Understanding Behavior Challenge & Its Motivations

One of the many things I learn during my journey with my young child with Autism was that on some days, the only predictable thing about it is the unpredictability; the only consistent attribute-the inconsistency. He may look normal but behavior can be perplexing and downright difficult.

The most critical step in attempting to solve behavior problems isto identify WHY the behavior difficulties exist. Unless you know why a problem is occurring, you will have difficulty finding a goodlong term solution.

Sometimes the answer is obvious. Sometimes it takes considerable detective work.

To help understand the distinction between "can't" & "won't", we have to recognise the 2 attributes namely:-

- All behavior is communication

- That it happens for a reason

Using the following 6 reasons for any behavior challenge may lead to better evaluation of the child in attention:-

1) Resistant/avoidant:- Either the child doesn't know how to do or is unpleasant to him for a reason you do not perceive such as sensory overload. Avoidant behaviors frequently stem from lack of understanding and fear of failure. It is therefore critical to support the child to maximize his success where it matters most, so that he is motivated to work, to try and to strive even more for positive outcome.

2) Attention Seeking:- Your child wants an adult or peer attention. It is a fine line between giving attention to his undesirable deeds and to reinforce his appropriate behavior.

3) Self-Regulation:- the child may be attempting to calm or alert over or under stimulated senses, to reduce his anxiety or discomfort, which is more related to his sensory integration aspect of autism involving visual, auditory, tactile,olfactory or even gustatory.

4) Entertainment/fun:- the child may find a particular behavior amusing to himself or others. Child with ASD often has more desire for rigidity and repetitive activities, but can also be very resourceful at entertaining themselves.

5) Control:- The child may attempt to order or re-order his envrionment, their attempt to control may be confrontational/agreesive that looks like defiance or passive agressive continue to do what they wish to do iregardless of effort of re-directing behavior. We can seek opportunity to instill decision making skills and increase his choice to optimize his chance o f success in his own world.

6) Retribution:- The child may want to retaliate for treatment perceived as unfair, though the chances of such desire are very slim.

From my experience with my little STAR, I have seem & observed his motivational behavior under 1-4 randomly mostly but less of 5 & none exisitence in 6 thus far.

It is not realistic to think that we will always be able to diagnose why a child's behavior is a problem. Sometimes the reason may actually be multiple reasons. But taking the time and energy to explore the possible causes of the problems our child encounters will help create a frame work for understanding that will significantly affect the success of any attempts to change the problem behaviors.

Take this blessing to share a home work done in making a small booklet during his weekend to share the concpt of BALL:-

Winners Statement:-

" Down the road of life, you can either see obstacles coming and run the other way, or you can take these obstacles as they come, fight your way through them, and be stronger because of them."

Welcome 2011 - Starts Of Another New Learning Journey

The day before the new school term starts for his EIP, I decided to drive my little STAR for a hair cut without telling him before hand. I picked him up from child care at 5pm and during our journey back in the car, hint him that his hair is long, lets go hair cut. As we reach the place outside the barber shop, point to him the spinning light trade mark to indicate barber shop inside and transit him in, he was a bit shy/hesitant at first but slowly and surely he moved in with me. The barber was taking his late lunch or early dinner then, understand that he was busy with many students seeking hair cut to ready for the new school term just like our little STAR. Get him to sit on chair and wait, & while waiting pass him a packet of sea weed his favourite snack to go along. The hair cutting process was as smooth as normal, give him a lot of praise and very thankful that he manage another positive out come. I got him to ask barber "How much", pass him $$$ to pay barber for the good cutting, said thank you and bid barber good bye!

This is his 3rd and last year of EIP, really looking forward to another great learning journey. The first week of his new school term ended on a positive note, he was joyful to see his 3 school friends from last term and 1 new friend who has also joined to make the group of 5 in class. The teachers are also playing their critical part and putting their worth while work to make an impact for the children under their care. Hopeful for a frutiful and fulfilling TERM.

Sensory integration may be the most difficult aspect of autism to understand, but it is arguably the most critical. When my little STAR first started his OT, he was assessed to have poor gross motor and attention which affects his vestibular and proprioceptive senses. His body awareness with space is almost none exist. Today we are very delighted to see him climbing up and down, sliding down at his own free will in the mega gym at down town East Kids Explorer.

We are also glad that the many children and loud noises do not hinder his engagement to explore the entire gym area. On the other hand, it is work in progress with his therapy on his motor planning in better organize sequence of task processing to maximize his learning potential.

