April Update From The Autism Society of the RMWB

Hardly Eating Anything!

There are so many strategies I’ve used over the years. Today let’s just concentrate on one strategy: make food a play thing! Invent a lot of play opportunities that involve food, when there is NO pressure to eat. This is not done at meal time, and maybe not even at the table where you normally eat, but in places in your home that are associated with fun.

For some people with autism, part of the problem is that they need to build up trust and confidence with food. Meaning, they need to have many experiences with food so that they slowly learn to cope with the overwhelming input that comes through their senses. In this way, you help to prevent them from feeling the overpowering fear and stress they may associate with food, and therefore increase their interest and comfort in eating other things.

Don’t tell them what to do in the activities; show all the ways you can think of participating, by doing it yourself. Be expressive with your words and your facial expressions. Show by example that you can touch the food, smell it, lick it, put it some on your nose or chin and laugh. Lay cooked spaghetti over your head to make long hair.
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December News from the Autism Society of the RMWB

We had a great turnout to our movie night! A lot of parents thanked us and asked that we try to put on more of these events, and we are now looking hosting an adult/teen movie night in the new year.

We have also been getting amazing feedback on our visit from Dr. Anthony Bailey, Dr. David Nicolas, Dr. Deborah Barrett and Nancy Gale. Our community is grateful to them for taking the time to come all the way up here to give us some wonderful information and advice.

Our fundraising efforts have been going well, but raising funds is challenging in a community that is still recovering from the events of the summer. A lot of our businesses are still struggling, but we were amazed that we managed to sell twice as many poinsettias as our initial target!

Our Christmas party was a hit, too! We had almost double the kids from last year – almost 70 children had a wonderful time visiting with Santa and enjoying the bouncy castles. They all loved their gifts from Santa, too! Even the parents told us what a great time they had, and that they’re already looking forward to next year’s celebration.

We are all excited for the New Year and all the great things we have planned for 2017. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Autism Society of the R.M.W.B.!

Sincerely,

Autism Society of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
780-742-4424
AutismSupport@AutismRMWB.org


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My name is Kitty Parlby. I am:

• the mother of a son with severe autism
• a special needs Educational Assistant
• a speaker/presenter on the subject of autism
• a member of the Board of Directors for Autism Alberta

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Autism Families Looking For Jobs in Smaller Centres

Moving Mountains – My AGM Experience

It was not five hours of budgets and reports – it was time spent learning and celebrating the other events and initiatives happening all over Alberta. For myself, on a personal level, it was a chance to spend time and connect with other parents and grandparents from across the province who are actively working to make the lives of all people touched by autism better. They are working tirelessly on policy, fundraising, and awareness. Most importantly (for me), I get the privilege of sitting in a room with parents who have children who are significantly older than my daughter and gaining knowledge and tips from them for when we get there. The advice, in my mind, is invaluable. My Matea is ten years shy of adulthood, but what a fast ten years I know it will be. I am forever thankful to this group of men and women who give of their time and their experience to help me and my daughter.
 

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Fort McMurray Community Discussions

Autism Alberta, the University of Calgary, and community leaders and partners are working together to better understand the information and resource needs related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for rural, remote, and northern communities in Alberta. On April 20^th and April 21^st, two terrific in-person meetings, led by Kirsti Mardell and Tosha Moore, identified areas to advance in Fort McMurray. Approximately 40 community members with a range of experiences participated in the meetings, including family members of individuals with ASD, service providers, and even a local media representative! Click here to see the media story.

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Alberta’s Autism Community Pulls Together in Support of Fire-Affected Families

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Is Your Partner on the Spectrum?

Is your relationship clearly difficult, but you feel you love each other? Are you like a couple trying to dance but not hearing the same rhythm?  This year, Autism Edmonton started a drop-in discussion group for adults in relationship with individuals with ASD. Members learn about high functioning autism and have the opportunity to discuss their own experiences with others in similar situations. An official diagnosis of autism is not required.

In the past year we have had two special information nights with professional speakers. Diane Hinves, PhD, a marriage and family therapist and psychologist with a special interest in neurology and how brain function may be affected by autism, and Cory Hrushka, psychologist and sex therapist, spoke to our group and answered questions. Other discussions were led by Support Services staff and volunteers. Topics we focused on were core aspects of autism, social needs of the neurotypical partner, lack of clarity around needs, and socializing as a couple.

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Appreciation and ASD: Lessons Learned from a Brother with Autism

My older brother Ian was diagnosed with ASD before I was born. Long before I knew what ASD actually was, I knew what it looked like. My brother has many behavioural quirks, which make him who he is: difficulty speaking, loud outbursts, volatile moods, and weird dietary preferences are the first things that come to mind when I remember the early years. But the behaviour that I remember the most was how Ian watched movies.

Ian would fast forward to a scene in a movie that he liked, and watch it over and over again. There was nothing he enjoyed more than sitting two inches from the TV, rewinding and playing the same ten seconds of Toy Story and Aladdin. When I was kid there was nothing more annoying. Why would he want to watch the same scene repeatedly without watching the rest of the movie? A week later he might come back to the same scene, still unconcerned with whatever else the film had to offer.

This behaviour is characteristic of many of the people with autism I have met. Fixation on a single activity at the expense of everything else can leave caregivers and friends with a constant feeling of disconnect from their loved one. It’s hard not to see this kind of behaviour as abnormal and harmful. But the key point to remember is that this fixation is for a reason – it is not random. Where the average person sees a calculator, a person with autism may see an expression of order and beauty. This year, I finally realized that where I see a movie scene without context, my brother sees a perfect recreation of the feelings produced when he saw the scene the first time. 

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