David

Yesterday, I met a young autistic man who made a significant impact on my life...

David is a 20 year old young man with autism who says he is an "inspiration to others".  He is active in the Boys and Girls Club, and helps other people with autism.  He is a success story.  The more I research, the more books I read, and the more people I meet, the more clear the autism "picture" comes together.  Yes indeed, people can "overcome autism".  Even those with severe struggles overcome this life changing diagnosis.  David could look me in the eye and have an appropriate, mature, insiteful conversation.  I couldn't hold back the tears when he introduced himself.  This could be my son in 16 years.  I was proud of this young man, and all that he had overcome.  I empathized with his mother and all that she went through in his younger years.  Back then, they didn't have the programs they do now, and David was diagnosed much later than Aiden, so most of his concerns were labeled as "behavior problems".  David discussed what his life was like, his social support, the challenges of transitioning to change, and how he learned to communicate.  David would often use lines from movies to start a conversation.  Aiden does the same exact thing.  His sentences are lines from movies: Dora, Curious George, Thomas the Train.  Aiden can "script" line upon line from these shows.  This isn't the first time I've heard of scripting.  Aiden's therapist said that one child would use a line from the Lion King every time he was frustrated.  That was how he expressed emotion.   Aiden sat on the potty for the first time yesterday, and what did he say?  "Good monkey.  You sit right there."  This is a line from the movie Curious George.  The man in the yellow hat puts George on the potty and tells him to stay.  He was scripting, so I'm not sure if he understood at all what the potty chair was for, but he sat on it (when normally he gets tense and won't go near it), so I considered that progress. 

I look forward to many more meetings with David.  I learned so much from him.  There is only so much understanding you can get from books.  David made it all come together for me.

Things I've learned about autism:

*With significant help and guidance (therapy), especially early on, some children diagnosed with autism show NO signs of it years down the road.  David had some indicators of his diagnosis, but he is living a fullfilling life!

*Although not a cure for autism, some children with the diagnosis do well with a hypoallergenic diet.  Those with eczema, respiratory concerns, rashes, and/or gastroentestinal issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, constipation) should be tested for food allergies.  I've read numerous accounts of parents who swear that a gluten free, casien free diet helped their children (even though doctors don't always agree that this is affective treatment).

   

*A diagnosis of autism doesn't mean that the person is unintelligent.  It means that the brain is wired differently.  Someone described it like this--imagine an office space with many, many rows of desks, but some of the people at those desks can't communicate with the others.  The communication signals aren't working correctly.  That is like the brain of an autistic person.  Some people with autism are exceptionally intelligent (i.e. Temple Grandin received her PhD and revolutionized the cattle industry).  They just have a different way of looking at life.  Aiden already knows how to spell his name, say his ABC's, count to 20, and he names many shapes and most colors.  He is learning, maybe just a little differently than his peers.  He is very intelligent, but he can't find the words to express himself.  Sometimes he acts unusual, because that is how he responds to the senses around him.  His perspective is different.  Sometimes, I think that has its advantages!