RE: Handle - Kim

[Guest guest]

IT has been wonderful for him. I continue to see tiny little changes every

day. We enjoy our routine HANDLE time together and I am happy to have

something I can actively do to help him calm himself down when he gets out

of control.

Kim

Handle - Kim

Kim,

I was reading your posting from Sept. 1 about your HANDLE evaluation. I am

so glad to hear about Dylan's improvements.

HANDLE has had very positives effects for Karlee also.

from IL (Karlee 16 years)

[Guest guest]

Kim, I'd love to hear an update on Dylan's progress after Handle. Are you

continuing to see improvements? How difficult is it to get the exercises done

each day? Did she also suggest dietary changes?

Deedee

[Guest guest]

DeeDee

Yes, I continue to see improvements. More independence at school with

walking etc. Less focus on his paint brush (his item he must be hanging

onto). Even warts that were out of control, are drying up and disappearing

(improved immune function, due to reduced stress?) Not using the zyrtec for

the nasal congestion. More independence on pushing the buttons on his

TV/VCR. (the TV and the paint brush are his main " autistic like " things)

Then of course there is the impact on the state changes. I routinely do a

set of exercises in the am before school. He likes them; we have a nice

time together and I appreciate a time of connection. At school, Doe was

doing a few in response to state changes. When he began to go " wild " every

afternoon around 2 or 2:30, regardless of what environment, who he was with

etc., it became clear that he needed a set of exercises after lunch. Before

HANDLE, the wild states appeared to be random. Now she does a set after

lunch, no more wild states.

We went out to dinner the other night. Dylan was eating his crackers, no

problem, then suddenly a bowl goes flying off the table and about hits

another customer in the head. Dylan is grabbing for anything on the table.

I simply picked him up, took him into the bathroom, put him on the changing

table, and did a set of exercises the best I could. We then returned to the

table where he proceeded to eat with no " behavior " problems the rest of the

evening. All of these experiences reinforce in me, my prior belief, that

the incessant running, spinning, hitting, or throwing are in response to a

physiological change in his body rather than an intention on his part to " be

bad " , " to get a reaction " etc.

I agree with in that Dylan needs lots of processing time, plus his

system responds to stress by shutting down. What I want people to

understand is that Dylan needs to be the one in charge of opening back up

again. If we try to force the issue, he shuts down further. The HANDLE

exercises give us something to do that is respectful to what is happening in

his body, but helps his brain adjust, so he can again be available for

learning.

Working with Judith is an awesome experience.

Kim

> Kim, I'd love to hear an update on Dylan's progress after Handle. Are you

> continuing to see improvements? How difficult is it to get the exercises done

> each day? Did she also suggest dietary changes?

>

> Deedee

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kim-

I am amazed in listening to you describe Dylan's behaviors. It makes

sense to me that the HANDLE exercises would work. Think about how many

times in the day we do whatever it is that each of us does that gets us

back on track or focused when we feel that we are losing our

concentration. It happens to everyone, but it's usually so deep under

the surface that you don't even realize it. If your body was doing this

on an incredibly magnified level, I think it could look like what Dylan

does. Very fascinating. And I am amazed at how well you have become

knowledgable and tuned in to Dylan.

Michele W

Aubrie's mom