R was diagnosed with Autism 2 years backs. And recently got diagnosed with Apraxia . R is now 4 years old. We started SON-RISE program with R couple of weeks backs. SON-RISE is a Play-therapy program that I am volunteering for . The Play-Therapy is associated with son-rise.org to treat his symptoms related to Autism.When I refer to Stimming , it is the repetitive behavior R does while lost in his world
Besides all other challenges the biggest challenge for R is finding his voice, He started trying more sounds with the help of Intensive Therapy.
Yesterday was 4th of July, "Independence Day". I was just thinking to myself, when are our kids going to get independence from Autism , to live independent life !!
Anyways with lot of thoughts I reached R's home for play-therapy session. Its like magic when I see R's face, every thought just goes away trying to search for a smile from him. He was sitting on a chair holding onto Red Plum. I said "Hi Rohan" looking into his eyes. He gave me this shy smiley look. It was so cute and mischievous. I asked him do you want to go and play Bounce,Bounce !! He immediately got up from his seat and came down with me to play-room.
R was still holding onto his Red Plum. I asked him do you want to help me cut the vegetables. so he pointed me to take the Pretend & play vegetable cutter game down from shelf.
We must have spend like 30-40 minutes playing it. But this time I had different experience . I asked R "what is this ? holding a fruit or vegetable in my hand." He was trying hard to make sounds to tell me what are they.
Somewhere R went back to his favorite stimming, by crawling on kitchen floor on his back, with his legs bended. I joined him also.
At some point when he gave me eye-contact. I asked him do you want to show me the house in flash-cards. He pointed at the flash-cards on shelf. I got the flash-cards down and R took all the flashcards out on the floor.
He was pointing at Plum,Pear,Tomato and Apple and gave me those flash-cards in my hand. Then he gave me the sound for "eat". So I pretended them to eat. At one point when Plum came on flash card, He pointed at the Plum from pretend n play game.
2 hours just passed by like that, we did not even realized that how much time passed by. Suddenly R's mom came in to room to give him something to drink, As R was suppose to get ready and get energy for his Speech therapy :)
I got some real good feedback from R's dad about my session. He told me that even if R tries to make a sound, even though it may not be correct, celebrate it. He also told me to give him pause so that he can process the information to say it. Last but not least I should not ask hims same thing twice, because it may be boring for R.
R's mom and dad told me that I should learn to prompt him for sounds, since he was showing interest in trying out the sounds with me.
Dear R, I am waiting for that day, when you talk and I am just quietly listening to you !!
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