I am a Speech and Language Therapist and a teacher. Since I graduated in 1997 I have been working with children and adults with different types of learning difficulties. In 2002 I started focusing on children with autism and since then I have been fascinated by them. I am passionate about people with autism and day after day I have found it incredibly fascinating working with very unique individuals. I am very grateful to all my students with high functioning autism or Asperger who have taught me so much about what living with autism is. Some students can develop the level of insight that has enabled us to have discussions about what having autism is and what helps and does not help people with autism.
Do I love my job? The answer, without a doubt is yes. I would find it very hard now to work in something completely different and not related to autism somehow. However, I also feel ashamed to admit, that… I also love the fact that at the end of my working day (very long hours sometimes) I am glad that I can go home and relax. My mind frequently continues thinking about my students and I still wake up in the middle of the night trying to find answers and strategies to help my students but… I do not have to constantly live with autism.
So what is living with autism like?
Adam, a 15 year old boy with high functioning autism has told me “I have now learnt how to control it and I am feeling like a normal bloke and everyone helped me for it which I am very proud of. Now I have an ipod so I can listen to my songs to make me chill for a while. So yeah, I feel like a normal bloke, nothing wrong at all and that is it!”
I am really glad of knowing that Adam is making good progress and turning into a happy young man.
From a parents’ point of view Mary Dhonau, mum of one of my former students with severe autism, has very openly expressed what living with autism means for her and her family. I admire Mary for expressing these ideas so honestly and beautifully and I would like to invite other parents to listen to her recordings. Very emotive and direct from her heart, Mary managed to put tears in my eyes.
So… what is living with autism like? Well… I still do not know and I would like more parents and people with autism to share their ideas with us professionals so that we can improve the quality of the services we offer.
Looking forward to hearing from all of you.
Well, it can certainly be a roller coaster ride but in time you learn how to manage all types of emotions. Their strengths, weaknessess and most of all, the triggers that can cause outbursts. I have found that after watching the dvd by Rory Hoy “Autism and Me” as well as Temple Grandin ‘the woman who thinks like a cow”, certainly put to rest a fair few worries I had for my two little ones for their future. The main thing I can be sure of is ‘repitition” and using humour when a tantrum is about to take place. I have implemented so much over the last 2 years, in turn, teaching myself a great deal about Autism and Aspergers. My son was pretty much non-verbal until he was a little over 3. I deceided to purchase the advanced library set of dvd’s from babybumblebee.com in the U.S, and have never looked back. These have been a very effective learning tool to get Tim talking. In the first 6 weeks of watching them, he picked up 40 new words and began forming sentences. he has now been using them for around 6 months now, he now talks and talks. there is still a way to go, but what an improvement. I can go on and on, but I’ll add a bit more later.
At6 first you are in a deep deep hole, but as time goes on, you begin to see the light and realise that there is hope. Perservere, push through the hardships, enjoy the great moments and milestones. It will only bring you much more closer to your little one.
Bye for now
Dave
Liverpool Australia
Thank you very much to Dave for his contribution to this blog.
Those of you who do not know about Rory Hoy, might like to know that he has his own page that you might like to visit
I would also like to recommend you watch his video on and listen to the many and very useful tips he has for those of us who live with autism or work with autism.
I am glad you have also mentioned Dr. Temple Grandin, because sheis one of the most successful and well-known adult with autism in the world and deserves recognition for it.
Dave, it is good to hear that your little ones are making good progress and you must feel proud of yourself for helping them on this journey. Rory Hoy says “It really helps me when the people around me are calm and happy” and you certainly know this is the way forward and have learnt to use humour when tantrums are starting.
I would like to finish my contribution today with another quote from Rory Hoy. “We all need to feel accepted, protected, respected, but, most of all, we need to be loved”
Thanks to all the loving and caring people in the world for being there!