In just the three short years since our daughter
Tessa’s diagnosis of ASD, the availability of knowledge, information and
resources has boomed. Books, local special education services, Smartphones and
iPads, and especially the Internet have expanded the help that is available to
families touched by the disorder.
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| Victoria and her daughter, Tessa. |
Recently, we were preparing for a trip to the
dentist, and I felt prompted to bring my digital camera. I thought I could take
photos of the waiting room, the dentist, the exam table and so on, and use them
at a later visit to the dentist for a social story. The visit to the dentist
went even better than expected, in large part because my daughter Tessa was
determined to make it so. She told me before we arrived that she did not want
to cry! I took photos of everything: big sister brushing, Tessa smiling, the
hygienist working on big sister’s teeth and so on. The staff was extremely
accommodating, and allowed Tessa to sit during the exam, rather than lie back
on the chair. I recorded it all, feeling such pride and accomplishment on
Tessa’s behalf. She was working so hard to not let her anxiety take over, that
I had to blink back tears. After a
successful exam and many accolades, we came home, and I had these remarkable
photographs of something I thought I would never see. Tessa at the dentist,
happy.
It occurred to me that I could upload the photos to
our computer and look at them often to boost my daughter’s morale. As I was
uploading, I thought about my blog and how neat it would be to put them on
there. But my blog is about food and cooking…not really the best venue for such
momentous pictures! That’s when it all snapped into place. I would create asocial stories blog for Tessa to review photos of events that she participated
in, and to remember what it was like, and how she reacted, all in vivid Technicolor!
As I recorded the dentist appointment, it occurred
to me that other parents and kids might benefit from such a blog. I made the
executive decision to open the blog for public viewing. I hadn’t seen anything
like that in cyberspace.
As you all know, life is hectic and at times,
overwhelming. I don’t update the social stories blog as often as I would like,
but it is a resource that is always there when we need it. We recently viewed
the famous dentist appointment visit again, as it was time to return for a
check-up. Tessa remembered the hygienist’s name, the general routine, and her
younger brother enjoyed looking at the photos as well: it was an unexpected
benefit because he had a check-up also.
When I have time and the inclination, I like to
photograph simple events in our lives and put them on the social stories blog
so that Tessa can prepare herself for upcoming situations. It is a somewhat
simple solution that has great dividends for our family. I have also used
photographs to create a hands-on social story by printing them out and making
laminated books that Tessa could look at again and again. In a pinch, I have
simply carried my camera with me, and recorded events as they happened, and
shown the photos on my camera to Tessa during the outing. It has the ability to
calm her down because it gives her a slightly different perspective on the
situation. Additionally, Tessa’s school teacher uses an iPad and other hi-tech
devices to aid Tessa’s learning in the classroom.
I am thankful
for the prompting I received to bring my camera along to the dentist that day,
because it turned out to have lasting positive consequences. I encourage other
parents to think outside the usual routine and attempt to use some of the
technology that is out there to provide better experiences for their child with
Autism. Everyone who views the photographs, from the child with Autism to her
parents, siblings and grandparents, will enjoy this alternate perspective on
situations, and has the potential to bring happy memories alive again, and put
a positive spin on an otherwise stressful event.
Notes from Danyelle: Here are some additional recommended apps to use on your android tablets, phones or iPads. Enjoy!
Notes from Danyelle: Here are some additional recommended apps to use on your android tablets, phones or iPads. Enjoy!
- Model Me Going Places ($24.99) - Social videos
- Easy Kid Tokens (FREE) - Cute token economy. I personally love it!
- Easy Kid Timer (.99) - Transition timer w/ pics of next activity
- AAC Speech Buddy ($27.99) - An interactive PECS system for Android, iPhone, iPad, MAC, or your personal computer
- iPrompts ($49.99) - iPad version transition timer w/ picture choices
- ABA Flash Cards: Emotions (FREE) - iPad emotion flash cards
- Pictello ($18.99) - Create talking books for social stories on your iPhone or iPad
What types of technology have you discovered to help your child with Autism?
Victoria Holt is the mom of 5.33 kids. She has had a handful of short
fiction stories published in literary journals you've never heard of,
and also an essay in Segullah, which you may have heard of. She loves to
scrapbook and read outside in warm weather. Her daughter's ASD
diagnosis actually came as a relief after two years of genetic testing
and other false starts. Autism has brought her family closer together
and closer to God. For some low-key social stories, check out her social
stories blog http://asdsocialstories.
