advise needed re autism

[falen]

Hey all.  Long time no write.  We are moving!  Yay.  Our dear coach has been with us for 5 years from the beginning and has been wonderful.  We are moving and coach has recommended a few coaches in the new place.  DD is now Juv level with her sight on Intermediate by sept.  Apparently these coaches are "up there".  DD is very high functioning autistic.  Very smart and above grade level intellectually, however, since she is autistic, she is pretty much like an 8 year old that got skipped multiple grades.  Should I disclose her disability?  SHe has come very far in only 5 years...from never worn skates to double jumps except double axel.  You definitely can't teach her like a regular 13 year old.  Would coaches at the high level balk at teaching her.   What is your feelings.

[Clarice]

Yes, I think you need to let any potential coach know of your daughter's autism.  They need to know in order to be able to coach her most effectively.  If I were her coach, I'd want to be able to discuss things openly with you, too, in order to learn what approaches and strategies have worked best in the past.  There are some who may balk, and others who will consider it a challenge.  I wish you well, and hope you and your daughter find a great coach who is a good fit!

[phoenix]

Absolutely tell them!! I am a coach, and it is very frustrating when parents don't give me information that is vital to helping me teach their child in the most effective way. I had one student with serious medical issues which I didn't know about until she had to take 4 months off from skating because her health had declined (oh, I guess she really *was* too tired after one round of simple stroking exercises...), another who was almost completely deaf, which I didn't know about until I mentioned to her mom that she really didn't pay attention very well in a group class ("yes, you have to make sure to look directly at her when you talk so she can read your lips"), and another with a learning disability which I didn't know about until I mentioned to her mom that I had to make sure to demonstrate every thing several times before she got it (no wonder she took months to memorize moves patterns).

In all of these cases it would have been very helpful to know beforehand, rather than go through the frustration of trying to figure out how to teach this kid who for some reason wasn't responding well, and I had no idea why. Please talk to her future coaches so they can start off on the right foot and can work with you and your daughter in the best possible way.

[FigureSpins]

Definitely talk to the staff at the new rink. I know of several skating coaches who are also special needs school teachers or have some training in working with special skaters.  Try to find someone with the appropriate skills already in place or find someone willing to learn the skills needed to work with your daughter.  Best of luck.

[falen]

thank you so much.  I will follow your advice.  My first instinct was to let them know, but my ultra competitive hubby was a bit concerned that some would not want to take her on.  Really, this sport has helped her off the ice as well as on the ice and I want to continue

[fsk8r]

thank you so much.  I will follow your advice.  My first instinct was to let them know, but my ultra competitive hubby was a bit concerned that some would not want to take her on.  Really, this sport has helped her off the ice as well as on the ice and I want to continue

If they don't want to take her on, then they're not the right coach for her. She'll only progress if she has a good relationship with her coach and that is dependent on your coach understanding her.

[dlbritton]

Definitely talk to the staff at the new rink. I know of several skating coaches who are also special needs school teachers or have some training in working with special skaters. 

The Adult 3/4 instructor I have is a special needs school teacher specializing in autistic middle school students so you may find such a person at the new rink.

In my skiing life, I have taught high functioning autistic students and ADD/ADHD students and it was definitely a help to know their situation. I will say I had a great time teaching them. Several of the high end instructors have regular clients with cognitive or emotional development issues and thoroughly enjoy teaching them. We also have the advantage of an Adaptive Discipline with certified coaches specializing in more severe physical and developmental issues. The Adaptive program is all volunteer at our resort so the instructors are definitely motivated out of love of the sport.

Does skating have any similar programs or Special Olympics events?

[ChristyRN]

Could potential coaches contact her current/former coach for ideas that work? It might provide some continuity and make starting with a new coach easier.

[nicklaszlo]

ultra competitive hubby was a bit concerned that some would not want to take her on

Few coaches are lucky enough to get to pick and choose their students.

[taka]

Does skating have any similar programs or Special Olympics events?

Not exactly but people are trying to get things going. See here for a Scottish based charity who run a club international competition for skaters with disabilities / impairments (including some GB special olympics championship events) and are trying to work towards getting skating into the Paralympics. I know of several skaters who have entered with various disabilities / impairments including a wee blind boy who just loves his skating!

[nicklaszlo]

Does skating have any similar programs or Special Olympics events?

I do not know about how many events or participants there are, but USFS has lots of information about programs.

http://www.usfsa.org/Programs.asp?id=364

The original poster's daughter sounds like she is doing well in mainstream programs though.

[blue111moon]

There are state games for Special Olympians (my club has hosted the skating events several times in the past) so I would suggest those in the US check the Special Olympics website for programs and contacts in their state. 

As for finding a coach, I would not be surprised to run into some coaches who would decline an autistic child.   It does take special skill and patience to deal with individuals with disabilities (I've done it short-term) and some people just don't have those skills.  The ones who do may not have the top coaching credentials (master ratings, high test levels or national medals).  It may take several try-outs to find a coach who clicks with your daughter.  It should be pretty easy to weed out the ones who would only be doing it for the money.   Good luck.

[so_jesslovescats]

I am a high functioning autistic who skates.
I want to clarify something someone like me who is "High functioning" doesn't always need extreme accommodations and I DON'T train with special Olympics though I COMPETE through them, the reason is because their are NOT enough of us to have our own lessons so we skate with everyone else.

The list of accommodations aren't THAT HUGE.
1) Sensory breaks if needed (though rare it IS always to be an option for me)
2)An understanding that my verbal processing skills may not be as quick as others give me time to listen and watch.
3)Yelling is not an effective way to communicate with me.
4)Break things down ONE step at a time.
5)If I won't try something right away LET me watch in till I am tell you I am ready.
6)I make strange noises sometimes and flap these are normal things for me do not be alarmed.


Break down the list of WHAT she needs and present it to each coach in till you find one that says "okay I can handle this" don't just say "She has autism" because I found presenting what was needed and then my diagnosis worked best.

[nicklaszlo]

3)Yelling is not an effective way to communicate with me.
4)Break things down ONE step at a time.

Good advice for any learning situation.