non-verbal children, don't give up!

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to share in light of another post about someone. My

daughter's teacher's brother is an adult with autism who lives in a

home with three other adults with autism. He lives with a childhood

friend who is completely non-verbal at 32 yrs old -- WAS nonverbal!

At 32 yrs of age he began talking! Caroline says they believe it was

a combination of getting him into a structured routine with just the

right amount of sensory input and being emotionally happy at having

some independence. She said it wasn't a spontaneous conversation,

but things like beginning to say The Lord's Prayer every night at

supper with the other members, etc. As he began repeating these

things he became more able to answer simple questions and such.

Everyone was very excited to say the least.

Just wanted to share that even though it may feel hopeless, esp when

we hear so much about early interventions, that it's never hopeless!

Debi

[Guest guest]

That's fantastic, Debi. I hope you can send that to all your autism

contacts. One of the areas that really needs more exposure is the benefits

of continued interventions, even in older autistic people.

I hope our future ASD gatherings will contain many more older children and

adults with autism who are continuing to heal and grow.

This, too, is a comment on the whole human condition. We often seem to

assume that something magically happens at the age of 18 where we stop

growing. It's a lifelong process; let's not throw it away so easily, even if

our schools and other institutions give up on it.

Liz

-who is all hopped up on Halloween candy (selflessly saving my children form

the same fate) and coffee. I'm off to my polling place to fill out one of

the longest ballots in CA history.

VOTE!

>

> Reply-To: csb-autism-rx

> Date: Tue, 02 Nov 2004 16:44:40 -0000

> To: csb-autism-rx

> Subject: non-verbal children, don't give up!

>

>

>

> I just wanted to share in light of another post about someone. My

> daughter's teacher's brother is an adult with autism who lives in a

> home with three other adults with autism. He lives with a childhood

> friend who is completely non-verbal at 32 yrs old -- WAS nonverbal!

> At 32 yrs of age he began talking! Caroline says they believe it was

> a combination of getting him into a structured routine with just the

> right amount of sensory input and being emotionally happy at having

> some independence. She said it wasn't a spontaneous conversation,

> but things like beginning to say The Lord's Prayer every night at

> supper with the other members, etc. As he began repeating these

> things he became more able to answer simple questions and such.

> Everyone was very excited to say the least.

>

> Just wanted to share that even though it may feel hopeless, esp when

> we hear so much about early interventions, that it's never hopeless!

>

> Debi

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Many frequently asked questions and answers can be found at

> <http://forums.autism-rxguidebook.com/default.aspx>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, Debi, this is very encouraging! Now that my son is 11 and still nonverbal,

I have tried not to give up, but it is difficult to keep hanging onto the hope.

I never imagined anyone would be able to start talking at age 32! If this man

can do it at that age, then my son can do it at his age!! Never give up the

fight!

Thanks for posting this!

--

non-verbal children, don't give up!

I just wanted to share in light of another post about someone. My

daughter's teacher's brother is an adult with autism who lives in a

home with three other adults with autism. He lives with a childhood

friend who is completely non-verbal at 32 yrs old -- WAS nonverbal!

At 32 yrs of age he began talking! Caroline says they believe it was

a combination of getting him into a structured routine with just the

right amount of sensory input and being emotionally happy at having

some independence. She said it wasn't a spontaneous conversation,

but things like beginning to say The Lord's Prayer every night at

supper with the other members, etc. As he began repeating these

things he became more able to answer simple questions and such.

Everyone was very excited to say the least.

Just wanted to share that even though it may feel hopeless, esp when

we hear so much about early interventions, that it's never hopeless!

Debi

[Guest guest]

One common thread I hear in late talkers is repetition. I read a

story of a boy who began talking after his mother played Barry

Manilow songs over and over for several years. One day her son began

humming the song and before long began singing it. Music is

processed in a different area from language, so going at it from

that angle might help trigger something.

Don't ever give up hope.

debi

[Guest guest]

Wow..what a wonderful story. I love all the " good news " stories and

have a younger child but I must admit these good reports on the

older children really are so special. Please keep us posted.

>

> I just wanted to share in light of another post about someone. My

> daughter's teacher's brother is an adult with autism who lives in

a

> home with three other adults with autism. He lives with a

childhood

> friend who is completely non-verbal at 32 yrs old -- WAS

nonverbal!

> At 32 yrs of age he began talking! Caroline says they believe it

was

> a combination of getting him into a structured routine with just

the

> right amount of sensory input and being emotionally happy at

having

> some independence. She said it wasn't a spontaneous conversation,

> but things like beginning to say The Lord's Prayer every night at

> supper with the other members, etc. As he began repeating these

> things he became more able to answer simple questions and such.

> Everyone was very excited to say the least.

>

> Just wanted to share that even though it may feel hopeless, esp

when

> we hear so much about early interventions, that it's never

hopeless!

>

> Debi