His progress with other therapists/special educators in speech, literacy, numeric, writing and drawing has also making inch stone achievement too & at present joining his K2 peers at MMI child care when there is no EIP to let him continue to generalize his skill learn and integrate with other children in a natural environment.

Winners Statement:-

”Reality is a product of our dreams, decisions and actions"

Things Every Autistic Person Needs

Share An Essay Written By Ashely Florek, an Adult in his 20s with Autism

1. Patience
Realize that it takes me longer to do things. My thinking is sometimes slower and it takes me longer to process what’s going on, what I have to do next, and how I’m supposed to do it. Please do not get frustrated if you find this tedious. I work best at my own speed. Do not try to rush me because I will only get more confused and more anxious. It also takes me longer to mature, to learn and to accept change in routine. And sometimes I need to be shown how to do things because sometimes I have trouble trying to figure out some things on my own. A lot of times I have trouble applying past experiences to new ones and at times it feel like I need to learn new tasks all the way from square one. Let me grow at my own pace.

2. Space
There will be many times when I will turn inward. I like to shut out the world around me, block everything out. My focus is in a place you can’t see. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t make it less real for me. Please give me my space when I’m in this place. I’m not doing it on purpose or because I dislike you or to get back at you or to get out of doing something. It’s like a bubble engulfing me and it’s hard for me to pop it. I attempt to break out of it but my focus and attention is poor. It’s best if you just let me be in my own space because when I get in this place, it’s calming and my thoughts aren’t racing like they normally do. The sounds and touches that normally irritate me and distract me are dull and my heart is not racing. I don’t like being in this place because I have trouble with getting things done, but I love being in it because it is safe and it is calm. I am sensitive to my environment and I have sensory issues so please remember that when things get loud, crowded, or chaotic, I get overwhelmed and frightened and over-stimulated. Please don’t stare or point or ridicule when you see me acting strangely. Please realize that it’s because of my current environment that makes me act this way; it’s because I’m surrounded with confusing stimuli and I am overwhelmed.

3. Support
I need to find my niche, my favorite activity, my talent. Please help me to find it so I have something to do that I am good at. This will give me confidence in life. Even if it is something as simple as stacking blocks. Whatever it is, it is my own activity—my talent—and I enjoy it and need to feel I always have something to calm me, something to keep me busy. When I find what I am good at, my self-esteem will increase. When you get me the support that I need, my life will progress and blossom. Please fight for my rights and get me support that I need because this world often looks down on me. I am a person just as you are but I just need a little extra help and some things I cannot do on my own so I need advocates who will help to get me in a good place in life. Because I’m not connected to the world and to people as well as you are, I will always need some guidance on how to maneuver in this world. I deserve to be happy. I deserve to be helped. I appreciate everything you do for me but sometimes my autism makes me unable to show you that. Please never give up on me.

4. Structure
I work best when everything is predictable. When things are always changing, my brain can’t keep up. It feels as though the world spins too fast for me and everything is helplessly out of control. I can’t predict what will happen next and many days I live in fear of something drastically changing. I fear of not being able to keep up. It can be the smallest thing that can set me into panic—a thing you wouldn’t think twice about: the wrong brand of cereal, the smell of a strong air spray, the sound of something in the basement, the feeling of stiff, hard jeans on my legs. I am just more sensitive to everything around me; that is how my brain works. I like to think of my brain as a fine-tuned microscope that studies tiny things you normally don’t even see with your naked eye. When I focus on tiny details, it is quite distressing when they suddenly change. It’s just a different perspective I have—a different way of thinking, a unique perspective. Please always remember that because of how my brain works differently from yours, I see life slightly differently than you do. The best thing for me is consistence in my daily activities. Routine makes me feel safe. Little changes put me in a panic and no one can function like that for too long. Because of my sensitivity to stimuli and the way my brain focuses on little things, my anxiety is easily triggered and the best thing to do is to help me to re-adjust to my comfort zone. It may seem redundant and mundane to you to live life the way I do, but to me it is safe and comfortable and that is what I like. Feeling safe and comfortable makes me happy and that enables me to flourish.

