Thursday, April 14, 2011

Future Education for Autistic Kids

I'm discovering some new and exciting resources that may be helpful to all of you as you navigate your child's education, now and in the future. While I am a huge proponent and advocate of homeschooling, I know that it's not possible for everyone. When it comes to college and post-secondary education, that may be of even more concern. So here is help. Below I've posted a couple of links for resources that may help you. Please come back and let us know if it was indeed helpful to you.

http://collegeautismspectrum.com/index.html

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/13/135345982/colleges-address-autistic-students-struggles


Blessings!

-Noble

Monday, April 11, 2011

Is it more than just disobedience?

Anyone who has a kiddo with Asperger's Syndrome knows that while our Aspies like their routine and schedules their meltdowns seem to occur at random times and, sometimes, for random reasons. My husband is quick to say that it's blatant disobedience and that our daughter is "playing the sympathy card." He may be right but I don't see it that way.

I do believe there is a deeply rooted issue of disobedience in all of us, regardless of our various issues or neuroses. However, I also believe that you must tailor the discipline of that disobedience to the individual. My husband's response is to immediately get frustrated and yell. Yeah, that helps. I will admit that used to be my response, too, and sadly sometimes still is. Yet I know that our daughter is wired differently so shouldn't I also know that my response must be different? Yes, I should and I do. But not always.

What do you do when you realize your response to your Aspie's meltdown or other bizarre behavior is simply ineffective? Or when responding a certain way has worked before but not this time around?

One day when the kids and I were all yelling at each other and couldn't seem to stop, I ran downstairs, dropped to my knees, and literally cried to the LORD for help. As I opened my Bible the first passage I saw was Proverbs 15. I read the first verse and then tried to read on. I couldn't concentrate on anything but that first verse: Proverbs 15:1

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Ouch. What had we just been doing to each other? Yelling. In anger. Not being gentle at all. I literally was stuck on that verse and could not read on. Then I stood up, picked up the white board and wrote that verse on it. Then I called the kids down, showed them that verse, and made us all read it together.

The point of this is that we all get frustrated and angry. For a myriad reasons. We often choose disobedience. All of us. (When was the last time you spent some quiet time reading Scripture?) We will and often do respond inappropriately. When that happens, as it inevitably will with special needs kiddos, turn to the LORD, in prayer and humility. For that is our first act of obedience: to acknowledge that we need Him. Thank Him for your life. You wouldn't be here without Him. Praise Him for Who He is. Then ask for His help and guidance. In answer, you may get stuck on a single Bible verse but it will be exactly the one you need.

Blessings!

-Noble