Tales from a Son-Rise Program Child Facilitator - my world in a playroom

It was time for one of my volunteer playroom sessions in The Son-Rise Program, and having come straight from work, I wasn't wearing appropriate playroom clothes. I asked Anna if I could borrow an old T-Shirt for my session. At the time she was running the program at her parent's house so she leant me one of her Mom's T-Shirts to wear.

During my session, Robert had been drawing with a marker and ended up coming over to me and starting to draw on the T-Shirt that I was wearing. I had not yet practiced my boundary setting skills so instead of asking him not to draw on me, I just became very uncomfortable about the whole thing.

Later when Anna gave me feedback and asked me how I felt when he was drawing on my T-Shirt, I told her that I was uncomfortable because I was worried about what she and her Mom would think about the fact that there was pen on the top that she had leant me.

This lead to a dialogue about why I was worrying about what she thought. That's when I had my first huge light bulb moment during playroom feedback. I worried about what EVERYONE thought in my life so much so, that I was ruled by going out of my way to “keep people happy“ and fear of being judged.

I realized at that moment that the playroom is like a mini world. What happens in the playroom is a reflection of what happens outside the room. How I react and feel in the playroom is how I react and feel in a similar situation outside of the room and in my life.

Wow! By actually exploring and changing the way I feel in the playroom, I can change my discomforts in my life. This was the beginning in a shift in my attitude.

Here I am 10 years later, still playing in The Son-Rise Program playroom and to this day, I find myself discovering new things about the way I operate in the world through my playroom sessions. It never ends, it's incredible! The more I deepen my love and attitude in the playroom, also translates into my world outside the playroom. That's why it's the best place in the world.

poppy

I'm a proud Mummy of 2 sons, one of whom is blessed with Autism and the other who is his STAR therapist. We are currently involved in the Son Rise Program and absolutely enjoy every minute of it. Due to Anthony's Autism we have become healthier, more aware, more loving, growing spiritually, mentally and absolutely respecting and loving life .

I'm also very passionate about the Option process, i believe if you want to help your children you have to truly be whom you'd want your children to be..NO FAKING.. the Option Institute is holding my hand in helping me achieve what is said to be impossible. Happiness does last forever and Autism is curable.

After completing the Start Up in 2008, with in days i noticed changes in Anthony. He started talking more and became even more happier than what he was. I then completed Calm Amid Chaos in March 2009 and Woooo! did that magically change my life and steer me in a path of calmness and happiness. I've never felt so powerful and confident in my life.

Straight after the Calm Amid Chaos program i completed the Maximum Impact program again WOOOO! these people at the Option Institute really know their stuff and truly are there to help you and most of all your Child.

It's no secret that Bears and Samahria are my human Gods and of course Raun is my Hero.

The day i landed back home (in the great land of OZ, Australia) my little Anthony Kissed my cheek guided me to the lounge and put his little hands on my cheeks, looked me straight in the eyes and said " hi how are you? " waited for a response with the worlds biggest smile and then said " I LOVE YOU". My little Angel knew exactly what he was saying and who he was saying it to. His speech has increased and other people might see him as autistic but i just see him as perfection but nonetheless everyone, including our "there is no cure for Autism doctor" have seen amazing changes and are all interested in passing on the word about the Option Institute and Miracles Indeed do happen to those who believe.

lots of laughter and fun to you all. poppy

Meaningful Hope For A New Son-Rise Mom:

I just wrote this to a Son-Rise Program mom on my Facebook wall (check it out if you haven't viewed it). She had written a sweet note to me.

Hi, Amazing Rosemary: There are many who feel it is appropriate, even prudent, to look at a child and say they'll never really improve or overcome their challenges. For those same folks, it seem unreasonable to look at the same child and believe (truly believe) anything is possible. Pessimism appears professional, while have hope and encouraging hope seem irresponsible. However, it is only those folks who believe that anything is possible who will try to reach for the stars. Realistic people often repeat what is (what's realistic to do or think -- which is always based on the past, not the possible future); dreamers create new worlds (airplanes, microwaves, computers, space flights, Google, etc.). You be the dreamer (and then the do-er) for your family and your children. Blessings to you and your husband. Autism is not a curse; it can be a blessing but only for those who choose that viewpoint. That's what The Son-Rise Program is about. Love, Bears Kaufman

