Can you help me overcome my autism

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Hi my name is Jack Peter Armstrong, I am 7 years old and I have Autism. 

 

 

My Mum and Dad are trying to help me achieve a better quality of life using the Son-Rise treatment and educational programme.

 

 This web-site is to aid my ongoing progress and development and to share with family and friends all my achievements.

 

My Dad (Mark) went on the initial Son-rise start-up programme January 2009.  We then had a room converted for me and when dad returned we put all he had learnt into action.

 

Mummy (Natalie) says

 

At first we noticed some encouraging signs of improvement, eye contact had got better and there were days when Jack said over 5 words, maybe not always in context but speech alone was a fantastic heart warming move in the right direction.

 

The programme will take years and the number of hours spent with Jack each week applying the strategies and techniques is influential towards his development towards a better quality of life, so it is important that we achieve at least 40 - 45 hours per week in the son-rise room.

 

To achieve the numbers of hours we asked for volunteers. Three important factors that a son – rise volunteer must have is Enthusiasm, Excitement and Energy otherwise known as the 3 E’s.

 

The Volunteers are such a major importance, not only with the hours they contribute to the programme but also the relationship they build with Jack as well. It is evident with Jack the more hours he spends in the room with mum, dad and his best friends (volunteers) the more relaxed, happier and improved he is with his eye contact, speech and interaction.

 

We are very fortunate to have a great team of volunteers helping Jack who we value very much but with 45hours+ a week to achieve we are always looking for extra help

 

To enhance the programme we have also acquired Out Reach Training once a month which entails a trainer visiting the home. They work with Jack in his room for part of the day under the eye of CCTV with mum, dad and volunteers observing, making notes and question for the Q&A meeting which is sat at the end of the day.   The other part of the day is when mum, dad and volunteers each spend time in the room with Jack but this time under the watchful eye of the trainer, who will give feedback and answer any questions after the session.  We also have a play therapist who comes from Son-Rise come and work with Jack for the whole day 1-1, and then hold questions and answers after her sessions with Jacks parents and volunteers.  We also have monthly team meetings were all the team get together and pass ideas to each other and discuss games and what has worked for us and pass on to each team member.

 

Son- Rise Centre is based in America a consultation line is available which is really helpful when you need advice.

 

 

 

At  present we are looking forward to Gerd visiting us from America in July a Son-Rise teacher who will be observing the volunteers and giving feedback sessions.  The volunteers will also be able to observe Gerd and have a question and Answer session with him, which will give Jack’s program a real boost.

 

 

The next big step of the journey and one we are really looking forward to because we believe it will boost Jacks progress and our skill base which we will share with the volunteers is a visit to the intensive training course at the Son Rise centre next year in Mass, USA

 

We knew we could not fund all this by ourselves and we have started to Fund raise the cost of Jack’s Son-Rise programme we have been overwhelmed with the support we have received.

 

We took Jack out of his Local Education Special Needs School Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays from Sept 09  so he could spend more time on the Son-Rise programme where we can see where all the benefits. 

 

 

Since September 2010 we are now running the Son-Rise programme full time at home.  We have been amazed by the results that this has achieved.  We are continuing to ask the LEA for this Jack’s at home educational program to be funded from his Special Needs Eduacation he no longer receives from the council.