Autisticate Dalmayne

22.9.15

Fantastically Autistic

An exciting new charitable organisation is blooming that promotes autistic rights, helps families with advice and therapeutic aids and I am proud to say I am on board!

I caught up with creator Dominque Burnett who’s brainchild got the ball rolling on what looks like will be an amazing venture which will benefit many a family and autistic individual.

I asked Dominique what gave her the idea and incentive to start of this remarkable venture.

“ Being a mother of 3 autistic children I have gone through more than my fair share of struggles just trying to find services. Trying to find useful information and aids that promoted a happy healthy life for my children. Everywhere I turned, I was slammed in the face with how wrong my children were for being themselves.

After joining a wonderful support group on Facebook, I learned so much. I was finally surrounded with “My” people. Those who understood and recognised the true blessing of autism. Once I was full immersed in this community I learned I was not the only one who struggled. So many families could not get basic needs met for their children. Adult autistics were stuck in abusive situations because there was nowhere else for them to go. No one offering helpful resources for them to live independently or at the very least in assisted living”.

This charity I believe is badly needed, starting of in its planning stages in the USA where the only charitable help is given by organisations promoting ABA and cure propaganda this venture will be different in that there are autistics on board with neurotypicals and we will stand for a positive fully inclusive ethos with the following mission statement.

Fantastically Autistic

Mission statement:

We recognise that autistic individuals are not supported as strongly as they should be. Autistics are not accepted or included when it comes to their care. It is our mission to provide support, aid, advocacy, sensory aids, protective gear, and resources for families and autistic adults. Education is the key to acceptance and inclusivity.

Our main focus points

Small grants directly to families in need.

Sensory aids offered at no cost

Support groups

Adult advocates

Resources

Helpful information

Computer and tablet donations

Educational tools for parents

PECS

Advocacy in any capacity that we are capable

Aims

Our aim is to improve the overall quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum. Improving the way individuals on the spectrum are perceived,by listening to those very individuals and having members of the board represent the autistic community by being autistic themselves. Remove the stigma and make way for success, inclusivity, and acceptance.

Objectives

Adult services

Providing autistics over the age of 18 with resources to live independently.

Life skills training courses that will provide skills necessary for independent living.

Outreach to local businesses to find successful employment for ASD adults.

Community courses educating neighbours, family, and future employers on skills to provide a healthy, empowering environment.

Links to adult services geared towards autistics.

Provide sensory tools that allow autistics to self sooth and manage through stressful situations.

Computers donated to individuals that will allow them to further their education and effectively communicate with necessary resources.

Teen Services

Develop a autistic teen peer group, where teens can meet and get to know others like themselves.

Provide links to counselling to better prepare them for adulthood.

Provide information on reliable, effective parent advocates for IEP and 504 meetings.

Sensory workshops with a licensed Occupational Therapist.

Coping equipment offered at no cost, e.g., ear defenders, weighted gear, protective gear.

Social workshops focused on improving teens confidence in social situations.

Adolescent Services

Sensory workshops with a licensed Occupational Therapist.

Help with local resources in recreational settings.

Computer donation for homeschooled ASD families.

Coping equipment offered at no cost, e.g., ear defenders, weighted gear, sensory bins.

Monthly grants given to families in need for vital necessities, e.g., transportation, respite care, therapies.

Parent Services

Educational material focusing on promoting a healthy self image for your autistic child/children.

Resources for local support groups in your area.

Workshops on how to help your child through a meltdown and how to help prevent them.

Literature on understanding autism and acceptance leading to empowerment.

Sensory workshops with a licensed Occupational Therapist.

Outcomes

Improved knowledge of autistic people

Adult individuals on the spectrum receive vital resources for independent living

Autistic households are better equipped to provide healthy aid for autistic individuals within the household

Unity within the Autistic community

Continuing growth in proper education about the Autism Spectrum

Preventing damaging and life threatening procedures through education and support.

Keep your eye on Fantastically Autistic, the future gleams bright!

