success stories/articles

Hi ladies,
My sister is having a really hard time dealing the diagnosis of her son. She was told he has a mild case of PDD but there are therapists out there that give her worst case scenarios and best case scenarios. She has her good days and bad but the past week she's been really upset about the possibility of him never being able to live on his own and just being "different". Shes basically been crying for 4 days now This is all new for her so we're thinking eventually she'll get better but I was wondering if you ladies had any resources or links to articles that might give her some hope that I could email her. Success stories, ways to cope, stuff like that. I just don't know what else to do for her

Thank you all so much!

Re: success stories/articles

Ryan was thought to have a mild case of PDD, but was tested and doesn't, but I was worried sick over it.

I looked at it this way... if he had it, it wasn't the end of the world. There are A LOT of people that have PDD, Aspergers, and just aren't diagnosed. They go on to have perfectly normal lives, get married, have kids, hold down good jobs... some things just may challenge them more than others. I mean, I can think of some adults that I have met that would probably fall on the spectrum, and are just considered quirky, but are successful people.

I know this may not help tremendously, and I can't say from experience, but all of this was running through my mind with Ryan when they were talking about PDD.

Re: success stories/articles

SMALL world Ms. Dana
OK so keeping this between us girls I've been dealing with my son for 2+ years now who's on the spectrum. As for :cute stuff" I'll call him I'm really not feeling that he's on the spectrum. Yes he's got delays but in time and therapy I really think his light bulb will go off and he'll be fine. I know it's easy for me to say but if I didn't feel it I wouldn't say it. As for advice sometimes people get really scared and take articles, stats, etc., in a negative way which is what I think happened with sis. It's such a difficult thing and really only one who goes through it can really understand. It's also hard watching "typical" children surrounding you and you can't help thinking "why my child". So as the wonderful sister you are I would just continue to be supportive (as you have been) and just try to be really upbeat and positive about the situation. I have some helpful info that I'm gonna pass along to her too. OK your probably saying who the heck is this.....
Melissa HTH and feel free to e-mail anytime with questions! Have a great holiday and your little man is SO cute!

Re: success stories/articles

I sent you an FM, but I have to say, therapists should not be giving any worst case scenarios at this young age. They should be explaining what they are working on, where he should go with the skill, and how they are measuring progress. It should all focus on the progress he is making, getting him to be successful, and moving him to the next step!!!!

It sounds like she may not be feeling empowered at this point. When a parent feels like he/she does not have control over their child in some way, the panic sets in. The therapists should include her in all of this. Does she get parent training? She should. A parent trainer is there to be that person for her to share her fears with, and then give her specific things to do to target those issues.

I am full of success stories. I have a student who went away to college this year. To montana!!! He is my facebook friend

Re: success stories/articles

As a therapist of children on the spectrum I agree that the

therapists shouldn't be giving best and worse case scenarios!

Every child is different and it is truly case by case. A great

book that has a success story is Let Me Hear Your Voice

by Catherine Maurice. It may make her feel better and it may

not! Good luck

Re: success stories/articles

Posted by Jackie24

As a therapist of children on the spectrum I agree that the

therapists shouldn't be giving best and worse case scenarios!

Every child is different and it is truly case by case. A great

book that has a success story is Let Me Hear Your Voice

by Catherine Maurice. It may make her feel better and it may

not! Good luck

Re: success stories/articles

Here are 2 links:

http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/12/child-warriors-jackson-bennet-and-luca.html

and

http://www.hiddenrecovery.com/

As for therapists/teachers giving a prognosis .... in their defense, what a therapist says and what a parent hears aren't always the same thing. i know I've been guilty of badgering for opinions and misconstruing what someone has said.

Re: success stories/articles

I know it's not PDD, but I have a related success story.

My brother was diagnosed with Autism at age 2. My mom wanted to put him in a regular ed classroom with a one on one aide. All of his teachers and therapists told my mother he would never make it past 2nd grade in a regular ed classroom. He graduated high school with a regents diploma, and is in college for Graphic Design. He just finished his first semester and his GPA is a 3.6. This was also after being diagnosed with Tourette's at age 13.

My mother said group therapy helped her a lot. Maybe that's something your sister might want to look into? It helps to talk to parents who are going through the same thing.

Re: success stories/articles