Progress six months post-diagnosis

Amy was diagnosed with ASD in August 2008. She started Kindy a week or two ahead of getting a diagnosis and I warned the teachers immediately that she was probably on "the spectrum". After several months of "shadowing" Amy at Playgroup, because of some of her anti-social behaviours, I was a little anxious as to how she might go at Kindy.

Amazingly she took to Kindy like a duck to water. The teachers have worked so well with her right from the start, encouraging eye contact and gently coaxing her into "circle time". She started the first term sitting in a yellow chair on the outskirts of circle time, observing the other children. Her good friend from the same street and former Playgroup, started Kindy just three weeks later and joined her on another yellow chair! The teachers started moving the girls chairs closer and closer so they were virtually in the circle on their chairs. One of the teacher's suggested it was time for the girls to join the circle one day without the chairs and Amy has never looked back. She joins in the actions now in circle time and often sings the songs at home.

Amy is thriving at Kindy. She loves the space, the range of play areas available and the gentle yet consistent guidance she is given by the teachers. She has made one new friend at Kindy - a little boy and has bonded with a couple of the teachers. She is very active and often plays in groups of four or five. She spends a lot of time roaming around Kindy with her neighbourhood friend. When I was on parent help the other day I overheard them having a wee conversation in which they were asking each other their names which was quite sweet.

Amy's confidence at Kindy just grows and grows and this is showing in other areas of her social world. She was in gymnastics classes for a couple of terms last year and used to just do her own thing, totally oblivious to what was going on in the classes. By the end of her last term she was listening to instructions and participating in more of the class. At the supermarket it seemed as if Amy didn't hear the cashiers talking to her. When they'd ask her a question she seemed a million miles away. Yet these days they cannot shut her up! and she happily helps the cashiers scan the groceries while giving a wee commentary on what each item is for.

Amy now says hello and goodbye to guests coming into our house although a little prompting is still needed from time to time. Eye contact is a lot more frequent. For so long she used to just carry on with whatever activity she was engrossed in, seemingly disinterested in who had just walked through the door. Now she will approach visitors not long after they have entered our home, and will chat easily with them.

Amy has had two regular playdates since she was eighteen months old. These continue and both families are understanding of her diagnosis. There are often issues on playdates yet Amy has improved considerably over the last few months. This is thanks to Kindy and the support of an early intervention teacher and child development services (CDS).

We've used a few social stories over the last few months around choosing an activity to do, toileting and a routine while on holiday (in a different environment). All of the stories worked very well proving that Amy is a visual learner. The what-shall-I-do-now visual cards in which Amy could select something to do from six photographs of toys and activities in her bedroom worked well. Often Amy is at a loss as to what to do next and this has helped her think more about what she'd like to play. Lately she says she wants to play such-and-such without looking at the visual cards which is great.

At the end of last year she was using a potty for wees but wouldn't go near the toilet. However with the use of a toileting social story, she made the step from potty to toilet and is now nappy-free during the day - except if a poo is obviously on the way. This was achieved with a lot of patience and prompting with many of her toys at home going to the toilet ahead of her. Now she is increasingly going to the loo by herself although she needs to be reminded a lot of the time. We have yet to get her on the toilet to do a poo.

We were away for a month over Christmas catching up with family. In Ruby Bay we had our own little cottage and this worked really well for Amy. With the use of a routine social story, our days had some structure to them. Amy enjoyed making choices on what we could do next and also recording via visual cards what we'd done in the day. Having our own cottage meant Amy was able to escape when she needed a break from the main house. Even with her cousin staying in the other house, Amy frequently retreated to the cottage to play with her toys and to have some me-time.

The proof was in the pudding when we stayed out at Ruby Bay again a few weeks ago but stayed in the main house without the routine visual cards. It was harder work for me as Amy found it hard to relax without a small space she could retreat to. (She could have gone to our bedroom but didn't seem interested). Without the routine visual cards our days seemed disorganised and this upset the apple cart for both Amy and myself. Bottom line: the routine visual cards will be coming on all trips from now on!

We also caught up with family in Auckland for a week in the New Year and although it was a lot of fun (as there were four children under six in the same house), it was rather stressful for myself and Amy. Amy's need for space couldn't be met as were staying in quite a small house. Two of the other children were particularly loud and are still a WIP around sharing themselves and this triggered Amy on many occasions. She was yelling, kicking and hitting a lot more than usual. I know it doesn't take much to over-stimulate her so I was able to take her out one afternoon to a cafe - just her and I. This trip proved to me that on longer trips, it's better we have our own accomodation. One or two nights are okay with other families but any more than that is pushing it for everyone.

Not everyone of course understands ASD and I have been very appreciative of the understanding and unconditional love Amy has received over the last six months. She knows who she is safe with. It is often her fear and uncertainty in social situations that cause her to retaliate in what is typically unacceptable behaviour. But over time, as my husband and I decipher what is ASD behaviour from what is preschool behaviour - or even her personality; we are able to educate others that interact with her frequently. I feel the greater understanding of ASD with those Amy knows has caused her to relax a lot more around them. Like any child, she just wants to be accepted and loved for who she is.

Overall, Amy is moving forward in leaps and bounds. When she first started Kindy she was parroting a lot and speaking only a few words. Now she speaks in sentences and although she still parrots a bit, she also constructs her own sentences. She is able to converse and answer simple questions and continually surprises us with her amazing memory. I have to thank Kindy, early intervention services and CDS for her progress. I know my husband and I have contributed to these very positive changes but as they say - it takes a village to raise a child - particularly one with ASD!