[David Chan]

Well, while I was at the spirited AGM, the boy,
his mom, and grandparents were taking in a
bit of culture. His sister's 2.5 hour ballet
recital. Now That would be 2.5 hours with one
15 minute intermission. The performance
was a great success and a fun time was had
by all.

Why post this non-event?, well remember, this
was the kid who would have a Grand Mal
tantrum in the parking lot of the church.

So what's this got to do with the FEAT chat
board?

Using a Lovaas-based visual schedule with
plenty of built in re-inforcers, we were able to
teach the young man, that sitting NICELY in
church was a very GOOD THING.

This then became generalized to sitting nicely
in movies, weddings, and other public events
requiring prolonged periods of sitting. Did he
really really enjoy the recital? Well, did any of
us really? I am informed by reliable sources
that he was grooving in the appropriate place
during the performace, so I guess it wasn't all
just being polite.

Its not a miracle, just systematic hard work
using the ABA principles. The tantrums in
church were four and a half years ago, do we
still have tantrums, yeah, of course we have
our awkward moments, but usually not at
public venues. One significant hurdle he has
overcome. There are more hurdles ahead to
be sure. but one or more hurdles at a time.

Still Jumping over hurdles,

Mr. P's Mom and Pop

P.S. Mom and the Lovaas consultant are the
brains behind the operation, I'm just the leg
man so to speak.

[David Chan]

Go and pick up the May 6th Time magazine,
the cover story is about Autism. Check it out,
may be it could be some useful reference
material

Dave

[David Chan]

Well, that's really cool, but be really careful.
Too many things have happened in diagnostic
test, that you should be extremely vigiliant.
Call me suspicous, but are there other
issues other than your guy not being able to
hear? Lo those many years ago, our guy
"behaved" as if he was deaf too.
How the test was conducted is also important.
When our hearing test was being conducted,
by the time they completed the test on one ear,
he as ready to split, so they said, ya, from what
we can tell, he can hear ok from the other.

If it is just deafness, that's just means that the
approach will be different, i.e. no wiring and
processing issues.

Lets face it like most parents we love to hear
that our kids are OK, and that it's not going to
be as complicated as we thought it was going
to be.

I'm so sorry, I don't mean to rain on anyone's
parade, just be super careful, and take him
different diagnostitians of other disciplines to
get a better picture of what your guy has to
deal with.

Just be careful out there

Yeah, I have spelling issues but then who
doesn't

[David Chan]

My son has a problem with humming. He is
27 months and does not speak, however he
hums constantly in a monotone all day. He will
stop when I tell him "no hummimg" and I
praise him profusely, but then he starts up
again right away. I have tried distracting him to
other activities but he still hums through his
favourite things, even when eating.
He has started babbling, so I try and get him
to babble, but he reverts to humming. This
has been going on for 3 months. Does
anyone have any ideas that may help?
Thank you
Allison (Matthews mom)

In response to Allison’s question re: her
son’s humming. You are definitely on the right
track being concerned about this behaviour,
because it is self-stimulatory and will most
likely interfere with language development.
Our son has a similar issue with self-talk, and
many other children with autism have issues
with incessant singing, etc. etc. The key is to
get the behaviour under stimulus control. In
the case of our son, our consultant instructed
us to have him wear a wristband. When the
adult wears the wristband, our son must
control his mouth (ie talk appropriately). When
our son wears the wristband, he is still
encouraged to talk appropriately ,but it is not
specifically targeted. This behaviour support
plan has really brought our son a long way in
the year that we’ve used it. It goes without
saying that this plan is not directly applicable
to your child, and we strongly advise you to get
a qualified Lovaas consultant (if you do not
already have one) to customize a behaviour
plan for your child’s specific needs. FEAT BC
has a new parent packet which includes a list
of Lovaas consultants, some of which have
local offices. Again we cannot emphasize
enough that one child’s behaviour plans
cannot be applied to another child, UNLESS A
QUALITIFED CONSULTANT IS SUPERVISING
THE SITUATION.!!! We are simply sharing the
information that we too had a related issue
with our child., and we completely agree with
you that behaviours of this kind need to be
addressed early in the child’s life. Hope this
was somewhat helpful…. Good luck.

