dr-cplee-blog

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"Just because a computer is not running Windows doesn’t mean that it’s broken. Not all the features of atypical human operating systems are bugs. By autistic standards, the “normal” brain is easily distractible, is obsessively social, and suffers from a deficit of attention to detail and routine. Thus people on the spectrum experience the neurotypical world as relentlessly unpredictable and chaotic, perpetually turned up too loud, and full of people who have little respect for personal space." from "NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity" by Steve Silberman, Oliver Sacks

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6 Surprise Benefits of Swim Lessons for our Daughter who has Autism

The obvious reason for teaching any child to swim is safety but it is imperative that special needs children and in particular autistic kids learn to swim or at least be water safe. Children who are autistic may not express themselves very well, some are non-verbal, so unlike other children they cannot tell us that they want to go in the water, they just go. They may also not be very receptive and may not respond when you shout at them to stop or try to tell them not to go in the water. They also wander often and when unsupervised the results may be tragic. Furthermore, they may have motor or physical challenges and even sensory issues that may cause them to panic when the water touches and engulfs their bodies. According to the National Autism Association “In 2009, 2010, and 2011, accidental drowning accounted for 91% total U.S. deaths reported in children with an ASD ages 14 and younger subsequent to wandering/elopement”. Teaching autistic children to be water safe should be as essential as any of the other therapeutic interventions we use to help them function better in the world. It should become an essential life skill.

We tried to teach Carlee to swim when she was 2.5 years old but she just did not like the water. Last summer, at age 3.5, when the symptoms of autism had become more apparent and ravaging she only wanted to play and was very resistant to swim instruction. She was not able to follow directions on how to “blow bubbles”, “flip onto her back”, or “hold on the wall” all basic directives in the first few lessons. This year, at 4.5 years old, after a few months of various therapies and school we started her in the pool as soon as it started warming up. We could definitely see an interest and love for the water but more importantly we observed that she would listen to us. She was finally showing signs that she may be more receptive to instructions in the pool.

I requested a swim central coupon for $40 off swim classes (see link) and then I called a few places that would accept the coupon. I decided on one place their reviews online were good and they were the closest to us, only 8 mins away. Lucky for us they had a 10 week camp starting in a couple of weeks time and I was able to reserve one of the last slots left with the instructor, Ms.Lori, for Carlee.

My first impressions of the school/camp were not good, there was no one at the reception desk and I wandered about for about 10 mins before anyone came out. Carlee saw the pool and became overexcited and it was getting difficult to calm her down. Finally, Ms.Lori walked out, apologized and processed Carlee. The first lesson was short, Carlee kicked her a lot, out of sheer exuberance I guess, but the pool was warm and clean and Ms. Lori appeared patient and kind. Weeks 2, 3, 4 & 5 showed gradual progress and the rapport was building between Carlee and her instructor, but something else was happening, the water was becoming therapeutic. Here are the therapeutic benefits of Carlee’s swim class that I have observed. 1. Respect for the water: Carlee loves the water and begs us everyday “Please for water/pool” we oblige most times and now when she goes it she is very respectful of the water and her boundaries. She does not venture out to the deep end like she use to try to. She is more careful. 2. She is calm: the pool is a melt-down free zone. She has spent up to 2 hours in the pool with no fuss or tantrums. She is at peace with the water and the water is at peace with her. 3. Her receptive language is improving: she is getting much better at following directions, whether it is from us or Ms. Lori. 4. Her expressive language is improving: she is preemptive in expressing things that she is about to do “I hold the wall”, “Please for the water/pool” and screams with glee after a good jump or dive. 5. Her eye contact and attention is improving: so much of learning to swim has has to do with looking at the instructor and modeling a behavior. This carries over at home when she playing a game or helping with chores. 6. She sleeps better: finally, after the pool (we try to go in the late afternoon), she is so calm that she sits quietly and read and bedtime is easy. She also sleeps well.

