Selecting The WRONG Autism Teacher Can Be Disastrous For Your Autistic Child

If you have an autistic child, then it almost goes without saying that you want the best autism teacher that is possible so that your child is able to learn, can be taught how to learn, and not be left behind as his peers advance and mature. But have you really considered the autism teacher that the school district simple assigns to your child? If not, then perhaps you should as explained in this article.

First of all, you need to remember that your child will be spending 30 or more hours per week in the classroom. All of this time, your child is receiving instruction from their autism teacher. This instruction is much more than just basic learning as would be done for normal children, but much of that time is spent in helping the child learn how to learn, learn how to interact with his peers, learning acceptable behavior, and all done by someone who has an understanding of autistic children and their very specific needs and requirements.

As such, the autistic child will frequently look at his teacher as a role model, someone that they respect, they admire, someone who helps them with seemingly infinite patience, and someone that the child will attempt to emulate because of that relationship and respect. But this is not always a good thing if you have not looked a bit deeper into the selected autism teacher to really determine if that person is really worthy of being your child's role model.

Almost all autism teachers have been trained in autism, cognitive learning disabilities and dealing with emotionally impaired children. Many of them even have a Masters Degree which indicates that they have learned the material required at least once and should be capable of being a good autism teacher. But unfortunately, that is not the end of that story, since "academic smarts" is not all that is required to be an effective autism teacher and to be seen by autistic children as a role model to follow and emulate.

Some of the autism teachers in today's world are not worthy to be viewed as role models. Sure, they have the required "academic smarts" but they are a far cry from being the type of person that you would want your child to emulate or view as a role model for their future lives. Although it is unfortunate, some of these teachers have a character and personality outside of the classroom that is simply, putting it mildly, not the kind of person that you would want ANYONE to emulate, let alone your autistic child who NEEDS a role model to help them determine what is good, bad, right and acceptable within today's society and amongst their peers. In the role of the teacher of autism, some of these people are totally superficial, pretending to be one type of person in the classroom, but outside of the classroom they are an entirely different type of person, many times exhibiting traits of coldness towards others, consistently lying to friends and family, and feeling no remorse about hurting others that they have deceived. Is that the kind of person that you want your autistic child to view as a role model? I don't think so, and you should not think so either.

The choice is yours and much of that choice depends on the value that you place on the instruction that your autistic child receives at school, understanding that when they develop a relationship with their autism teacher, that relationship will inevitably extend into viewing that teacher as role model. I would strongly encourage you to ensure that such a person is indeed worthy to be viewed as such a role model, and you are not required to accept the autism teacher that the school district arbitrarily assigns to you.

If you are serious about getting the best for your autistic child, I would encourage you to do your research into the right Autism Teacher for your child and to do the amount of research necessary to ensure that your autistic child is receiving the maximum benefit for their learning needs. For more insights about Autism and to read a case study of two very real autism teachers, please visit our web site at http://www.autism-explained.com/selecting-the-right-autism-teacher-for-your-child/

Original article

How Can You Help Your Autistic Child Create Friendships?

Friends are important to people. Having friends and creating friends for your autistic child could be challenging. How will you be able to accept this challenge and help your child who has the disorder of autism, create friendships?

It is imperative to know your child.Know his or her weaknesses and strengths. Consider the social limitations your child may have. Not only participating with autistic children, but non-autistic children. Each child is unique and may need various kinds of help or coaching for encouragement and to gain confidence.

Some autistic children may have difficulty in expressing their verbal language. In addition, not being able to understand verbal language from other children. This can make it a challenge to communicate and create friendships with other children and autistic children.

Therefore, it is wise to determine the limitations your child may have, before you decide, your child should socialize and create friendships.

By taking this action, you will learn what your child is expressing and what he or she is able to handle. This will determine what kind of friends are appropriate for your individual to socialize with, when trying to create friendships.

Set a play date for that is fun for your child and other children. This could be done at school, or outside of the classroom. Take time to find the right situation for your child and other children to participate in.

When you do find the time that will work for all of the children, and the place, keep the time short and limited. This will eliminate stress, frustration and rejection from other children. By being aware of this and taking charge of the situation, your child will probably want to continue this activity or another one. It will help to create friends at his or her own pace.

