Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Songs that Have Helped Autistic People During Meltdowns

For a lot of autistic people, music works really well when trying to calm themselves down.

Sensory overload is something that can happen to anyone. It happens when there’s too much sensory stimulus going on at once, whether you’re in a room full of people, smelling strong aromas or even watching a TV with very high volume. Although anyone can experience sensory overload, it’s most common in people with certain diagnoses such as Autism.

Music can impact those with or without autism in an amazing way. Of course, sometimes music can also be a sensory overloader, but for people with autism can work amazingly.

A study from the Journal of Music Therapy in 2004 found that music used in therapy with children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder can improve aspects such as social behaviors, communication, focus and attention, and reduce anxiety.

Many known songs might work to help autistic people calm down when having a meltdown.


Here’s a list of songs that have helped autistic people during meltdowns
“Bliss” by Muse.
“Hello” by Adele.
“Ride” by Twenty One Pilots.
“You Are My Sunshine” by Johnny Cash & June Carter.
“Ho Hey” by The Lumineers.
“Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles.
“Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven.
“Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler.
“I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons.
“Count On Me” by Bruno Mars.
“Love Me Tender” by Elvis Presley.
“Hallelujah” by Panic! At The Disco.
“Shut Up and Dance” by WALK THE MOON.

Meditation with music might work as well.

It’s important to recall that every mind and body is different. It’s a good idea to try these songs and see what works best, but remember that what might work for someone might not work for another.



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Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Cómo siente un niño con autismo: aprende a conocerlos

A diferencia de lo que muchos creen, desde sus ojos, el mundo es distinto. 

Es común para muchos tratar el tema del autismo en términos estrictamente profesionales, e incluso manteniendo cierta distancia. Pero ¿qué tal si nos atrevemos a ver el mundo como lo ve un niño con autismo? Por primera vez, la tecnología nos permite contrastar nuestro conocimiento sobre el autismo y nos deja ponernos en el lugar de otro, y en sus ojos, casi de manera literal.

¿Cómo puede ser posible ver el mundo desde sus ojos?

Profesionales se han encargado de realizar una serie de documentales, videos, y de recopilar  fuentes de información. Todas ellas tan cercanas como es posible a la posición de estos niños en relación a su entorno, apoyándose en fundaciones, asociaciones y psicólogos dedicados al estudio de esta condición.


Como resultado, tenemos una cantidad importante de material para hacernos una idea de lo que sienten ante algunos estímulos que, para las personas que no tienen este trastorno, podrían pasar desapercibidos. Con “estímulos” hacemos referencia a todo lo que pase a su alrededor que pueda hacerlo reaccionar de alguna manera. Estos pueden ser sonidos, olores o acciones de las personas que lo rodean.


Parte de este material está enmarcado en campañas de pequeñas y grandes asociaciones. Cada una de ellas está comprometida con el desarrollo de herramientas y capacitación de personas. Esto con el objetivo de que estén preparados para informar a la población sobre lo que esta condición representa, con la intención de aumentar el entendimiento y la inclusión de personas con autismo en la sociedad actual.


Particularmente, existe una campaña que llamó la atención de muchos, debido a lo ambiciosa que fue. La intención fue hacer conscientes a las personas que alguna vez habían escuchado sobre el autismo del alcance que puede tener a nivel sensorial. Y tocar por primera vez a quienes aún no se habían familiarizado con el término.

“Demasiada información”

Este es el nombre que se le dio en español a la campaña lanzada el día 2 de abril del año 2016 por The National Autistic Society en conjunto con Don’t Panic London bajo el nombre de “Can you make it to the end?” - “Too Much Information” que nos permite sentir durante 90 segundos el reto que representa para un niño con autismo desenvolverse en el mundo.


En el video que nos brinda The National Autistic Society, encontramos a un niño entrando en un centro comercial tomado de la mano de su madre. Desde un principio, los cuadros del video comienzan a resultar incómodos para el espectador y con el pasar de los segundos, los sentidos parecen más agudos, los sonidos y las imágenes comienzan a intensificarse.


Ante todo esto, nadie alrededor parece entender lo que sucede. Por el contrario, podemos apreciar un entorno incluso desinteresado; mientras vemos que el niño intenta mantener el control a través de diversas técnicas sin éxito al final de los 90 segundos.


El objetivo de esta campaña fue principalmente servir de ayuda para la concientización de la sociedad. ¿Qué mejor manera de aprender que viviendo en carne propia una situación que antes nos era ajena? Además, lograron crear interés en la problemática que representa la desinformación sobre el trastorno del autismo. Nos hicieron parte de una de las crisis sensoriales que deben afrontar día tras día las personas que viven con esta condición. ¿Podrías ver este video hasta el final?


