Hello Bloggers,
It is a pleasure to be communicating with you all
again. I look forward to exchanging
vital information and having insightful conversations with you. Please feel free to share your comments,
suggestions and post your questions to my blog.
The general topic for my blog will be
“Children with Varying Disabilities” and my focus topic will be “Autism
Spectrum Disorders.”
According to the American Speech Language Hearing
Association (ASHA). Autism is a disability characterized by challenges with
social skills and communication. Every
child with autism presents with varying forms of the disability. Some children exhibit severe delays while
other children exhibit more mild delays.
Autism presents in varying forms and the treatment techniques for different
children vary as well (ASHA, 1997-2013).
The definition of autism will be changing with the
Diasnostic’s Manual. The description of
autism previously included the following as Spectrum Disorders; Childhood
Disintegrative disorder, Pervasive Developmental disorder-Not otherwise
specificed, Asperger’s, Autism and Rett’s syndrome. However, as of May 2013 the definition will
be altered to include all of the spectrum disorders being placed under one
umbrella of “Autism” with varying degrees (Autism Speaks, 2013).
I have personally chosen the challenge of Autism because I
treat many clients with Autism Spectrum
disorders. I also see a lot of families
that always have questions about resources, what else they can do to help their child and simply
what support they can receive. I have
seen how significantly a diagnosis of autism can change family dynamics as well
as what late diagnosis can do. However,
I would like to find more research to back up my observations. I would like to see what statistics are
discussed that focus on the effects of a child diagnosed with Autism on the
family dynamic. I would also like to
explore if certain families wait for their child to get diagnosed later based
on culture/religion and if their treatment techniques change as well.
In my class we recently read a book about a young lady from
the Hmong culture who suffered with multiple seizures. Her parents and the doctors clashed on
treatment techniques, medications, and methods to help her with the
debilitating seizures. The battle lasted
for a long time and it wasn’t until she had one large seizure and multiple
hospital visits and treatments that the parents and doctors began to understand
how much their opposing views may have endangered her health. Sadly, I do not want that to be the case with
parents of children diagnosed with Autism as well. I don’t want the parents to fight the doctors
diagnosis and ignore the challenges they see in their child. I want both sides to be able to understand
that individuals may have varying opinions but different methods should be
taken to try to compromise for the good of the child (Fadiman,
2012). It is a struggle but
personal opinions and biases can significantly affect the decisions that we
make, our children and our family lives as well. I want to educate parents and families of
children with autism as well as to continue to learn and educate myself as a
professional.
Initially, I believed I was biased as a professional and
viewed parents who waited to get their child diagnosed in a different
light. I couldn’t believe that parents
who had some concerns would truly wait to get their child diagnosed. I believe that I was looking at it from the
perspective of a professional and not a parent with certain cultural or ethnic
beliefs. Since I have been in this class
I have learned that my personal views and opinions on different topics are
based off of my past experiences and history (Laureate Education, 2013). I
have a biased view even though I may be trying to be open-minded. Therefore, I cannot judge parents or
individuals who have had different experiences from me. Everyone does different things for a
reason. My reasons may not be the same
as the other person simply because of my culture and past experiences. As a Speech-Pathologist and early childhood
professional I must respect and honor the opinions of others and realize that
everyone deals with challenges in different ways (Derman-Sparks
& Edwards, 2010). Therefore, I have also selected this
challenge to further explore my own biases and how I can be more open-minded to
the opinions and beliefs of parents born with children with varying
disabilities.
What are your initial reactions to parents when they ask you
if you think something is wrong with their child? Do you refer parents to outside sources or
simply calm their nerves by telling them you believe everything is okay, when
it really may not be okay? Do you feel
uncomfortable with approaching parents about specific concerns related to their
child? Why or why not? How do you modify your teaching styles when
working with children with Autism? Do
you have any biases or opinions about Autism?
Have your biases changed since you started collaborating with parents
and children with autism?
Reference
American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).
(1997-2013). Autism (Autism Spectrum
Derman-Sparks,
L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young
children and ourselves.
Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Fadiman, A.
(2012). The spirit catches you and you fall down: A
Hmong child, her American doctors,
and the collision of two cultures. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
Laureate
Education (Producer). (2013). Historical echoes
[Video file]. Retrieved from
https://class.waldenu.edu