David & Julia
Mr.P’s mom and pop

[David Chan]

Saw the creepiest thing on W5 tonite. A child
with the diagnosis of PDD with autistic traits
was placed in residential care in Ontario and
wound up dead. No on seems to know what
happened. It was a W5 episode; it was the
first story on this Sunday's episode. Just
about made me ill to see stuff like that on the
tube about untreated autism. The only
"therapy protocol" that they came up with was
to restrain her when she became violent.

You wonder what would have happened if this
child had gotten treatment. They showed
video of her,showing that she had receptive
and expressive language at any rate. Hey, I'm
no expert but knowing that Autism treatment
(i.e.Lovaas) would have made a difference
really made me very sad.

Check out the story on the CTV website.

[David Chan]

The issure HERE not "hear "is that I in fact
have E.S.L. issues and I'll be the first one to
admit it.
I am quite aware of what hype is, since I own
several copies of the Oxford dictionary, and a
spellcheck on my computer. I think I have
some rudimentry understanding of the word
"hype"

ABA therapy is doing fine without my intensive
promotion. I am trully sadden by the fact that
parents cannot find qualified service
providers. I really couldn't add much more that
what Avery has stated. I think that one thing
that does have to be stated though.

Having a qualified service provider is only one
part of the equation. The other ,is that ABA
requires some degree of commitment to the
therapy. This is to say that a qualified
consultant, will not fix your kid for you.
Behavioral protocols have to followed even
after the therapist goes home.
I am fortunate to be where I am, I am some
access to service providers, things are
moving along,
I can't begin to think about families that want
to make a go at ABA and not being able at all
to even start a program.

Know what? "less supported" therapies aren't
free and they don't implement themselves.
not matter what therapy you choose, YOU still
have to implement them.

I have absolutely no inclination to bash
anything. I have enough on my plate thanks.

Thank you Avery, it was late, and way past my
bedtime when I posted that message, that
was what I mean't

[David Chan]

I'll tell you what hype is. Dolphin therapy, Accupunture on the tongue, that's hype. No data, and lot's of kids "Doing better" and having "dramatic change". Yup, that would be hype.

ABA sadly does not fit into that category. Know what? what people really want is a "kid" transplant, for lack of any useful effective scientific intervention. These kid have a neurological disorder, and a total kid transplant is just not forthcoming in the immediate future. ABA therapy is hard work, not hype, not magic. It works, and takes time to set up. Programs do not spring forth from the Cosmic ether, nor do consultants, or therapists. First, you examine carefully the educational credentials of the consultnat, then you get references from other families, you screen, and you WATCH every aspect of the program being implemented. EASY, I think not. EFFECTIVE, YOU BET !!

I think the operative word is YOU. We as parents bear the burden of choosing therapies that are effective for our kids. I think it's really condescending to think that parents are so desperate that we would let just anyone work with our kids. In fact, it is precisely because we WON'T let anyone work with our children that we have chosen ABA therapy.

Still living la Vida Lovaas,
Mr. P's Dad

[David Chan]

Yes it's a scholog to be at school. Yep sometimes the man is down right high maintanence. This afternoon, the intermediate grades in our school put on a play and musical. The grade 4,5,6,7's did a bang up job. Really quite a pedestrian event for an elementry school; but you know if it shows up here there is more story to tell.

Well your boy is in the front row no less. Oy, What he's gonna do now. Gym full of Kindergardener, grade 1,2,3's prime pickings for loopy, goofy, and not to mention down right ugly spaz out tantum potential.
Well, NOTHING HAPPENED, he and his mates sang their songs, stood up sat down, watched the play. That's what happened. His mates reported to me that his was a little giddy, a little giggly, but for most part, He held it together. How about that? Indistingushable, not yet, a long ways to go yet, but surely, a step in the right direction.

