When Your Child is Your Hero | The Fatherhood Project
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- čas přidán 22. 04. 2014
- This week we talk with Matt Oakes. His son Liam was recently diagnosed with Autism and Verbal Apraxia, which prevents him from talking. Matt talks about what it means to be a good dad and how we need to humble ourselves as dads.
Filmmaker Corbyn Tyson explores what it means to be a good dad. This is a series that looks at what it means to be a father today.
Written and produced by Corbyn Tyson
www.corbyntyson.net
twitter: @corbyntyson
Crew:
Matt Youngblood
Jared Cacciatore
Special Thanks:
SVL Productions
Matt & Courtney Oakes
Brave Hearts at the Bergmann Centre
www.braveheartsriding.org
Music: Josh Garrels
www.marmosetmusic.com
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"Im scared..." and yet brave enough to face those fears.
The subtle, steady strength that parents have will always amaze me.
Maybe one day ill be that strong.
I can't even imagine. My son is my life. I wish you and your family all the happiness in the world. As a father I just want to be able to provide and protect my son he is everything to me.
Wonderful story. I personally know two different children, one boy (3.5 y/o) and one girl (4 y/o), who have Apraxia. Both have come so far and are beginning to talk so well. It's so amazing to watch them be able to finally communicate.
So great to see such a positive story about disability on here! Liam seems like such a strong, wonderful boy, and it's so great to see him using his AAC device too! These computers really change peoples lives. Thanks for another thought provoking video, this channel never fails!
alwaysandeverful Thank you so much for the support, we really appreciate it! Stayed tuned for more of the "Fatherhood Project"!
Finally something that focuses on fatherhood and its importance!!!
These always inspire me to be better with my twins. As a paraplegic sometimes I am insecure about my abilities. All I want is to be the best dad I can be. Thanks for the inspiration
My now 17 year old son was diagnosed with autism near his third birthday and only began talking with schooling and intensive therapy about 8 months in. It is not easy to raise and nurture a child with autism even the kiddos who are high functioning. I just made up my mind that I would never stop learning, always be my son's advocate, and love him just as any other parent would do. I know states and even communities are different and I know I am blessed to have our intermediate school system be the root of support for our autistic kids in our region. Take all the support you can from all sources, attend support meetings (even if only viable to do so through internet forums), and always do your best. It will not be the world you once envisioned for yourself and family but so what? You just create a new one- filled with support and love.
Thank you for sharing your story and your beautiful children with us. :-)
Matt Oakes,
I watched this video and your Liam is my Corey! Corey is now 19 years old. He has struggled his whole life with "friendships" but as he got older each time he moved up to a new school level he did develop relationships that were good, and of course there were some that were not. Corey did finally develop speech after many years of speech therapy. He still struggles with two way conversations and likely always will. Eye contact is also difficult for him. He became involved with the Forensics team in high school, while he never earned a huge reward, he did his Junior year receive a trophy for most improved. He is in college now at our local University. He loves college life and has developed new friends all on his own, however college may not be his best option. He has found a program on Campus that we are hoping can get him the help he needs, but he is already on academic probation because his grades were poor this first semester.
I smiled when I saw Thomas and friends because we have a whole toy box full of the wooden trains and tracks that were available as Corey was growing up.
We have chosen to allow Corey to be his own person and not go for guardianship of him. However at some point we may need to do something with that we will take things one day at a time and see how things go.
I am not a dad but felt compelled to comment on the Topic of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
This is crazy, our son Liam was also diagnosed with autism and verbal apraxia at the age of 7. The only reason we saw this was because Liam searched his name into youtube and started watching it. Both our boys are on the spectrum, our old son Logan aged 13 is autistic, add and tourettes. The difference between my boys was Logan was speech delayed but he caught up in kindergarten, where as Liam fights every day to get his words understood. We still have huge problems with sensory integration disorder and rumination disorder. Liam just recently started having seizures. Liam is active in soccer and cub scouts though. Both my boys are stronger than any adult I have ever met. Thank you for telling our story through your family!
