A Day in the Life of Autism: Sara, age 4

[tommyzoomer]

Eewqqqqq

[marythornton21]

Looks like great progress. I was a special needs teacher. All of my ex pupils are now grown up. One of them in particular had huge semantic pragmatic language difficulties, (understanding) and also expressing, and social difficulties. That young person now has a full time job, a boy friend, and I consider her to be my friend also. I am so proud of her, just as you must be of your daughter. There is a way to go, but you have all made a terrific start!!

[HannyCheung]

Wow - so many people that know nothing about autism feeling compelled to criticise the video and her 'condition'. There are so many videos on Youtube like this - i.e an apparently normal looking child with the family. What you don't see is how difficult it is for autistic kids in social, learning or new environments - you will definitely see the difference from normal kids.

[mommafain]

hi! my son is 4 (we've been doing speech since he was 2 1/2 and OT for 6 months) she is precious! and did I hear her singing "My God is so Big" at the end? We sing that at our house :) When was she diagnosed? My son has an appointment in 2 months with a developmental pediatrician.

[Piquichi123]

Hi, mommafain! She was diagnosed at 2 1/2 (she had no speech then). We saw a neurodevelopmental pediatrician, too. We had OT/speech, but ABA got her to engage the most. We still prompt her for eye contact when speaking directly to someone and her cognition is delayed. She is in an autism class at school with some mainstreaming (!). It is definitely a journey. Blessings to you and your son. Good luck. (I remember we waited 6 months for the initial appointment; those docs are busy.)

[mamabearcaruso]

She seems totally fine!! She's beautiful worshipping God! :)

[julnsey]

She looks like a typical 4 year old to me, but better behaved!

[MsPsychobanana]

The behavior that is desplayed in this video is not at all autistic.  Perhaps the diagnosis would change if you brought her to be re-evaluated by a different professional who does not know her actual diagnsis. The brain is very 'plastic' and she may have healed for the most part. .... btw...of course not all kids sit still in restaurant before age 3 or so.

[Piquichi123]

She has Pervasive Developmental Disorder, on the autism spectrum. At 4 1/2, she was mimicking and repeating -- "good job, Sara." She's now 8. She *might* be able to outgrow the diagnosis and function mainstream but the basic autistic markers will be there: difficulty engaging, favoring pat phrases over original speech, inward-looking. I believe your advice is well-intended, but I've seen too much of this disorder to believe she will be healed. What behavior do you deem autistic?

[MsPsychobanana]

@Piquichi123 Thank you for your reply. Your description of her current challenges do suggest a PDD diagnosis. It is just not evident in this video. Perhaps this is not the case with your child, but my son is currently 4 1/2 and has recently become more vebal, with difficulty engaging with others. One day I asked him if he wants to go to big boy school, and he screamed "NO! I don't want to sit by myself" i was rather shocked. There's more, but I can say that behavior does not = disinterest.

[MsPsychobanana]

@Piquichi123 ...so we have enrolled him in a 16 week social skills class (3 hours on Saturdays) for PDD and ADHD kids with an organisations called Brilliant Beginnings. They mimic social occations,like birthday parties and other stuff, and teach approproate behavior. Our Psychologist told us that "sometimes" PDD kids disengage because they don't know how to engage, but they want to. As confirmed by my little guy, that is the case for him. I'll let you know how it goes... :)

[Aslmop]

Hi! Your daughter is absolutely beautiful! I can't believe what she is doing~ talking/singing, pretend play, sitting calmly at dinner. thats amazing! My 2 1/2 year old son is autistic and we have a long way to go. we are starting him in ABA therapy 10 hours a week for now (until we can afford more), and he also does an hour each of speech and occupational per week. I was wondering, what type of therapy did you do with her? and for how many hours per week? I would appreciate any advise you have!

[Piquichi123]

@Aslmop Hi! You are doing exactly what we did at that age. We could only afford 10-15 hours a week of ABA, but am I glad we did it! (mortgaged our house to do it, but we did it.) We also did speech and OT. Speech for a couple hours a week and OT for one hour -- insurance covered that for about a year. I think ABA was the most helpful of all 3.

