Care4autism

Looking at augmentative and alternative modes of communication for our children, I saw an exhibit recently. It mentions two forms: the unaided and aided forms of communication. The unaided modes include gestures, pointing, eye pointing, makaton and Indian sign system. Having done verbal behaviour for Ramam briefly in Delhi, I was familiar with Makaton. The Indian sign system is of course indianised with signs for dal, mithai……. The makaton as I was told uses a single hand while the Indian system uses both hands to sign for something. The aided forms of communication include the alphabet charts, pointer boards, where the pointer can be attached to the head or wrist based on the child’s level of difficulty and computer aids.

The first time we shared an interest. Earlier he would not look at the same object that I was trying to draw his attention to. The first time he scanned the room to reassure himself we were there. He kept returning his glances. His first meal in a restaurant with  harish sitting at his table using a visual cue we used at home, his table mat. This was suggested to me when I was taking harish to AFA at New delhi. The first time he tacted that he was hungry. This was using the principles of applied verbal  behavior , where he signs and asks for something that is not in his immediate environment. The first time he pulled a stool, climbed on it and opened the latch on the top of the door for his father who was getting back from work after a late evening. The first time he jumped to reach out and pluck a fruit from a tree. Earlier he would look around for somebody to lift him up. The first time he played a prank on his father. He father gave him a friendly pat on his back when he was sitting...