These picture epitomise the symptoms of autism. There are a couple behaviors shown in the picture above that are very typical of an autistic child, First and foremost is the fact that even though they are are playing together; they are also each doing their own separate activies. There is no social interaction.
When I was growing up and my siblings and I all faced abuse, we still faced it separately. My phrase for it is 'We were all in it together, separately.' How much better it would have been growing up if my siblings an I could have talked and worked together, but alas it was not to be. We still do not discuss it. It makes for great loneliness, feelings of self questioning and doubt without that social interaction. While my siblings could have had that interaction, due to the abuse it never happened. With autism that social interaction is missing; it is part of the autism condition. How very sad to go through life, to be an insular individual devoid of the comfort of human interaction.
This lack of interaction is again shown in the fact that autistic children lack interaction with their playthings, also. Instead of playing with their toys and having them interact; they line them up. Notice that Wyatt is lining up the crayons while Hayden is coloring. Hayden has been in therapy and Laura has worked hard in encouraging some kind of interaction, but when Hayden was little he often lined up he toys and heaven forbid you moved them. It was meltdown time. Now he can interact with his toys sometimes with great enthusiasum.
There is great hope in the research and therapies now. I believe every person has their own special set of talents and gifts, but autistic children need extra help in coping and developing social skills so that their own personal talents can show and shine.
For more information on autism please go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/.
If you go through this website to Amazon I have a wish list under my name Johnina Young and under my wish list Autism look for items that help with autism if you would like to learn more or would like to help me help my grandchildren. Or you can go to the Amazon link or my wish list on my sidebar. I have checked these books out at the library when they were available so I know most of them to be helpful and informative.
ENJOY
♥♥♥Johnina♥♥♥
3 comments:
Love these pictures, the children look like they are enjoying their play...even if individually. Such is the world they are a part of, but then, that is what they understand it's everyone else who needs to learn!....I was fortunate to work, all be it, on a voluntary basis for a Charity up until about a year ago - I did the carriage driving/teaching and horse riding with them for about 15 years and constantly came into contact with autism and saw for myself that some would have quite wild behaviour at times, but sit them on a horse or in a carriage and they totally changed - became one with the horse and it calmed them, the rhythm of movement helped I'm sure.
I'm so glad you shared this. When I was a lifeguard/instructor, I coached our pool's Special Olympics swim team, and a number of our swimmers were autistic. I remember working closely with their parents to ensure the program was adapted to everyone's needs.
I taught for a lot of years - all through my teens and through university - but nothing was more rewarding than that one experience.
I just cant stay without appreciating the art.
Its awesome.
Its wonderfully done.
Thanks a lot to you for sharing this.
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