[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Sunita Braich]

hi everyone,

i wonder if anyone has had a similar experience to us:my 3 and a half year old is just 4 weeks into her aba therapy. when she first started, say the first two weeks or so, she seemed to really enjoy the 'playing'. however, for the last couple of weeks, she has become increasingly resistant to the sessions, whining, verbally saying 'no playing', clinging to me, and it has now culminated in full blown crying, screaming and aggression.
is this a common occurrence? is it just because the novelty has now worn off and realization has sunk in? did anyone experience the same kind of protests after a couple of weeks, and if so, did it eventually stop (and after how long please). it is really hard for me and my husband to listen to her screaming and crying for us.

thanks to anyone who can share their experience with us

[Louise Taylor]

Thank you to eveyone who responded to my post about toilet training. I appreciate the advice and words of encouragement. So many of you wrote back that I didn't have time to respond to each of you individually.

Thanks again!!!

Louise

[Marie and Dwight Anglehart]

New research shows how genes play a role
in what makes ABA work: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/07/10/autism-genes.html

[Louise Taylor]

Barbara Rodriguez, could you please email me at

abarocks@gmail.com

Thanks,

Louise

[Louise Taylor]

LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON TOILETING – BOWEL MOVEMENTS!

Help. My 4 1/2 year old is really struggling with this one. He is OK with pee but not with BMs. Has anyone tried using an alarm system (similar to what is used for typical kids when training for urine) for bowels? Does anyone have a system availabe for sale or know where I can purchase one?

Also, I'd be interested in any advice that parents etc. could share with me on using this system. Please email me at:

abarocks@gmail.com

[Mike & Rachel Goetz]

All my family live in England so we fly there every year to visit – our first trip was when our daughter was just six weeks old! I don't know what your boys are like or how long a flight you are going on, but here is what has worked well for us over the past eight years.

If you are travelling overnight, pack pyjamas in your child's hand luggage, and get changed as soon as you get on the plane. This helps with the whole sleep routine. Put their day clothes back on again before you land.

Buy or borrow a portable dvd player and/or an ipod – you never know what movies they are going to show on the plane and so it's really helpful to have something familiar that they like, movies and music.

Take candy to suck or chew for take-off and landing – it helps with the ear pressure.

Take favourite snacks and games – let them choose what they would like to have on the plane with them. You can even put favourite toys/games away for a few months and then have them reappear on the plane. Or go to the store and buy something new that is saved for the journey. If your child is a picky eater, take what they will eat with you – you never know what they are going to serve onboard.

Pack an eye mask (not all airlines provide them).

Talk about and practice being on the airplane at home before you go.

When you get through customs on the other side and are picking up luggage, have one person wait for the bags while another one takes the kids to the bathroom or something.

Consider taking some form of mild sedative like gravol or allergy medication with you (but try it out before you go as your child may hate the taste of it and spit it out all over you!!).

And finally, make a few cards you can give out to surrounding passengers if it gets really bad (hopefully you won't need to) explaining your child's condition and thanking them for their patience and support.

Actually, there is one more thing – pack a change of clothes in your carry-on for everyone in your family. We had one terrible flight where our youngest child threw up 12 times (including over us!) and we ended up walking through arrivals in Heathrow wearing BA pyjamas that they gave to us in sympathy!!! That experience was an exception though – every other one has gone really well.

Safe travels!

Rachel Goetz

[Nancy Walton]

I think it is important to point out that visits to restaurants and long plane trips can be success stories when our children have ABA therapy.

I remember feeling horrible after a restaurant incident where my son screamed through most of the meal. The restaurant could have lost all their customers, but they let us be. After that, I vowed to target restaurants in ABA style. I remember bringing him to a restaurant to have a light lunch, worried sick that he would start tantrumming. At the end of our little meal, the lady behind me got out of her seat and said to me what a sweet little boy I had. I just about burst into tears. She had no idea how much that meant to me.

As for the plane trips, one lady in front of us was clearly showing her annoyance at my sons constant movement, but when I told her he was autistic, she apologized profusely and assured me he could do what ever he liked. I now tell people right away and they seem very sympathetic and understanding. I'm sure I was very lucky, but also, my son's behavior is not all that bad thanks to years of ABA therapy.

[Tiana Arruda]

Thanks for sharing your story Tony,
We are actually going on a big family trip travelling on a plane. We've got 2 boys in the family with autism, needless to say it's been quite stressfull just thinking about what might happen. Exspecially with this story that just came out. It's a real shame how people can be.
If anyone out there has any suggestions on what has worked for them, we would love to hear it.

Tiana

[Super Dad]

The story about the autistic boy getting kicked off the plane reminds me of the time my 4-year-old got kicked out of the Aqua Riva Restaurant.

We were there with my extended family to celebrate my birthday. When my little guy whined, a customer from the next table started harassing him. The harassment made him cry, and the customer complained to the manager. The manager refused to listen to me, and kicked us out.

I was amazed to find out that the rest of the family, instead of walking out in anger, stayed and enjoyed their dinner. I then realized that I had lost my "real" family. The only family I had was the FEATBC/ASBC community.

Interestingly enough, after a couple of years of therapy, my boy was fine on his first long trip. We travelled 21 hours straight, by car, plane, bus, ferry, train and plane, and my boy was still happy. The smiles from the little guy made me forget any disappointment with stupid restaurants and disloyal family.

Tony

[Dione Costanzo]

Add American Airlines to your list for letter writing…"Autistic Toddler Kicked off Airplane". This would be a good time to post experiences and travel tips. I have not been kicked off a plane (yet) but have experienced irate passengers who have complained that my kid was bothering them (for kicking the seat).

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6223045

[Author]

Replies