a seamless, appropriate manner.  It encourages the child to be involved in the story, in subtle ways. If they still don’t get what to do on a page, Grover will hint, building up the hints until the work is done.  He does it in a way, though, that suits the story. “Whatever you do, don’t touch that. Not that corner over there. That will make the page turn. You don’t want to turn the page!” Things like that, and maybe a bit of a flicker or flash to show where the child should touch.

My son is completely non-verbal, and can’t really read much at all.  He’s never been interested in reading, either.  He’ll look at I Spy books, or flip through something with a character he likes, but not much more than that.  After a while, though, Ted would read along with the book, running his finger under each word as it was said. Each word comes on the page one at a time as Grover says it, and he’s really starting to learn the relationship between what is said and what the word looks like. That interaction is probably helping him read more than the constant drilling we’ve done over the years in school, in therapy, and in the home.  He reads it every night before going to bed.  He also is engaged with it more than most other apps, without perseverating on it, reading it over and over for hours on end.  It’s also made a great reward for his educators and his therapists, because he will work for enough stars to have time with this app.

I’ve seen a number of children’s e-books, and apps based on children’s books. This is probably our favorite, and save for a handful of others, one of the better crafted ones. You can tell that not only did the software developers know what they were doing, educators and other professionals who know about development of literacy skills and children were involved. All the little touches not only make this app more enjoyable, but are a great way to help an emerging reader.

This award-winning app is $3.99 at the Apple App  store.

Read Full Post »

iPad

We finally got Ted an iPad, primarily for use as an AAC device, but we knew there were other apps out there that might be useful.  We’ve found autism related apps, educational apps, some really fun apps for rewards, and lots of communication apps.  We also found a fantastic case for it, too!

It’s a shame that insurance does not cover these. An AAC device starts at around 3k.  An iPad with a good case, good AAC software, and some other apps? About 1k.  But the insurance would rather pay 3k and up, because those devices are for communication only.  Heaven forbid someone has something that can be used for things other than the intended purpose. They’d rather throw money away. No wonder premiums are so high.  Insurance companies will not use common sense when it comes to deciding what to pay, and what not to pay.

I hope to be reviewing some of the apps we’re using.  The whole experience is a real game changer. It’s made an impressive difference in my son’s life.

Read Full Post »

Top 10 snappy answers to annoying comments about autism | Autism Support Network

If you’re a parent with a child on the spectrum, you’ve probably responded to the same annoying remarks and questions a thousand times. Here’s a handy list of responses that…you’ll probably never use out loud (but are fun to imagine using)!

via Top 10 snappy answers to annoying comments about autism | Autism Support Network.

I need to memorize these…

Read Full Post »

Parenting and Autism

I made this video today, based on actual conversations over the years.

http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swfhttp://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf

Read Full Post »

Happy Camper

My son started Camp Bee A Friend this week. This camp pairs off children on the autism spectrum with their typically developing peers, sharing the camp experience together. It’s not about therapy, academics, things like that, it is camp. Real camp with camp activities. Fishing and swimming and crafts and lunch and songs and games and sports and all the typical day camp stuff — something that kids on the spectrum, particularly ones like mine, don’t really get to experience.

Now, one of my fears with Ted is that he’d be alone when we were gone. That the only people who would be with him would be obligated to. Family members, and people who work with him. Maybe a roommate in an apartment or group home. It’s one of the things that makes me sad, the thought my son may never have a partner, a family, a social life. He’s still non verbal, and he doesn’t really notice other people a lot. He doesn’t interact, usually. And since there are a lot of things he doesn’t understand, what could he bring to the table, friendship-wise? This breaks my heart on a regular basis. I try not to think about it, because it makes me want to die inside.

Well, when he got on the bus to go to camp, another kid came by. He looked at the open doors, looked over the seats, and said, “I want to sit next to Ted!” I smiled, I made a pleasant remark to one of the staff members standing there (as well as continued to discuss how Ted doesn’t eat lunch) and left.

And then proceeded to cry the entire drive home.

Read Full Post »

Sick

Does it sound wrong for a mom to want her child to be ill?

If he was sick, then there would be a reason for what’s going on now. The crying, the screaming, the agitation, the misery, the sheer hopeless attitude he has right now.