It's Chinese New year soon, so just say it…
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". I think that new families that start programs have a tremendously hard time, seeing five years down the road, let alone next week. Hiring therapist, assembling therapy teams, consultants, funding and god knows the rest of "The life". Well five years on, We can say that days like today, make it a little easier. No, there are still logistics to contend with, but for the moment at least, there is direction.

The boys teacher from last year used a pharse which kind of gives us a nudge, she says,"Did you ever think that he……". I think my answer would be,"never thought, only hoped and worked towards." Please note it's hoped,not wished, because wishing is incumbent on something mytical and well, wishful and not earned from hard work.

Well all, keep up the good work. Let's work for more days, when NOTHING happens.

[David Chan]

Don't know what to say, the kid has done it again. Friday, the kid had a Science test. We ABA'd it. i.e. take the material that he had to learn- the muscles in the body, and use discrete trial to teach it. No, it was more that one session, but then again YOU wouldn't study for a test the day before would you. The jist of which is the following. The kid got 82% on his test. I gotta to tell you guys. that's a good grade PERIOD. Oh did I mention that the kid couldn't tell his colors apart before he started his program lo these five years ago. Is he a scholar, we don't know yet. Yes, he has other learning issues. You bet, there are other academic areas that he is weak in. The point is not that he got a certain grade in his class but rather that he is getting a grade at all.
Unfortunately, We didn't get a chance to go to the conference, but having been immerse in the Autism treatment world for the last while, we have heard about, gluten, dairy , B6, DMG, etc. oh yeah my personal favorite, Accupunture on the tongue; apparently it helps the kid to be more verbal, hey who knows.

The bottom line is this recognize that the wiring is different in our kids and find a method by which to teach them. Look, I like Avery would give one of whatever I've got two of to give this kid a magic bullet, so that he could be like his typical sister, or his classmates. Between now and then, How do we make it possible for him to go to a restaurant, get dressed in the morning for school. Buy something from the store. Oh yes the muscles in your body in scinece class.
Lovaas style ABA therapy; that's what. Even if the alternate "therapies" make an improvement, you still gotta teach 'em stuff. Can't take the info and skills and put it in a pill so that they learn it. So gang keep up the good work with your ABA programs.

82% does that kick bottom or what !!!!!!!!

[David Chan]

So all,
The boy and I went to the Big House with both classes of grade 4's I think the count was about 33 kids. 6 parents and 2 teachers. No, we didn't go to jail!! It's a grade 4 social studies field trip, we go and live like the coast salish people from 500 years ago. I gotta tell you guys. 500 years ago wasn't so slick. It was a thing of beauty to watch him working with his friends, just participating. He had a couple of awkward moments which were dealt with quite innocuously. What did he find the most interesting? probalbly, not the same things as the other 4th graders, but heck he gave making kindling a good whack, I mean with a mallet. We looked at the photos of the trip and with a little help he could describe to you what he and his bud were doing. In all good conscience he really was not the most high maintenence kid there. I have been blessed that I have witnessed the behaviours of typical 4th graders first hand, and let me tell you, that a treated child can be a lot lower maintnence than you imagine. Every time we try something hard, like a field trip like this overnighter, it always seems insurmountable, but he continues to amaze us with his resiliance, perserverance and fortitude. He's quite a kid,500 years ago or today.
We do therapy because that's what we see as the road to that will lead him to his full potential, but utimately he's the one walking it. I really admire him for that. Well the kid has taken another step on that road. The road is long, but as they say, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Keep up the good work kid, and always fight the good fight.

Mr. P's Dad

P.S. Is it perfect, and just chugging along, is it all sweetness and light at our house? The answer is a resounding NO!! Always remember, how hard it is to run and maintain his program, all the details, all the logistics, it's endless!
REMEMBER, when he was diagnosed at 4 1/2, they said he may have cognitive issues, Toileting was an issue, he couldn't read, 30 to 40 tantrums a day. No we haven't forgotten. The overnighter field trip is just a reminder for our family how far the kid has come, and how much farther he still has to go. What the heck would this kid be doing if we hadn't started therapy? Don't even want to go down that alley. Can't drop the ball now, can we?

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