Subject: Re: Re: interactional synchrony - msg#00102

List: culture.autism

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Art,
Thanks for sharing all this. I have respected the work of Condon, Maurer,
Leary, and Donnellan for many years. If we could just get more people to see
autism as a "movement difference" with lots of sensory differences thrown in
--- and put to rest forever the idea of mental retardation --- I would be SO
happy. And I can only begin to imagine how life would be changed for those who
happen to have autism!

In my personal experience, FC was the culmination of a long process of learning
to appreciate the importance of "interactional synchrony" when working with the
children I have known, although I certainly never had such a fancy name for
what I was doing. We need to find ways to teach more people to get into the
"dance" of these very special interactions.

Char
>
> From: "Arthur Golden" <golden@xxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 2005/03/17 Thu AM 07:20:52 CST
> To: autismlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Autismlist] Re: interactional synchrony
>
>
>
> interactional synchrony #6
>
> Please note in the latter part of this article how Dr. Ralph Maurer,
> back in 1994, tied in interactional synchrony, through the sense of
> touch, with Facilitated Communication! I think he was on to
> something, but the FC proponents do not seem to have further explored
> the tie in with interactional synchrony in the past decade. Also
> note how it seems that interactional synchrony applies to all the
> senses, but it might be that it can only be objectively observed with
> sound, as Dr. William S. Condon did for about 40 years, including 28
> years ago with my then 5 year-old son Ben, who showed the multiple
> response to sound Dr. Condon expected from a person with autism.
>
> Arthur Golden
>
> http://www.autcom.org/rethinking.html
>
> Rethinking Autism/PDD
> Conference Highlights Positive Approaches, Relationships
>
> When a truly good idea appears in the world, you may know it by this
> sign: that the dunces are all in a confederacy against it." --
> Jonathan Swift
>
> Swift's words, lit by an overhead projector, were among the humorous
> asides that brought laughter and recognition as Anne Donnellan, PhD,
> Martha Leary, MA, OTR/L, and Ralph Maurer, MD joined parents and
> professionals for the April 22-23, 1994 conference Rethinking
> Autism/PDD, which was co- sponsored by the Autism National Committee
> and Autism Support and Advocacy in Pennsylvania. No dunces were in
> evidence as the 440 attendees, including a sizeable number of people
> with autism, heard Dr. Donnellan de-bunk the pseudoscience of IQ
> testing and decry the muddled concept of "mental retardation."
>
> In an historical tour de force titled "Autism and Myths About Mental
> Capacity," Donnellan traced the political factors and psychological
> prejudices which cause many present-day practitioners to defend the
> concept of retardation (i.e. emptiness, lack of capacity), to reject
> out of hand the possibility of Facilitated Communication, and to
> accept the use of aversive "treatments," to the legacy of 19th
> century European racism and chauvinism. This legacy centers on the
> belief that some kinds of humans are inherently childlike, morally
> inferior, incapable of coherent thinking, don't notice or care about
> the circumstances under which they are made to live, and don't really
> feel pain. The particular humans in question have variously been
> identified as non-Europeans, as southern Europeans, as women, as "the
> feebleminded," and today as people with retardation or autism. The
> subjects may change, explained Donnellan, but the modes of social
> devaluation remain the same.
>
> Martha Leary then joined Dr. Donnellan to demonstrate how
> the "emptiness" or deficiency model of autism can be replaced by a
> view of autism as a movement disturbance or difference -- that is, an
> underlying problem with expressive movement and its regulation. This
> positive approach credits the individual with competencies which may
> not be directly apparent through observing performance alone.
>
> Autism, they cautioned, is not a "thing" a person "has." Rather, it
> is a collection of symptoms. The workings of those symptoms must be
> viewed and interpreted in context, including their physiological
> context, and not as isolated pieces of behavior in an artificial,
> standardized testing situation. In observing behavior productively,
> it is essential to resist the short-cut of labeling rather than
> describing.
>
