Massage For People With Autism
Since 2007, as part of my community outreach program, I have been an active volunteer for the Autism Society of Colorado. A $5 donation is all I ask to offset the price of linen service and massage oil and lotion.
I offer my time by giving 10 - 45 minute massage therapy sessions to people with autism, Wednesdays 8a-5p.
Autism appointment hours for 2011 are currently filled, please email me to be placed on my waiting list.
For many years I had been looking for an opportunity to be available for some type of outreaching to the community. Since 2003, I had been working with Charlie, a then 26-year-old man with autism. His mother, Sharon, had been a client of mine for 10 years and thought maybe, just maybe, massage therapy might be something he would benefit from receiving. Here is what Sharon has to say:
“Since Charlie had not had any type of sensory integration therapy when he was young, I was unsure what his tolerance might be. Having been a client of Randy’s for more than 10 years, I knew Randy to be a gentle voice, and a wonderful therapist, and I wanted to provide Charlie with an opportunity to see if a therapeutic massage would be beneficial to him. Regular massages have turned out to be an incredible life-changing event for Charlie. After a massage, Charlie is calm, relaxed, happy, and seems to be able to better handle the changes in routine. And, over the years, he is able to better express how he is feeling physically- he seems more in tune with his own body. Randy is a wonderful and caring person and I am so grateful to have him in Charlie’s life.”
Prior to meeting Charlie, I didn’t know much about people with autism. The stress and frustration they feel at being inside of a body which doesn’t allow them to effectively communicate with the outside world and/or the stress from the sensitivity of having to process too much information - information that others take for grant. I do, however, know what it’s like to experience stress and the toll it physically, mentally and emotionally takes on the body. It is unimaginable to have this kind of stress in every waking moment of everyday. For this reason alone, compassionate and safe therapeutic touch in the form of professional massage therapy is absolutely necessary for people with autism.
I understand families affected by autism spend thousands of dollars to get all the necessary early intervention and sensory integration therapies possible and massage therapy is low on that priority list. This is why, since the summer of 2007, I have been offering my time, free of charge to people with autism.
If you have questions, please contact me or the Autism Society of Colorado directly at 720-214-0794 or www.AutismColorado.org.
Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What if my child cannot be still for 30 - 45 minutes?
A: If the session needs to be shorten, that is completely okay. I do my best to provide a session that is free from excess distraction. The music is a combination of soft deep tones, the room is very dimly lit, the table is heated, I speak very softly and infrequently, and there is a comfortably weighted cotton blanket. All of this to provide a safe, nurturing, and cocoon-like environment. I attempt to pay very close attention to the non-verbal messages being given and if there is distress or discomfort, we will stop the session or take a break.
Q: May I be present in the room while the session is in progress?
A: Absolutely. I require that the parent or guardian be present in the room during the session.
Q: Are there any age requirements?
A: Each session is different and customized to meet the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the individual. However, I have learned, the older the person with autism, the easier it is for them to receive this form of therapy. What’s most important is that we try, never give up and to work at a gradual progression.
Links to Related Articles:
“Massage Therapy for Autistic Children”
The Touch Research Institute’s Clinical Results
by Shirley Vanderbilt
“Massage Therapy for Children with Autism”
by Tina Allen, LMT