PS: I am also suggesting for everyone who knows and loves this program to put links to http://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/index.php on their website, Facebook pages, everywhere. Also, mention The Son-Rise Program, even some of the books with pictures and links. The more we talk about this, the more people will learn about possibilities they may have never consider for their children with autism and for themselves

A Son-Rise Kind of Love

Imagine the beauty of a sleeping child ... all innocent, all goodness, just perfect as is ... that's without looking tenderly into your eyes, without doing a single action (no performance required), without giving you anything - not even a smile, without making any overtures of love or caring, and without any indication that they like you. Hmmm! Odd, isn't it?! Without this child doing anything, we are perfectly capable of giving ourselves a feeling of fulfillment, of well being and of being encased in love.

This is the essence of The Son-Rise Program at the Autism Treatment Center of America in Sheffield, MA (USA). When we open our minds, hearts and doors to helping children with autism, there are no judgments, no expectations and therefore, no unhappiness involved - only acceptance and excitement for anything the child is doing in this moment ... and then the next moment as it unfolds, aware that he/she is always doing the best he/she can.

What would happen if we used that same attitude of full acceptance with ourselves? You may think, "I can't accept this" and "I certainly couldn't imagine not judging that". But we're not looking to loving these things about ourselves, probably believing that if we did, we wouldn't be motivated to change them. However, take another look - and see if you're changing them by judging them.

Not only don't we see the events of our lives as just perfect as is ... we also don't see ourselves as perfect just the way we are. We believe things like: "I'm not [something] enough"; "I should do better and more in order to be okay"; "I'm a failure". The more we fall in love with ourselves just as we are, the more we will also be of benefit to our partners, our children, our parents, our siblings, our co-workers and our friends... because we'll feel happier and more motivated toward going for what we want in a comfortable way. The less we love ourselves, the less we can offer love to others. If we don't nurture the attitude of The Son-Rise Program inside ourselves, we can't expect ourselves to be consistent and effective in extending our caring, our useful encouragement, or provide assistance to those most important to us.

So let's all focus on creating a Son-Rise kind of love in ourselves - and in the world around us - which, we know then keeps expressing itself with more people more of the time - thus manifesting a Son-Rise World. Ahhh!!!

Samahria Lyte Kaufman
Co-Founder The Son-Rise Program
and The Option Institute

Back to Basics

Hi. I'm a Son-Rise Mum and I have been running a programme for 5 years. Has it been hard? Yes. Has it been glorious? Yes. Is my daughter still autistic? Yes. Did I hope otherwise? Yes.

So many Yes's.

But the hardest one has been Back to Basics.

You see, when we started, my daughter was so "high functioning", she could already talk. So I could tick that one off the list. Did she already have eye contact? Yes. Was her communication normal and her eye contact normal? No. So we had a lot to work/play on.... but my daughter responded quickly, loved the Playroom, loved the one-to-one contact with her playmates. We even got onto "Advanced Friendship Skills". From one loop conversations we were up to 10 minutes. Interactive games could last an hour!!! I was so proud. "I'm doing this properly. I can Be Happy".

And then it all changed. My daughter stopped sleeping, her behaviour changed and her progress in the Playroom skidded to a halt. In fact, it slid all the way back to way before we started the programme. She was struggling to survive, her (teenage) body was putting such demands on her.

My volunteers and I were confused. What to do? Of course it was obvious - back to basics- but Oh! we resisted.....How we tried our favourite interactive ploys -nothing....How we introduced new games - nothing....How we tried to make conversation - nothing....

We mourned. In one meeting, we had to face the fact that our dreams ("We will make K. better") seemed to be crumbling. "Choose to be Happy". Mmm. Seemed a long way away.

So of course we went Back to Basics. Joining, joining, joining. The 3 e's. Celebrating. Although we had never stopped doing these, we were rusty on doing them so purely, for hour after hour, especially joining. Luckily, my daughter's main ism is tearing bits of paper, which is quite soothing.....

My mentor, Bryn, asked me. "If she was like this from now on, could that memory of that connection be enough? Could you celebrate her for how she is now? Can you be with her now with absolute abandon?"

