Understanding. Perseverance. Acceptance.

Being an autismmum...I hv a soft spot for children with special needs especially those diagnosed with autism.
In fact, I love seeing these children & if given a choice...would like to know more about them as a learning process for an autism mum.
It has always been a learning process with Aqil and it will continue to be in future. Just when I thought I'd understood him...he will portray a new trait which requires us to start adapting to it all over again.

Yes...us adapting to him. Why not?
It has always been the other way. Its always the children having to adapt to what is wanted by the adults. Its always about the special needs children having to conform to certain routines. Why can't it be the other way?

A child with autism has high sensitivity & low threshold for almost everything.
A colourful classroom or nursery maybe beautiful to all but to those with autism...the colours maybe too much for them.
A classroom is often decorated so nicely & the walls and boards are filled with all the words taught to the kids...but to a child with autism, those words are causing his world to spin.
And when the child melts down...he or she is often seen as not adaptive...not following rules.
Put yourself in the child's shoe. What might the child be feeling?

A child with autism or generally a child with special needs is always a child first then the autism or special needs.
He or she too wants to be accepted, be understood, be loved, be respected.

How does it feel to be dragged out of a room against your wish?
That's exactly what the child is feeling.

A meltdown requires understanding...& lots of patience. It all depends on what the child is feeling or going through.
Screaming, wailing & crying are ways for them to let go of their feelings. It is always their way of attracting your attention...yes, your attention as they are trying to tell that they are uncomfortable.

When the child is having a meltdown, eyes will already be on him or her. Dragging the child away may hurt the child emotionally.

A child with autism is most of the time in a world of their own...hence they are oblivious of the real world. It is true that we hv to get them to learn abt  the real world but not by force...never.

And every child is different...unique.
This child might be able to adapt easily but that child just requires a longer time. One child may experience meltdowns more often than the other child. One technique may not apply to all.

More and more of these children are in mainstream schools.
One reason can be its the parents' choice. Some parents maybe in denial of their child's condition. But do understand that it is already tough for the parents to know that their child is different from the other children. Some parents especially those who placed such beautiful dreams & high hopes ever since the pregnancy was discovered...the heartbreak that they might be going through is indescribable.

Some parents are more accepting of their child's condition however, the shortage of teachers and classes in special needs schools leave them no choice but to place their child in mainstream school.

In whatever case...it is never the child's decision...the child didn't ask to be place in that particular sch...the child didn't want to behave that way...the child want to be in the classroom but the ambience is too much to be handled...the child wants to learn but too much info is causing congestion in his head...

All they ask for or want is for the people around to understand...be more perseverance with their antics & accept them as they are....