It is Christmas morning and Oh.....what a great morning!......Last Christmas we were not fluent on the 26 letter board... now we are and life is so good. We every Christmas would watch Ryan not interested ( we thought) roaming around for food and never ever wanting to open a present.. well still he struggles with the whole unwrapping thing but it is because he is so ..wait let me tell you his words " SO HAPPY" , and here it comes Ashley was letter boarding with him and she said Do you want to say anything Ryan ( as he sat in his favorite green rocking recliner) and he said " SO EXCITED MERRY CHRISTMAS, GOT INTERESTING GIFTS."
Then Ashley asked him what his favorite gift was and he said," SO MANY RYAN LIKED"
He is happy about Christmas and he straight out told us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So did I ever imagine after the diagnosis of Autism, that I could some day have my Ryan... well it has happened... it is a Merry Christmas... remember he just told me...he said Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...and it is a Merry Christmas!!!! .. God is Good ..always.. he is Ryan's strength, by the way. He calls on God and he spells that out too!
Merry Christmas everyone... send this to someone who has a child with Autism... if Ryan can do this and the 100's of other kids can do the exact same thing...their child can too.............. believe........love Teresa
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Ryan told us he had a headache!
Well, again..........why is rpm so worth learning.. Ryan got up at 1:24am.. he has sleep issues but we were surprised he woke so early..stayed up the rest of the morning and kept going to the bathroom.. again.. not the norm..
Well Paul said.. I think Ryan doesn't feel good..I was so wiped out.. having been up all night... that I could not see it... Later that day... he seemed fine.. but was laying on the couch and Ashley wanted to teach him his Ohio Virtual Academy school work.. and he would not sit in the chair.
Ashley said," why can't you sit down ..you need to sit in your chair to learn ( OVA computer is is at the desk/chair area ) and he said,
"RYAN CAN NOT SIT IN CHAIR CAUSE ME HEAD HURTS" (ash said you mean my and he said yes!)
then here I come in the room... Ash tells me and then I said did your head hurt just now or did it also hurt last night?
"HURT AT NIGHT"
Well.......... that made me feel bad and also at the same time relieved that he just wasn't getting up for the heck of it.. and to tell you I was very edgy/irritated and flat out exhausted over him not going back to sleep the entire night....
Ryan having his voice helped me to understand and to be more compassionate . So.. I took a deep breath and it all made sense to me....
So it is good...I am going to ask him in oh... 30 seconds how he is feeling . hope his head is ok....
Well Paul said.. I think Ryan doesn't feel good..I was so wiped out.. having been up all night... that I could not see it... Later that day... he seemed fine.. but was laying on the couch and Ashley wanted to teach him his Ohio Virtual Academy school work.. and he would not sit in the chair.
Ashley said," why can't you sit down ..you need to sit in your chair to learn ( OVA computer is is at the desk/chair area ) and he said,
"RYAN CAN NOT SIT IN CHAIR CAUSE ME HEAD HURTS" (ash said you mean my and he said yes!)
then here I come in the room... Ash tells me and then I said did your head hurt just now or did it also hurt last night?
"HURT AT NIGHT"
Well.......... that made me feel bad and also at the same time relieved that he just wasn't getting up for the heck of it.. and to tell you I was very edgy/irritated and flat out exhausted over him not going back to sleep the entire night....
Ryan having his voice helped me to understand and to be more compassionate . So.. I took a deep breath and it all made sense to me....
So it is good...I am going to ask him in oh... 30 seconds how he is feeling . hope his head is ok....
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Where are the Caramels!
Hi Everyone.. this is Ashley.. just wanted to tell you a funny story about today. We went to Whole Foods market and bought these caramel candies. I was searching all over for them because my dad hid them from me, and won't tell me where he put them! So he says to me, Ryan can tell you he saw me hide them but I told him not to tell anyone... so Dad left for the store again and I wanted those caramels.. so i asked ryan on his board, "Ryan, where did dad put the caramel?" He says SECOND DRAWER IN THE FRIDGE. So I thank him and then run to the fridge and check. They aren't there. So I ask ryan, " Were you telling me the wrong place on purpose?" he says, YES. RYAN SAID WRONG PLACE BECAUSE DAD SAID NOT TO TELL:) I laughed and laughed! I told ryan that he's good at keeping secrets! So funny!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Our science experiment.. with Mom's Coffee!