Jacquelin Powers Hi Jacquelin! Your story is very touching, and it sounds like you do a lot for your boys. I am working with a small team to create an assistive communication tool that helps people who can't speak (because of autism) communicate their needs at the push of a button. If you think your Liam could benefit, please email me at info@dustinswords.com. And check out our story here: dustinswords.com/indiegogo
I’m a single father in the military with a son diagnosed with autism, I understand more than anything how Matt feels when it comes to not knowing what will happen with your son when you pass away. I commend him for making this video and expressing your feelings.. i know it had to be incredibly difficult. Thank you for sharing your story.
This is so lovely to watch. My dad did not want to be a father when he was younger, but as soon as they put me and my brother in his arms he was a natural. He taught me to ride a bike, fish, do DIY and that I could be anyone I wanted to be. So proud to have such a strong male influence in my life, watching him fight to be a good person in a world where that's not always easy is such an inspiration and he still gives the best dad-hugs ever. Will keep watching these! Keep up the great work!
Hey guys, I have to tell you that this video moved me to tears and I'm still crying as I type this. When our son's pediatrician noticed that our son Dane wasn't hitting certain milestones in his communication he suggested we have him evaluated by our Regional Center. It was at 18 months of age that our son Dane was diagnosed with autism. It was one of the hardest things his mother and I have ever had to hear. On the one hand, we finally knew what it was, but on the other hand, we didn't fully understand what it meant in the long term. The countless hours of therapy, the meltdowns, the aversion to eating a variety of foods and the lack of ability to communicate and socialize. I see so much of my family in Matt, his wife and Liam. I've spent hours with him during his in-home therapy and working with him on his communication. Dane's mother is unbelievably resilient, resourceful and the reason why he has been able to get the help he needs. I think that is what made it so moving. I love my son so much that the thought of him being unable to communicate with anyone or that someone might take advantage of him because of his difficulty verbalizing terrifies me. But I also hold on to hope. He has made such huge strides in his development thanks to early intervention, finding the right schools for him and being involved with his therapy. He surprises us everyday with the new words and phrases he picks up and the new foods he's willing to try. He has taught us all so much about ourselves, how to communicate and how to see the world through someone else's eyes. He has taught us patience and shown us how to take joy in the little moments and how to find him through all of the noise.
I just had to tell you how much this video means to us. Thank you.
Manny
It is situations like this that make me wonder if Liam would benefit from learning sign language as a form of communication. It just makes me really happy that there is technology and equine therapy that can help children that 50 years ago would have suffered through their entire life.
The most important message in this video for me is the line "No, we don't just do things. That's not how this family operates."
I too am a father of a child with autism. My son Max is nine, and was diagnosed at age five. While the diagnosis does present its limitations and challenges, we are committed to not letting it present boundaries.
When Max was five, before he was potty trained, before he could feed himself or throw a ball, before he could speak in complete sentences, we decided to take him snow skiing. Against all odds, he learned to ski, and to this day calls it his favorite pastime.
Life looks radically different for our family than it does for those with less challenging circumstances, but we will never look at it as a boundary. My biggest encouragement to families faced with similar circumstances is to never stop searching for those special life events that will blow your doors off with awe and wonder of what is actually possible.
What a beautiful family. May god bless them
Such a loving and understanding family. Liam is a Super Hero!
I so enjoyed this story, since me and my husband faced the same exact diagnosis , of our son, the apraxia with therapy, does get better, the therapies we used were the same as well as active play and roll playing to take turns. The spectrum with therapy also gets better, our son is now 10 and there is a world of difference in our son. Good luck to the parents and let them know working as a family makes it so much better for them and their son!
Liam seems like a sweet, intelligent kid with an amazing family supporting him. I hope to see more of him on SoulPancake. I will never know what it's like to be a Father, but I applaud these men...they're doing a great job.