Fantastically Autistic

Emma Speaks on Ben TV

Posted by: Emma Dalmayne

11.9.15

Leonard’s Healing Space.gone

Posted by: Emma Dalmayne

Leonard’s Healing Space.gone

After continued efforts and reporting to trading standards, exposure in the Mirror newspaper and a BBC regional news special I am pleased to report that after yet another tip off by a member of the public who does not wished to be named to Wix websites it has as of 7th of September been permanently shut down! This is cause of great relief to myself and everyone campaigning to stop the MMS quackery treatments he was selling.

As far as we are aware he does not yet know as he’s on a course with Jim Humble and will I’m sure be horrified to learn his website which sold MMS which is for those not aware Chlorine Dioxide bleach which he recommends to cure the neurological difference Autism and diseases such as Cancer, Ebola and Hep B., enema kits and baby bottles is now gone.

Let’s celebrate for now and our thanks to the person who made a comprehensive in depth file and sent it to Wix.

After Leonardo was exposed in the One Show then again on BBC Regional news after I contacted them in May this year I’m so happy to see his websites down, I also contacted the Trinity Mirror group who ran an article on him exposing him for the charlatan he is.

Let’s hope he stays down awhile though I’ve noticed bad pennies have a habit of turning up.

The Confusion Between Autism and Co Morbid Conditions

Posted by: Emma Dalmayne

I was asked today by a member in my support group what the differences between autism and learning difficulties are. They had been informed by a well known autism charity that autism is a learning difficulty. This is not the case at all and I felt the need to break down exactly what autism is and how other co morbid conditions that can come with it can be intertwined with it.

Autism is a communication condition, a neurological difference that can affect a persons speech and ability to express and recognise feelings. Some of us have no speech and are considered non verbal though we may be able to vocalise noise. We may also display echolalia speech where we will echo the end of a question asked of us or vocally replay a favourite advert or phrase for comfort and an attempt to communicate.

For those of us with no or limited speech we can communicate given the right tools to use, we can be taught to use sign language, communicational apps and picture exchange communication card system ie PECS. We can if able write, type or draw to communicate as well.

We are often accused of having no empathy which is wrong, many of us have an abundance which can affect us strongly. We are thought in some cases to not have any or little when we react to things inappropriately, ie laughing when some is hurt or crying at a happy event.

That does not mean we do not have empathy, it means we have difficulty appropriately displaying our reactions. An autistic child may find a sad or angry face funny and so laugh when they hurt someone or are being reprimanded. It’s simply finding the right way to communicate with us. Visuals and timetables help to show us what will be happening as we may have anxiety over plans or show extreme displeasure when plans or routines are changed.

Routine is important to us, we need boundaries and clear plans to base our days on.

If our plans are changed we find it hard to accept and can become distressed.

Some children like to scatter items everywhere in a seemingly random fashion, others will make intricate patterns and lines becoming distressed if they are moved.

That is because these lines or random scatterings are our way of controlling our environment. To us as long as those lines or piles are there then we can try to cope with everything else.

We also may have meltdowns. Some display these externally becoming loud and violent , tearful and self injurious. Others may sob silently internalising all the explosive emotion within. Meltdowns are normally caused by misconceptions or a build up of frustration, plans changing or anxiety related situations.

We will often collect and become quite consumed by items, subjects or people of Interest to us. We find great joy within these hobbies and unless injurious to ourselves or others should be encouraged.

Replaying of events is another thing we involuntarily have, be it a song, a situation we were in or something visual. We can experience the exact same emotion we had at that time with vivid intensity which can be distressing if it was an unpleasant experience.

You may notice your child begin to laugh for no apparent outward reason, chances are they are experiencing a memory of something very funny to them.

Sleep can be challenging as we do not produce the required melatonin to alert us it’s time to sleep. Incontinence can be an issue if the introceptive sense is affected.

Dyspraxia also called Developmental Co Ordination Disorder.

A condition that affects balance and co ordination. Someone with Dyspraxia will walk with a heavy tread to gain priopreceptive feedback from the floor.

They may come down the stairs one tread at a time, as depth perception is affected.

2D vision is another sign and lack of social awareness, often bumping into things and tripping over nothing apparent to the naked eye.

Fine manipulation is also affected so a difficulty with buttons, zips, laces and cutlery.

A person with Dyspraxia may also tire easily.

Learning Difficulties.

