Re: Help! Child recovering too fast!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 26/3/03 4:15:58 am, srotherham@... writes:

> Maybe I should take Callum off enzymes for a few days, allow a

> temporary regression, then quickly build him up again. Then the

> therapists can say he's a great success story, pat themselves on the

> back for a record turn-around, and tell us how lucky we were that

> they accepted our son.

>

Steve, the ABA people will probably find him delayed no matter what anyway.

That's their job. And I don't think you should do anything to disturb

Callum's success. Just my 2cents.

>

> After the miserable period we had from mid November till mid Feb, I

> can't believe that we have this embarassment of riches. I know there

> will be future plateaus and setback, but I just want to relish this

> great progress while I can. All those deep troughs do make the highs

> seem so much higher. Or maybe I'm just developing a manic depressive

> streak.

>

No, this is normal life for us, too! And it's great Callum is doing so

well. he's so young. Nick wasn't even diagnosed before 3 y. 2 m. and he's

come a long way. Think how much better Callum will do because you started

early!

marti

>

>

[Guest guest]

> Steve, the ABA people will probably find him delayed no matter what

anyway.

> That's their job. And I don't think you should do anything to

disturb

> Callum's success. Just my 2cents.

-- I was joking, marti. I couldn't bring myself to do something like

that. Anyway, they will certainly find him to be delayed. Since we

began treating him he has gone from low functiojning to high

functioning, but he is certainly autistic. I'm just a little

concerned that he may be too high functioning to meet the criteria

for the free treatment that we are moving to the other side of the

country for. but we'll talk our way out of it if that happens.

>this is normal life for us, too! And it's great Callum is doing so

> well. he's so young. Nick wasn't even diagnosed before 3 y. 2

m. and he's

> come a long way. Think how much better Callum will do because you

started early!

- he's doing well because we knew how to use the internet and we

stumbled across this list and others like it. Plus we have a good

doctor (who we found via a US website) and we have since found a good

behavioural therapist. And we've made a lot of mistakes along the way.

It's such a hard slog, such a bloody way of life, but it's worth it.

all the best to you and Nicky (and every autistic kid and all their

parents)

Steve

[Guest guest]

can you explain what Connect Therapy is? I have never heard of it before..

Thanks,

BV

Help! Child recovering too fast!

We have a strange problem. We are moving to the other side of the

country to get better services (mainly free ABA) for our son (the

state of Western Australia offers much better services than the state

of New South Wales).

This involved talking to psychs and other experts in the west via the

phone and sending over our son's diagnosis. The ABA people in the

west are very nice, but they don't believe that diet and supps work

for autism. The problem is that since we did all of this we have

started a new form of therapy called Connect Therapy developed by a

Sydney speech therapist and an OT, and we have also changed Callum's

diet and added some new supps.

With the new treatments, Callum is now improving so fast that his

diagnosis is way out of date. He is still autistic but much higher

functioning and if this rate of improvement continues he will recover

at some time in the next 18 months. (Yes, I know, that's a big 'if')

We are getting great eye contact - in fact he gives all adults good

eye contact now - and displays of affection. He often grabs our hands

and drags us off to play with him. His speech improves every day, as

does the scope of his play.

In 5 weeks we fly west. What are the ABA people going to think when

they have their first session and assessment with him? That we are

liars or just that we've got lucky and are getting a spontaneous

remission? Or perhaps they will attribute it all to the Connect

Therapy, if they can believe that a rival school of therapy could be

that good.

Maybe I should take Callum off enzymes for a few days, allow a

temporary regression, then quickly build him up again. Then the

therapists can say he's a great success story, pat themselves on the

back for a record turn-around, and tell us how lucky we were that

they accepted our son.

After the miserable period we had from mid November till mid Feb, I

can't believe that we have this embarassment of riches. I know there

will be future plateaus and setback, but I just want to relish this

great progress while I can. All those deep troughs do make the highs

seem so much higher. Or maybe I'm just developing a manic depressive

streak.

[Guest guest]

Connect Therapy is a new system developed by a Sydney speech

therapist, Simpson, and an OT, Beth Fulton. worked

for several years at Giant Steps, a school for autistic kids, but

became dissatisfied with the school's ABA-driven approach, so she

developed an approach that emphasises building a rapport with the

child.