If he isn’t sick, then it’s that random autism who knows what the hell is wrong now, and then it is back to specialists again. Psychiatrists and psychologists and developmental pediatricians and behaviorists and neurologists and it just goes to “I guess it’s the autism”. Which isn’t much of an answer at all, it might as well be, “I guess it’s because the sun is hot and water is wet and it is Sunday.”

So I hope he has a bug. Nothing bad, just maybe an upset stomach or stuffed nose or sore throat or something that will go away, and he’ll be back to his usual happy self again. Of course, since he is ‘non verbal’, I don’t know what hurts. His head, his heart, his eyes, his nose, his throat, his tummy, his ears, who knows?

No one WANTS their child sick, of course, but in our case, it beats the alternative.

Read Full Post »

Riding the Short Bus

They changed the pick up point for my youngest; he now gets picked up in front of the house, not across the street.  So today I got to see him as the bus pulled away.  He looked at me briefly as they buckled him in, and then looked straight ahead. The thing about a non verbal kid is it is harder to know what they are thinking — as if people weren’t vague enough about their thoughts.  I wondered what he thinks about school. I know he seems to enjoy going.  Does he have any idea at all what the purpose is?  I’m really not sure, and leaning towards “no”. Every year the local newspaper, the Telegraph Herald asks the incoming kindergarten students what they want to be when they grow up.  There are all sorts of answers. Ballerinas and cowboys and doctors and singers and dancers and mechanics and truck drivers and babysitters andteachers and astronauts and anything a little kid can imagine. I wonder what my son would answer, if he could.  I know what I would want him to answer.  Independent. And that is what life is like with a kid like mine. Your dreams change. Your expectations are in a sense lowered. (But raised because you are aware of how hard each task is.)  When nothing but the finest schools and a doctorate in their chosen profession is just about shot down in flames when the prognosis is “I don’t know” for so many issues.  It’s not so bad, really.  Still, days like today, independence seems like such a great dream, but the thought that even independence may not be possible? That’s what can really hurt. By the way, his bus isn’t short, but it is chock full of kids who may face the same future as my son. Some more independent than others.  Think about that the next time you make a ‘short bus’ joke. About the parents that put their kids on that bus, and take them off the bus, if you don’t have the decency to think about the children because you think of them as less than human.  Think about me.

Read Full Post »

Chatbox 40

sunset 002

Originally uploaded by Kibbles

Ted finally got his very own Chatbox 40! We started off with just 24 symbols for now.

At first, he just kept pressing ‘pizza’ over and over. But after one session with his speech therapist, he got back into the swing of things. His therapy sessions, he used it effectively to communicate the few words we put on.

But the real trial was out on the street. We went running our errands and he used it well, even improvising if he didn’t have the right word! He asked to go to the bathroom, get a snack, asked for ice cream specifically, and when sick of a line that was too long, he kept asking me to ‘stop’! And in case I didn’t understand THAT, he asked for a break too!

He even uses two word combos, such as “want” and the item, instead of just the item. (Although he asks for that too.)

He’s also started babbling again, more consonants. Less humming and noises. (I also upped the omegas, which always seemed to have a positive effect on using verbal communication.)

Such good results in such short time. I’m not expecting him to use all 400 words right away, but I think we made a GREAT start!

Read Full Post »

Brilliant news!

Talk To Me Technologies

My son’s Chatbox 40 XT was ordered! Not only is Talk to Me Technologies getting us the Chatbox, we are also getting our own copy of Boardmaker, we are getting a laminating machine, too!  We will be able to use everything right away!

The trial period was great, and this is the perfect device for my son.  They had a lot of options but they helped us pick the one that was just right for my son at this moment in time, and one that will grow with him. It is really a fantastic piece of equipment, and we are looking forward to using it, the sooner the better!

We’re really excited. I’m sure Ted will be so happy to get his ‘voice’ back!

Read Full Post »

Parents are autism’s hidden victims

Parents are autism’s hidden victims

Children have autism, but parents are often invisible casualties. Their child’s disorder ricochets through their lives, breaking up marriages, draining bank accounts and robbing them of sleep. University of Washington researchers found these parents, among all with disabled children, suffer the highest levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, and parenting stress.

I think that everyone who may know the parent of an autistic child should read this.

Read Full Post »