Kevin at the YMCA

At Emmaus Home we try to make regular exercise a priority. According to the Autism Society, a program of exercise and fitness is important on so many levels. To quote:

From an educational and life skills perspective, our job as parents, teachers and professionals is to regularly identify an individual’s areas of need and address them in the most adaptive way possible. There is a reason so many students have difficulty in a standard classroom setting. The focus on taking tests rather than “learning how to learn” leads to skills that are not necessarily applicable to future needs and goals. For fitness programing, my hierarchy tends to look something like this (in order of importance):

1. Develop, maintain and enhance movement skills
2. Pair exercise and physical activity with reinforcement to ultimately make the activities themselves fun and part of a lifestyle
3. Increase initiation and creativity skills through exposure to various modalities of exercise (different equipment and activities)
4. Support socialization through small group activities that include elements of teamwork and helping behaviors

For those with autism who often have difficulty attending to a task for durations longer than 10 or 20 seconds, creativity and socialization behaviors are not an immediate goal. It is far more. (Read more.)

To help our work with God's children at Emmaus Home, please donate HERE. May the Lord reward with eternal life all who do good to us in His Name. 

Learning to Thrive

From the News and Observer:

Had I known more about autism, I think I’d have recognized it earlier. The signals were all there from the beginning – the speech delay, the inarticulate moaning, the arm flapping hop-step he does when he’s happy. He could name every planet in our solar system and tell you what each one was like before he could respond to his name. He could tell me the difference between a meteorite, asteroid and comet before he could tell me what he wanted for lunch.

When he still wasn’t progressing typically by age 3, our pediatrician recommended screening him for learning disabilities. I was terrified, but I was also desperate. When it came to connecting with my kid, all my instincts were wrong. Kisses hurt. Hugs were OK, but only sometimes. A conversation was comically out of reach. I’ve always loved him. But I didn’t know him. I wanted to know my son.

After seven months of doctor’s visits, a panel of specialists came back with their verdict, and I hated every one of them for it. Of course I’d known a diagnosable problem was possible. Getting a diagnosis and getting help was the whole point. (Read more.)

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/article194143669.html?utm_content=bufferea680&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#storylink=cpy

Technologies to Lessen the Distress of Autism

From Behavior Imaging:

While the incidence of autism has risen precipitously in the last decade, one thing hasn’t changed much. It is still enormously expensive to provide ongoing education and therapy for autistic children. One proven treatment for autism is early and intense educational intervention. However, for many parents, that intervention is cost and/or distance prohibitive. In some areas, there are few or no options for after-school care or babysitting.

The increased incidence of autism paired with an ongoing dearth of professional resources means that families often wait for weeks or months for an appointment and must travel to the nearest major medical center for care, sometimes over great distances. As they wait for meaningful care and instruction, the family faces a host of risks.

In the paper, we said:

The constant vigilance to protect one’s child, one’s family, and one’s partner as well as one’s self can leave parents irritable and on edge indefinitely. These symptoms may cause clinically significant problems in daily social and occupational functioning, both from the perspective of PTSD and other physical and mental/behavioral health perspectives

(Read more.)

Finding a Sitter

From Healthline:

The first place — and, arguably, the easiest — most special needs parents look to is within their own families and friend groups. Trust them? Absolutely! And they work cheap! But as grandparents age, or aunts and uncles move away, it can be difficult for parents to tap into that existing network. Additionally, you might get the sense (whether rightly or wrongly) that you are “imposing.” But, honestly, if you had abundant resources for your child care needs, you wouldn’t be reading this post anyway. (Read more.)

Early Diagnosis of Autism

From The Herald Sun:

Researcher Dr Megan Clark said sometimes parents and the medical community were hesitant to diagnose a child as being on the autism spectrum too early in life. “Currently in Australia, only 3 per cent of children are diagnosed as early as 24 months,” Ms Clark said. “We found, of the children diagnosed early, 73 per cent continued to meet the criteria for autism from toddlerhood through to school age, so it is possible to conclude that an early diagnosis is reliable and stable.”

The study found three-quarters of children who were detected early went to a mainstream primary school, compared with 57 per cent ­diagnosed later. “Often, one of the first questions around diagnosis is: ‘Will my child be able to attend a mainstream school?’ And our findings are encouraging for parents,” Dr Clark said. “Autism is a lifelong condition, but we know early intervention improves children’s ability to communicate and their cognition.” (Read more.)

