Hello Everyone,
This month’s BLOG will begin with a chance to view my slideshow GALLERY of Books and focus on the offered Extended Book Reviews. The slideshow shows the book covers, divided into the following categories ~
AMAZING ADVENTURES
DIAGNOSIS, DOCTORS, DENIAL
SAVVY SOLUTIONS
SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS
Hopefully, these stories will help parents, clinicians, academics, and all people #Autism, in connecting with those who have gone before us on their Autism Journey. March's BLOGs give snippets of my Extended Book Reviews; find full reviews on website MENU; along with a LINK to purchase the eBook. You will find each Autism story to be engaging, compelling, and as different as each family's Autism journey.
From the Category – SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS. Read the full reviews, plus LINKs to eBooks, on this www.sarasautismsite.com.
This month’s BLOG will begin with a chance to view my slideshow GALLERY of Books and focus on the offered Extended Book Reviews. The slideshow shows the book covers, divided into the following categories ~
AMAZING ADVENTURES
DIAGNOSIS, DOCTORS, DENIAL
SAVVY SOLUTIONS
SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS
Hopefully, these stories will help parents, clinicians, academics, and all people #Autism, in connecting with those who have gone before us on their Autism Journey. March's BLOGs give snippets of my Extended Book Reviews; find full reviews on website MENU; along with a LINK to purchase the eBook. You will find each Autism story to be engaging, compelling, and as different as each family's Autism journey.
From the Category – SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS. Read the full reviews, plus LINKs to eBooks, on this www.sarasautismsite.com.
Building in Circles: The Best of Autism Mom by Elizabeth W. Barnes, eBook 2014; an Extended Review with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker
Excerpts from the book – (4% indicates location in the Kindle version of the book, instead of page numbers).
4% My name is Elizabeth and I am an Autism Mom. Our son, who we call the Navigator, is nine and was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum at the age of seven. Before his diagnosis, I had heard of Autism – non-verbal children who don’t like to be touched, who rocked, and who ritually lined things up.
5% My son had none of these characteristics, so when he started having difficulties in pre-school interacting with other children, transitioning from one play area to the next, following instructions from teachers and staff, I didn’t initially think “neurological disorder.”
Then came a call from his first grade teacher: “I am not a doctor or psychologist, but I spent 15 years in Special Education, and I think your son may have Asperger’s.” As the American Psychiatric Association describes it, his “symptoms [were] not fully recognized until social demands exceed[ed] [his] capacity.”
6% After testing by both the school and privately, he was diagnosed to be high-functioning on the Autism spectrum. He receives special education services through the school.
Within a year after the diagnosis, I quit my full-time job to stay home and provide him structure and support. It was a relief to no longer feel like his behavioral issues were the result of bad parenting or something we were doing wrong.
Now when he melts down or perseverates I can (most of the time) calmly help him through it and not cry afterwards (most of the time).
< My Thoughts > “ ...he melts down or perseverates…”
Meltdowns for children with autism are different than the meltdown of a nuclear reactor, but not much. The child begins to rumble or mumble… “want to go” or “go now.” Next the child may start pulling away or begin excessive stimming; then they begin what seems to be a ‘fight or flight’ situation. What follows may be running and screaming, hitting, self-abuse, or any other show of being terrified and in crisis. A very noisy event, although some say they have little or no recall of the event and may even be upset when they find out how aggressive they have been. Note, that meltdowns are NOT usually a ‘thought-out’ behavior but a likely ‘sensory’ reaction. While tantrumming usually requires an audience.
What ‘perseverating’ may look like would be for the child to continue to have an adverse reaction to a noise, an action, or some undesirable stimuli… long after that stimuli has ceased. They may be unable to bring themselves out of prolonged stimming, even though the stimming isn’t calming them. Perseverating is getting ‘stuck’ on something. Repeating an action, behavior, thought, or saying until it is no longer necessary or appropriate. Sometimes caused when children have a ‘low stimulation’ threshold, or the cognitive inability to switch thoughts or actions.
10% Change in the Weather: Is a storm coming?
< My Thoughts > "Change in the Weather..."
Some children and adults with autism experience ‘hyper’ or ‘hypo’ sensitivity to temperature. This may be their body temperature, environmental temperatures, or both. They exhibit it by not wanting to wear a coat in the winter, or seemingly tantrumming for no reason when stepping outside, or into an temperature uncomfortable room.
12% There may be patterns to the storms, yet weather is inherently unpredictable, and guessing how a storm will play out in our valley is kind of the same process as guessing how my son will manage transitions.
40% Several weeks ago he came to me, unhappy, and said he was being bullied. I asked him if he wanted me to talk to his teacher, and he said yes. I told him I was going to need some more information and asked him to tell me who it was bullying him. He said it was a lot of children.