5. Understanding and Love
I saved this for last because I feel it is the most important. Realize that I see the world differently. I process information in ways that are strange to you. I misread, I pick up the wrong details, I miss important cues. Understand that if I do things that appear strange to you, it is normal, safe and comfortable for me. Things are louder for me than they are for you. Tiny things distract me when you wouldn’t even think twice about them: for example, the ticking of a clock, the wind rumbling outside, the blinking lights on fire alarms, the flickering of a computer screen, the seams in my socks. The world moves too fast for me and at times it seems like it’s a chaotic mess. Many times I find myself trying to figure out what is going on and how all these people are unabashed. It can be scary. So please understand that there will be times when I will avoid certain things and situations at all costs. You may not see what it is that frightens me, but that does not make it unreal for me. Something may be so simple for you, and you may think that anyone in the world can do it, but it may be terribly frightening, uncomfortable or difficult for me to do. Understand that I see everything differently from you . I am a human being and I deserve rights and respect like anyone else. My disability doesn’t make me less than anyone else. I have trouble coping in this world and I have difficulties with socializing and communicating, but I am still inside myself—I am a human being and I have feelings just like everyone else. I just have trouble expressing them and bringing them outside of my head. Even though at times it may seem invisible to you, I LOVE just as you do, and I need your unrelenting love in return. There will be a lot of people in life who will not understand me, who will be annoyed or even afraid of me and I will feel that shadow over me. All I need is your love and to know that there is someone, if only just one person, who loves me unconditionally for who I am.

December Random Happiness

While most of the children tends to enjoys the December in the form of school holiday breaks from study, learning for my little STAR continues throughout the holidays, nevertheless, he still enjoying his holidays in a different perspective with some play as well in the midst.

The WII Game Console that I bought for his sister had also benefitted our little STAR, he has got to learn quite a few sport games from the WII Sport/(Resort) that we have brought in as well and even know how to manipulate the control & nanchuk. At first, we are sceptical about his interest in playing, but after watching few rounds of play, he soon starts to show some interest playing table tennis, bowling, cycling, archery, tennis, sword play and boxing. From the game that he learnt, he had requested his mum to buy actual bowling toys. Coincidentally, we also have tennis racket, table tennis bat and also bought a toy archery set (from Far & Near Sport), where he can generalize and improve his pretend play. I am delighted to see his potential in racket game like tennis, table tennis, but the most motivated game for him is still the bowling.
Every weekend, is continuous improvement in progress by means of home program engagement with ur little STAR whether it is writing skill, numeric, speech or literacy. He has come along well and emerging partner communicator, he says lot more words and extend longer sentences now. Therapist & us were amazed by how much he has openned up in his speech recently, he is able to read script/social story after few runs with him. he now even is able to recite the SGP pledge which I am so proud & take great joy of his little achievement. He is also commenting lot more nowadays.

December will always be a month of thanksgiving, joy and celebration for the children especially when the Christmas spirit spread with songs, cakes and presents exchange. Like last year, it was another occasion where our 3 generation of Tan family congregate at my place for reunion prior to CNY. The children had a great time, so were the joy from the adults in seeing them having a great time together.

All that is special about my little STAR is not in itself awful, although some components of it most certainly are, and some days will be infinitely more dreadful than others. But ultimately, what we choose to believe about his special ability may be the single biggest factor affecting his final outcome. We have a choice and a processor of superpower: perspective. Consciously or otherwise, we make decisions based on our choosen perspective hundreds of times a day. And I firmly believe that in choosing to work towards changing an unproductive perspective is wildly courageous, empowering and doable just like walking through a normal life to optimize success.

My little STAR does has his quiet time if we are patience enough to observe.















Winners Statements:

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."

"... And one important key to self-confidence is preparation."

‎" The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family; you will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Patience, you will make it to a place called Success."

Our little STAR is truely being blessed to have come this far in his special learning journey and we now look forward to working with his SpEd team for another fruitful and blessed 2011.

Special Walk 2010- Reflection, Gratitude, Perspective, Vision & Choices

If I said that 2009 early learning journey was overwhelming but rewarding being a young parents of a child with ASD back then, 2010 was as challenging and adventurous, end results are still very much rewarding and we are stronger and gain more understanding towards our little STAR, Fabian and other children in this special community.

Fabian began 2010 with a positive outlook in a group setting of 4 children which was further enlarge to 6 after mid year, new skill were learned such as check schedule in transition from one focus area to another, table activities, direct teaching 1-2 and most important of all emerging social skill of looking at peers, seeking out adults/teachers for help in asking or sharing. Plus many others worth while curriculum which have created positive impact to the children's foundation toward their future independence.

