Going On A Bear Hunt

So, during school and circle time Yester’s class gets ready to go on a bear hunt. This is the cutest follow along story I’ve ever heard. And now, thanks to You Tube, “seen”. There is a class production of this same story that is more like what Yester’s class does but, he LOVES this new one.If anyone has heard this and knows where to get the cd….CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY!! I HAVE TO HAVE IT!!

Quidditch, Inclusion, and Summer School

Sometimes a title says it all.  One of my most fondest hopes was that Yester would someday adopt my LOVE for Harry Potter.  In the last few days, Yester and I have sat and watched all but one Harry Potter movie.  He loves them!  Even in his ABA therapy he’s been asking to work for Harry Potter.  I love sharing this with him.

 Yet another I.E.P. under my belt as of Tuesday, and again, it couldn’t have gone any better.  The entire team agreed, including myself, that Yester was ready to move on.  The team’s recommendation:

“Yester would do well in what we call a “partnership” classroom or “blended inclusion” classroom.  A total of 20 students of which, 8 are special needs kids.  By special needs we mean, a stranger could walk into a classroom and try and guess which ones would be special needs but, they’d fail.  Amongst those 20 children, 4 teachers would assist in the curriculum of the classroom.  One teacher and aide that specializes in child development and one teacher and aide that specialize in special education.”

 All of Yester’s other services will remain in tact as the support that has fostered his accomplishments and has continued to move him forward.  90 minutes of speech therapy, 2 hours of occupational therapy, and 15 hours of ABA therapy in home.  The fall semester at his new school, is an exciting first step to being fully included come kindergarten in 2008.

 Summer school however, is quickly becoming something I may dread.  Yester’s current teacher, whom we love, is not staying for the summer session.  Which means that Yester will remain in the class room he’s been in but with new teachers and aides.  I’m not comfortable with that because Yester will be changing to a new set of teachers and aides with the new fall school placement.  During this weeks I.E.P. I did request that his current teacher do more investigating as to Yester being able to spend the majority of his day on the mainstream side for the summer.  They agreed, but that is a stipulation written into Yester’s I.E.P.  I’m afraid even with those additional hours that that’s alot of change in two months.  Not to mention, those very classmates that Yester is ready to move away from will still be there.

 So, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around how I feel about these circumstances and I’m spinning my wheels trying to figure out an alternative.  I wonder what others are doing or have done during the summer months?  Any suggestions?

What Does “Appropriate” Really Mean?

 

Yester has been doing GREAT in his school placement.  It’s hard to believe he’s been there for 7 months.  He’s acquired soooooo many skills.  He can ride his tricycle, he raises his hand in class, he shares, and he even helps pass out all of the kids pencil boxes in the morning.  His ABA program is moving right along as well.  Each of his programs has 4 levels and 80% of his programs are in level 3 and 4 now.  I knew Yester acquried skills quickly but, what I didn’t anticipate is how quickly those skills would serve him well in the classroom.

What started out as a perfect placement has turned into a not-so perfect placement.  The law says that a school district has to offer you F.A.P.E. which stands for Free and Appropriate Public Education.  Legally, the word “appropriate” is a fun weekday discussion between your special education attorney and the suits representing the school district.  I’d say Yester’s FAPE was being met at about 90% in Novemeber.  Now?  They’re meeting “appropriate” at about 75%. 

Yester spends 45 minutes in a mainstream classroom once a week.  So with this addition to his program the district is back up to meeting his needs at 90%.  The concern comes with asking the question, “If he’s doing so well in the inclusion class, shouldn’t he spend more time there?”  My fear is that the school district won’t want to offer a one on one aide so that this can become a reality.  Better yet, a really evil district would yank his other services just because he’s doing well.  None of that makes sense!! The support services Yester has are the very thing that have lead him to where we are now…..ready to move on.  I decided it was time for an observation and a meeting with his teacher and speech pathologist.

 I couldn’t believe that we shared the same ideas.  Both Mrs. T and Yester’s speech pathologist agreed that he was ready to move on….AGAIN!  Without them being able to discuss exactly what that is outside of an IEP, the consensus seems to be that he would do well in a mainstream classroom with a one on one aide who can begin to fade out once he’s been in that setting for a few months.  They were excited to share that information with me and said, “We think you’re going to love the placement and new classroom we have in mind!”  The bad news is…no more Mrs. T. That makes EVERYONE sad!  Also, I’m not convinced that Yester’s teacher Mrs. D on the mainstream side will be his new teacher either.  There lies the rub.  Another teacher we hope, is as accomodating as them.  As Yester would say, “Oh Pickles!”