41% Wait, What? I was perplexed. His classroom is somewhat small, his teacher incredibly active and aware of what is going on at all times, and children are never in the classroom without an adult.
60% I dutifully go to the school office and sign in and get a badge so I am an “official” visitor at the school.
…while I was signing in, my son walked into the office.
He was supposed to be in class, what was he doing in the office? One of the assistants asked him why he was there. He explained that he had been misbehaving in class and the teacher had sent him to the office.
Wait, What? There is specific language in the IEP* that he is not to be sent out of the classroom for his behavior.
75% However, if the child with Autism is in the general education classroom, there are likely to be some common themes such as sensory (sensitivity to sound, light, movement), social (difficulty seeing and following social rules, or seeing social cues), executive function (planning and getting started on tasks, perseveration), and anxiety.
< My Thoughts > “…the child with Autism is in the general education classroom…”
My experience as a Special Education Teacher has prepared me for the fact that the child with Autism in the general education classroom may not be that acceptable to students and teachers.
Note: More about IEP’s, go to MENU for – Know Autism, Know Your Child with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker. Read on this website under – UNIT 6 Laws ~ Federal, State, & Local, CHAPTER 3 a. Individualized Education Plan (IEP) b. Autism Education & Anti-Bullying Policies
87% It is the unexpected of Autism the unknowns of the diagnosis that frightens me. I live in a world of possibilities, probable and improbable, glorious, and terrifying.
90% Being an Autism parent can be a very lonely thing. There is little true camaraderie with other parents. Very few truly understand.
97% For more, please visit Autism Mom at www.Autism-Mom.com. I am a big proponent of sharing information and believe that as a community we are stronger and more effective working together than separately.
< My Thoughts > "...as a community we are stronger..."
Building in Circles contains life lessons from one mom with one child on the spectrum. But, Elizabeth Barnes, aka Autism Mom uses social media to come up with talented and genuine articles in order to find strategies for her son. In 2013, she sets about gathering ideas which she can tailor to meet the needs of her son, the Navigator, as she continually attempts to unravel his diagnosis.
End of excerpt from the eBook by Elizabeth W. Barnes. See my full Extended Book Review on website.
Thank you for reading and sharing my BLOGs. Comments are welcomed, to be viewed and answered privately. My goal is to assist families, clinicians, educators, and all people ‘autism’, to continue their journey on the Autism Highway. At the end of each website Extended Book Review, please find a source to have the whole book to read.
Regards,
Sara Luker
Paid Link Disclosure -
These Extended Book Reviews have an Amazon Link for actual book purchases. Please read this Paid Link Disclosure AKA Affiliate Links Disclosure:
Sometimes there are paid links, also known as affiliate links, used on this site. My website, www.sarasautismsite.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
I may earn or receive a small paid commission from referrals for book purchases made through posts, pages, and links on this site. But I try to remain unbiased and I do not accept paid reviews. All opinions expressed here are my own.
There is no extra cost to you when purchases are made using the provided links. By using the links I provide you agree that you’ve read this paid link disclosure statement.
Thank you!
Sara Luker
Excerpts from the book – (4% indicates location in the Kindle version of the book, instead of page numbers).
4% My name is Elizabeth and I am an Autism Mom. Our son, who we call the Navigator, is nine and was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum at the age of seven. Before his diagnosis, I had heard of Autism – non-verbal children who don’t like to be touched, who rocked, and who ritually lined things up.
5% My son had none of these characteristics, so when he started having difficulties in pre-school interacting with other children, transitioning from one play area to the next, following instructions from teachers and staff, I didn’t initially think “neurological disorder.”
Then came a call from his first grade teacher: “I am not a doctor or psychologist, but I spent 15 years in Special Education, and I think your son may have Asperger’s.” As the American Psychiatric Association describes it, his “symptoms [were] not fully recognized until social demands exceed[ed] [his] capacity.”
6% After testing by both the school and privately, he was diagnosed to be high-functioning on the Autism spectrum. He receives special education services through the school.
Within a year after the diagnosis, I quit my full-time job to stay home and provide him structure and support. It was a relief to no longer feel like his behavioral issues were the result of bad parenting or something we were doing wrong.
Now when he melts down or perseverates I can (most of the time) calmly help him through it and not cry afterwards (most of the time).
