Care4autism

Apps On Ramam’s I-pad Broadly I have classified the apps on Rama’s i-pad as follows. The apps on the I-pad are a mix of what both Ramam and my daughter Isha use. There was a time, when we started the diet for Ramam, I did extensive reading on it, am now doing it again for the apps. More first, on the language and communication apps. Just like you begin anything new, in the Indian tradition by invoking God, let me begin with Om Steve Jobs Namaha: The Communication apps: The highly recommended apps for a child on the spectrum –Proloquo-2-go right from Carly to almost everybody, dealing with autism. I have already written about proloquo on the blog. The APP as, I would say. Expensive but worth it. There are also many other apps, Tap to Talk, My talk, Grace app … The Language apps: Story builder and the sentence builder apps by the Mobile education store. I tried the story builder app first. This has three different levels of difficulty and you can suitably set it to your child’s le...

Today, was one of those mornings that did not have a good start. As Ramam's Christmas vacation is still on, I decided to sit and work with him and not let anything bother me. Luckily,this morning he was very receptive, and we spend good about an hour and half working and not realising that time had flown. Both of us were doing a lesson from one of his books. It was almost meditative, with both of us being involved and me enjoying his responses and cooperation. It was just the two of us shut out from the rest of the world, with no disturbances whatsoever. Sometimes you think in work lies your salvation. Just stay focussed and keep going.

Into the 2nd day of New Year, the euphoria of a new year seems to have vanished, one has again settled down to the routine of school and office. The charter of responsibilities remains the same, or perhaps with every passing year, it increases as our children also grow older by a year, and there is only so much time left to accomplish. On the positive side, we had a wonderful new year’s eve; all of us were on the dance floor at the army club, Ramam also enjoyed every moment of it, the music, and the lights. Then with a pang of heart, you realize he has come a long way. He was formally dressed the first time; with formal black shoes…We started the New Year on a very happy note. On the second, I had been with Ramam for a sathabishekam function (80th Bday). We had been invited by my husband’s school friend (a very long association!). I went late and stayed for 20 min. He was well behaved, but something stops you from letting go. The friend’s son, a couple of months younger to Ramam h...

Just 3 days to go to herald the new year. We have yet, again embarked on a new therapy for Ramam ,the NAET-Namboodiripad allergy elimination technique with the same fervor, hope , enthusiasm that marks the beginning of any activity. More on it,as it progresses. Ramam just recovered from yet another out of cold and fever,and that put a stop to all our Christmas holidays program. I was tempted to look up some of the therapies that parents'at Rama's school have joined, but a reconsideration of his existing schedule made me think twice. Given that there are are only so many hours in a day that you get to work with the child, one doesn't want to get it fragmented by doing too many things. Set small selected goals, work on it. And then move on to the next set of goals. This realization has dawned quite late on me. I shall probably work on that. Many a times, mothers tell-me when the child is capable of academics, shouldn't he be encouraged on those lin...

As part of the world disability day, on 3rd December, the Bangalore chapter of the autism society of India (ASI) had organized, a visit to Sarla Birla Academy- SBA , which is a residential school for boys . A group of 27 children set off chaperoned by dads, moms, teachers and of course Ruby, the new secretary of ASI. Five special schools participated in this program. The objectives being, one to spread awareness of this Autism spectrum disorder amongst the youth, secondly give the children an opportunity to interact with their peers. We set out in two buses, and reached the school around 11.30. We were warmly welcomed by both the students and staff alike. The students who welcomed us were from the higher classes the eleventh and the twelfth grades. On arrival we were served refreshments outdoors. I shall be doing injustice if I were not to talk a little about the campus. Fabulous courts, sprawling acres of greenery, a stone garden… the works. The students were extremely courteous, ...

I have not been blogging for quite some time now. At Ramam’s end things are moving at a snail’s pace. He is showing a lot of interest in playing with ball, basket ball, football….. Enjoys throwing and kicking them around. He has been off the diet since Diwali. There have been no obvious changes but not very sure if his verbalization has come down.                                             Ramam participated in Kalangana 2011, a very dismal performance. This was our first exposure to the event although I have heard Sumathi speak about it.   Among the hundred thousand children on the spectrum, probably a very small percentage gets an opportunity to go and participate in a competition. It is not about winning, but more about participation. In that sense Kalangana is a blessing. Tha...

Some of the parents in Bubbles school have been practicing for the program that they are going to stage for the kids for the childrens' day, the first words that come to my mind is that it is a labour of love. What is it that about our kids that we don't seem to be doing enough for them. The mothers start their days quite early, some of them had a bad night's sleep,but come practice time there they are all ready for it. The day doesn't end at that. They go back home, feed the kids, most of them have therapy slots in the afternoon and evening. In between the cooking, cleaning washing, feeding......... , they find time to make the props for the play, buy accessories for the costume, have time to surf for the dance song, practice the beat. One can do this kind of rigamarole only if you are absolutely dedicated and selfless. There is only one purpose to life and that is the kids. These mothers are juggling so many acts in a day. Some of them travel by public...