gabriele wrote:

KeepOnSinging wrote:

Hi Gabriele, I just checked and see that you are still logged on.  Although I plan to turn in soon, I was sondering how home schooling is going and how your son is.  I know virtually nothing about autism, but beginning this coming Tuesday, I will be spending about three hours each Tuesday and Thursday with the 21 year old autistic son of a friend of mine who teaches full time in the communications department of our university. So I hope to be learning a lot as he and I continue to get to know one another.   Also, I was homeschooled until I was eleven.  Two of my nieces, each with four children, home school all their children.  

Thanks for asking, KOS.  We have  a mixed system, doing a couple of hours at school and then I pick him up before lunch to do work at home.  Its a lot easier for me this way as the teacher sets the curriculum/goals has suggetions for me on what to do at home.  Atm we mostly do training in literacy and numeracy with two programs for which the school has given me a home licence.  The school covers science/phys. ed/cooking/music ect.  So it is relatively easy for me.  But I love that he gets to mix with peers, as his only brother, my eldest is 22 years (still living with us) and so he is like a single child. Impairment in social interactions is one of the core deficits in autism.  He has a much better chance of progressing in this area when with other children; I couldn't create these learning opportunities at home.   
I haven't had any contact with adult autistic people myself.  I guess in order to establish a bond quickly, you would tap into this person's special interest/obsession and be open for it to be shared (excessively, most likely....), then you can carefully and slowly use it to extend this person's horizon.  I also find it better to "under-interact", if there is such a word, like giving space/making time for them to interact, rather than filling a gap in the conversation myself.  I often count to 15 in my mind to see if there is a reaction as it can take so much longer for someone with autism to articulate. That's something a speech pathologist has told me. There is always a communication impairment in autism.  But of cause that can also mean someone doesn't stop talking when they should or repeats words out of context (echolalia).  The sprectrum is sooo wide.   It depends on how profound the impairment is. I hope you don't have to deal with self-injury.  Also a lot of autistic people have co-morbid conditions, seizures, intellectual disabilities, pica ect.  The picture of the geeky, nerdy genius is unfortunately not on the mark in the majority of cases.       

Your last sentence expresses exactly what my friend has had to say.  Her son is not a geeky, nerdy genius.  His passion is Disney characters and cartoons  and video games.  He has beautiful manners and an unmarried older brother, who does not live at home any longer, but who adores him. 
Self inury is not something I will have to deal with.   Dad and mom are divorced; and dad, at this point, wants as little to do with him as possible.  This is his last year in a Camelot school where he is learning job skills, etc. The goal is that he will be living in a group home with peers by the fall of 2015.   I am in awe of all that you do and the spirit in which you talk about it. 
 

tangodancer208 wrote:

april6263 wrote:

annieahoy wrote:

It was the one where they were practicing the first tango during the SOI tour. They interviewed Sharna and Charlie then too.  The pic of M&M is on tumbler that says, "Meryl, throwing a little sass our way". Maks had just said, "We'll stay tight for 3 months and then see what happens, and Meryl replied, " That's a challenge, I'll take that challenge. Maks is grinning at her with that big dimple showing. I think it's the cutest pic of him EVER. Do you know the one I mean?
 

yep i remember it ...don't remember what week it was but i do remember it ....they were so cute together in it

Oh, someone please find the link and pic.  I don't remember that one!

I found it on Tumblr last night. It says "Meryl throwing a little sass our way", She and Maks were being interviewed together. I'll go over there and see if I can get more details. I don't know how to bring it over but can try.
 

Not sure if this was posted already...it was from Aug. 20 BWAT Hawaii

Hi CEK......can't see the pics you posted.....this computer only lets me see some things at certain times, lol!!  Did you see that Meryl and Jenna were reunited last night?!!  I'm assuming she was reunited with Maks as well!!!!  Why do I care...........because I do and probably always will!! xoxoxoxo

Found this on Tumblr, not sure when it was taken...


Did y’all see this picture of Papa C?