Episode 16: The Sunrise approach

On this episode, I am describing one of the methods I used with  Jake  to improve his eye contact. It is called the sunrise method. Jake has always loved songs and so I used songs to improve his eye contact.  It was my favorite
approach over other therapies I tried over the years. #autism awareness 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

I'm gonna let it shine this little boy of mine I'm gonna let him shine This little boy of mine I'm gonna let him shine it let Jake shine let Jake shine let Jake shine Are you a happy boy? Are you happy? Yeah, give me a hot five Hop five that's right Deep in the hundred egg of wood where Christopher Robin plays You'll find the enchanted neighbour of Christopher's childhood days a donkey named Eeyore is his friend There's Kangaro and Little Roo There's rabbit and piglet and there's owl hoo hoo Jake Jake but most of all there's whinny the poo Winnie Dum poo poo whinnie da poo poo Cuddly little fuzzy old stuff whip fla he's whinny the poo poo whinny the poo poo silly willy nilly obey Yeah this is how I got Jakey to give us eye contact when he was a child. I used a method called the sunrise method or theory, and it was if you can get into your child's head, then he will start to understand you. So I started singing songs to him when he was really young, and I've also been a singer my whole life. So that made it easy. And he loves his songs, don't ya? How about this one, Jakey? The wonderful thing about Tigger. Oh Tigger's a wonderful thing. His tops are made out of rubber, his bottoms are made out of springs. He's bouncy trouncy bouncy trouncy fun fun fun fun fun. The wonderful thing about tigers is I'm the only one. Oh the only one. T-I-Double g r. That spells tigger. You like tigger? Yeah. You like tigger? And he is a walker. He is always walking. He was actually deemed the runner in high school and middle school. And he used to run out of the classroom and jump onto the bus. Do you remember doing that, Jakey? You jump onto the bus because you're always ready to go home. Yeah, so we had to put a bell at the front of the um room of his schoolroom, and we made sure that he sat all the way to the back of the room so they could catch him when he would run off. Yes, indeed. So that was pretty tricky, wasn't it, Jake? We finally got Jake a full-time shadow, which is an interesting story, because he ran off while on a walk and was found two blocks away from the school. Yes, indeed. And a bystander found him running down the street. So then I finally got a full-time shadow because I told them that I was going to file a police report if I didn't finally get a full-time shadow. So that's an interesting story about Jakey. Now that he's 33, he's gotten really good about not taking off or leaving the house. We've always had to keep the doors locked. You got itchy nose? Yeah. You ready to go, sweetie? You ready to go? Yeah? Okay. You give mommy a kissy right here. Kissy? Kissy? Kissy. That's right. Thank you. Alright. Well, you have a good time, Jakey, okay? Now, next time on my podcast, I am going to introduce you to Wally, his second dad, who takes care of him all day long. Yes. It takes him on his car rides and feeds him and gives him his medication. So we're gonna introduce you to Wally finally. I'm sure he's gonna be thrilled about it. Right, Jakey. Right, Jakey? Okay. You're being a good boy today. That's good looking, Jakey. Good looking, cause you are a handsome man. Yes, you are. Alright. Say bye-bye, Jakey. Say bye-bye. Bye-bye. Bye-bye. Good job. I love you. You love mommy? You love mommy? Give me a clap. Give me a snap if you love mommy. You're gonna do a clap, do a clap on your leg. Jake uses a clap on his leg to say yes. You love mommy? Do you love mommy? He's not in the mood to love mommy right now. But he does it when he when he wants to say yes. Yes, sir me. Alright. Okay. Big kiss right here. See you later, Jake.