This Greenspan article is so good it deserves its own thread: a review of progress of 200 autistic children

[lingle]

Here is a review of the progress of 200 children diagnosed with ASD.

www.playworks.cc/articles/200casechartreview.pdf

The section on why the "wait and see" (page 3) approach is wrong is so convincing that it has made me change my mind about that topic (a first?). (though I still stick to my own "brand" of therapy). Basically, he points out that there are pessimistic and incorrect assumptions about the potential of children with ASD underlying the "wait and see" approach. Grrr - wish I'd read this 18 months ago....

As an incorrigible optimist with a mildly affected child, I was also especially taken by the data on page 19. Eighteen of the children (the top performers) developed social skills that were significantly superior to those expected of their age.

This article is an appendix to "The Child with Special Needs" by the way.

sadminster, it's been such a time of upheaval, I'm glad he's settling. You've got time and presumably you feel he needs to consolidate these foundational steps. DS2 was still responding to tone of voice not name at your LO's age (he would reply "DS2!" with a big smile - it was so cute) but last week he was scooting with other kids at the park and said:"no, that's my scooter. I'm DS2, I'm 3. That's DS1. He's 6".

Is functional language language that matches your intent? ie you say "cake" because you want a cake. Later, you say "Oliver laughed" not just "laughed" if you are trying to tell a story about Oliver when he isn't there... not sure... someone else may be able to correct.

"he would reply "DS2!" with a big smile - it was so cute"
That's EXACTLY what my DS does! Since we're being optimistic, can I hope that eventually - eventually, when the great continent emerges - he will start using the first person singular??

not sure if personal pronouns necessarily mean the continents are forming!