The Autism Retort Blog

There are many methods professionals and parents use when teaching children with autism. It can be overwhelming when trying to figure out which method to use with your child or student. I see these methods as tools in a tool bag. Each tool is designed for a purpose and depending on what “job” is [...]

Picking up on innuendo and social cues is a central component of engaging in conversation, but people with autism often struggle to determine another person's intentions in a social interaction. New research sheds light on the neural mechanisms that are responsible for such social difficulties in autism, and on the workings of these social brain mechanisms in all of us.

Scientists studying interactions of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders with bubble-blowing robots confirm what has been widely reported anecdotally: that ASD children in many cases interact more easily with mechanical devices than with humans. The researchers are developing a "control architecture" which will tailor robot interactions to the specific needs of ASD children to help therapists treating their condition.

Scientists have shown using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that the hormone oxytocin can inhibit feelings of anxiety in specific individuals. Their discovery might lead to a better understanding and the improved treatment of psychiatric affections in which people feel distressed when meeting others, such as in cases of autism and social phobia.

Our boy has been in his integrated kindergarten classroom for about two weeks now, with half his day spent in special ed. During that time, he’s learned the proper way to cut with scissors and he’s holding his pencil almost the right way too.

Up to this point, he’s used scissors in the most bass-ackward, sideways, upside-down, shoulder-touching-the-chin method - it’s almost been comical to watch! His teacher took a marker and drew a dot on his hand in the fleshy part between his thumb and pointer finger. She encouraged him to make the dot face the ceiling while he was cutting. Yep. That simple.

He can write his name along with several other letters, but he holds his pencil like a maniac holds a knife. His teacher placed a quarter in his hand, having him pinch it between his palm and his pinky and ring finger. This frees up the other three fingers for holding a pencil almost the right way! She called it a “paintbrush grasp.” Hey, it’s a start.

Every time I hear about some simple, ingenious habit, it makes me feel so impressed and awestruck by her experience with these kids. And, it makes me feel kind of like a moron. Such simple things! Yet, I never would have come up with them on my own in a bazillion years. Go, teacher.

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