I took this list from another site but most of these catorgories Brenden falls into. For our family, friends and others that may see this, please read and try to understand. Especially if you are going to be around Brenden. And those that don't believe in Autism or just think it doesn't exsist, you have a right to your opinion but don't take it out on any child in this situation.
1. I am a child.
My autism is part of who I am, not all of who I am. Are you just one thing, or are you a
person with thoughts, feelings, preferences, ideas, talents, and dreams? Are you fat
(overweight), myopic (wear glasses) or klutzy (uncoordinated)? Those may be things that I
see first when I meet you, but you’re more than just that, aren’t you?
As an adult, you have control over how you define yourself. If you want to single out one
characteristic, you can make that known. As a child, I am still unfolding. Neither you nor I
yet know what I may be capable of. If you think of me as just one thing, you run the danger
of setting up an expectation that may be too low. And if I get a sense that you don’t think I
“can do it,” my natural response will be, why try?
2. My senses are out of sync.
This means that ordinary sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches that you may not even
notice can be downright painful for me. My environment often feels hostile. I may appear
withdrawn or belligerent or mean to you, but I’m just trying to defend myself. Here’s why a
simple trip to the grocery store may be agonizing for me.
My hearing may be hyperacute. Dozens of people jabber at once. The loudspeaker booms
today’s special. Music blares from the sound system. Registers beep and cough, a coffee
grinder chugs. The meat cutter screeches, babies wail, carts creak, the fluorescent lighting
hums. My brain can’t filter all the input and I’m in overload!
My sense of smell may be highly sensitive. The fish at the meat counter isn’t quite fresh, the
guy standing next to us hasn’t showered today, the deli is handing out sausage samples, the
baby in line ahead of us has a poopy diaper, they’re mopping up pickles on aisle three with
ammonia. I feel like throwing up.
And there’s so much hitting my eyes! The fluorescent light is not only too bright, it flickers.
The space seems to be moving; the pulsating light bounces off everything and distorts what I
am seeing. There are too many items for me to be able to focus (my brain may compensate
with tunnel vision), swirling fans on the ceiling, so many bodies in constant motion. All this
affects how I feel just standing there, and now I can’t even tell where my body is in space.
3. Distinguish between won’t (I choose not to) and can’t (I am not able to).
It isn’t that I don’t listen to instructions. It’s that I can’t understand you. When you call to me
from across the room, I hear “*&^%$#@, Jordan. #$%^*&^%$&*.” Instead, come over to
me, get my attention, and speak in plain words: “Jordan, put your book in your desk. It’s time
to go to lunch.” This tells me what you want me to do and what is going to happen next. Now
it’s much easier for me to comply.
4. I’m a concrete thinker. I interpret language literally.
You confuse me by saying, “Hold your horses, cowboy!” when what you mean is, “Stop
running.” Don’t tell me something is “a piece of cake” when there’s no dessert in sight and
what you mean is, “This will be easy for you to do.” When you say, “It’s pouring cats and
dogs,” I see pets coming out of a pitcher. Tell me, “It’s raining hard.”
Idioms, puns, nuances, inferences, metaphors, allusions, and sarcasm are lost on me.
5. Listen to all the ways I’m trying to communicate.
It’s hard for me to tell you what I need when I don’t have a way to describe my feelings. I
may be hungry, frustrated, frightened, or confused but right now I can’t find those words. Be alert for body language, withdrawal, agitation or other signs that tell you something is wrong.
They’re there.
Or, you may hear me compensate for not having all the words I need by sounding like a little
professor or movie star, rattling off words or whole scripts well beyond my developmental
age. I’ve memorized these messages from the world around me because I know I am
expected to speak when spoken to. They may come from books, television, or the speech of
other people. Grown-ups call it echolalia. I may not understand the context or the
terminology I’m using. I just know that it gets me off the hook for coming up with a reply.
6. Picture this! I’m visually oriented.
Show me how to do something rather than just telling me. And be prepared to show me many
times. Lots of patient practice helps me learn.
Visual supports help me move through my day. They relieve me of the stress of having to
remember what comes next, make for smooth transition between activities, and help me
manage my time and meet your expectations.
I need to see something to learn it, because spoken words are like steam to me; they evaporate in an instant, before I have a chance to make sense of them. I don’t have instant-processing skills. Instructions and information presented to me visually can stay in front of me for as long as I need, and will be just the same when I come back to them later. Without this, I live the constant frustration of knowing that I’m missing big blocks of information and expectations, and am helpless to do anything about it.
7. Focus and build on what I can do rather than what I can’t do.
Like any person, I can’t learn in an environment where I’m constantly made to feel that I’m
not good enough and that I need fixing. I avoid trying anything new when I’m sure all I’ll get
is criticism, no matter how “constructive” you think you’re being. Look for my strengths and
you will find them. There is more than one right way to do most things.
8. Help me with social interactions.
It may look like I don’t want to play with the other kids on the playground, but it may be that
I simply do not know how to start a conversation or join their play. Teach me how to play
with others. Encourage other children to invite me to play along. I might be delighted to be
included.
I do best in structured play activities that have a clear beginning and end. I don’t know how
to read facial expressions, body language, or the emotions of others. Coach me. If I laugh
when Emily falls off the slide, it’s not that I think it’s funny. It’s that I don’t know what to
say. Talk to me about Emily’s feelings and teach me to ask, “Are you okay?”
9. Identify what triggers my meltdowns.
Meltdowns and blow-ups are more horrid for me than they are for you. They occur because one or more of my senses has gone into overload, or because I’ve been pushed past the limit
of my social abilities. If you can figure out why my meltdowns occur, they can be prevented.
Keep a log noting times, settings, people, and activities. A pattern may emerge.
Remember that everything I do is a form of communication. It tells you, when my words
cannot, how I’m reacting to what is happening around me. My behavior may have a physical
cause. Food allergies and sensitivities sleep problems and gastrointestinal problems can all
affect my behavior. Look for signs, because I may not be able to tell you about these things.
10. Love me unconditionally.
Throw away thoughts like, “If you would just—” and “Why can’t you—?” You didn’t fulfill
every expectation your parents had for you and you wouldn’t like being constantly reminded
of it. I didn’t choose to have autism. Remember that it’s happening to me, not you. Without
your support, my chances of growing up to be successful and independent are slim. With
your support and guidance, the possibilities are broader than you might think.
Three words we both need to live by: Patience. Patience. Patience.
View my autism as a different ability rather than a disability. Look past what you may see as
limitations and see my strengths. I may not be good at eye contact or conversation, but have
you noticed that I don’t lie, cheat at games, or pass judgment on other people?
I rely on you. All that I might become won’t happen without you as my foundation. Be my
advocate, be my guide, love me for who I am, and we’ll see how far I can go.
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