What is iLs? Interview with Dr. Ronald Minson

As many of you know, I am starting Integrated Listening Systems (iLs) program with Matthew. When I posted about it over the holiday break on my Facebook page, it stirred up a great deal of questions, curiosity and of course, confusion.

Although I was inspired by Dr. Minson’s presentation at the SPD Symposium, and had the pleasure of speaking with iLS CEO Randall Redfield as well, I am by no means an expert on this system. Like mostt parents with children on the Spectrum, I know exactly what Matthew struggles with, but when it comes to being able to break down all of the “therapy” options out there, some of the details get lost in translation.

I do know what Matthew needs help with. He needs help managing self-regulation, controlling his movement through space (stop crashing, tripping, falling, clumsiness, core strengthening, all will help him stay seated at circle time), writing (spatial awareness on the page), and voice intonation (helping him use correct inflection when speaking – less ‘monotone’ and ‘scripted’). These are my biggest concerns for starting Kindergarten, and my greatest motivation to begin this program now – before summer.  (Update on Matthew's progress at the end of the interview!)

And those challenges are exactly what iLs has the possibility of helping. So, for those of you who have an amazingly gifted and awesome kiddo like Matthew, who just happens to be on the spectrum or have sensory issues, and might benefit from some help in those areas (and others), I wanted to interview Dr. Ronald Minson. And imagine how incredibly honored I was to have him say yes! Woo Hoo!

The Power of Storytelling

Dear Readers,

Last April, I came up with the idea of having a blogroll dedicated to those blogging about Sensory Processing Disorder.  I put the word out.

And at first it was just Chynna, Caitlin and myself.

Within days that grew. And grew.  And GREW.

By December 2010 it had nearly 60 members. 

Parents of kids with sensory issues, all dedicated to writing about their experiences in an effort to reach out and support other families just like theirs.

They were committed to spreading awareness of Sensory Processing Disorder as far as their words could reach.

I believe that stories are powerful. One of the most ancient, time trusted, ways to share information, tell about resources and to relay our history.

Because of this, I thought, what could be more powerful than all of these stories in once place?

And the SPDBN was born.

This is your personal invitation - from me to you - to please join me at home of the new SPD Blogger Network, http://www.spdbloggernetwork.com/. 

New daily posts begin on February 1, 2011, from over 70 contributors already registered to contribute from all over the world.  Humor, insight, inspiration and advice from parents who have been there - done that.  Also, reviews, giveaways and interviews from professionals in the field of Sensory Processing.  You don't want to miss this!

Show your support by contributing (very easy!) and by following along.  You can follow via RSS or email, and connect on Twitter and Facebook. 

Also check out the newsletter, which will boast a recap of the month's most popular posts, as well as a "SPD Blogger of the Month" interview and much more.

The more people who join - the more stories we tell - the further that awareness travels. 

Please share the new SPDBN with your followers, 'fans', friends and family.  Blog about it.  Post about it.  Tweet about it.  Spread the word!

The SPD Blogger Network
Sensational Chaos.  Sensational Joys.  Sensational Lives.

What story will you tell?

Hartley

Saving Your Sanity During Bad Weather by Patty

My kids always do better and stay more regulated when we are able to play outside and get some good exercise. This is especially true of Danny, my 7 year old, who is a sensory seeker. The activities that calm him the best are ones that incorporate a lot of heavy lifting or deep pressure, like swimming, bicycling, and riding his Razor scooter. These are all great activities.

In the summer.

But as we live in the Midwest, Fall and Winter often bring weather that prohibits outdoor activity. There is a big difference in Danny’s behavior and mood when we stay inside too much, and especially when we watch too many videos. Over the years, I have come up with several activities that we can do indoors which give my kids lots of good exercise.

Perhaps some of them might work for you and your children.

Get outside when you can

Though it can be pretty cold in the winters here in Illinois, we still try to get the kids outside as much as possible. I know it often takes longer to get them dressed for the weather than they actually spend outside, but it is worth it. Any fun snow activities are good for giving kids deep pressure, like building a snow man, having a snowball fight or making snow angels. Just walking in the snow gives kids lots of good resistance.

Scooter board races in the house

We have 3 scooter boards and often have races in the kitchen (where there is no carpeting and plenty of space). There are so many fun activities you can do with scooter boards, and they are relatively inexpensive.

Here is an article with specific scooter board activities you can do inside.

Let the kids do some typically outdoor activities inside.

I have been known to let the kids roller skate, play ball, and even ride a small bike in the house.If you have the room, and especially if you are lucky enough to have a basement, you may want to consider allowing your kids to take their outdoor games indoors for the winter.

Getting To Know You by Alysia Butler

When Hartley asked if I would be a regular contributor on her Hartley’s Life with 3 Boys site, I was humbled and honored.  I started writing about my family’s journey with sensory processing disorder because of her, and I have learned so much from all the information she provides here. 

I sat up late at night trying to figure out the best way to introduce myself and my family to everyone.  I wanted to tell all her readers that I know what they are going through, that while the details of our adventures might be different, I understand the daily struggles that we all encounter.  I couldn’t figure out a good way to share all that.

I could start with “Hi, my name is Alysia and I have a son with sensory processing disorder”.  But that didn’t quite feel right.

I could tell you that I’m a stay at home mom with three boys, ages 8, 4 and 2.  My four year old was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder at age 2 ½, and with autism spectrum disorder in December 2009.  Still, that just didn’t tell the whole story.

But then it hit me.  Why not introduce myself through the Dunn Sensory Profile*?  You know, that multi-page form that so many of us have filled out for our schools, our occupational therapists and our early intervention coordinators. I have filled it out so many times I can almost do it in my sleep.  I figured I could pull out a couple of the questions and share my answers from two years ago with everyone. 

Asperger's Diagnosis (or not)

Matthew is undergoing his evaluation for Asperger’s. The ADOS, the Wissler Intelligence Test for Preschoolers (that just sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Intelligence tests for preschoolers…) and an attention test (can’t seem to remember the acronym for that one). We started last Friday, and we will have two more testing Fridays followed by a ‘review of the results’ early October.


There’s the official news.

So, we go into the psychologist’s office two Fridays ago – me and my hubby Jeff -- to meet with her and tell her all about our darling son.

We both immediately like the new psychologist – we aren’t seeing Gabriel’s Psychiatrist or Pediatric Neurologist because the wait is TOO DAMN LONG – and liking the new psychologist is a great start for both of us.

We get to the conversation about attention. I say, "Matthew doesn’t have a very good attention span for things that others choose." Like his teacher. Or me. "When we give him something he finds less than intriguing, then he leaves." Most likely going to practice coupling his trains so he can shunt some more jobi wood to the new rescue center or some other Thomas-themed activity. BUT, I add, that this is a skill that he has shown growth in during the last school year. During those six months, he has learned to participate in all of the school activities (none of which are coupling or shunting) and happily transitions from one to the other (by ‘happily’ I mean with an adult helping him to read his personal visual schedule and then with only two or three verbal reminders; happily).

Jeff quickly disagrees with me.

He claims this is not an attention issue. He says that because Matthew is getting better at this type of thing (paying attention to less-than-interesting things) he is showing an increase in TOLERANCE. Arguably, by my husband, a much more useful skill in real life.

You see, in Jeff's view, Matthew doesn’t have an attention problem, he has a tolerance problem. And in life, you always have to be tolerant of things you are less than facinated by. Like school lessons or wife droning on and on about topics that do not include cellphones, football or Star Wars.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, people.

The psychologist showed great attention tolerance while Jeff said his piece, then we moved on.