SFA Post – Echolalia and Emma

Here’s my latest post as guest content writer for the School For Autism Blog – Chikitsya. If you’ve been following this series, you will be familiar with the object of my posts being of a personal nature – my experience of working with young people with Autism over a number of years.

                         ‘One job I did was to create a temporary mural in a centre for young people and adults with Autism – many with severe forms of Autism. The centre referred to the users as client-students. I went daily for over a month to work with the client-students on planning and then after draughting out the design was assisted by a few of the more able ones. It was here I met Emma*.’

Continue reading at – https://sfachikitsya.com/2018/01/17/echolalia-emma/

 

The Difference Between Our Worlds – A Story About Justine

Sometimes Autism ‘looks like’ Autism. Sometimes social integration is a visibly painful experience. And sometimes, if we watch closely and learn from observation, we the support workers, family and friends can have a little idea of how hard it is for someone diagnosed with ASD, to be amongst others day to day; and try to understand and make appropriate adjustments. Justine* is what many might describe as being ‘typical Autistic’. She rarely spoke to others, she never mixed socially with her peers, she did not join in group tasks and found making eye contact difficult…

You can read more of this post that I wrote for School For Autism Blog – Chikitsya at this link:- on sfachikitsya.com

https://sfachikitsya.com/blog/

Thank you.

On Autism #2

Oliver – We Love You Just The Way You Are

Oliver * has a huge, bellowing, hearty laugh. His pink face lights up behind his glasses as he responds to a joke told by his friend. He is a larger than life character…

I worked with Oliver from when he was 18 years old to 21 years. If you did not know him, you might think he was just one of those loud, occasionally foul-mouthed teenagers you see around the UK. He would speak too loudly in class, he laughed too loud, he laughed at inopportune moments, he swore regularly and brushed it off, when staff commented, with a wave of his hand and a ‘whatever’ sound.

Whoever said people with Asperger Syndrome do not smile, were so wrong…

 

To read more of this post, please go to:

https://sfachikitsya.com/2017/08/29/oliver-love/

 

On Autism

Today saw the posting of my first piece for the School For Autism Blog.

We can see the growing numbers of people diagnosed Autistic/Asperger’s across the world, not as an increase in this ‘condition’, but as the ability of specialists to recognise it due to increasing their understanding and knowledge through constant research.

India is one continent that is noticing an ‘increase’ in Autism, and some are dealing with it beautifully; with understanding, kindness and positivity.

I first heard about The School for Autism via Linked In and a woman who was advertising for writers. The piece I wrote, entitled ‘Working with Benedict’ retitled ‘Benedict* – A Special Child With Regular Needs’, can be read here:

https://sfachikitsya.com/2017/08/20/working-with-benedict-special-child-regular-needs/