And the answer was Yes.

Was I doing Son-Rise wrong? No. Is my daughter going through hormonal challenges (she is 16)? Yes. Does joining work? Yes.

Thank you for Back to Basics. I need to go and do some tearing now.......

Wide Awake

Good Morning!

It's Friday the sun in streaming into my office window, and I am filled with a huge feeling of gratitude for my life. Working here At the Autism Treatment Center Of America I get to do what I most enjoy. This week we have a beautiful 8 year old, he is Autistic, tall thin with dark curly hair, and he is thoroughly joyous.

He loves to be squeezed, tickled, spun and thrown onto our crash mat. Getting to be part of the team who loves him, challenges him and joins him as he dances around the playroom is totally delicious. Watching him try so hard to talk and connect is an honor.

Part of being a staff member at the Option Institute means that we can take a program during our vacations for free. How great is that!! So next week I am going to take the advance Option Process Program, Wide Awake. This is a program that is taught entirely by Bears Kaufman. I get to spend five whole days just thinking about myself, taking apart my thoughts and beliefs about myself and the events and people around me, so that I can deepen and strengthen my ability to choose love, acceptance and happiness no matter what is going on around me.

I feel lucky and blessed to be alive today.
Let me know why you feel lucky to be alive today, and we can blast the Internet with blessed, grateful thoughts!
I will let you know how the program goes!

Acceptance

Good Morning!

In the Son-Rise Program accepting autistic children where they are in their development plays an integral part in helping and encouraging them to want to reach out and communicate and interact with those around them.

It is also one of the most important things we can do for ourselves, not just when we work with our children but at all times.

Last night I was at my yoga class, I just started doing yoga about 5 weeks ago, so I am still fairly new at it, and as I am not physically talented it has been quite a process for me. I was doing a balancing pose that has a very long and complicated Indian name that I cannot recall right now, but it has 4 steps to it, I have only been doing the first step. I was in class with two other people who are very advanced, so as I was doing the first step to the balancing pose, I said to myself, "Ok Kate its time you moved on and go to step two", to which I added the extra push of judgment, "I should be doing better by now". The second I had that thought I fell over. Continuing to try and motivate myself through judgment I attempted to do the pose again, this time I fell over the second I attempted it, I continued in this vein 4 more times, until I stopped and addressed my attitude.

I breathed and applied what I know works so well with all the children I work with on the Autism Spectrum, I thought sincerely to myself, "It's ok to be where I am, I love being at step one, it is where I am right now and that is fabulous". I thought this with great sincerity and I immediately I felt my body relax and I regained the pose and never feel over again!

I have come to the same realization many times in my life as if for the first time, again in class last night I had the same light bulb moment,

"Its all about my attitude!!"

Tales from a Son-Rise Program Child Facilitator - falling in love

When I first started working in The Son-Rise Program playroom with Robert, the idea was to work with him one to one, follow his lead and connect with him by joining in his world when he was exclusive and celebrating his attempts to connect with me. That would be the basis to help him build relationships in his life. This was all done through play which was so much fun!

I was completely in love. I was in love with Robert, I was in love with his Mom, I was in love with The Son-Rise Program. Everything about it felt right to me. It was the most loving and respectful way to work with Autism that I knew out of other Autism Treatments I had researched.

After my first few sessions with Robert and after watching Karen Spellman (a Son-Rise Program Child Facilitator) working in the playroom with him, I was hooked. I immediately left my college course and focused on doing six hours a week as a volunteer in Robert's program.

At the time, I also worked two other jobs but Robert was my priority, I wanted more. I attended the Start-Up Program in 2000 where Raun Kaufman and William Hogan were two of the teachers. Once again I was so inspired, that I dreamt of going to America and training to be a Son-Rise Program Child Facilitator.

A Work In Progress, for the rest of my life

I have had many years of learning to let go of what I don't want, and going after what I do want in a clear and passionate way, both at work (as a teacher and trainer in The Son-Rise Program) and in my personal life. I am feeling pretty good at it at this stage of my life - letting go, feeling comfortable and going for what I want. However the other day I was reminded that I am a work in progress.