If your child does not like crowds, bright lights, loud noises, confusing activities, multiple activities, take this into consideration. Do not force your child to take part in areas, where you know he or she will become upset. What is a fun activity or place for some children, could be extremely overwhelming for a child with the disorder of autism.

Another way you can help your autistic child create friendships is, if you have made many attempts for your child to participate in activities, new places, new times, to socialize and it does not seem to be working, perhaps it is time for you to be creative with a new idea or plan.

If you know your child, you will know if he or she needs more time to adjust to other individuals, activities, new places, etc. Be sure you are not placing an enormous amount of pressure on your child, by having too high expectations for him or her to socialize on your terms and thoughts. Instead, take into consideration each individual is different. You will want to evaluate your motives for encouraging creative friendships and socialization for your child.

If your child feels comfortable with one friend and is having fun, that may be all that is necessary for the present time. You may find you do not need to create more friendships or have your child participate in more social activities. Keep the pace simple for creating new friendships. Do not push your child into new friendships, when one or two friends could be enough and it will avoid unwanted stress.

Bonita Darula operates a web sight==> http://www.autismintoawareness.com/ SIGN up to RECEIVE your COMPLIMENTARY WEEKLY AUTISTIC NEWSLETTER on current TOPICS. For example: How can you help your child create and have friends? Order your Autism updated information from your Complimentary Autistic Newsletter to help your child and you.

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Motivating Autistic Children With a Variety of Activities

For those parents of autistic children, you are probably aware of how to motivate the child by employing a variety of activities. However, if your child has just been diagnosed with Autism you are most likely not aware of this as you may not have had the time yet to educated yourself about how this affects the individual. Children as well as teenagers and adults with Autism have a great deal of difficulty conversing and interacting with others while also having impaired communication skills.

In order to help autistic children develop behavioral, language, and social skills, you have to find ways of motivating them to pay attention and learn from this. The key to developing certain life skills may be an early intervention, but these have become easier to teach thanks to the help of some newer motivational methods that are now available. The following are some suggestions for how to motivate autistic children by employing a variety of activities to accomplish this.

Use play therapy that encourages self-expression, provides a sense of accomplishment, and teaches skills to motivate children with Autism.

Allow autistic children to choose the activity they want to engage in such as dancing or jumping and then be sure that you participate in these activities with them. Keep participating with them in these different activities until they communicate with you spontaneously and make eye contact.

Activites involving scripting or "social stories" should be encouraged as it oftentimes helps the non-verbal child with Autism to become more verbal while learning more appropriate behavioral skills. This also helps to improve their communication skills and has the tendency to decrease social isolation.

Employ positive reinforcement during their learning periods and therapy sessions in order to keep communication going. Praising correct answers or prompting another answer after an incorrect one is an excellent way to motivate them into responding more frequently.

Introduce new drills and tasks while still using familiar ones in order to make learning more fun and interesting. Granted, routine and structure are essential to providing autistic children with a comfort zone and teaching them numerous skills. However, Autism studies have revealed that when tasks are interesting and varied, autistic children are better behaved, give more correct answers, learn quicker, and stay more focused.

Incorporate activities that involve sensory integration. These will decrease or increase the level of sensory stimulation that autistic children receive. When a child with Autism is overwhelmed with sensory input, occupational therapists help them to participate in certain activities that help them to filter the amount of sensory input they are receiving.

Finally, children with Autism can also be motivated by employing music therapy and singing. In some cases, autistic children who cannot speak a single word can sing when they are exposed to tunes with repetitive and simple lyrics or phrases. This actually helps them to develop language skills that are lacking while at the same time helping them to eliminate those monotone speech patterns that are so common with autistic children.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

Original article

Music and the Autistic Child

In February of 2010, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) hosted a professional, Nina Kraus, from Northwestern University speaking about cognitive-sensory connection between speech and music. During her presentation on the subject, Kraus said the following: "Indeed, musical experience can enhance the very auditory processes that are often deficient in clinical populations including developmental dyslexia and autism."

