Attention Autism

Attention Autism seems to have attracted considerable interest.It is a solution involving fun activity.

There have been lots of solutions, and cynical as I am, we've got to try more of these ideas to find a way forward.

But most of these strategies have underlying precepts. They are justified by defining the problems of people on the spectrum in a certain way, providing a solution that addresses that simplification, and somehow overlooking the issues not covered in the simplification.

Take Attention Autism. The Gina Davis Autism Centre has a definition of Autism. It is based on the Triad of Impairments, but does mention sensory issues:

"Most also have issues with sensory integration, their senses constantly sending them confusing messages" 

It then goes on to say that "children with autism have several strengths and it is important we both understand them and use them to help, for example: bags of energy and they enjoy physical, hands on activities; excellent memory and recall for items that interest them; a real persistence for things that interest them; superb concentration and attention for things they like and have chosen; top notch visual skills"

Now my sensory overload issues are at the mild end and I personally found confronting them, and pushing myself into uncomfortable environments helped me a great deal. that may not be everybody's comfortable notion of how to deal with them.

But the Attention Autism precept misses out on sensory overload, and involves doing thigs that have high sensory impact. Maybe it works. I'd just like to see this taken into account in the precept.

Naomi Rosenberg's Dance Massage was developed for deaf children, as I understand it. It involves soothing sensual massage in the context of music and rhythm. "It is a form of non-verbal communication"

Now I can see the benefits for deaf children. I'm a little wary about its application now to children on the autistic spectrum, as many are very sensitive to being touched.

Now, it might be that handled right, bringing touch into children's experience in a pleasant and interesting way might reduce the sensitivity.

But I'd be far happier of I saw some evidence that these "curers" actually understood autism and had actually explored all the issues. Maybe they have - but it is not demonstrated on their websites.

Attention Autism seems to have attracted considerable interest.It is a solution involving fun activity.

There have been lots of solutions, and cynical as I am, we've got to try more of these ideas to find a way forward.

But most of these strategies have underlying precepts. They are justified by defining the problems of people on the spectrum in a certain way, providing a solution that addresses that simplification, and somehow overlooking the issues not covered in the simplification.

Take Attention Autism. The Gina Davis Autism Centre has a definition of Autism. It is based on the Triad of Impairments, but does mention sensory issues:

"Most also have issues with sensory integration, their senses constantly sending them confusing messages" 

It then goes on to say that "children with autism have several strengths and it is important we both understand them and use them to help, for example: bags of energy and they enjoy physical, hands on activities; excellent memory and recall for items that interest them; a real persistence for things that interest them; superb concentration and attention for things they like and have chosen; top notch visual skills"

Now my sensory overload issues are at the mild end and I personally found confronting them, and pushing myself into uncomfortable environments helped me a great deal. that may not be everybody's comfortable notion of how to deal with them.

But the Attention Autism precept misses out on sensory overload, and involves doing thigs that have high sensory impact. Maybe it works. I'd just like to see this taken into account in the precept.

Naomi Rosenberg's Dance Massage was developed for deaf children, as I understand it. It involves soothing sensual massage in the context of music and rhythm. "It is a form of non-verbal communication"

Now I can see the benefits for deaf children. I'm a little wary about its application now to children on the autistic spectrum, as many are very sensitive to being touched.

Now, it might be that handled right, bringing touch into children's experience in a pleasant and interesting way might reduce the sensitivity.

But I'd be far happier of I saw some evidence that these "curers" actually understood autism and had actually explored all the issues. Maybe they have - but it is not demonstrated on their websites.