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...it's just been getting other people to recognize it that's the problem. He's autistic, and most people (even some professionals) figure autistic=stupid. Which isn't the case, even remotely; autistic means they don't process information the same way most people do, and hence can have great problems learning to deal with the world around them. There's no medical treatment for it--no drugs, diet, etc. that is proven to have any effect on it. What does work, however, is lots of therapy aimed at figuring out how to help them make whatever connections they need to allow them to figure out how to deal with the world around them. It's not a question of intelligence, it's a question of figuring out how to use that intelligence. It doesn't necessarily require a professional therapist, either; I worked with him whenever I was home from college, and since he's gotten old enough for school they've hired high school students to come in and work with him on his schoolwork and teach him to play games and sports and things. All it needs is dedication, lots of patience, and an ability to figure out new things to try if something's not working.
Anyway, I just got word from my parents that not only is my brother now reading at a fifth-grade level (and he's only in fourth grade), but the only subject he needs special help in is math--and not even all the time then. Which is really cool!
And when he was three, a specialist tried to tell us he was severely retarded as well as autistic. Idiot. Gee, he didn't do well on the normal intelligence-evaluation tools/games they use for children his age. Really? I'm shocked, shocked, I tell you! A kid who doesn't process information the same way as other kids do had problems with the standard evaluation tools? Who woulda thunk it? He'd been strategizing for a year by that point, we knew he wasn't stupid. For example, when I was trying to keep him corraled in coffee hour after church, he'd pick up a pillow from the couch, get between me and the door, throw the pillow in the opposite direction, and make a mad dash for the door, knowing I'd have to stop to pick up the pillow before I could go after him. A kid who can figure that out by age two? Is not stupid.
Anyway, I just got word from my parents that not only is my brother now reading at a fifth-grade level (and he's only in fourth grade), but the only subject he needs special help in is math--and not even all the time then. Which is really cool!
And when he was three, a specialist tried to tell us he was severely retarded as well as autistic. Idiot. Gee, he didn't do well on the normal intelligence-evaluation tools/games they use for children his age. Really? I'm shocked, shocked, I tell you! A kid who doesn't process information the same way as other kids do had problems with the standard evaluation tools? Who woulda thunk it? He'd been strategizing for a year by that point, we knew he wasn't stupid. For example, when I was trying to keep him corraled in coffee hour after church, he'd pick up a pillow from the couch, get between me and the door, throw the pillow in the opposite direction, and make a mad dash for the door, knowing I'd have to stop to pick up the pillow before I could go after him. A kid who can figure that out by age two? Is not stupid.
