10 Things I Learned From Temple Grandin: Part One

 

                                     On Saturday I had the privilege of attending the Region Ten 2016 Autism Conference with keynote speaker Dr. Temple Grandin in Charlottesville, VA. I cannot tell you enough how much I learned both from Dr. Grandin as well as at the workshops that were offered. There was so much information that I am still trying to process.  I have to say though that I learned most from Dr. Grandin herself! For those who do not know her background she is now the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world!  Her story was told in the movie "Temple Grandin" which told the story of all her struggles, challenges and successes as one who is living with autism. Her story brings hope and understanding to all those who are affected by Autism in some way. I would encouraged all to watch this movie....especially those who are affected by Autism in some way. So, on to the list of things that I learned from Temple Grandin. Here are the first FIVE:

1. Statistics:  1 in 68 are diagnosed with Autism and 1 in 42 boys are diagnosed with Autism. Boys are FIVE times more likely to be diagnosed with Autism. There are currently 5 million people who have been diagnosed with Autism.

2. Teachable Moments: Absolutely NO YELLING!!!  Instead of saying "No" CALMLY give them instruction and instead tell them what they should be doing. Dr. Grandin explained that when she was little whenever she made social or manners mistake her mother never yelled "NO" or said "Stop It" but instead she calmly gave her the instruction of what she SHOULD do. She believes that there should be more emphasis on what children do right instead of concentrating on what they do/did wrong. This was beautifully portrayed in the movie "Temple Grandin". Watching how her mother handled these situations was such a great "teachable moment" for me as I learn to parent David. Here are some of her examples:
      If I twirled my fork around above my head, she said, “Put it on your plate.”

If I ate mashed potatoes with my fingers, she said, “Use the fork.”

If I touched merchandise in a store, she said, “Only touch the things you are going to buy.”

If I forgot to say “thank you” she would give me a cue and say, “You forgot to say pause.”

3. Discipline: Consistency, consistency, consistency. There needs to be the same consequence with the same rule. If the child throws a tantrum the discipline might be no tv for the night. If that is the established rule there cannot be any change to the consequence. This needs to happen both at school and at home. Never threaten a punishment when a child is in the middle of an over sensory meltdown. It will NOT work!!! Don't give the child the opportunity to manipulate between the parents and teachers at school. Teachers and parents need to work together to make sure there is consistency and the child understands the rules and the consequences for each rule clearly. There is stability in that. There is comfort in that. When changes occur without warning then that is when the challenging behavior/meltdowns occur.

4. Common Heath Issues: People who are on the spectrum are more likely to have stomach issues, autoimmune issues, hearing loss and panic attacks!  When SEVERE behavioral problems occur in non-verbal individuals Dr. Grandin encourages parents to inquire whether these medical issues may be happening. She also says that Acid Reflux heartburn is the most common cause of severe behavioral issues even though that may not appear to be the obvious cause. She also stressed constipation, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, ear infections, bad tooth and the stomach bug or ulcers. All of these can bring about extreme sensory issues that lead to severe behavioral problems for non-verbal individuals.

5. Fear: Fear is the main emotion in Autism. The amygdala is the fear center of the brain. It is three times larger in the brain of the individual who has Autism. Anxiety is a daily battle. Dr. Grandin uses low doses of antidepressants that have controlled her anxiety. If someone has too high of a dose of anti depressant medication they can have insomnia and agitation which is worse. Another thing that helped her fight through anxiety was hard physical work and exercise. Should you want to learn more about medical treatments she recommended reading her books "Thinking In Pictures" and "The Way I See It".  She wrote chapters on this issue that gives greater detail for persons and family members affected by Autism.

More to come..........    :)