HELPFUL HINTS WHEN WORKING WITH SUZIE NOEL DUNCAN-WINN
(Who lives in the world of mild autism)

1. Transitions are a CHALLENGE for her:
* Get her attention first...EYE CONTACT...”GIVE
ME YOUR EYES and EARS”.
* Use the word “CHANGE.....SOMETHING
DIFFERENT”, then explain.

2. Suzie will test “the waters” at first to see how
far you will bend:
* Let her know this is not “ACCEPTABLE”.
* Give her a CHOICE... this empowers her. Yet,
too many choices confuse her.
* If necessary, state that she will have to have
a “TIME AWAY” ( this is very effective and usually
gets her back on the positive path very quickly). If
she still is making poor choices, PLEASE do follow
through with a TIME AWAY. It works!

3. Suzie needs FIRM boundaries to feel secure:
* She may be saying “NO” and refuse to
cooperate but always doesn’t mean it. It is sometimes
an automatic response from her former life.
* This is when you say “NEVER THE LESS, YES”!
Repeat as necessary even if you feel like a broken
record. Also, say to her “I UNDERSTAND” and she will
repeat “I UNDERSTAND” back to you and will then
cooperate!
* Use as few words as possible. KEEP IT SHORT
AND SIMPLE and direct.

4. REMINDER: for Suzie to do well you have to set
and reinforce the rules:
* Be LOVING but FIRM and DIRECT.
* If needed, she responds well to a BIG
MOMMY/DADDY VOICE.
* Don’t get caught up in a power struggle with
her. It’s easy to do!!! Suzie is very smart and knows
how to “work the system” so to speak.
* Please always have her do her “school work”
first, then she can draw. She likes the saying “FIRST
THINGS FIRST” and will repeat this back to you.

5. Suzie really does want to please you:
* Encourage her onward with VERBAL
PRAISE...”YOUR MOMMY WILL BE SO PROUD OF YOU”, “GOOD
JOB”, “YOU’RE SUCH A BIG GIRL, ETC.
* Suzie responds well to loving touch and is
very affectionate...SITTING CLOSE IN PROXIMITY TO
TEACHER /ASSISTANT WORKS BEST. SHE LOVES AN OCCASIONAL
HUG, SMILE, WINK, THUMBS UP, HIGH 5!

6. Please treat her as you do the other children and
EXPECT the same from her. Your high expectations of
Suzie will help her rise to the occasion.
* Suzie SEES all, even when she is not looking
directly at you. But please have her watch the other
children first because she learns so much visually.
* Suzie HEARS all even when she seems to tune
you out. Her auditory memory is very good.
* Suzie UNDERSTANDS your words even when she
doesn’t communicate back to you. If you say “I
understand”, she will repeat this and usually does.

7. Suzie is a “DRAMA QUEEN” and learns best visually
with audio combined. Sometimes she gets caught up in
what is called “SCRIPTING”:
(This is something she has verbally memorized or
seen that is not happening presently. Many times this
takes on the appearance of her being mad or upset but
actually she’s rehearsing). Helpful verbiage to bring
her into the moment:

* “YES I CAN, YES YOU CAN, YES WE CAN.”
* “COME BACK HERE AND NOW PLEASE”.
* “USE YOUR REAL WORDS PLEASE”.
* “WHERE’S MY BEAUTIFUL SMILE?”
* OR “JOIN” (mirror) HER IN HER WORLD FOR
JUST A MOMENT WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR IN YOUR VOICE AND
SHE’LL START LAUGHING.

8. When Suzie is really TIRED, getting SICK, too HOT,
around LOUD or CRYING babies/children , CONFUSED, or
over STIMULATED by too much “newness” she will get in
a “funk”. The following may help:
* RE-DIRECTION OR DISTRACTION.
* HOLDING HER USING FIRM PRESSURE( LIKE
HOLDING A BABY).
* GIVING HER A FEW MOMENTS ALONE TO GET
CENTERED.
* HAVE HER BREATHE IN THROUGH HER NOSE OUT
THROUGH HER MOUTH....SLOWLY TO A COUNT OF FIVE BOTH
WAYS. HAVE HER DO THIS THREE TIMES AND SHE WILL THEN
RUB HER HEART CENTER AND TAP HER THYMUS. Be sure and
ASK her to let you SEE and HEAR the breathing.

9. Suzie sometimes gets obsessive/compulsive when
under dis-stress with the following phrases: IT’S OK,
IT’S ALRIGHT, OR I’M HAPPY. When appropriate:
* Reassure her with these phrases, when not,
substitute with another phrase, redirect her, ignore
her if necessary ( don’t feed the fire so to speak),
or give her a hug. She responds well to the phrase
“COLD PRICKLY” OR “YUCKY” if it is a teachable moment
and you are trying to teach her why it was not ok or
alright.

10. To assist her with her VERBAL/COMMUNICATION
skills, SOCIAL SKILLS, and to help her feel less
FRUSTRATED the following work well:

*She loves to DRAW free hand, has a vivid
imagination, and is very intentional with each line.
Ask her what the drawings are, or what is happening?
This is very calming to her and we use it as art
therapy.
*She dearly loves to SING and knows about
50 songs. Using any tune with a beat on any surface (
table, lap, drum, hands, etc.) is a good way to teach
her or to be sure she understands what you are trying
to convey. She needs to do it physically with you. She
loves to make up her own songs, too!.
* Affirmations that she knows that help
her when she is frustrated are very helpful like: I AM
CALM, I AM PEACEFUL, said in a quiet and low voice.
* SOCIAL STORIES have been working really
well in assisting Suzie to know how to appropriately
act in any social situation. She will even help you to
compose them. Going over them daily (part of the
routine) works very well.
* COMMUNICATION and CONSISTENCY between home and
school, church, and extra curricular events is of the
utmost importance for the success of Suzie. Please
feel free to let us know what we need to know even if
it’s not what you think we want to know. On a daily
basis is best.. Thank you for respecting this request.

Suzie Noel is a pure “joy” so be sure to enjoy her.
She is truly a walking, laughing, singing, dancing
“miracle” and has come so far and overcome so many
obstacles in her young life. The main delays we still
see are in her behavioral, verbal/communication, and
social skills. Thanks for working with, having
patience, and teaching our ”angel/crystal child”. We
truly feel it “takes a village to rear a child”.

Blessings and Namaste’...we honor the place in you
where we are one,
Bonnie Dawn Duncan and Michael Lee Winn (Suzie Noel’s
forever parents)
Emergency cell phone is 503/888/1847
Home phone 503/590/7366
duncanbonnie@yahoo.com