Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
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TTTEFan1997
PolkaDotSideplates
Diesel 11
Dan5589
Wellsworth1888
Boomer10
Jlouvier
SkarloeyRailway
whyofbladez
IsleofOdor
Frankthetriviaman
15 posters
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Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
In this thread, we can talk about the unique relationship between the autistic community and Thomas. There is a very interesting article about this, and I'll post the link when I find it again.
Me personally, as someone with Asperger Syndrome Thomas holds a special place in my heart for me; when I post the link I will tell my story, just so there's context.
Me personally, as someone with Asperger Syndrome Thomas holds a special place in my heart for me; when I post the link I will tell my story, just so there's context.
Frankthetriviaman- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
You know? I have an autistic brother. He's non-verbal and gets tantrums and he likes watching Thomas. Everyday, he pulls out the Engines to the Rescue UK DVD and asks me to put it in the DVD Player.
IsleofOdor- Yard Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
As someone with Aspergers myself, Thomas I accredit with helping me recognize facial expressions as a child. The static faces and the narration helped with that.
Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
While I don't have any form of autism or mental disability, I do have a cousin with autism who loves Thomas. It's always been interesting to me to see how it helps him along. I think it's a unique and beautiful relationship the series has with that community.
Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
Sorry this took so long; here's the article I was talking about
http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/our-publications/reports/our-policy-and-research-reports/children-with-autism-and-thomas-the-tank-engine.aspx
http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/our-publications/reports/our-policy-and-research-reports/children-with-autism-and-thomas-the-tank-engine.aspx
Frankthetriviaman- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
I've seen that before, I think its very interesting! Thanks for sharing it with us, Frank!
Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
What a wonderful discussion! Through the years I have had many parents get in touch with me about their children with autism and what my channel means to their kid. I thought it appropriate to share this email that was personally sent to me a few months ago.
Hi Josh
I thought I'd just drop you line from *sunny* England to say thank-you for your fantastic YouTube Channel, which my son adores. He was diagnosed at 3 with severe autism and, like many with his condition, is obsessed with Thomas. At that time he was completely non-verbal and didn't even respond to his name or make eye-contact. Over the next few years, to de-stress, he would watch DVDs (especially Thomas) incessantly - I would often rewind the same 5 sec clip of a train crashing over and over again for anything up to 7 hours non-stop. Thomas has been his launch-pad for everything in life. Gradually, with interventions and perseverance and support he has built up his vocabulary and confidence and even though he has 1:1 help at his mainstream school, I doubt you'd notice he is any different from any other 8 year old. He's even just realised that in public at least, he'd better move on to Mario Kart Wii! In the space of a month he's an Expert on that now as well ;-)
But there has been a lovely interim period where there was nothing made him so happy as watching your YouTube Channel on his iPad: through avidly watching and rewatching all your clips - rushing home from school in anticipation you'd uploaded another one, or making us look for internet cafés on holiday so he wouldn't miss any - he has developed a very fluent speaking style. He spends a lot of time in private (well, he thinks!) in another room 'presenting' to an imaginary audience, and your style of presentation permeates the confidence of his 'show and tell' sessions at school and now his presentation of information to the rest of his Cubs pack when he's earning another badge. He absolutely knocks the other kids in to cocked-hats, and was even the only Cub who would do an on-the spot unseen Bible reading before a large congregation when the Vicar's candidate dropped out at a Rememberance Day service.
All down to you! So I thought you may not be aware of how significant an impact you make on some peoples lives, nor how much joy you bring them, and I ought to point it out and say, very sincerely: "thank you!"
Best regards,
Hi Josh
I thought I'd just drop you line from *sunny* England to say thank-you for your fantastic YouTube Channel, which my son adores. He was diagnosed at 3 with severe autism and, like many with his condition, is obsessed with Thomas. At that time he was completely non-verbal and didn't even respond to his name or make eye-contact. Over the next few years, to de-stress, he would watch DVDs (especially Thomas) incessantly - I would often rewind the same 5 sec clip of a train crashing over and over again for anything up to 7 hours non-stop. Thomas has been his launch-pad for everything in life. Gradually, with interventions and perseverance and support he has built up his vocabulary and confidence and even though he has 1:1 help at his mainstream school, I doubt you'd notice he is any different from any other 8 year old. He's even just realised that in public at least, he'd better move on to Mario Kart Wii! In the space of a month he's an Expert on that now as well ;-)
But there has been a lovely interim period where there was nothing made him so happy as watching your YouTube Channel on his iPad: through avidly watching and rewatching all your clips - rushing home from school in anticipation you'd uploaded another one, or making us look for internet cafés on holiday so he wouldn't miss any - he has developed a very fluent speaking style. He spends a lot of time in private (well, he thinks!) in another room 'presenting' to an imaginary audience, and your style of presentation permeates the confidence of his 'show and tell' sessions at school and now his presentation of information to the rest of his Cubs pack when he's earning another badge. He absolutely knocks the other kids in to cocked-hats, and was even the only Cub who would do an on-the spot unseen Bible reading before a large congregation when the Vicar's candidate dropped out at a Rememberance Day service.