Trying to be frugal, I purchased the sale coffee, Folgers French Roast. I made a cup this morning and yuk........there is this weird taste to it. So left a full cup on the counter and got Ashley on the bus and continued on with my morning. Next comes Ryan. doing our morning routine.. I went to move the coffee cup from he counter and told Ryan ..man.. Mommy had the worst cup of coffee ..something is wrong with that coffee..then I go to thinking maybe it is my coffee maker that I have not cleaned in FOREVER!!.. . so I decided to get the decaf 365 Wholefoods coffee out and try a little experiment. Told Ryan the situation and said lets do a science experiment since you want to be a brain scientist. ( told us that the other day).
So, I set both types of coffee in front of Ryan and explained the situation. I made a cup with Folgers and it was bad but I have this 365 coffee never said decaf by the way ... so how should we do this experiment. he spelled: SEE EITHER DECAF IS GOOD.( yep read "decaf" off the bag)
So I said.. if so then what? He spells: WE THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG DECIDE FOLGER TASTE BAD
Yep.. he clearly understood what I was going to test.. So I made him do the measuring the water, turn it on. Next we talked about a hypothesis.... maybe it could be the coffee is bad or the water, or coffeemaker.. I said give a educated guess... he spelled WATER...... I said the dirty coffeemaker..!!!!!!
Well I tasted the coffee..he ran thinking I was going to make him taste it.. then I said......Ryan ...the coffee tastes great.. So I said what was the problem.....
he spells FOLGERS IS PROBLEM..
My smart scienctist!!
So, I set both types of coffee in front of Ryan and explained the situation. I made a cup with Folgers and it was bad but I have this 365 coffee never said decaf by the way ... so how should we do this experiment. he spelled: SEE EITHER DECAF IS GOOD.( yep read "decaf" off the bag)
So I said.. if so then what? He spells: WE THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG DECIDE FOLGER TASTE BAD
Yep.. he clearly understood what I was going to test.. So I made him do the measuring the water, turn it on. Next we talked about a hypothesis.... maybe it could be the coffee is bad or the water, or coffeemaker.. I said give a educated guess... he spelled WATER...... I said the dirty coffeemaker..!!!!!!
Well I tasted the coffee..he ran thinking I was going to make him taste it.. then I said......Ryan ...the coffee tastes great.. So I said what was the problem.....
he spells FOLGERS IS PROBLEM..
My smart scienctist!!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Ryan says ... A MIRACLE!
Ryan cracks me up!! Ashley is doing math and a science lessons with him yesterday. They are so cute togther!!
3rd grade content is way easy for Ryan..but I felt like I should go back and really cover all the material .. blah blah...blah.. when will I learn!! Anyways..Ryan had to tell me regarding Math.." TO SIMPLE FOR RYAN
UPSETING RYAN
STOP WASTING MY TIME"
Oh .. yes.. in a kind way he had sat there for 1/2 the day working on Math with me as I slowly and painstakingly went through ALL the problems...yuk. they were way to simple.. and finally he let me have it!!
Well, back to Ash and Ryan .. so Ashley is working so hard talking, teaching on and on with great enthusiasm.. she is an excellent teacher by the way!! So she said to Ryan " oh.. hang on Ryan almost there" after he had been working with her for over and hour... and finally they reach the end of the assessment! Punch the results and he got a 100 percent!!!!
She says.. " Ryan what do you think!!!!!!.. we reached the assessment!!!! .. we are done!! and she now fluent on the board with him.. offers the board to him and he spells.......
A MIRACLE
Ashley starts laughing me too .. Ryan smiles a little and takes off to escape his teacher Miss Ashley!!
What a great day.. we promised Ryan we were done with the boring stuff and on to the new cool stuff........ I hope he sees it that way when we reach the new units.. will let you know!! Great day..
3rd grade content is way easy for Ryan..but I felt like I should go back and really cover all the material .. blah blah...blah.. when will I learn!! Anyways..Ryan had to tell me regarding Math.." TO SIMPLE FOR RYAN
UPSETING RYAN
STOP WASTING MY TIME"
Oh .. yes.. in a kind way he had sat there for 1/2 the day working on Math with me as I slowly and painstakingly went through ALL the problems...yuk. they were way to simple.. and finally he let me have it!!
