Move Autism

We have just returned from an amazing outreach in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here is a compilation of a few of the lessons with a little boy with autism “J.”

Watch that over the course of the lessons “J” becomes more comfortable, social and much quieter. In the first 2 minutes I describe and implement an increasingly complex series of arching movements, demonstrating first with “J” and then with his assistant. (“J” does those movement anyways! I just helped him to realize what he was doing.)

I never contradict what a child is doing, but instead join with the nervous system and the self-regulating patterns of a child. This builds commonality between me and the child, instead of contradictions. From this common understanding I can then invite towards increasingly complex movement.

Over the course of these lessons “J” becomes much clearer at asking for specific things that he wants – movement and a specific quality of touch, his guitar, etc. Between 5-8 minutes “J” and I play with a guitar, examining many different surfaces of the guitar and the body that make different sounds. Note how comfortable, even cuddly “J” becomes with me around minute 7:00.

For a discussion of the Son-Rise Program® principle of “joining” as it relates to movement listen at 16:00.