One of my friends recently asked me what I like about Son-Rise. I thought she asked me why I liked The Son-Rise Program®, so I gave her some of the following answers:
I like the loving and non judgmental attitude, the philosophy of love and acceptance, never demanding from or moving against the child. The child has the option to come to you or not come to you or not come to you."
The fact that they don't judge the child's behavior as good or bad, appropriate or inappropriate, no time outs! They believe the child is doing the best he can, if he could do it better (interact in more meaningful ways, engage in conversation, make friends), he would. Instead of pushing him to conform to our priorities, we try to enter and understand his world and encourage a bonding so special, so loving, so exciting that a child will be motivated to break through whatever communicative barriers that may be holding him back.
We get the joy out of requesting, not burdening the child with having to respond, the child can choose to respond or not and we are okay with it.
The Son-Rise Program® teaches us to focus on being in the moment.
Their Son-Rise story was the first I read that was positive about autism. All the others I had read were describing how horrible their lives had been due to the autism.
They were the first to make me realize I had to focus on myself, my attitude.
They help so many parents who in turn help their kids.
Everyone else; The TV, ABA, doctors, Regional center, all make it sound like autism is a horrible thing, a tragedy.
Tulonga looked at me and spoke to me first time I joined him. (This is probably my favorite)
I responded but the question stayed with me...
WHY did I like the Son-Rise Program®? Was it because my child said his first 2 meaningful words when I began using a Son-Rise technique? When I first read about the Son-Rise Program® technique about joining the child in his world, I was so desperate to connect with my child. I joined him right away, before I even went to the training. Tulonga used to run back and forth holding a stick in one hand, chanting eerie sounds. I joined him in this activity, after about 5minutes I thought to myself, “What am I doing? He doesn't even know that I'm trying to play with him.” So, I stopped. As soon as I stopped my son came up to me, looked me right in the eye and mumbled these words to me, “M-m-mommy paaay,” (meaning mommy play).
Still thinking about the question, I decided to explore, I went back to when it all began. When Tulonga was diagnosed with Autism, September 29, 2006. I had asked the child psychologist who diagnosed my son to explain or define autism. Her explanation was that it meant my child would never learn to talk, read or write, that he could never learn self-help skills and he would probably end up in an institution.
My child's doctor insisted on putting him on medication, even though Tulonga was only 6years old, the doctor was convinced this child would end up committing a crime if he wasn't put on medication. Those who heard that my child was diagnosed with autism looked at me with pity and apologized for my loss.
The first book I read on autism, was written by a mother who shared her families' journey with autism. The description of what life was like with an autistic child seemed devastating. I could feel her frustration in every page. A writer really does share a part of themselves in their work. My heart became heavy. I started to feel like having an autistic person to look after was going to be really, really difficult and overwhelming.
I finally realized Why I really love The Son-Rise Program®. It started when I read "Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues" By Barry Bears Kaufman. I was amazed by Bears and his family's approach toward their son's autism. After their hopeless search for therapy to help their child, they created their own program. A home-based, child-centered program in an attempt to reach their little boy. I call it the birth of The Son-Rise Program®.
It felt good to finally find people or a program that didn't refer to my child as a tragedy. I'll always remember my first day at The Son-Rise Program®, the first thing "Bryn Hogan" said to us is "A CHILD IS A GIFT" Please pause and absorb that. "Every child is a gift"! Isn't that what every parent want to believe about their child? What parent want to hear their child being called a tragedy?
I wonder what it would be like if society referred to autism as different. If doctors diagnosed individuals with out calling them a tragedy. How can creation be a tragedy? If parents didn't get those pitiful looks and apologies. If the children were received with love instead of fear.
What I learned from The Son-Rise Program® is that autistic people love their own world. If we want to invite them into ours we have to sell our world. We have to show them how fun and exciting our world can be.
www.AutismTreatment.org
I like the loving and non judgmental attitude, the philosophy of love and acceptance, never demanding from or moving against the child. The child has the option to come to you or not come to you or not come to you."
The fact that they don't judge the child's behavior as good or bad, appropriate or inappropriate, no time outs! They believe the child is doing the best he can, if he could do it better (interact in more meaningful ways, engage in conversation, make friends), he would. Instead of pushing him to conform to our priorities, we try to enter and understand his world and encourage a bonding so special, so loving, so exciting that a child will be motivated to break through whatever communicative barriers that may be holding him back.
We get the joy out of requesting, not burdening the child with having to respond, the child can choose to respond or not and we are okay with it.
The Son-Rise Program® teaches us to focus on being in the moment.
Their Son-Rise story was the first I read that was positive about autism. All the others I had read were describing how horrible their lives had been due to the autism.
They were the first to make me realize I had to focus on myself, my attitude.
They help so many parents who in turn help their kids.
Everyone else; The TV, ABA, doctors, Regional center, all make it sound like autism is a horrible thing, a tragedy.
Tulonga looked at me and spoke to me first time I joined him. (This is probably my favorite)
I responded but the question stayed with me...
WHY did I like the Son-Rise Program®? Was it because my child said his first 2 meaningful words when I began using a Son-Rise technique? When I first read about the Son-Rise Program® technique about joining the child in his world, I was so desperate to connect with my child. I joined him right away, before I even went to the training. Tulonga used to run back and forth holding a stick in one hand, chanting eerie sounds. I joined him in this activity, after about 5minutes I thought to myself, “What am I doing? He doesn't even know that I'm trying to play with him.” So, I stopped. As soon as I stopped my son came up to me, looked me right in the eye and mumbled these words to me, “M-m-mommy paaay,” (meaning mommy play).
Still thinking about the question, I decided to explore, I went back to when it all began. When Tulonga was diagnosed with Autism, September 29, 2006. I had asked the child psychologist who diagnosed my son to explain or define autism. Her explanation was that it meant my child would never learn to talk, read or write, that he could never learn self-help skills and he would probably end up in an institution.
My child's doctor insisted on putting him on medication, even though Tulonga was only 6years old, the doctor was convinced this child would end up committing a crime if he wasn't put on medication. Those who heard that my child was diagnosed with autism looked at me with pity and apologized for my loss.
The first book I read on autism, was written by a mother who shared her families' journey with autism. The description of what life was like with an autistic child seemed devastating. I could feel her frustration in every page. A writer really does share a part of themselves in their work. My heart became heavy. I started to feel like having an autistic person to look after was going to be really, really difficult and overwhelming.
I finally realized Why I really love The Son-Rise Program®. It started when I read "Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues" By Barry Bears Kaufman. I was amazed by Bears and his family's approach toward their son's autism. After their hopeless search for therapy to help their child, they created their own program. A home-based, child-centered program in an attempt to reach their little boy. I call it the birth of The Son-Rise Program®.
It felt good to finally find people or a program that didn't refer to my child as a tragedy. I'll always remember my first day at The Son-Rise Program®, the first thing "Bryn Hogan" said to us is "A CHILD IS A GIFT" Please pause and absorb that. "Every child is a gift"! Isn't that what every parent want to believe about their child? What parent want to hear their child being called a tragedy?
I wonder what it would be like if society referred to autism as different. If doctors diagnosed individuals with out calling them a tragedy. How can creation be a tragedy? If parents didn't get those pitiful looks and apologies. If the children were received with love instead of fear.
What I learned from The Son-Rise Program® is that autistic people love their own world. If we want to invite them into ours we have to sell our world. We have to show them how fun and exciting our world can be.
www.AutismTreatment.org