Autism

Quirks and Chaos by Lisa G. Smith

My adventures and thoughts as I mother my two youngest children. They are the youngest of seven and both have special needs: a boy with autism and an adopted little girl with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and ADHD.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Autism Increased My Vocabulary
When my youngest son Tate was diagnosed with autism I knew almost nothing about autism. I began to read and research desperately. I often had to stop and find a definition for many of the words I was introduced to. Some of those words became part of my daily vocabulary after that. For a while now I've had a list of words on my computer I planned to define in a blog post for those who are just entering the world I now live in. As I began to work on the post I had an idea. I could also illustrate the words. It's been a lot of fun compiling the words, defining them in my own words and then illustrating them.

• Accommodations: Accommodations offer alternative ways for students to receive lessons or test over material. Accommodations do not lower the difficulty of expectations for a student, but may change the teaching materials used, tests or the environment.
• Echolalia: The repeating of sounds, words or phrases is called echolalia. People who echo may not be able to communicate effectively or express their own thoughts but they parrot back things they have heard. If they are asked a question they might repeat the question and not answer the question.
• Meltdown: Meltdowns are often mistaken as temper tantrums. A meltdown is not about anger but can happen because of confusion or overstimulation. Meltdowns can be loud or they may be very quiet. A person may strike out or may withdraw.
• Modifications: Modifications change the amountof material to be learned or even the grade level of the material. Modifications create a different standard for children whose disabilities require bigger adjustments.
• Perseverate: To perseverate is to become stuck on something and be unable to mentally shift gears. People with autism often perseverate on one subject and alienate their peers by doing so.
• Reciprocity: Reciprocity is the exchange of something for joint advantage. Reciprocity is necessary for social interaction and conversation. It is a back-and-forth exchange. Emotional reciprocity is important in a relationship.
• Savant: A savant has detailed knowledge in a specialized field (splinter skills). A small percentage of people with autism are savants. There are many different skills a person might have if they are a savant.
• Scripting: Scripting is similar to echolalia. Many people with autism repeat scenes from movies or dialogue from books. This is called scripting.
• Splinter skills: A splinter skill is a skill that is stronger than the other skills a person has. A person with autism migh be able to do one or more things really well but have far less ability on other areas. Splinter skills are sometimes amazing, yet of little use to the person with autism.
• Stim: The word "stim" is short for the self-stimulatory behaviors or the stereotypic behaviors that are associated with autism. The spinning of objects, vocal echoes or any other repetitive behavior that people with autism become focused on are called stims.
• Theory of mind: Theory of mind is being able to understand the thoughts, motives and actions of others. Without theory of mind a person can easily fall victim to those with ill intentions.
• Transition: A transition is simply a change from one envrionment or activity to another. Transitions can be hard for a person with autism. It sometimes helps if warnings are given before a transition.