It's Saturday morning, Bryn has gone over a friends house to oversee a multi-family tag sale that we are participating in, and I am left to get Jade and Malik fed, ready and out the door to take then to a local stables where they help, all day. Of course my day is all booked and nicely scheduled to get everything done that I want to. I have to drop Jade and Malik off, go to the bank, deliver stuff for the tag sale, play a soccer game in the over 40's league I am in, pick up the weekly shopping on the way home and finally go to a fund-raising Hoe-Down (country dancing where you "take your partner by the hand...doe-see-doe them over the right shoulder...etc.") in the evening. I am just throwing the last load of tag sale stuff into the back of the van when both Jade and Malik walk out of the house and close the front door behind them. Malik says to me "Do you have your keys dad?" to which I reply, "I don’t think so but the door should be open". He then tries the door and it is locked!! At first I reassure myself that I have the keys and calmly look in my pockets and then in the ignition of the van. They are nowhere to be seen, which meant they were in the house behind the locked door!! At this point I start to walk around the house looking at all the ground floor windows and I am telling myself "It's ok, a window will be open, all’s good." They were all nicely closed and locked and at this moment I start see the plan of my day, that I had laid out so well, start to fall apart - at this point I start to get frustrated, saying a few choice words, even being annoyed at myself for closing all the windows and making it hard for me to break into my own house (well I wasn't the clearest thinking person right then!) Fortunately there was a window slightly open on the second floor (we have no nearby neighbors or available ladder) and I had to be willing to risk breaking a leg if I slipped trying to get to it. Being undeterred and "needing" (yes "needing" to get what I want) I climb on a lawn bench, that I propped against the house, up onto a door over hang and after 5 minutes of pushing the screen out of the window I open it and climb in. At this point my frustration turns to relief because I was still going to get what I wanted - my day was going to go as I planned. I come out through the front door holding the van and house keys high above my head like the conquering hero that I thought I was! My plan was still intact and my happiness nicely sorted out. As we drove down the road, I say to the kids "Ok guys we can relax now it worked out" whereby Malik says to me "We are relaxed Dad, its you who were upset!"

He was right, even though it had all worked out in the end, I had decided to get upset when it looked like I would not get what I wanted and yet both Jade and Malik, who were excited about going to the stables, had decide to stay comfortable and easy with the same situation. It was a great reminder that part of life is about learning to let go and relaxing when faced with the possibility of not getting what you want or the times when you clearly do not get what you want (not letting the situation determine whether I am going to be happy or not). To tell the truth what I got upset about was pretty small compared to the situations in my life that I have learned to let go and relax (the situations and event were most definitely not what I wanted). How I decide to feel about any situation that I am faced with is a moment-to-moment decision - I am always deciding, whether I acknowledge that or not.

So I am happy to say I am a 'work in progress' and because I am deciding how I want to feel in each and every moment that I am a live, I will be a work in progress for the rest of my life.

New Foods, Yum Yum

Good afternoon.

As a lot of you know, here at The Autism Treatment Center of America we have a program called The Son-Rise Program Intensive . It is a program where a child diagnosed on Autism Spectrum comes with their parents for a week. We work with their child each day using The Son-Rise Program principles, and teach the parents how to work with their child using The Son-Rise Program, to help their child grow in all areas of social development.

While the child is here they often do things for the first time, whether it is saying new, or even their first words, lengthening their interactive attention span, or hug their parents for the first time.

This week with have an adorable 6 year old boy with curly blond hair. He was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2.

He loves many things, particularly staring at the walls, picking his mouth and laughing while running around the room.

One of his challenges is eating new foods. Like a lot of Autistic children he is a very picky eater, he likes, pork sausages, ice cream, soda, popcorn, and various juices, and that's it.

We have been working with him now for three days spending our time loving him, joining him as he stares at the wall, picking our lips as he picks his, and celebrating every move he makes towards us.

Today he drank water for the first time, and ate his very first blue berry, HOORAY!!!

Monday morning I had suggested to his lovely Mom that we put water in the playroom to drink, instead of all the soda. She replied, "Oh he won't drink that", and then stopped for a moment and said, "But you know I have never even tried".

