The guardian

[Guest guest]

Personally, I was pretty upset about the way they portrayed the

autistic child. Completely catatonic is not at all how my child is!

If it were like that, we'd have it made eh? Also, Zach would have

had serious issues with being in a hospital around a bunch of

strangers too! You'd think they could at least get it pretty close

to right. Next time maybe they should do a little more homework.

[Guest guest]

Alec can be alot like that child on the show. And greggory would have never

been. Alec doesnt really show any preference between me and strangers alot of

the time. He can sit and zone for hours! Of course he can also bounce off the

walls but for me I thought it was ok. Not all auties are the same.

Jacquie H

The guardian

Personally, I was pretty upset about the way they portrayed the

autistic child. Completely catatonic is not at all how my child is!

If it were like that, we'd have it made eh? Also, Zach would have

had serious issues with being in a hospital around a bunch of

strangers too! You'd think they could at least get it pretty close

to right. Next time maybe they should do a little more homework.

[Guest guest]

>> From what you write, though (and remember I didn't watch it, so I

> have no idea what I'm talking about), I wonder if they were just

> portraying a very low-functioning child? >>

Well, I didn't see it either, but what both of you are describing is

a child in shutdown... went through a phase just like this

during his first period of regression.

Raena

[Guest guest]

> Personally, I was pretty upset about the way they portrayed the

> autistic child. Completely catatonic is not at all how my child

is!

> If it were like that, we'd have it made eh? >>

Actually , it isn't easy at all--it's very frightening. You

have to go in and really fight to reconnect kids who are shut down to

this extent. I can tell you from personal experience, I much prefer

to see bouncing off the walls, as he does now, to that horrid

vacant expression--cooperative or not.

Raena

[Guest guest]

> Actually , it isn't easy at all--it's very frightening. You have to go

in and really fight to reconnect kids who are shut down to this extent. I can

tell you from personal experience, I much prefer to see bouncing off the

walls, as he does now, to that horrid

vacant expression--cooperative or not.

Raena <

i'd have to agree with you on that one, raena. we went through a similar

experience when kailey was out of school for 6 weeks last year waiting for a

school placement change. she wasn't exactly catatonic, but she may as well have

been. she did nothing but lay in the cubby of the entertainment center, piled

with blankets, watching teletubbies videos. it was horrendous

[Guest guest]

> Actually , it isn't easy at all--it's very frightening. You

> have to go in and really fight to reconnect kids who are shut down to

> this extent. I can tell you from personal experience, I much prefer

> to see bouncing off the walls, as he does now, to that horrid

> vacant expression--cooperative or not.

Yes, exactly. The little boy portrayed in the show was very much like

Buster was at the park the day we saw him after six months. Brief

flashes of the child he was before. I don't know, but should any one of

our children (God-Forbid) be in a car accident and see their mother put

in an ambulance then be thrown into a mental hospital because the CPS

worker can't figure out what's wrong with them. I think they might shut

down, too.

debbi

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[Guest guest]

I'm sorry guys, I just hadn't heard anyone talk of their child acting

like that in here. Maybe I'm the one who needs more education. I

don't think I'd like it one bit if Zach were catatonic like that.

On the other hand, with the way he is now, I can't do anything with

him either, everything is on his terms. I'm stuck inside this house

with him because I can't take him anywhere without a meltdown.

Either way, it sucks. Do you think it gave a good overall

presentation of Autism?

> > Personally, I was pretty upset about the way they portrayed the

> > autistic child. Completely catatonic is not at all how my child

> is!

> > If it were like that, we'd have it made eh? >>

>

> Actually , it isn't easy at all--it's very frightening. You

> have to go in and really fight to reconnect kids who are shut down

to

> this extent. I can tell you from personal experience, I much

prefer

> to see bouncing off the walls, as he does now, to that

horrid

> vacant expression--cooperative or not.

>

> Raena

[Guest guest]

,

I have Alec , who is alot like thast child alot of the time and then I have

Mr Greggory who is totally different and always was. I think it is all hard. I

dont know who is more difficult some days even now with Greggory doing so well.

I know that I worry more about Alec most days because I wonder what will happen

to him as he gets older. I worry about Greggory because the regional centers

here just dropped greggory from all services because he doesnt fit criteria

anymore. I am thrilled and worried about that. I think the little boy was a

pretty stereotypical view of autism. But that doesnt make it a bad

representation. If they portrayed the little boy like Greggory people would

complain diffenately! And if they did it like Alec people wouldnt beleive that

either probably. I know what it is like to feel stuck in the house because of

greggory and Alec. If you can stand it take Zach out even if he has meltdowns. A

little bit at first and then a little more. It can get better. But it may take a

long time.

Jacquie H

Re: The guardian

I'm sorry guys, I just hadn't heard anyone talk of their child acting

like that in here. Maybe I'm the one who needs more education. I

don't think I'd like it one bit if Zach were catatonic like that.

On the other hand, with the way he is now, I can't do anything with

him either, everything is on his terms. I'm stuck inside this house

with him because I can't take him anywhere without a meltdown.

Either way, it sucks. Do you think it gave a good overall

presentation of Autism?

[Guest guest]

> I'm sorry guys, I just hadn't heard anyone talk of their child acting like

that in here. Maybe I'm the one who needs more education. <

don't be sorry. it's hard to know something we've never encountered.

> Do you think it gave a good overall presentation of Autism? <

no one child can give an overall picture. it's impossible. that's why it's a

spectrum disorder. if you want a tv show to be able to do something like that,

they'd need to have a wide range of kids, from the lowest functioning to the

highest functioning and everything in between.

