Got an update from ND kiddo's #OT and it sounds like they're making progress.
I'm curious, are there any individuals out there that felt that OT helped/didn't help them? Wish they had it and didn't? Wish they didn't have it and did?
Our OT are helping with emotional regulation and body signals and calming strategies.
@gabzi3la I was undiagnosed, so never had that kind of therapy.
What I’ve heard from many, many #autistic people who have been through things like ABA is that it can be helpful when it puts the perspective and needs of the child first, but is often harmful.
If the focus is on forcing the child to appear “normal”, to put NT people at ease, then what’s it’s really doing is putting additional pressure and stress on a child who is already likely stressed due to sensitivities, etc.
@gabzi3la That kind of “conversion therapy” is designed to force the child to mask. Masking has been linked to mental health problems and a drastically higher risk of suicide later in life. It also tends to convince kids that they have no bodily autonomy, that their role is to appease those around them even if it makes them uncomfortable.
It’s tricky, though, because some therapists call what they do ABA so that it can be billed to insurance, while actually providing non-harmful guidance.
@sanau thank you, I don't think it is ABA that they are doing but I am going to be taking a closer look at it to be sure. I don't want my son to fit into the world, I want the world to fit around my son.
@gabzi3la I wish every autistic kiddo had a mama like you. 🙂