Будучи мамой маленького ребенка с аутизмом, я очень хорошо поняла одну вещь: единственной предсказуемой чертой аутизма является непредсказуемость, единственным постоянным признаком — непостоянство. Мало кто спорит с тем, что аутизм — это малопонятное и загадочное заболевание даже для тех, кто изучает его всю жизнь. Ребенок с аутизмом может выглядеть абсолютно «нормальным», но его поведение может озадачивать и вызывать недоумение.

At one time, autism was considered incurabledisease, but now this representation is crumbling under the influence of new knowledge and deeper understanding of what contributes to including this article. Every day, people with autism show us that they can overcome and compensate for many of the most characteristic features of autism. Many of them are bright, rich and dynamic life. Some do not consider themselves to be in need of treatment, but his condition - illness. Jack Thomas, a tenth grade student with Asperger's syndrome, began his article published in «New York Times», with the following statement: »We are not ill and therefore do not need treatment. We are, as is ».

Here I completely agree with Jack: when people describe the development of regulatory problems and difficulties of autism in their usual terms, they thus inadvertently deprive themselves of the opportunity to see that people with autism have all the necessary qualities to develop and achieve success.

This mantra, which I do not get tired of repeating in hiscolumn »Postcards from the untrodden paths» ( »Digest of autism and Asperger's syndrome»). Once I asked my parents to briefly describe the most difficult, in their opinion, the features in the behavior of children, and then find the positive aspects of these problems. Your child is unsociable - means that it can itself take? He is reckless and ill-advised - so decisive in the development of a new one! He manic careful - means able to organize spectacular surroundings! His constant questions you just annoying, or do you see this curiosity, tenacity and perseverance? Why are we trying to fix a child who repeats the same words or actions, but admire, if he perseveres in achieving the objectives? After all, the basis of these phenomena one - child refuses to stop.

I think that every parent has to answer one crucial issue: your child is »suffering» of autism, or he »lives» with autism?

Please, select the »live» instead of »suffering».

Итак, вначале был неговорящий малыш с мягким и покладистым характером, правда, иногда он выдирал себе волосы, расцарапывал лицо и крушил мебель. Вначале был ребенок, которого с великим трудом можно было заставить одеться и который убегал из класса и игровой комнаты, зажав уши руками. Ребенок, который все время смеялся «не по делу» и, казалось, не испытывал боли или холода. Брайсу поставили диагноз «аутизм» в школе раннего вмешательства*, когда ему было три года. Как же я страдала во время заседания врачебной комиссии! За два года до этого моему старшему сыну был поставлен диагноз СДВГ (синдром дефицита внимания и гиперактивности). Я уже знала о необходимости работы со специалистами, социальных трудностях, постоянной бдительности и усталости, доводящей до изнеможения.

Children's institutions, which deal with the problems of children with cognitive, motor, social-emotional, and other disabilities. This system is designed to help children from birth to three years.

Such programs are already working and in our country.

In the beginning, my main motivationto action was a primal fear. As Bryce will live when he grows up? I just had to do everything I can to equip it with everything necessary for living in a world where I can not constantly be with him. obsessive ringing in my head the word »prison» and »homeless». But I was not going to shift these concerns on the shoulders of teachers and doctors, and of course, I do not eat empty illusions that my son »outgrow» the condition. I was going to win, and bad luck just was not in my plans! That's what mood I wake up in the morning and began to act.

А теперь я расскажу короткую историю, которая произошла спустя несколько лет. В актовом зале школы прелестные первоклассники выходили по одному к микрофону и отвечали на вопрос: «Кем бы вы хотели стать в новом тысячелетии?». Среди самых популярных ответов были: «Звездой футбола!», «Популярной певицей!», «Гонщиком «Формулы-1»!», «Мультипликатором, ветеринаром, пожарным!», ну а Брайс, подумав, ответил: «Думаю, я просто хочу быть взрослым».

The audience burst into applause, and the headmaster mused: »The world would be much better if more people wanted to ensure, to aspire to Bryce.»

Вот мое кредо: аутизм вашего ребенка не означает, что он, вы и вся ваша семья не сможете жить полной, радостной и полноценной жизнью. Конечно, сейчас вы напуганы, но позвольте себе поверить, пусть даже с оговорками. То, чего мы сможем достигнуть с нашими детьми, в очень большой степени зависит оттого, какими мы их видим. Герой одного из моих любимых фильмов «Ревность» говорил: «Если твоя мечта разбивается на миллион осколков, то ты можешь либо признать, что потерпел неудачу, либо создать себе новую мечту».