I am at a loss for words. This video was informative, inspiring, and it left me feeling hopeful for Liam and his parents. They are obviously excellent caregivers who nurture their children and who celebrate each milestone reached. I am deeply touched by their story.
Thank you Matt for saying the words that I sometimes find hard to say!
Matt & Courtney.... Thank you for sharing your story
I have a son with autism. When he was 14 months old I started thinking there were issues but everyone around me were telling me I was over reacting because this was my first child. He might have been my first but I had worked in daycares, I had been a baby sitter for many families and I had actually studied to be a educator in college and taken psychology classes... I insisted for a referral for an evaluation. I was pregnant with my second child at that point. we got the diagnosis when Philippe was 1 month shy of turning 3. The psychiatrist basically told us that our son was profoundly autistic and that I should expect to have to place him as a ward when he got older because he would never be self-sufficient. I changed psychiatrist. My son was non-verbal until he was 2 months shy of turning 5. And then it dawned on him that communicating was a good thing, that it got him what he wanted (I know this might not happen for all kids). Within a week he was talking in sentences (he will always have a speech issue but even strangers can understand him now) and understood when and how to use a toilet (he was still in diapers at that point). Before he was communicating he went through a major frustration phase at not being understood and he had gotten to be very aggressive. I was getting worried for the safety of my second son. We have had many issues, we had to figure out a whole lot of stuff. We had to fight back some "specialists" that thought they knew better than us but today our son is going to be 12 years old and he is talking, he is self-sufficient. He can cook basic things, he can do a laundry load, he can work a computer like no one else can. He has an uncanny way of being able to remember things with the exact date, some things from when we thought he was so much in his bubble that he didn't even know we were there, but he knew and he saw and he remembers. when we had our second son I would observe him constantly to see the signs. And after a while I knew that if Philippe had been our second son we would have known even earlier the different was that big. And then we had a third child, knowing the risks. We have a daughter who is 8 years younger than my autistic son and she is not autistic, neither is our second son. As much as we love our eldest son and his quirks and his quacks we are happy our other kids won't have to face the issues that he has to face. As much as he brings to us we know he will have to fight for so many things in his life but I wouldn't trade him for the world. He makes me laugh every day, he brings joy to my life and to all that surround him. good luck to you all in this adventure. You learn to take everything one day at a time and to see every step, every battle, every victory for all it is worth and not take anything for granted.
so precious. super dad, super kidds, super family ♡
Liam is a hero! I can't wait to show this to my middle school students--I know it will help them see the heroism in some of their classmates. Thank you for your vulnerability, Matt & Courtney!
Liam, you are awesome.
Liam is adorable
Great work! I look forward to capturing more insight on being a father. I know as a dad, I was always determined to not be like my dad. I struggle with that all the time. Especially when I sound like him. Yell like him. It breaks my heart!
Im loving these series! I work at a program where they have fatherhood classes, just for men taught by men and it changes lives but so many people ignore it and don't want to think about the responsibilities of being a dad or don't know how. They are afraid of screwing up. I love that you are bringing up this subject! I feel women have a lot more opportunities to talk about parenthood than dads and I feel they've been ignored for too long. Keep up this wonderful work! Can't wait to see more!!
My oldest sister is on the Autism Spectrum--more specifically with the diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome--and though she doesn't have Verbal Apraxia, I have seen how my parents can relate to the issues of Matt and his wife. Though I was not around when my sister was at her youngest, my parents say it was hardest when she was young. There's more emotional distress, less ability to communicate, more things to overcome, etc. But she has overcome. She is now 33, having just completed her PhD, and his now teaching at a university in Alabama. She lives on her own, loves it, and is doing great. I know it is difficult for the Oakeses, but they should never lose hope or give up. :)
I know, too, that there are a few strategies my parents implemented that really helped my sister in her development: first, they did teach her control. But, on the flipside of that, they let home be her sanctuary, and I know that meant a lot to her. Also, any time there was something that distressed her, Mom and Dad had great ways of putting us all in her shoes to deal with it. For instance, loud noises has always been a trigger for her, and fire drills at school caused her to be in a lot of distress. The solution: my mom made what she called Fire Drill Cake. If any of my sisters or I had a fire drill at school, we would tell Mom and celebrate with Fire Drill Cake at home. It made it easier for my sister--and we all got cake! Haha!
