Help me get started with my ASD child!

[jennybean0722]

Even before I had kids, I always loved the idea of homeschooling. But the information is SO overwhelming!!!!

Because is on the ASD, I feel like I have an even harder time finding curriculum that fits his style. He is 4, not diagnosed yet, but we will be doing that soon, he is probably ADHD or mild ASD I would think.

I came across a thread about Handwriting Without Tears and I thought, wow! That's HIM! I could see him liking "courses" geared in that way.

SO, what else is out there that is like that program? He is very tactile, isn't too much into handwriting but loves playdough, 3D items. Doesn't like 2D stuff, like writing or drawing. Loves numbers, but I must say he isn't too much into sorting bears, but maybe that is b/c we've had those for so long.

Throw out some ideas! Websites are much appreciated too.

HUGS,
Jenny

[sbgrace]

Well, I'm a better late than early academics type person and even more so for your average spectrum kid. If it were just my ASD child I'd be focusing very much on working on autism related areas. But as it is we started academic stuff around age six which was probably still a little young for him.

It's so fun to look at things!!
For researching curriculum I found homeschoolreviews.com and searching the Well Trained Mind forum helpful. I think Cathy Duffy's top 100 picks book really helps people too though I wasn't aware of it at the time!

We do use Handwriting Without Tears. There are other options though of course they have all left my mind right now! If I had it to do over again I would have worked with my son on pre-writing skills and strengthening at the young ages so he had the basis for handwriting well when we did begin. Lots of spectrum kids have issues ranging from mild to dysgraphia. My son is somewhere on that continuum and so concentrated things to work the things that need to be in place for writing would have been a good idea had I known it at the time! We've done a lot of back-tracking.

I do RightStart Math http://www.alabacus.com/

There are lots of solid phonics programs which are multi-sensory and hands on as well. Most of them will fall under Orton-Gillingham methods (Go Phonics, Recipe for Reading, All About Spelling) or Spalding (Sing Spell Read Write, Writing Road to Reading, Phonics Road to Reading and Spelling). There are lots of options. I've even found free online multipsensory/Orton Gillingham materials which is what I'm using along with a variety of things. But I wouldn't do phonics right now personally!

We're doing Heart of Dakota for literature, history, bible (Christian based so not for everyone). It's active and gentle.

We're doing some other things too but, again, I wouldn't have done this type of stuff at the young ages. I would (did) focus on Relationship Development Intervention for autism stuff, lots of exploration and play, reading books together, and things like cutting/vertical surface work/theraputty/other fine motor stuff since it was a struggle here.

[Lisa1970]

Since he is only 4, and sounds like he is not too interested so I would hold off. Get that book "The Out of Sinc Child Has Fun." If he has ASD, then he needs to work on sensory rich activities now. Making him sit down with a workbook will only make him regress. Most children with ASD type problems have sensory problems so you need to keep his environment sensory rich, or he will retreat to the world of sensory avoidance.

If your child is diagnosed with ASD or ADHD, you will see why people who have children with those disorders when someone says a child IS ASD or IS adhd. No one is autism. Autism is a disease. You can have autism, you can have cancer, you can have diabetes, but you are not autism, you are not cancer, you are not diabetes.

Good luck with the testing and diagnosis.

[jennybean0722]

Yeah, we don't do anything right now, and I definitely do not want to push it. We've already decided to start any kind of schooling late, at least 'till 6 yo. The preK HWOT looks so much fun though, and it would give us something to do?

Its been hard lately. He is regressing and we don't know why, we haven't been doing anything different. Its so crazy, right now he's really into chalk on the concrete, only he always wants US to draw it for him. Every so often he will draw a line; and it was amazing, yesterday he drew a box and filled it in!!!!!! I didn't even push him to do it. Is it wrong to try to get him to draw something? Even when he draws a dot I get super excited and sing him praises. Like I said, I don't really push it much.

We are excited we are going to see Dr. Stephanie Cave (sp?) in Baton Rouge, La. We live an hour away. Yes, wish us luck!

WHERE do I look for fun ASD activities to do with my child? Is there a book you point me to, something with textures, etc.? Or should I go see an OT for ideas? Right now I just really want him to have FUN and open up and not regress...Any ideas on WHY someone would regress????

Jenny

[sbgrace]

's so hard when you see declines. There are lots of reasons for them and it's not unusual for spectrum kids to sort of ebb and flow with development. What types of things are you seeing? That might help me help you.

Generally, some kids will pull back a lot when they sense demands or when the social expectations are just too much. A lot of spectrum kids look more spectrum as they age because social stuff gets more complicated they can't keep up. Certain things can help that and are outlined in this blog entry I found in the bold points as you scroll down (i.e. slow down, etc.) It's worth reading because I think most spectrum kids flourish with these things and many will shut down or regress when it goes too far in the other direction.

My kiddo declines when something is going on health wise. It has been as minor as bacterial overgrowths or lack of sleep and as major as metabolic decline. I hope Dr. Cave looks at those things and not just vaccines? I think they are more common factors for many kids. Not every autism kid has the same causes. They really are individuals and have to be treated that way. Some doctors have a certain pet cause and only see it. I don't know that it is the case with her but go in with your eyes open. One focus or treatment just doesn't fit what we now know about the biochemistry of autism. She may be broad looking though!

[jennybean0722]

I am definitely on board with what you are saying, Sbgrace! I definitely don't think Dr. Cave will be our "go to" for help. I am willing to do supplemental therapy, diet therapy (we've already started this), but as far as the possibility of chelation....that can have some scary side effects too, and it seems like there are more natural options.

Right now we are not casein free. I am thinking we'll be trying that very soon.

Socially, he has changed to a new classroom at his Mother's Day Out program, but that was three months ago. Maybe it is catching up with him now? They never come to me with problems but this week they said he was leaving the class unannounced and then they have to go looking for him He's been trying to leave our house too.

We can tell when he regresses b/c he chews his fingers, has potty issues, gets extremely emotion and has several fits a day (exhausting for us!), and gets what I call "fuzzy brained", as in, he just doesn't "get it" or just answers "yeah" or "no" to any question we ask him.

In his "normal" state, he is a hand fidgeter, and when he messes with his hands he sucks his lip too. He also has a spot on my arm that he likes to touch alot! These things have never really stopped.

I am not sure if it is a coincidence but I started giving him zinc for two weeks, and then stopped b/c things were getting so bad. I did it to see if it would alleviate his hand fidgeting. I stopped it b/c of his behavior getting worse, but it has still continued even though we stopped well over a week ago now. I heard things can get worse before they get better....but this was out of control. The worst was today HUGE FIT. A different child.

Should we see a psychologist? a occupational therapist? I didn't expect this thread to go this way....

Any help is appreciated....
Jenny