Re: RPM (Rapid Prompt Method)

[Guest guest]

Bless you Irma. For all to remember...RPM is something you can learn. It

does not have to cost any more than just buying the manual. Parents come

from all over the world for a week of camp then go home and start

practicing. Some children are only seen once a year others like mine go

every week. I have trained a college student to work with my son using

RPM, he is still resistant to using this method with me, perhaps because

he has some speech. We use RPM mostly for academics and his tutor and

teachers at school can ask him more open ended questions and he writes

all his stories and ideas on the letterboard just not with me. Not yet,

actually he prefers Dad so he's working on it.

What I love so much about RPM is that it's for everyone. The old, the

young, anywhere on the spectrum. Every week at HALO is a new group of

campers some come with skills of sitting some cannot even reach with one

hand at a time. All can learn, and the cost is minimal as you are

encouraged to do the work yourself. No one is looking to make a fortune

off of parents we just want to keep the doors open so more can come and

keep a roof over the head of Soma and Tito. The RPM method Soma

developed works! It's opening up so many doors for so many and it's

Soma's work and dedication to not just her son but to all of us that

keeps me going. Tito was not an easy child to reach, his Autism is

challenging, but he's an amazing man, so brilliant and so wonderful. You

can do RPM. You can learn RPM, your child can learn. My heart is with you.

Trina

rma Canfield wrote:

>

> I wanted to share this your way with my thoughts here with RPM, why?

> Yep, in one of those drama moods.

>

> Because my son is severe with the dual dx's of Down syndrome & then at

> the age of 13 y/o diagnosis with severe autism.

> It has been a journey here within feeling such a misfit.

> He is now 21 y/o but of course fit into the autism arena.

>

> I would attend several DS support groups when my son was a youngster

> (near 3ish) but for some reason there was no connection here of

> support or could relate, while I was chasing my son to stay seated or

> play or interact with the other kids & sit or stood up with the other

> families to chat. Yeah right, as their words were like bragging how

> much their child could do, potty trained, talk, recite the alphabets,

> etc. of course felt like a failure mom.

> Of course proud for their kiddos though, do not get me wrong.

> You know the guilt the grieve while trying to learn about Down

> syndrome or autism.

> Then to hearing the teacher tell me that they had to sit him in a

> Rifton chair as he just would not stay seated which I did noticed when

> I would drop in or volunteer, to then seeking some answers to taking

> him to the doc's so that they could rule out possible ADHD but told

> " Where did the teacher get her medical degree " ? All of this while we

> lived out in the FTW (Keller district) & HEB area.

> To my son attending then the HEB district but all failed here as on

> his daily communication notes, time out for this or that. So, we then

> retrieved back to SA while my son was still a youngster & now another

> chapter here but this time still no luck with the DS support group as

> it was aimed for the babies, which is now what?

> To many of the educators or school district referring me to the

> support groups with doc's or those who specialize with ADHD, my

> goodness, back to meds this or that but yet could not relate to the

> symptoms mentioned. At this time did seek the meds route but it sure

> was a no go here for him.

> Anyways, as he reached middle school this was the road to finally some

> answers which revolved around getting or recognized with such the " A "

> word (Autism). What the? Anyways, so it was having to make up for the

> past, the present & then to focus on the present.

> Will there have been lots of issues along this road but finally fitted

> in somewhere but still kinda of like standing in the back room as my

> son is dx'd with Down syndrome & how I can relate with the families at

> support groups about autism issues/topics.

>

> Why do I mention RPM here?

>

> Because with such challenges with the ups & down of any communication

> route one seeks, when dealing with a non-vocal person as my son.

> Finally found answers within the ABA/VB approach but now as an adult &

> dealing with such issues of another ball court here. It is finding of

> course how to utilize like in my son's case the Medicaid Waiver

> program & then it is, if any ABA therapist contracted with a Provider

> agency & the HHSC, etc. Then the issues of 21 y/o, eh!

>

> It is wonderful to know that I am very thankful & grateful of entering

> to learn the RPM approach. Yes, it will cost but it sure is worth the

> investment because once one begins to understand this approach it is

> not as costly once one educates themselves here it is once again

> addressing that multi-channel of the brain or generalizing in an

> inexpensive manner when needed. I am just in the early stages here of

> learning this route but must say what I have observed when Soma works

> with him has really kept my mouth dropped when she is able to get him

> to respond by spelling out on the letterboard or choosing an answer

> even sometimes when his brain is going haywire, but such to know

> breaking such an ice here or some form of connection of how he can

> express which is all there. It is that HOPE knowing to pursue here.

> Soma sure knows her stuff here with such uniqueness on therapy

> techniques & strategies which has my vote here, no doubt as I mosey on

> now getting educated here. My van sure knows its way out to Austin big

> times. Keep going back there all the time which I have been fortunate

> as long as our Dear Lord gives me such strength.

>

> I know I have a habit of rambling on but just thought I share because

> I remember when Trina would share about RPM, it was like on the other

> side of my computer reading her post of how much she shares of RPM.

> Yeah for her son. ; )

> It was like " but you live out there " , how can one afford it? " Maybe

> your son is too high-functioning than mine? " , How can one maintain

> this while leaving out in a different city?, well the list goes on. :

> ) Hmm, wonder if others felt like this too?

>

> It is when one is ready to tackle such approach, but I know now I can

> eat my words here because anyone can learn & most of all it is for all

> ages & depending on the level of need of the individual as my son, how

> intelligent he is with such abilities shown when taught & mama bear

> here get with the program of continuing to learn.

>

>

> Irma

>

>