This statement backs up what many parents with autistic children have experienced firsthand when registering their children in childhood musical programs. Parents have long reported children opening up in music lessons in ways that they do not open up at home. This has led many parents to incorporate music in their homes, since it seems to be something that their autistic children really respond to in a positive, productive manner.

Quite a few studies have been done on the effects of music on childhood development, and the results have been positive. As Kraus discussed at the annual AAAS meeting, there is a connection between human speech, hearing and music. There have been instances of stroke victims who could not speak, but could sing clearly. This is just one example of how music interacts in the brain in amazing ways.

This extends to children as well, especially children with autism. Children become more cooperative with lessons when music is a part of the lesson. They are able to focus on one thing for a longer period of time if music is presented in some manner. Those with speech problems are able to improve through music while those struggling with eye contact can take great strides to meeting the eye of others through music lessons.

Take it from Myra J. Staum, Ph.D., the Director and Professor of Music Therapy from Willamette University. She wrote a piece on music therapy and language for autism.com, which touched on the power of music therapy for autistic children. She said that music is an effective form of therapy that can be used to enhance skill development with autistic children. Her reason for this comes down to the basic nature of music. She said it is "nonverbal" and "non threatening."

Staum goes on to explain how autistic children can be taught a variety of skills directly through music. This allows them to overcome a lot of their delays and developmental problems, so they function better in their daily lives.

Not all parents with autistic children have access to formal music therapy for their children, but that doesn't mean other forms of musical programs designed for children can't be used effectively. Parents with autistic children can easily surround their children with music and introduce music at home. With a little creativity, parents can even teach and guide children through music just as therapists are doing around the country.

A good children's musical program offered in the local community is a great start for autistic children. They will be encouraged to interact with other children, to use their brains and bodies in new ways, and to experience language from a musical perspective. Many children with autism love music and respond to it on a deep level that has not been experienced with anything else. All it takes to get that depth of response is constant exposure to music lessons in some capacity.

For more information regarding music for children and child development programs, visit Kindermusik Asia.

Feel free to publish this article on your website, or send it to your friends, as long as you keep the resource box and the content of the article intact.

The content is our own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of Kindermusik or Kindermusik Asia.

Original article

How Can Your Life Improve At Home With An Autistic Child?

I am almost positive your life at home can be extremely draining and frustrating, living with an autistic individual. How can you change and improve this? One way for you to improve your life at home is, keep your family strong.

You can do this by supporting and helping each person understand the dynamics of autism within your family.

Explain to your children who are younger and who do not have autism, what the disorder is, what to expect and the various complexities of autism.

Allow your family members to know and understand that there may be unexpected challenges and changes within your home, but it will improve with time. Give explanations of how it will change.

As parent(s), caregiver(s), you may be tempted or think you can improve your life at home by trying to be a strong person and make the changes by yourself, without any help.

You may feel you need to be strong for everyone in your family and you must know what to do and have all of the answers.

If you choose this approach, you will be putting yourself and your family under more pressure and stress. It will not improve your family life at home.

Reach out to support groups, counselors, other families who have individuals with the disorder of autism in their family.

Taking this kind of action, will improve your family life. It will help your family and you to cope with physical, emotional, and financial issues that can affect your whole family in the present and in the future.

I have learned, by having a brother who is autistic, it was imperative for me to gain knowledge and education about autism, and stay current with the new approaches and research. This will bring positive changes for improving your life at home.

In addition, keep communication open with all of your family members. Discuss new therapies, updates, treatments, improvements for your autistic individual and areas where there needs to be progress, or various approaches. Be aware of these options. This will improve your family life at home.

I feel it is crucial to have weekly family meetings. If not weekly, every two weeks or once a month, depending on the schedule of your family. Doing this, keeps the communication open for discussion and keeps your family alert, by bringing their concerns to these meetings.

Family meetings will also bring your family closer together and give a better understanding of how feelings, emotions, facts, concerns, can improve family life at home.

It is crucial not to be afraid to ask for help, or advice, and always stay in touch, connected to each family member.

Remember, you are a valuable person. As parent(s), caregiver(s), you must take time for yourself. Schedule some downtime, or fun activities go give yourself some positive reinforcement of energy and a new look on your life. This will improve your family life at home.

