Would you like to contribute to this article? I would like to find an outlet to publish this article. If you have ideas, please let us know! Autistic Kids and the Moore, Oklahoma Tornado Trauma Sharon Link, Ph.D. & Jimmy Link – autism coach 8/16/13 (c). In the past year there have been many traumas all over the country. One of these situations was the Newtown Connecticut shooting. Another was the Boston Marathon Bombing. These traumas were caused by crazy people, but the Oklahoma Tornado that ripped through the small town of Moore, Oklahoma in May was something different. Quite unexpectedly, twelve weeks ago, a tornado tore a small community apart. The elementary school where children had been attending safely up to this point was completely destroyed. Little children watched friends die or were badly injured and had to be pulled from the rubble. All of the children associated with this trauma had to face their fears as they as they returned to school on Friday, August 16, and this is not something to be downplayed. The fears associated with this distress will likely cause years of damage. But, 18-year-old autism author Jimmy Link, thinks that for autistic children this trauma will be much worse. Jimmy Link wrote: “Autistic children will have an even harder time going back into this newly built school after an event like the Moore, Oklahoma Tornado; this is understandable because autistic people tend to not forget anything that happens to them. Personally, I watched in horror as these events unfolded on television, and they are permanently etched on my memory. It’s August, and those scenes still play in me. It is confusing to me that a safe place like a school could become a place of such terror. I know that autistic kids attending brick and mortar schools are traumatized when something unexpected happens like the fire alarm goes off in school. Lately, there have been a lot of traumatic events happening in schools, and school officials will have to consider the extra trauma experienced by kids with autism.” Kids with autism have more expressed sensory integration problems. I know that I do. I become startled by even the smallest of noises. I know that I would be especially overwhelmed if a tornado ripped through the fabric of the four walls that were built to protect me. I have underlying anxiety problems and to this day, I need to go sit in my stress reliever swing to calm myself. I am fortunate, because I can talk and communicate my concerns, but many kids with autism are completely non-verbal. This combination of difficulties adds to the problems faced by kids with autism going back into situations where threat is perceived. Finally, autistic kids are not social, and are often segregated from neurotypicals either by choice or by staff and as a result they sit apart with similar peers or in seclusion. So, they may not get the same level of attention to their needs that neurotypicals will get to be able to cope with trauma. Their needs can be overlooked. Today, I am thinking about those poor kids who went back to school on Friday. I am fortunate that I attend an Online School called Connections Academy, and frankly I would suggest such an alternative for autistic children in Oklahoma. Even if for only a year until autistic kids can make sense of the situation and come to terms with the trauma, I personally would recommend this school. connectionsacademy/oklahoma-school/home.aspx My mom and I thought of some other suggestions that might be helpful for autistic kids going back into brick and mortar schools after this situation. First, you should realize that autistic kids, even if they are nonverbal, remember trauma very clearly. As a result of these memories, they might act out more by throwing tantrums or by becoming socially inappropriate. They might start a new behavior that you have never observed from that particular child. They could forever lose their ability to speak. These are all symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and depending on the verbal ability of the child; you should approach the child with all of these factors in mind before sending the child back into any potentially traumatic situation. Before sending the autistic child back to school, you might rehearse the situation beforehand, and if you have not actively sought counseling for your child, please consider this possibility. Other symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in an autistic child might include: 1) Dreaming or having nightmares about the event 2) Expressing physical symptoms such as stomachaches or headaches 3) Decreased and exacerbated concentration and attention 4) Regression in social or cognitive behaviors 5) Startling very easily 6) Perseverative behaviors that are reminiscent from the trauma 7) Not wanting to go to school at all We would recommend working with a trained trauma specialist and an autism coach so that your child’s special circumstances can be identified and addressed specifically. Second, after such a traumatic event, children might show deeper signs of depression. For the autistic child, the symptoms of depression might express differently and could include: 1) Frequent sadness, tearfulness, and crying 2) Decreased interest in activities; or inability to enjoy previously favorite activities 3) Persistent boredom; low energy and poor concentration 4) Social isolation, poor communication 5) Thoughts or expressions of suicide or self destructive behavior For the autistic child, once again the symptoms of depression might be expressed differently. This does not mean that the child might not have depression and once again, these concerns should be acknowledged and addressed. Third, the school environment itself should be prepped to support the autistic child. There should be a place of safety for all children to go in the school where they can avoid tornadoes in the future, but I would also suggest including a safe zone for the autistic child. This zone should be equipped with a therapy swing, tent, and some sensory activities or picture based activities in which the child might effectively communicate their depression or stress. Fourth, pre-teaching, establishing, and maintaining a routine is one crucial step going forward. Tornadoes are random events. Unfortunately, there are parts of the country where these events are becoming less random. With impending climate change, these types of extreme weather incidences will increase more and all children living in these tornado prone areas are potential victims. Given these concerns and our work with autism, we recommend having a multiple awareness plan in place to ensure consistency, veracity, and quality. We would be happy to help districts in providing relevant information regarding autism and trauma. Information referenced regarding children, stress, and depression can be found at American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry aacap.org/Default.aspx Jimmy Link is a 18-year-old boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. He is currently attending 12th grade through Connections Academy, and he is very excited about sharing his experiences living with autism. Dr. Sharon Link is an author of another book about Asperger Disorder, a textbook chapter on Inferential Statistics, and 29 additional articles. She is currently writing two other books. Dr. Sharon is the Director of Link Autism Leadership, which is a nonprofit that serves individuals, families, and educational leaders impacted by autism disorders. LAL helps students with autism overcome educational and social barriers by empowering educational leaders to be equipped to serve them. We fill the void for autism resources and training. Link Autism Leadership is a leader in Professional Development! Dr. Sharon has consulted with numerous schools, educators, and parents around the country. Her email address is Sharon.Link@live.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 20:36:04 +0000
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