Re: Re:Autism/Apraxia-myths and stereotypes

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Just want to say as the mom to a child with autism and one with PDD/NOS and

apraxia that it is a total myth that individuals or children with autism

aren't interactive with people...both my kids are interactivve with people

they know and new people too sometimes.

Autism is a spectrum disorder and as such, the kids can be very different.

The main symptom my 9 year old has is apraxia, and this is not the

diagnosis any mother wants to hear, however the PDD/NOS Diagnosis (I think

it is DSM IV 299.80B) got her services from schools and insurance, when

apraxia/dyspraxia did not.

Don't mean to be so sensitive about this, but I have spent many years

(kids 15 and 9) fighting the stereotypes people have of autism that they

saw on a movie of the week in 1979, learned about in college psych 10,, or

remeber Bruno Bettleheim's " The Empty Fortress " where he blamed

" refrigerator mothers " for autism. Not all kids are vacant shells, but not

all are Rainman either (he probably should have had an Asperger's Syndrome

diagnosis) so like others here, you can't tell by looking at my kids.

Just needed to go on the record here with this, sorry if I am venting.

Judy

>Thanks so much , We will. We live in Texas. We have a wonderful

>hospital here. I just haven't heard anything about apraxia until I was

>trying to prove some people wrong that thought he was autistic. I know he

>isn't because he is way to interactive with people (he knows.) Thanks for

>your wonderful encouragement.

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[Guest guest]

Judy,

I am so sorry if I was insensitve. That was not my intention. I am just

frustrated. He looks like every other kid. And nobody seems to understand

that something is different. What are the symptoms of autism? Please

excuse my tone. Its really hard to get across what you mean on e-mail

without sometimes sounding insensitive.

Sorry once again.

----- Original Message -----

> Hi ,

>

> Just want to say as the mom to a child with autism and one with PDD/NOS

and

> apraxia that it is a total myth that individuals or children with autism

> aren't interactive with people...both my kids are interactivve with people

> they know and new people too sometimes.

>

> Autism is a spectrum disorder and as such, the kids can be very different.

> The main symptom my 9 year old has is apraxia, and this is not the

> diagnosis any mother wants to hear, however the PDD/NOS Diagnosis (I think

> it is DSM IV 299.80B) got her services from schools and insurance, when

> apraxia/dyspraxia did not.

>

> Don't mean to be so sensitive about this, but I have spent many years

> (kids 15 and 9) fighting the stereotypes people have of autism that they

> saw on a movie of the week in 1979, learned about in college psych 10,, or

> remeber Bruno Bettleheim's " The Empty Fortress " where he blamed

> " refrigerator mothers " for autism. Not all kids are vacant shells, but not

> all are Rainman either (he probably should have had an Asperger's Syndrome

> diagnosis) so like others here, you can't tell by looking at my kids.

>

> Just needed to go on the record here with this, sorry if I am venting.

>

> Judy

[Guest guest]

The main thing that keeps my son from being diagonsed autistic is the fact he

makes eye conatct and intiaites conversation. Very social. But will become very

angry when he can not get his point across. It also upsets me in a way that

others can not understand there is something wrong even though he looks fine.

When he is upset and angry because some one did not understand him he starts

screaming and I get those can you not control your child looks.

Robyn

4 in august (apraxia ,SI ,expressive language delay)

Jacy 1.5 just a bundle of energy

[Guest guest]

Many children with Aserger's make eye contact, as do some kids with autism.

There are a number of dianostic criteria to be considered.

I now just what you mean about those " supermarket looks. " I have decided

that it is no longer my responsibility to educate the world about

developmental disabilities, on shopper at a time!

Does perseverate on certain things, like trains, maybe, or fans, or

other fixations? I will go to the Asperger's Association website to see if

I can copy and paste you a definition.

Judy

The main thing that keeps my son from being diagonsed autistic is the fact

he makes eye contact and initiates conversation. Very social. But will

become very angry when he can not get his point across. It also upsets me

in a way that others can not understand there is something wrong even

though he looks fine. When he is upset and angry because some one did not

understand him he starts screaming and I get those can you not control your

child looks.