There will be days when you will be angry, exhausted, stressed, sad, but if you choose to take action to have your family improve at home, you will be experiencing more good days than bad days, and they will be healthy ones.

Are you willing to make positive changes to improve your family life at home with an autistic individual?

Remember, you will not be able to take of your family and your child, if you do not take care of yourself.

Bonita Darula's informational web sight==> http://www.autismintoawareness.com/. Take action and SIGN up to RECEIVE your FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER on Autistic TOPICS. For example: Are you willing to improve your life at home with an autistic child? Order your E-Books to identify symptoms of Autism.

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12 Easy Tips To Celebrate The Holidays With Your Autistic Child

The holidays are usually full of excitement and fun. You anticipate sharing them with family, friends and relatives. If your child has autism, you may dread thinking of going or participating in celebrating any kind of holidays.

There are some tips that will help you celebrate your holidays and make it easy for you to enjoy them.

* Take time to plan your holiday in advance. Explain to your child where you are going or the function you plan to attend and what particular day this will be. Sometimes your child does not seem to comprehend what you are telling him or her, does not remember the holiday, or the place. If this happens, take out various photos you have available and show your child some of the people you are going to visit and what their homes look like.

* Think about taking a favorite book, toy, stuffed animal, puzzles, coloring books, crayons or what you think your child will be comfortable doing, for activities.

* It might be wise to bring a change of clothes depending on the weather, such as, shoes, socks, coats, etc. These items can be used, if you decide to take a walk, or if the temperature changes.

* Take into consideration if your child has allergies, how would this affect the preparation of the meals at the destination you are going to be at. Inform the people you are going to visit, when celebrating the holidays, your child has an allergic reaction to certain foods, pets, perfume, plants, sweets, etc.

* You may want to suggest to the host or hostess, who is having the holiday celebration you will be attending, that you will be glad to bring your own prepared food for your child, due to his or her allergies.

* Plan to discuss with the host or hostess, regarding the function, if there will be a quiet place away from the other people who will be present, so your child can have some down time, if needed.

* If your child does not like noises, or loud conversations, whether it be a private home, restaurant, or other large gatherings, bring some headphones, creative soothing music that your child is comfortable listening to. In addition, earplugs are also a useful tool.

* Not all children who have autism enjoy handing out snacks to other guests before they sit down at the table. If your child is comfortable participating in handing out snacks, napkins, allow him or her to do it. This will increase their self-esteem and social skills.

* Another excellent way to help your child be at ease when you are celebrating the holidays, is to practice in advance where you are going, what is the occasion you are going to attend, what will the seasonal weather will be like at the time of the holiday event.

* Stay with the routine as much as possible and the home life that is familiar to your child, who has the disorder of autism. This will help the stress level, so you can enjoy the celebration of the holidays.

* Be creative, patient, understanding and realize your child may not enjoy changes. On the hand, changes will encourage your child to gain self-confidence, self-esteem and adapt to new social skills.

* Are you willing to take the time to celebrate the holidays with your autistic child and make it fun and less stressful?

Bonita Darula runs a popular online Autism web sight that gives you lots of useful updated information about treatments and how to celebrate the holidays with ease and less stress with your Autistic child. Register on her web sight to receive your FREE Weekly Newsletter at >>> http://www.autismintoawareness.com/

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More About Autistic Children

Unfortunately in today's society, difference is not looked upon as a positive thing. Children nowadays while subject to a wide variety of cultural change and innovative new ways of thinking, still fall back on old fears when it comes to differences, especially amongst themselves. Because of this, their peers who suffer from anything that places them outside the spectrum of norm, are often ostracized and bullied because of this.

Children who suffer from developmental and learning disorders such as Autism are especially prone to these negative efforts. It is of every importance that we begin to take note of what goes on inside as well as outside of the home and classroom. It is essential that we begin to teach our children the values of compassion and patience towards those who may be different than us. It is with this open mind attitude that we will not only be able to help our peers who are challenged with life, but also to help us live more peacefully and to grow as a human being.

