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Perspective - That's the only difference?

Saturday, September 26, 2009 @7:34:41 AM

   When you work to help your child with autism understand a concept, you may find that no matter how many times you try to "say it and show it", the concept just does not get through. It's all a difference in perspective - a person's point of view. The reason it is not getting through is that my perspective is that of a typical person and my son's is that of a person with ASD. This is the essential piece of the puzzle that we often forget. We need to teach concepts in non-typical ways in order to reach our children. Easier said than done.

   The "automatic" way we think when in a hurry to communicate is based on the fastest and easiest "just do this and problem solved" theory. When someone says the full-sized sheet will not fit on the king-sized bed, I understand, but does someone with autism? We have to stop and rethink how we will relate the same concepts to a non-verbal person. This learning is not a "right now" understanding and takes some outside-the-box thinking. I used the sheet sizes example, as my son thinks that any sheet will fit on any size bed. He is eleven-years-old. He has seen many sheets on many different size beds, yet the concept is not getting through after years of verbally trying to explain this.

   So, getting back to the point, it's all about perspective. His perspective of objects and how he sees them is different as he has autism. He doesn't see sizes, he sees objects that he knows of and only understands that they somehow belong together. How they all fit is not a concern to him. "Just make them fit". The consequences and details are where the perspectives of he and I differ. You must fight the desire to teach your perspective and work with his, in a way that he might understand. This is the most difficult issue and you may never reach the same level or viewpoint, but at least you tried. 

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