Everybody Is Different: A Book for Young People Who Have Brothers or Sisters With Autism By: Fiona Bleach By: Fiona BleachFiona BleachFiona Bleach.

Everybody Is Different: A Book for Young Everybody Is Different: A Book for Young People Who Have Brothers or Sisters With People Who Have Brothers or Sisters With

AutismAutism

By: Fiona BleachBy: Fiona Bleach

ABOUT THE AUTHORABOUT THE AUTHOR

► The author, is an art The author, is an art therapist who has therapist who has worked for many years worked for many years at the Sybil Elgar at the Sybil Elgar School.School.

► She has real insight She has real insight into living and working into living and working with people with with people with autistic spectrum autistic spectrum disorders and her many disorders and her many illustrations make this a illustrations make this a warm and accessible warm and accessible book. book.

ABOUT THE BOOKABOUT THE BOOK

This book is designed to This book is designed to give answers to the many give answers to the many questions of brothers and questions of brothers and sisters of young people sisters of young people on the autism spectrum. on the autism spectrum.

It explains how many It explains how many children with siblings who children with siblings who have autism feelhave autism feel

It also shows how It also shows how children with autism are children with autism are treated in everyday life treated in everyday life

Why children should read this Why children should read this bookbook

► It shows that it is It shows that it is okay to be different okay to be different than everyone else than everyone else

► It’s a teaching tool It’s a teaching tool that paves the way that paves the way towards acceptance towards acceptance of persons who of persons who display autistic display autistic behavior. behavior.

ALL ABOUT AUTISMALL ABOUT AUTISM Not until the middle of the twentieth Not until the middle of the twentieth

century was there a name for a century was there a name for a disorder that now appears to affect disorder that now appears to affect children ages 3-10 .children ages 3-10 .

Autism causes kids to experience the Autism causes kids to experience the world differently from the way most world differently from the way most other kids do. other kids do.

It's hard for kids with autism to talk It's hard for kids with autism to talk with other people and express with other people and express themselves using words.themselves using words.

Kids who have autism usually keep to Kids who have autism usually keep to themselves and many can't themselves and many can't

communicate without special help.communicate without special help.

What causes AutismWhat causes Autism Autism affects two to Autism affects two to

six out of every 1,000 six out of every 1,000 kids, but no one kids, but no one knows what causes it. knows what causes it.

Some scientists think Some scientists think that some kids might that some kids might be more likely to get be more likely to get autism because it or autism because it or similar disorders runs similar disorders runs

in their families.in their families.

Signs of AutismSigns of Autism

Autistic childrenAutistic children Have delay in, or total lack of, Have delay in, or total lack of,

development of spoken development of spoken languagelanguage

Have difficulty initiating Have difficulty initiating conversationconversation

Display Echolalia (repeating Display Echolalia (repeating words or phrases instead of words or phrases instead of using normal language)using normal language)

Do not respond to their nameDo not respond to their name

Do not use or respond to Do not use or respond to gestures and other nonverbal gestures and other nonverbal cuescues

BehaviorBehavior Engages in highly Engages in highly

repetitive playrepetitive play

Obsessively preoccupied Obsessively preoccupied with a specific interest or with a specific interest or objectobject

Lack of make-believe or Lack of make-believe or imitative playimitative play

Dependent on routines, Dependent on routines, rituals and familiarityrituals and familiarity

Repetitive body Repetitive body movements (hand or movements (hand or finger flapping, eye rolling, finger flapping, eye rolling, twisting, spinning, rocking, twisting, spinning, rocking, etc.)etc.)

Social interactionSocial interactionDoesn’t point to objects or show them to Doesn’t point to objects or show them to othersothers

Doesn’t make eye contact at appropriate Doesn’t make eye contact at appropriate timestimes

Doesn’t look at other people’s faces as muchDoesn’t look at other people’s faces as much

Doesn’t respond to facial expressions or Doesn’t respond to facial expressions or body languagebody language

Doesn’t smile back at othersDoesn’t smile back at others

Lack of peer relationships appropriate to age Lack of peer relationships appropriate to age levellevel

Less interest in other childrenLess interest in other children

Not motivated by praise or physical affectionNot motivated by praise or physical affection

Doesn’t clearly demonstrate sympathy or Doesn’t clearly demonstrate sympathy or empathy empathy

..

How a child is diagnosedHow a child is diagnosed

Parents are usually the first to notice Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child. In some unusual behaviors in their child. In some cases, the baby seemed "different" from cases, the baby seemed "different" from birth, unresponsive to people or birth, unresponsive to people or focusing intently on one item for long focusing intently on one item for long periods of time. periods of time.

An engaging, babbling toddler may An engaging, babbling toddler may suddenly become silent, withdrawn, self-suddenly become silent, withdrawn, self-abusive, or indifferent to social abusive, or indifferent to social overtures. overtures.

The autism spectrum disorders can The autism spectrum disorders can often be reliably detected by the age of often be reliably detected by the age of 3 years, and in some cases, as early as 3 years, and in some cases, as early as 18 months.18 months.

How How AAutism utism isis treated treated

► There is no cure for autism, There is no cure for autism, but doctors, but doctors, therapiststherapists, and , and special teachers can help special teachers can help kids with autism overcome kids with autism overcome or adjust to many or adjust to many difficulties. The earlier a kid difficulties. The earlier a kid starts treatment for autism, starts treatment for autism, the better.the better.

► Different kids need different Different kids need different kinds of help, but learning kinds of help, but learning how to communicate is how to communicate is always an important first always an important first step. Spoken language can step. Spoken language can be hard for kidsbe hard for kids with autism with autism to learn.to learn.