Well, back to Ash and Ryan .. so Ashley is working so hard talking, teaching on and on with great enthusiasm.. she is an excellent teacher by the way!! So she said to Ryan " oh.. hang on Ryan almost there" after he had been working with her for over and hour... and finally they reach the end of the assessment! Punch the results and he got a 100 percent!!!!
She says.. " Ryan what do you think!!!!!!.. we reached the assessment!!!! .. we are done!! and she now fluent on the board with him.. offers the board to him and he spells.......
A MIRACLE
Ashley starts laughing me too .. Ryan smiles a little and takes off to escape his teacher Miss Ashley!!
What a great day.. we promised Ryan we were done with the boring stuff and on to the new cool stuff........ I hope he sees it that way when we reach the new units.. will let you know!! Great day..
Ryan's Prediction!
Well, Ryans favorite novel is coming to the end.. and the teacher asked us to make a prediciton as to how the book will end. I asked Ryan.. what do you think will happen to Matt ( character in the book) now that he is left in the cabin alone? Ryan spells:
HIS PA AND MA IS COMING BACK
I found this very interesting.. I am thinking as he is pointing.. he will say .. his "DAD" will come back..
However, Ryan used the exact words in the book.. Matt called his parents.."PA" and "MA"..
so interesting.... how Ryan thinks! Oh by the way... I believe his prediciton is correct!!!!!
HIS PA AND MA IS COMING BACK
I found this very interesting.. I am thinking as he is pointing.. he will say .. his "DAD" will come back..
However, Ryan used the exact words in the book.. Matt called his parents.."PA" and "MA"..
so interesting.... how Ryan thinks! Oh by the way... I believe his prediciton is correct!!!!!
Friday, November 12, 2010
SEE..... ME...........PLEASE!
Well, we have had three new therapist being introduced to us over the last few months here.... going into the new OVA program. It is great.. I get to pick what therapy center I would like to attend. ( they are either on the OVA provider list or they sign up ..seems so easy vs. scholarship application for the providers) Well sorry got sidetracked... back to the point of me blogging this am...
Had two very interesting therapy appointments with Ryan and his comments are once again... profound and so reveling.....
The emotions and feelings and thoughts my son has are truly heart wrenching at times. I share them on this blog..... because I know many children don't have the chance to be taught RPM and they are silenced.. left to live with their thoughts and emotions in isolation.. ...so we speak for them................
Ryan is eleven years old. He is no longer that cute tiny little therapy kid that most therapist deal with. So cute easy to play kiddy games with... he is a eleven the "teens" are right around the corner.
..... I find it interesting ... most parents have stopped private therapy or for sure reduced it by the time they are this age.( wonder if anyone collected data on why???) Maybe they feel school has that covered.. On another side note.... therapy for older kids should have a new creative.. model developed.. maybe joint groups.. something age appropriate.. different...( any therapist out there that is a cool suggestion from me and I know for sure Ryan!)
Moving on........ I would take the therapists lead many times when starting with a therapist... and I looked at them as the expert. In their training and understanding of the body, speech, body systems.. yep...........they are.........BUT.........I realized.........and I say this with great humility. I AM THE EXPERT WHEN IT COMES TO RYAN HARRIS. I KNOW MY SON. I KNOW..RYAN... once again I say this because of RPM... NOW I AM ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS THINKING.... he has his "voice" I spend time with him... so I know how he thinks. So..now I tell them I will handle Ryan and as you learn who Ryan is.. then I will fade out.. and you will take the lead..........
So... he says yesterday to the new OT... When I asked him..do you have anything you want to share with XXXX .. what do you want to get out of OT.. and he says .
..WANT OT TO BE MEANINGFUL SEE MANY OT NOT SEE RYAN ........
Other comments: When I asked him about one therapist.. he said RYAN IS CAUTIOUS NOT SURE..... that blew me away..
Another comment to a therapist: "XX I LIKE YOU MANY ( Ryan's friends) STOP LISTENING CAUSE OTHERS MEAN.
Think about this.. Ryan said this last week.. to his slp therapist who was so gentle and calm and kind with him.. and he said........THANK YOU FOR SEEING RYAN MANY NOT SEE RYAN. I WANT TO SPEAK....
