Ryan, age 15
Name changed by request, photos used by permission
Session One
Here are the things I observed:
- 1-2 word sentences in a high pitched voice
- Very little eye contact. Looked away and closed his eyes when we sang.(see picture-left)
- Sang the melody and approximately 30% of the words of the songs, usually not completely forming the words
- His swinging was uncoordinated and jerky
- When presented with the butterfly catcher game, he mimicked the butterfly with the wrong hand, even with several promptings
- Strokes were uneven and didn't reach all the way
- Would bounce the paintbrush, then forget and stroke (short term memory)
- He could count the trees, but not tell me how many trees there were.
Parent reported pre-session behavior:
- non-verbal (one or two word sentences)
- short attention span
- impulsive behavior
- does not make eye contact
- lack of social or emotional reciprocity
- repetitive use of language
- repetitive motor mannerisms
Post session
- He completed the entire session without getting up
- He made eye contact when we sang the exit song and inserted most of the words
- Swinging was much more smooth and coordinated
- After two tries, he formed a "net" rather than the butterfly and caught it with the correct hand
- He said multiple word, complete sentences with prompting.
No photos were taken at this session
Observations of following sessions:
- Starting using multi-word sentences with prompting
- Initiated session, remembered the song we used, and the order of the process.
- More eye contact and expression, more smiling
- More complete words in the song, 90% accuracy rate for word insert
- Swinging much more coordinated and smooth
- Catching the butterfly with net, rather than mimicking. Confuses hands only occasionally, after session, could switch and be the butterfly and call the hand (left/right) This is a huge step and requires coordination of verbal and movement.
- Painting strokes more even, straighter, reaching both sides
- Longer attention span, greater concentration
- Did not grab paint brushes, could request brush or paints in a complete sentence when prompted: "May I have the paint brush, please?"
- Became quite adept at high five game and could call out right/left and go at a very quick pace. Indication of faster brain response
Directional orientation
Flowers for Mom by Ryan
Great examples of attentive focus
Parent report improvements in these areas:
- verbal skills
- attention span
- eye contact
- social or emotional reciprocity
- repetitive use of language
- spontaneious make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level
- repetitive motor mannerisms
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Ryan works on "Sailing in a Boat"
His dad reported that last week Ryan spontaneously (meaning without prompting) started telling stories about things he remembers when he was younger in great detail. (this is a boy who only said 1-2 word sentences a month ago.)
- Today we worked on asking and answering questions and sentence structure.
- His eye contact is great and his attention span has improved.
- He inserts all the words to the song and he is so good at the high five game it's no longer a challenge. (two weeks ago he didn't know his right from left)
- He reproduced complex freeform shapes exactly.
- He repeated back the story we wrote about his picture.
- He no longer covers his ears when planes go over
Butterfly on the Flowers by Ryan 2/23/08
Ryan works on sentence stucture 3/1. (Time 2:42) (click play twice)
We'd like to hear your comments!
Art Without Boundaries
Autistic Program
F O U N D A T I O N
Ryan's Photo Gallery
Ryan finds and brings pictures of subjects he wants to paint such as trains and roller coasters
Noell's e-journal of Ryan's progress
In November of 2007 I was approached by a podiatrist who had seen the improvements with Alzheimer's patients in a local assisted living. As a result of the amazing progress of her 10 year old autistic daughter, we launched the ASD program. Ryan's dad heard about the program and Ryan, age 15 became our second success story. I update his e-journal as often as I can with exciting improvements and his wonderful paintings.
Ryan
Noell Hammer, Founder, AWB
Ryan now has great eye contact and attention
Want to email him and tell him how you like his paintings? ryanspaintings@yahoo.com
Ryan wouldn't look at me first session
Want to email him and tell him how you like his paintings? ryanspaintings@yahoo.com
