Anti-Carrot Campaign Manual

[MareeyaDolores]

This one.

Now, I think ds1 does need some therapeutic education. Some well-defined, boundaried, professional-led, targetted and evaluated provision. On top of the ordinary, old-fashioned, teacher-y style education and guidance.

But instead he (and other) dc are offered participation in generic emotional literacy guff. No wonder autistic dc are failing to cope. It's like asking deaf dc to listen to daily whole-class birdsong appreciation tapes. In lieu of giving out radio aids, speech therapy, BSL teaching etc. And then blaming them for not putting the effort in (and if it hasn't been done yet, I'm sure it will be, the dc with hideen disabilities are like canaries in the mine succumbing to the early whiffs of downgraded provision)

[MareeyaDolores]

[MareeyaDolores]

Ouryve, I think you're right about the 'reflex' stuff being really hard to modify, and near-impossible to eliminate. Our aim here is to modestly reduce the harmful behaviours, and channel the excess emotional energy but even that's a challenge.

What makes me though, isn't that, it's the general and manifest failure to make mini modifications that would give the dc have more chance of sometimes applying the strategies they know.

[ouryve]

I like the idea of the responsibility pie chart.

[ouryve]

DS1 has actually volunteered himself to participate in play therapy, in the past. It got him out of lessons, which is what he wanted. He was taught a few counting and breathing techniques, which he could tell me all about, but as soon as he got into a situation when he needed them was unable to apply them because the part of his brain that accesses that kind of information completely switches off.

I think a lot of the behavioural and emotional issues in ASD are so primal that they're impossible to crack with any artificial behavioural modification.

[MareeyaDolores]

bearing this caveat in mind, of course

[MareeyaDolores]

That Scottish lady's site is indeed very interesting. Now, how to make this into something 'smart' if we ever get a part 3

[MareeyaDolores]

sorry SallyBear and slummy; I quoted HI because it's the only non-ASD disability where I have any first-hand knowledge of educational provisions

(ie what one mainstream school did for one relative back in the day, so obviously not at all representative, but it worked. I think because they did exactly what the audiologist, parent and ToD advised, modified only by what the child said)

Mind you, an educationally unsuitable provision was briefly recommended because of possible 'later emotional impact' of the HI... said relative is a scarily well-educated, successful and obviously well-balanced adult now

[StarlightMcKenzie]

[moondog]

Gosh, great to see the Guardian (of all papers) tackle this guff head on.
She says it so much better then me.

'As with other evangelical bandwagons in education, it is difficult to challenge the deluge of worthy aims and self-righteous assertions about emotional literacy, and to criticise the dubious activities they encourage.'

[inappropriatelyemployed]

Looks really good. If I see SEAL on another bloody statement!

Put quality, measurable provision and support in place for kids. Stop talking about it.

SEAL - my arse!

[AnotherAlias]

www.guardian.co.uk/education/2007/feb/27/schools.children

[moondog]

Thanks for that other very interesting link Alias.
It's a subject that consumes me greatly.
Youy raise 'self esteem' (God I loathe that expression) by helping someone to get better at doing something and not by onanistically discussing it. This pursuirt of indefinable goals throws people off the scent. It becomes harder to question the motives of professionals as on the surface it all looks so caring and well meaning and deeply moral.

In fact it is just the opposite.

'The paper concludes by arguing that what teachers can do to enhance young people?s well-being is mainly within the realm of ?good teaching? and that they should not be encouraged to become surrogate psychologists.'


Yes

[AnotherAlias]

only one left on Amazon now :) - this woman based in Scotland is also is really interesting on the false emphasis on SEAL and self-esteem boosting...

www.centreforconfidence.co.uk/projects.php?p=cGlkPTU2JmlkPTYzMw==

[StarlightMcKenzie]

'star you still have expectations'

yes I suppose I do, though no idea why. Emotional Literacy was my specialist interest area in my degree. First born with ASD. Ha flippin ha.......

[StarlightMcKenzie]

I'm not sure that the book will send me into spiralling depression. Even the front cover looks depressing, though representative of a much more productive TAC meeting than I have ever experienced.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

And I was THERE at the 'Carrot Incident' and I was so proud (if not a little stunned).

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Good grief at that book!

and LOL

[moondog]

THat's pretty much an apt description!
Forgive me for being vague. Not an irritating attempt to build up an 'in' joke let me assure you. More a case of being mindful of how much MD wishes to share.

[moondog]

I can't possibly give further details without permission but MD is not to be messed with-either on MN or elsewhere!!!