Before RPM...Ryan would have to just sit there and say nothing...to express his feeling..while people are putting all these demands on him...with RPM....he can express himself.. wonder why children with Autism lash out.........at times... they are trapped..
BUT ..What really is the kicker to all of this...............is at the moment in time when Ryan is touching each letter and I speak the word and the next word he slowly completes.... as his thought is being reveled to those who have the privilege to hear it.............
COMPASSION is being born.....
and how many people and how many different situations when Ryan shares his thoughts on his letter board... the barrier of silence is broken. tears and more tears come..... from those watching him..... and understanding takes place .they .......SEE.... Ryan at that very moment..
We should stop at nothing.. to make this a possiblity for all children. To "SEE" "THEM". ..the beauty is simply hidden in silence.. please ....lets break it............
Had two very interesting therapy appointments with Ryan and his comments are once again... profound and so reveling.....
The emotions and feelings and thoughts my son has are truly heart wrenching at times. I share them on this blog..... because I know many children don't have the chance to be taught RPM and they are silenced.. left to live with their thoughts and emotions in isolation.. ...so we speak for them................
Ryan is eleven years old. He is no longer that cute tiny little therapy kid that most therapist deal with. So cute easy to play kiddy games with... he is a eleven the "teens" are right around the corner.
..... I find it interesting ... most parents have stopped private therapy or for sure reduced it by the time they are this age.( wonder if anyone collected data on why???) Maybe they feel school has that covered.. On another side note.... therapy for older kids should have a new creative.. model developed.. maybe joint groups.. something age appropriate.. different...( any therapist out there that is a cool suggestion from me and I know for sure Ryan!)
Moving on........ I would take the therapists lead many times when starting with a therapist... and I looked at them as the expert. In their training and understanding of the body, speech, body systems.. yep...........they are.........BUT.........I realized.........and I say this with great humility. I AM THE EXPERT WHEN IT COMES TO RYAN HARRIS. I KNOW MY SON. I KNOW..RYAN... once again I say this because of RPM... NOW I AM ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS THINKING.... he has his "voice" I spend time with him... so I know how he thinks. So..now I tell them I will handle Ryan and as you learn who Ryan is.. then I will fade out.. and you will take the lead..........
So... he says yesterday to the new OT... When I asked him..do you have anything you want to share with XXXX .. what do you want to get out of OT.. and he says .
..WANT OT TO BE MEANINGFUL SEE MANY OT NOT SEE RYAN ........
Other comments: When I asked him about one therapist.. he said RYAN IS CAUTIOUS NOT SURE..... that blew me away..
Another comment to a therapist: "XX I LIKE YOU MANY ( Ryan's friends) STOP LISTENING CAUSE OTHERS MEAN.
Think about this.. Ryan said this last week.. to his slp therapist who was so gentle and calm and kind with him.. and he said........THANK YOU FOR SEEING RYAN MANY NOT SEE RYAN. I WANT TO SPEAK....
Before RPM...Ryan would have to just sit there and say nothing...to express his feeling..while people are putting all these demands on him...with RPM....he can express himself.. wonder why children with Autism lash out.........at times... they are trapped..
BUT ..What really is the kicker to all of this...............is at the moment in time when Ryan is touching each letter and I speak the word and the next word he slowly completes.... as his thought is being reveled to those who have the privilege to hear it.............
COMPASSION is being born.....
and how many people and how many different situations when Ryan shares his thoughts on his letter board... the barrier of silence is broken. tears and more tears come..... from those watching him..... and understanding takes place .they .......SEE.... Ryan at that very moment..
We should stop at nothing.. to make this a possiblity for all children. To "SEE" "THEM". ..the beauty is simply hidden in silence.. please ....lets break it............
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Can you remember being this young?
Looking at a photo.. he just ripped.. I asked .. do you remember this time.. being so young ..look you and Ashley were so little.
YES XTREME SADNESS.. why I asked. STUDENTS VERY MEAN Why I said...what did they say.. RYAN IS WORTHLESS. NOT NICE RYAN VERY SAD NOT WANT TO THINK ON .
YES XTREME SADNESS.. why I asked. STUDENTS VERY MEAN Why I said...what did they say.. RYAN IS WORTHLESS. NOT NICE RYAN VERY SAD NOT WANT TO THINK ON .
