Seeing Through The Lens Of Autism

Temple Grandin is one of the most well-known individuals with autism. She has a doctorate in animal science and is a professor at Colorado State University. Additionally, Dr. Grandin is a bestselling author and respected consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior.

From a radio essay on NPR a few years ago, here are some insights from Dr. Grandin about how autism affects the cognitive process:

Because I have autism, I live by concrete rules instead of abstract beliefs. And because I have autism, I think in pictures and sounds. I don’t have the ability to process abstract thought the way that you do.

Here’s how my brain works. It’s like the search engine Google for images. If you say the word love to me, I’ll surf the Internet inside my brain. Then a series of images pops into my head. What I’ll see, for example, is a picture of a mother horse with a foal, or I think of Herbie the Love Bug, scenes from the movie Love Story, or the Beatles’ song, love, love, All You Need is Love…

…I built a library of experiences that I could refer to when I was in a new situation. That way, when I confronted something unfamiliar, I could draw on the information in my homemade library and come up with an appropriate way to behave in a new and strange situation.

These are fascinating perspectives and I’d encourage you to find the full transcript and audio here. With 1 in 88 children being diagnosed with autism, sooner or later you’ll encounter an individual who has autism and thinks “in pictures and sounds” like Dr. Grandin.

 

Dealing With Autism: Starting Points

As Autism Awareness Month wraps up, I’d like to offer some additional  resources and starting points for understanding and embracing ASD (see previous posts for other suggestions).

One of the most helpful approaches we’ve found, widely embraced by the medical and special needs communities, is “ABA Therapy.” Pioneered by Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas, this is an especially effective treatment for autism. Here’s his site and links to a significant number of studies about ABA Therapy.

There are many organizations offering information and networking for the autism community. We’ve found Autism Society of America (a national organization with state chapters) to be especially helpful. Your awareness of autism may have been increased by the effective advocacy work of Autism Speaks.  And my friend Bob West has a wonderful website – dealing with a variety of special needs and offering hope to families, Need Project.

For inspirational encouragement, see www.ChosenFamilies.org. My wife, Dena, appreciates http://childrenofdestiny.org, a site featuring a daily prayer for families with special needs members.

There are many more sources for parents raising a child with autism. I’d welcome your suggestions.

When The Diagnosis Is Autism

When we heard the news from a child neurologist, my wife and I were shell shocked. While relived that we had a name for the behavioral challenges we had experienced with him, we were also confused and distressed. We didn’t know what it meant when the physician said that Zane is clearly on the autistic spectrum. Unfortunately, the doctor didn’t offer much help. So we spent the first few months wondering what to do next.

We soon found ourselves immersed, however, in learning as much as possible about Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We read a number of books. We found a lot of information online – but how could we know what to believe and trust?

I’ve had countless conversations during the past few years with people who are dealing with a recent diagnosis of ASD for their child or grandchild. In the interest of helping other families I’ve compiled a list of resources. Here are just a few which I have found very helpful.

There is a great book that’ll give you an idea of the types of twists and turns you’ll encounter in the journey ahead. Written with compassion and some rich humor along the way. Get a copy of DANCING WITH MAX: A MOTHER AND SON WHO BROKE FREE by Emily Colson Boehme with her father, Chuck Colson. Emily’s (now) adult autistic son, Max, has been an unexpected a pathway to joy for their family, and this is an inspiring account of their experiences.

I’d also recommend THINKING IN PICTURES (and other titles) by Temple Grandin. She is a professor at Colorado State University, bestselling author, and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior. As a person with high-functioning autism, Grandin is noted for her work in autism advocacy.

There’s a wonderfully touching film about Temple Grandin’s life that we loan out to folks – and the overwhelming response is quite positive. This is perhaps one of the best depictions of how individuals with ASD think and relate to the world around them.

Focus on the Family has some helps. Here’s a brief video series (part one and part two) addressing how one family coped with a diagnosis of autism for their young son. Each segment is only a few minutes in length, and you’ll hear some encouraging perspectives.