Swim classes can be costly (cheaper than aquatic therapy), but so far it is a drop in bucket when compared to the benefits we have seen. These surprise benefits far outweigh the cost (about $1/min). Plus, in the larger scheme of things, this is cheaper than ABA - up to $2.50/minute or speech and OT, that comes close to $2/min.When your child is ready, give it a try, you may be surprised,

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Amazon Prime Day- 6 good deals!

Hey, it’s Amazon Prime Day. It’s hard to stay away especially when Amazon bombards your email and text with non-stop anticipatory messages. Here is what I believe are some good deals (click on each item to purchase):

1.My first purchase was through Alexa and it was a All new Fire 7Tablet for the kids. It was $20 OFF a total of $29.99 plus I will receive a bonus credit of $10 for ordering through Alexa- TOTAL $19.99 for a Kindle Tablet, not bad eh?

2. For back to school a Sandisk 128GB Jump Drive is on the list.Original price $29.99 with $6 OFF- TOTAL $23.99

3. Got Kids? How about the Play Doh 36-Can Mega Pack (Amazon Exclusive)? Original price $25.27 with 30% off- TOTAL $17.69. I still have cans left from a Mega Pack I purchased about 3 years ago.

4. Save 50% on a game that no home should be without JENGA- TOTAL- $11.89

5. Looking for a hair blowdryer? This is a superb deal the MHU 1875W foldable bowdryer- 4 star rated (read reviews). Original Price $139.99- TOTAL: $19.99 a saving of $110.00

6.I own a FitBit Charge so I know replacement bands are essential. Check these out 10 FitBit Charge Replacement Bands for only $15.19 (CLICK on the 10 piece and choose your colors). The original price is almost $100.00.

So, just a few great suggestions you can try and see what interest you. Buy now because the deals go fast. I am on a few wait lists as I type because I hesitated and timed out.

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Beaches Is Home To The Caribbean's First Autism-Friendly Kids Camps

WHEN WE SAY WE ARE The Resorts for Everyone WE MEAN IT!

PLEASE CALL 844-360-9380 (US/Canada)

Beaches is the first resort company in the world to complete the rigorous IBCCES training and Autism Certification! We are proud to offer families with children with autism and other special needs specialized service, engaging activities and custom dining options so that all families may enjoy a memorable, award-winning Beaches Luxury Included® experience.

http://www.beaches.com/autism-friendly-resorts/

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Sesame Street® and Autism Sesame Street brings awareness to the unique qualities and similarities that all children possess to help build empathy, respect and understanding among all kids. As a proud sponsor of Sesame Street®, Beaches® Resorts is honored to provide a positive vacation experience for all children–including families with special needs–by creating unique activities and events, as well providing trained and certified staff.

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One of the first books I read as a freshly minted Autism parent was Temple Grandin’s “The Autistic Brain”. In it she mentioned how her mother trained her like she would any ‘normal’ child. This is what Dr. Grandin calls the 50’s upbringing. It has inspired me with Carlee(see video with one of her activities) so I let her help me with things and take her places to do “regular” things as much as I can. Here is what Dr. Grandin means by the 50’s upbringing: Dr. Grandin summarized a “50’s upbringing” as learning the following:

“THE AUTISTIC BRAIN” is available here

-Turn taking in conversation and activities (such as board games) - Being on time -Doing family activities (even ones she disliked) -Doing things that pleased other people -Manners (saying please and thank you) - Rules (particularly learning why her social mistakes were inappropriate) - That there is consistency between parents and school – e.g. a tantrum at school translates into no TV at night - Basic social skills - Shaking hands - Eye contact - Ordering food in restaurants - How to shop “Eccentric is ok, dirty and rude is not”

Read more here:

https://www.myautismteam.com/resources/temple-grandin-on-the-importance-of-giving-kids-with-autism-a-50-s-upbringing?utm_source=FBsocialBlog&utm_medium=FBsocialBlog&utm_campaign=FBsocialBlog

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The Shame of Mental Illness

In light of a recent incident that occurred in my Parish in Jamaica, mental illness is in the news again. We really need to do better about awareness. Here is my 2cents.

