A-U-T-I-S-M: on the outside looking in.
Autism is a spectrum disorder. That means that each child can be affected in different ways and each child can be helped in different ways. As the number of children diagnosed with autism rises all over the world, chances are, right here in the Caribbean, you already know a family who is challenged with this disorder.
We all know that saying things like…
Why don’t you leave your child at home?
Your child is frightening my children!
I am so sorry for you.
Why don’t you try the gluten-free, live-food diet?
…are all painful, insensitive and unnecessary statements. But what SHOULD you say or do when a friend tells you their child has been diagnosed with autism? We have a few suggestions.
A Ask how you can help
U Understand how the family feels
T Teach your children about autism
I Individualize the Issues
S Support the cause and share all you learn
M Make memories: Celebrate the joys! Share the sorrows.
Ask how you can help
Never assume you know what the family needs. Sometimes they may need a babysitter for a few hours. Maybe they need help with the non autistic children, to allow them to spend more time with their autistic child. Sometimes offering to visit the house when there is no babysitter is just the ticket to include a Mommy who may be feeling overwhelmed or left out. A listening ear, offered with a non-judgemental heart, is a rare and precious gift. Do you have one to share?
Understand how the family feels
Allow the family to lead the way. Ask them how they feel. Not every day is a ‘bad day’. Children with autism develop, learn and change and just like parenting any child; parenting a child with autism has its ups and downs. Never assume that parents are feeling sorry for themselves.
Teach other children
Children can be cruel. Children are always curious. Teach other children how they can play with children with autism. Teach your children to accommodate and interact with your friend’s child with autism. Prevent bullying and discrimination. Teach kindness.
Individualize the Issues
Let the parent and family know that you do NOT know about THEIR child’s disorder. Even if you have experience with an individual with autism before, every child is different. Ask them to tell you more. What makes their child different? Is there something you should do to prepare for when that child is coming to visit? Is there anything they cannot or should not eat? Become aware of the special needs and be supportive in a meaningful way.
Support and share what you learn
Support the cause in any way you can: can you help with the website, sell raffle tickets, or simply tell another friend how to help. Share everything you know. Be a voice for the cause.
Make Memories
Children with autism can achieve goals. They can develop. They can be naughty. They are children, before they are children with autism. Parents of children with autism can be great parents. They can be interactive and fun parents. They can be tired and frustrated parents. They enjoy parenting. They love their children. Celebrate the JOYS, Share the Sorrows. Your presence and caring can mean so much to a family that often feels misunderstood, rejected and alone.
Autism Awareness Month in Jamaica has begun again and the national and individual challenges for children with autism and their parents continue. Let’s do all we can to support them.
We at Tots to Teens are happy to have a team of therapists who offer Assessment, Counselling Psychotherapy (for talkers) and Art Therapy (especially for “non-talkers” or pre-verbal clients) to children and families of children with CHRONIC ILLNESSES. We are working to be an excellent source of professional help to Jamaican families dealing with these sensitive and specific issues. Call us at the Office of Tots to Teens: 978.8535 or email us for more information info@caribbeantotstoteens.com.
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Blow for Jamaica’s autistic children
EXACTLY four years after it was launched to help children diagnosed with autism, the Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation (MCADF) is set to discontinue all forms of outreach activities, effective today, citing Government’s obvious disregard for those living with the mental disorder.
Blow for Jamaica’s autistic children – News – JamaicaObserver.com.
Learn MoreChung is disappointed that despite the resources her group has pumped into keeping special needs schools functional over the years, two have been closed down while at least one more is on the brink of closure.
“When these close and there is a dearth already, what do we do then? she asked, while pointing to a lack of viable solutions and intervention from the Government.
Ending our Relationship with Tobacco
~ Alexis Goffe, Counselling Psychologist
On February 16 2012, I attended the Jamaica Cancer Society’s Anti-Tobacco Forum that was attended by over two hundred high school students. While much information was presented, three main facts stood out for me:
1) Tobacco is a serial killer – In the 20th century, tobacco killed 100 million people worldwide. If the current trend continues, by the end of the 21st century, tobacco will kill 1 billion people worldwide. In Jamaica, reports show an increase in the number of tobacco-related chronic illness cases with Government hospitals reporting 2,255 cases in 2006 and 3,893 in 2008. Extrapolations based on data from the U.S.A estimate that of the 3,200 Jamaicans who die from cancer yearly, 960 are tobacco related.
