Growing Your Baby - Parenthood from Pregnancy to Pre-school » Autistic Children

Teacher and Class Vote 5-year-old Autistic Boy Out Of Class

Lisa — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:33:44 +0000

There is a very disturbing story coming out of Florida this afternoon that has caused a teacher to ‘reassigned until further action is determined.’

Last week, Elementary kindergarten teacher Wendy Portillo held a vote in her classroom in which kindergarten students “voted out” 5-year-old Alex Barton, who was in the process of being tested for Asperger’s Disorder, a type of high-functioning autism. Alex’s mother, Melissa Barton, said the vote was taken after classmates were allowed to tell Alex what they didn’t like about him.

The class voted Alex out of the room, by a 14 to 2 margin.

As of This morning, Alex had officially been diagnosed with an autism-spectrum disorder and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. He is not in school, but misses the one friend he made in the classroom his mom said. I think that this teacher should have helped the class understand that Alex was different because of the disorder he was born with.

When a student with special needs is placed in a class, a specialized teacher should help the other students understand that the child may be disruptive, but that they can’t control their behavior.

This could go a long way to preparing the other kids for what is in store for them rather than have them just not like that person.

It makes me sad to think that this little boy had to listen to his classmates list off the things they didn’t like about him. No one should ever have to go through that, especially a kindergartner!

SOURCE VIA PARENTDISH.COM

American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends Universal Autism Screening

Lisa — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 13:25:40 +0000

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that all U.S. children should be formally screened for autism twice by the age of 2.

The new guidelines focus on early intervention, which can improve a child’s chances for effective treatment.

“If you recognize it earlier, you get them into treatment earlier,” said Dr. Scott Myers, a pediatrician who specializes in neurodevelopment and who helped write two clinical reports designed to help pediatricians identify and manage autism.

“Kids who start (treatment) earlier do better in the long run,” Myers said in a telephone interview.

The guidelines for the first time call for universal screening of babies at the regular 18- and 24-month check-ups, regardless of whether there are warning signs. They will be published in the journal Pediatrics and on the group’s Web site at http://www.aap.org.

No one knows what causes autism, a complex developmental disorder that includes problems with social interaction and communication.

Symptoms range from mild awkwardness to severe disability and mental retardation. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about one in every 150 U.S. children has autism or an autism spectrum disorder, such as Asperger’s syndrome.

The guidelines urge pediatricians to watch for subtle signs, such as a lack of babbling, late smiling and failure to make eye contact. Picking up on these cues could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Warnings signs needing immediate evaluation include: no babbling or pointing or other gestures by 12 months, no single words by 16 months, no two-word phrases by 24 months and regression or loss of language or social skills at any age.

It has been proven that early intervention can make a big difference in a child’s outcome.

SOURCE

Former Preemie A Musical Genius

Lisa — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:05:00 +0000

An autistic boy who is blind and can barely speak has earned the nickname the ‘human iPod’.

Derek Paravichini can remember and play all the music he encounters on a piano, reports ITN.

He began playing the piano when he was two and started performing at the age of four.

His mentor is Adam Ockleford, who said: “Derek and I first met when he was little – he was about four and a half.

“He just broke away from his parents and pushed a little girl off the piano and played Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.”

Born three months premature and weighing just one and a half pounds, Derek grew up blind and severely autistic.

“We think that because he can’t see and doesn’t understand a lot of what is going on, other parts of his brain have got used for making music – so he’s got a sort of musical factory up there,” Mr Ockleford said.

“For Derek music isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifeline – it’s his way of communicating with the world, of interrelating with other people and above all of making them happy.

“He likes to make people happy and he knows he can do that through his music.”

Sometimes babies who get a different start in life go on to excel in ways that no one ever predicted. This boy is amazing I hope he continues to do well!

SOURCE

Parrot Teaches Boy How To Speak

Lisa — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 21:08:00 +0000

An autistic boy who could not speak has learned his first words with the help of his family’s pet parrot.

Dylan Hargreaves, four, has severe learning difficulties and had never uttered a single word.

But after listening to macaw Barney, he can now say “Night, night”, “Dad”, “Mom”, “Ta”, “Hello” and “Bye”, reports The Sun.

And experts think he is close to his first two-syllable word.

Mom Michelle, 33, said: “Barney has changed our lives. Before he arrived, Dylan would try to speak, but the sound came out as a noise.

“Then we got Barney and, a few months later, Dylan began to talk. It was only the odd word, but I could clearly understand what he said.

“Every time I gave the bird something to say, Dylan started trying to say the same thing. I think it’s because the bird says things slower than me, which helps Dylan understand.

“Now when I put him to bed he says, ‘Night, night, mom’. It means the world to me.”

Michelle, was given three-year-old Barney by partner Rob Hargreaves, 33, last January.

Michelle reckons her son’s first two-syllable word will be Barney, because he loves his pet so much.

Speech therapist Dr Hazel Roddham of the University of Lancashire confirmed: “If there’s some enjoyment, a child is more likely to learn. And presumably this parrot has attracted the boy’s attention.”

SOURCE