Parenting an Autistic Child

From The Mom Kind:

Often times, we find ourselves doubting our parenting skills.  There’s this automatic shame you feel for not better handling a situation. This embarrassment for feeling sad. It is so hard not be hard on yourself.  As parents, we want the best for our children.  We want them to be the best person they can be and to live a happy, fulfilling life.

All too often, this expectation overruns us parents. The constant juggling act it takes just to make a trip out of the home can be overwhelming.  When we are feeling weak, this is when we feel as though we’ve failed.

The key thing to remember, their diagnosis doesn’t define who they are.  It’s okay not to explain their diagnosis everywhere you go. It’s also okay to do so as well.   Sometimes, you will feel like a warrior. You can conquer the world single-handed. Yet other times, you feel run over.  As if nothing at all can go your way. (Read more.)

An Autistic View of the World

From Mummy Est.2014:

I have to admit that lining things up has been something J has done so long that I can't remember when it started. It definitely wasn’t one of the first signs that concerned me. My concerns were his regression in his communication to the point where crying or laughing were the only real forms his used. He didn’t react to his name, or sounds the same as others his age, and he would develop ‘obsessions’ (it started as opening and closing doors, drawers, cupboards and you couldn’t stop or face a day long meltdown). Once he spent 15 minute opening and closing the same door in church.

J’s lining up started with lining cars up. He was very specific and would put them bumper to bumper and facing the same way. He would get frustrated if any of them were knocked or removed. When out and about he would line up sugar and sauce packets in the restaurants/café. I wasn’t overly concerned, after all that’s the way cars drive isn’t it? Following each other in a row? The problem we had was that at this point cars and vehicles was the only toys he would play with. We didn’t know how he’d react to other resources. Soon after we found he would line pretty much everything up-magnets on the fridge, stones in the garden etc. (Read more.)

Life After Special Ed

Are schools doing enough? From Disability Scoop:

Schools are legally obligated to create meaningful post-schooling plans for students with disabilities as part of their Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs. Under federal law, special education students must have transition plans in place by age 16 that include work, school and independent living goals that a student would like to achieve. Several states require schools to start this process at age 14. But Kate’s education failed to set her up for higher education or a career, as is often the case with special education students. Her experience after high school shows how important legally mandated transition plans and services are — and demonstrates how hard it is to do them right for all students. (Read more.)

The Emotional Weight of Autism

From the beautifully written blog Finding Cooper's Voice:

After almost seven years I’ve learned how to ask for help when I need it. I had too. I was drowning.  I’d been called a martyr one too many times. I’d been accused of doing it all by myself. And maybe that’s true. But in my defense, I truly believed I was the only person that could help my autistic son. I used to think that no one would ever truly take the time to understand him or decipher his needs. I thought that no one could handle his screams or hums. Or that no one would take on the burden of changing his diaper. His needs were so intense I figured it was just easier if I did it all myself. When Cooper turned six I had completely burnt myself out. I wasn’t sleeping. My back was so messed up from carrying his 65 pound body. I was anxious and irritable. I was always sick. I was drinking way too much caffeine during the day and one to many glasses of wine at night. (Read more.)

Many mothers must often leave their jobs in order to take care of special needs children, which can lead to poverty. From HuffPost:

 I’ve been asking my community of moms who have children with disabilities what they do about paid work. Many moms do work when their kids are young – this is when daycare spots for kids with disabilities are more plentiful – if they can get to the top of the long wait lists. Other moms have teenagers and have been forced to opt out of paid work. And some have flexible employers – although these types of employers are sadly the exception. Yet others piece together a freelancing life, picking up work here and there, like I do now.

Many families slowly inch their way towards poverty. We bleed money every month. Ironically we need a higher income even more than we did with any of our other kids. We pay for our son’s therapies out of pocket and we need to save for his adulthood because of the abysmal government rates of disability assistance that loom in his future.

“I left my job I had for 20 years when my son started high school, too,” one mom told me last week over coffee. When he was younger, they had cobbled together care with grandparents, but their son’s needs became more pronounced when he hit adolescence and the grandparents inevitably aged – the arrangement no longer worked. So the mom had to resign. (Read more.)

ADHD and Autism Diagnosis

From Health Beat:

 Like most 7-year-old boys, Darren Meeks loves to play with his monster trucks and ride his scooter, but Darren knows he's different. "I'm autistic, so I'm more sensitive," he said. Darren was diagnosed with autism at age four.

