Autism (Dog lover1988)

[Sentry]

I didn't want to high jack the thread on downsyndrome so here is my answer to Dog Lover1988. I feel it is important to let others know not to give up hope with children with disablities. My son was born at 35 weeks premature. He had problems of over stimulation, sensory issues, really poor cordination with poor muscle tone and by 3 months of age I knew something was seriously wrong. He held the record at our nerologist visit with a nine page diagnosis of autism. We worked non stop with him on sensory intergration, early childhood education, physical therapy and speech therapy only to get so far by the time he was 5. We desided at that age to take over ourselves and drop outside resources. We put him in a grueling physical fitness program 2 1/2 hours three times a week. 2 miles 0r 45 min of running, push ups, situps, jumping jacks, lunges...you name it we did it for an hour and a half, the rest of the time was spent doing karate. Within one year almost all signs of his disability had disapeared. Hand tremors nearly gone. Obsessive compultions almost non existant by two years in. He can look anyone in the eye and no one knows he has now aspergers syndrome an up grade from the first autism diagnosis. We kept this up for 5 years and he left elementry school going into honors classes. He walked onto a football field not knowing a soul and joined a team. He weight lifts, rides atvs and will be driving soon among otherthings. He was a 5lbs little guy and now is 5 foot 10 inches, 210 lbs of 15 years old. All those people who told me "he won't", now are the ones eating their words. Please never count a child out.

Me on the other hand...I'm tired,LOL

My silly boys...Joe and Hugo!

[Swiftwind]

Reading you son's story made me smile! It's so encouraging to read tales of such positive achievement.. and I find it a great reminder that ANYTHING is possible if we try. Your son is definitely a fighter, as I'm sure the chance of survival of a newborn being born 35 weeks early would be very slim.

I have an uncle who has autism, and I think he was about 5 or 6 before he was diagnosed (this would have been in the 60s). He's on the more 'severe' side of the scale, as he has trouble communicating - his speech is like a 3 year old's, with very short sentences, or one word sentences, and he can't completely look after himself (he doesn't drive or cook, can't write or work). It can be sad, in a way, to see someone with a disability, but everyone in my family (including me) thinks my uncle actually has a really great life! He gets cared for 24/7... never has to lift a finger!

[Sentry]

It's too bad your Uncle was born in the 60s, these days you know more about what your up against. They are also finding out that the most severe children are way smarter than previously known. We have a 21 year old autistic young man that came to karate. Ben had some verbal skills, went through high school but really had no one but his grandfather teaching him. He was brought because he worked as a bus boy and at some time during his work was tourmented by a few of the workers. No one knows what they did to him after hours.
Ben wouldn't speek to couslers, therepists, his doctor only his grandfather and never told what happened. The grandpa found the karate school and we all told him here was a safe place no talking was fine and we knew about autism. 8 months of us just treating Ben like one of our own and the grandfather told us Ben was talking about karate at home and loved it there. Before the year was up Ben started talking again, very short, one word at a time.
After 2 years Ben now jokes around, smiles when he sees some one from karate outside of class and when I bring Hugo to pick up the kids, Ben talks my ear off. He has his confidence back, will fight to his ablility and has improved enough to look into getting another job. Ben still has many issues but nothing like when his grandpa first brought him in. His grandfather is a wonderful man, I give him all the credit in the world for sticking it out with Ben.

[Radar_Love]

I have an 8 year old nephew is has Autism. My sister has a Lab/Aussie mix named Chopper. They've had the dog since birth, and it's accustomed to how my nephew's moods are. It amazes me just how much this dog loves him and "takes care" of him when they are out in the yard. Chopper has done wonders for Tommy. It's amazing what dogs can do for people with problems like that. Here's a pic of Chopper...

[Doglover1988]

Wow that is truly amazing! It just shows that a diagnosis isn't the end. I love the picture with him and Hugo they look like they have an amazing bond. He is a handsome man.