Some of those who read this article - isbeginners in the world of autism. I will tell you the following: autism itself is not so terrible. Do not understand what is happening, do not have the support of understanding people, left without help - that awful for you and your baby. You are at the beginning of your way and, of course, before you a long and difficult path, right? It would be strange to start this difficult journey, nothing to learn about the upcoming route. That's what this article is - to identify the main stages, which you may have to go through. I hope this article will make the road less alien and intimidating.

Some of you are already familiar with the problemsautism and, I bet, not just faced with lack of understanding of others. This article may serve as a mouthpiece for you and your child to convey information to teachers, parents, brothers and sisters, their friends, their parents and the parents husband or wife, babysitter, coach, bus driver, parents, peers of the child, the priest, the neighbors. Share your knowledge, pass this article »from hand to hand.» Observe how to develop a chain reaction of goodness and understanding.

This article will give people the basic concepts about autism. Understanding of others has a huge impact on the child's success in his promotion to productive and independent adult life. Autism - this is a very complex disorder, but from experience I can say that the myriad of its characteristics can be spread in four main categories: difficulty processing sensory information, developmental delay and a variety of speech disorders, poor social interaction skills and issues of self-confidence (concerning , however, all children). All of them are key. Try to understand why.

sensory processing difficulties. It's unavoidable. We can not wait for the child that he will »absorb» the knowledge, learn social skills, even just somehow »behave» when the surrounding area is made up of unpleasant sensations and full of scary surprises. Your brain is able to filter at the same time thousands of different input signals (what you see, hear, smell, etc.), your child's brain is not capable. The feel of the world in which he lives, can be compared to life in the midst of the busy highway, which for a moment does not stop moving. Imagine what you would have had to be in this trap of asphyxiating gasoline vapors and rumble, and most importantly, without the ability to somehow influence the situation.

Delayed development of speech and various violations. If we can not adequately express ourneeds and desires, they will remain unsatisfied. The inevitable result of this are anger and frustration, resistance training and inability to grow up. The main objective to be pursued, - establish communication. It does not matter whether it is a spoken language, pictures, sign language or a communication by supporting facilities (eg, a computer).

Weak social interaction skills. Трудные для понимания и преходящие, они меняются от культуры к культуре, а также внутри культуры в зависимости от назначения и окружения. Их отсутствие может привести к катастрофической изоляции ребенка. Ребенок с аутизмом, который действительно «не в теме», плывет против безжалостного течения, сначала пытаясь понять все эти хитросплетения, а затем добросовестно повторить.

Self-confidence. Все до единого люди на планете представляют собой сложный набор признаков. Мы хотим, чтобы нас принимали и ценили такими, какие мы есть в целом, а не по набору черт и особенностей, отобранных другими по одной. Ребенку с аутизмом действительно нужен опытный проводник, который поможет ему найти удобное и уютное место в нашем большом мире, но эта работа, выполняемая с надеждой и верой в будущее, не имеет ничего общего с «исправлением» ребенка. Ваш ребенок уже обладает столь многими замечательными качествами, что вас обоих можно поздравить, и теперь вы вместе с ним должны выйти на свет, любить и вести его за собой, принимая так, как мы хотели бы, чтобы другие люди принимали нас — целиком и полностью.

All the successes I attribute firmly Bryceentrenched a strong sense of self-confidence, a sense of physical comfort, to get it with great difficulty, and constantly developing opportunities to express themselves. If you collect all the elements of the puzzle, success in learning and communication will be forthcoming. And when your child's life will be easier, and it will be easier. Every year will be stronger and stronger feeling of great satisfaction and pride for experienced triumphs. For me it is the memories of the days when he came to the finish line in a citywide swim when he sang and danced in the role of Father Joe of »Charlie and the Chocolate Factory» when he first include self oyatelno passed on his two-wheel bike when he was terribly worried, that no one will come to him put on your birthday, and we come to forty people, his enthusiasm after the first scout departure and euphoria after he coped with excitement, asked the girl, who admired a kindergarten, a school disco.

At some point I realized exactly whateven if I could, I would not want to change anything in it. I would not »fix» his autism. I do not want him to become someone else, not who he is now.

Although those four elements, of which we have justsaid characteristic of the majority of children with autism, remember that this is a complex disease, and you will not find two identical children. Each child will take their individual niche. And, last but not least, every parent, teacher and assistant is at their level of understanding of the problem. A child or an adult - each has its own unique set of needs. Just as millions of points make up the TV picture, everyone involved in the work of man is a complicated combination. That is why there is no single recipe for success, and education, training and understanding of the child with autism - a project that is constantly in development. It is unlikely that there will come a time when you can stay completely satisfied with the results of the work. Opera diva Beverly Sills, the mother of two special children, once said: »To a place where really worth a go, no short cut.» This is true, but this is the joy of travel. Things to do at your fingertips. Well, in a way!