Re: Rapid Prompt Method (RPM)

July 10, 2008

In a message dated 7/10/2008 3:39:55 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

itcanfield@... writes:

Speak about being trapped inside and unable to express it.

Since being home, I have extended both my hands out one with a " yes "

the other with a " no " , whenever I ask him a question, he will point

towards my hands, responds to it correctly.

It is figuring out how his brain works.

Great news Irma. Glad to hear something new and exciting working for

. Choices are always a good thing, aren't they???? ;-)

Hugs,

Donna

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July 10, 2008

Irma,

I have a friend who's son has CP and this is how she gives him choices. She

assigns each hand a choice and he either looks or touches which hand (choice) he

wants. I thought this was awesome also. I can't wait to hear more about how

Master is doing. I hope one day when I am in Texas I can hook up with

you. I can't wait to meet you both.

Holly

July 10, 2008

Hi Irma,

I have not heard of this but I am so pleased that was able to benefit. I

know he is a smart guy.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb

mum592001 wrote: Sharing

another one of my many trial or what has been going on updates

on Master , this month.

underwent this session this past Tuesday and Wed..

Soma is just amazing.

I have been wanting to try this when I heard one of the speakers in

May 2007 out at the Autism One conference, since then was curious.

Well, then one of my friends contacted me if I could assist her with

the driving out towards Austin for those who do not know I live out

here in SA, TX, so Austin is not that far. As she was interested on

this program for her daughter. I of course told her " yes " , so such a

motivation towards this trial push to pursue this avenue.

Well, I ended up receiving a last minute call this Monday of a

cancellation they had and Soma would be willing to work with ,

so of course thankfully I had the funds for it, went ahead and said

" yes " .

Then I was having some second thoughts, could there be a possibility

of another type of therapy that might benefit from?

Well, I am just shocked observing what I did, which I could post some

of the video which I was given of Soma working with him but not

computer savvy here.

understands alot which I already knew, his receptive skills are

incredible but unable to make any expressive ways means of communicating.

For the short time past 2 days, Soma was actually able to find some

different method of getting to communicate responding to her

questions, not vocally, pointing towards two pieces of paper she had

written some words and spelling it out.

He did not care for the letterboard but he was cooperative even during

some of his moments acting out but he still chose the correct answers.

Speak about being trapped inside and unable to express it.

Since being home, I have extended both my hands out one with a " yes "

the other with a " no " , whenever I ask him a question, he will point

towards my hands, responds to it correctly.

It is figuring out how his brain works.

Just wanted to share this.

Irma,19,DS/ASD

July 11, 2008

Irma, This is wonderful and I know you are very proud of .

About 2 years ago when I started doing pecs I wanted to teach

Yes and No but the speach teacher thought that was not a good Idea.

Despite that I did the RPM method and verbal ABA and responded

well. I knew when I put on PECS and he started choosing what he

wanted to eat, or where he wanted to go, or what movie he wanted that

he understood more than what he could say.Instead of their being this

shell of a person now I knew that a person was in there.I bought

a V-tech Alphabet smart board and starting teaching him the alpha bet

and for the first time we and I started making alpha bet letters

together. After had that horrible case of cellulitis of the face

and head things have gone down hill with his memory. He is slowly

pulling out of this. I am glad for you and that he is showing

interest in another form of communication.I may have told you about

the TACA newsletter about the guy that was 30 years old and had not

spoke a word. He is now speaking and has a cell phone. The lessen

learned is that the window for opportunity never closes. Like myself

I am sure you heard that early intervention is the key because the

opportunity closes after a certain age.Well obviously that is not

true. Congratulations. Cyndi B

>

> Sharing another one of my many trial or what has been going on

updates

> on Master , this month.

>

> underwent this session this past Tuesday and Wed..

> Soma is just amazing.

> I have been wanting to try this when I heard one of the speakers in

> May 2007 out at the Autism One conference, since then was curious.

>

> Well, then one of my friends contacted me if I could assist her with

> the driving out towards Austin for those who do not know I live out

> here in SA, TX, so Austin is not that far. As she was interested on

> this program for her daughter. I of course told her " yes " , so such a

> motivation towards this trial push to pursue this avenue.

>

> Well, I ended up receiving a last minute call this Monday of a

> cancellation they had and Soma would be willing to work with ,

> so of course thankfully I had the funds for it, went ahead and said

> " yes " .

> Then I was having some second thoughts, could there be a possibility

> of another type of therapy that might benefit from?

>

> Well, I am just shocked observing what I did, which I could post

some

> of the video which I was given of Soma working with him but not

> computer savvy here.

> understands alot which I already knew, his receptive skills

are

> incredible but unable to make any expressive ways means of

communicating.

> For the short time past 2 days, Soma was actually able to find some

> different method of getting to communicate responding to her

> questions, not vocally, pointing towards two pieces of paper she had

> written some words and spelling it out.

> He did not care for the letterboard but he was cooperative even

during

> some of his moments acting out but he still chose the correct

answers.

