Anna's Playroom w/Barb (Mom) 2009-06-21

In addition to her autism (PDD-NOS) Anna (7 yrs old) has "gut" problems and often appears physically very uncomfortable. She lies down for long portions of some of her sessions. Volunteers and I (mom) are challenged to interact with someone who is lower energy, horizontal and often withdrawn (more than usual) most of the time and often looking and sounding uncomfortable, yet maintain a happy, positive and "3 E's" (energy, excitement and enthusiasm) attitude in these conditions. This session was one of these more difficult ones for her gut, and more of her "green lights" I attempted to build didn't "go anywhere". I was attempting to introduce activity and movement whenever I was building or initiating to inspire her to moving activities despite the discomfort, to say you can be active and happy in life even if you are uncomfortable, but the reality is that often I am uncomfortable during these periods worrying if her health problems will worsen and are or will become really serious, and volunteers also have these concerns. Doctors and our finances have not be able to accomplish clear characterization or cure/treatment of this side issue. Our attitudes in the playroom and energy levels reflect this. Developmental goals at this time: eye contact - 3-4 sec; communicative language - answering and asking simple questions (who, what, where); interactive attn span - 9min or more; flexibility (core variations). This video was posted to obtain help from the teachers at the Autism Treatment Center of America (the Son-Rise Program) in Sheffield, MA as to how to manage sessions most effectively for her recovery under these conditions.

Category:

Howto & Style

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• Son-Rise
• Sonrise
• Option
• playroom
• Anna
• Barbara
• autism
• therapy
• home
• Autism
• Treatment
• Center
• of
• America