So we put water into the playroom and encouraged him to drink it with the energy , excitement and enthusiasm of the Son-Rise Program, and today just three days later he is drinking water and enjoying it!

If you catch yourself thinking, "Oh he won't do that", concerning something with your child think twice.

Because if you never give your child the opportunity to do something they have never done before, then they won't even be able to try.

Now because this Mom tried something new, and persisted with presenting it, her child will enjoy the health benefits of water for the rest of his life.

With the economy the way it is, it will also be cheaper on the purse.

Enjoy your time with your lovely children.

The Power of Being Silly

There is something about this sweet little video that felt so good to my heart.



I love knowing that there are people in the world who believe in random acts of silliness. The impact of our love and silliness on those around us is such a profound and beautiful gift. When we are willing to share our joy - fully, without editing ourselves or holding anything back - we encourage others to do the same. And the effect is endless. You impact one person, he impacts another, she impacts another and another and another... And within no time the silliness and joy can be seen everywhere you look. Worldwide happiness is dependent only on enough of us being willing to BEGIN.

Every day with our children with autism we are given an opportunity: we can hold back and spend our time worrying about the future - or we can decide to enjoy ourselves in this moment RIGHT NOW. Try it today - choose happiness and joy and see just how much silliness and laughter you receive in return.

Tales from a Son-Rise Program Child Facilitator - the meeting of my first Son-Rise Program family

So I went to meet Robert. The first thing that struck me and will stay with me forever was Anna (Roberts Mom's) passion, excitement and apparent joy for her Son (could it be that she was actually happy about the fact that her son was Autistic?), at that time, I had no idea that you could choose how you felt and I was inspired by her attitude which I later came to learn was the basis of The Son-Rise Program.

She was amazing with him. She celebrated him, delighted in him, she was goofy and funny and sweet. He was unique, intelligent and very talented. He could stacks blocks really high with each one balanced in a specific position. When I tried to replicate that, they would tumble to the ground.

One of his Autism Symptoms was an amazing memory, he would recite whole scenes from movies and knew all kinds of shapes, such as a Trapezoid that I had never heard of. The difference was that I was in my twenties and he was only four years old!

Anna gave me a book called Son-Rise the Miracle of Love, which I read in between my first few sessions and absolutely loved. It documented the story of how The Son-Rise Program was invented by parents of a severely autistic child. His Mother worked with him in a one to one environment by joining him in his world and inspiring him to join her world. I knew at this point I had begun a very special journey of hope and Help for Autism.

Invitation

Good Morning!
Yesterday an "Autism Expert" from England visited us at The Autism Treatment Center of America. She is responsible for the education of Autistic children in the school system in a region of England. She was a lovely, open, knowledgeable and dedicated lady.

She was on vacation in Vermont with her husband celebrating their 40 wedding anniversary. She said that she had followed our work for many years, and had heard many criticisms of it and wanted to come to see for herself, so she thought that this was a perfect opportunity to hear it, "from the horses mouth" so to speak.

We had a wonderful time together, exchanging ideas, she watched one of our facilitators working in the playroom with a child, she toured our property and we discussed the principles and techniques of the Son-Rise Program.

At the end of our time together she said that she wished more people would come and see how amazing, thorough, sensible and inspiring our work really is. We exchanged telephone numbers to continue to be in touch, and share our work with one another.

I too wish that people would come and see our work for themselves instead of making up their minds about who we are without having any first hand contact with us, or even reading any of our materials, or watching our webinars on our website.

So this is an open invitation to all you wonderful special needs professionals, to come and learn first hand what our work is about.

Excitement!

Hello!

This morning I was watching one of our amazing staff, Son-Rise Program Child facilitator, Camila Titone, playing with a 6 year old boy called Andrew....and what a charmer Andrew is.

As I watched her leap around the room spreading joy as she said the word jump many times, I noticed that I myself was getting very excited. Often times when I watch a playroom session I am hard pressed to leave as I am always wanting to see what's going to happen next, will Andrew say the word, will he not? not attached to either outcome just excited to see the process unfolding before me, believing in all possibilities.

This time however I was also aware of becoming excited about the word "jump" itself.
As I can already say this word and have heard it a million times or more, and was not eager to jump myself at that particular moment, I became intrigued as to why I had this growing desire myself to say the word.