Some behavior & learning challenge unfold and sensory modulation concern were discussed and address collectively along the way from sensory processing aspect as well from ABA stand points. It is very true as I read from a book about Autism that one of the things that parents learned was that on some days, the only unpredictable thing about it is the unpredictability; the only consistent attribute - the inconsistency. The child who lives with autism may look "normal", but his behavior can be perplexing and down right difficult especially as no 2 children within the spectrum will be similar. We will have to be resilience at all time in our persistence, perseverence and passion walking with Fabian without getting tire, trying and hoping for some workable strategies to over come his special needs or if we may redirect them to the positives - would mean his "special abilities". The last EIP session for the year I attended on 12 Nov, participated and witnessed was another great testimony that all your worth while effort had paid off as I saw children completing each routine in trying to generalize their skill learn from past 4 terms, kudos to all the teachers in EIP.

Fabian has been blessed to have come thus far and taken by SpEd Team who have been very supportive, professional & instrumental to his development and progress along the goals and objectives set in IEP which includes not just the EIP teachers alone, but also the various therapists in Occupational/Speech&Literacy/Special Educator who covers Numeric/Writing & Drawing not forgetting Music teachers in Kindermusiz he had attended, who each plays a critical role trying to link the various functions or executive meaningfully together for a positive connection/outcome to Fabian learning.

This year, we had tried offer more opportunities to elevate Fabian learning & also engaged various other professionals to compliment his main core curriculum in EIP.

In March, we manage to successfully enrolled him to MMI Child Care center near our neighbourhood, main emphasis is to let Fabian generalize his learning from ARC in a normal environment with neuro-typical kids, he started off at K1 though. No major compliants from teachers until this far as they are quite understanding on Fabian learning ability, worksheets teacher gives him are often 1 level down to align with his academic skill though.

In May, Fabian started his Speech & Literacy Therapy with Aidan Rush, which subsequently follow by Numeric & also Writing and Drawing skill development within the same center to elevate his academic learning. We are very glad that Fabian is enjoying his learning & so far feedback has been positive in his progress made over the past 4-7 months and also from what we have observed in our daily walk with him.

This year, Fabian had also completed 2 Kindermusic sessions of 4 months each in "Our Time" during H1 2010 & 2nd theme "Imagine That" which just concluded recently.

His sound therapy under Samona is currently into 4th cycle at Disc 4/5. We will be buying 2 more new disc to improve other aspects of sensory integration & attention in learning.

Fabian will be taking his IQ test next April and we are all very excited about it, I had read up WPPSI-III to understand more and alert all in Fabian SpEd Team to maximize his learning to ready and optimize his outcome. After talking and discussing with each therapists, I am confidence that each will discharge their worth while effort out of sense of mission and duties for the betterment of Fabian's IQ test results next year. For the next few months leading to April, my wife and I are going to sleep, eat & think about how we can do better to improve and elevate Fabian readiness and also not forgetting close collaborative effort with various service providers. I have also encouraged the SpEd team to give off their best and try to enjoy this due process, using the "so what if" perspective, we still have choices which can help our little STAR to grow in his own special way and pace. Think not for what the person cannot do but focus on what he/she can do and what one can do to make a difference & positive impact to him/her progress.

Some plan as follow:-
1) I had spoken to the MMI teacher in charge to still keep Fabian at KI for 2011, so as to let him integrate academically to peers with similar learning ability and to follow up from there in his various subject of learning.

2) We already increasing his OT from one to twice a week during this holidays until his next Kindermusiz commences in 2011 Jan/Feb, to continue focus on improving his sensory integration & motor planning, has also commenced our work with him on threading/block design and categorization grouping.

3) Verbal comprehension, general language on receptive langauage & picture naming as well as concept of opposite words will be in good hand of SLT & Therapist for education in special needs.

4) Our home programs will hence be focus & attune to his coming IQ Test as well hoping to improve and reinforcing his learning with teachers and therapists.

We are all proud of his inch stone achievement in learning and continuous progress this year, which often comes with much painstaking effort, but they are also the most memorable parts we always remember in this path less travelled together. Lately Fabian has been able to extend his sentence, saying and reciting long message from congratulation to saying thanks to teachers and lately the Singapore Pledge.

Last PCN was enriching, emotional and heart warming session with knowledge & parent sharing.

3 words I learn from the session: Teach, Practise & Praise

I rejoice together with other parents for those who little STAR have successfully transit out to their next learning journey from EIP and look forward the celebrate my little STAR next year when he too, has to take his turn.

Gratitude is the best attitude, the most pleasing exercise of the mind coming from the memory of the heart, really very thankful to each of those who have contributed & having walk with us & Fabian thus far.