"He was diagnosed with ADHD a year later," said his mom, Myranda Meeks.

"Forty to 60 percent of children with autism also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD," explained Dr. Geraldine Dawson, the director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development. Dawson said it's unknown why the conditions tend to overlap, but she said children with both may get a delayed autism diagnosis.

"In fact, those children are 30 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism after age six," she said. So, researchers at Duke University are conducting a study that focuses on early detection.

"We're going to be following 9,000 children from the community," stated Dawson. Researchers will measure the brain's response to information to help them better understand the link. "We want to see whether treating the ADHD symptoms will allow the child with autism to better benefit from early intervention," Dawson explained.

Myranda admitted life has changed after the dual diagnosis, but Darren is thriving in school and has lots of friends. (Read more.)

The Loneliness of Autism

A mother speaks. From Finding Cooper's Voice:

For me autism is frustrating. And exhausting. And heartbreaking. And dreadfully hopeful. And painful. And above all a process. A slow process that crawls along with glimpses of the future. Autism is expensive. And SO unbelievably time consuming. Autism can take your time. It can suck up hours after hours of time.There are so many parts that go into parenting a special needs baby. And it’s different for everyone. But to be perfectly honest, for me, autism is mostly just lonely. It’s quiet a lot too. I pick Cooper up from school and there are no conversations about his day. No desire to show me what he made that day or to tell me what he wants to do when we get home. I’m mostly just sad because I don’t know this little boy. And I might never. I am grieving for a child I’ve never known. (Read more.)

A Death in the Emmaus Home Community

Anne's mother was called home by Our Lord on Christmas Day. Please pray for the repose of her soul and for her grieving family.

Disciplining an Asperger's Child

From Advanced Psychology:

Trying to discipline your child can be a difficult and ever changing world of frustration for all involved. When your child has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome it can be as difficult to create rules and boundaries as it is to…(Read more.)

Special Needs Homeschooling Myth Debunked

From the iHomeschool Network:

We have been homeschooling now for five years. We began before we had a single diagnosis for either of my boys, largely because school was a very difficult place for my oldest son. (Think sensory overload and bullying, mixed with a healthy dose of anxiety and you have an idea of what it was like for him every day – not good.)

A year after we began homeschooling, he was diagnosed with autism and generalized anxiety disorder. A year later, we learned his younger brother is profoundly dyslexic and has ADHD. In both instances, I was asked if, now that we had the diagnoses, I would be putting the boys back in school. There was an assumption that because my children now had identified “special needs”, we would need the “experts” to take over their education. 

The truth is, although I was a little overwhelmed with all the needs, I also felt even more certain that a typical school environment would not accommodate my children’s learning differences. (Read more.)

When Your ADHD Child is Upset

From the Child Development Institute:

Children with ADHD are more prone to meltdowns for a number of reasons. Often their brain circuitry for emotional regulation is dysfunctional in which it takes less to trigger an anger episode that lasts for a longer periods of time than other children. This is the result of faulty wiring. Working with them on relaxation techniques like taking deep breaths or counting to ten at the first sign of being upset can help. It is important for them to practice these when they are calm.

These kids often aren’t fully tuned in to what is going on around them and miss important information that causes them to misinterpret a situation and then react to what they think is going on rather than what really happened. If you are having a discussion with your child, pause frequently to make sure they are getting your point. Ask questions to make sure they understand and encourage them to ask you questions as well.

Some ADHD kids lack the ability to be flexible causing them to go into meltdown mode when there is a change in routine or an expected event does not happen. For instance a boy may be having a great time “rough housing” with his dad but does not want to stop when dad feels it has gone on long enough. This can become ugly and lead to fewer such play situations. Agreeing to use a timer and stop when the timer says to stop rather than dad might help avoid this. (Read more.)

The Dangers of Wandering

From TC Palm:

It’s difficult, Naeder said, to pinpoint the exact reason children with autism wander away from their homes, schools and other safe places. Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means symptoms and behaviors can vary widely. But it’s worth examining potential causes so families can watch for triggers. “It could be a person with autism is seeking something,” Naeder said. Perhaps a special item or favorite location. “Or, as a result of their autism, they could be fleeing from something,” she explained. Maybe a loud noise or bright light.That also can make search-and-rescue missions challenging. Children with autism might run away from the sound of police vehicles or helicopters. If they are nonverbal, as Chelsea was, they might not be able to respond to someone calling their name.