Why did you Rip Up the Photo?
I asked Ryan why did you rip up the photo.. it is not the first photo he has riped. He spelled,"
STEM ON
I said what does that mean to you to stem on ? Those words.. what are they to you?
DECIDE FUN TO THINK ON.
Interesting!
STEM ON
I said what does that mean to you to stem on ? Those words.. what are they to you?
DECIDE FUN TO THINK ON.
Interesting!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Teaching. Mom.to SEE is HARD!
This morning Ryan and I had Grammy on speaker phone and Grammy asked ..do you like having Ashley teach you? He spells:
EDUACTION MAKES SO HAPPY RYAN
So, then I said.. hey.. do you like Mommy teaching you?.. and he spells
NO
great.. that made me feel awful......Then I asked him why in a kind voice so he would be honest and tell me...... he spells:
SEEING SO HARD
I have been asking him to read the computer screen multiple choice questions and we did geography last night. We were learning about the concept of borders Like one question was look at the map... find Italy.... and what two countries border Italy... he had to look and then spell on his letter board the bordering countries.......so ...lots of looking.......hmmmm.. he has said this before seeing is hard....... I told him I will teach more by talking vs looking... also I want to ask him exactly what could physically be going on... he can definately see tiny words..
EDUACTION MAKES SO HAPPY RYAN
So, then I said.. hey.. do you like Mommy teaching you?.. and he spells
NO
great.. that made me feel awful......Then I asked him why in a kind voice so he would be honest and tell me...... he spells:
SEEING SO HARD
I have been asking him to read the computer screen multiple choice questions and we did geography last night. We were learning about the concept of borders Like one question was look at the map... find Italy.... and what two countries border Italy... he had to look and then spell on his letter board the bordering countries.......so ...lots of looking.......hmmmm.. he has said this before seeing is hard....... I told him I will teach more by talking vs looking... also I want to ask him exactly what could physically be going on... he can definately see tiny words..
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Ashley can now do letterboard fluently with Ryan!!
Well, a new milestone for our family!!!!!!!!!!!!
My 13 year old daughter now is fluent on the board with my son Ryan! She now teaches him his OVA content along with me. I knew she could get a few words with Ryan here and there......well. now they are talking in sentences... she is teaching and he said this afternoon and yesterday
TEACH RYAN ( ashley had board and was talking to him)
Who do you want to teach Ryan? ( ash asked)
RYAN WANTS ASHLEY TO TEACH RYAN
Yes yes.. yes he is enjoying learning with her.......... Oh my gosh..........this is unbelievable. They did math asssesment testing today completed one math unit and did vocab for the novel he is reading " Sign of the Beaver" historical fiction...he loves it!
He is also reading the computer screen and answering mulitiple choice A-D options..
Please.. anyone who reads this...your child can do SOOOOOOOO much more then everyone thought.. Go to HALO... learn this method.. My son... would have been stuck with 25.. I want pecs cards or a talker for the rest of his life.......... now he has a voice and opionion and is free to stand up for himself... he can tell people exactly what he thinks.. it is not just my son....all the families who went to halo from Cincinnati... have the exact same experience as we did........... Give your child their voice...what do you have to lose.......
My 13 year old daughter now is fluent on the board with my son Ryan! She now teaches him his OVA content along with me. I knew she could get a few words with Ryan here and there......well. now they are talking in sentences... she is teaching and he said this afternoon and yesterday
TEACH RYAN ( ashley had board and was talking to him)
Who do you want to teach Ryan? ( ash asked)
RYAN WANTS ASHLEY TO TEACH RYAN
Yes yes.. yes he is enjoying learning with her.......... Oh my gosh..........this is unbelievable. They did math asssesment testing today completed one math unit and did vocab for the novel he is reading " Sign of the Beaver" historical fiction...he loves it!
He is also reading the computer screen and answering mulitiple choice A-D options..
Please.. anyone who reads this...your child can do SOOOOOOOO much more then everyone thought.. Go to HALO... learn this method.. My son... would have been stuck with 25.. I want pecs cards or a talker for the rest of his life.......... now he has a voice and opionion and is free to stand up for himself... he can tell people exactly what he thinks.. it is not just my son....all the families who went to halo from Cincinnati... have the exact same experience as we did........... Give your child their voice...what do you have to lose.......
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