On the mainstream side, Yester actually has friends!  And wouldn’t you know it…his closest friends name is Kayden.  Ha Ha… I think that’s cute and funny.  Kayden gets so excited when Yester comes over to their side.  He knows Yester loves space and planets and knows that’s how he’s going to get his attention.  He can’t wait to pretend when he gets there.  He likes to teach Yester new things and even praises him when he does it right!  At his recent observation a little boy took Yester’s toy away from him and told him he couldn’t play with that and that those were his toys.  Yester didn’t seem to care and so, he grabbed another.  That same little boy came over again and took it from him and said, “You can’t play with those either….their mine!”  And wouldn’t you know it, Kayden jumped in and said, “Hey, that was Yester’s, you give it back, and be nice! he’s our friend!”  What a cool friend!  Better yet, who is this kids parents? I think I may have to right a note to them.  Don’t you love when you can see how parents have molded their kids into well behaved and concerned “little people”.  Not a terror, or attention seeking brat who can’t share or cries evertime they don’t get their way.  We’ve all seen those kids.  Regardless, these are the “social” situations I worry about when he’s on “that” side.  His ABA supervisor and speech pathologist says he handled it well.  Eventually, he walked up to that little boy looked at him and put out his hand as to gesture, “give it to me”.  That kid totally folded, and gave him the toy….no comments or anything.  Honestly, the observers were surprised that the little boy didn’t put up another fight; he had made such a stink about it just a few minutes earlier.

It felt great knowing, we were all on the same page….AGAIN!  I’m actually looking forward to this upcoming IEP.  The kids in Yester’s class were really starting to concern me.  Their behavior and diagnosis gravitates towards lower functioning and it started to upset me that he was a role model for them but, yet there was no role model for him.  He’s taken on a real knack for mimicing everything he sees and hears.  I wanted him to use this phase in his development to begin mimicing typical children so, this change couldn’t have come at a better time.  I think I’ve become a little more trusting in his teachers and their ability to find an “appropriate” placement for next year.

Letting Go Of the Closet Case

I’ve sat back and watched blogs come and go.  Themes change. Tones change.  Sometimes, for the sake of safety, and the dirt bags that use our blogs for spam and crap.  Selfishly, I’ve chosen to share stories about my son in a public place.  Where people and advertisers who are unwelcome can read about our journey.  I don’t think I want to do that anymore!

You’re torn between those who are seeking help in the Autism community and those who spy on your lives.

What do you do?

Even if I can’t comment on some of my favorite blogs, they are still public to read.  So spying and gazing are still cards that can be played.  Is this the chance we take for being “bloggers”?

I for one have chosen MySpace as my home because the page is set to private and is only visible to my “FRIENDS”. I feared blogging on myspace because there are several friends who don’t want to feel obligated to commenting on my dirty Autism laundry, if you know what I mean?  And this route, alienates those who are seeking the Autism community.

I’m a myspace closet case trying to let go of the blogging world and the uninvited public?  What do you think?  Could you deal with another move?  Is anyone even still out ther?  Maybe the answers and comments to this blog will tell me exactly what I need to do.

Where Do I Sign?

Glitter Graphics
Myspace Layouts

Today’s IEP was a walk in the park compared to the others. Of Aiden’s 7 goals, which are broad by nature but measurable, Aiden had met 6 of the 7. Back to the drawing board we went. 8 New goals were written. All measurable and one particular that includes Aiden socializing in a general education setting with typical peers and accompanied by his speech and language pathologist. We were excited to hear about the progress he had made and how much his teachers have fallen in love with him. The new goals also included a new communication strategy between Aiden’s school, the district, and our in-home ABA program. All of Aiden’s behavioral strategies will be implemented the SAME WAY FROM EVERY DIRECTION. What’s best, is that I don’t have to be mediator anymore…I just get to be mom. Every 6-8 weeks the in-home team will observe Aiden in his school environment and then a meeting will be set up to discuss his progress and strategies amongst his teachers and therapists. I love the communication between them. Another interesting and concern topic I was eager to discuss was….summer school. I had no idea what would happen during the summer. Rich and I had found a wonderful Christian pre-school near our home that we wanted Aiden to attend. There wouldn’t be any room until June but, we didn’t want Aiden to attend until then anyways. Today we found out that Aiden will be attending summer school for 4 weeks in July and that the district will be continuing Aiden’s other services in a maintence program somewhere within the district. We are still considering placing Aiden in the typical pre-school for the month of August only. Rich would like to give him a month off…..but we all know how that went last time.