>

> Speak about being trapped inside and unable to express it.

> Since being home, I have extended both my hands out one with a " yes "

> the other with a " no " , whenever I ask him a question, he will point

> towards my hands, responds to it correctly.

> It is figuring out how his brain works.

> Just wanted to share this.

>

> Irma,19,DS/ASD

>

July 11, 2008

Thanks Donna, Charlyne & Holly.

You could say my mouth dropped on what I had observed.

There is a short segment on RPM with Soma.

Click on-

On the Rapid Prompting Method

http://www.autism.com/families/videos.htm

's brother Rick was curious to watch the CD of the session, his

expressions said it all. would look at him and extend his hand

out to him, like a high five.

In the beginning did well despite me not forewarning him as I

did not know what we were in for too much. I only told him, we were

going to see Ms. Soma, even though he did not have a cue who she was.

He cooperated nicely but during the session then he would get somewhat

agitated or overstimulated, he would throw the pencil, shove her,

wanted to swing at her but did not yell or try to get out of being

seated. Even during his moments he would throw towards answering some

of the questions or like hitting the paper with the correct answer.

What I noticed could also be how much he knew how to escape from doing

any type of task.

The first day was actually getting to know each other but Soma ended

up getting right to work around .

She had begun talking to him sharing about men's best friend, dog.

Would try to hand him a pencil, he would throw it, shove it, it was

not for writing but to shape this around for pointing towards the 2

torn pieces of paper she had written.

He use the pencil well in the beginning pointing towards the answer he

chose.

Example -Soma: " Like I saw a dog " .

She would then repeat it and tear a piece of strip paper, tear into 2,

then continue speaking to him, would spell it out as she writes on one

piece of paper " d-o-g " the other " c-a-r " .

She would then say something like " I saw a d-o-g or a c-a-r? "

He automatically pointed with the pencil towards the written word " dog " .

The dog is man's best friend.

She would then have him show her the answer to " A dog I called a man's

_______? spelling it out as she writes these 2 words, B-e-s-t

f-r-e-i-n-d or s-l-a-v-e? "

He was listening and he showed her once again.

Next topic was about the sun. Sun is ......

He actually answered what it was made out of, the shape of it, etc.

During one of the sessions, as he finally was getting agitated,

flickering his fingers and would say " NO " , have not heard this word in

quite awhile, he had regressed saying something like " uh uh " .

She had asked, writing it out and spelling it out

Are you " n-o-t i-n t-h-e m-o-o-d? or i-s i-t b-e-c-a-u-s-e I'-m

d-o-i-n-g m-y r-i-t-u-a-l-s " .

Guess what he chose? He literally chose doing his rituals, flickering

his fingers in front.

Towards the end of the session, she then had asked him if he would

like mom to ask any questions about the session, he pointed towards

" no " . Can you blame him?

Then she had made a remark of his shirt.

Soma: " Now what are we going to talk about? did I tell you, you have a

nice shirt on?

What are you going to tell me?

2 pieces of paper again, wrote and spelled it out

Friday or Thanks!

He chose " thanks " and then had smiled.

Now tell me " Where you angry with me? or Were you scare to learn? "

I think he chose angry.

Soma: " Tell me did you start early in the morning? "

He pointed with the pencil towards the 2 pieces of the paper " early " .

Soma: " How long did it take you to come?

2 hours or 5 hrs?

He chose the 2 hours.

Trying to get him to use a letterboard which is the next transition

once he uses the pencil to point but he did not want anything to do

with it.

Soma: " Would you like to try new things? "

Try or not yet

His response, he hesitated, did not respond, so she comfort and told

him that he did not have to try it yet.

The second day he was responding to Math,etc.

Will this lady has some patience dealing while he had his behavior

issues going on but he did respond even while getting agitated, too

impressive. While upset he was still listening.

Tito her son has some books out, one of them is called the Voices, the

other the mind tree, etc.

Irma,19,DS/ASD

P.S. Holly likewise look forward when this happens.

>

> Irma,

> I have a friend who's son has CP and this is how she gives him

choices. She assigns each hand a choice and he either looks or

touches which hand (choice) he wants. I thought this was awesome

also. I can't wait to hear more about how Master is doing. I

hope one day when I am in Texas I can hook up with you. I can't wait

to meet you both.

> Holly

>

July 11, 2008

Cyndi, don't you just hate these set backs.

I have had training with PECS and ABA/VB.

Finally with one of the many battles when use to attend HS, the

IEP team finally agreed to do PECS but they did not do this correctly,

this required like what 6 or 7 Phases of it. You could say whatever

work I did with him, down the drain as we were not on the same page.

I found out that they never thought him phase 1 or 2, for some reason

they were applying only on Phase 3, this was just too easy for him.

This is a pic of a doughnut and juice, duh!

Phase 1 he mastered it well. It was Phase II that I needed him to

master, also needed this to be implemented across the day.