> For example, Dr. Donnellan noted the grim regularity with which the
> label "self-stimulation" is applied to the behaviors of people with
> autism. This label carries a great deal of baggage: the assumption
> that the person wants to perform this behavior, is taking pleasure in
> it, and intends by this activity to shut others out. Applying
> the "self-stim" label without doing the homework of clinical
> description precludes us from seeing that the behavior may be
> internally triggered and non-volitional, may be necessary to the
> individual's physiological self-regulation, or may be a necessary
> adjunct to the performance of some other movement which the
> individual is trying to call forth.
>
> When autism is viewed not as a lack of cognitive abilities but as a
> movement disturbance, many of the behaviors associated with it appear
> to reflect the workings of bodies which betray their owners in
> carrying out volitional actions. Historically, noted Donnellan and
> Leary, one of the tragedies of autism has been the frequency with
> which people who manifest these behaviors are blamed and punished for
> things they cannot control, or the purpose of which they cannot
> communicate.
>
> Dr. Ralph Maurer, in collaboration with his colleague Dr. Antonio
> Damasio, pioneered the research on autism as a movement disorder in
> the late 1970s. In a far-ranging presentation titled, "Autism, the
> Brain, Emotions, and the Dance of Relationships," Dr. Maurer
> explained that autism seems to be caused by damage either in the
> basal ganglia of the brain, which controls movement with feedback,
> or -- as Maurer feels is more significant -- in the cerebellum, which
> provides a background of awareness and synchronization of movement.
>
> When a higher-order integrative function of the brain is damaged, as
> with the cerebellar abnormalities in autism, the brain subsystems
> become autonomous, with individual reflexes acting on their own. The
> challenge for the person with autism becomes one of choosing which
> actions to tune into and which to ignore. Confronted with an overall
> experience of dysynchrony, the individual must struggle to keep body
> movements in some degree of balance and control (self- synchrony) and
> to meet the requirements of other human beings and of the environment
> (interactional synchrony).
>
> The difficulty of these struggles has serious consequences for the
> experience of emotions and relationships. While the old myths held
> that people with autism don't have emotions and are uninterested in
> others, those inferences, drawn from observations of performance
> alone, missed the real story. According to Dr. Maurer, the ongoing
> problem for people with autism is one of synchronizing emotion with a
> partner, of making connections in ways that allow emotions to be
> recognized and cultivated by others.
>
> Autism can be thought of as an "emotional dyskinesia" because the
> physiological channels through which non-intimate relationships are
> usually organized, vision and hearing, are impaired or closed.
> However, Maurer emphasized that the capacity for relationship remains
> present.
>
> Facilitated Communication may succeed because it connects through an
> open channel involving movement or touch. However, because since it
> is based on the forging of a relationship -- i.e. a complex
> synchronization of interactions -- it doesn't work for every would-be
> facilitator. Maurer has characterized a good facilitator as akin to
> an Arthur Murray dance instructor: someone who can take a novice with
> two left feet and waltz them around the room.
>
> A crucial but overlooked obstacle to this "dance of relationships" is
> that, in people with autism, the pulse of interactions tends to be
> slowed down. The time frames and units in which we tend to organize
> and recognize interactions may not apply to the behavior of people
> with autism: we may miss the actual shape and size of their behaviors
> because they are occurring on much longer wave-lengths which do not
> synchronize with our own. Slowing down the interaction pulse may help
> us to recognize and respond to pattern in what had previously
> appeared random, and of such synchronies relationships and
> communication are made.
>
> At the conclusion of Dr. Maurer's presentation, he was addressed by a
> young woman with autism who had been listening intently from a front
> row. Speaking slowly and softly, in a voice newly emerging after an
> initial breakthrough with Facilitated Communication, she thanked Dr.
> Maurer for understanding.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

