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Q&A session 6 with the Director of The
Son-Rise Program®, Bryn N. Hogan.
Topic: Sensory and Communication
Challenges
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Q: Hello my dearest
Bryn,
I am so excited to be able to talk to you in this way.
I hope to be coming up for an Outreach real soon so
we can spend more time together. You have always been
such a dear friend and support to me.
Gideon will be 17 soon. Wow! We have been working with
him with so much love for so many years. How he has
grown and blossomed and how, too have the happiest mom
and wife and me, learning and growing more and more
with each new challenge. Amazing! Gideon's program has
been the best. Now that we have been working in the
playroom for so many years, I don't know how to help
Gideon start coping with the real world. I am trying
recreational activities, but I feel that nothing compares
to our attitude and our love and acceptance. I know
that most of your work is with younger kids and in the
playroom only, but I am hoping for help with the transition
out of the playroom for a child like Gideon who still
has sensory and communication challenges after eight
intensive years in the room.
Can't wait to hear from you, Bryn. My love to the family.
Love,
Toby G.
A: Dearest Toby,
As I write this, I can see your face, and Gideon's in
my mind. I can recall times at your home, times that
you have been here - all the times that we have shared
over these wonderful years through your journey with
Gideon. As you read the following, know that I hold
you in a special place, as do so many of us here, and
think of you with great love and caring.
The idea of helping Gideon in this type of transition
is very exciting! I know with all the work you have
done over the years on your attitude that you will explore
yourself and focus on making each opportunity with him
as exciting and easy as possible, so let's move right
into concrete ideas. I am not sure of what you have
already tried, so I will just give you numerous suggestions
at this time:
- I would look in local papers etc, to explore possible
activities you can take him to. You could explore
both structured activities (i.e. swimming lessons
with individual teacher, or group lessons) or less
structured as well (go and view ice sculptures, a
community picnic etc). In each area, I would first
"act out" the situation at home - help him to become
familiar with how you imagine the event will go. Practice
showing him responses to different items or social
stimuli that may occur - and then give it a try! Important
to see, if he has trouble with a given activity, that
doesn't mean he can't do it, but only perhaps that
he needs more help to prepare in advance and then
you could try again.
- You might also think about, really specifically,
which parts of "the world" do you want to introduce
him to? In what areas would you like him to grow?
This will then help you have a clearer intention about
what to prepare him for and involve him in. For example:
With my daughter Jade, (As you know, we have been
running a Son-Rise Program®
for her for 2.5 years) we wanted to begin to teach
her about greeting people. So,we began to introduce
and work on, in the playroom, games which involved
greeting people. Looking at them when they enter,
saying hello, etc. After she seemed stronger, we did
this in the rest of the house. Then, we once, for
example, went and sat outside a shopping center for
15 minutes and said "hi" to everyone who came out...what
fun! And guess what, they all said "hi"back. But again,
we prepared her first. We wanted to teach her about
what it is like to go to a "show" of some kind. (i.e.
a puppet show, a magic show etc.) So, we put on shows
in her playroom - and she was the audience, she was
the magician, we sold her tickets, she sold us tickets,
she helped us to "be seated", we learned about how
we are quiet while the show is "on" and how we really
can clap loud at different times. Then, we took her
to a magic show, and she knew how to be there, because
we had prepared her.
It is also helpful to begin, inside your home and
out (as we had talked about when you were last here
at The Option Institute) asking him to "step
- up"..challenging him to take care of himself more,
to grow, to "rise to the next level". We spoke about
ways that you could also change, to allow for this
space ...how are you doing with that? Perhaps you
could re-visit this as a question and ask yourself,
"Am I still anticipating for him, rather than giving
him a chance to do himself?" "What do I believe he
is capable of..." Perhaps write this one down and
then list ways in which you can expand this belief.
If you expand whatever you believe he is capable of
now, then you will ask him for more!
- You can also send us a video tape of one of your
outings, and schedule a video-feedback, and then perhaps
we can watch the tape and give you input on things
you could alter or change to be even more helpful
to him.
Toby, I hope this is helpful for you. I know the relationship
that you have with Gideon is truly a "gifted" one. You
have been so blessed with each other. I hope you enjoy
putting the above into action...keep me posted.
With love,
Bryn N. Hogan
I hope that as the weeks
progress, I will have ample opportunity to answer all
the questions from everyone who is wanting support.
For me, this is another rare and unique opportunity
to offer our support and guidance to those who want
help. Thank you all for making this exciting exchange
possible through your participation. Please know you
can contact us by telephone to speak to a staff member
if you have more questions. Call us at: (413) 229-2100
Q&A Session
6
Intro to Q&A Session
6
Husband's
Involvement
Asperger's
Syndrome and Milk
The Son-Rise Program®
in the Classroom
Autism and the Effects
on Siblings
Sensory
and Communication Challenges
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