Winners Statement:-

Obstacles are what people see when they lose sight of their goal. It's alright to fall. You learn when you fall. Most important, remember to stand up again.

October Moment - Random Happiness

Oct0ber has been a fruitful month for my little STAR with many joy and loving memories.

Still in his early communication stage, he is able to not only to make request for variety of things, make choices but lately able to comment and extend his sentence construction. We will try create opportunity for his turn taking during people games like chasing, playing balloon or even during meal or snack time.


Doing physical & verbal models of things he can do or say such words, phrases and short sentences from his point of view has done great help to elevate his turn taking in communication as he is able repeat what he hears. WH question that present choices and fill in the blanks are some others we try to explore.

Had made 2 more visual support for "No silly Noise" & "Quiet Hand" to reinforce his verbal stim & to regulate unnecessary hand
movement from visual stim at home, while continue to refresh & teach him on the volume thermometer, he understands better when
presented with the visual rules/cue during difficult behavior. Also his strength in imitation also make him follow better if we whisper
& model to him to reduce his vocal during our re-direction.

For no silly noise, we may add gesture to indicates that silly noise hurt our ears by cupping our ears with hand to show him the consequence. Also ready in hand some emotion icons on our hall way to teach and associate him whenever his mood reflects one of those.

Wanted to bring our little STAR to the usual Indian barber shop in our neighbourhood but unfortunately it did not open, decided to let him try the hair dressing saloon next to the shop instead. Our little STAR seemed anxious at first, but we had managed to reinforce with him and transit him in and glad that all went well. Just try to share some background information to the hair dresser about our little STAR special needs but coincidentally discover that she too, also has a friend with child in the spectrum also, getting prevalent these days, we are not alone in these special walk.


I was delighted to be able to join my wife and the little STAR for his Term 2nd outing in late Oct. It was another fruitful and enriching learning journey taking the Hippo Bus & Duck boat ride which involve every children in the EIP. It has never been easy managing the little STAR in the public as he is usually over responsive to the open environment and will run about exploring places where he desires. Glad that he still follow the day's agenda while waiting to board the Duck Boat.


The Duck Boat ride was an eye opener where it sailed us through some of the important landmark of Singapore like the Flyer, MBS IR, Floating Stage, Esplanade, our very own Merlion & the Financial District. Also manage to get a glimpse of another new landmark in the making, looks like a shape of a Shell, reminds me of Sydney Opera House, look forward to its completion.


The end of Oct also marks the completion of our little STAR 2nd Kindermusiz Theme of "Imagine That", a great 15 weeks program that make the best of music to elevate his learning in social interaction with 3-4 other children within the group, new words were learned & language in functional communication and not forgetting body parts co-ordination and movement.

We are proud of our little STAR achievement thus far, no matter what he may become, we will always rejoice in his presence and embrace his imperfection.


Take this opportunity of Halloween Night to share a statement:-


Each day as you dress, costume yourself in truth as the successful, intelligent, kind, loving, giving person that you are and be the character of your highest good. TRICK yourself out of any false beliefs you might be carrying around on fear, lack, and judgment. TREAT yourself gently and lovingly in mind, body and spirit.

Managing Behavior Challenge In Our Little STAR

Our little STAR looked quite normal in the first 1.5 years of birth, but as he grew towards 2 years old, we had noticed his delay in communication without suspecting anything amiss as some kids do learn to talk after 2 years old. It was his wierd behavior at his own agenda, with poor eye contact, lack of imagination, pretend play & social interaction that had triggered us to seek help from child behavior specialist. After he was diagnosed with ASD, we starts to learn more about the culture of Autism that every child is different & unique in their own special ways. We had also witnessed his behavior evolution until thus far.

Back in the early days of EIP, when I did the eye-berg analysis on his observable behavior, my little STAR was seen as a Sensory Seeking child, with his active, always on the move, disorganize/distructive in his play, difficulty staying still/seated, short attention span on one activity and easily distracted characteristic.

But as he progressed in his learning journey, we also noticed that he also has some characteristic of an Over-Responsive child as he prefer rigidity to changes, may have difficulties with transitions such as in Term 3-4 '09 in the new school environment or may seek certain sensations as a coping strategy like appear hyperactive running or jumping about.

While some of his other characters also resemble that of under-responsive child with his passive reaction, or appear self absorbed in his own repetitive actitivies, difficult to get attention at time and response better when given extra and sufficient sensory. Our little STAR seems to have a combination mixture of these 3 sensory modulation issues.