Bullying has reached new heights in young children and adolescents these last few years. It is a danger to their well-being, not just the targets but the bullies as well. Everyone is a victim in these circumstances. Autistic children are more prone to these attacks as well, vis. they are socially awkward, they find it difficult to communicate on a normal basis because they do not react the same to the verbal, emotional and intuitive cues of their friends. This can lead to misunderstandings and tension amongst children and can also lead to teasing and alienation.

Depending on the severity of their symptoms, autistic children tend to thrive better in an environment created around their disorder. But this leaves them alienated from the rest of the world. So, while it is beneficial for them to spend some time in an environment geared towards their way of learning and comprehension, it isn't good for them to be secluded away from the rest of society. They will need to learn the skills and confidence to integrate into the rest of society in order to live a successful life. This doesn't mean they have to be exactly like the rest, in fact autistic children never will, but they need to be able to live as their selves comfortably out in the world.

In order to really do this, the world itself needs to learn some compassion and compromise for autistic children. The relational skills and the way of thinking and perception are not only for these children to work at changing. The world needs to change as well. We need to be more accepting of difference and individuality. We need to be more willing to help those who need it instead of pushing them aside and trampling all over them. And this doesn't mean we just need more specialists in the field. We, as human beings need to take a proactive approach towards making autistic children, adults and those with other disorders feel more like they have a place in the world. Because they do and they should, it is our own fault that we experience difficulties with these differences.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

Original article

Can You Improve Your Conversation Skills With Your Autistic Child?

Every child with the disorder of autism has varying degrees of communication skills. Do you want to improve the conversation skills for your child who has the disorder of autism? If you do, how can it be accomplished?

Many children with autism can be confused with certain phrases we use in our every day language. For example: "Pennies from heaven," or it is "raining cats and dogs," "money grows on trees, when blooming," "to save for a rainy day, you will be sure of a drizzle."

Trying to have your child understand and interpret this kind of conversation and language, is a challenge for your child. Can this be improved, to have your child better understand this type of communication?

Have you ever tried to comprehend some of the conversations you have had or are having, with your child who has autism, in addition, to his or her peers?

Some individuals use phrases with a large amount of chatter and talk that only they seem to understand and it means something to them. Someone else trying to listen and communicate with their conversation, it makes no sense and it is confusing.

Some individuals who have autism, will use a monologue and not quit talking. They are not aware of the fact, people are bored with their conversation. Parent(s) become confused as to how they can improve the skills of communicating with their child. You may be in that category.

I have a friend who has an autistic child and he is constantly using gestures. They are powerful with his conversations, but his gestures are extremely confusing for other people to understand what they mean.

You as parent(s), caregiver(s), must understand that your child does want to have a conversation, with you or other individuals. You have the challenge to improve it. Improving conversation skills with your child who has autism, requires patience.

In the past, I have used flash cards to help with conversation skills when children have a difficult time expressing or formulating conversations with other individuals.

Practice spending time to show an interest in what your child is saying and expressing, to improve a conversation that makes sense and is understood.

You may want to use pictures, word games,gestures, puppets, flannel boards, videos, books, go for walks in the park, the library, etc.

Keep communication open and current with your child. Do not be afraid to talk to your child as you would with another child who does not have autism.

During conversations with your child, be aware of what your child understands and has difficulty with. You can change and improve the conversation skills by being alerted to the needs of improvement to develop new conversation skills.

* Keep your conversations simple. Use appropriate language, speak clearly, slowly and have a desire for your child to respond.

* Praise, smile encourage your child for the efforts of improving skills for their conversations.

I have discovered that role-playing is a helpful part of improving conversation skills for your child.

Are you willing to take an interest in improving the conversation skills of your child? Start today.