What is it about mental illness that makes people so ashamed?

I always say to people, “if you have asthma, diabetes or high blood pressure, are you ashamed to seek treatment, and tell your loved ones about it?” A mental illness is similar to having a physical illness, it can happen to any one of us. It is a brain disorder (affects our brain) just like a physical illness is a physiological/biological disorder (affects our body).The National Institute of Mental Health states:“Through research, we know that mental disorders are brain disorders. Evidence shows that they can be related to changes in the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the nervous system. When the brain cannot effectively coordinate the billions of cells in the body, the results can affect many aspects of life.” A mental illness may not have the physical signs that are usually manifested in physical illnesses but the impact is the same. A mental illness affects our mind and our bodies, it limits our daily functioning and it can negatively affect our ability to form and maintain relationships. It is painful and can be devastating and although we cannot always see the symptoms, we can most certainly feel it. There is no shame in having a mental illness and we must treat it the same as we would a physical illness.

Read about the “Brain Basics” at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/educational-resources/brain-basics/brain-basics.shtml

For the person who is experiencing symptoms, you must: - Seek treatment: There are professionals who specialize in mental illness who have a plethora of treatments available that range from medication to various forms of therapy. - Educate yourself about your illness: I have had asthma since childhood. I know what my triggers are, what my symptoms look and feel like and what to do. Having Bipolar Disorder, for example, is similar. Know what triggers you, educate yourself about the cycles, be aware of the symptoms and seek help. - Follow your treatment plan: A person with diabetes normally has a special diet, may take medication and may be encouraged to exercise. Similarly, a person with Depression, may have a course of therapy, medication and lifestyle changes that can help them improve. - Share your information: Tell a few people close to you in different settings so they can look out for you just in case you are not feeling well. Explain to them what to look for and what to do if they see it happening. You may use a health situation they are experiencing to educate them about your health situation. Allow them to step into your shoes for a moment. You are not seeking sympathy, you are establishing resources to support you.

So we hear, “Jeremy has depression”, “Susan is Bipolar”, “Mike is having another anxiety attack” and we freak out, we say “oh shit”, “here we go again”, “he is off his meds” and we run scared, we laugh, we gossip, we bully while subsequently sinking into our own abysmal mess of IGNORANCE!

The stigma starts with us, we must: - Not gossip and call people “mad”, “crazy”, “coo-coo”, “head nuh good”, “lunatic” or “head-sick”. They did not cause a mental illness on themselves and they are not being “obeah-ed” or under a curse of some sort. They have an illness, just like anyone else can. - Make ourselves receptive to learn about that person’s illness. Sometimes a person experiencing a mental illness would really like to tell us but are scared that they will be ridiculed, so be “present” and open to listen. No judgment! - Check-in: When we know that someone has a mental illness we must check in with them regularly. Checking-in involves talking, visiting or engaging them in some activity. + Ask them to help you to do something (distracting the mind). + Invite them somewhere, even if they said “no” 10 times before (you just never know when they might say yes). + Find out what you can do for them (try not to use the word “help”) today, at that moment. + Make a visit if only for a few minutes to spend some time. + Ask them to tell you a little about their illness (be interested, lean in, hold their hand, remove all distractions)- they may tell you a lot. + Be specific in your questioning if you notice something is off about the person. “How are you” often gets one or two responses, ‘fine’ or 'good’, that means what exactly? Say “I notice that you are/were a bit…(an action). about … (a situation), can you tell me how you are feeling?” + If you know what treatments the person is trying and you have a “special/close” relationship, you may ask “how is that treatment working for you?” Be specific about side effects, effects on daily functioning and relieving symptoms. -Finally, become an advocate- speak UP for rather than against people who are mentally ill. Be a voice towards the removal of a STIGMA that is oftentimes more debilitating than the illness. Invite professionals and other people dealing with mental illness to speak at your Church, School, Workplace and Community.

THERE IS NO SHAME in being Mentally Ill. The SHAME is the public IGNORANCE about mental illness. Peace out! ~C P Lee~