[Vanity]

Does anybody have any experience with autistic kids? I'm considering taking a job position (which involves training) that would require me to take care of an 11 year old autistic boy, and hopefully improve his life.

Mind you I'll be doing this while juggling my undergraduate studies but, this would look good on a resume going into Medical School and it'll be a life changing experience. The hourly wage is $10/hr, so it's definitely not for the money.

Help me rationalize this through. On one hand, it'll be very stressful. On the other hand, it's a better experience and definitely something worthwhile to put on a resume.

Anybody have experience working with Autistic kids before? The description says I'll be trained with the "ABA/Lovaas method". I have no idea what that is. I'm also being hired by a private family, but through my respective University.

[Javi335]

Wow, you better search for a specific forum mi amigo, its a delicate deal

[Vanity]

Originally Posted by Javi335

Wow, you better search for a specific forum mi amigo, its a delicate deal

The only reason I'm asking on a BMW forum is because I know there are doctors on here, and some individuals who have experience with autistic children.

[DougLikesBMW]

I am not a doctor nor have any experience with autistic children, but I know I would not do it. Call me an asshole if you wish, but do you know how annoying regular kids are? I figure it's that x100 for an autistic kid. I figure he'll be up in your place messing with your stuff...that shit just isn't for me.

I know you'll improve his life etc, but it just wouldn't be worth it to me.

[Vanity]

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

I am not a doctor nor have any experience with autistic children, but I know I would not do it. Call me an asshole if you wish, but do you know how annoying regular kids are? I figure it's that x100 for an autistic kid. I figure he'll be up in your place messing with your stuff...that shit just isn't for me.

I know you'll improve his life etc, but it just wouldn't be worth it to me.

I know exactly what you mean. I tutor this 8 year old and he's just such a pain in the butt sometimes. But keep in mind, helping an autistic kid with his life is definitely something that will shape who you become (atleast, imo). And at some point in life, you're going to have to deal with annoying little kids, right?

I need to think this through more.

[number335]

do it. chicks will love you for it.

[bunnn]

My friend that for a few months while doing his undergrad...now that he's graduated..he's going back for full time. The most basic thing you must have is patience, and lots of it. I can ask him tomorrow for some more feedback if you want. I'm sure any experience will help on your resume, but to what extent? All my friends who went into med school, volunteered at a hospital or caregiver homes.

[Andrew@ET]

Don't forget all people are different.

[Vanity]

Originally Posted by bunnn

My friend that for a few months while doing his undergrad...now that he's graduated..he's going back for full time. The most basic thing you must have is patience, and lots of it. I can ask him tomorrow for some more feedback if you want. I'm sure any experience will help on your resume, but to what extent? All my friends who went into med school, volunteered at a hospital or caregiver homes.

That would be awesome if you could ask your friend! Please do.

And I don't think volunteering at a hospital or caregiver home is enough to get into Medical School... I could always be wrong though. But I can't imagine the overwhelming competition boiling down to that.

[GFX MIK3]

i helped reff some soccer games at the special olympics and it was hard, u will need alot of patience. i thought i would go home by the end of the day and feel rewarded but i could just come home and feel depressed and sad for them... good luck with it man

[ideliver]

if you are serious about medical school, this (or something close) is a must...even if for only your selfish reasons...regardless, at the end...you (and hopefully the boy) will be better for your efforts...

[ben14142001]

I worked with autistic kids for a couple years before going to med school. You get used to it/get in a rhythm with the kids, but it takes a ton of patience. It's manageable if you like kids and you are very patient.

[Comet]

I commend you even for thinking going that route.. I have much respect for people who are willing to do things I never would

like everyone said, it takes a lot of patience..

[lambtron]

the method they are training you in is just an early intervention thing to help the child achieve ability to function in a "normal" school setting. This is kinda OT, but even if you don't end up doing this, I'd read the book "Thinking in Pictures" by Temple Grandin - its a pretty interesting read. Shes an autistic scientist who has designed 1/3 of all the modern cattle slaughterhouses in the US. Tis a good read.

[Freakazoid]

truthfully I think I may be the best person to ask on this forum.... my wife deals with them, my mom deals with them, both of my sisters deal with them. On a daily basis, with lots of them. For a grand total of probably 50 years between the 4 of 'em. They know the ins and outs of it, and by pure proximity I've learned a lot.

First and foremost, if you don't have patience, don't touch this job. It will tax and try on your patience more than you ever thought before.
Second, it's going to depend a lot on high functioning the kid is. If he's highly functional, it won't be much different than taking care of a normal kid, just requiring a bit more patience and understanding.
If he's lower functional, be prepared to teach and walk, and re-teach, and re-walk over and over and over again... and be prepared to think outside the box. You need to remember, these guys are usually VERY smart, but don't think the same way you and I do, don't stick within your own rigid thinking stance, think outside.

If you need any more information, let me know

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

I am not a doctor nor have any experience with autistic children, but I know I would not do it. Call me an asshole if you wish, but do you know how annoying regular kids are? I figure it's that x100 for an autistic kid. I figure he'll be up in your place messing with your stuff...that shit just isn't for me.

I know you'll improve his life etc, but it just wouldn't be worth it to me.

See the one huge difference, and plus of autistic kids is basically the equivalent of realizing they're like 5.

When a 5 year old scratches your car....you don't get NEARLY as pissed as a 12 year old.
If you can accept their mindset, and how old they are in their head...and THINK of them like that, it's actually a lot less aggravating (to me)

[Makushr1]

I was a swim coach/swim instructor for about 10 years. At the beginning of my coaching career, I was trained by the person in charge of the ISD's special needs program on how to work with special needs children. I worked with numerous autistic children, ranging in age from around 4 to 21. I also worked with children suffering from MS, cerebral palsy, downs, etc.