I ended getting fed up had removed him HS and placed in the Vocation

Transition setting supposedly with one of the best autism specialist,

yeah right, as the teacher at the IEP meeting came right out and told

me " Just face it, is never going to learn how to talk " . Then I

took out my ammo, DVD, a list of over 200 words he once upon a time

use to express out verbally, this is thanks to the VB approach, their

mouth just dropped. I told them this is not , y'all don't know

him and y'all do not teach him, then how is he going to learn?

Well, since now having a history, I just told them I needed him in

another placement setting and they complied.

Finally after several placement settings he currently has a wonderful

teacher who is good about PECS, attending several workshops on ABA I

had share her way, and working with an OT who consults about the

sensory process disorder and also included a communication device

which I was told does not have any interest for it.

Of course he is use to having it his way and since now his underlying

medical issues were interfering we will now forget about school.

This is why I had to seek other avenues now that he is coming along,

have to get his brain stimulated once again and get him back on track.

Well, is under the Medicaid Program and qualifies for ST, speak

about the timing here, do not want to overwhelm him with too much but

then can not say no to any of the state funds where he qualifies for

as there is a huge wait list and he is sort of one of the fortunate

ones to be receiving one of the Medicaid Waiver program.

This is tomorrow's agenda meeting with one of the ST.

After the RPM session, totally a different view here.

Have to take it one day at a time and see what happens, it is all up

to Master . We shall see.

Hopefully you will again notice what avenue to try again with as

you have noticed this and get him back on track.

Yes, do remember about the adult article you had shared.

I do not remember when I use to share about one of my buddies with HF

autism who use to be my neighbor, but is now living in a group home.

This past Saturday he called me from his cell phone, just wanted to

tell me hi, check up on , then he got into telling me that he

won a $5,000.lotto, then $500. and he wanted to invite and I

out for one of his favorite game event some time in Nov. out in Houston.

I just told him that he needed to be very careful with his money, he

did tell me that one of his grandma placed it in the Special Needs

Trust fund, whew!

Not to break his heart, told him will just have to wait for when Nov.

arrives and see how is doing as he too would witness how

was pretty ill. Just had to share about my buddy using a cell phone

and winning lotto's.

My friends and I are Founders of an adult support group and I ended up

teaching a 36 y/o with severe autism/non-verbal the PECS with his mom,

she is still doing fine. I believe once they age out of the school

system, the ongoing education is still needed.

Not prepare them for state institutions/state hospitals,some

residential settings, having them sit at an adult day care in front of

the TV or drugging them out, where they can rot which are huge issues

going on.

You could say we have all become a family, we celebrated one of my

friends who is a pioneer in my eyes her Birthday at a restaurant this

past Sunday and several of the members brought their adults with

severe autism & non-verbal, they were all wonderful, smiling and

having an enjoyable time. had a little moment, because of the

birthday cake, went ahead and gave it, so far he is doing well for now.

Thanks!

Irma,19,DS/ASD

>

> Irma, This is wonderful and I know you are very proud of .

> About 2 years ago when I started doing pecs I wanted to teach

> Yes and No but the speach teacher thought that was not a good Idea.

> Despite that I did the RPM method and verbal ABA and responded

> well. I knew when I put on PECS and he started choosing what he

> wanted to eat, or where he wanted to go, or what movie he wanted that

> he understood more than what he could say.Instead of their being this

> shell of a person now I knew that a person was in there.I bought

> a V-tech Alphabet smart board and starting teaching him the alpha bet

> and for the first time we and I started making alpha bet letters

> together. After had that horrible case of cellulitis of the face

> and head things have gone down hill with his memory. He is slowly

> pulling out of this. I am glad for you and that he is showing

> interest in another form of communication.I may have told you about

> the TACA newsletter about the guy that was 30 years old and had not

> spoke a word. He is now speaking and has a cell phone. The lessen

> learned is that the window for opportunity never closes. Like myself

> I am sure you heard that early intervention is the key because the

> opportunity closes after a certain age.Well obviously that is not

> true. Congratulations. Cyndi B

July 11, 2008

Thank you Irma, for sharing the details of 's therapy. I am

going to try this with . I think it could be especially helpful

when she is upset, because I think most of her melt-downs occur over

not getting her needs/desires/thoughts communicated. Thanks again!

('s mom, 9, DS, A)

> >

> > Irma,

> > I have a friend who's son has CP and this is how she gives him

> choices. She assigns each hand a choice and he either looks or

> touches which hand (choice) he wants. I thought this was awesome

> also. I can't wait to hear more about how Master is doing.

I

> hope one day when I am in Texas I can hook up with you. I can't

wait

> to meet you both.

> > Holly

> >

July 11, 2008

Irma, Good for you standing up for and showing them they do

not know as much as him " MOMMA " . I love it. The teacher that told me

that I needed to accept may never learn the alphabet or how to

write is not teaching special ed anymore.Good thing cause our kids

deserve the chance to be taught because afterall they can learn.Cyndi

B

>

> Cyndi, don't you just hate these set backs.

> I have had training with PECS and ABA/VB.

