RegGuheert Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 (edited) First of all, thanks for the recommendations here for "Temple Grandin"! I put it in our Amazon cart when we first heard about it, but we have been waiting for the price to come down from a nosebleed level before purchasing. We got it this week and watched it as a family last night. What an awesome woman and an awesome movie! Immediately after the movie ended DS13 asked, in front of his siblings, "Do you think I might be autistic?" Our reply: "Yes, we think you have a very mild form of autism." Although we have long thought that DS13 was on the far end of the autism spectrum, we have never discussed it with him. Rightly or wrongly, we decided that we did not want to give him any excuse for inappropriate behavior. After that first question, we had a very good discussion about the topic with all of the children. Interestingly, all but one of the other children started chiming in with "Don't you think I might also be autistic?" :001_smile: "No, we don't think so." At the end of the discussion I asked DS13 how he felt about this new revelation. "I feel great!" "I'm special, but not less!" He was literally beaming! What a great way to introduce autism to our children! None of them have a negative image of it and hopefully they will be sensitive to people with ASD that they meet in the future. Edited September 3, 2011 by RegGuheert Added link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Can you link to the video at amazon please? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Can you link to the video at amazon please? Thanks! Yes please. :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 Done. BTW, I do not think I have seen reviews that universally positive EVER for any other movie on Amazon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Inna* Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 We loved that movie! :001_smile: Check out her books as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Thanks! I'm now #22 on my library's hold list.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 Check out her books as well.We may very well do that! While we're at it, here is a link to Temple Grandin's Official Website. There is a lot of information there plus you can purchase the books, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 Thanks! I'm now #22 on my library's hold list.:)Kathleen, I'm not sure quite how to break this to you, but it seems like your library gives that to you as their standard answer! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Temple Grandin has also given great lectures at Ted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 It's a great movie! Our son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS through our local school system. The psychologist handed me a copy of Grandin's Thinking in Pictures to borrow as we went over the diagnosis. Once I flipped through the book, I remembered hearing Grandin speak on NPR. My son simply saw the title of the book and said, "Hey! *I* think in pictures!" It opened up a whole dialogue about the autistic spectrum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Kathleen, I'm not sure quite how to break this to you, but it seems like your library gives that to you as their standard answer! ;) HA! Are you doing the 17-day diet too or are you just stalking me?:lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 It is an amazing film! How wonderful to have this as an inspirational vehicle to open a discussion with your child Reg. I'd urge anyone who has not had the opportunity to see "Temple Grandin" to do so. It is a truly compelling and fascinating film. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 How wonderful to have this as an inspirational vehicle to open a discussion with your child Reg.It truly was a wonderful thing! I cannot imagine any other way of starting this dialog in a more positive manner. While my son is certainly not as autistic as Temple Grandin, he could relate to some of what he saw in the movie. For one thing, he does not like being touched or rubbed on the back (although he does enjoy hugs). He also has a very difficult time reading social cues that others easily get, including DS7. Additionally, he has an incredible memory. He is one of the very best spellers in the United States today. During our discussion, he shared some description of how his memory works and how imagery plays into that process. (However his memory is not as photographic as Temple's nor does it appear to be as photographic as a girl he competes with from a nearby private school in regional spelling bees.) We also shared with him that he did a LOT of screaming during the first three years of his life. The point here is that he could clearly see that the little bit of autism that he has is a gift in much the same way that Temple Grandin recognizes her autism as a gift. My prayer is that he will continue to embrace it and will stay positive as he manages through some of the more difficult aspects throughout the rest of his life. I think some of Temple Grandin's writings will need to go on his school curriculum going forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 HA! Are you doing the 17-day diet too or are you just stalking me?:lol::lol::lol:Well, I'm not dieting... ;) :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieH Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 That video changed me. It was AWESOME!!! For years I've been so worried about my son and also confused..with all the different things the "professionals" would say. That movie gave me a glimpse into his mind and the way he thinks. It summed up what his awesome psychologist has been trying to explain to me. I've been reading her book "The Way I See It" and it's been fantastic. I'm glad to see it mentioned here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Okay, that just talked me into it! I have had it in my "save for later" for at least a year. :lol: I'm glad it was such a positive experience for your family! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 (edited) Well, I'm not dieting... ;) :D AACCKK!!:scared::D And, FYI, I just put The Way I See It and Thinking in Pictures on hold and I am #1 on both! Edited September 3, 2011 by Kathleen in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 Although we have long thought that DS13 was on the far end of the autism spectrum, we have never discussed it with him. Rightly or wrongly, we decided that we did not want to give him any excuse for inappropriate behavior. IMHO, if you were not desperately seeking answers and help as parents, it's very unlikely your ds would be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. He may have some sensory issues that could be improved with OT and the earlier you seek treatment, the more likely it is to be successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeaganS Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 What a wonderful way to introduce his diagnoses to your family! We got that movie from Netflix a few weeks ago and it was wonderful. We suspect that our daughter might be autistic, so it was very comforting to my husband. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 Sounds like a must-see. I've put it on hold. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted September 4, 2011 Author Share Posted September 4, 2011 IMHO, if you were not desperately seeking answers and help as parents, it's very unlikely your ds would be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. He may have some sensory issues that could be improved with OT and the earlier you seek treatment, the more likely it is to be successful.You may very well be correct on this point. We certainly are considering having his hearing checked to see if he perceives sound properly. We all suspect he does not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacie Leigh Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 Awesome! I don't think any of my kids have autistic tendencies, but we all watched the movie together and they were in awe of Temple and thought she was so amazing. That was the first time we ever discussed the topic and I was really happy to be able to have such a positive jumping off point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tullia Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 How Can I talk If My Lips Don't Move (inside my autistic mind) Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay. He's also the author of The Mind Tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 I watched the movie with my husband and daughter a couple of months ago. I was expecting to like it, I thought it was interesting and well-done, and I was amazed at Temple's accomplishments. However, the movie left me wrung out. My head was spinning, and I couldn't talk above a whisper for a couple of hours after watching it. I don't know if it was the intensity of the movie, or the volume, or what. Both my family members responded the same way. Did anyone else have this experience? Is it because Temple speaks so loudly in the movie? Is it because we're seeing things from Temple's perspective, and it's more intense? Please tell me we're not so laid-back and quiet at our house that we shy away from brilliance when we see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 Temple Grandin has also given great lectures at Ted. And from an Errol Morris section: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafiki Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted September 4, 2011 Author Share Posted September 4, 2011 However, the movie left me wrung out. My head was spinning, and I couldn't talk above a whisper for a couple of hours after watching it. I don't know if it was the intensity of the movie, or the volume, or what. Both my family members responded the same way.I loaned the movie to my sister last night and her reaction was very much the same as yours, so you are not alone in this. She was wondering if they made it that way in order to help you experience in some small way the world of a person with an autism disorder. Perhaps. Our family, OTOH, is so loud on a normal basis that the style appealed to us. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 That is awesome! I heard Temple Grandin speak this spring, and she remarked several times that her mother never let her get away with inappropriate behavior, either. So, you guys are on the right track! I'm trying to do the same with my 8 yr. old Aspie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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