Then you take him down to his school and ask him to cross the road in front of his school...and he wouldn't be able to do it.
Children with autism are specific. They are creatures of details. Like Temple Grandin says they see the trees, before they see the forest.
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| Spot the trees or is this just a grand forest to you? |
Spring came and we said change your clothes every two days.
Now that it is Summer, Lauren changes her clothes every day. I have also, very recently, taught her to wash her own intimates.
Three days ago, I asked her whether she had washed her inner wear and she said not yet. So I thought I would help her do it (like all Moms do) but they were not in the laundry bag.
When I asked her where it was...Lauren just stared at me.
Then I had the uneasy feeling everytime she gives me THAT look.
I asked her if she changed her lingerie every day. Slooowwwlllyyyy, she said no.
I asked her if she changed them every two days, she blinked, and said "sometimes".
OMG!!!
What do we learn from this?
You see, I never told Lauren to change her intimates everyday. So she doesn't.
When we said change your clothes everyday, I remember showing her her t-shirt and shorts. I remember pointing to her school t-shirt and skorts. I did not specifically include her intimates.
We need to be specific with children with autism because they do not generalize well. They are great with details. That is their strength. And we help them with applying the specifics.
My fear is...
have I covered all the details?...
...when teaching Lauren about life?
Only God knows.
Lord, help me to teach and guide Lauren, as you have shown me, and leave the rest to you.