>

> Finally with one of the many battles when use to attend HS,

the

> IEP team finally agreed to do PECS but they did not do this

correctly,

> this required like what 6 or 7 Phases of it. You could say whatever

> work I did with him, down the drain as we were not on the same

page.

> I found out that they never thought him phase 1 or 2, for some

reason

> they were applying only on Phase 3, this was just too easy for him.

> This is a pic of a doughnut and juice, duh!

> Phase 1 he mastered it well. It was Phase II that I needed him to

> master, also needed this to be implemented across the day.

> I ended getting fed up had removed him HS and placed in the Vocation

> Transition setting supposedly with one of the best autism

specialist,

> yeah right, as the teacher at the IEP meeting came right out and

told

> me " Just face it, is never going to learn how to talk " . Then

I

> took out my ammo, DVD, a list of over 200 words he once upon a time

> use to express out verbally, this is thanks to the VB approach,

their

> mouth just dropped. I told them this is not , y'all don't know

> him and y'all do not teach him, then how is he going to learn?

> Well, since now having a history, I just told them I needed him in

> another placement setting and they complied.

>

> Finally after several placement settings he currently has a

wonderful

> teacher who is good about PECS, attending several workshops on ABA I

> had share her way, and working with an OT who consults about the

> sensory process disorder and also included a communication device

> which I was told does not have any interest for it.

> Of course he is use to having it his way and since now his

underlying

> medical issues were interfering we will now forget about school.

> This is why I had to seek other avenues now that he is coming along,

> have to get his brain stimulated once again and get him back on

track.

> Well, is under the Medicaid Program and qualifies for ST,

speak

> about the timing here, do not want to overwhelm him with too much

but

> then can not say no to any of the state funds where he qualifies for

> as there is a huge wait list and he is sort of one of the fortunate

> ones to be receiving one of the Medicaid Waiver program.

> This is tomorrow's agenda meeting with one of the ST.

>

> After the RPM session, totally a different view here.

> Have to take it one day at a time and see what happens, it is all up

> to Master . We shall see.

>

> Hopefully you will again notice what avenue to try again with

as

> you have noticed this and get him back on track.

>

> Yes, do remember about the adult article you had shared.

>

> I do not remember when I use to share about one of my buddies with

HF

> autism who use to be my neighbor, but is now living in a group

home.

> This past Saturday he called me from his cell phone, just wanted to

> tell me hi, check up on , then he got into telling me that he

> won a $5,000.lotto, then $500. and he wanted to invite and I

> out for one of his favorite game event some time in Nov. out in

Houston.

> I just told him that he needed to be very careful with his money, he

> did tell me that one of his grandma placed it in the Special Needs

> Trust fund, whew!

> Not to break his heart, told him will just have to wait for when

Nov.

> arrives and see how is doing as he too would witness how

> was pretty ill. Just had to share about my buddy using a cell phone

> and winning lotto's.

>

> My friends and I are Founders of an adult support group and I ended

up

> teaching a 36 y/o with severe autism/non-verbal the PECS with his

mom,

> she is still doing fine. I believe once they age out of the school

> system, the ongoing education is still needed.

> Not prepare them for state institutions/state hospitals,some

> residential settings, having them sit at an adult day care in front

of

> the TV or drugging them out, where they can rot which are huge

issues

> going on.

> You could say we have all become a family, we celebrated one of my

> friends who is a pioneer in my eyes her Birthday at a restaurant

this

> past Sunday and several of the members brought their adults with

> severe autism & non-verbal, they were all wonderful, smiling and

> having an enjoyable time. had a little moment, because of the

> birthday cake, went ahead and gave it, so far he is doing well for

now.

>

> Thanks!

> Irma,19,DS/ASD

>

> >

> > Irma, This is wonderful and I know you are very proud of .

> > About 2 years ago when I started doing pecs I wanted to teach

> > Yes and No but the speach teacher thought that was not a good

Idea.

> > Despite that I did the RPM method and verbal ABA and

responded

> > well. I knew when I put on PECS and he started choosing what

he

> > wanted to eat, or where he wanted to go, or what movie he wanted

that

> > he understood more than what he could say.Instead of their being

this

> > shell of a person now I knew that a person was in there.I bought

> > a V-tech Alphabet smart board and starting teaching him the alpha

bet

> > and for the first time we and I started making alpha bet letters

> > together. After had that horrible case of cellulitis of the

face

> > and head things have gone down hill with his memory. He is slowly

> > pulling out of this. I am glad for you and that he is

showing

> > interest in another form of communication.I may have told you

about

> > the TACA newsletter about the guy that was 30 years old and had

not

> > spoke a word. He is now speaking and has a cell phone. The lessen

> > learned is that the window for opportunity never closes. Like

myself

> > I am sure you heard that early intervention is the key because

the

> > opportunity closes after a certain age.Well obviously that is not

> > true. Congratulations. Cyndi B

>

July 11, 2008

One thing I have learned with Elie is that there are times when learning

waxes and waines. Right now - for the last 2 years, he is in a learning

mode. Not great huges jagged peaks but gradually increased interest in what

is going on around him, chiming in as part of conversation, reaching out to

people (even strangers) and generally acquiring new info all the time. He

is now 23. So the teachers who told me when he was 10 that I shouldn't

think he would go much further - Bad cess on their heads. And the teachers

who when he was 15 said he mights as well leave school now and be taught

how to fold towels, may her very last tooth have a hole in it! And to the

people when he was 21 who said he would never work but the sheltered setting

for day/play (my term) were also WRONG!!!