All down to you! So I thought you may not be aware of how significant an impact you make on some peoples lives, nor how much joy you bring them, and I ought to point it out and say, very sincerely: "thank you!"
Best regards,
Jlouvier- Yard Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
For me, Thomas was a source of comfort in a very complicated world. I had few friends growing up, and some of my happiest memories were watching the VHS tapes and playing with the wooden railway in my basement. The world to the autistic/Aspie can get very lonely, but thomas and friends is a show that holds a special place in my heart
Frankthetriviaman- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
Well I don't have autism, but I do have tourette syndrome. Not sure if that is as common as Thomas and the autistic community.
Boomer10- Yard Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
That's a great question actually; no idea about Tourette's, but there is definitely a relationship between Thomas and the autistic community.
Frankthetriviaman- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
Frankthetriviaman wrote:For me, Thomas was a source of comfort in a very complicated world. Â I had few friends growing up, and some of my happiest memories were watching the VHS tapes and playing with the wooden railway in my basement. Â The world to the autistic/Aspie can get very lonely, but thomas and friends is a show that holds a special place in my heart
While I have never been diagnosed (to my knowledge) with Autism/Aspergers, I am sure I have it. And I quoted Frank's post because what he said applies to me as well.
Wellsworth1888- Station Pilot
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
Didn't know where else to put this; but today is World Autism Day, so today is a special day for the Autistic community, and those within who like Thomas
Frankthetriviaman- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
Due to a popularity of last year's biggest Train Walk outside Drayton Manor in Tamworth, Staffordshire, the National Autistic Society have set up another one for this year on Saturday September 26th, 2015.
For more information:
http://www.autism.org.uk/allaboard?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social%20Media%20Organic&utm_content=All%20aboard%20returns&utm_campaign=All%20aboard%20for%20autism
For more information:
http://www.autism.org.uk/allaboard?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social%20Media%20Organic&utm_content=All%20aboard%20returns&utm_campaign=All%20aboard%20for%20autism
Dan5589- Station Pilot
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
I don't have autism, but I do know that it's hard on people. I think that this forum is pretty special because we share a common interest: Thomas. Thus, you'll have plenty of friends here. It's a great place to go to when life's getting you down.
Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
I dont have any syndrome, but I have to admit it's clear Thomas helps teach: The subtitles in the songs helped me teach myself to read!
PolkaDotSideplates- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
And there is much more to it than that for the autistic community; for example, it taught us how to recognize facial expressions and recognize what emotions are associated with them.
Frankthetriviaman- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
Mm Hmm. Totally.
PolkaDotSideplates- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
This video was especially made to celebrate 70 years of Thomas & Friends, and the success of the National Autistic Society's second big train walk event outside Drayton Manor Theme Park, which also celebrated it's 65th anniversary this year.
Filming took place at Drayton Manor Theme Park in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England on Saturday September 26th, 2015.
All feedback will be accepted, as long as criticism is constructive.
Dan5589- Station Pilot
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
I myself have autism, and Thomas has been a big part of my life. I don't remember myself, but my mom would use my TWR trains to show me what I did wrong if something bad happened, so I could know what was going on. Obviously, the personalities play a big part in Thomas' autistic fan base.
TTTEFan1997- Station Pilot
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
I was thinking something: autism is when you're a very slow learner right? Well then why is that suddenly a sickness? Should there be fastlearnerism too? That doesn't make sense does it? And it can't even be a true sickness, especially that if it was a normal sickness, it would have been noticed way before 1908! Sorry if I offend anyone, just trying to point something out.
PolkaDotSideplates- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
A couple things:
-Autism is not an illness, it is a "Pervasive Developmental Disorder"
-It is not so much a learning disorder as it is a social disorder; from personal experience as someone with Asperger Syndrome (the milder form of autism), I can tell you that for me, learning has never truly been an issue; it is social skills that have been problematic for me.
-Autism is not an illness, it is a "Pervasive Developmental Disorder"
-It is not so much a learning disorder as it is a social disorder; from personal experience as someone with Asperger Syndrome (the milder form of autism), I can tell you that for me, learning has never truly been an issue; it is social skills that have been problematic for me.
Frankthetriviaman- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
Sorry, I was looking for a word and sickness came up. I would have liked to use "Pervasive Developmental Disorder", but I didn't find it.
In that case, why isn't there verysocialpeopleism?
In that case, why isn't there verysocialpeopleism?
PolkaDotSideplates- Express Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
Because being social isn't exactly a mental disorder... autism is an actual mental disorder that effects the brain.
As a person with Asperger's myself, Thomas helped me a lot in my childhood. I didn't really have any friends so I was happy to have an escape from the complicated world.
As a person with Asperger's myself, Thomas helped me a lot in my childhood. I didn't really have any friends so I was happy to have an escape from the complicated world.
DonaldDouglasandToby6- Main Line Engine
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Re: Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism: a special relationship
Same way for me; I didn't of it that way at the time, but subconsciously, that may have been an influencing factor though.
Frankthetriviaman- Express Engine
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