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Post by wiganshrew2 on Apr 12, 2005 15:42:42 GMT 1
Brilliant! (And thanks for the feedback about Powerpoint) Autism is quite high profile because of the worry about the link with the MMR jab for children. Is it an escalating problem- or it it that people who were thought of as very odd in the past were really Autistic? High order autism (Asperger's syndrome) often goes with brilliant minds. The genius is close to madness thing, I suppose. Enoch Powell was quite clearly like that. I listened to a programme about him on the radio. His daughter revealed that his wife had to wash his hair for him and he screamed like a child- because he had a phobia about getting his hair wet!! VERY autistic that!! (Tolley is the opposite of Autistic. He has a tantrum if he doesn't have time to put his hair gel on!!) The funniest anecdote was about how some Autistic people always wear the same clothes- and there was a guy she knew who still dressed in old 1970's clothes!!! The saddest is knowing that every day these kids suffer from THE most terrible anxiety. Every tiny little change in routine is frightening for them. I knew a bit about it, as we used to have one or two autistic kids at The Dyslexia Centre. One really freaked out once and ran round sweeping all the papers and books off surfaces. Now I understand why; it was a strange place, mum had just taken him to us hoping we could help, because she was at the end of her tether. (I don't think we've got anyone in our team who dresses in 1970's clothes have we? Come to think of it though, WHO has a 1970's "Mullet" hairstyle?!!!! )
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Post by siabod on Apr 12, 2005 16:14:40 GMT 1
Do you remember the wonderful drawings, done from memory by that autistic young man in the US a couple of years ago, quite brilliant.
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Post by Plywood on Apr 12, 2005 16:40:06 GMT 1
A good read is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (or something similar to that!). A story about a young autistic kid who becomes a "detective" after his neighbour's dog was found dead.. P.S The book's actually better than I've made it sound
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Post by Wiggynotloggedin on Apr 12, 2005 21:18:07 GMT 1
I've read that book! We've actually got it- Mr Wiggy bought it for me. It IS good! Another thing about Autisic kids is that they "tell it how it is!" This woman told us the story of how these Autistic children were being taught social behaviour by meeting visitors to the school, and taking them to see the Headteacher. One boy was doing very well, until he arrived with the visitor at the Head's door and announced in a loud voice, "Mrs M.... there's a short, fat, bald man to see you!!" Imagine what fun they'd be a one of our matches!! Imagine how they'd describe some of our lot!!
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Post by Shrews and Royals on Apr 12, 2005 21:41:55 GMT 1
I currently teach six kids diagnosed as fully Autistic or Aspergers. I have two in the same class to keep me on my toes!
With one, I was the first teacher that had made him smile in 3 years of being in lessons!
Not only do they tell it how it is, but understand it as it is. You can't use phrases that could be literally interpreted as meaning to do something, and must make yes and no clear.
I have another lad that is obsessive about a particular number - I can't even write the date on the board if it means using the number!
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Post by wiganshrew2 on Apr 12, 2005 21:55:00 GMT 1
I currently teach six kids diagnosed as fully Autistic or Aspergers. I have two in the same class to keep me on my toes! With one, I was the first teacher that had made him smile in 3 years of being in lessons! Not only do they tell it how it is, but understand it as it is. You can't use phrases that could be literally interpreted as meaning to do something, and must make yes and no clear. I have another lad that is obsessive about a particular number - I can't even write the date on the board if it means using the number! Yes- they do have obsesssions- but this woman was saying you have to call them "special interests" now- because of the need to be politically correct! I remember one boy, diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome who was obsessed- Whoops!- had a special interest in -time!! I remeber doing a supply job one day, and I was on playground duty. It was like being followed around by the Speaking Clock!! Thje same boy went up to one of the classroom assistants and said,"Who dressed you this morning?"! (he didn't like what she was wearing.) One thing we were told was the 7 second rule. You leave 7 seconds between each instruction. And you keep the instructions VERY simple. First, you get their attention. "John!!!" Wait till he looks- count 7) "Coat on!" (count 7) "Playtime" (count 7) "Outside!" I know what you mean about taking things literally. If you said, "It's raining cats and dogs!" They'd rush to the window and expect to see them falling out of the sky! If you got a smile, that's really something!!!
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