Life has a funny way of coming at you--especially when you least expect it. One of the great promises in life is that 'you'll never be given more than you can handle.' I love this promise, because when I'm gasping for air, and the life-ring is too far to reach and the waves are crashing over my head, threatening to pull me under for good, something comes along and buoys me up just long enough to grab that ring, and I make it to safety.
Autism is often that sea that I find myself sputtering in and desperately trying to tread water in order to stay afloat. Peanut has a form of Autism, PDD-NOS (there is debate as to whether or not PDD-NOS is under the 'Autism umbrella' or if Autism is under the umbrealla of PDD-NOS...but, for what is is worth, if you've got either label you're seeing and experiencing the world in a different way.). And, one of the characteristics of PDD that she has is speech and language development delay (communication disorder). She wants to talk to us, tell us things, but the way she can communicate is not always the conventional way that we can and do communicate--leaving both she and us frustrated and incommunicado.
I, just this very hour, read a wonderful article about a 13 year old girl with Autism who was unable to speak (she has apraxia--as in NO language at all) whom, for the first time in her life, has found a way to communicate with her family, and , consequently, the world. Before, the family and 'specialists' thought her to be possibly low functioning cognitively and unable to communicate--other than in non-standard ways (screaming, hittng herself, banging on furniture). She found a way to talk. To commuicate; and, she does so very effectively.
You can read all about her miraculous story of hope here.
Please read it, and file it away in your memory for the next time you're out in public and you see a person having a 'melt-down' or a 'fit' --self-injurous behaviors, screaming, yelling, and the like. Maybe, like the little girl in the article, they just haven't found a way that we understand to communicate with us.
God works in mysterious ways. This article was one of those ways He worked for me: I've grabbed hold of the life-ring, and am being pulled into safety.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
...the blind will see...the lame will walk
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4 comments:
I'm so glad you found a life ring today. My nephew is autistic, and I am constantly humbled at how much my sister has to adjust her whole routine and life to accommodate to what he needs. There are no easy answers when it comes to autism.
You are right, we only get what we can handle. God knew you needed Peanut.
Please excuse my ignorance when I ask questions that might be silly. I have not been personally affected by autism although it's rare I think to find someone who doesn't know someone who has been. This is my case. I know several people and know of even more who deal with autism daily.
Is sign language not an option in Autistic children?
I ask because I was watching something on TLC not related to autism, but it was on language development. How if by a certain age you haven't aquired it you would never be able to fully communicate verbally. They never mentioned sign language. I thought about it again as I read your post.
From reading your blog I've come to admired you tremendously. You may not feel that you alway do, but I see a woman who rises to every challenge with grace and profound love. Your family is very forunate.
Ladies & Friends: As always, thanks for your thought and for the time you take out of your day to read my blog.
Alida:
Interesting thought. ASL works WONDERFULLY--for some.
In Peanut's case, we tried sign (with speech therapist et.al.) but it just didn't work for her (too abstract? too many gross and fine motor delays? Combo of all of the above? Who knows...). Peanut's case is a really tough one--even her therapists scratch their heads over her at times. She has pockets of learning and understanding; some days she can know a skill or fact (e.g. how to count to 10) and the next day we'll expect her to be able to demonstrate that same skill--but it will be gone, as if she'd never learned it. I have tremendous difficulty wrapping my brain around it, we all do, but that's the way she was made.
Like I've said before: Never a dull day in my household!
Thanks for the thoughts and interest.
Thanks for the info. I read the article, I found it facsinating. What a revelation for the parents and therapists and what a relief the young girl must feel to be able to communicate!
We have so much to learn.
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