Conference moira::parenting_v3

    
    
    Hi Kristen,
    
    I have on tape part or most of the 20/20 segment on "Autism and
    Leominster, MA." Is that the program you're thinking about?  Let me
    know and if so, I can send you the tape.  
    
    Don't feel guilty about having your children around these twins.  
    If you want to help, by taking the kids so the parents can have a night
    out then, by all means, do so.  Guilt will not help anyone, it really
    is a useless, man-made "emotion".  Adjustment and knowledge are the 
    strengths everyone will need.
    
    It will also help them to know that you are a caring friend.  Sometimes
    that's really enough, that kind of caring and support can do amazing 
    things for human beings!
    
    Nancy
         

There's an innovative school for autistic children in Lexington, MA
called the Boston Higashi School.  The "mother" school is in Japan,
and most of the staff is Japanese.  They've had great success in bringing
autistic children "out of themselves."  They have just over 100 students
from all over the world, ranging in age from about 4 to 20.  There are
both residential and non-residential students.

My wife and I and another couple have been helping a 14-year-old boy who
attends the school.  He's one of the milder cases -- he has autistic tendencies 
rather than full-blown autism.  He's verbal and he makes eye contact, but
he has certain compulsive and inappropriate behaviors.  The school thinks
he can be mainstreamed with some help.

We recently attended the school's annual celebration.  All students
participated.  There were musical performances, physical education
demonstrations, and a playlet (Cinderella).  At the end, the parents
presented awards to the teachers and staff.  They described what
their children had been like before the school, and how they'd change.
Children came to the school in diapers, unable to eat or sleep properly,
always anxious and depressed, unable to communicate.  Now they were
able to take care of their needs, able to learn, to follow directions,
and to participate in groups.

The address is 2618 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington MA 02173.

    Kristen,
    
    The Asabet::Learning_Disabilities conference has a note on autism (#36)
    that could point you to more helpful information. I used to babysit for
    an autistic child, and it can be very frustrating, day in and day out.
    I'm sure that your friends could use the break. You are a wonderful
    friend to think of making this offer, particularly with two little
    girls of your own.
    
    Lee Ann
    

I found the show - it was PrimeTime Live on 1/23/92.  It was titled something
like "Coming out of Silence" and showed how autistic children could communicate
if someone held their hand for them and let them type.  It was really incredible.

I ordered a copy of the tape from Journal Graphics.

Thanks for all the input - please keep it coming.  I know that these children
will bring much joy into all of our hearts, and we will come to get used to
this and learn to live with it.  But the shattered dreams are difficult to deal
with now, so I think time is needed to adjust.  I just can't imagine....

Kristen

It had "Son" and "Rise" in the title, and depicted a family's struggle with
their son's autism.  It was purportedly based on a true story and, with
great difficulty, the family did succeed in bringing their son "out of himself".

Maybe someone else can provide the real title...

    The book "Dibs, In Search of Self" (don't know the author)
    is a wonderful book I read some 25 years ago about an autistic 
    child and his growth.  See if you can find it, it may help.
    
    
    Jodi-

    I too read the book, probably as Jodi some 25 years ago.  It was
    positively a beautifully written book.  I confess to crying while
    reading several parts of the book, including the end.  I had in in
    paperback.  Usually Waldenbook is good about ordering books which they
    do not stock regularly.
    
    There is also a school for Autistic children somewhere near
    Framingham/Southboro.  A friend of ours is an R.N. and works there. 
    She has related just as many success stories as horror stories.  THey
    may have a library with not only this book but many others.
    
    my .02 worth
    Lyn

Re school near Framingham:

The Boston Higashi School's dormitory is in Natick.

    
    Re: Boston Higashi School
    
    The school also publishes books related to Autism - I once ordered a 
    few for a friend in India with an autistic child.  I am not sure of the
    exact titles - they had something to do with "teaching" an autistic
    child.  Maybe they have a catalog that they can send you.
    
    Pam
    
    
    

I have an 8 year old boy who have Autistic
behaviors, when he was 3 years old they thought he had Autism, now they are
saying that he doesn't but has Autistic behaviors, but I don't think they
really know what the problem is. He has been though all kinds of test
and everything is normal, but he is still slow and has some bizarre behaviors
My little boy is a beautiful child and is very smart to me and I would not 
know what to do with out him, to me he's normal until he is around another 
child his age and I could see a big difference, but I am going to do the
best I can do with the child that God has given me, and try to make him  a
decent and self sufficient young man.