Only we can do this!

Post Reply New Topic

I desperately need links for pages that show that early intervention is the key to making autism higher functioning. I need it before Friday. You can do it people. Help me. I have court on Friday and I'm trying to show that my son is so high functioning at 16 because of the early intervention work that I've been doing for 16 years with him. This could mean whether or not he comes home. So some of you who are good data searchers on the internet, give me a shove and help me!

http://autism.about.com/od/childrenanda ... ortant.htm

http://ilabs.washington.edu/meltzoff/pd ... ictors.pdf

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cg ... 120/5/1162

Here's 3 to start. The bottom two are very dry clinical papers, but those are the sort of thing that make for good evidence in support of an argument.

Liverbird - good luck! I shall try to help, if I can. A well-referenced author, to verify your point: Olga Bogdashina, Sensory Perceptual Issues in Autism and Asperger Syndrome. She discusses, and advocates, childhood techniques to improve functioning, especially in the latter part of her book.

Or you could look for Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships, by Dr. Temple Grandin and Sean Barron (they're both autistic). In the beginning part of this book, Dr. Grandin speaks volumes about her mother and what a strong force she was in her development as a strong scientist (and a good person). Check either of these books out! They should, ideally, both be readily available for your reference.

If you need something online, definitly look for a peer-reviewed science journal (not just junk); perhaps Dr. Tony Attwood (always a good choice). Or Simon Baron-Cohen. (This is handy if you need something QUICKLY).

Each one of these authors/researchers understands well early autism, regardless of level of functioning, and how parenting is important for proper development.

I wish you and your son well. Now go study hard!

I found a website that quotes studies that say autistics who receive early intervention with ABA fare better than autistics who don't receive any treatment. http://www.abatherapists.com/effective- ... utism.html

Liverbird,

If I was the judge, and you gave me that, I would THROW IT OUT!

It is like someone showing me how people that owned my car said how happy they were with his work, and then asking me to pay him for fixing my car when I never knew it was broken!

Why don't you give them evidence of how he was, and improvement, before your ex hunsband entered the picture? If it CAN be done, and they have no evidence of the past, WHO CARES!?!?!? If it "can't' be done, and you prove it was, then THAT is meaningful!

Because, their entire defense is based on the fact that he can't be autistic because he is showing few outward classic autism signs. I'm putting in the early doctor notes that show PDD and autism. Then I'm showing that he is so high functioning because of the love and care I put into his early childhood intervention programs. I believe that he is who he is because of all of the work that I've done for him. Their argument is that he can't be autistic because he's not showing echolalia and rocking and drooling on himself. I'm showing that he is autistic but he's not any of the above and he's not any of the above because of the early intervention. I just wanted some studies to back me up. Support me, 2ukenkurl, okay. Trust me. My heart and that little deranged man inside of me tells me that this is the way to go. I have to believe in that. You've given me lots of friendship and support in the last few months. Now give me a little faith. Remember that I am not dealing with either a reasonable man or a logical judge. I'm dealing with two power hungry bastards that to quote Speedy deserve to be popsicled with a gardening implement of some sort. I think this is crazy enough to work.
I'm showing exactly what you suggested just in a big picture sense.

this is just so that my post doesn't fall to the bottom of the page.

Do you have any videotapes of him as an infant?

Maybe you can hire an expert to testify that autism improves with adequate treatment and he can quote studies to back it up.

Liverbird,

I thought I wrote this earlier. You know I support you. Your son sounds like a nice kid that generally likes you. Stories you have related make you BOTH sound "wierd" in the same way. ALSO, your EX sounds like a real IDIOT, JERK, an a guy that should be thrown in jail for attempted murder(based on how he treated YOUR(His as well as yours) son!

I am just trying to tell you how I would treat it, etc... As you said, you seem to have considered it in advance.

A comfortable environment at home can make someone appear less autistic than what they are; speech therapy can allow one's speech to improve to a level where one doesn't "seem" to be impaired unless you look closely.

They'll require the early interventions to be professional in nature (the courts that is), speech therapy for example.

Generally, if someone is autistic when they're little (showing symptoms), they're going to be autistic when they're older (symptoms again); it's a lifelong disorder, and it's not conclusive that intervention markedly helps someone other than the usual potluck if the individuals improve as they get older without help or not.

A psycho told me that it's common for autistic children to be later rediagnosed as Asperger's as an adult due to their marked improvement in communication.

Okay, guys. I have busily been downloading studies all morning. I've found some very good stuff because of your suggestions. Thank you! I have even found a study that followed several children throughout their school years and found that their progress showed marked improvements over children who did not receive the services.

Of course, they all stress that it depends on the child. But if the child has the predisposition to develop higher functioning skills, then they can do it!

I'm thinking this is going well. I knew you guys would help!

I have a subpeona for my son to come to court! Yeah!

I'm sorry this is completely useless to you, but it's just a weird coincidence. Last night I dreamed about someone's parents having to prove their kid was autistic in court.