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Choosing Good Toys For Low-Functioning Autistic Children

Children are diagnosed as growing up with low-functioning autism based on the intensity of symptoms and results from intelligence tests. What does this mean exactly for the mother or father who wants to purchase the appropriate toys for these schoolchildren? It means that children with low-functioning autism are more likely to display one or more of the following behaviors:

An inability to articulate themselves using language or to comprehend languageAn inability to live without assistance from othersAn inability to use normal nonverbal gestures used for communicationAvoids eye contactHas a preference for being solitaryLacks physical coordinationEither a strong sensitivity to sensory stimulation, or a lack of sensitivity to such stimulation (sounds, lights, touch, tastes, odors)Emotions flip-flop to extremes, such as breaking down seemingly without reason.Very rashVery combativeMay like to self-injurePhysical manifestations, such as being below their peer group in weight and statureLags other children in their age range academically

Because of these symptoms, choosing an appropriate toy for kids with low-functioning autism is especially difficult. Even though high-functioning autistic kids may play and learn well with age-appropriate toys, low-functioning autistics may require toys designed for children below their age group, meaning toys that pose no safety hazards and are easier to comprehend.

Characteristics of Good Toys

Low-functioning autistic children have struggles expressing themselves verbally, which prevents them from communicating with others with ease and forces them to spend most of their time in solitary activities. They are therefore inclined to gravitate towards toys that allow them to play alone and become familiar with such toys. But if these toys can also be used for playing with others, you may have an easier time getting them to use the toy as a way to communicate with others.

Because of their emotional extremes and the risk that they might show aggression towards others or themselves, you will want toys that are safe to play with and won't lead to risk of injuring others. (This means don't choose toys that shoot missiles!)

Finally, toys that help them improve their motor abilities will be crucial during their youth because this is an important period for motor development.

Specific Toy Suggestions

The most appropriate toys are those that capture the interest of babies and toddlers because low-functioning autistic children operate at a level several years below other children of their age.

For alone-play toys that can also be played with others and are safe, a good choice may be cloth hand puppets, such as those made by Melissa and Doug. Melissa and Doug manufactured a variety of low-cost ($10-$20) hand puppets that range from dragons to princesses. Something to be careful about is the wooden dowel that comes with the puppet for use in manipulating the arm. You can easily detach this from the puppet if you are afraid that it might cause safety issues.

Creation sets for young children are also an appropriate selection for toys that can be played alone as well as with adults. Duplo (the young child's version of Lego) is a typical choice, as well as a variety of toddler stacking toys such as the Fisher-Price Little Superstar Classical Stacker. These toys generally run $20-40.

Wooden Puzzles are also good, safe options for solitary and adult time play activities. Again, Melissa and Doug is an appropriate option for these toys since they are inexpensive, pleasing to the eye, and safe for young kids.

Finally, soft balls marketed for toddlers are good choices for use in developing motor skills. The best way to make use of such toys is to work with the child in catch and throw games, which will develop manual dexterity. Plush balls are great options, and you should stay away from foam balls such as those made by Nerf since a child could easily ingest bits of the foam.

Thanks for reading this article, and I hope it helps you in your search! Another article that is useful may be one about shopping for autism toys.

Original article

About Autistic Children

When tests for Autism are first being considered, this typically involves the use of a pre-developed checklist or screening, rather than a blood test, in order to determine if Autism is present. Despite the fact that the majority of the pediatricians that are available today will help care for autistic children, it was only recently that they reported performing routine screenings for the disorder.

Since the "Identification and Evaluation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders" clinical report was published in 2007 by the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), the hope is that more pediatricians will include screening for the disorder when infant care commences. Additionally, it is recommended that once this is established that they will continue routine screenings in all ensuing examinations.

There were three recommendations that the publication mentioned regarding Autistic children including:

o Conduct routine surveillance for autism spectrum disorders at every follow-up, well-child visit, including searching for any subtle signs of the disorder.

o Screen the child for autism using a specific or targeted screening checklist when they reach 18 years of age and again at 24 months.

o Schedule special appointments anytime you have any concerns about autism that you may have as a responsible parent would do.

Most importantly is the fact that the AAP highly recommends that all pediatricians send children for a comprehensive evaluation if the screening test results are positive. You might consider a hearing test as well as one of the warning signs is that the child either cannot hear you or appears to be ignoring what you say and not reacting normally.

The signs and symptoms exhibited by autistic children

When it comes to the early warning signs and symptoms of Autism in children, there are three distinctive behavior patterns evident when the disorder is present. They include:

o difficulties with communication and social interaction
o problems with either non-verbal or verbal communication
o repetitive behavior patterns
o narrow or extremely obsessive interests

Additionally, the impact of these warning signs and symptoms can range from very mild or slight to extremely severe and nearly disabling.

