Autistic brother... HELP

[zoe-lvs-horses]

Hi,
My little brother has autism and has alot of fears from squeaky toys to dogs, but 1 thing he is not afraid of is horses!! Even really huge ones!!!! :eek:

He always loves to watch me and other people ride so me and my mum think we should try to get him to start riding as he always says he would love to!

The only problem is that I think even though he says he would like to ride, I think that once he is on he might not like it anymore! :S:S Dont no what to do..?

And do many of your riding schools offer 1 to 1 disabled lessons because I am not sure if mine does? (will find out next time I am there)

Does anyone have any help for me????

Thanks
Zoe.x

[Miriam]

I notice your in the north east. If your near the washington area have you contacted the RDA there? I think someone here goes or helps out there but not too sure. Give them a ring and ask.

[Thistle]

I loaned a little pony to a friend whose son is autistic. He loved the pony and spent many hours just being with her and making friends. After a few months he did lose interest and I had the pony back but he certainly got a lot from her at the time.

I'd certainly ask around at RDA groups, riding schools etc.

[**jet**]

Both my boys have mild autism and loved to ride when they were younger it was easier for us as we had bougt their owm ponies ring your local RDA i am sure they will be able to help

[zoe-lvs-horses]

ok thank you! :) Now i hav an excuse 2 get a pony!!!!!:D:D lol
Thank you once again.

[sarah edwards]

i teach a lot of rda and you can to my knowledge request a one and one lesson but would have to pay private rates, i think he will really enjoy it as horse riding is a well known calmer for disabled rider ive taught many a lessons with kids who have epilpsey and the riding is calming for them and they dont fit as much, people who have limbs missing deaf and dumb kids and also blind kids, all kinds of disabilities and i enjoy teaching this more then able body people he will love it im sure of it speak with your local school explain the situation and also i would advise you are there at the lesson so if he does start to panic he has a familer face which will also help its a shame you arnt up my area of the woods as i would of loved to off been able to help you guys out good luck

[H & Bailey]

the unicorn centre is a disabled riding centre but not sure where you are in the north east,best he try it first before you get him a pony!

[laceyfreckle]

my eldest daughter is autistic (mod to severe) and she really loves riding, especially as it has a routine and structure to it:) She hasn't lost interest yet but its only been 18 months;)

You might be able to get private half hour lessons at a RS same as for any beginner rider although because my daughter's autism is quite bad and she has other problems such as arthiritis i teach her myself on my pony, although i am lucky to be able to do that. I know she would be entitled to help from rda if theres one near you, unfortunately there arn't any near me that i can get her to.

[Dinsarsio]

my son has learning difficulties and dyspraxia,epilepsy etc.He currently goes to RDA once a week and has passed his stage one he loves it.He carriage drives with me and shows no fear.My horses are different with him and very patient.

[palmerlover52]

My sister has something similar to autism (Deletion on chromosone 7, I think) and she rode for a little bit, she loved it (Until the stupid helper didn't do up the girth correctly and she slid off this side :mad: )

She had private lessons I think, but try your RDA :)

[JustJas]

Having worked with children with autism I would say try a lesson at the RDA and see how it goes.

[stormy's mum]

try the rda and see how it goes many autistic children like to ride . i think they enjoy the mental stimulation.

[zoe-lvs-horses]

ok will do everyone!
Thank you sooooo much everybody all your posts have really helped!
In the next school holidays (Begining of June) we are going to try and get him started on riding as my riding school are RDA friendly.
Thanks again
Zoe.xx

[paynel]

I have aspergers syndrome which is part of the autism sprectrum. I am 19 years old. and have been riding since i was 8. I have been round horses all my life. since i was a baby really. it helped me alot. as in socalising as i never used to was only since i had my horse in 2003 and started to make other horsey friends. brought me out my shell alot. I would say to have a 1 to 1 lesson too at a RDA. or even just to get a bond with a pony. Just see how he goes. all ** best! :)

[oinkmoooink]

Im no use because im down in the south, but my local riding school does RDA, and, im not sure iff shes still having lessons, but the instructor was/is giving private lessons(out of school itme) to a girl with downs syndrome, in fact she offered to because the girl was enjoying it so much, and getting a bit too good for the usual stuff.
If theres a local ridnig school with RDA ponies, and aan RDA insturctor, i dont see why they couldnt give lessons?

[zoe-lvs-horses]

ok thank you everybody for your advice!
I recently found out that my riding school offers 1 to 1 disabled lessons so I think we might do that but the RDA does sound good..
Just how do I go about getting hold of the RDA as I do not know where my local RDA is???