On reflection it was because Camila was so excited herself about this word. Not about getting Andrew to say it, although I am sure she would have been delighted, but she emanated excitement every time she said it. She sang it, she whispered it, she mouthed it, spoke it in a low tone, a high tone, she even giggled as she said it. Each time she said the word Andrew would give just a tiny tiny smile.

I wanted to say it simply because Camila's excitement about the word was infectious.

If we want our children to talk, get excited about your talking.

See the beauty in each word you say to your child.
Have fun talking to your child!
P.S. Andrew did day the word jump, in its entirety as well as many approximations of the word.

Autism Larry King Live: The Answer

Larry King Live: Your Show on Autism:
(Sent to Larry King)

Dear Larry: What I noticed on your show about autism repeated this evening, Larry, was folks talking and arguing like we have witnessed for over 30 years. And while people often maintain a level of either dogmatism or confusion or discontent (or all of the above), we (and our staff) have been working successfully with children with autism in a program we originated called The Son-Rise Program. My wife, Samahria, and I created a loving and highly respectful model to join a child's world first, as we did years ago with our once-severly autistic son -- crossing the bridge into his world so he could take our hand and cross the bridge back to ours (he graduated an Ivy Leagure university). Bearing absolutly no traces of his original condition, he is now CEO (and a senior teacher) of the Autism Treatment Center of America in Sheffield, MA (an organization we created over 27 years ago).

I have written many books, one which became an NBC-TV Network movie -- the book, Son-Rise, The Miracle Continues (which details the original nourney with our son and also with other families) has become a beacon for families with autistic children worldwide...and our center for training parents and helping their children with autism has provided programs for thousands of people from over 78 countries. We don't ask the question: can autism be cured? We help parents do it.

There is a famous Chinese proverb: "The people who say it can't be done shouldn't interrupt the people who are doing it."


Most sincerely, Barry Neil Kaufman,

Co-Founder/Co-Director, Autism Treatment Center of America. http://www.autismtreatment.org/, http://www.barryneilkaufman.com/

Sleeping Children

Currently I am writing a little booklet on how to get your child to sleep through the night, in their own bed, AND in their own room.

WOW I hear some of you sigh, wouldn't that be nice!

I know a lot of you, whether your children are typical or special rarely experience the beautiful silence that fills the house once your children are in bed. Or the few hours of adult time in the evening, that children going to bed at the regular time of 7.30pm would give you.

This IS possible, even for you and your child.

The first part of it as always at The Autism Treatment Center of America is filled with useful believes to adopt as you teach your child to sleep through the night.

The one I want to share here is:

"It is useful to teach your child to put themselves to sleep".

As I wrote and thought about that I realized that this is a skill that we actually have to help our children learn. So many of our children are robbed of the opportunity to learn how to put themselves to sleep, by numerous versions of the following routines:

1. Rocking them lovingly to sleep in your arms.
2. Lulling them to sleep by putting them in the car and driving them around.
   
3. Letting them fall asleep in front of the TV, or the sitting room couch.
4. Lying down beside them with your arms stroking their back.
5. Literally being their pillow.
6. Reading them a book until they are sound asleep.

SO once they awake to find themselves, not in the car, or on the couch or without their Mom or Dad, they go immediately to find the thing that will help them sleep again. If it was them, most likely they would just roll over in their cosy beds and nod off again.

SO the next time your child is crying for you to come and be the mechanism by which they put themselves to sleep, think twice, for you are robbing them of the opportunity to learn this skill for themselves.

Once learnt this skill will be used everyday for a life time.

I will let you all know once the booklet if finished.

I wish you all a good nights sleep.

Tales from a Son-Rise Program Child Facilitator - imaginative volunteers needed

While looking for Autism Training with children with special needs one day, I happened to open the local newspaper and saw a tiny advertisement. It said "Imaginative volunteers needed to play with Autistic child".

This appealed to me because I definitely wanted to use my imagination when working with children and the school teachers that I knew were very restricted in the way they were able to teach due to very sctrict rules around sticking to the curriculum.

