Guest guest Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 In a message dated 7/21/2006 12:21:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Ladyshrink111@... writes: My experience in working with many ASD and Asperger's kids is that ABA can teach them WHAT to do or say in situations where it is appropriate to express empathy. Knowing what to say prompts many people to ascribe empathy to the person expressing it, but I have never had one of them be able to explain WHY they are expressing that empathy which is why I stated that it is impossible to "teach" a feeling, where no feeling was present. Just because you have never met a kid who can, doesn't mean it isn't possible. My ds can explain WHY very nicely. And we've taught a lot of emotions and will be doing more this coming year. PS: I've seen a lot of kids chelated - it's the "in" thing to do around here anyway. I haven't seen any of them progress at anything from before to after. I've seen kids get ABA. And gee, yeah, it does take YEARS because teaching skills to a kid with autism isn't an overnight kind of thing. It's work and it takes time and energy. I wish we could give them a pill or a vitamin and have it all be fixed. Or run through a chelation and whoosh, it's all better. If I see that happen, I'll be very pleased. But I haven't. The kids who are doing this that I know here are falling behind. And of course, parents are spending a fortune in the process. Too bad the money wasn't better spent on real therapy that produced results. But c'mon - this whole thread on why a kid would hit the dog - because he had a popcicle - I am probably going to unsubscribe because I honestly don't have time for such nonsense. And besides, it does nothing to fix the problem either. I just spent a week with my computer in the shop so I've been reading in large chunks and it is just waaay over the top all at once. Roxanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 Hi Roxanna, I am sorry, but didn't you say in a previous email that you think there are some people who are just not good at empatizing? I thought that's what you said, sorry if I misread that part...correct me please if I am wrong. That's what I was referring to... I really can't tell you more publicly in specifics about teaching adults empathy. I have been teaching some over the past 7 years, and it has exrutiating for me because the ability just does seem to develop at all... Sometimes it looks like there is a step taken forward, but then a new situation arises and the ability is nowhere reflected. Thanks, kneeleee@... wrote: In a message dated 7/21/2006 11:12:46 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, egerpatt@... writes: Respectful to all opinions expressed, I think that empathy can be taught, yes, to an extent, but it is excruciating and very hard work and I don't think that empathy thought would ever become the same as in healthy people with healthy minds. I am saying this based on my experience with an adult whom Roxanna would say about that the person is not "good at" empathizing. Well, have you ever taught empathy to anyone? I'm not sure what would be excruciating about it. I don't know that I would say any adult was not "good at" empathizing. I haven't met the person you are talking about either. Roxanna Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 > > > In a message dated 7/21/2006 7:01:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, > kneeleee@... writes: > > > > > In a message dated 7/21/2006 12:21:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, > Ladyshrink111@... writes: > > My experience in working with many ASD and Asperger's kids is that ABA can > teach them WHAT to do or say in situations where it is appropriate to express > empathy. Knowing what to say prompts many people to ascribe empathy to the > person expressing it, but I have never had one of them be able to explain WHY > they are expressing that empathy which is why I stated that it is impossible > to " teach " a feeling, where no feeling was present. > > > Just because you have never met a kid who can, doesn't mean it isn't > possible. My ds can explain WHY very nicely. And we've taught a lot of emotions > and will be doing more this coming year. > > PS: I've seen a lot of kids chelated - it's the " in " thing to do around > here anyway. I haven't seen any of them progress at anything from before to > after. I've seen kids get ABA. And gee, yeah, it does take YEARS because > teaching skills to a kid with autism isn't an overnight kind of thing. It's work > and it takes time and energy. I wish we could give them a pill or a vitamin > and have it all be fixed. Or run through a chelation and whoosh, it's all > better. If I see that happen, I'll be very pleased. But I haven't. The kids > who are doing this that I know here are falling behind. And of course, > parents are spending a fortune in the process. Too bad the money wasn't better > spent on real therapy that produced results. But c'mon - this whole thread on > why a kid would hit the dog - because he had a popcicle - I am probably going > to unsubscribe because I honestly don't have time for such nonsense. And > besides, it does nothing to fix the problem either. I just spent a week with > my computer in the shop so I've been reading in large chunks and it is just > waaay over the top all at once. > > Roxanna > > > > > > **** > I just want to say thank you for your post Roxanna, you have said what I > have been thinking all thru this thread. > My dd is autistic and is empathic, it all depends on the issue. But I guess > that some would like to say that she doesn't have autism at all. Those kind > of blanket statements is why many people don't understand autism. When I > first joined this list I was impressed there didn't seem to be agenda pushing > ... I guess I was wrong. > Which brings me back to the thing that everyone (doctors, parents, therapists, EVERYONE) needs to remember about Autism...it is a SPECTRUM disorder...there are going to be children who don't " seem " like they have autism and there are going to be children who you know without a doubt have autism. Does that mean any of them should be treated " less " than any others???? NO!! All these children deserve the most of everything we can give them to succeed no matter where they are on the spectrum. We may not know the cause of Autism...but one thing's for sure...it's not the childs fault!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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