Elie has two jobs now - he goes one day a week to a nursing hiome where the

residents look forwward to his vist. HE meets and greets and hugs and makes

shosrt conversations, and he assists with bingo. Today, the residents

greeted him by name - including some of the most reclusive. HE is a smile

magnet becasue he doesn't know how to be unhappy for long.

His other job is schlepping in donated goods at the community food bank and

recycle shop. People there appreciate his brawn since he is the youngest

volunteer.

Both jobs are volunteer for now. Both are very part time (maybe a total of

6 hours a week. But useful things will grow and sheltered time will shrink.

We are also looking for him to purchase a home under the USDA rural, first

time buyer, disabled persons program from the fed. Anyone with info or

insight is earnestly asked to contact me!!! I will share what I learn in

this new adventure. You Californians will know that I am trying to follow

Joe Strully's example.

On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 3:51 PM,

wrote:

> Irma, Good for you standing up for and showing them they do

> not know as much as him " MOMMA " . I love it. The teacher that told me

> that I needed to accept may never learn the alphabet or how to

> write is not teaching special ed anymore.Good thing cause our kids

> deserve the chance to be taught because afterall they can learn.Cyndi

> B

> >

> > Cyndi, don't you just hate these set backs.

> > I have had training with PECS and ABA/VB.

> >

> > Finally with one of the many battles when use to attend HS,

> the

> > IEP team finally agreed to do PECS but they did not do this

> correctly,

> > this required like what 6 or 7 Phases of it. You could say whatever

> > work I did with him, down the drain as we were not on the same

> page.

> > I found out that they never thought him phase 1 or 2, for some

> reason

> > they were applying only on Phase 3, this was just too easy for him.

> > This is a pic of a doughnut and juice, duh!

> > Phase 1 he mastered it well. It was Phase II that I needed him to

> > master, also needed this to be implemented across the day.

> > I ended getting fed up had removed him HS and placed in the Vocation

> > Transition setting supposedly with one of the best autism

> specialist,

> > yeah right, as the teacher at the IEP meeting came right out and

> told

> > me " Just face it, is never going to learn how to talk " . Then

> I

> > took out my ammo, DVD, a list of over 200 words he once upon a time

> > use to express out verbally, this is thanks to the VB approach,

> their

> > mouth just dropped. I told them this is not , y'all don't know

> > him and y'all do not teach him, then how is he going to learn?

> > Well, since now having a history, I just told them I needed him in

> > another placement setting and they complied.

> >

> > Finally after several placement settings he currently has a

> wonderful

> > teacher who is good about PECS, attending several workshops on ABA I

> > had share her way, and working with an OT who consults about the

> > sensory process disorder and also included a communication device

> > which I was told does not have any interest for it.

> > Of course he is use to having it his way and since now his

> underlying

> > medical issues were interfering we will now forget about school.

> > This is why I had to seek other avenues now that he is coming along,

> > have to get his brain stimulated once again and get him back on

> track.

> > Well, is under the Medicaid Program and qualifies for ST,

> speak

> > about the timing here, do not want to overwhelm him with too much

> but

> > then can not say no to any of the state funds where he qualifies for

> > as there is a huge wait list and he is sort of one of the fortunate

> > ones to be receiving one of the Medicaid Waiver program.

> > This is tomorrow's agenda meeting with one of the ST.

> >

> > After the RPM session, totally a different view here.

> > Have to take it one day at a time and see what happens, it is all up

> > to Master . We shall see.

> >

> > Hopefully you will again notice what avenue to try again with

> as

> > you have noticed this and get him back on track.

> >

> > Yes, do remember about the adult article you had shared.

> >

> > I do not remember when I use to share about one of my buddies with

> HF

> > autism who use to be my neighbor, but is now living in a group

> home.

> > This past Saturday he called me from his cell phone, just wanted to

> > tell me hi, check up on , then he got into telling me that he

> > won a $5,000.lotto, then $500. and he wanted to invite and I

> > out for one of his favorite game event some time in Nov. out in

> Houston.

> > I just told him that he needed to be very careful with his money, he

> > did tell me that one of his grandma placed it in the Special Needs

> > Trust fund, whew!

> > Not to break his heart, told him will just have to wait for when

> Nov.

> > arrives and see how is doing as he too would witness how

>

> > was pretty ill. Just had to share about my buddy using a cell phone

> > and winning lotto's.

