Autism and Inclusion: Try Thinking Outside the Box
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The vast majority of young children - autistic or typically developing - are not ready for soccer, baseball, Scouting, tumbling or dance. Yet here in America we seem to feel that every child should be enrolled in structured team sports and clubs by the time he's three, four, or five. And, for reasons that elude me, we seem to have decided that simple, fun activities like running, jumping, hiking and fishing are for teens and adults only.
For kids with autism, this odd cultural preference can be a set-up for frustration and failure. Parents see that almost every typical child in the neighborhood is involved with soccer or baseball or the like. And so they work hard to ensure their child's inclusion in an activity that may not be a great match for their child's interests or abilities.
Over the years, we too have tried to involve our son first in gymboree and tumbling, then in soccer, baseball and various kid clubs. In general, these experiences were terribly frustrating - for us, for Tom, and for the adults involved in coaching and teaching.
What we've found, however, is that Tom is really much more interested in hiking, exploring, art and music. By following his interests, we've been increasingly successful in inclusion.
For example, Tom is much more interested than his sister in listening for and identifying birds. He has more stamina for long walks in the woods. He's actually interested in viewing art in museums and listening to classical music. So ... we've started taking Tom on family birding expeditions (offered here by local clubs). We've taken him to art museum programs for children (gallery walks work better than hands-on programs). We've taken Tom to family concerts and, now, to typical concerts (it's taken time, but now he can enjoy a longer presentation). Bowling has worked out well for us, too - and Tom is now part of a junior league that stresses individual achievement.
It's not typical boy stuff. It's not even typical kid stuff. But the activities in which Tom's now included have the potential to be lifelong interests that build on his strengths.
What do you think of this approach to inclusion? Do you feel it's a better idea to ensure a child's inclusion in typical activities? Or to follow the child's lead for inclusion? What's worked for you?
Comments
I like that concept, encourage them to do what they find interesting rather than frustrate them in doing the activities that everyone else is involved in. I think it helps us as parents become more aware of their interests and strengths.
I agree that this is the best approach; let the child lead and develop his/her interests. We keep looking for signs on our 3 1/2 year old as to what his insterests might be and we will encourage and support whatever that is 100%.
My 4 1/2 year old is doing very well in gymnastics class, once a week. The beginning was a little rough, as he wouldn’t sit still for circle time at warm-up or pay attention to the teacher instructions, so I had to sit with him and act like an aide. After a few lessons, I was able to let him do the class all by himself, with a few interventions when necessary (if he ran away to the opposite side of the gymnasium for instance). But now, 9 months later, he’s really attending and understanding 90% of the instructions. He basically looks like a typical kid in that class. My persistence in leaving him in that class paid off because not only he enjoys it immensely, but it’s giving him better focus and improving his circle time skills, which will be good when he starts Kindergarten.
Anyway, I think we need to find some balance and at least expose them to inclusive group activities to see how far they can go. Your son is older, so he has more of a say in what types of activities you can enroll him or not, but for the preschool and elementary school age kids, it’s usually up to the parents to try different things and see what the kids will enjoy doing.
I just wanted to add that I chose gymnastics because my son needs to work to improve his muscle tone. As he gets older, he’s getting less active and he won’t even care about climbing on the playground any longer, or playing on bounce houses like he used to. So every chance I can get to give him an opportunity to exercise, I’ll go for it. Right now his main activities are reading, domino runs, marble courses, legos and the like, which are great but will not help him build body strength and socialize with other children.
Here is a link that features my sons’ baseball team. It is called the Challenger division, and is also known in other areas as Dream Catchers.
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20071102/testing_BC/20080214/?hub=BritishColumbiaSports
If the link doesn’t work, just copy and paste and address bar. You will have to click on the title “Young baseball players dream of making the pros” for the video clip.
My sons’ team is open to anyone with physical or developmental disabilities, no one strikes out, no one gets tagged out, every player makes it safe. It’s more of a social gathering (3-4 players being third baseman at the same time is a common sight). If the child has difficulty staying for the whole game, then it’s okay to go home early.
As far as Scouts go, I am a scout leader, but only for security measures. I am there to help my son, and have done so for years as a parent volunteer. This year I had to become a leader because I was there so much. Some scout groups are not as strict and if any child of any ability is not okay with doing an activity, they can opt to sit out, including attending some camping trips like winter camping. They just don’t get the badge then either. I called up local scout groups and talked with various leaders when we were first looking because our son is not high functioning. I interviewed the leaders and honestly asked them how comfortable they thought the group would be to have such a special needs child in their group. I assured them that I had to ask such a question to make the best decision, and not so that I could go to the media and make an issue out of the idea that my son may not be well recieved, as many parents are prone to do.
However, he loves camping, he’s helped others recieve their sign language badge, has helped them get their special needs badges and has attended every camping trip they go on. I also have two other boys in Scouts, and it’s been a huge success.
You can find amazing things out there, or start something up yourself. Anyone can start up a scout group even, as long as they have a minimum number of members.
Cheers
Caroline
There more children who do not need organized sports, walking the track is exercise, weight training is exercise. Stability ball work doesn’t need team sports.
A combination of ideas seems like a good fit for most. Definitely take the child’s lead in what his interests and likes are. Nothing will build his self esteem more than excelling in something he likes. But think too about inclusive sports that stress individual achievements, bowling and golf for example.
I think it is completely unreasonable to force a child with social difficulties to participate in team sports. I was rejected by all of my peers when I attended school.
Since the popular children were always allowed to choose sides during P.E., my status was constantly reinforced in front of the entire class. Time and time again, I was picked last for P.E. and everybody knew it.
I did not have the benefit of an autism-spectrum diagnosis, because the parameters were much more limited. But if I could have had a diagnosis, and received an Individualized Education Plan, I believe that I could have most benefited from some alternative form of physical activity.
my son is 7 and he loves team sports. his attention does come and go but he is doing pretty well at baseball. basketball, he is pretty good at the skills but in an actual game its hard for him to get the ball. but he loves to play. so I think its fine to try these if your kid is interested in them–I would not ASSUME its too much.
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