Connect Therapy is compatible with ABA, but it has an emphasis on

building a connection with the autistic child so that you can begin

to lead them out of their autistic world. It is child-focused, gentle

and fun. And it works.

Unfortunately it is only available in Sydney through and Beth.

I did a Google search yesterday and found one oblique and useless

reference to Connect Therapy. I would realy like to see the word get

out about this treatment. My wife and I are journalists and we are

thinking about approaching and Beth re ghostwriting a

book/handbook.

Connect Therapy entails a 10-week course with weekly 2.5-hour

sessions during which and Beth instruct and coach the

parents, then give them homework.

You have to set up a " Connect Room " in your house. You use this room

for " Connect Sessions " with your child. You play with them and follow

their lead as much as possible. You videotape some of the sessions

and send the tapes to and Beth for detailed feedback.

Following their suggestions invariably leads to further improvements.

All parents in the course have seen dramatic increases in eye contact

and sociability. Our children now drag us into the Connect Room.

the oldest child in the course is 9, the youngest is our son, at 2

years 8 months.

The first 7 sessions concentrate on connection, the last few (which

we are about to begin) concentrate on behaviour and learning.

This system works very well, but it has made me more convinced than

ever of the need for biomedical intervetnions. Our son didn't do well

in the first two weeks of the course, but then blossomed as his

health improved. Another couple did very well at first, but have

crashed in the last week - I suspect their son has developed a yeast

problem, but they know nothing about enzymes, probotics etc.

Steve

> can you explain what Connect Therapy is? I have never heard of it

before..

> Thanks,

> BV

>

[Guest guest]

To be honest, this approach sounds just like Stanley Greenspan's floor play

approach.

Re: Help! Child recovering too fast!

> Connect Therapy is a new system developed by a Sydney speech

> therapist, Simpson, and an OT, Beth Fulton. worked

> for several years at Giant Steps, a school for autistic kids, but

> became dissatisfied with the school's ABA-driven approach, so she

> developed an approach that emphasises building a rapport with the

> child.

>

> Connect Therapy is compatible with ABA, but it has an emphasis on

> building a connection with the autistic child so that you can begin

> to lead them out of their autistic world. It is child-focused, gentle

> and fun. And it works.

>

> Unfortunately it is only available in Sydney through and Beth.

> I did a Google search yesterday and found one oblique and useless

> reference to Connect Therapy. I would realy like to see the word get

> out about this treatment. My wife and I are journalists and we are

> thinking about approaching and Beth re ghostwriting a

> book/handbook.

>

> Connect Therapy entails a 10-week course with weekly 2.5-hour

> sessions during which and Beth instruct and coach the

> parents, then give them homework.

>

> You have to set up a " Connect Room " in your house. You use this room

> for " Connect Sessions " with your child. You play with them and follow

> their lead as much as possible. You videotape some of the sessions

> and send the tapes to and Beth for detailed feedback.

> Following their suggestions invariably leads to further improvements.

> All parents in the course have seen dramatic increases in eye contact

> and sociability. Our children now drag us into the Connect Room.

>

> the oldest child in the course is 9, the youngest is our son, at 2

> years 8 months.

>

> The first 7 sessions concentrate on connection, the last few (which

> we are about to begin) concentrate on behaviour and learning.

>

> This system works very well, but it has made me more convinced than

> ever of the need for biomedical intervetnions. Our son didn't do well

> in the first two weeks of the course, but then blossomed as his

> health improved. Another couple did very well at first, but have

> crashed in the last week - I suspect their son has developed a yeast

> problem, but they know nothing about enzymes, probotics etc.

>

> Steve

>

>

> > can you explain what Connect Therapy is? I have never heard of it

> before..

> > Thanks,

> > BV

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

I wasn't familiar with Greenspan, though I had come across the name

on various lists.

I just did a search, and I would have to say that the two approaches

are very, very similar.

Greenspan isn't available in Australia as far as I know. did

travel to the US and attend various courses in developing her

therapy, so I would say that Greenspan is one of the approaches she

drew on. That must be the case, the similarities are too great to be

coincidental. I know she also took some elements of the Son-Rise

program, but I think those are mostly used for low-functioning kids.

Anyway, the main thing is this treatment is working not only for us,

but also for the 8 or 9 other coupkles attending this course and for

dozens of other families who have used it previously. If I were

living in the US, I would closely at the Greenspan therapy.