As a father to a child on Spectrum, that has always been my biggest fear... that my son will not be independent before I die.
their kids are adorable :)
Liam has the most beautiful smile and laugh. Such a big spirit for such a little man :-) Thank you for sharing your story
I am a single mother and my daughter has ASD too. I have the same fear that I die before my daughter becomes independent. Thank you for making this video. It's nice to know that I am not alone in this path.
not a dad yet ... but watching these videos I want to say that your work is truly awesome. However I hope you're not only going to portray awesome dad's, like this one. But dads that know how they screwed up already sometime, or also people from other social backgrounds ...
Great idea! I would want to watch others with differing stories!
My Wife and I have two boys on the spectrum. When I first heard (all thou we suspected) the word Autism 12 years ago I thought my life was going to come to an end. Back then all you read was "Institution" "Chemical Control" "Drugs" none of it sounded good. I remember the drive home was so silent filled only with our tears. The next day though we brushed it off, got up and said.. "OK he has Autism, now lets make a life for him. So it began, so much trial, so much error, so much joy. Yes we ran into walls, however we stepped back and figured out a way around that wall or over it. Years later he found his voice and that was a blessing. Years later his brother was born and within the first year my wife and I both knew he was going to have Autism but on a whole different level. 8 months later it was confirmed. Sadly he is severely autistic and non verbal. He brings to us challenges daily, well I would dare say he brings a challenge a minute on some days. My wife is the strong one here because she is a stay at home mom and works with him the most. Its not east by any stretch, I could also say yes it is stressful and draining. Yet, when my son gives you a hug, a smile, or a kiss it just seems like none of the other stuff matters. Do I hope for a cure, of course... Do I fear for the future.. every second of my life.
***** powerful story, Patrick. Do you think your family could benefit from one of our devices? dustinswords.com/indiegogo
We are looking for families who we can help by giving them a device of their own at no cost.
As a full time single dad of a son with autism, I can relate fully with this video. Although my son can speak, he has a condition called echolalia where he "scripts" his verbal communications almost like he's reading a book but repeatedly just like a stim. I'm proud because he has come so far, but I fear he will never be able to make friends because of his social impairments. His mother signed off her legal rights recently and with good intentions. I've implemented all of his therapy sessions from o.t, speech and got him a tss and a bsc. Transitions are difficult so I just have to keep the demand on and comfort him. Aba verbal behavior has been a godsend. Keep up the good fight! I subscribed because I wan yo see more :-).
As a parent of an autistic child, my fear is very similar to Matt's, which is that won't live long enough to make it to my son's independence. I'm scared that someone else will have to finish that work for me. It's the fear of not seeing things through for your own kid that you will not be there to guide him to where he wants to go. That too is my biggest fear.
I have a 4 year old son named Christian Alexander. Three months after he was born we found out he had trisomy 21/downs syndrome. Three years after his birth he was also diagnosed with autism. Every day is a journey. Most people say struggle. But a struggle to me has a negative connotation. Yes it's tough. Very tough. But one has to realize that it's tougher on them then It is on us. That alone took me a while to cope with. Being a former Marine, competitive athlete I had hopes on my first born son to "follow in daddy's foot steps". being through every thing I've been through, I can't imagine taking two steps in his. I'm currently in law enforcement and my biggest fear is not coming home one day from work and having christian to fend for himself.
My biggest fear is getting too focused about my work that I forgot to enjoy the little BIG moments with my wife and 2 kids, they are just 7 months and 3.5 yrs old but I think they just know me mostly as the guy with a laptop who works late. This video helped me wake up and realize I need to really leave work at work.