> >

> > My friends and I are Founders of an adult support group and I ended

> up

> > teaching a 36 y/o with severe autism/non-verbal the PECS with his

> mom,

> > she is still doing fine. I believe once they age out of the school

> > system, the ongoing education is still needed.

> > Not prepare them for state institutions/state hospitals,some

> > residential settings, having them sit at an adult day care in front

> of

> > the TV or drugging them out, where they can rot which are huge

> issues

> > going on.

> > You could say we have all become a family, we celebrated one of my

> > friends who is a pioneer in my eyes her Birthday at a restaurant

> this

> > past Sunday and several of the members brought their adults with

> > severe autism & non-verbal, they were all wonderful, smiling and

> > having an enjoyable time. had a little moment, because of the

> > birthday cake, went ahead and gave it, so far he is doing well for

> now.

> >

> > Thanks!

> > Irma,19,DS/ASD

> >

> > >

> > > Irma, This is wonderful and I know you are very proud of .

> > > About 2 years ago when I started doing pecs I wanted to teach

>

> > > Yes and No but the speach teacher thought that was not a good

> Idea.

> > > Despite that I did the RPM method and verbal ABA and

> responded

> > > well. I knew when I put on PECS and he started choosing what

> he

> > > wanted to eat, or where he wanted to go, or what movie he wanted

> that

> > > he understood more than what he could say.Instead of their being

> this

> > > shell of a person now I knew that a person was in there.I bought

>

> > > a V-tech Alphabet smart board and starting teaching him the alpha

> bet

> > > and for the first time we and I started making alpha bet letters

> > > together. After had that horrible case of cellulitis of the

> face

> > > and head things have gone down hill with his memory. He is slowly

> > > pulling out of this. I am glad for you and that he is

> showing

> > > interest in another form of communication.I may have told you

> about

> > > the TACA newsletter about the guy that was 30 years old and had

> not

> > > spoke a word. He is now speaking and has a cell phone. The lessen

> > > learned is that the window for opportunity never closes. Like

> myself

> > > I am sure you heard that early intervention is the key because

> the

> > > opportunity closes after a certain age.Well obviously that is not

> > > true. Congratulations. Cyndi B

> >

>

--

Sara - Life is a journey- we choose the path.

July 11, 2008

Thank you for posting this. My daughter is 12 and at the end of the

school year they did testing on her and basically told me the things you

have stated. She won't learn the alphabet, to write, read on any level.

I got good advice from here when that was going on and am prepared for

next year I hope! But it is good to hear from moms with older kids that

can show they are still learning and gives me hope.

Carla

> One thing I have learned with Elie is that there are times when learning

> waxes and waines. Right now - for the last 2 years, he is in a learning

> mode. Not great huges jagged peaks but gradually increased interest in

> what

> is going on around him, chiming in as part of conversation, reaching out

> to

> people (even strangers) and generally acquiring new info all the time. He

> is now 23. So the teachers who told me when he was 10 that I shouldn't

> think he would go much further - Bad cess on their heads. And the

> teachers

> who when he was 15 said he mights as well leave school now and be taught

> how to fold towels, may her very last tooth have a hole in it! And to the

> people when he was 21 who said he would never work but the sheltered

> setting

> for day/play (my term) were also WRONG!!!

>

> Elie has two jobs now - he goes one day a week to a nursing hiome where

> the

> residents look forwward to his vist. HE meets and greets and hugs and

> makes

> shosrt conversations, and he assists with bingo. Today, the residents

> greeted him by name - including some of the most reclusive. HE is a smile

> magnet becasue he doesn't know how to be unhappy for long.

>

> His other job is schlepping in donated goods at the community food bank

> and

> recycle shop. People there appreciate his brawn since he is the youngest

> volunteer.

>

> Both jobs are volunteer for now. Both are very part time (maybe a total

> of

> 6 hours a week. But useful things will grow and sheltered time will

> shrink.

>

> We are also looking for him to purchase a home under the USDA rural, first

> time buyer, disabled persons program from the fed. Anyone with info or

> insight is earnestly asked to contact me!!! I will share what I learn in

> this new adventure. You Californians will know that I am trying to follow

> Joe Strully's example.

>

> On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 3:51 PM,

> wrote:

>

>> Irma, Good for you standing up for and showing them they do

>> not know as much as him " MOMMA " . I love it. The teacher that told me

>> that I needed to accept may never learn the alphabet or how to

>> write is not teaching special ed anymore.Good thing cause our kids

>> deserve the chance to be taught because afterall they can learn.Cyndi

>> B

>> >

>> > Cyndi, don't you just hate these set backs.

>> > I have had training with PECS and ABA/VB.

>> >

>> > Finally with one of the many battles when use to attend HS,

>> the

>> > IEP team finally agreed to do PECS but they did not do this

>> correctly,

>> > this required like what 6 or 7 Phases of it. You could say whatever

>> > work I did with him, down the drain as we were not on the same

>> page.

>> > I found out that they never thought him phase 1 or 2, for some

>> reason

>> > they were applying only on Phase 3, this was just too easy for him.

