MAKATON
Within our everyday life we may choose on occasions to indicate communication using body movements instead of spoken directives. The author has found that those on the autism spectrum often do better with simple and minimal verbal communication and/or signed communication.
The abstract nature and excessive delivery of verbal communication may overwhelm the autistic person. This may be because they lack the ability to gain a clear understanding of the context and conceptual meaning of any given verbal communication limits their ability to organise an appropriate response.. Indeed slow or weak responses inevitably encourage the person speaking to repeat and present additional verbal communication.
Makaton is a simple everyday signed vocabulary that can be used to enhance and replace verbal communication. It provides a signed system of communication through body movement that is a suitable addition to every aspect of family life and all ages and abilities.
Signing encourages a more practical relationship with communication, as well as, a multi-sensory mode of expression. Body language has been established within the arts as an expressive form of enrichment that incorporates kinaesthetic movement with both visual and auditory systems of communication.
Recommended Book: ALine drawing illustrations for the revised Makaton vocabulary.Published by the Royal Association of the Deaf and Dumb.
AUTOBIOGRAPHIES
Although autism continues to be presented as a social emotional handicap that is predominantly considered incurable, many individual stories continue to illustrate a successful way forward that alleviates the characteristic difficulties that constitute a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. The following books present inspirational stories of how some have found successful natural approachs to curing autism.
Lovely by Mary MacCracken. Published by Andre Deutsch; 1977. Also by Mary MacCracken ‘A Circle of Children.
Breakthrough of an autistic child – Bobby by Rachel Pinney; Harvill Press 1983.
To love is to be Happy with by Barry Neil Kaufman. The first book of the Option Process.
Son Rise by Barry Neil Kaufman.The original story of how the Kaufman family overcame their son, Raun’s, autism
Son Rise: The Miracle Continues. This book describes how the Son Rise family programme presented at the Option Institute USA www.autismbreakthrough.com/recoveredkids.
Autism Treatment Centre of America:The Son rise Program.
Autism Breakthrough by Raun Kaufman:2014. This book is written by Raun himself about his own recovery and his adult workwithin the Son Rise Program at the Option Institute. Ruan has many years of experience helping autistic children to ‘Break through Autism’ using the same approach used by his own parents. If you only want to read one book about the Son Rise Program this is the one to choose.
Let Me Hear Your Voice – A Families Triumph Over Autism by Catherine Maurice 1993
The Horse Boy – by Rupert Isaacson.The true story of a Father’s Miraculous Journey to Heal His Son (At three years old Rowan was diagnosed as Autistic) .
The Long ride Home – also by Rupert Isaacson. The Extraordinary Journey of Healing that Changed a Child’s Life. Rupert discovered new ways of connecting with autistic children. Through the process of healing Rowen and using his Horse Boy Method, he learned to unlock children from the most sever autistic symptoms.
The Autistic Brain – exploring the strength of a different kind of mind by Temple Grandin and Richard Panek
The Spark – A mother’s story of nurturing genius and autism by Kristine Barnett
Look me in the eye – my life with asperger’s by John Elder Robison
Eating and Artichole – A mother’s perspective on Asperger Syndrome by Echo R. Fling
A Drug-Free approach to Asperger Syndrome and Autism by JudythReichenberg, Robert Ullman and Ian Luepker. Also authors of the book ‘Ritalin-Free Kids’.
Caged in Chaos a Dyspraxic guide to Breaking free. By Victoria Biggs aged 16
Doran a child of courage by Linda Scotson
The Other Child by Linda Scotson