The other part that struck me was that it said "play" and that sounded more stimulating to me than teaching ever had. This could be the perfect opportunity and so I called the number.

I found out that his parents were working with him using The Son-Rise Program, which they were doing in their home.

This was sounding better and better. Not only was it one to one but I was going to be trained by his parents, what better recourse was there to a special child than his own parents? So I went to meet him.

Embracing Change

Everything is changing, this you probably know. Now, for some things, we like to think it just happens to other people, they are changing and we are not. Yet life is really good at gently or not so gently reminding us that change happens to us all. Take for instance our physical body, I play soccer in an over 40s league and during the winter we practice indoors, the game is fast moving and lots of fun. When I am playing I am focused, running with the ball, tackling, defending and scoring a goal or two. My body is mine to control and put wherever I want it to go! The next day is another matter all together, my muscles ache, my toe hurts, my knee joints are stiff, it hurts to walk up the stairs etc. It is at this time I am acutely aware that my body is changing too, when I was in my 20s I did not feel any of what I am feeling now or for as long (sometimes I can feel sore for up to 3 days after practice!!). It is humbling and yet if there is one thing I have learned in using the Son-Rise Program, personally and as a teacher, it is that I get to choose how to greet and be with whatever comes into my life, from the small opportunities, like having to get rid of ants in the kitchen, to the big, like having a daughter with autism. I am not sure where a body that is changing (aging) fits in, whether it is a small, big or somewhere in between opportunity, but never the less it is a changing part of my world that I will endeavor to be relaxed with and ultimately enjoy.

Happy Easter

Hello!
I have to say that I just love Easter! Along with Halloween it is my favorite holiday. I love the feel of the spring-ish air and the promise of longer warmer summer nights. I love the symbolism that Easter represents. That we can be reborn, change, let go of the old and become whoever we want. And begin to nurture the new inside of ourselves.

I host an Easter event every year for my two God children and close friends. This year there will be 11 of us! Amongst the Eastery things such as painting eggs, and hiding plastic Easter Eggs containing gluten free, sugar free, Casein free, everything free treats inside, I have my own made up tradition.

I have everyone who wishes decorate a flower plot and plant a seed, usually a sun flower seed or two as they seem to be indestructible. The person is to think of something that they want to focus on and grow within themselves, and they then write that word on the flower pot. Then as they nurture and water the seed they are constantly reminded of what they want to grow inside themselves, and the new is born.

Lately I have been attached and needing things to go a certain way for me to feel comfortable and peaceful, so this year I am thinking of writing the words " Let go" on my pot, so I can grow my ability to be unattached to the outcome of my actions.

Enjoy this coming Easter Sunday whether you celebrate or not.

Who do we want to be - it's our choice

We have just finished teaching a Son-Rise Program advanced training, Maximum Impact, and as always it was a great week. I love these programs, being with parents and volunteers who are so excited to grow and change themselves, seeking to be the best of who they are so they can profoundly help their children. I must say that as they learn, so do I (a benefit of doing what I do, I feel I have one of the best jobs on the planet). In this program I reaffirmed the idea that who we are is because of the choices we have made and continue to make. This is empowering, that who am and how I show up to my life is completely in my hands. I want to be a more grateful and celebratory person, yet if I do not stop and make the choice to appreciate or feel good about another person or myself or an event, etc. then I will never grow that part of myself. I have to be willing to stop what I am doing, to let it go, so that I can take a moment to choose to feel good about something that I value in my life. So, each day I am now stopping to do exactly this, to feel grateful about something in my life.

Tales from a Son-Rise Program Child Facilitator - why teaching didn't work for me

My journey finding The Son-Rise Program all started when I was in college in England. I was undertaking an Access Course which would allow me to do a university degree as a mature student and go on to study teaching.

I got some experience in a classroom working as a teaching aid but during my mornings there, I was feeling despondent. I didnt feel like I achieved much due to the fact that there were many children that needed my help with the task they were doing and not enough of me to go around and help them all in the way that I wanted to.

At that point I thought to myself, wouldn't it be incredible to be able to work with just one child at a time, to dedicate all my attention onto that one person and support them in their individual area of challenge.