More resources in the next post. For now, if you are new to the diagnosis of autism, I’ll offer a word of encouragement. Your child is special and deserving of all your love and energy. The road ahead is likely full of disappointments and difficulties. If you’ll hold onto God and His sovereignty, trusting Him each day for the strength and wisdom you’ll need, the steps on the journey will be a little bit easier, and richer.

 

The e-Book Revolution, Coming To Your School Soon

It arrived without the fanfare of a new phone or tablet, but last week’s introduction to the world of digital textbooks signals Apple’s “next big thing.” As the company continues to explore new ways of delivering content, and to expand its revenue sources, I think they’ve tapped into a HUGE market.

Any college student will tell you that bookstore visits are usually dreaded. It isn’t that the staff are unfriendly, or that the atmosphere isn’t nice enough. Its the drain on the wallet – or pocketbook – that is so painful. Buy the latest edition, because last semester’s textbook is pitifully outdated. Get the right edition, because the prof isn’t going to accommodate a slacker who can’t get the required book. And watch the latest become…a big old paperweight, rather useless after the semester is over. I am ashamed to say that I actually thought I’d refer to some of my most valued college texts…and that a few remain crammed into a box in the attic…even though it has been a long, long time since those courses.

Obviously the textbook system is antiquated and in need of overhaul. And our friends at Apple are looking out for us. According to some quick research, Apple sold 350,000 textbooks in the three days after unveiling their availability on iBookstore.

While the market is only for college books at the present, you can see where this is headed. K-12 educators and parents need to be ready for the day, coming all too soon, when all students use a tablet device for all their books. I recall a conversation less than a year ago with my daughter, a high school student who carries about 100 pounds of books to and from school everyday (oh, alright, maybe it was 40 or 50 pounds…but still).I shared my concern about the burden – literally – of carrying that much weight. Too many books! There is hope, I told her, of a brighter future.

“Saige,” I said, “Before you finish college you’ll be getting all your textbooks electronically. You’ll have ‘em all on an iPad. It’ll save you money – and it’ll save your back!”

Looks like I was a little long on the projection. Seems she’ll see that textbook revolution happen before she finishes high school. And for that, I am grateful.

However, I’m wondering about the downside of having so much loaded onto a computer or tablet. Don’t our kids spend too much time already in front of those glowing screens? Do I really want my child to turn on their “books?” I guess it is inevitable, and I’ll look at the bright side of this development.

How about you? Has your child worn out the backpack from overloading, or suffered back problems from carrying around too many school books?

 

Autism In The News

Several recent articles and reports about autism that have caught my attention:

“There’s an app for that.” The Marietta Times reports about the local use of technology, specifically Apple’s iPad and some unique applications, to assist students with autism.

Questions every parent of a special needs child asks, and one that my wife and I have pondered: What happens when our son, who has autism, grows up? Will he be able to lead a happy, productive and independent life? One family’s story is linked here.

“The fact that it was five times as much was quite shocking.” That’s one scientist’s reaction to a possible link between low birth weight and autism. Newspaper coverage of that report is here.

And, from California, one study that examines the possibility that autism individuals have more brain cells than non-autistic persons.  “For the first time, we have the potential to understand why autism gets started,” said the study’s author.

Finally, this radio conversation remains one of my favorites from 2011. Chuck Colson talks lovingly about his grandson, Max. We featured Chuck’s daughter, Emily Colson, who shared tender and touching moments of raising Max. It is a must-listen to for anyone with an autistic child in their lives.

Thank You, Veterans

Today as we honor those who have served in our military, a story, a few links and a suggestion.

First, some feedback from a listener:

“My husband is a soldier; he’s been deployed overseas to the combat zone and will hopefully be returning soon.  About a week ago I called Focus to ask some questions related to welcoming him home.  A chaplain from your staff called back, offered helpful suggestions and prayed for our family.  You also sent me some materials that offer information and encouragement.  I can’t tell you how much your kindness means to me.  I am very proud of my husband, and it has been wonderful to hear him describe how he has been witnessing to people while deployed.  We both know this was where God wanted him.  Thank you very much for all the help and prayer that you offer military families.  It is only by God’s grace and the prayers of His people that we are able to continue on with joy and thanksgiving.”

We LOVE hearing from someone we’ve helped. And if you donate to Focus on the Family, you played a part in reaching out to this family in a time of real need.

