Everyday is a challenge for us. Ella is extremely high functioning, very beautiful and seems "normal" or "typically developing" in nearly every way. However, she must be supervised at all times. I cannot leave her to brush her teeth or get dressed on her own because she "gets lost" in the process. Left alone, she can entertain herself without much destruction but when assigned tasks, it is very difficult for her to stay on a linear path. For example, if I ask her to throw something in the garbage she must be within sight of the garbage... and even then it sometimes winds up somewhere else (but who am I kidding? My husband does the same thing!).
The most difficult thing to deal with is the reaction of others to her. At first glance, her "episodes" in public seem akin to a spoiled or bratty child. Obsessing about a concept or item and repeating are things that Ella does often. On more than one occasion I have been told that my kid "needs a good smack" both by family members and strangers. I don't purport to be an expert in autism so I can't blame some of these folks, but she does hear the threat and it has, in her words, "freaked" her out.
Today, we are off from school for a 4 day weekend. I am hoping to keep adding to this blog... forgive me if I don't post often!
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