Comments on: Polite Conversation http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/ Beyond ABA, after OT . . . what now? Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:57:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Aradia http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/#comment-29414 Aradia Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:30:41 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=378#comment-29414 Several of my so-called "normal" male colleagues, hard-charging, high-billing attorneys, speak to each other almost entirely in quotes from 1) The Godfather (2) Reservoir Dogs or (3) Animal House. It's getting so I join in, too. Can you describe the ruckus? Several of my so-called “normal” male colleagues, hard-charging, high-billing attorneys, speak to each other almost entirely in quotes from 1) The Godfather (2) Reservoir Dogs or (3) Animal House. It’s getting so I join in, too. Can you describe the ruckus?

]]> By: Teen Autism » Blog Archive » Ninth Grade: A Review http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/#comment-28481 Teen Autism » Blog Archive » Ninth Grade: A Review Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:43:46 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=378#comment-28481 [...] Nigel’s language skills took a step back (or sideways) with some lengthy delayed echolalia, and then dramatically forward with the most amazing conversation I’ve ever had with [...] [...] Nigel’s language skills took a step back (or sideways) with some lengthy delayed echolalia, and then dramatically forward with the most amazing conversation I’ve ever had with [...]

]]> By: Tammy http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/#comment-20980 Tammy Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:08:32 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=378#comment-20980 What got us out of scripting with my autistic 20yo was RDI. She still falls into it but now she also knows how to make meaningful conversation about what she is seeing, thinking and doing. Here are two examples of conversation we had yesterday while delivering meals on wheels together: Me: [Knock, knock, knock.] "Meals on wheels!" [Long wait] Pamela: "I don't hear anything." Me: "You're right." [Knock, knock, knock.] "MEALS ON WHEELS." Pamela: "MEALS ON WHEELS . . . It's taking too long." Me: "It is. I'm waiting a little longer." Pamela: "It's too cold." Me: "Brrr . . . it's chilly. Let's go." We were talking about the interesting things we saw on our meals on wheels route. Pamela has aphasia so sometimes she speaks in sentences and sometimes in power words: Pamela: "Did you see that?" Me: "We saw great things." Pamela: "Swell." Me: "The rooster was swell, too." Pamela: "A tape recorder!" Me: "And we saw a helicopter." Pamela: "New house." Occasionally, she will have conversations with people outside the family. They are short but she can connect in ways that were impossible before we started RDI. What got us out of scripting with my autistic 20yo was RDI. She still falls into it but now she also knows how to make meaningful conversation about what she is seeing, thinking and doing. Here are two examples of conversation we had yesterday while delivering meals on wheels together:

Me: [Knock, knock, knock.] “Meals on wheels!” [Long wait]
Pamela: “I don’t hear anything.”
Me: “You’re right.” [Knock, knock, knock.] “MEALS ON WHEELS.”
Pamela: “MEALS ON WHEELS . . . It’s taking too long.”
Me: “It is. I’m waiting a little longer.”
Pamela: “It’s too cold.”
Me: “Brrr . . . it’s chilly. Let’s go.”

We were talking about the interesting things we saw on our meals on wheels route. Pamela has aphasia so sometimes she speaks in sentences and sometimes in power words:

Pamela: “Did you see that?”
Me: “We saw great things.”
Pamela: “Swell.”
Me: “The rooster was swell, too.”
Pamela: “A tape recorder!”
Me: “And we saw a helicopter.”
Pamela: “New house.”

Occasionally, she will have conversations with people outside the family. They are short but she can connect in ways that were impossible before we started RDI.

]]> By: Teen Autism » Blog Archive » A Normal Man http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/#comment-17130 Teen Autism » Blog Archive » A Normal Man Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:54:35 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=378#comment-17130 [...] instance, the night that I wrote “Polite Conversation,” about Nigel using lengthy delayed echolalia at the dinner table one evening, he came into my office [...] [...] instance, the night that I wrote “Polite Conversation,” about Nigel using lengthy delayed echolalia at the dinner table one evening, he came into my office [...]

]]> By: rhemashope http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/#comment-17123 rhemashope Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:43:35 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=378#comment-17123 nigel's level of understanding about himself and even those around him just blows my mind. nigel’s level of understanding about himself and even those around him just blows my mind.

]]> By: Niksmom http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/#comment-17045 Niksmom Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:59:12 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=378#comment-17045 I am blown away by Nigel's sefl-awareness. And your patience, your handling the situation with such wisdom. I am blown away by Nigel’s sefl-awareness. And your patience, your handling the situation with such wisdom.

]]> By: Michelle O'Neil http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/#comment-17017 Michelle O'Neil Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:36:48 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=378#comment-17017 I love how you parent. Teaching but never shaming. Nigel is awesome. So is Aiden. I love how you parent. Teaching but never shaming. Nigel is awesome. So is Aiden.

]]> By: Cinda http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/#comment-17004 Cinda Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:37:06 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=378#comment-17004 Excellent post! I am so impressed with Nigel AND his parents! Way back when in my undergrad program a professor (who I still consider my greatest mentor) said, "Everyone has behaviors that would be considered a disability depending on where and how often it is exhibited." Yeah, think about it...actually any behavior! I try to emphasize (to my grad students) that sometimes it is best to help students learn and practice where their particular behavior is appropriate. Good thoughts and good work!!! Excellent post! I am so impressed with Nigel AND his parents! Way back when in my undergrad program a professor (who I still consider my greatest mentor) said, “Everyone has behaviors that would be considered a disability depending on where and how often it is exhibited.” Yeah, think about it…actually any behavior! I try to emphasize (to my grad students) that sometimes it is best to help students learn and practice where their particular behavior is appropriate. Good thoughts and good work!!!

]]> By: Kate http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/#comment-16982 Kate Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:11:10 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=378#comment-16982 Was he nervous to have someone else over maybe, or I guess he didnt know what to say? Was he nervous to have someone else over maybe, or I guess he didnt know what to say?

]]> By: corrie http://teenautism.com/2009/12/08/polite-conversation/#comment-16972 corrie Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:38:50 +0000 http://teenautism.com/?p=378#comment-16972 Jonathan scripts too, but most people won't know it because he's appropriate. However, I know exactly where his lines come from most of the time. Then there are other phrase I don't know where he picked them up, but he says them the exact same way. Wow, Nigel is doing good to use written language that he's read instead language that he's heard. Maybe he'll be a Shakespearean actor? Jonathan scripts too, but most people won’t know it because he’s appropriate. However, I know exactly where his lines come from most of the time. Then there are other phrase I don’t know where he picked them up, but he says them the exact same way.

Wow, Nigel is doing good to use written language that he’s read instead language that he’s heard. Maybe he’ll be a Shakespearean actor?

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