Hello all, new here!

[Rebekah13]

Thrilled to meet you all! I'm the mother of 5, my youngest of whom is autistic. He is 3 and doesn't communicate at all, though we've seen some improvements as far as gesturing, and he does try to verbalize. I had him evaluated for speech at 18 months, but have to admit I've not seen significant improvement, and he is now in preschool 2 days a week, occupation therapy 1 day, and also use daycare for more socialization for him. Just requested more speech for him, the only problem I have is that I know as a fact he had both visual and tactile undersensitivity and yet we still can't take him to the store as he throws incredible fits (you know, the screaming, red faced, eyes bulging, thank-God-it's-not-me-today kind), and I'm not certain at all of why, as he used to rather enjoy the trips to the store. We use PECS and it still doesn't help, so at a loss!

Anyhow, great to meet you all, really enjoy reading all your comments, and feeling part of a community here!

Lydia

[virginia smith]

Hi! I am new as well.
My daughter is 14 so it has been along time since 3. She also started therapy at 18mths although I new when she was younger but no one listened.

The store posses many problems for our kids. The lights make sounds. There seems to be no set pattern to our shopping. There are many visual distractions and sounds. When Nyla was young before we did sensory therapies to stabilize her basicly we were told to not take her out in public. As she got older and as the therapy continued and I also changed her diet to no gluten, no milk, no sugar, I would take her to the store in small incremints.

With a pics card for carrots say we are going to the store and just pick up the carrots. If this is too big just start by driving to the store. Hurray, we went to the store. Nyla was difficult in the car. I have recently been taught how to teach a skill. You list all of the steps that it would take to do that. Most skills you teach in reverse so it isn't monumental to accomplish.

I have tried all kinds of behavour management stuff and love and oopsie has worked the best. So they understand they are not bad but do need to behave. Sitting in time out works.

I think kids are very different and some times it works. My child is very stubborn. I tell her I expect her to whatever. Before she didn't know what I expected because I didn't know what she was capable of. She fooled me for many years.

Nice to talk
Virginia