If you are military, or like me have friends who serve, you should know about some of the practical things we offer families. Let me start by pointing to Dr. Gary Rosberg and his wife Barb, who have a great outreach to military families. Here’s a radio conversation with them about common issues of communication, control and coming together for deployed families.

Related, here’s an article with firsthand insights about some of the challenges couples and parents face when returning home.

In this two-day series, Retired Maj. Gen. Doug Carver and retired Capt. Mike Langston discuss their experiences as military chaplains and their ministry to soldiers on the battlefield. They have some dramatic stories and huge hearts for the men and women they worked with as chaplains.

Here’s a radio program about the realities of life with PTSD, featuring an incredible story of survival and the on-going difficulties. We also offer trusted counseling advice to help with some of the basics for those returning from battle – and those awaiting them.

Alright, now for a suggestion (two, actually). Practically, one way to support our troops in the most important aspects of their service – their faith in God – we’ve got an easy and significant opportunity. Give a dramatized audio Bible to a soldier on the field…and offer them God’s Word. Details here. So far, your financial help has helped hundreds of these unique and powerful tools be ‘deployed.”

Finally, a reminder to take a minute to thank a veteran, and to thank God for the privileges we have in this country.

 

 

 

 

Spiritual Aspects of Eating

In this broadcast Lysa TerKeurst continues to offer insights from her book, Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food. Here’s a video clip from our in-studio conversation.

Choosing Childhood Memories

As featured on the Focus on the Family radio broadcast, Lysa TerKeurst offers a personal – and practical – look at the “why” behind our eating patterns. Focusing on God as our provider and healer, she suggests there is a spiritual element to our physical decisions and behaviors.

In the following video clip, Lysa recalls a happy moment with her father. Despite years of difficulties with her dad, it is a tender childhood memory of her father’s effort to show his love.

If you’re struggling with unhealthy choices that reflect unhealed wounds from the past, call our family help-line at 800-A-Family. Ask for a counselor, and we’ll have someone call you back a convenient time. They’ll walk you through some initial steps, and then make suggestions about resources and someone in your area you can talk with further.

Kids and Braces

My daughter was in a panic. She accidentally threw away her retainer at a New Year’s party. We were already 25 minutes away when I called the host family and explained the situation. The man of the house told me he’d look for that expensive piece of plastic and metal. Later, he told me that he donned some gloves and went through three large garbage bags of post-party trash before finally finding the retainer. My daughter wept with relief, and a valuable lesson – about putting that thing in her pocket, or her purse – but NOT on her plate – was learned.

Maybe you’ve been there? Seems more and more parents have children in braces. According to the Wall Street Journal,

The number of children 17 and younger getting orthodontic treatment has grown 46% over the past decade to 3.8 million in 2008.

That’s an interesting stat.  Perhaps your family is included there?

We’ve had four of our kids so far, in braces, with certainty that at least one more will have a metal mouth. Our orthodontist who has delivered dramatic results, and he has really worked with us in helping the children have proper bites and straight teeth. I’m good with it all – in fact, I wore braces as a teen.

The exception in childhood orthodontic success for us is that one of the kids, after two years or so of braces, went through a growth spurt, and the jaw expanded and threw the entire treatment out of whack. So those two years were essentially wasted, bringing to mind the lack of guarantee when it comes to early-use of braces.

Are your kids in braces? Do you subscribe to the early treatment approach? Have you had a negative experience with kids and braces?

Radio Touching Lives

Encouragement to start your week: God can -and frequently does – use our efforts to touch others. Here’s a powerful example of how He recently took a radio program and used it to help a couple and their pastor:

A pastor contacted Focus to thank us for a providentially timed broadcast.  A young married couple in his church had come to him for help with some emotional struggles in their relationship.  The minister felt ill-equipped to assist them, as much of their difficulty stemmed from health issues which were unfamiliar to him.  A few days later, he heard a Focus program that addressed those very concerns!  The pastor admitted that he “just cried and cried” when he heard the program.  He called to request two recordings of the broadcast – one for the couple and one for himself.

When you pray for and give to Focus on the Family, you’re partnering with us touch the lives of men and women around the world. Thanks for being on “our team!”

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