For a long time now I have been treating Brian as if he just can't answer some questions. I accepted it and when he would just repeat the last word of the question, I would provide him with the answer, which he would then repeat.
I think what happened was I got lazy. Sometimes I need to give myself a kick in the ass. I've been working hard on repeating the question until he answers. I wait until he gives me eye contact and I ask again and he'll repeat me. And again with echolalia. And again with echolalia. And then after the fourth or fifth time, I can really see the connection in his eyes, he'll pause and I can see the gears turning, and then he'll answer. With his own answer.
I've been doing this with him all afternoon and been getting amazing results, with a lot of patience. Sure it took me ten minutes to get him to answer if he wanted his burger on a roll or not. Another three minutes to answer if he wanted ketchup, mustard, or both. And four more minutes if he wanted straight fries or circle fries. Sure, Corbin was already up asking for seconds by the time I got my plate on the table. But it was worth it, for Brian to formulate the answers without any sort of prompt.
Sometimes I think I fall in a rut, the rut of what is easy and it's not a good place to be. Brian needs to be pushed ALL THE TIME and it's exhausting. But it's rewarding.
7 comments:
TELL ME ABOUT IT! I became an EC teacher one year before my son Andrew's diagnosis, and now this has become my whole life. I know that there's a reason for this, but to constantly push, push, push from 6 AM until 8 at night with these autistic individuals is hard. Thanks for the encouragement
http://brianautismblog.blogspot.com
This is so true and I actually touched on this recently in a post. We have to keep our expectations high and have faith in them. Challenge them but also know that it is ok to have moments when you just want to relax and be easy. It doesn't mean you are failing just that you are human. At least you can recognize it which allows you to build on it more.
I read this last night as my husband was making Tinkerbell answer him as to whether or not she wanted ketchup :)
I think we all get that way sometimes and need to give ourselves a little kick!!
I really needed this today. Thanks for the great kick in the pants. Sometimes we get so rushed, have to go go go. On to the next appointment, etc. This is a great reminder for me to slow down, and really talk to Big T - and make m talk back! :)
I really needed this today. Thanks for the great kick in the pants. Sometimes we get so rushed, have to go go go. On to the next appointment, etc. This is a great reminder for me to slow down, and really talk to Big T - and make m talk back! :)
TELL ME ABOUT IT! I became an EC teacher one year before my son Andrew's diagnosis, and now this has become my whole life. I know that there's a reason for this, but to constantly push, push, push from 6 AM until 8 at night with these autistic individuals is hard. Thanks for the encouragement
http://brianautismblog.blogspot.com
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