This very thought-provoking video was put on You Tube by CS. He has several videos on Vimeo, check them out! I initially saw this on Andrea's blog, "Autism Unplugged."
Are you comfortable with your autistic child rocking, flapping, and displaying other "autistic" behaviors? I have always tried to let Samuel do these things (and I'm talking about rocking and flapping as well as scripting) as much as possible, but I will admit that as he gets older I am trying to develop the awareness in him that these behaviors are different and that it might be a good idea to do them in private if he can. I do this not because I want him to appear "normal" but because his stimming behaviors seem to get in the way of other things he needs to do. I'd gladly let Samuel rock his way through his school work, like Bill Gates was rocking in his meetings in this video. Right now, however, Samuel repeatedly tunes in and out of his work and his involvement with us as he scripts. I'm moving very slowly in talking to Samuel about this. As far as I'm concerned, I have his whole entire childhood (and maybe longer, if necessary) to educate him and help him learn to cope with life!
I appreciate the opinions that autistic people are making public about the importance of behaviors that convention has held as being "non-functional." That seems to not be the case. They ARE purposeful and functional and we parents should be careful when we try to limit them. We have so much to learn about autism. My gosh, we're still just coming out of the days when autistic people were thought merely to be mentally deficient. We're just beginning to understand that they have a different way of experiencing their surroundings and that they have a different way of learning. Let's be patient and try to understand them better before we go trying to change them in ways that are harmful!
12 comments:
Pamela's physical stims have the purpose of showing extreme joy or extreme frustration. If the former, I celebrate with her. If the latter, I try to figure out why Pamela is upset so I can help her out. She mildly stims and I do not work on them directly. I figure out the meaning and go from there.
I see Pamela's verbal stimming as a sign of her challenges with speaking (aphasia). Stimming is easy for her and she feels competent with stimming. So, I treat it like real communication and try to turn it into conversation. Or, I ignore it. The long-term answer is the association method to help her learn proper syntax. I believe that, as her language improves, she will not need to stim as much.
Dr. Gutstein, the RDI guy, said something really interesting about stimming. He stated that he believed it is a sign of a disorganized brain because patients with brain injury often stim. Physical therapists typically ignore stimming because they know as the brain organizes the stimming goes away. So, he recommends not doing anything about it because, in time, as you and your child work together, the stimming will go away on its own. He said, if stimming does not go away on its own after about a year of effort, then there might be more going on with the child and neurologist might need to get involved.
I like your approach Tammy. I'm surprised to hear what Dr. Gutstein thinks of stimming. I would think, after the first chapter or so of the RDI book I've been reading that he would see it as something to remove so a child would be more socially acceptable. I haven't read enough of the book yet though!
I'm not excited about little boy's stimming. He won't be 7 until Dec and although he's as tall as his bro who's 23mths older, it doesn't seem to bother people. I think the rest of the world knows someone.... so it's not as big a deal.
I do allow flapping and quiet (inside voice, whispering) scripting in public. I untwist fingers when he wrings them (they are twisting) and tell him "no" to the vocal screeches unless there something wrong. Just b/c he can screech at the computer, in a restaurant etc, he has to learn there are places and times it's not allowed and so I just decided it was one I didn't wish except as an emergency. Flapping and scripting is quiet and seems to give him what he needs without disturbing others. He's never been a rocker.
We've been homeschooling this summer and he and I have been arguing over behaviour (constant nose rubbing while working is one of them) b/c I find he "wanders off" when he does it. So he now has to put his left hand flat on the table and write with the right. BUT, it's not for longer than 2min, b/c I appreciate that btwn every spelling word, every math question, he needs a flap/movement. Quick flap, stop, work, quick flap, stop, work etc.
He's adapted to the idea. Today was the first time he immediately put his hand down, had the pencil in the other hand, spelled a word, wiggle/flap and set himself up for the next word. We still do FC b/c I don't have a weighted pencil here at home.
Behaviours/stims are necessary at this time, but I think too there is a time and place.... and this is how I'm doing it.
S.
i quoted u & linked to ur blog in my last post - thx for posting this video!
http://skatesfamily.blogspot.com/2008/08/mom-embracing-autism-made-this-post.html
I found your blog through Mama Skates. My son Javi is a constant stimmer and his stimming has evolved over the years. He went from doing it very seldom to now, which seems like it's almost constant. It is a really disruptive behavior, as it completely takes focus off everything BUT stimming. He seems to block out the outside world completely. He would prefer to stim over a prefered activity like play video games. It's a safety issue for him because he tries to do it in parking lots, streets, etc.
We are working with Behavior Mod to at least cut down the time spent stimming and the location where it's allowed. Our son has a strong desire to be social, so we think that the stimming may ultimately make him unhappy because it's difficult to get friends to understand the behavior. I am torn on this issue. Part of me just wants to let him do it, but the other wants him to get more out of life than stimming. Also, the safety issue is of the utmost importance
g5familyblog.blogspot.com -and-
powerjavi.blogspot.com
Shanna and Farmwife2, Thanks for your comments. I don't mind stimming or different behaviors if they don't get in the way of things. It's just the stimming that seems to be an escape (or just somehow REMOVES him from the situation at hand) that is the big problem. That's not really what's being addressed in this video. I'd love to know what an autistic person would think of the dilemma we Moms face with our kids when the stimming/flapping/rocking gets in the way.
Wow, what a great video. Thanks for posting it. Thanks also for visiting Teen Autism. I'll be writing more about homeschooling soon!
I've always believed that Jaysen's stims are functional. I even have it written into his IEP that he will be allowed to stim, and not have any repercussions.
However, like you said, as he gets older, his stims are becoming intrusive. He, too, will interrupt a task to script or flap, and sometimes stims (one of his is flapping a finger in front of his eye) to another child (he will wave his finger in front of another kid's face while humming) and the other child will become understandibly annoyed.
I still think he benefits from it, and I don't stop him. If I see him being "intrusive", I will redirect him to stim to himself, but I'm not always right there- like at school.
I agree that we should understand something before "forbidding" or restricting it.
Great post.
Oh, wow...
See, I use Elf's stimming to show someone that he isn't just being difficult, that he really is autistic. It helps if someone is trying to listen and sees how he stims at certain times.
OK, I think the happy little flapping stims are cute. I don't know how I could make him stop if I wanted him to, though?
:] Good post!
To answer your question may I recommend:
"Autism and the myth of the person alone" by Douglas Biklen and others.
Dr Biklen writes the start and ends and comments. The rest is written by those with severe autism that would be considered "non-verbal".
It's a MUST read.
S.
Thanks for the book recommendation S, and thanks for your first post also. By the way, I lost your e-mail address. When you get a chance some time e-mail me directly (my address is on my profile).
My son is still just three, and his stims are mostly scripting. He does some flapping. I'm thinking it may get worse as he gets older. At this point, I guess I'm interested in making through the day then stopping him from doing this. It doesn't bother me, but I guess it could be a problem as he gets older.
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