It's a struggle, for sure. I always take a second before getting out of the car when I get home and say to myself, "This is the most important thing I will do all day."
My husband never had his father in his life and he is terrified to be a dada himself. He doesn't want to be a disappointment
I work with children who have Autism, I agree with Dad kids like Liam are my heros! :)
I'm not a dad but since my dad has shown both - what it takes to be the best dad and my hero just as well as being the first (and only - due to trust issues) man to break my heart and trust - i think i know what makes a father a good dad! The most important and basically only important thing that makes a dad is the question of how to be a good dad. Most of the men who ask themselves this question every day and just want to be a good dad - even though they don't know how and even if they fail sometimes - will be a good dad. Raising a child is no longer all about you but about them or at least it should be. And up to this point everything you did was for yourself because the only person who depended on yourself was you. And now there are other living things depending on you. You might not be able to watch the superbowl because you have to change diapers, you might not be able to sleep well because someone keeps waking you up to go check for monsters and you might not be able to go on holidays because your kid is too afraid to fly in a plane. You will have to give up a whole lot; tine, money, hobbys, friends and you have to remember that at some point in your life you (hopefully) chose to do that. In my group of friends out of ten kids, 9 have a dad who gave up on his family. They stopped doing the only important thing; they stopped searching for the answer to the question "how can i be a good dad" and they stopped caring and loving and giving up on things because it's easier. Sometimes being a good dad just means trying and wanting to be a good dad.
Great video! Love this family and the way they are dealing with and loving Liam. Bless them!
beautiful. I am a parent of an adult on the autism spectrum. I want you to know that things really do get better and through your love and attention Liam is going to be okay. Like you, my son is my hero too.
this is such a beautiful video. although i'm not a dad, I have one, and this video reminds me what my dad is trying to achieve with me. I've often felt his absence, but I do know he means to bring me up the best he can. Dads are human too, and it is nice to know they have all the love of a human and wish to shower us with it.
I'm, obviously not a Dad, but I wanted to say thank you. My son has mild autism so I was excited to see this when it popped up. This was such a beautiful story, heart felt and honest. Thank you for posting it. I have a face book page (The Perfect Piece) and i will be sharing this on my page. And, Liam, you're awesome! Keep it up, buddy!
What a great father and dad.
Beautiful. Thank you.
My biggest challenge so far has been raising my two grandsons as my own and having to let them go to their father when I got divorced. Now, I have a "son", Peter, who is non-verbal and autistic; Peter lives with me and my second wife. Very challenging in the communication department but once I got to know him as a person it has gotten much easier. Now, we are embarking on a new adventure with adopting a teen from another country. I like challenges, I guess.
Hello, Thank you for this beautiful video. What wonderful parents Liam has
What a wonderful father
I love being a Dad. I love these Fatherhood Project Videos. Good luck to all the new Dads. This was a very nice video. Liam is well loved and seems to have some great help. Thanks SP!
Once we have accepted that autist kids are different (not less), we have so much to learn from them too...helping our kids find their way is definitely the challenge...thanks for sharing
Please pass on to Matt and Courtney that anything is possible!! My son Ty was diagnosed with both ASD and Verbal Apraxia at 15 months old back in 1997, started on a communication device at age 5 and said his first word at age 6. Before age 6 he didn't even utter sounds or long vowels, nothing, complete silence and although the speech came slowly and the forming of words slowly trickled out over the next year, he now speaks fluently at age 18. I am going to make a compilation video soon from his first word "mom" which someone was actually filming at the time he spoke it thru now so you can have hope because it truly is possible and there is no limit to what our kiddos can accomplish!
My older brother has autism, and everyday I constantly worry about his future. I've always been thankful that he is verbal, although he can't ever hold a proper conversation. His autism isn't mild, it's kinda placed in the middle of the spectrum... Well, from my observation at least! I just hope someday he's actually able to be fully independent, travel on his own while being weary of cars when crossing etc. Having a sibling like him has definitely enabled me to mature so much more.. Which is great.