Robyn

4 in august (apraxia ,SI ,expressive language delay)

Jacy 1.5 just a bundle of energy

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[Guest guest]

Robyn,

Here are some links for you. I will also try to get the definitions for

you and send them in another email.

Judy

Autism Society of America:  www.autism-society.org

Autism Resources: www.autism-resources.com  provides links, FAQ's, and

links to resources in other languages

Asperger's Association of New England:  www.aane.org

O.A.S.I.S.:  www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger  premier Asperger's site

Federation for Children with Special Needs:  www.fcsn.org

North Shore Arc:  www.nsarc.org

The main thing that keeps my son from being diagonsed autistic is the fact

he makes eye conatct and intiaites conversation. Very social. But will

become very angry when he can not get his point across. It also upsets me

in a way that others can not understand there is something wrong even

though he looks fine. When he is upset and angry because some one did not

understand him he starts screaming and I get those can you not control your

child looks.

Robyn

4 in august (apraxia ,SI ,expressive language delay)

Jacy 1.5 just a bundle of energy

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us by telephone (at our expense) or by e-mail and destroy the material

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[Guest guest]

Robyn,

I know just what you are saying. Your son sounds exactly like mine. Graham

Screams alot. and nobody seems to understand that its not a control issue.

We are working on it. Graham is also 4.

.

> The main thing that keeps my son from being diagonsed autistic is the fact

he makes eye conatct and intiaites conversation. Very social. But will

become very angry when he can not get his point across. It also upsets me in

a way that others can not understand there is something wrong even though he

looks fine. When he is upset and angry because some one did not understand

him he starts screaming and I get those can you not control your child

looks.

> Robyn

> 4 in august (apraxia ,SI ,expressive language delay)

> Jacy 1.5 just a bundle of energy

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Judy,

Its again. I did have one concern about Graham. And forgive me if

this is another stereo type. When he is frustrated he won't make any eye

contact. I have to hold his face and tell him multiple times Graham look at

mommy. But it only seems to be when he is frustrated, mad,or embarrassed.

Is this indicative of anything.

> Oh, , I didn't think you were insensitive AT ALL! Your tone was fine,

> and most people don't know much about autism spectrum until they are

thrown

> rudely into this world themselves. Do not worry, I am not insulted, I just

> heard something in your message that alarmed me, that you had ruled out a

> whole category of diagnoses because of a misconception, and shockingly, so

> had " supposed " professionals.

>

[Guest guest]

does this too. He closes his eyes and won't look at me. He use to look

away now I hold him in my lap and he closes his eyes.

Robyn

" Judy,

Its again. I did have one concern about Graham. And forgive me if

this is another stereo type. When he is frustrated he won't make any eye

contact. I have to hold his face and tell him multiple times Graham look at

mommy. But it only seems to be when he is frustrated, mad,or embarrassed.

Is this indicative of anything.

"

[Guest guest]

Judy,

loves trains, we have the whole thomas the train set up board table trains

and more trains, We also live right by a train track that an 1800's steam train

goes on and if he hears it he is out the door and on top of the swing set in the

fort to watch it go by (has to get where he can see over fence) and now that you

ask he does have an interest in our fan. We have ceiling fans not a lot of

interest in that but we have a fan that is on a stand about 3 feet off the

ground and he is forever taking the cover off and spinning the blades around.

Robyn

[Guest guest]

I would definately check out the Asperger's Syndrome diagnose, Robyn.

There are a lot of MIT professors that I suspect probably have a degree of

this! I think that he may fit the criteria.

Keep me posted.

Judy

Judy,

loves trains, we have the whole thomas the train set up board table

trains and more trains, We also live right by a train track that an 1800's

steam train goes on and if he hears it he is out the door and on top of the

swing set in the fort to watch it go by (has to get where he can see over

fence) and now that you ask he does have an interest in our fan. We have

ceiling fans not a lot of interest in that but we have a fan that is on a

stand about 3 feet off the ground and he is forever taking the cover off

and spinning the blades around.

Robyn

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message to the intended recipient), you are hereby notified that any use,

dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is prohibited.

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us by telephone (at our expense) or by e-mail and destroy the material

transmitted to you in error. Thank you for your cooperation.