Though the causes of wandering are not clear, the prevalence of such behavior is documented. A 2012 study funded by Autism Speaks showed almost half of parents who have a child with autism said their child had tried to bolt from a safe, supervised place. Those were only the reported cases of wandering, so there’s a good chance the actual numbers are larger. “We’ve heard reports of parents sleeping in front of the door … it’s an incredible stressor on the entire family,” said Naeder, a social worker who has an adult brother with autism. The prevalence of autism in the U.S. means it's worth educating not just families who are directly affected, but our communities as a whole. One in 68 children are diagnosed with autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control; about 3.5 million Americans are living with the disorder. (Read more.)

Autism and Swimming

From Sensory Swim:

As the saying goes, “Showing up is half the battle”. This is true for work, for events & for swimming lessons. At Sensory Swim® we know that if a parent of an autistic child wants their child to learn how to swim, showing up is definitely half the battle. In some cases, especially for children who have an extreme fear of the water, this may be more like 80%. This skill of learning to swim may also save that child’s life one day. But let's not waste any more time pointing out the obvious. When it comes to supporting a child on the autism spectrum who is learning to swim, a parent must get that child to come to the lesson. We have come across parents who have signed their child up for swim lessons & cancelled without even showing up. They explain that they didn't show up because their six year old son refused to put on his bathing suit. And we didn't want to make him do something he didn't feel like doing. (Read more.)

December 2017 Newsletter

Our new Day Program is located at 2989 Dutton Mill Road, Aston, PA. It is the perfect location and a beautiful space for our participants. After waiting for its completion and meeting in parks, libraries and nature centers for several months,we are very excited and proud to be in our new program’s home. It features professional administrative offices, reception area and conference room. The ABA compliant facility has a computer lab, kitchen and ADL training area. A bright and spacious creativity area facilitates our Art, Music, Crafts and other group activities.

We now have two residences: one at 601 Vernon Street in Media, PA, and another at 1519 Black Rock Road in Swarthmore PA. They are beautiful, well-appointed homes in safe and welcoming communities. The Media home can house 3 residents with our wonderful house parent, RoseAnna Yap, who has a master's degree in special education from the Philippines, and the Swarthmore home is the residence of two adults and our newest houseparent, Dr. Rafe Martinez Arrue, with a PhD in psychology. The Franciscan Sisters have welcomed the participants of our Day Program to their Tuesday Afternoon Bingo. Every week our guys gleefully yell out their number or “bingo” and the regulars lovingly cheer them on.

Our Advent Season began with the generous gift of Christmas trees from Schmidt's Nursery and Linvilla Orchards. The Christmas trees were duly erected and decorated in Marty and Kevin’s home, the Day Program, and in our Media home. All of our men love Christmas, but Kevin goes crazy over Christmas trees. And the trees were particularly beautiful.

We are having an open house ribbon cutting ceremony on December 15th. We invite everyone to come and join us for beverages and snacks. And join us for our Wednesday Morning Coffee House from 10:00 to 11:00 beginning on December 13, with fresh coffee, donuts and pastries.

Attention Problems

From Spectrum News:

Young children with autism are no more likely than those without the condition to sustain injuries that require medical attention, according a study of more than 2,000 children¹. However, injuries are common among children with attention problems. About 30 percent of children with autism meet the criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). “Attention problems do appear to contribute to injury risk,” says lead investigator Carolyn DiGuiseppi, professor of epidemiology and pediatrics at the Colorado School of Public Health. “That existing relationship may explain why some studies have found a higher risk of injury in children with autism.” Some studies have reported that children with autism are at increased risk of injury, perhaps because of their behavioral or motor problems². But others have refuted that link³. (Read more.)

Autism and Sleep

From Spectrum News:

Studies over the past few years suggest that sleep problems may stem from the same mutations that underlie other, more characteristic features of autism. These changes may disrupt the circadian clock, a molecular timer that keeps cells in sync with the night-day cycle. So far, no evidence ties any of the top autism genes to the circadian clock. But several genetic conditions associated with autism, including tuberous sclerosis, fragile X syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome, may involve mutations that interfere with the clock. “This is a very active and needed area of investigation,” says Jonathan Lipton, a pediatric neurologist at the Boston Children’s Hospital Sleep Center. The circadian clock is a complex of proteins that forms every 24 hours in almost every cell in the body. It helps regulate the expression of genes, turning up to 40 percent of the genome on or off. (Read more.)