[Joyscarer]

If in doubt, Google it :D


http://www.riding-for-disabled.org.uk/

[tas1608]

I am sure he will got a lot of enjoyment from riding, I worked in a special needs school and once a week we would take the children riding with a registered RDA school, their disabilities were all different from ADHD to Angel's syndrome (severely mentally & physically diabled) and everything in between,each and every one of them loved riding, you could actually see the children relax, made for a nice quite afternoon in school ;)
Phone around a few and ask if they or anyone they know do RDA. You will find one. We are out in the sticks here and we have two, both within reasonable driving distance.

[LaurenEff]

Go for it Zoe! Get him booked in!! He adores 'horsey rides', get on that phone and book a lesson! x

[rhsw]

Get him booked in, when I was in NZ, I helped out with a RDA school for kids, what I noticed over time, and from what I have been told, many of them improved, e.g. they are calmer, have better muscule control, seem more interesting in what was happening around them. And Sarah, please do not call deaf kids deaf and dumb, they are just deaf please.

[x.fat-pony.x]

people who have limbs missing deaf and dumb kids and also blind kids, all kinds of disabilities guys out

Do you mean children with learning difficulties?
Please try not to be so rude and blunt.

ETA - Apparently I'm wrong. So don't listen to me! It isn't offensive, so if you are offended by this, don't be, because it isn't!

[Vicki&Milo]

I presume she meant mute, 'dumb' is, sadly, like so many other words that are actually correct but have been used as put downs by idiots (which incidentally is another example) and as such have started to become regarded as derogatory

[rhsw]

Mute sadly is another example deaf people are not. They are just deaf, cannot hear their own voices, but can in fact talk, this does not make them dump or mute, a very misleading word and hurtful in cases.

[Vicki&Milo]

but some people ARE mute, deaf or not

[sarah edwards]

im not been rude fat pony! i teach rda myself and i prefere teaching people with learning difficulties as apose to able body people the people i teach are deaf some of them dumb limbs missing that makes no differences atall im almost 30 now so im a little past the been rude stage and i would never ever be rude in regards to my passion which is teaching the rda as i love it its what they call job satisfaction thanks for the comments after wards guys aswell very kind of you to stick up for me yeap i agree words are mis read sometimes theres no harm ment by them at tall i hate people who call you RUDE for no reason

[x.fat-pony.x]

Ugh :rolleyes: I may only be 17, but I've learnt a lot in this world. One thing being that you tend to feel strongly about things concerning you. One of them being having a friend who is ,how you put it, deaf and dunb.
She wouldn't like being called that, although she does and it upsets her. So I too, get offended when people use that phrase, whether it used to be 'correct' or not. If it upsets my friend, it's bound to upset other people with the condition, who perhaps go on NR.
That's all I was thinking of.

[rhsw]

Ugh :rolleyes: I may only be 17, but I've learnt a lot in this world. One thing being that you tend to feel strongly about things concerning you. One of them being having a friend who is ,how you put it, deaf and dunb.
She wouldn't like being called that, although she does and it upsets her. So I too, get offended when people use that phrase, whether it used to be 'correct' or not. If it upsets my friend, it's bound to upset other people with the condition, who perhaps go on NR.
That's all I was thinking of.


Ditto to that, hence the reason, dont use those words please. People who are 'Normal' dont like people to call them fat, if they are fat, thin if they are thin, flat chested if they are, and so on, its very hurtful to certain people, deaf people can talk, and some that use sign language, that does not make them dump or mute, likewise people who have limps missing can be called a freak, see my point, its very misleading and very hurtful, we are people with feelings, lets be just that.

[zoe-lvs-horses]

:o I didn't mean to make my thread and argument match!!! lol :p

Glad things are settled!
Zoe.x
Thanks everyone for your fantastic posts and advise!:)

[Joyscarer]

I think this is where you need to think about the intention with which something is said rather than what was said. I for one get very lost with knowing what the latest politically correct term is because the last politically correct term fell out of favour. If I use the wrong one it is not out of any disrespect but just because I can't keep up. Hense I won't be commenting on any threads that require me to use a a term about disabilty. To my mind it is better not to speak at all than to risk offending and that's a shame.

[sarah edwards]

please keep us posted on your brothers progress im sure he will really enjoy riding i hope you have found a rda centre near to you where he can enjoy been around and riding horses i get a lot of satisfaction from teaching rda and its such a joy espicailly when they get on the horses there faces are a picture and i sometimes get quiet emotional when the lessons are finished and they cuddle the ponies/horses and say by teacher sarah see you next week they love coming to the yard and it gives me so much job satisfaction i wish id done the training earlyer keep us posted

[tubby1]

I volunteer at our local RDA one of the classes has autistic children in it and they have a ball Hope your brother has a successful lesson

[Midori]

I'm curious about groups for adults, there don't seem to be many, and how does one apply to join a group as a rider? do you have to be recommended by your GP, or what?