< My Thoughts > “ ...he melts down or perseverates…”
Meltdowns for children with autism are different than the meltdown of a nuclear reactor, but not much. The child begins to rumble or mumble… “want to go” or “go now.” Next the child may start pulling away or begin excessive stimming; then they begin what seems to be a ‘fight or flight’ situation. What follows may be running and screaming, hitting, self-abuse, or any other show of being terrified and in crisis. A very noisy event, although some say they have little or no recall of the event and may even be upset when they find out how aggressive they have been. Note, that meltdowns are NOT usually a ‘thought-out’ behavior but a likely ‘sensory’ reaction. While tantrumming usually requires an audience.
What ‘perseverating’ may look like would be for the child to continue to have an adverse reaction to a noise, an action, or some undesirable stimuli… long after that stimuli has ceased. They may be unable to bring themselves out of prolonged stimming, even though the stimming isn’t calming them. Perseverating is getting ‘stuck’ on something. Repeating an action, behavior, thought, or saying until it is no longer necessary or appropriate. Sometimes caused when children have a ‘low stimulation’ threshold, or the cognitive inability to switch thoughts or actions.
10% Change in the Weather: Is a storm coming?
< My Thoughts > "Change in the Weather..."
Some children and adults with autism experience ‘hyper’ or ‘hypo’ sensitivity to temperature. This may be their body temperature, environmental temperatures, or both. They exhibit it by not wanting to wear a coat in the winter, or seemingly tantrumming for no reason when stepping outside, or into an temperature uncomfortable room.
12% There may be patterns to the storms, yet weather is inherently unpredictable, and guessing how a storm will play out in our valley is kind of the same process as guessing how my son will manage transitions.
40% Several weeks ago he came to me, unhappy, and said he was being bullied. I asked him if he wanted me to talk to his teacher, and he said yes. I told him I was going to need some more information and asked him to tell me who it was bullying him. He said it was a lot of children.
41% Wait, What? I was perplexed. His classroom is somewhat small, his teacher incredibly active and aware of what is going on at all times, and children are never in the classroom without an adult.
60% I dutifully go to the school office and sign in and get a badge so I am an “official” visitor at the school.
…while I was signing in, my son walked into the office.
He was supposed to be in class, what was he doing in the office? One of the assistants asked him why he was there. He explained that he had been misbehaving in class and the teacher had sent him to the office.
Wait, What? There is specific language in the IEP* that he is not to be sent out of the classroom for his behavior.
75% However, if the child with Autism is in the general education classroom, there are likely to be some common themes such as sensory (sensitivity to sound, light, movement), social (difficulty seeing and following social rules, or seeing social cues), executive function (planning and getting started on tasks, perseveration), and anxiety.
< My Thoughts > “…the child with Autism is in the general education classroom…”
My experience as a Special Education Teacher has prepared me for the fact that the child with Autism in the general education classroom may not be that acceptable to students and teachers.
Note: More about IEP’s, go to MENU for – Know Autism, Know Your Child with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker. Read on this website under – UNIT 6 Laws ~ Federal, State, & Local, CHAPTER 3 a. Individualized Education Plan (IEP) b. Autism Education & Anti-Bullying Policies
87% It is the unexpected of Autism the unknowns of the diagnosis that frightens me. I live in a world of possibilities, probable and improbable, glorious, and terrifying.
90% Being an Autism parent can be a very lonely thing. There is little true camaraderie with other parents. Very few truly understand.
97% For more, please visit Autism Mom at www.Autism-Mom.com. I am a big proponent of sharing information and believe that as a community we are stronger and more effective working together than separately.
< My Thoughts > "...as a community we are stronger..."
Building in Circles contains life lessons from one mom with one child on the spectrum. But, Elizabeth Barnes, aka Autism Mom uses social media to come up with talented and genuine articles in order to find strategies for her son. In 2013, she sets about gathering ideas which she can tailor to meet the needs of her son, the Navigator, as she continually attempts to unravel his diagnosis.
End of excerpt from the eBook by Elizabeth W. Barnes. See my full Extended Book Review on website.
Thank you for reading and sharing my BLOGs. Comments are welcomed, to be viewed and answered privately. My goal is to assist families, clinicians, educators, and all people ‘autism’, to continue their journey on the Autism Highway. At the end of each website Extended Book Review, please find a source to have the whole book to read.
Regards,
Sara Luker
Paid Link Disclosure -
These Extended Book Reviews have an Amazon Link for actual book purchases. Please read this Paid Link Disclosure AKA Affiliate Links Disclosure:
Sometimes there are paid links, also known as affiliate links, used on this site. My website, www.sarasautismsite.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
I may earn or receive a small paid commission from referrals for book purchases made through posts, pages, and links on this site. But I try to remain unbiased and I do not accept paid reviews. All opinions expressed here are my own.
There is no extra cost to you when purchases are made using the provided links. By using the links I provide you agree that you’ve read this paid link disclosure statement.
Thank you!
Sara Luker
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