Regardless of the above, it is the inability to communicate effectively and engage in any social interaction that is considered the most prolific feature. Additionally, it is normally the parents that start seeing these warning signs and symbols. They will start seeing the child display abnormal behavior, even as early as the infancy stage. This includes being unresponsive to those around them or obsessively focusing on a single object or toy.

Additionally, a child may appear to be developing normally and then suddenly withdraw from any social interaction or be ambivalent of or indifferent to what is going on around them. Autistic children may also fail to respond to calling their names or will avoid making eye contact or maintaining it for any normal length of time. Finally, they usually cannot understand specific social clues which makes it difficult for them to interpret what others feel or think. This includes certain facial expressions and tone of voice.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on ADHD children please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

Original article

How Can The Most Famous Loser in Olympic History Give His Secret to Help You Raise Autistic Child?

Derek Anthony Redmond is a retired British athlete and he is best remembered for his performance at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. You might have heard of him.

On that day at the 1992 summer Olympic; Redmond favored to win gold.

How he finished his race could lift your spirit... that all hope is not lost.

You might be interested in this because it confronts you with the difficulties of raising autistic child and searching for the solutions. Did you ever stop to think for a moment that you're going through one of the toughest time and wondering what the future holds for you and your autistic child?

It is frustrating at times just like Redmond had felt over his favorite sport as his career was blighted by a series of injuries. Redmond was a world-class runner. He was fast. During his illustrious career, he held the British record for the 400 meter sprint.

Before the summer games, he had won gold medals in the 4x400 meter relay at the World Championships, European Championships and the Commonwealth Games which is why pundits tipped him to win.

What happened to him at the Olympic that summer day?

Redmond thundered out of the blocks, as the gun signaled the beginning of the race. From the very moment he started sprinting, it seemed apparent that he would win and carry the Union Jack proudly.

He was in good form by the time of the semi-final, but an unfortunate event changed the course of history.

Redmond started well, but in the back straight about 250 meters from the finish line, his hamstring snapped! You can imagine the pain was so intense that as he hobbled, he collapsed on the track. Obviously you can see that his Olympic dream shattered like a broken glass.

As he kneeled on one knee, in pain, stretcher bearers made their way over to him, but Redmond did the unexpected. He did a thing that would change the meaning of winning, forever. He decided he wanted to finish the race.

He got up and began hopping down the track. The crowd's jaw dropped, as shown on the live telecast worldwide. As he hobbled along with face a picture of agony, he was joined on the track by his father, Jim Redmond, who barged past security and on to the track to get to his son.

He put his arm around his son's shoulder as he kept going, sobbing and limping as he went.

And so Jim and Derek complete the lap together. As they crossed the finish line, the crowd of 65,000 spectators rose to give Derek a standing ovation. It was the loudest and longest ovation of the games.

In spite of the pain, in spite of the humiliation and in spite of a shattered Olympic dream, Derek finished his run.

Are you a finisher like Derek?

Probably, you are not the strongest person or have the most brilliant mind. You may have big obstacles between you and your search to give your autistic child a better future. In your journey, I urge you not to let these things stop you.

Whether you are searching for the signs or symptoms of autism, or on course along with your autistic child battling the disorder, keep going... and... FINISH.

As for Derek, he didn't win the gold but surely, he have won the hearts of 65,000 at the venue and millions others watching on their televisions across the globe, and rose becoming the most famous loser in Olympic history. His secret was simply because he love his sport.

Look at me and listen closely as your child depends on you.

At times, you may feel a little discourage, and it may take heroic courage, strength and determination, but you will cross the finish line because YOU and I know that deep inside you... you are a finisher, you are a fighter, you and your child's future are brighter than you had ever imagined. And you will be a winner.

I'm hoping you find some JOY because isn't that what we're all searching for anyway?

Doctors reveals breakthrough treatments for autism. You might want to have this information because it'll guide you into the hidden world of autism to help you avoid a fruitless and frustrating journey when raising your autistic child.

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