It was a great experince, but I wont begin to tell you it was easy. I've been vomited on, bitten, scratched, etc. Actually, come to think of it, the time I was bitten was by a kid without special needs, proving that all children can be a pain in the ass.

I'm not exactly sure what you're doing with them, but I only had them for 30-60minutes a time. I can imagine having them for an extended amount of time being much more difficult than having them swim in the pool for 30 minutes.

It will really test your paitence and make you a better person. Oh, and not to mention when you tell girls you just met that you work with special needs children, it really drops their panties - but that shouldn't be the reason to do this, obviously, it's just a little plus.

[fwmcb]

is a 10er an hour even minimum wage up here anymore?

[Vanity]

Originally Posted by ideliver

if you are serious about medical school, this (or something close) is a must...even if for only your selfish reasons...regardless, at the end...you (and hopefully the boy) will be better for your efforts...

I am serious about Medical School, but I (in my opinion) think this would look better on an application than, say, going down to Latin America and building a school over 2 months during summer. 1-2 years committed to making a difference in someone's life, and getting to know his family is just on another level.

Originally Posted by ben14142001

I worked with autistic kids for a couple years before going to med school. You get used to it/get in a rhythm with the kids, but it takes a ton of patience. It's manageable if you like kids and you are very patient.

If you could go back and do it over again, would you have done something else instead of working with the autistic children? I'm guessing the Board of Admissions liked your application haha.

Originally Posted by Comet

I commend you even for thinking going that route.. I have much respect for people who are willing to do things I never would

like everyone said, it takes a lot of patience..

I just hope he's nothing like the kid in your signature...

Originally Posted by lambtron

the method they are training you in is just an early intervention thing to help the child achieve ability to function in a "normal" school setting. This is kinda OT, but even if you don't end up doing this, I'd read the book "Thinking in Pictures" by Temple Grandin - its a pretty interesting read. Shes an autistic scientist who has designed 1/3 of all the modern cattle slaughterhouses in the US. Tis a good read.

I've heard about Temple Grandin before and watched one of her lectures online. She's definitely still very highly functional as a normal person. Could you also elaborate more on the ABA/Lovas Method? What do you mean early intervention and do you have any experience seeing it or doing it yourself?

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

First and foremost, if you don't have patience, don't touch this job. It will tax and try on your patience more than you ever thought before .... You need to remember, these guys are usually VERY smart, but don't think the same way you and I do, don't stick within your own rigid thinking stance, think outside.

If you need any more information, let me know

Thanks for such a helpful post!

Patience? I'm a patient person, but, I've never been in a situation where my patience will be tested for at least a year. If you could give me any more information that would be wonderful! Also, what should I be asking to family when I go and accept such a position? I'm clueless.

Originally Posted by Makushr1

I'm not exactly sure what you're doing with them, but I only had them for 30-60minutes a time. I can imagine having them for an extended amount of time being much more difficult than having them swim in the pool for 30 minutes.

It will really test your patience and make you a better person. Oh, and not to mention when you tell girls you just met that you work with special needs children, it really drops their panties - but that shouldn't be the reason to do this, obviously, it's just a little plus.

1) It would be 2-3 times a week, 3 hours each time. My schedule for next year is pretty decent, I end around noon every day for both semesters. I'm just uneasy about having to juggle Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (and others) while handling an autistic child who might exhaust me to the point where I can't focus on my studies. How exhausting is it?

2) LOL yeah, it's definitely a conversation starter haha.

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by Vanity

Thanks for such a helpful post!

Patience? I'm a patient person, but, I've never been in a situation where my patience will be tested for at least a year. If you could give me any more information that would be wonderful! Also, what should I be asking to family when I go and accept such a position? I'm clueless.

You don't know patience then being a generally patient person is only touching the surface....
As some have mentioned, be prepared to be bit, to be kicked, to be punched, to be spat on, etc. They aren't doing this to be mean (necessarily), generally just expressing themselves. They'll have mood changes like you won't believe. They won't be able to force their thoughts. DO NOT look 'down' on them, with their intelligence, they can tell that, and will react appropriately.
They won't listen, they won't learn....rather they will listen and learn, but very very slowly...slower than you think any human should learn. And there will be certain things that they just CAN'T do. You'll need to accept that, and be creative with thinking.

If you google functional levels of austistic behavior, you'll be able to see the differences. This would be the only real question in my mind, as you'll be going in inexperienced...ask basically what he's able to do on his own, what he needs help with, etc.

[CIGARGUY]

I work with Alzheimer and Dementia patients all day. Obviously, it's not the same, but it does have similarities in that they have special needs too. I will say that it takes even more patience and understanding than I first expected. Just expect the unexpected. Also, if you have any reservations, consider how it could affect this kid if you start working with him and then back out. Change is difficult for people with special needs. You may do him more harm than good if you start and then back out.

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by CIGARGUY

I work with Alzheimer and Dementia patients all day. Obviously, it's not the same, but it does have similarities in that they have special needs too. I will say that it takes even more patience and understanding than I first expected. Just expect the unexpected. Also, if you have any reservations, consider how it could affect this kid if you start working with him and then back out. Change is difficult for people with special needs. You may do him more harm than good if you start and then back out.

good point as well, autistic people will quickly form a bond with you (unless you really piss 'em off), if you commit..you need to COMMIT