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Re: Re: Re: Autism Is A World Update

Tom wrote --- > That's exactly what my advocacy has been based on, > ie "objective changes in behavior" with the use of FC. >Only one very poor > study was done on it and the FC >comnunity shuns the idea of FC as therapy, > which is what >focusing on behavior outcomes instead of validity would > >result in. It really is a shame that no one has undertaken a study of how the successful use of FC affects behavior. When I think about the many changes we saw in the kids who were using FC 10 years ago (back when everyone was so excited about it), the behavioral changes were at least as remarkable as the intelligence they were demonstrating! Char ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Help save the life of a child. Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's 'Thanks & Giving.' http://us.click.yahoo.com/0iazvD/5WnJAA/xGEGAA/wzSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~->

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Re: The Ipsos-Reid Autism Poll - Resend *with link*

Dear Michelle et al, Using the homosexual analogy is I suppose the most logical approach considering Igor's (Lovass') early forays in that area and it also makes things more understandable to the general public. I know Michelle challenged the assumed "facts" in the poll, which to me is the most aggregious thing about the whole matter. The "facts" presented in this poll are in fact a HUGE LIE. The only thing scientifically proven about Intensive Behavioral Treatment (IBT) is that a few flimsy studies that may or may not indicate "success" while ignoring many other studies that clearly indicate little or no success, can be a recipe for creating a multi million dollar industry under the right conditions, those being duping and hustling young and desparate parents and playing on the good intentions of the general public. This will certainly backfire and result in a backlash against autism public funding. It will set us back many more years than it already has. The influence of these harsh behaviorists in autism has been devestating and will get much worse with more money and power they garnish in our name. We don't want liars and dupes leading public funding for autism while shutting out all the others doing good in autism. ABA is essentially a scientific approach, but IBT is a huge medical scam. If the ABA community doesn't denounce this than they will lose any credibility as a science. We all should be supporting what Michelle is doing and demand that our taxes aren't used in this way. If they are successful in Canada, then the show comes down here and chances are they will be successful here. There are already some states that have taken the bait. We can do better, much better. Tom Smith Direct Care and Autism Advocate --- "jypsy [ janet norman-bain ]" <jypsy@xxxxxxx> wrote: > The Ipsos-Reid Autism Poll > When Public Policy Research Becomes an Instrument of Intolerance > > --letters to and from Michelle Dawson > > Excerpt: > > "The position taken by Ipsos-Reid thus far re the autism poll is that > > Ipsos-Reid is not responsible for verifying information presented as > fact > in a poll; and that Ipsos-Reid will not concern itself with how > identifiable groups are portrayed in polls." > > Full text is > here: > <http://www.sentex.net/~nexus23/naa_ipso.html>http://www.sentex.net/~nexus23/naa_ipso.<http://www.sentex.net/~nexus23/naa_ipso.html>html > > ________________________________ > Ooops....Wrong Planet! Syndrome > Autism Spectrum Resources > www.PlanetAutism.com > jypsy@xxxxxxx __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/AybhMB/UOnJAA/xGEGAA/wzSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~->

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Re: Re: interactional synchrony

Hi, I went to see a presentation by Bill Condon in Milwaukee in 1996. Watching his video tapes was very interesting. As I recall, I also watched a dance therapist establish sychronicity of sorts with a young child with autism. The same child was shown in one of Condon's tapes at a later age. She seemed really out of sync in his tape. I wondered at the time if they had continued with the dance therapy because in that video she seemed to be matching the rhythm of the therapist. I do feel that movement and rhythm is a big piece of the puzzle. I also believe a type of resonance or entrainment occurs when I facilitate. As far as Jeff Strong and REI are concerned, I have used their CD for relaxation and the one for accelerated learning. I haven't dug them out this year. Currently, I am gravitating toward the rhythmic entrainment of natural sounds of the earth. I think the ocean waves is the best. You might want to try binaural beats. Shuman resonace is interesting, as it the natural rhythm of the earth. I would use it with caution on the child as it is supposed to enhance telepathy. With either the binural beats or the shuman tapes, be careful if your child is prone to seizures. These kids may be too open already, depending on your perspective. I also meditate with my students as a group, interspersing the most relaxed with high strung out of sync kids. It seems to mellow them out temporarily. Periodically, I also have the out of syc kids dance to slow rhythmic music, partnered with either an aid or one of my high school volunteers. If I had a young child with autism, I would spend alot of time helping the child adhere to my rhythm. letting them listen to heart beats that they would hear in the womb might also be helpful. Rhythm, movement, and relationship is often overlooked when teaching communication. An organized body leads to an organized mind. Best wishes, Mary Ann Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/autismlist/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:autismlist-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

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Re: Re: interactional synchrony

--- Arthur Golden <golden@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Any more comments? Good question. I'm sorry that I haven't had time to read and respond yet, but I have read enough of your recent posts to know it's importnt to discuss. I should have some time this weekend. Thanks Art. Tom > --- In autismlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Arthur Golden" <golden@xxxx> > wrote: > > > > Interactional synchrony, which exists in the neurotypical possibly > > even in the womb, but is different for the autistic, may explain an > > underlying cause of autism for many, including my own son Ben. I > > recently researched this subject on the internet and I plan to post > > my research here, in several messages. I look forward to your > > comments. > > > > Arthur Golden > > [five messages posted with my research at: > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/autismlist/message/22168 > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/autismlist/message/22170 > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/autismlist/message/22171 > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/autismlist/message/22172 > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/autismlist/message/22173 ] > > > > > > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250 ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Dying to be thin? Anorexia. Narrated by Julianne Moore . http://us.click.yahoo.com/7visLB/gsnJAA/xGEGAA/wzSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~->

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