I knew I wanted to work one to one with children and the only way I knew how was tutoring or working with children with special needs and possibly autism support so the next step, was to get experience working in a one to one environment.

Tales from a Son-Rise Child Facilitator - The Beginning

Wow! It's been 10 years this year since I discovered The Son-Rise Program.

I remember hearing about Autism Symptoms for the very first time on the news in England, where I grew up.

It featured a story on boy named Stephen Wiltshire. I remember being fascinated by his ability to look at a building once and then draw it in incredible detail and to scale.

I later went on to meet and play with many children using The Son-Rise Program who have amazing and unique talents similar to Stephens.

Here is the link to Stephens sight. I was incredibly inspired by him and I'm sure you will be too.

http://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/

Through the eyes of autism

Ten years ago - two years before I started working at The Son-Rise Program, I read a book called Exiting Nirvana - about a young woman named Jessica Park - who is diagnosed with autism. The book tells some of the story of her life, and describes the passion that Jessica gives to her art. And wow - the art she creates is absolutely amazing. If you'd like to see a sample of her art - check out her website:

http://www.jessicapark.com/

For me, Jessica Park's art is inspiring because of the beauty she sees in the world. She pulls inspiration from the structures she sees in everyday life - the George Washington Bridge, the Flat Iron Building, etc. And each structure she draws, while so plain and colorless in real life - take on an almost ethereal quality when she adds the colors and the textures that she sees in each structure. They're breathtaking in their beauty. As I looked at Jessica Park's paintings, I just kept thinking to myself - what if we actually took time with every single special child - to find out how they see the world?

To me, being able to join a child's repetitious or exclusive activity is window into an entirely new world - a world I never would have seen without the guidance of all of the special children I meet every day. Until I saw Jessica's art, all I saw was a gray, metal bridge. Now - I can't help but see every bridge in a rainbow of color. Each child with autism that I meet shows me such beauty in the world - beauty in all of the places that I never thought to look.

Autism Support

I do not have an autistic child, nor run a Son-Rise program; but I have had the opportunity and extreme pleasure to support all areas of the Autism Treatment Center through my job, and to volunteer in a unique way in Jade's Son-Rise program during the 11 years working at the ATCA. My message to you is that you can ALWAYS find a way to support a Son-Rise program! If you don't feel your passion is to directly work with an autistic child - there are so many other ways to help a family with their program, as I found out for myself. You can go grocery shopping (all types of errands) for a Mom while she is in the playroom and/or cook a meal for the family; you can babysit other siblings so all family members can go to the group meetings; you can help create volunteer schedules; you can help research the latest nutrition break-throughs for autistic children; you can spread the word to your kid-loving friends that might want to volunteer in a SR program; you can walk the dog - you see where I am going with this - support comes in many ways, and the indirect ways are very helpful to anyone running a Son-Rise program!

Also - if you are the one running a Son-Rise program - don't hesitate to ask your friends to help in some of the ways I have mentioned above - I wouldn't have thought I could help in a program until the Mom asked me if I wanted to be part of it - score!

Reflections from Class

Hello,

Today one of my students told me that she is a very serious person, and that she really needs to work on that.

As I looked at her I was aware of how magnificently playful and silly and positive she is.I have countless memories of watching her in the playroom playing with autistic children where I have be moved by her silliness into laughter. In fact I have just seen her dressed up as a cat taking a little autistic boy for a ride on her back.

Loads of memories of being inspired by her to be the best of myself.
Touched by her examples of gratitude towards me, and marvelled by her ability to change and overcome challenges.

I brought some of this to her attention, but she poo pooed them saying, no really she is very serious and uptight and reiterated that she needs to "look at this".
And I am sure there are times in her life when she feels serious and uptight, but she was making this all of who she is.

After this interaction I was thinking about how we make our unhappiness so big, we give it so much attention, growing it from a seed into a tree. In turn we put no thought to the moments where we choose happiness and kindness, thus shrinking it to a pea in our minds. What if we all did the opposite? We put our attention to and grew our happiness, and dared to see the beauty that shines within us?

If at night when we ponder our day we think about all things we did that were kind, and generous, silly and playful, and dared to see ourselves as nothing but the great human beings that we are.

Would we still grow? I think yes, and in leaps and bounds.