Thanks

Steve

> > > can you explain what Connect Therapy is? I have never heard of

it

> > before..

> > > Thanks,

> > > BV

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

> Try Canada! It probably has more to do with the

> remote area I live in more then anything else. I

> learned about Floortime googling. And enzymes, if

> hadn't posted to the autism board at

> parentsplace.com, I would never have heard of them

> either. Being remote means I rely on the internet for

> a lot, a good habit in this case.

But it must have some advantages, . I hear polar bear liver is

very high in trace minerals and vitamin A. (Do you keep the liver

after shooting and butchering the bears?)

[Guest guest]

But seriously, , I don't know what I would do without the

internet. It has made such a difference to our ability to care for

our child. The night we realised he was probably autistic, I turned

on my computer and Googled for hours. The next day we started

reducing his milk intake. You can learn things in a few hours that

many other parents and professionals haven't an inkling about.

And webgroups like make such a difference, both in

terms of information and of being able to communicate with people in

the same situation that you are in. It helps keep me brave and sane.

>

> > Try Canada! It probably has more to do with the

> > remote area I live in more then anything else. I

> > learned about Floortime googling. And enzymes, if

> > hadn't posted to the autism board at

> > parentsplace.com, I would never have heard of them

> > either. Being remote means I rely on the internet for

> > a lot, a good habit in this case.

>

> But it must have some advantages, . I hear polar bear liver

is

> very high in trace minerals and vitamin A. (Do you keep the liver

> after shooting and butchering the bears?)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 27/03/2003 09:58:47 GMT Standard Time,

srotherham@... writes:

> And webgroups like make such a difference, both in

> terms of information and of being able to communicate with people in

> the same situation that you are in. It helps keep me brave and sane.

>

HEAR HEAR STEVE!!!!

[Guest guest]

I thought it sounded a lot like Son Rise--but then again I thought Son Rise

sounded

a lot like Greenspan...We do ABA since in the beginning, my child would not have

done anything....

Re: Help! Child recovering too fast!

> Connect Therapy is a new system developed by a Sydney speech

> therapist, Simpson, and an OT, Beth Fulton. worked

> for several years at Giant Steps, a school for autistic kids, but

> became dissatisfied with the school's ABA-driven approach, so she

> developed an approach that emphasises building a rapport with the

> child.

>

> Connect Therapy is compatible with ABA, but it has an emphasis on

> building a connection with the autistic child so that you can begin

> to lead them out of their autistic world. It is child-focused, gentle

> and fun. And it works.

>

> Unfortunately it is only available in Sydney through and Beth.

> I did a Google search yesterday and found one oblique and useless

> reference to Connect Therapy. I would realy like to see the word get

> out about this treatment. My wife and I are journalists and we are

> thinking about approaching and Beth re ghostwriting a

> book/handbook.

>

> Connect Therapy entails a 10-week course with weekly 2.5-hour

> sessions during which and Beth instruct and coach the

> parents, then give them homework.

>

> You have to set up a " Connect Room " in your house. You use this room

> for " Connect Sessions " with your child. You play with them and follow

> their lead as much as possible. You videotape some of the sessions

> and send the tapes to and Beth for detailed feedback.

> Following their suggestions invariably leads to further improvements.

> All parents in the course have seen dramatic increases in eye contact

> and sociability. Our children now drag us into the Connect Room.

>

> the oldest child in the course is 9, the youngest is our son, at 2

> years 8 months.

>

> The first 7 sessions concentrate on connection, the last few (which

> we are about to begin) concentrate on behaviour and learning.

>

> This system works very well, but it has made me more convinced than

> ever of the need for biomedical intervetnions. Our son didn't do well

> in the first two weeks of the course, but then blossomed as his

> health improved. Another couple did very well at first, but have

> crashed in the last week - I suspect their son has developed a yeast

> problem, but they know nothing about enzymes, probotics etc.

>

> Steve

>

>

> > can you explain what Connect Therapy is? I have never heard of it

> before..

> > Thanks,

> > BV

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> I thought it sounded a lot like Son Rise--but then again I thought

Son Rise sounded

> a lot like Greenspan...We do ABA since in the beginning, my child

would not have

> done anything....

- I would say it has incorporated elements from both of those

programs.

I don't know much about behavioural programs. With the lack of

resources in our area, we put most of our efforts into biomedical

interventions. The behavioural stuff is new to us.

Steve