Autism – Celebrating Ideas
Happy New Year!!
My first post for 2011.
Today I thought it would be helpful to share with you the 3 biggest messages that I took away from a brilliant presentation I recently attended, by fellow speech pathologist Michele Ricamato from Chicago… but just before I do…
I quickly wanted to let you know what I’ve been up to and why you might not have heard from me for a while. :0
Things have been crazy busy in my autism world in the past few months…
I recently completed my first series of professional development workshops for speech pathologists, working with children with autism in Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne, which went very well and were lots of fun. The whole production took months of preparation and organisation but it has been a fantastic experience with some great outcomes.
As you know I am very passionate about Speechies using a relationship building and developmental approach to therapy, rather than “table-top” intervention. I am happy to say that…
95% of the 500 speech pathologists who attended said that they would shift the way that they work with children with autism as a result of attending the workshop!
This pleases me greatly 
As a result, this year we’re planning to run advanced workshops for speech pathologists that will build on the information and ideas presented at the first workshop and will focus heavily on the practical application of those therapy strategies. We are also considering running a series of workshops for parents as well (time permitting).
So I am really excited about the year ahead!
But now… back to my reason for writing today.
As I mentioned, Late last year I attended a wonderful course in Adelaide. Michele Ricamato, a speech pathologist from Chicago and certified DIR consultant/trainer who specialises in children with ASD, presented on two very interesting topics:
- Honouring Intentionality – The journey of supporting intention and ideation in treatment
- Let’s make meaning – Supporting Comprehension at all stages of Language Learning.
There was a lot of wonderful information covered and numerous interesting case studies.
But the 3 overriding messages that really stood out for me were:
- The importance of TRULY CELEBRATING the child’s unique ideas. There are no RIGHT or WRONG ideas. Our ideas are NOT better than theirs.
- When you OBSERVE what the child is ‘doing’ throughout their day you will learn what is IMPORTANT, MEANINGFUL and MOTIVATING to the child. So if the child spends their day spinning, crashing, running, lining up then this is where their thinking/processing is at. If the child wants to keep talking about fire engines or helicopter propellers then these are the ideas in their head that they want to share and learn more about.
- To create a rich and effective learning environment we must simply IDENTIFY what the child is thinking about (what is going on in their mind) and find ways to EXPAND upon this. Remember that ‘comprehension’ is like an onion with many layers to keep unraveling! So if the child loves to think about and play with fire engines this is wonderful and there are many opportunities within play to elaborate upon the child’s concept of fire engines and what they mean. It doesn’t matter what the child’s interests are… learning opportunities can always be created from a thought or idea!
So often in therapy we like to force our OWN ideas about what is important onto the child. As speech pathologists we often are the ones that determine what concepts are important to teach the child. But if we are truly operating in the PRESENT moment, when interacting with the child, then we will certainly learn through the child what is important and meaningful to THEM.
I really loved this quote from the course…
“I believe that a life without ideas is an unfulfilled existence. Not only having ideas is important, but to express them, share them and implement them is what makes a difference in the world”
Hearing the unique thoughts, feelings and ideas of the children that I treat is such a gift and truly rewarding! I would never want to squash this in a child.
So, some food for thought…
How much do you celebrate and expand upon the unique ideas of YOUR child (or those you treat)? Please share…
Till next timeMonique
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I agree with what Monique has said about expanding and working with your child’s ideas and interests. My son is crazy about lifts and can spot one from a mile off. My husband has made a few videos on his mobile phone of different lifts we’ve seen when we’re out , transferred them onto the pc and then made them into something like an interactive activity for our son to enjoy. We’ve been able to use his love of lifts to illustrate concepts (up/down; in/out; big/little; open/shut etc); numbers (eg. “level 1, level 2, ground floor”). We’ve sometimes ‘pasted’ photos of our son in the lifts, various symbols in the lifts (pictures of animals, object, alphabets etc). We have also taken videos of the family riding in different lifts when out for the day, and everyone is now in the habit of labelling and describing everything whilst riding in the lift. People must think we’re little a bit nutty! All that aside, even though sometimes you feel like you’re nurturing an obsession, using things that interest your child as a learning tool really seem to work. It’s something our speechie was very encouraging about when I first mentioned it to her last year. I would say no matter how wacky the ideas seem, try them and see what happens…. pretty amazing stuff.
Wow that is fantastic! That is exactly what I am talking about. Thank you for sharing your story about the lifts…..it is a great example of truly celebrating and expanding upon your child’s ideas. Inspiring!
OMG! I thought our son is the only one who has an obsession with lifts or elevator! He would google all kinds of videos on elevators from all over the world; i was really surprised they have so many videos on elevators of all shapes and sizes and from so many different places in the world. he also has another special interest in highways and their toll plazas..whenever we use these highways, he would recognize & point out the the names of the highway, the locations, the signboards, etc as what he had seen in the satellite sites..we always encourage him as he would get excited and bubbly everytime.
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In order for people to accept the new, they must have the opportunity and the means to say goodbye to the old. Change brings out a mixture of feelings and reactions in people, but everyone needs time to say goodbye to the past. By implementing some of the ideas below, you can help associates say goodbye to the old organization, and prepare them to move forward to make the new company all it can be.
It sounds like it was an incredibly impactful and successful workshop—well done. Any time you’re introducing change or asking for change, there will be hesitation; at least in the beginning. All change is loss, there is no other way around it. Even if the change is for the better or for the good of society at large. However, after reading your post, it sounds like your workshops were so convincing, most pathologists won’t have much of an issue implementing your suggestions and techniques. Keep up the good work!
Love the 3 messages, especially the first one (about truly celebrating child’s ideas). Mrs Simpson, this world needs more people like you.
And by the way, you look pretty confident on stage (judging by the photo). How do you achieved that?
Claire.
I have recently started a website, the information you offer on this site has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work.
Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December
The Day aims to promote a better understanding of disability issues with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities and gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities.
How many hundredthousands of autistic children are locked in different institutions for the care of children with disabilities. This is one way to raise money and staff of institutions perform violence against children with disabilities. Let us help you and the children see the sunset, to feel love, to cleanse the overdosed body ..
Image of battered autistic boy in a Home for Children with Disabilities Veternik, Serbia…. how to stop violence to children with disabilities, and false care for disabled children,…
Hi. I have an autistic 4 year old son who is obsessed with lifts &escalators. So much so that it has become impossible to go out. Pls let me know the different methods I can use to leash this behaviour
Thanks