One of the things that I struggle with most as a Senior Therapist in an intensive in-home therapy program is the advocacy and acceptance of autism. I struggle with this not for myself, but for many of the staff I supervise and the parents I support. I struggle with this because I see each child I work with as a unique and interesting person just as they are and it saddens me that so many of the families support feel like they need to "fix" their child. Don't get me wrong--I want to help each child be the absolute best person that he or she can be. I want them to reach their full potential. But--I want them to do it with dignity and honor. I want them to do it with understanding on my part--not with me forcing them to "comply" with their loved one's standard of normal. I walk a fine line as a Senior Therapist. Here are some wonderful advocacy links that I think ALL therapists who work with children with autism should take the time to read.
The Autism Acceptance Project
Autism Diva
Showing posts with label autism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autism. Show all posts
Monday, June 04, 2007
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Friday, October 13, 2006
You Tube, believe it or not, has some great Autism related posts. Some are geared toward different therapy approaches and others are geared toward advocacy and acceptance. I invite all my fellow folks who support people with autism to check them out. Some may sadden you and others may enlighten you to a different perspective. Take a look.
RDI techniques
RDI 1
RDI 2
RDI 3
A different Perspective
Perspective 1
Perspective 2
Perspective 3
Perspective 4
Perspective 5
Perspective 6
Perspective 7
A parent calling out for help (make sure you read the clip on the side)
Help 1
RDI techniques
RDI 1
RDI 2
RDI 3
A different Perspective
Perspective 1
Perspective 2
Perspective 3
Perspective 4
Perspective 5
Perspective 6
Perspective 7
A parent calling out for help (make sure you read the clip on the side)
Help 1
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Come to Your Senses - National Sensory Awareness Week - October 25-31, 2006!
The first National Sensory Awareness Day in October of last year was a huge success! Now, let's build on that with a whole week of awareness.
Sensory Spotlight
Sensory Buddies, Unite!
Izzy McBusy, the official representative of National Sensory Awareness Week, knows what it's like to have sensory issues - she's a sensory kid, too! Izzy says, "Sometimes when we're out with our parents, shopping, traveling, or at a restaurant, movie, or party, we can get really overwhelmed and even uncooperative. Our moms, dads, friends, or relatives get some really weird looks when people don't understand how hard it is to avoid or control how we are feeling."
"Let's tell the world we are 'sensory kids.' Maybe people will 'get it' about what's going on in our world."
To learn more about how you can promote Sensory Awareness Week go to the Sensory Awareness Week website.
Sensory Resources
You'll find information about a special t-shirt, designed by Izzy, that helps promote sensory awareness; information that you can print out and pass out to doctors, therapists, teachers, and family members to help educate them about sensory issues; and much more!
The first National Sensory Awareness Day in October of last year was a huge success! Now, let's build on that with a whole week of awareness.
Sensory Spotlight
Sensory Buddies, Unite!
Izzy McBusy, the official representative of National Sensory Awareness Week, knows what it's like to have sensory issues - she's a sensory kid, too! Izzy says, "Sometimes when we're out with our parents, shopping, traveling, or at a restaurant, movie, or party, we can get really overwhelmed and even uncooperative. Our moms, dads, friends, or relatives get some really weird looks when people don't understand how hard it is to avoid or control how we are feeling."
"Let's tell the world we are 'sensory kids.' Maybe people will 'get it' about what's going on in our world."
To learn more about how you can promote Sensory Awareness Week go to the Sensory Awareness Week website.
Sensory Resources
You'll find information about a special t-shirt, designed by Izzy, that helps promote sensory awareness; information that you can print out and pass out to doctors, therapists, teachers, and family members to help educate them about sensory issues; and much more!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog: April 2006
ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog: April 2006
Well--I've been looking into brushing for some of the kiddos that I work with. I've heard good things about it, but the more I look into the less information I find! I found this blogger who wrote on the topic and I guess I'll go from there. . . . . .
Well--I've been looking into brushing for some of the kiddos that I work with. I've heard good things about it, but the more I look into the less information I find! I found this blogger who wrote on the topic and I guess I'll go from there. . . . . .
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
In Autism News. . . two
Although this does not specifically relate to Autism, it does relate to some legislation that WI is working on regarding restraining children.
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - A 7-year-old girl who suffocated during a control hold at a northwest Wisconsin counseling center had been similarly restrained eight other times, according to a state agency.
Angellika Arndt, of Ladysmith, died May 26 at Children's Hospital & Clinics of Minnesota in Minneapolis, a day after police were called to the Northwest Counseling and Guidance Clinic in Rice Lake on a report that she was unresponsive. Arndt was a patient at the clinic and had been restrained by staff members for behavioral issues, police said.
Arndt died from complications of chest compression, which caused lack of air from a restraint hold she was placed in by staff members, Barron County District Attorney Angela Holmstrom has said.
The state Department of Health and Family Services investigated and found that staff restrained Arndt nine times for one to two hours, according to its report released last week.
She had been put in a hold for "gargling milk" a day before her death, according the report. Besides the nine holds, the report said the girl was put in 18 "timeouts" within 31 days.
