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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 23, 2010 · 32 HOW TO GUIDE Helping one person at a time with the Davis Autism Approach The most well-known and evident manifestation of autism is failure to develop "normal" social relationships. It may be severe, as in children who spend most of their time rocking, twirling objects, or seemingly locked in their own world. It may be mild, as in individuals whose social behaviour is seen as 'odd', usually resulting in the individual being shunned or ignored by peers. The degree of verbal ability and social abilities will help to determine where the individual sits on the autism spectrum, and what label is attached: autism; Asperger's syndrome; or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified. The Davis Autism Approach is a natural, drug-free, and respectful three-part way to assist an autistic individual to develop the capacity to participate fully in life. "Working with clients using the Davis Autism Approach is the most awesome work I have ever done," says Dr. Cathy Dodge Smith. "It is like watching miracles unfold before my very eyes." Part I - Individuation Although people on the autism spectrum may have the characteristic symptoms of autism to varying degrees, they all share three basic symptoms. First, they are often disoriented, and therefore not available for learning. The symptoms may be severe, as in a child who spends most of the time wrapped up in a private world, spinning objects, humming repetitively, or gazing into space, not responding to overtures from others. The symptoms may be relatively mild as in an individual who seems to have severe attention problems often missing what is said, or making comments that have nothing to do with the conversation swirling around. The first step in opening doors for autistic individuals is to help them be more fully present in the real world so that they can begin to learn efficiently. Part II - Identity Development Typical children begin a developmental journey at birth, and meet what are known as `developmental milestones' in a more-orless organized and predictable trajectory and time frame. Because an autistic individual is disoriented much, or even most, of the time, development does not follow the typical pattern. Once individuation takes place, the individual is able to move through those developmental steps. That could happen normally if the individual had enough time to let it happen spontaneously as it usually does throughout childhood and adolescence. However, the identity development phase of Davis Autism Approach speeds up An individual becomes self-aware as a unique person the process and makes sure that it takes place in a logical, sequential, and thorough manner. We accomplish this by leading the autistic individual through a concept mastery program, which instills core concepts, necessary for functioning effectively in this world, into his identity. We do this by using clay for creating models to represent the concepts, and then exploring the real world to see how these concepts actually work. There are over forty concepts that are mastered in this way, leading finally to the concepts of motivation and responsibility. Each concept builds on the ones that came before, so knowledge is constantly being built. Part III - Social Integration The final segment of Davis Autism Approach leads the individual into the world of other people. Until this point, all the concepts Change: something becoming something else have been mastered without regard to other people. Now, it is time to see how the world of other people works. This is accomplished through the same process of concept mastery, using clay to show the meanings of ideas about how relationships work. It is here that empathy can begin to develop, as we explore how other people think, why they think differently, and how relationships work. Once these concepts are in place, it is time for the autistic individual to go out into the world and find his or her place within it. For more information about the Davis Autism Approach call Dr. Cathy Dodge Smith at 905-844-4144 or visit www.autismapproach.ca. Autism Associates The Davis Autism Approach ProgramTM gently draws autistic individuals out of themselves into the real world. It is a drug-free method which slowly enables autistic individuals to become fully present in the real world, and learn how to function effectively in it. The process is creative, and reaches individuals on the autism spectrum in a way that makes sense for the way they process information. " I honestly don't think we would be achieving the success we have so far without Cathy and the Davis Autism Program. It played a huge part in helping my son to interact socially within his environment. He would not be now in a regular class in school without it" . UNLOCKING THE DOORS OF AUTISM (mother of eight-year-old) Autism Associates and Dyslexia Correction Associates www.autismapproach.ca www.dyslexiacorrection.ca Cathy Dodge Smith, Ed. D., Director 905-844-4144