Tearing tissue and let it free falling down, open and closing of door, turn on/off switch, looking at spinning wheels are some things he found motivated in the early days of EIP. Due to his limited skill in functional communciation, he appear to have more melt down and temper tantrum back then. Fortunately, all these were reduce as he developed verbally from own agenda into requestor after 3 terms of EIP.

However, new behavior was observed as he starts to do simple visual stim using pencil or block. On 1 Oct '09, we finally engaged OT to help provide intervention strategies & optimize this sensory regulation.

The goal of OT for an ASD child is to optimize his sensory regulation and arousal level for learning and engagement despite the presence or absence of sensory-stimulatory behaviors. In cases where total elimination of the sensory-stimulatory behaviors is not possible, learning (cognitive, gross and fine motor, social skills, activities of daily living) can still be facilitated as being observed by OT in our little STAR case. It is also important to recognize that even for some children who have appeared to stop sensory-stimulatory behaviors, there may be occasions that would trigger the behaviors

Possible reason for visual seeking behavior, could be because he does not have sufficient visual stimulation or sensory stimulation in general (visual, auditory, proprioceptive[body position, muscle & joints], vestibular[movement], tactile[touch]). He now may even use his own hand or books to self arouse his visual sensation.

Some general calming strategies(for over-responsive child) involve increasing vestibular input such as jumpx10, spin or run few round about or eve rolling fast on the floor, so as to increase his level of arousal for attending to tasks and it will also give him some form of visual stimulation which he often seeks. Best given before the starts of program or selective routine interval. Alternatively, may apply deep pressure touch using firm touch to massage child's limb or back or give the child a bear hug.

For general alerting strategies(under-responsive), we may also choose to increase his propriocetive input via heavy work by creating activites for the child to push against the wall, pulling via tug of war using scarf or lycra cloth, crawling through tunnel to retrieve toy/object, hanging from playground equipment or even help carry heavy object like stacks of book from one table to another or wheel barrow walk. If not, may also apply oral strategies like sucking from straw and blowing toy whistle.

Feedback from OT:-

"Fabian has shown tremendous improvements since he 1st came for OT with extremely poor motor coordination, attention, engagement, articulation and understanding. He is making steady improvements every week, but he is someone who needs 1-1 attention, and lots of repetitive practice in order for his potential to be maixmized. Using the "shadow teacher" approach will greatly benefit Fabian"

Where he doesn't comply with verbal prompts from teacher, shadow teacher can then apply physical prompts like placing her hands over his hands on the table, gesture in telling him "No, stop", and continue putting her hands over his, so that he understands that this is an expected behavior. A reward system via behavior chart with token/sticker reward to motivate him on the right behavior can be effective when apply correctly with IMMEDIATE, DESIRED reinforcements, and a system of fading needs to be in place.

"Thank you for the prompt feedback and your invaluable help in assisting Fabian through this challenging time. Fabian has been progressing well througout the past year with a significant reduction in self-stimulatory behavior (visual and verbal) during OT and Kindermusik group session. However, there has been an unexplainable increase during the last 3 weeks sicne Term 4 starts. I am also concerned as this has caused him to have poorer sustained attention and engagement in both individual and group OT sessions. An increase in self-stimulatory behaviors is common in ASD children during periods of boredom, insufficient sensory stimulation, stress, changes in routine, changes in diet and medication, and illness (as discussed during last Thursday's meeting). It is important to find out the primary reason in order to tackle the issue of increased self-stimulatory behaviors. As he is still coughing and on medication, we will have to wait till he is fully recovered so that we can re-look at possible causes. "

It is true that my little STAR is still on medication for his cough as of writing even though his frequency has reduced but still hope to clear his phlegm

Recently, my little STAR also tend to speak at high tone or volume not ony at home but in public places, he does seem to care less about his surrounding envronment and will not even pay attention to people staring at him. To help him, I had also constructed a volume thermometer to train him to associate each level with a description that he can understand or we can relate to him when situation arises:-

In managing my little STAR with ASD, I have learn & will continue to learn & manage 2 things that could bring hope to his future success and independence: Understanding his needs & Strategies through the various professionals within his Special Education Team.

lways telling my HEART to CELEBRATE my child's progress! LOVE who they are today, not who I'd like them to be.

I love my son for who he is in his own special way but I also hate how much it forces him to struggle so much in several aspects of his life. Nevertheless, in resilience, hope is what we have in showing Autism we have 10 times more reason to smile everytime it give us a reason to cry.

Winners Statement:-

"Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained." ~ Arthur Somers Roche