"There's a lot of things that just don't sit right with me," said Rick Pelishek, director of Disability Rights Wisconsin's northwest chapter office in Rice Lake.
The advocacy group is also investigating and Pelishek said he's talking to previous doctors and getting records to see if Arndt really needed to be restrained. A statement from the president of Northwest Counseling and Guidance's board of directors, Denison Tucker, said he is concerned that there are "errors of fact, incomplete context and misapplications of statute references" in the state's report.
Tucker said center staff will meet with agency next week with more data and documents.
The agency's investigation is continuing, said Sandy Rowe, the state department's deputy chief legal counsel.
After the center submits its plan of correction within a month, Rowe said the state would visit the center and then determine if the facility should be closed.
The agency has since ordered all control holds stopped at the center except in extreme emergencies.
No charges against center staff have been filed yet, but Holmstrom said she has started to review several police reports about Arndt's death.
She doesn't anticipate making a decision on whether to file charges until at least mid-July.
The girl, whom friends and family called "Angie," was born in Milwaukee. She became a ward of the state and was placed in the Rusk County foster home of Dan and Donna Pavlik in January 2005.
She was diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, mood disorder and attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder, according to the state's report.
The Pavliks have declined to comment.
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - A 7-year-old girl who suffocated during a control hold at a northwest Wisconsin counseling center had been similarly restrained eight other times, according to a state agency.
Angellika Arndt, of Ladysmith, died May 26 at Children's Hospital & Clinics of Minnesota in Minneapolis, a day after police were called to the Northwest Counseling and Guidance Clinic in Rice Lake on a report that she was unresponsive. Arndt was a patient at the clinic and had been restrained by staff members for behavioral issues, police said.
Arndt died from complications of chest compression, which caused lack of air from a restraint hold she was placed in by staff members, Barron County District Attorney Angela Holmstrom has said.
The state Department of Health and Family Services investigated and found that staff restrained Arndt nine times for one to two hours, according to its report released last week.
She had been put in a hold for "gargling milk" a day before her death, according the report. Besides the nine holds, the report said the girl was put in 18 "timeouts" within 31 days.
"There's a lot of things that just don't sit right with me," said Rick Pelishek, director of Disability Rights Wisconsin's northwest chapter office in Rice Lake.
The advocacy group is also investigating and Pelishek said he's talking to previous doctors and getting records to see if Arndt really needed to be restrained. A statement from the president of Northwest Counseling and Guidance's board of directors, Denison Tucker, said he is concerned that there are "errors of fact, incomplete context and misapplications of statute references" in the state's report.
Tucker said center staff will meet with agency next week with more data and documents.
The agency's investigation is continuing, said Sandy Rowe, the state department's deputy chief legal counsel.
After the center submits its plan of correction within a month, Rowe said the state would visit the center and then determine if the facility should be closed.
The agency has since ordered all control holds stopped at the center except in extreme emergencies.
No charges against center staff have been filed yet, but Holmstrom said she has started to review several police reports about Arndt's death.
She doesn't anticipate making a decision on whether to file charges until at least mid-July.
The girl, whom friends and family called "Angie," was born in Milwaukee. She became a ward of the state and was placed in the Rusk County foster home of Dan and Donna Pavlik in January 2005.
She was diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, mood disorder and attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder, according to the state's report.
The Pavliks have declined to comment.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
In Autism News. . . .
It breaks my heart to see the abuse that some children with Autism are forced to endure. . .
Boy taught in cupboard
On a postive note, here is something really neat-o. Yes I said 'really.' It's become a professional term now, you know! hahahaha. Check this out! Friend Finder
So--it's been awhile. Yes, I've gone from 4 posts in one day to one every few weeks. . . .Life is catching up with me again. Right now I'm trying to get my life organized. I'm taking a course in curriculum right now, managing a case load of three (and hoping to get more cases SOON), and trying to fit in that important stuff like exercise and spending time with my guy. Life is BUSY! Anyway one of the exciting things going on is getting ready for my vacation at the end of the month. David and I are taking a small vacation and going up "nort," as we say here in WI. We're going to spend one day in Bayfield and two days over in the Superior/Duluth area. It will be a nice little get-away, that's for sure. I'll take LOTs of photos and post them when I return!
Boy taught in cupboard
On a postive note, here is something really neat-o. Yes I said 'really.' It's become a professional term now, you know! hahahaha. Check this out! Friend Finder
So--it's been awhile. Yes, I've gone from 4 posts in one day to one every few weeks. . . .Life is catching up with me again. Right now I'm trying to get my life organized. I'm taking a course in curriculum right now, managing a case load of three (and hoping to get more cases SOON), and trying to fit in that important stuff like exercise and spending time with my guy. Life is BUSY! Anyway one of the exciting things going on is getting ready for my vacation at the end of the month. David and I are taking a small vacation and going up "nort," as we say here in WI. We're going to spend one day in Bayfield and two days over in the Superior/Duluth area. It will be a nice little get-away, that's for sure. I'll take LOTs of photos and post them when I return!
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