[Piquichi123]

@Piquichi123 As for the sitting calmly at dinner? Hee. I remember the first 3 years my husband and I took turns eating with her (one would eat while the other walked around/played with her; and then we'd switch.) I think she just started calming down around 4. It had more to do with age than anything. Good luck with your little one. :)

[breyerlvrsunited]

So...where is the autistic child? I just see an intelligent little girl praising the lord.

[Piquichi123]

@breyerlvrsunited Yes and yes. :) There are varying degrees of autism. I wanted people to see that. Thanks for stopping by.

[LaceyM14]

She's beautiful- and these posts on here are sickening, you should report them as spam.

[Piquichi123]

@LaceyM14 I see some have been reported already. Thanks for looking out. :)

[claireste]

she is sooooooooooooo cute

[figgy709]

Actually, you should sit her in front of a piano to sing, her little fingers look like she's playing a piano, or wanting to? She's making music with her hands.She's sweet ;)

[TheFungirl29]

I think thats wonderful

[vivalabama345]

Sang It Gal. You Got it praise the lord.

[Sueezee1]

What in the hell is autistic about this child>?????

[Piquichi123]

@Sueezee1 You remind me of the school administrator who would not accept her diagnosis and told me to come back when I find her sitting under a table and rocking. There are many autisms. This is higher functioning, but it's autism. Trust me. :)

[vientoenpopa3]

Ever since Bill Gates was diagnosed with autism, now 9 out of 10 parents want his child to be an autistic one.

[Piquichi123]

@vientoenpopa3 Hi there. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, you are wrong. My daughter was diagnosed at 2 1/2. She is doing so well because she got identified early and has had years of therapy. It's not a "cool" diagnosis to have. But I am pleased my daughter is rising above. :)

[1996gymnasticsfan]

Does Sara have a crush on Donny Osmond? I'm 14 and also autistic and I think Donny is so hot, then and now.

[MsOmeGa29]

This is wonderful. I am so thankful you know the Lord and teaching Him to your little girl. My son is autistic and he also knows the Lord. Amen

[yogabarama159]

She is so cute!

[Tippyy7991]

I work with a six year autistic child named Reid. He's my world... They're precious!!!

[CariBee09]

God bless, Sara. She is one of God's special little angels on earth. What a precious, precious child :)

[HiWay69s]

i dont see nothing wrong with her. u should see kids from Alabama!

[0oxHAPPYxo0]

Adorable!!!

[pollytx]

Oh my gosh! She is exactly like our daughter, Phoebe! How wonderful. What a doll!!

[gtvl77]

my son is autistic...and acts just like her..it was as if i were watching my son.....godbless her

[LBNani1]

Shes so cute and she seems like shes so controlable with her autism!!!

You guys must be proud:)

[mollytrixie]

Oh Mary...she's beautiful!! I'm all teary watching her praise the Lord in such a sweet and innocent way. My God is so BIG so strong and so mighty there's nothing my God can not do ;-)

[Piquichi123]

You're so sweet! :) (I like when she makes her own camera with her hands and takes a pic.) It's so amazing to see by God's grace how far she's come. She didn't used to look people in the eye or interact at all. She still struggles with language, but she loves music -- it's a bridge for her...and fun for us! We sing all the time. She's a joyful little gal and we're blessed to know her.

[Pam4Rob]

wow this girl is very lucky and so are you my step sisters kid is autistic, and cannot speak, cannot go to the bathroom and isn't that communicative. This makes me happy to see other families with a high functioning autistic child.

[skriglangka]

Cute and funny kid. And she looks so happy!

It seems to me that there is a lot of things happening "under the hood", much more than she can express.

I think that her singing is very precise and when she puts her finger in the top of the straw(at 0:25) she makes a rhythmic pattern with her mouth, that is right on the spot. Fantastic!

I also like when she makes binoculars(at 0:40) and "takes a picture" . That´s Funny .

I hope she plays some instrument, cause she´s so full of music.

[EverythingChanges13]

She sounds like my 4 year old when he sings,his fav song is who let the dogs out.

[shawn45766]

cool kid i also have three and one with autism!!!

[kevinfruet]

She is awesome!