I'm just hoping he'll be alright, after going through so much stress in school (being mistreated) and with sudden life changes, I'm just hoping that his old personality will return again. It's been tough, trying to help him get better (more for my parents), but I hope after months of pulling through... That he'll get better.
THOES PPL WHO DISLIKED THIS VID HAVE NO HEART I SWEAR...THIS MADE ME CRY!! :,(
My 5 year old is much like Liam, he spoke until he was almost 4. One of my aunts told us not to worry because he would be very smart, same story happened to one of his grandchildren and then he became a very successful young teacher. My child has been diagnosed with ASD, but he knows how to read in two languages, his passion are numbers, addition, subtraction and multiplication tables known in both languages. My biggest worry is that I have not found a special school where he can be helped to develop his abilities.
As a father I find the thing I struggle with most is drawing the line between friend and parent. I only worry about providing my daughter with the best life I possibly can from a financial standpoint b/c I'm pretty sure I show enough love, and show her what is most important in life (in my opinion anyway). Everyone will mess up at times and excel at others, you can only do the best you can with the tools you have been given from the people that raised you. Take the good from them and apply it & try to learn from the mistakes that they made the rest sorts itself out I guess.
Thanks for sharing therapeutic riding! It may sound surprising to those unfamiliar with it, but equine therapy can be absolutely transformative. Every parent of a child on the autism spectrum should consider adding it to their treatment plan, as well as those with mobility issues or recovering from trauma.
You are such great people
This is amazing!! Thanks for sharing
Loved it, really speaks to me
I can't stop watching this! It is one of the first videos that has truly touched me. I think Matt hit parenting a child with autism right on the dot. He also reminds me so much of my husband. Liam is beautiful and such an inspiration. We have a 2 year old son with autism, and I saw the little spark in Liam's eye after using his proloquo that I see in my son when he does something that makes him proud. Thank you for sharing.
Liam loves his AAC. It's be a huge game-changer for him.
Hi, just wanted to say that hippo therapy (or therapeutic riding or equine therapy) can be very helpful and beneficial for kids with autism. I'm personally on the autism spectrum and have been riding for almost 15 years and it's given me a lot of confidence and has helped me a lot. I have a couple friends (mom, daughter, and son -son is autistic) who I used to ride with and help give lessons to. Seeing him grow and communicate was awesome. I definitely recommend some sort of hippo therapy! :)
What a beautiful family :)
I'm expecting my first in November, and my biggest fear is that I won't be able to provide for my family. I'm graduating in a few weeks, I don't have a job, and I've realized I don't want a job in the field of my degree. I'm worried that I'll end up having to work minimum wage just to survive, but I don't want my kid to just survive. I want my kid to have the opportunity to really live life. So that's what scares me.
omg that is the cutest thing ive ever seen!!! the tears! they cant stop!
This is absolutely wonderful
Beautiful family
I wish I could have the courage to send this to my dad...
My biggest challenge as a dad has been living with Multiple Sclerosis and trying to be a good dad to my kids. I have it pretty lucky with my MS in that I am not really hampered by it on a normal basis. However, there are days when I just don't want to or can't do anything at all. My kids are very understanding, but it is still irritating to not be the "normal" dad that can be there for them 100% of the time.
Thanks for sharing your story, Liam is a great kid and you guys are doing a great job in fostering his individuality and independence. He is very high functioning and the fact that he can use his communication app at 4 means he does have the ability for further independence as he grows. Please consider music therapy sessions to address his speech, he clearly does not struggle with language and comprehension its more about the motor planning and articulation. There is tons of research to support using music therapy with Apraxia and with children with ASD. You may be surprised at how he can verbalize with a trained therapist working with him. Best of luck to all of you!
