Welcome to Autie town population ...YOU. What worked for us...

Trying new things with your little Autie can be really daunting, not only for the child but especially for us parents!
Every child is different so these things may not be everyone's cup of tea, however
This post is focused on new things we have tried with our 5 year old over the past few years in an attempt to get him talking and interacting, he was completely non-verbal until he was three and now he has a broad store of language to help him communicate, He is still not totally there conversationally but his understanding has come on so much in the last year especially. So here is a list of what worked for us so far....

Music - When Diddles was almost 3 he had no words other than "Mammy" and "Daddy" and very limited eye contact. I researched speech delay and I found some Nursery Rhyme tracks on itunes and every opportunity I got I would put on that music. The rhyme's were catchy silly songs with ABC's etc. I would especially play these in the car were he was confined to his car seat. His reaction to the music at first was hands over the ears and humming to block the sounds out and I was tempted to stop playing it for fear it was hurting him (this was pre-diagnosis of ASD). Then one day he was playing with his cars and I heard him humming and then singing some of the words, not very clear but this was amazing to us. He then started to sing when he wanted to hear the music again, I went with my gut and started dancing around to the music like some silly lunatic woman with him. He thought this was hilarious, it brought on eye contact and interaction like never before with him. It proved to me he could listen and pay attention to things that sparked an interest in him. And what child doesn't like acting ridiculous sometimes?


Animals - We discovered when he came into contact with animals he became calm and focused. They had a really soothing and calming affect on him. They still do to this day. We are on the waiting lists for an autism assistance dog although we still have a bit of a wait left before we get one.                                                                                                                                            For his fifth birthday we started him off horse riding. This has been a major breakthrough with him. Like everything at first he was terrified but that was because it was so new. I find persistence with Diddles is all he needs, that extra push and he becomes fearless and willing and more confident. Now it is one of his favourite things to do. He has the same pony every time so there are no surprises for him when he arrives. He stays on the pony for the full lesson and leads him back to the stables and brushes him down when finished. He is engrossed in this absolutely loves every minute of it.

Visually strong Diddles is very strong visually, he registers the tiniest of details and we discovered this when he would point out things to us that we would not usually notice, for example a bird in the far distance of a photograph or a car with different color reg plates etc. We had to figure out how to harness this. We began with flash cards bright, colorful and basic. In the beginning to get his interest we had to bring his finger over to point at the image on the card and he would begin to say the word. Now I can show him text for some words and he can read it. It has taken A LOT of repetition but it has worked.
                                                I can not possibly do this post without mentioning the fantabulous ipod touch! To begin with apps like ABA flash cards and ilearn2talk and itouch ilearn  , countless YouTube videos of the educational and of course entertaining kinds (Thomas the tank engine in Japanese or Maters tall tales en espanol!), Touch pet dogs is one of his favourites as well as Stick figure games and feed me app. The only thing I will say as a warning is it can become an obsession so I try to limit the time he has it. I try to use it as a reward mostly, but he has been known to sneak it past me!
Also to briefly mention some websites to help with starting out on making visual aids/ pecs etc. There are lots of websites out there I found these to be great when starting out!

• http://www.setbc.org/pictureset/
• http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/ireland/
• http://www.visualaidsforlearning.com/
• Google images - for anything you can not find in pictures sets google will have it!

Social stories a brilliant discovery I made is Story builder software its free to download and you can add your own images and it gives sample story to help start you off.

People games When I completed the Hanen programme More than words, we discovered people games! These were brilliant for drawing him out. A lot of acting the gobsheen on my part but worth it to hear the results.


#1 The blanket swing. Lots of repetition and the aim being he started the game and used more language and understanding and taking turns.

#2 Chasing - Aim was taking turns again and initiating the start and finish of the game. Keeping it interesting with tickles and funny faces really helps.

#3 Toy racing - wind up toys having a race, understanding the rules and being patient were the aims here!

#4 Balloon game - blowing up the balloon, letting it whizz around the room or screeching it (some sensitive ears might not allow and others find it hilarious). Getting the speech going and initiating the game.

eg. Big bubble, small bubble, wet bubble etc.

#6 Videos - We discovered one day that if Diddles was totally engrossed in the TV or video that if you intervene and pause it or rewind programme it in itself is enough motivation to get some new language out of him.
"I want to play it again" or "press play please".

#7 Making Jelly/ Rice crispy cakes

#8 Making a home- made obstacle course - using toys, chairs etc.

Sensory play

• Play Dough is a favorite. 
• Water - cups in the kitchen sink/ kids pool (if the sun ever comes back to Ireland) 
• Sand pit - He loves the texture, Salt in a lunch box does the same thing.
• Resistance straws - have race blowing pieces of cotton wool.
• Trampoline/bouncy castle/bouncing on a therapy ball/gym ball

Anyway my whole point in publishing this post is in the hope that it might help anyone starting out on the Autism voyage. Its not easy to get your head around everything in the beginning, it's overwhelming and sometimes we need a little inspiration! Especially when it drains so much of your energy waiting for services. This is all DIY ideas that worked for us.


(Images courtesy of google images, videos courtesy of YouTube)

Demolition men

I am usually abruptly awakened each morning. Around 6:45 (ish) with a thump of a baby bottle in the head which has been hurled from the cot followed by Diddles hopping into the bed beside me saying "Good morning" on repeat until I say "Good morning", and I realise I was dreaming and I am not in the jungle eating "daddy long legs". This time of morning is despite numerous encounters through the night of pacing the landing back and forth to Diddles room. Needless to say there is no room for a snooze button in our house! As much as you would like them to the little darlings are not going to wait for you to wake up. It is almost like someone shouting "GO!!" without giving you a "Ready, Steady" first.

I have recently been introduced to visual aids for dressing, toileting, teeth brushing etc. I have been introducing them to Diddles and he gets the concept but if he does not like the routine it is almost impossible to get him to do it. For example brushing his teeth. He used to be fine with this and now every single morning guaranteed if he catches sight of  a tooth brush he will bolt out of the room and hide. We think this might be a sensory issue with him. Someone has suggested an electric toothbrush so I am going to try this and pray that it works. The wrestling match every morning is getting old now!
So far visuals have reduced the morning meltdowns. I have actually found myself with extra time in the mornings before Diddles is picked up for school. I am definitely a fan! Why did I not know about these sooner??!!

When Diddles is in school I still have demolition man numero dos!
My poor house! Will it ever be safe from my own little Demolition men? I can literally hear the sigh of relief through the house as they finally drift off to sleep at night! Or that could be the neighbours!!

Madman as we like to call him lately seems to have hit the terrible twos' at 18 months! He leaves a trail of destruction behind him where ever he goes. His most recent venture was pulling the first two rows of buttons off my laptop. I stepped out of the room to put something in the dishwasher returned to find him waving at me sweet as pie smile on his face "Hi Mammy" he says. While standing over his art work.

Thank god for paint testers they sell in D.I.Y stores because the artwork is starting to take over! I found lovely luminous pink highlighter pen like train tracks up my hall. It was at two different heights on the wall. The little angels are in this together! They are tag teaming me!

I also found another masterpiece on my kitchen wall and one behind the curtains in my bed room.

The gas thing is they are never out of my sight and yet they manage to do this?! Little masterminds in the making!!