Por nuestra parte, en Autism Soccer estamos convencidos de que la empatía es lo que hará el ambiente ideal para el desenvolvimiento de los niños con autismo. También sabemos que no existen límites y que todos juntos podemos contribuir al desarrollo de nuestros niños. ¡Infórmate y entiéndelos!
Cuida de ellos desde tu conocimiento, infórmate.






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Monday, January 29, 2018

Here's a list of films and documentaries about autism that can help raise awareness


Some of these movies and documentaries are well known and have made an impact in changing people's way of seeing autism.


It is true that having a disorder such as autism can be a significant challenge, but it does not have to be a bad thing. This is the message that these films want to share with others. In addition to helping raise awareness about this disorder, these films often highlight the best features of autism.

Here’s a list of films and documentaries about autism that can help raise awareness:

Temple Grandin (2010)

Based on a true story, Temple Grandin is about an autistic woman who overcame the limitations of her condition and became an expert and one of the top scientists in the animal husbandry field.
She did not talk until she was three and a half years old, she was lucky to get Speech Therapy at a young age. Her mother and some of her teachers were very supportive which helped her become the successful woman she is. Today she is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University.



A Mile in his Shoes (2011)

Based on the novel "The Legend of Mickey Tussler";
An 18-year-old boy with Asperger syndrome, who joins a minor-league baseball team and faces an immense amount of challenges in the competitive world of this sport. The message behind Michael’s story is to prove that with strength and support anyone can achieve their goals.

My name is Khan (2010)

Rizwan Khan is a Muslim child who has autism (Asperger Syndrome). However, he has certain gifts, particularly a unique ability to repair things. He lived with his brother Zakir and his mother in a middle-class family in Mumbai.
The adult Rizwan marries a Hindu mother, Mandira, in San Francisco. After 9/11, Rizwan is imprisoned by authorities who mistook his disability for suspicious behavior. Afterwards, he meets Radha, a therapist who helps him deal with his disorder. Rizwan then begins a journey to meet US President Bush to clean his name.

God’s ears (2008)

The story centers on the life of Noah Connelly, a boxer with a determined opponent: autism. He then meets a dancer named Alexia, and together, they discover that fighting is tough, especially when it’s a battle about love.

Autism in Love (2015)

Autism in Love is a documentary following four adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders as they search for love and handle romantic relationships. This story shows how demanding it is to face triumphs and challenges, and the unique experience of finding and navigating love when on the spectrum.

Miracle Run (2004)

Miracle Run it's about a single mom, Corrine, whose life changes dramatically when she discovers that her twins are autistic. The constant social stigma and discrimination of autistic children are present throughout the movie. She is determined to fight this stigma and to have her sons be treated like any other child. She refuses to give up on their potential and, thanks to her incredible support, her boys accomplish the unimaginable. The end proves that autistic children can do anything that any other child can do too.

The United States of Autism (2013)

This documentary is about a man that travels during 40 days across America to visit 20 families and individuals affected by autism to find answers for his own son.
It’s a very interesting documentary because it shows how a disorder like this affects different cultures, races, and religions.

Movies like 'My Name Is Khan' have been trendy and made a significant impact on people.


Autism Speaks also shares some other interesting films and documentaries about Autism Spectrum Disorder.

These are some of many films and documentaries about autism that have compelling messages; these usually focus on positive ways of seeing life and using effort and dedication to reach any goal. Films and documentaries about autism help raise awareness about this disorder and work very well to inform others about the existence of this disorder.



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Friday, January 26, 2018

These are the most popular therapies for autism recommended by parents

Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy have been very effective, reported by parents.




Being a parent carries great responsibility because they are always looking for the best ways to protect and take care of their children. Every parent of a child with autism has always been concerned about whether they're doing a good job, and even with their child's therapies, parents still want the best. Thanks to Autism Speaks, we can share these popular therapies for autism recommended by parents.

Since there are a lot of treatments, to get to these recommendations, parents look to doctors and specialists for approval, and even other parents with kids like theirs to get different opinions.

After asking a lot of parents, the final thoughts are that Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy have been the most effective.

What therapies for autism are recommended by parents?

1. Occupational Therapy (OT)
Occupational Therapy is a treatment designed to help people reach total control of all areas of their lives. OT takes care of developing and recovering certain aspects that may be missing. The treatment in children is usually very loose and with minimum assignments because their main duty is to learn and play. 

