Write Right – letters and language for kids with autism?

Autistic kids aren’t big on communication, usually. But a lot of them like to write, or be on the computer. Kennedy really needed to work on her writing skills – and assumes that even cartoon characters will respond. So she started a letter writing campaign. First, it was just letters to us, pushed under the bathroom door. Then she wrote a video game, “de Blob” in Australia. We totally didn’t expect to receive anything. Six weeks later, she got a package. A big one. From Australia. It had a response to her letter, stickers, a little figurine and T-Shirt.

She’s received responses from Mickey Mouse (a personalized letter that referred specifically what she had written!), Po from Kung Fu Panda 2, when she got a swag bag, and most recently last week, Angry Birds – from Finland. The Angry Birds wrote her a very large, very cool postcard with a large picture on the back. Talk about positive reinforcement!

I usually include a little note with her letter, explaining a bit about her, because her letters don’t always make sense. For example, she wanted the villain from Blob to come over for a play date and destroy her house.

Now, in her class at Carpenter Charter, (a great school), her teacher makes the kids go the extra mile. She has a quarterly newsletter the special needs class writes. They practice communication by interviewing the principal, teachers, students or people in the community. They review movies or activities – like a museum or exhibit – something they liked or did. Then, they take the newsletter home and she quizzes them on the content – so they read, understand and are able to apply what they read. And since they pick a preferred item to write about, they are excited about doing it. Thanks to Ms. Green for such an awesome idea.

Their previous teacher, Ms. Rosenstein, had them branch out, by learning another language – sign language. Alex led his Cub Scout pack in the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language. It was awesome!!