[Guest guest]

-

I agree. It didn't seem very realistic. (I'll admit I didn't watch it

all).

What made him Autistic? The fact that he didn't talk and spun tops? Does

that make a child Autistic?

What was the point? To eventually put him in a mental ward cuz " there's no

where else for this kid to go " ?

Penny

The guardian

Personally, I was pretty upset about the way they portrayed the

autistic child. Completely catatonic is not at all how my child is!

If it were like that, we'd have it made eh? Also, Zach would have

had serious issues with being in a hospital around a bunch of

strangers too! You'd think they could at least get it pretty close

to right. Next time maybe they should do a little more homework.

[Guest guest]

> I'm sorry guys, I just hadn't heard anyone talk of their child acting

> like that in here. Maybe I'm the one who needs more education. I

> don't think I'd like it one bit if Zach were catatonic like that.

Putter was severe enough when younger that I really was not sure he would

ever talk so I joined a variety of lists for non-verbal and severely

autistic kids.

It didn't take me long to figure out that we didn't really fit in there.

Those lists were not very chatty either; I don't think the parents had much

time even for email or perhaps it was just that none of those lists really

reached whatever threshold it is that a list needs to reach in order for

people to make it a regular part of their lives.

But I learned enough to see that Putter, severe as he was, was much more

high functioning than some. One mother had a child who had never made a

sound in his life. I think he was about twelve...

So there is a whole huge variety.

I am much more like ; I had a boy who did the most dangerous things.

I do think though that Putter depended on me so very much in those early

years when I was the only one who understood him that he would have been so

utterly and completely devastated by anything happening to me (even now he

is very attached) that I cannot imagine how extreme his reaction might have

been. I could see him shutting down....I could barely leave him.

So I am happy not to have seen a show that apparently gave a picture to all

my worst fears.

Salli

[Guest guest]

> I'm sorry guys, I just hadn't heard anyone talk of their child

> acting like that in here. Maybe I'm the one who needs more

> education. I don't think I'd like it one bit if Zach were catatonic

> like that. >>

Oh my goodness, ...I don't think anyone was offended; why are

you apologizing?

> On the other hand, with the way he is now, I can't do anything with

> him either, everything is on his terms. I'm stuck inside this

> house with him because I can't take him anywhere without a

> meltdown. >

Yeah...I've been there, too (we've been almost everywhere...). For

whatever it's worth...it does get better. Has the OT given you any

strategies for helping him cope when you need to go out?

> Either way, it sucks. >

Yup. ;-)

Raena

[Guest guest]

> I'm sorry guys, I just hadn't heard anyone talk of their child acting

> like that in here. Maybe I'm the one who needs more education. I

> don't think I'd like it one bit if Zach were catatonic like that.

No need to be sorry. I certainly wasn't offended and of course, it's

hard to think of many of our kids being that way. No one wants to go

there for obvious reasons.

As to whether it was a good overall picture of autism--probably not, but

for the situation they presented it most likely was. They could have

presented the child having a meltdown and that isn't entirely accurate

either.

debbi

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[Guest guest]

> Personally, I was pretty upset about the way they portrayed the

> autistic child.

I tuned in only for the very last shot, of the boy sitting with the spinning

top. On one hand, I know that some kids would sit quietly with the top just

spinning. I also know my kid wouldn't.

From what you write, though (and remember I didn't watch it, so I have no

idea what I'm talking about), I wonder if they were just portraying a very

low-functioning child?

Jacquie

[Guest guest]

> > On the other hand, with the way he is now, I can't do anything

with

> > him either, everything is on his terms. I'm stuck inside this

> > house with him because I can't take him anywhere without a

> > meltdown. >

>

> Yeah...I've been there, too (we've been almost everywhere...). For

> whatever it's worth...it does get better. Has the OT given you any

> strategies for helping him cope when you need to go out?

>

>Yep..we're working on that part right now. Transitions and coping.

Trying to get him to cooperate in a new environment with new people.

They changed his playgroup so that instead of him coming there with a

bunch of kids, it's one kid and one adult. I'm glad that they

haven't abandoned trying to take him out of the house yet. Today his

OT came and we worked on new signs (he still won't use the old ones

but oh well)...also she attempted to coax him out of my lap on his

own. It didn't work, but she came pretty close. I am trying to form

his hands into the signs as suggested by a member here.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/27/03 5:41:10 PM Eastern Standard Time,

shanley_n_teresa@... writes:

> Transitions and coping.

I have a little photo binder for . I've taken pictures of her doing

things like sleeping, bathing, riding in the car etc. So in the am with

coffee I put the binder in order. I walk her threw it and even though it's

taken some time it does help her transition easier.

PS You know the libraries have sign videotapes also?

Hugs wendy

[Guest guest]

No I didn't know that, thanks. Thing about signing...he signs ONE

thing. Done. He doesnt' come close to signing anything else. Heck

it took a year to get him to do itsy bitsy spider and that is only

because he loves it so much.

> In a message dated 2/27/03 5:41:10 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> shanley_n_teresa@y... writes:

>

> > Transitions and coping.

>

> I have a little photo binder for . I've taken pictures of her

doing

> things like sleeping, bathing, riding in the car etc. So in the am

with

> coffee I put the binder in order. I walk her threw it and even

though it's

> taken some time it does help her transition easier.

>

> PS You know the libraries have sign videotapes also?

>

> Hugs wendy

>

>

>