Although Autism awareness feels “new,” the Autism Society has recognized April as Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s.
It is the time of year where the Autism organizations and advocates throughout North America work to educate the public on this disorder.
Analysis over the last ten years suggests that 1 out of 88 children age 8 has been diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum.
The Autism Society hopes that with increased awareness of autism and further research in early intervention and appropriate treatments, people with autism will lead fuller, more complete lives. There are many ways to get involved. Sign up for their free e-newsletter and attend local events that draw together a network of families and professionals.
To help the Mom’s Choice Awards kick off our month-long awareness, Audrey Lintner, Mom and Autism Advocate, shares a personal story of life parenting an “Angel of Autism.”
AGONY OF DE FEET
Kids spend a lot of time sitting on the floor. Story time at the library, family game night, assemblies at school. Every kid I know is familiar with the “crisscross applesauce” instruction.
Junior will not sit on the floor.
Will. Not.
He used to. There was a time when a request to sit on the floor was met with cheerful compliance. It all came to screeching halt when he was required to sit just a little too long, and his feet fell asleep. Imagine being six years old and experiencing the pins and needles sensation of re-awakening feet for the first time.
Yeah.
The incredibly scary feeling of having his feet “go away” was bad enough. Throw in the prickliness, and we were faced with The End of the World. Junior was convinced of two things: shoes are evil, and sitting on the floor is worse than broccoli ice cream.
We’ve gotten around the shoe issue, sort of. It starts by buying the plainest, flattest sneakers that we can find. No lightning bolts or cartoon characters, and no arches to press against his feet. From there, Mama has to get creative. Playing up to Junior’s love of All Things Math, I painted numbers across the toes of each shoe. Left = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; right = 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
It only took six chocolate chip cookies and half an hour of discussion to convince him that he really did need to put them on.
As for the floor, it’s still a work in progress. Anything that smacks of sitting is simply not on. He will not kneel on the floor. He will not crouch. Ask him to roll under the bed and collect the dust bunnies, and he’ll drop like a rock and whirl away. Sitting? Forget it.
I’m going to have to bake a lot more cookies.
Situational sensory issues! Does your kid have any? How have you had to adapt in order to help them through it?
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