How How AAutism utism isis treated treated

► Students with mild autism Students with mild autism sometimes can go to sometimes can go to regular schoolregular schoolss. But most . But most kids with autism need kids with autism need calmer, more orderly calmer, more orderly surroundings. surroundings.

► They also need teachers They also need teachers trained to understand the trained to understand the problems they have with problems they have with communicating and communicating and learning. They may learn learning. They may learn at home or in special at home or in special classes at public or private classes at public or private schools.schools.

Autism and everyday lifeAutism and everyday life

Some kids with mild Autism Some kids with mild Autism will grow up and be able to will grow up and be able to live on their own.live on their own.

Those with more serious Those with more serious problems will always need problems will always need some kind of help. some kind of help.

But all kids with autism have But all kids with autism have brighter futures when they brighter futures when they have the support and have the support and understanding of doctors, understanding of doctors, teachers, caregivers, parents, teachers, caregivers, parents, brothers, sisters, and friends. brothers, sisters, and friends.

How to explain Autism to your child

Don’t tell them that it’s bad.

Tell them little by little not all at once because they are unable to process all the information at once.

Explain to them that the sibling learns a different way.

Tell them that the sibling may need time to understand things.

Child Siblings

Developmental considerations Developmental considerations when telling a child when telling a child

PRESCHOOLERS (BEFORE AGE 5) Children in this age group are Children in this age group are unable to articulate their feelings, unable to articulate their feelings, so they will likely show their so they will likely show their feelings through behaviors.feelings through behaviors.

They will be unable to understand They will be unable to understand the special needs of their sibling, the special needs of their sibling, but they will notice differences and but they will notice differences and try to teach their brother or sister. try to teach their brother or sister.

Children of this age are likely to Children of this age are likely to enjoy their sibling because they enjoy their sibling because they have not learned to be judgmental, have not learned to be judgmental, and their feelings toward their and their feelings toward their siblings will likely be linked to siblings will likely be linked to "normal" sibling interactions. "normal" sibling interactions.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE (6 - 12)

These children start venturing out into the world and become acutely aware of the differences between people.

They have the ability to understand a definition and explanation of their sibling's special need as long as it is explained to them in terms they can understand.

They may worry that the disability is contagious or wonder if something is wrong with them,

too.

They may also experience guilt for having negative thoughts or feelings about their sibling as well as, guilt for being the child who is not disabled.

Some typical responses of children this age are to become OVER helpful and well-behaved or to become non-compliant in order to

obtain a parent's attention.

ADOLESCENTS (13 - 17)

Adolescents have the capability of understanding more elaborate explanations of the particular disability. They may ask detailed and provocative questions.

The developmental task of adolescence is to begin discovering oneself outside of the family. At the same time, conformity with a peer group is important. Therefore, for children this age having a sibling who is different MAY be embarrassing in front of friends and dates.

They may feel torn between their desire for independence from the family and maintaining a special relationship with their sibling. They may resent the amount of responsibility, and they may begin worrying about their sibling's future.

What children with a sibling with What children with a sibling with Autism feelAutism feel

► They feel withdrawn.They feel withdrawn.

► Depending on the Depending on the age many will do age many will do anything for a anything for a parents’ attentionparents’ attention

► As they get older As they get older they feel more they feel more responsible for the responsible for the way their siblings way their siblings act.act.

Ways to cope With Autism Ways to cope With Autism

► It takes time to It takes time to come to terms that come to terms that your child has your child has autism.autism.

► Try to research and Try to research and learn the facts learn the facts about Autism. about Autism.

► Deal with it day by Deal with it day by day.day.

How does How does oone with ne with AAutism utism llearnearn

► StructureStructure makes the world a makes the world a more predictable, accessible more predictable, accessible and safer place and can aid and safer place and can aid personal autonomy and personal autonomy and independence. independence.

► PositivePositive approaches and approaches and expectations seek to establish expectations seek to establish and reinforce self-confidence and reinforce self-confidence and self-esteem by building on and self-esteem by building on natural strengths, interest and natural strengths, interest and abilities. abilities.

► EmpathyEmpathy is essential to is essential to underpin any approach underpin any approach designed to develop designed to develop communication and reduce communication and reduce anxiety. anxiety.

The Picture Communication Exchange System (PECS) PECS is a commonly used approach to teach children who have limited language. Teachers use pictures as symbols to teach children the names of different objects.

How does How does oone with ne with AAutism utism llearnearn

Many children with autism find it easier to understand the world about them through visual aids

► The approaches and environment need The approaches and environment need to be to be low arousallow arousal: calm and ordered : calm and ordered in such a way as to reduce anxiety and in such a way as to reduce anxiety and aid concentration. aid concentration.

► Strong Strong linkslinks between the various between the various components of the person's life or components of the person's life or therapeutic programmed will promote therapeutic programmed will promote and sustain essential consistency.and sustain essential consistency.

Books written by Books written by Fiona BleachFiona Bleach

Everybody I

s Diffe

rent: A Book fo

r Yo

ung People Who H

ave Brothers

or Si

sters w

ith Autis

m

Teaching Young Children with Autistic Spectrum

Disorders to Learn: A Practical Guide for Parents

Other Autism BooksOther Autism Books

Play and Imaginatio

n in

Children W

ith Autis

m by

Pamela J. Wolfb

erg

Russell is Extra Special: A Book

About Autism for Children

Charles A. Amenta, III Nathan's Journey

by Helen Barclay.

Ian’s Walk

by

Laurie Lears

For More informationFor More information

Go to Go to

www.www.autismautisminfo.cominfo.com

www.www.autismautism-resources.com -resources.com

www.www.autismautism.org .org