>> > This is a pic of a doughnut and juice, duh!

>> > Phase 1 he mastered it well. It was Phase II that I needed him to

>> > master, also needed this to be implemented across the day.

>> > I ended getting fed up had removed him HS and placed in the Vocation

>> > Transition setting supposedly with one of the best autism

>> specialist,

>> > yeah right, as the teacher at the IEP meeting came right out and

>> told

>> > me " Just face it, is never going to learn how to talk " . Then

>> I

>> > took out my ammo, DVD, a list of over 200 words he once upon a time

>> > use to express out verbally, this is thanks to the VB approach,

>> their

>> > mouth just dropped. I told them this is not , y'all don't know

>> > him and y'all do not teach him, then how is he going to learn?

>> > Well, since now having a history, I just told them I needed him in

>> > another placement setting and they complied.

>> >

>> > Finally after several placement settings he currently has a

>> wonderful

>> > teacher who is good about PECS, attending several workshops on ABA I

>> > had share her way, and working with an OT who consults about the

>> > sensory process disorder and also included a communication device

>> > which I was told does not have any interest for it.

>> > Of course he is use to having it his way and since now his

>> underlying

>> > medical issues were interfering we will now forget about school.

>> > This is why I had to seek other avenues now that he is coming along,

>> > have to get his brain stimulated once again and get him back on

>> track.

>> > Well, is under the Medicaid Program and qualifies for ST,

>> speak

>> > about the timing here, do not want to overwhelm him with too much

>> but

>> > then can not say no to any of the state funds where he qualifies for

>> > as there is a huge wait list and he is sort of one of the fortunate

>> > ones to be receiving one of the Medicaid Waiver program.

>> > This is tomorrow's agenda meeting with one of the ST.

>> >

>> > After the RPM session, totally a different view here.

>> > Have to take it one day at a time and see what happens, it is all up

>> > to Master . We shall see.

>> >

>> > Hopefully you will again notice what avenue to try again with

>> as

>> > you have noticed this and get him back on track.

>> >

>> > Yes, do remember about the adult article you had shared.

>> >

>> > I do not remember when I use to share about one of my buddies with

>> HF

>> > autism who use to be my neighbor, but is now living in a group

>> home.

>> > This past Saturday he called me from his cell phone, just wanted to

>> > tell me hi, check up on , then he got into telling me that he

>> > won a $5,000.lotto, then $500. and he wanted to invite and I

>> > out for one of his favorite game event some time in Nov. out in

>> Houston.

>> > I just told him that he needed to be very careful with his money, he

>> > did tell me that one of his grandma placed it in the Special Needs

>> > Trust fund, whew!

>> > Not to break his heart, told him will just have to wait for when

>> Nov.

>> > arrives and see how is doing as he too would witness how

>>

>> > was pretty ill. Just had to share about my buddy using a cell phone

>> > and winning lotto's.

>> >

>> > My friends and I are Founders of an adult support group and I ended

>> up

>> > teaching a 36 y/o with severe autism/non-verbal the PECS with his

>> mom,

>> > she is still doing fine. I believe once they age out of the school

>> > system, the ongoing education is still needed.

>> > Not prepare them for state institutions/state hospitals,some

>> > residential settings, having them sit at an adult day care in front

>> of

>> > the TV or drugging them out, where they can rot which are huge

>> issues

>> > going on.

>> > You could say we have all become a family, we celebrated one of my

>> > friends who is a pioneer in my eyes her Birthday at a restaurant

>> this

>> > past Sunday and several of the members brought their adults with

>> > severe autism & non-verbal, they were all wonderful, smiling and

>> > having an enjoyable time. had a little moment, because of the

>> > birthday cake, went ahead and gave it, so far he is doing well for

>> now.

>> >

>> > Thanks!

>> > Irma,19,DS/ASD

>> >

>> > >> >

>>

>

> --

> >

>

July 11, 2008

Wow, I really thought it was unusual for supposed professionals to

tell parents their kids would " never " do whatever. We were told " We

have worked very hard for the last 4 years to help to talk and

it doesn't seem that she is ever going to talk so we feel it is time

to switch to PECS. " First, this particular SLP thought they

were " working very hard " when they were giving once a week

collaborative therapy (which really means NO therapy, just talking to

the teacher about how to work with a child). Second, PECS should be

used as a means of encouraging behavior - except of course in kids

who have a pohysical reason for not being able to talk. Third -

guess who started takling this year - no thanks to the same SLP! I

will never accept a prognosis like this again! I learned my lesson.

Unless there is some real evidence true professionals don't make that

kind of leap. Too bad there are many out there who will discourage

us if given the chance.

('s mom, 9, ds, a)

> >

> >> Irma, Good for you standing up for and showing them

they do

> >> not know as much as him " MOMMA " . I love it. The teacher that

told me

> >> that I needed to accept may never learn the alphabet or how

to

> >> write is not teaching special ed anymore.Good thing cause our

kids

> >> deserve the chance to be taught because afterall they can

learn.Cyndi

> >> B

> >> >

> >> > Cyndi, don't you just hate these set backs.