Cheers, midori

[zoe-lvs-horses]

I will keep you all updated dont worry!

And erm... you dont need to be like refered by your GP you just kind of erm go... :confused: I am a little confused at that post Midori...? :-S
I think it is probs just me having a blonde moment! Even though i am not even blonde!:p:D lol
Zoe.x

[LaurenEff]

i think she means do you have to kind of be classed as disabled to go to a RDA.
xx I Think? x

[fishiz3434]

Should be able to get a 1:1 lesson but if not maybe he can join in your lesson and just be lead around and taught by a helper as well as the coach running the lesson, I found with lots of autistic riders if they have someone they know and trust(you) then they are less likely to want to get off because his whole lift he's probably try'd to be like you and now he can and he'll be able to show you everything he does because you'll be right there. I don't know anything about him other than that he is autistic which means i know even less about him ;) so it would probably be you and your mom that would know best what the RI should do with his lesson format (ie 1:1 or RDA Group lesson)
Jes

[marieb]

Autistics and horses seem to go together...they see things the same way it seems?? Monty Roberts has some knowledge of this subject, in one of his books i think.
I have a 22 year old autisitc daughter and she is always calmed by horses.

[zoe-lvs-horses]

Thank you. :)
I will keep you updated on how he does.
(Oh and yes i certainly agree that autistics and horses go well together!);)
xx

[~Perdita.M~]

Not all of them, just like everyone else they are individual:) My son isn't bothered either way really. He is more into dogs.:D

[LaurenEff]

Zoes brother is scared of dogs :o But not fazed by horses :D

[lazyfox]

I would certainly try your local RDA group. I can recommend it highly as I am a volunteer for our local group. We have autistic children among our riders and it is great to see how much they enjoy their weekly sessions. During the time that they are with us it is remarkable how much of a difference being around the ponies can make. Most RDA groups run very simple 'tests' that the childeren can take part in - its brilliant to see these children achieve these goals and the look on their faces when they collect their certificate and rosette is priceless.
Give it a try - it really will be worth it!

[Ansiosa]

Franklin Levinson uses horses for 'Equine Facilitated Learning'. See here http://www.wayofthehorse.org/Articles/equine-fac-learning.html about the fourth para down.

I used to help with RDA when I was at college and there's no doubt about it the benefits were on many levels, physical and emotional. One of the great benefits was that the students got to meet and interact with a new group of positive, friendly adult helpers. I know this can be difficult for Autistic children, but if the incentive of riding was sufficient to get your brother to try then the advantages of joining RDA could be very great.

I really agree with all those who've said give it a go one way or another - there's definitely something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a person :) Just look at Caton Parelli :D

[FILLYSIRE]

i teach a lot of rda..... ive taught many a lessons with kids who have epilpsey and the riding is calming for them and they dont fit as much, people who have limbs missing deaf and dumb kids and also blind kids

You're kidding me, right? You teach RDA but you use offensive terms from the medieval English era to discribe the disabilities of your clients. I take it they have not updated the RDA training manual yet?

[Liz1949]

My adult nephew is DEAF. In fact he is totally DEAF. He and the rest of the family use the term DEAF all the time. He does not have much speech which is intelligible to anyone other than those who know him well; if it were not for modern technology he would have no speech at all and would have, therefore, been reasonably described as DUMB or MUTE.

There is nothing medieval about being DEAF, or about using the word to describe a person who has no, or very little, hearing.

The supposedly-more-politically-correct term 'hearing impaired' does not even begin to sufficiently describe the degree of impairment suffered by a person who has no hearing ability - whereas the term DEAF - and especially the term 'totally deaf' most certainly does.

Terms and the latest, most acceptable ones, are a minefield and as in any minefield, even tiptoeing about won't prevent you from exploding a mine as some of them seem to have remote tripwires or shift about unseen underground ...

[FILLYSIRE]

My adult nephew is DEAF. In fact he is totally DEAF. He and the rest of the family use the term DEAF all the time.
There is nothing medieval about being DEAF, or about using the word to describe a person who has no, or very little, hearing.

You are correct about the word "deaf" being an acceptable term for one's disability. This is from the National Association of the Deaf's website: "Overwhelmingly, deaf and hard of hearing people prefer to be called "deaf" or "hard of hearing" [and they] view "hearing-impaired" as negative, because the label focuses on what they can't do."

What I was objecting to (as well as other NR's) was the use of the outdated term "deaf and dumb" being used by a RDA teacher to describe her client's disability. I have a daughter who has CP and her therapists would never use such antiquated negative labels such as dumb, cripple, retard or spazz to describe my child's disabilites. x.fat-pony.x was correct in saying that the term was rude.