FW: Child with autism, profound Apraxia and Hyperlexia was Autistic child with math ability

[Guest guest]

_____

From: aba4autism [mailto:aba4autism@...]

Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 9:46 AM

' O'Mara'

Subject: RE: [ ] Child with autism, profound Apraxia and Hyperlexia

was Autistic child with math ability

Hi Kim:

In the past, I have used keyboarding and printing skills for expressive

language (labeling and intraverbal responses/answering questions) when

working with intermediate learners with apraxia. Typically, I begin teaching

typing skills much like keyboarding by introducing one letter at a time and

using stickers on the keys we have introduced. Once both hands are

introduced (both sides of keyboard) then I add a second colour for the other

hand. I suggest starting out with whichever hand your child spontaneously

moves toward the keyboard. I also place a sticker on the child's thumbnail

to remind him which hand goes where. Recently, I had a child who learned how

to print words or type to respond, and learned how to print and type over

500 words in under two months. Within a couple of months all the letters had

been introduced and the stickers even came off! Of course, this child

already had three years of ABA under his belt, but also had apraxia along

with his autism diagnosis.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or would like

more follow up.

Best Regards,

Roussel, M.Ed.

ABA Autism Services Niagara

(905) 658-7096

brendaroussel@...

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

O'Mara

Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 5:58 PM

; han_quan2003

Subject: [ ] Child with autism,profound Apraxia and Hyperlexia was

Autistic child with math ability

Kim and group,

Except for the math abilities,which sound like those of the Hoffman

character in Rainman,this child sounds like my 15 YO son Colin with the dual

dx/autism and spastic diplegia. Colin is nonverbal but communicates well

using a combination of typing and SEE. We added SEE when he was 9YO after

attending Vince Carbone Workshop #1 in Madison in March 2000. Prior to that

I had attempted to teach Colin some ASL and he failed to learn it. In

retrospect,I did not know how to teach Colin. I learned ho w to teach SEE

from the workshop and Colin learned it quickly.

,Colin P's mom

[ ] Autistic child with math ability

Hi

>

> We are working with a 5 years old boy who has autism and apraxia.

Recently we discovered that he has special math ability. It started

out with simple addition and moves on quickly to substraction,

multiplication, division (even with remainder) or any combinations

of them. He

understands the ideas of equations, fractions, decimals. His rate

of computation is fast, it takes him seconds to do computation up to

7 digits. Since apraxia limits his ability to communicate his

answers, we have been using the multiple choice method and he just

point to the answers. In term of his cognitive, he knows so much

more than he can communicate. He has been progress very quickly

with his sight reading program and can answer almost every questions

in either multiple choice format or picking out the right words.

(typed, cut out words).

We do not have any previous experience working with a child like

this. So we would love to have your input in what do we do at this

point in term of who have expertise in this area (can evaluate him

and customize his ABA/educational program. We live in Northern

California but willing to travel anywhere in the US), is there a

school out there teaching autistic, apraxic children with special

ability, what does it mean in term of his long term prognosis, does

this mean he will have a better chance to " recover " , does his math

ability relates to other abilities such as computer, engineering,

etc... (something that will help him get a job and live an

independent life). We have so many questions and hope that some of

you may have had the chance to work with, or hear about a similar

cases and can give us some insight into this case. All your inputs

are greatly appreciated. You can email us directly if you prefer

Thanks,

Kim

[Guest guest]

_____

From: aba4autism [mailto:aba4autism@...]

Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 9:46 AM

' O'Mara'

Subject: RE: [ ] Child with autism, profound Apraxia and Hyperlexia

was Autistic child with math ability

Hi Kim:

In the past, I have used keyboarding and printing skills for expressive

language (labeling and intraverbal responses/answering questions) when

working with intermediate learners with apraxia. Typically, I begin teaching

typing skills much like keyboarding by introducing one letter at a time and

using stickers on the keys we have introduced. Once both hands are

introduced (both sides of keyboard) then I add a second colour for the other

hand. I suggest starting out with whichever hand your child spontaneously

moves toward the keyboard. I also place a sticker on the child's thumbnail

to remind him which hand goes where. Recently, I had a child who learned how

to print words or type to respond, and learned how to print and type over

500 words in under two months. Within a couple of months all the letters had

been introduced and the stickers even came off! Of course, this child

already had three years of ABA under his belt, but also had apraxia along

with his autism diagnosis.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or would like

more follow up.

Best Regards,

Roussel, M.Ed.

ABA Autism Services Niagara

(905) 658-7096

brendaroussel@...

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

O'Mara

Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 5:58 PM

; han_quan2003

Subject: [ ] Child with autism,profound Apraxia and Hyperlexia was

Autistic child with math ability

Kim and group,

Except for the math abilities,which sound like those of the Hoffman

character in Rainman,this child sounds like my 15 YO son Colin with the dual

dx/autism and spastic diplegia. Colin is nonverbal but communicates well

using a combination of typing and SEE. We added SEE when he was 9YO after

attending Vince Carbone Workshop #1 in Madison in March 2000. Prior to that

I had attempted to teach Colin some ASL and he failed to learn it. In

retrospect,I did not know how to teach Colin. I learned ho w to teach SEE

from the workshop and Colin learned it quickly.

,Colin P's mom

[ ] Autistic child with math ability

Hi

>

> We are working with a 5 years old boy who has autism and apraxia.

Recently we discovered that he has special math ability. It started

out with simple addition and moves on quickly to substraction,

multiplication, division (even with remainder) or any combinations

of them. He

understands the ideas of equations, fractions, decimals. His rate

of computation is fast, it takes him seconds to do computation up to

7 digits. Since apraxia limits his ability to communicate his

answers, we have been using the multiple choice method and he just

point to the answers. In term of his cognitive, he knows so much

more than he can communicate. He has been progress very quickly

with his sight reading program and can answer almost every questions

in either multiple choice format or picking out the right words.

(typed, cut out words).

We do not have any previous experience working with a child like

this. So we would love to have your input in what do we do at this

point in term of who have expertise in this area (can evaluate him

and customize his ABA/educational program. We live in Northern

California but willing to travel anywhere in the US), is there a

school out there teaching autistic, apraxic children with special

ability, what does it mean in term of his long term prognosis, does

this mean he will have a better chance to " recover " , does his math

ability relates to other abilities such as computer, engineering,

etc... (something that will help him get a job and live an

independent life). We have so many questions and hope that some of

you may have had the chance to work with, or hear about a similar

cases and can give us some insight into this case. All your inputs

are greatly appreciated. You can email us directly if you prefer

Thanks,

Kim