2) Tobacco is a gold digger –The cost of a pack of cigarettes typically ranges from $550 to $700. If a Jamaican smokes one pack a day, they can easily spend over $200,000 a year. That is not an inconsequential amount of money. How many trips to the grocery store does that cover? How many gas tanks can that fill? How many university credits could be bought? Tobacco not only breaks individuals’ pockets, but it targets the country’s pocket as well. Jamaican health care institutions have spent an estimated US$4 billion since 1980 on tobacco-related illness.
Tobacco wants a high maintenance
abusive
potentially deadly relationship with us
yet 1 in 5 Jamaicans have used tobacco in their lifetime
and over 80,000 youth in Jamaica smoke cigarettes.
Why?
There are the common reasons given: peer pressure, to be cool and learned behaviour from family members. However, in my work counselling adolescents there is a major reason that requires attention; it is one of the most common ways youth have found to cope with the immense challenges of modern times. As a result, telling someone to stop smoking can be the equivalent to telling them to stop a relationship with their best friend.
This leads me to the third fact:
3) Tobacco control is a must –
- On a macro level, Jamaica signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005 and there is a bill waiting to be passed in Parliament. This bill includes measures such as banning smoking in public places, banning the sales of tobacco to minors, stricter regulations on advertising and sales and placing graphic health warnings on packs of cigarettes. If passed, this will make Jamaica the third smoke-free CARICOM country along with Barbados and Trinidad.
- On an individual level, we must provide our children and adolescents with healthy coping strategies. Get them involved in church activities, sports, reading and artistic and creative outlets. Help our children and adolescents develop healthy relationships with peers and positive role models. We must ensure that they have people and activities that support them in their good and bad moments.
On February 16 2012, I joined the movement to help
Jamaicans say NO to tobacco
and
YES to a better and more fulfilling life.
Will you?
Alexis Goffe is a counselling psychologist at Caribbean Tots to Teens. He can be reached at alexis@caribbeantotstoteens.com
Learn MoreParents, immunise your children
Vaccination Week in the Americas will be taking place April 21-28, 2012.
Do you have questions about regular immunizations? Do you have specific fears? Please share with us. Let us find the facts and understand together. Immunization is not personal its a matter of PUBLIC HEALTH and WELLNESS
Parents, immunise your children – Health – Jamaica Gleaner – Wednesday | April 4, 2012.
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LIME drops ‘Potential Kidd’ over offensive lyrics
POWER TO THE PARENTS of JAMAICA! LIME Drops Potential Kidd from school campaign.Thanks to each and everyone who fought this. Your voice and your vigilance made a Change.
LIME drops ‘Potential Kidd’ over offensive lyrics – News – Latest News – Jamaica Gleaner.
In a message posted on its social media pages, LIME said, after analyzing the unedited version of the song, it agreed that the lyrics were unacceptable. “What we would want is for our artistes to express themselves freely but responsibly and we think civil society can play a big role in this regard,” said LIME Jamaica’s Managing Director, Garry Sinclair.
Why would LIME fail to listen to the unedited version BEFORE contracting the entertainers services?
Potential Kidd has reportedly apologized to persons who may have been offended by the lyrics. “I do not support violence against women or homosexuals,” he is quoted as saying in a release from LIME.
…Hmmmm, is THAT right?
Learn MoreSupporting Crayons Count
Supporting the cause at Kingston Book Festival with Crayons Count!!
Lets do Good Jamaica!
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Child Care and Protection Act (Jamaica)
Below are the links to some of the pivotal document relating to child and adolescent sexual reproductive health, protection and rights. Please let us know if there is a document you would like us to include in this post.
- These are links to the Child care and Protection Act 2004 of Jamaica, and the subsidiary legislation as found on the website of the Ministry of Justice.
Child Care and Protection Act (link for download)
CCPA Subsidiary Legislation (link for download)
- The National Family Planning board examines Controversies with the Law (CCPA 204) and Policy (Reproductive Health Policy Guidelines for Health Professionals, May of 2004) related to Reproductive Health for Adolescents.
- Here is a report on the reproductive and sexual health of Jamaican Youth published by Advocates for Youth.