2.Speech Therapy (SP)
In speech-language therapy, a specialist will work with a child one-on-one. Therapists use a variety of strategies in this treatment, including:
  • Oral-motor/feeding and swallowing therapy: This is centered on helping the child with the feeding and swallowing process. The therapist uses different oral exercises such as facial massages and different tongue, lip, and jaw exercises to stimulate the muscles of the mouth, using different food textures and temperatures to improve and reinforce eating, drinking, and swallowing.
  • Articulation therapy: In this treatment, the therapist focuses on articulation exercises to enhance the correct way of pronouncing words and syllables working with fun activities for kids.
  • Language intervention activities: The therapist will use objects such as books, pictures, games and sometimes talking to interact and stimulate language development in the child.

3. Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy (ABA)
Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, analyzes the behavior of the child and according to the results, proceeds to improve communication, self-care, and other skills that need reinforcement.

4. Social Skills Classes
Social skills classes are meant to promote the child's ability to engage and “tune in” with others by paying attention to verbal and non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, eye gaze, and tone of voice. Different social skills are developed depending on the age of the child.

Early learners understand simple requests, questions, and comments, and develop a nurturing bond with caregivers, also improve their ability to engage with others. Older children answer more complex questions, talk and learn within a group and engage in positive interactions.

5. Hippotherapy (OT through horseback riding)
Hippotherapy is an occupational, physical, speech and language therapy treatment that uses equine movement. Riding is taught in a careful and supportive environment. There are certified instructors who lead all classes, and trained volunteers to ensure everyone’s safety.

-Hippotherapy, or equine-assisted occupational therapy, can be therapeutic for many children with sensory processing disorders.-

6. Gluten/Casein-Free Diet (GFCF Diet)
Gluten is found in products that contain wheat such as bread and other bakery goods, but also in a wide variety of other food products and Casein is a protein mostly associated with dairy products such as milk.

GFCF Diet is related to autism because if a person is having a reaction to these products, it may cause an inflammation that can damage the lining of the intestine and absorb molecules that normally are not absorbed by healthy intestines. These molecules or the inflammation can cause problems such as anxiety, mental difficulties and perhaps worsen the behavioral symptoms of autism due to interaction with the brain.

7. Psychiatrist/Psychologist sessions
Psychiatrist/Psychologist sessions are suggested for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder because they have a higher rate of psychiatric disorders than the general population. Due that Autism shares a genetic basis with several major psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and ADHD, these sessions are highly recommended.

8. (5-way tie): Floor Time, Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECs), Swimming, and Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)

Floortime allows an adult to help a child expand his circles of communication by meeting him at his level of development and building on his strengths. This treatment is often incorporated into play activities – on the floor; the goal is to help the child reach six developmental goals that contribute to emotional and intellectual growth.

Relationship Development Intervention is a program that has an approach dedicated to teaching new skills and improving motivation, all based on the child's level of development and interaction.

In PECS the child with autism will be able to initiate communication by handing out picture cards related to what he or she is thinking about. It could be a picture of food which means the child is hungry or an object which could mean that the child wants to engage an action regarding the object in the matter. Colorful images, pictures cut out from magazines, actual photos or even drawings can be used when using this system.

Swimming or Aquatic Therapy helps with autisms motor functions and sensory issues. A few ways aquatic therapy can help Autism Spectrum Disorder are:
  • Better Oral Motor Skills. Some kids with ASD struggle with certain things like blowing out candles on a cake or sipping through a straw. But Aquatic therapy includes activities like blowing bubbles in water or blowing a ball across the water so that children can develop stronger oral motor skills.
  • Help with Sensory Issues. Water has a calming effect, and some therapies include activities designed to help sensory issues.
  • Better Swimmers. This therapy helps children become comfortable when the time to learn to swim arrives. Since water is a very delicate environment for children with ASD, the positive aspect is that the child will develop crucial skills for their adult life.

Pivotal Response Treatment, or PRT, is a behavioral intervention based on the principles of ABA. PRT is used to teach language, increase social, communication, and academic skills, and to decrease disruptive or self-stimulatory behaviors. The goal of PRT is to produce positive changes in the standard actions, leading to improvement in communication and play skills, social practices and the child’s ability to monitor his or her behavior. The child plays an essential part in determining the activities and objects that will be used.


The majority of parents choose occupational therapy since it is in charge of improving all the important aspects for the development of the child, such as motor skill development and social interaction, in a very generalized way but at the same time adapting to the needs of the child.

If a therapy isn’t mentioned on this list, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t work. In order to start any of these treatments, the best option is to call a professional. This article only shares the opinion of therapies recommended by a significant amount of parents, because they brought the best results to their children. Every child is different, that’s why every treatment should be adapted to them; there’s no “perfect treatment”. In addition to the ones we have mentioned, remember that sports are an excellent alternative for your child to develop in a safe environment. If you’re in Miami, Autism Soccer is the best alternative for your child!



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