I am Growing!

Once we started the Son-Rise program, we noticed that Aditya had stopped merely existing, coping and actually started growing and thriving! Thanks to the program, tireless efforts of all our volunteers and the invaluable guidance from our teachers at The Option Institute, he has made tremendous progress in his social skills. We decided to try and put down on paper, his achievements in the past 11 months since we started this program. Here is what we came up with:
1) Increased eye contact
2) Increased flexibility, increased pretend play
3) Gained ability to hold pencil and draw or write
4) Gained ability to use scissors and cut
5) Learned to play modified versions of interactive games
6) Became more aware of surroundings and other people and their feelings
7) Improved at reading facial expressions
8) Some improvement in ability to use facial expressions
9) Became more assertive
10) Improved ability to handle sudden changes and transitions
11) Improved at answering questions
12) Gained ability to crack and understand very simple jokes
13) Easily accepts nail clipping
14) Stopped being afraid of being swept away in the toilet
15) For some time, became friends with the “hand dryer”. Became friends with the hair dryer and continues to be
16) Improved clarity of speech
17) Started talking a lot more, although usually without pausing for others
18) Showed willingness to play soccer
19) Stopped wetting the bed at night
20) Agreed to get on a GFCF diet (believing it when he was told it would help reduce the noises around him)
21) Is able distinguish between objects and people (No longer talks about families of Vacuum cleaners:))

Our very own Raffi!

A couple of months ago, I picked up a few audio CDs from the local library. Luckily, one of them was the "Banana Phone" CD by Raffi, the renowned singer (about whom I was unaware). Aditya got so hooked on to his songs that .....

What's on the menu?

We have been taking turns coming down with cold and fever... on one of those days when Mom wasn't feeling well, Aditya wrote up on the easel a list of foods he wanted to have for lunch!