These can display as mild, moderate or severe. A difficulty with literacy and maths, a person with learning difficulties can usually learn but at a delayed rate and with lots of input and support. The more severe the harder it will be. Learning difficulties can affect all aspects of of a child’s education and they should be given a good plan possibly with a 1.1 to help them.

Sensory Processing Disorder.

People with sensory problems can have auditory, olfactory, visual, oral and tactile challenges. They may need ear defenders or ear plugs to help them cope with noise, they may need tinted glasses or a wide brimmed cap to help with visual challenges is bright lights and colours. We may get nauseated from certain smells and tastes. Some sensory seek orally by chewing or sucking and a chewy or clean cloth if they prefer can aid this.

Sensory seeking behaviour like emptying contents of bottles and flooding the bathroom are not intentionally naughty and can be helped by redirection to structured sensory experiences.

Sensory overload can occur when all the senses become inflamed at once and the sufferer may need to find a dark cool space to recover, it can be nauseating and extremely painful, best described as a migraine with vestibular disturbance, noise sensitivity and visual sensitivity. A weighted blanket and peace and quiet will help.

Someone suffering an overload may also have a shutdown where they sink to the floor, to gain priopreceptive input. The floor is solid and dependable when everything else rushes and spins around you, and they should be allowed to remain there until ready as forcing them to get up before they are ready can cause a meltdown.

ADHD

A child with ADHD may have difficulty sitting still and may fidget. They will be impulsive and have little sense of danger, they will have hyperactivity and being able to focus will prove hard. They will be adventurous and probably love climbing running and jumping.

They can however concentrate for a good short periods and learn with ease.

A child with ADHD will have trouble getting to sleep and may have difficulty awaking.

There is to date no cure for autism as it’s not a sickness or disease.

9.9.15

Autistic replay in the brain

Posted by: Emma Dalmayne

Have you ever watched an autistic individual joyously laugh or begin to sob broken heartedly for no reason apparent to yourself?

It’s very likely they are replaying a memory of an event that has passed, possibly as recent as that day or even months or years ago. We can feel the exact same intensity that we felt at that moment, see the same sights, smell the same smells and hear the same sounds.

Depending on if it’s a pleasant memory we may sit there smiling, giggling or laughing uproariously to the amazement of anyone nearby. Similarly our distress is absolute if it’s a depressing memory, tears will run and the devastating sadness experiences at that time will be identical.

Can we stop replays? No.

Can we control them? No.

They can be triggered by a sight, a smell similar to one we would have smelt at that time, a sound like an alarm or a song can all provoke a truly realistic memory reel to begin playing at its own will.

For instance I was unfortunate enough to be scrolling through Facebook one day and saw a video of a baby being assaulted. It’s replayed in my head for three days.

I looked it up and found the child minder involved had been arrested that day and was now in prison, the baby had recovered yet it gave me scant relief. I could feel the devastation that I imagined the baby could feel, and the actions wound like a non stop preview whether my eyes were closed or open. I couldn’t eat for two of those days. I couldn’t sleep for all of them. That was jus one example, similarly a happy memory of a little baby chimp statue in a shop window that made me giggle can still make me happy till this day, the giggles erupt and the bubble of joy I felt is mimicked to perfection.

If your child or adult autistic is seeming to have a replay leave them alone.

If they seek comfort give it but otherwise leave them to go through the literal visual, auditory and sound reel they are witnessing. We need to replay it though it’s involuntary, to get it out .

If possible try to think of a recent meal you have eaten that you do not have regularly, a song you haven’t heard for a while on the radio, an advert or even a phrase could start a replay.

If your child or adult autistic seems very upset by what they are replaying and you can narrow it down to something they have seen on the TV or their tablet/ computer get a cloth and wipe it down firmly in front of them. Clean the keyboard and even surrounding desk as this will visually cleanse the area. Wipe the viewing history. Snap the DVD in half if it’s that and it helps, I have had to rip a video to pieces after seeing something distressing on it and I then binned it. That didn’t work as the bin was still in the house, once I’d emptied it I felt better.

If your child/adult has memories of bullying, something that upsets them ask them to write or draw it then bury it or tie it to a balloon and let it go. You may have to do this several times if it’s a particularly distressing memory. Alternatively if they are laughing and giggling in glee join in!

We need more of that in the world and a joyful memory shared is something to be cherished.