Our experiments with Autism - A never ending journey

Discontinuing Akshat's school was a blessing in disguise. I started getting more time to spend with him. As I mentioned in the last posts, I made a schedule for him and myself too. With my experience, I can say that homeschooling requires a lot of planning, self-discipline, guidance and, resources.   During our homeschooling days, I did something which I am sure all the mothers do and experience - observing their child.  As I used to spend more time with him now, I could able to observe him more. How does he learn a particular thing? How much time does he take to grasp a concept? How much time does he lay hold of to process the instruction? Through which medium does he respond best? How much time does he take to respond? Why does he suddenly react towards something? Why does he humm or scream? (Even today, he humm but, now he can tell me the reason). He makes different types of sounds for different needs and, now I can identify for what he's making that sound. (Just like a todd

  Don't you worry , I am there (continued...) Let us grow and learn together Be a student for each other In this journey that we share You are my strength, so I can dare No matter what obstacles come Many, too many, none or some Don't you worry 'cause I am there... Do trust me, I will take care By, Anagha Jawalekar Till now, I have realized that scheduling was a must for Akshat. It gives predictability to him, reduces his anxiety, and keeps him sorted. Also, in 2014 we bought our own flat and shifted there. In our new home, Akshat had his room with an attached washroom. On moving to our new home, I made sure that everything should be organized and visually predictable in Akshat's room. So, when the furniture work was going on, I instructed the carpenter to design his cupboard differently. It has extra closets and, each one was labeled to give him visual clarity and a physical structure. Because of the labels, it was easy for him to take out and keep his clothes properly

  Don't you worry, I am there (continued...) Come, let's take the route those runners passed the meadows the valleys the waterfalls But taking our time to absorb it all  Not like a check-box for each milestone I know you best and want you to know Our team will make it work somehow... By, Anagha Jawalekar It won't be wrong to say that our real story began in 2014 when Akshat left the school. I had finished my M.A. in the first division, and it was such a good feeling. Now, I had a big question in front of me, how to proceed with Akshat?  AFA's training helped to sort out the problem, and as per the learnings and my experiences till now with Akshat, I decided to focus on his ADLs and life skills. Academics was not on my priority list as it was tough for both of us to handle the pressure.  I prepared a schedule for him and started following that schedule. To made him follow that schedule, I had to be with him, and for that, I used to finish my home chores before starting h

  Don't you worry, I am there If you are not comfortable with that mad race Let us have one with a suitable pace If even that you don't prefer let's have one tailored just for us Enough we waited for them to understand Now done with it Just give me your hand By, Anagha Jawalekar Delhi's training was quite exhaustive. Both mentally and physically. Thanks to my husband, he planned a holiday to Simla and Manali direct from Delhi, and we had a great time. After ten days or so, we returned to Vadodara, and the very next day, I received a letter from CMC Vellore. It was written in the letter that a seat is allocated to me for the next mother-child training program.  CMC is a charitable hospital in Vellore(Tamilnadu), and thousands of people across India come there for treatment, especially for chronic illnesses. We had been to CMC, Vellore twice and got Akshat's thorough checkup done there. On our visit there, we had applied for the mother-child training held there. But m

Challenges of Adolescence Are they still there? Each day I ask the morning mirror, my freckles... They first appeared at the age of two I'm told, and never left me. I'm more conscious of them now Anxiety of people is a part of me... just like the freckles as I have grown fifteen years and three. There's a conflict inside my mood swings, until I take up tasks that I enjoy doing... Guess that's the road  ahead for me to try different roles and find my true identity. By, Anagha Jawalekar So until now,  I got used to the challenges and difficulties thrown by Autism. I was so engrossed working with Akshat, and Autism was not allowing me to think or do anything else. I was striving to follow whatever I had learned in Mumbai training, but it was not easy to maintain the routine and motivation. It was going on and off. Meanwhile, hardly anything was happening with Akshat in the school (a special school for Autism). Just then, we met other parents, and they told us about Action

  Difference is a two way thing must be known, or is it new? You are but as different to me as I have been to you Do variations have to bring with them, such distance? Why not a bridge where diverse can compliment? It's common that people prefer their own "cup of tea". Choices are same or different We are just unique - you and me. By, Anagha Jawalekar Every mother is reborn while giving birth to a child. When I was taken to the operation theatre for the delivery 18 years ago, I had no idea what courage and strength I would need to deliver the child. The doctor was insisting on me to push some more so that baby could come out though I was just unable to do it. Finally, she said it would take some more time and left the operation theatre. Suddenly, I didn't know what happened to me, but I started pushing myself. I was almost unconscious. Still, the doctor's words were reverberating in my ears. Push...Push, and I pushed myself. The baby was almost out. The nurse ran

A different Struggle  Don't just give up on me A chance is all I ask Search for me with fair eyes, beyond the superficial mask Life is hard, we all strive each day is fought, less or more But some struggles wait forever, overlooked, to be accounted for  By, Anagha Jawalekar The Mumbai training concluded with lots of learning for me and a remarkable change in Akshat. The future was looking somewhat hopeful. (Although I was unaware of some aspects of disability that were yet to unfold). The Mumbai hangover was still there as we stayed in a carefree environment with like-minded people who had the same issues and therapists who used to counsel us almost every day.  As Akshat's Autism was officially confirmed now, we searched for an Autism School here in Vadodara and luckily got one and admitted him there. I left my job as it was difficult for me to continue it. Meanwhile, I was looking for some sport for Akshat and found a skating academy near our place. I talked to the trainer and