> >> > I have had training with PECS and ABA/VB.

> >> >

> >> > Finally with one of the many battles when use to attend

HS,

> >> the

> >> > IEP team finally agreed to do PECS but they did not do this

> >> correctly,

> >> > this required like what 6 or 7 Phases of it. You could say

whatever

> >> > work I did with him, down the drain as we were not on the same

> >> page.

> >> > I found out that they never thought him phase 1 or 2, for some

> >> reason

> >> > they were applying only on Phase 3, this was just too easy for

him.

> >> > This is a pic of a doughnut and juice, duh!

> >> > Phase 1 he mastered it well. It was Phase II that I needed him

to

> >> > master, also needed this to be implemented across the day.

> >> > I ended getting fed up had removed him HS and placed in the

Vocation

> >> > Transition setting supposedly with one of the best autism

> >> specialist,

> >> > yeah right, as the teacher at the IEP meeting came right out

and

> >> told

> >> > me " Just face it, is never going to learn how to talk " .

Then

> >> I

> >> > took out my ammo, DVD, a list of over 200 words he once upon a

time

> >> > use to express out verbally, this is thanks to the VB approach,

> >> their

> >> > mouth just dropped. I told them this is not , y'all

don't know

> >> > him and y'all do not teach him, then how is he going to learn?

> >> > Well, since now having a history, I just told them I needed

him in

> >> > another placement setting and they complied.

> >> >

> >> > Finally after several placement settings he currently has a

> >> wonderful

> >> > teacher who is good about PECS, attending several workshops on

ABA I

> >> > had share her way, and working with an OT who consults about

the

> >> > sensory process disorder and also included a communication

device

> >> > which I was told does not have any interest for it.

> >> > Of course he is use to having it his way and since now his

> >> underlying

> >> > medical issues were interfering we will now forget about

school.

> >> > This is why I had to seek other avenues now that he is coming

along,

> >> > have to get his brain stimulated once again and get him back on

> >> track.

> >> > Well, is under the Medicaid Program and qualifies for

ST,

> >> speak

> >> > about the timing here, do not want to overwhelm him with too

much

> >> but

> >> > then can not say no to any of the state funds where he

qualifies for

> >> > as there is a huge wait list and he is sort of one of the

fortunate

> >> > ones to be receiving one of the Medicaid Waiver program.

> >> > This is tomorrow's agenda meeting with one of the ST.

> >> >

> >> > After the RPM session, totally a different view here.

> >> > Have to take it one day at a time and see what happens, it is

all up

> >> > to Master . We shall see.

> >> >

> >> > Hopefully you will again notice what avenue to try again with

> >> as

> >> > you have noticed this and get him back on track.

> >> >

> >> > Yes, do remember about the adult article you had shared.

> >> >

> >> > I do not remember when I use to share about one of my buddies

with

> >> HF

> >> > autism who use to be my neighbor, but is now living in a group

> >> home.

> >> > This past Saturday he called me from his cell phone, just

wanted to

> >> > tell me hi, check up on , then he got into telling me

that he

> >> > won a $5,000.lotto, then $500. and he wanted to invite

and I

> >> > out for one of his favorite game event some time in Nov. out in

> >> Houston.

> >> > I just told him that he needed to be very careful with his

money, he

> >> > did tell me that one of his grandma placed it in the Special

Needs

> >> > Trust fund, whew!

> >> > Not to break his heart, told him will just have to wait for

when

> >> Nov.

> >> > arrives and see how is doing as he too would witness how

> >>

> >> > was pretty ill. Just had to share about my buddy using a cell

phone

> >> > and winning lotto's.

> >> >

> >> > My friends and I are Founders of an adult support group and I

ended

> >> up

> >> > teaching a 36 y/o with severe autism/non-verbal the PECS with

his

> >> mom,

> >> > she is still doing fine. I believe once they age out of the

school

> >> > system, the ongoing education is still needed.

> >> > Not prepare them for state institutions/state hospitals,some

> >> > residential settings, having them sit at an adult day care in

front

> >> of

> >> > the TV or drugging them out, where they can rot which are huge

> >> issues

> >> > going on.

> >> > You could say we have all become a family, we celebrated one

of my

> >> > friends who is a pioneer in my eyes her Birthday at a

restaurant

> >> this

> >> > past Sunday and several of the members brought their adults

with

> >> > severe autism & non-verbal, they were all wonderful, smiling

and

> >> > having an enjoyable time. had a little moment, because

of the

> >> > birthday cake, went ahead and gave it, so far he is doing well

for

> >> now.

> >> >

> >> > Thanks!

> >> > Irma,19,DS/ASD

> >> >

> >> > >> >

> >>

> >

> > --

> > >

> >

July 12, 2008

Hi Irma,

Bringing to Soma has to be the most rewarding and successful methods you

have ever tired. I hope you can continue. I am impressed.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb

mum592001 wrote: Thanks

Donna, Charlyne & Holly.