He is beautiful little boy
These stories about disabled kids overcoming obstacles are always so inspirational:) but to me, the most interesting "disability" to learn about is deafness. Deaf people have a culture and many of them are proud to be deaf. They don't see themselves as disabled. Sign language brings them all together. (If anyone wants to lean more about this research "deaf culture" or "big d versus little d deaf")
It was so heart warming
Their kids are so damn cute! I wish them the best :)
Where would you like folks to talk about their stories? Do you prefer the CZcams comments section? I have been the stepfather of an Autistic child since I was 21 years old. Fortunately for his mother and I, he is not non-verbal but he does have a limited vocabulary and struggles with sensory processing and social integration. We didn't receive an official diagnosis until about a year and a half ago because since he was an infant, doctors ignored his mother's pleas that something was wrong; he didn't respond to his own name until he was four years old, he lined up objects like cars in long, symmetrical rows... all telltale early signs of ASD. But despite being blown off, his mom persisted until he was seen by a board of doctors who unanimously determined that he was Autistic. Since then, Asher has gone to speech and physical therapy classes that have created dramatic differences in him... the other day he was upset and I asked him, "what's wrong?" To which he responded, "nothing... I'm not mad, I'm just frustrated." Watching him grow from the three year old who called his own mother grandma (for a long, long time) has brought me so much joy. I've loved him like he was my own since he was so tiny and in so many ways, we've grown together from reading books every night to staging epic battles with Lego characters. He calls me his "master builder" because he'll tell me to build something like a robot or a tank and I'll spend hours getting it right for him while he hangs on my back and looks over my shoulder. And I don't think I ever would've discovered some of the things that I have about myself if if weren't for him. Temple Grandin once said that many of us are on the spectrum, it's just a matter of the degree and I firmly believe that; there is no reason for any of us to look down on any of these kids as if they are lesser than us. I have no doubt that Asher will grow up to make a huge impact in the world in some way because he is more loving and sensitive than any child I've ever met. If I have a scratch on my arm, he will grab my arm and ask, "what happened? Let me get you a band-aid." What he lacks in eloquence, he makes up for in spirit a thousand fold. I am proud every day that he calls me dad. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt story with us all, it is so encouraging to know that there are others out there experiencing similar trials, tribulations and victories.
Thank You for this and I love what #SoulPancake does for the world. Keep it up!!!
beautiful video like always, love soul pancake!
They make videos about life and not stupid trolling videos wich they are fun but watching this I realize how awesome humanity is
So so beautiful.
That was so beautiful, bringing me near tears :')
God bless him
This was so inspiring. Good luck to the boy :)
I wonder if there are more cases of autism now than there has been in the past, or if now it's just better recorded and classified.
Having an autistic or otherwise mentally disabled or severely physically disabled child is a fear of mine. It sucks for the kid to feel different, and it sucks for the parents who have this base line expectation that their child will think vaguely similarly to them and talk to them, and then have that expectation broken outside their control. That sucks, and I don't want that to happen to me or my kid.
I think that people who are socially awkward are often diagnosed with autism more so than before, which may or may not be a problem for the kid. People with Asperger's were considered autistic even though there were only some traits shared by both. Of course, Asperger's is no longer existent, so those on numbers ,at drop in the future. Honestly I think the rise has been due to over diagnosis, since if autism(or any disorder for that matter) isn't that obvious or powerful in a person's life it should not really be considered a disorder.
OliverOttoman Everyone is on the Autistic Spectrum and we all have autistic tendencies. Say there was a scale of 0-10, some people would only be 0.002 where as others with a diagnoses would be higher up. There are also types of autism such as Sensory Processing Disorder and Aspergers (I'm sorry, I'm not entirely sure what you meant by is no longer being existent when it certainly is) which are very different to Autism itself. You can also have high functioning autism which in the past might of gone undiagnosed but theses days individuals have access to the correct support to maximise their potential. Autism is a huge subject but I have had the pleasure of being a sibling to people with autism, worked with them, been friends with them and I am inspired everyday by them.
every has form of autism. most people who really shy and dont like be social is label with autism. I think the problem in this world we have people want to be social to much
I'm not a father yet (thank God for merely planning reasons!) but I believe that my most fear is that I cannot make my son appreciate and understand the same family and society values that my father passed my brother and I. I guess that in the end it all comes down to unconditional love, right?
I am 13, and I have diagnosed Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of Autism. I can see myself in him in a lot of ways, because although I can talk fine, I struggle to say what I mean. For example, if someone asks me why I wear a coat in the middle of the summer, I mean to reply, "I have sensory issues, so I feel things differently", I'll say something like "I have sensory issues, so different."
i used to go to rock valley college. lol
This is an awesome Video!! We have a son Maddox, who we strongly believe is on the Spectrum. He gets re-evaled in March. Like Liam his vocab is very limited. It was suggested to do a voice enabled Tablet. Im very anxious to talk with other Dads like this but have been unable to find them. I suspect you are like other folks get overwhelmed with responses to something like this and don't get to respond to others.
First I'd like to ask.. Do you know which specific AAC device Liam is using?¿ I have a son who is 5 nonverbal and on the spectrum. We have been doing ASL with him and he does sign for us but I think he would definitely benefit from the AAC device. My husband and I can relate to Liam's parents my husbands biggest fear is us dying before our son is able to live an independent life. We have an older daughter (6yrs) and we have already been talking to her about the possibility that she may have to always help watch over him. I share that fear but like Liam's mother I fear I may never get to hear my sweet boys voice. I know it's a selfish fear but... Our son is such a sweet, happy, loving amazing child. And we are so blessed to have him in our lives. Thanks for sheading light on this for all the parents who have children on the spectrum "you are not alone"
Hello. I'm from Greece and I saw your story and moved!!! I have a son who is 6 years old, was diagnosed as having autism, but Asperger. We make all of the necessary treatments he needs. When you look at the child, saying that this child has nothing, except he begins to get angry and hits himself. He is brilliant!!! He knows too many things and knows more than a child his age. Everyone says he has the Asperger of Einstein. I think so too... He has no father and I play the role of Dad and Mom. He never saw his dad. He divorced me and disappeared two months before birth. Few months ago I went to get myself one diagnosis. They found that I too have Asperger. And so I realized that the child inherited it from me... and that scares me more. When the child raise, can I help still him? When he will have some problem, will I be able to help him then?? How will both of us be when he grows up more? It scares me a lot the future. But scares me more the future of both us, Mon and Son. And when I die, how will he be when I am not around him no more. But, I am also scare for the now!!! Am I doing a good job as a parent or not?
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tell me how I can buy this communication tablet? a friend of mine has a kid like Liam and the same problems
So great! What is the app that Liam is using on the tablet to speak?
What is the app and the grid that you are using to communicate with your son? Where can you purchase it?
Does anyone know what app/device Liam is using in this video? My son 3 yo is under investigation for autism and he does not speak either so i think an applike the one Liam uses would be perfect for us to help him to communicate
So 3 years ago when this was published.... How is Dad and Liam doing today?
Your kids are super cute
I have the same feeling and same age kid with exactly same situation. I will follow you and see where we can end up . He will be 4 in 1.5 months. Iam afraid and scared that I die before he is independant. Hope God helps us. I never asked anything to god in my life even in very critical situations. looks like I need his help now or may be he is making me to ask help as I never asked any (:
Mathew Oakes this is such a remarkable story. It seems that Liam is doing very well with his communication device. May i ask what type of device or app he is using? I am a speech pathology student and I would love to know what types of things have been successful in helping Liam communicate.
Hi Brooke -- Liam is using a NovaChat 10 from PRC. He's doing great with it. Good luck with your studies!
What kind of tablet and what app is that in the video?
It's a NovaChat 10 from PRC.
Thank you.