All in all…..we wrote this IEP up as an annual IEP which, is ironic because 6 months ago I would have panicked over the thought. Today, I went in there, made sure we all agreed about Aiden’s progress, agreed with all of the new goals and made sure they were appropriate and moving him in the right direction, and then listened and looked to make sure ALL goals were measurable. It was so easy, that Rich and I even signed the IEP right then and there.

Faux Pas?

I don’t think so

Mistake?

I’m quite sure no?

Courageous?

Maybe

Certain?

YES!!

At the end of the day….I know that if something is wrong or needs to be changed I can call an Emergency IEP whenever I want. I also have to mention, that after our tedious IEP’s in the past I was quite certain that if the goals had not been measurable they would have heard about it from me. All the fighting and preparing I did months ago absolutely paid off today.

Another IEP?

I’m starting to get really good at these IEP’s.  I think this will be IEP number 3 in the last 6 months.  Luckily, this IEP seems to be quite positive.

Yester met all of his annual goals in 6 months. So, back to the drawing board for some new goals.  He is age-appropriate in speech and language and gross motor skills.  His fine-motor skills are going to need some work and this IEP will prove positive if we can address our behavioral strategies. 

With a change in ABA providers it’s important that we know where we came from and where we are going.  Our goal for this meeting is to get the district on board for attending our monthly team meetings and to come up with some strategies to have him included in general ed.

 Luckily and thankfully, I’m not quite on the defensive. Mostly because, we are quite satisfied with the services he is receiving and the progress he’s making.  I hope it goes as well as I think it will. 

Catch Phrase and Age 3

 

 I am officially beginning to understand why 3 is the age Hollywood makes money from.

The one thing about Yester being 3 I’m sure to never forget, is the silly commentary mixed with an average sense of annunciation, and how that equals the funniest and CUTEST kid ever!!

I remember last year when he had an explosion of language in March. This year has proven to be nothing short of a miracle and a phenomanal repeat of last year.

Like Boo from Monsters Inc., and no longer needing any assistance to complete his toileting tasks (accept that pesty underwear), his favorite past-time is to hum a song while on the potty.  His favorite tunes are usually the theme song from the “Wonder Pets” or the the song from the “Care Bears Movie”.

We love to play a game called, “Can You?”  Here’s how it goes….

M:  Yester are you hungry? What do you want to eat for lunch?

Y:  Scrambled Eggs and Bacon

M:  Not for lunch silly….Can we eat the refrigerator?

Y: Noooooooooooo

M:  Can we eat the table?

Y:  Nooooooooooo

M:  Can we eat Daddy?

Y:  Nooooooooooo (Pauses)  Can we eat Grandpa?

M:  (my turn) Noooooooooo

Y:  Can we eat a rocket?

M:  Noooooooooooo

This could go on for hours if I let it but, eventually I intervene and he joins along.

M: (quickly) Yester, Can we eat a hot dog?

Y: (a quick jolt and pause) Yeeeesssssss!

M:  Can we eat chips with that?

Y:  Yeessssssss!

OK then Mr. let’s eat!  And with no prompting, he completes his commentaries with, “Thanks Mom”, “That was fun”, or “I love you mom”.

Yester’s other phrases are now:

At the park:  “Look mom, a little girl.”  “Come on little girl, let’s play…come on….hurry.”

At Costco:  “Look mom, that baby is eating chocolate.”

In the Car: “Mom, can we go to the park?”

Leaving a message:  “Hello?”  “Kristina, I miss you.  Come over and play.  I love you.  OK, I’ll see you later. Bye.”

Watching Yester this past month has been so wonderful.  He just gets it now.  You ask him where daddy is and he says, “working”.  You ask him about tomorrow and yesterday and he remembers.  He tells you to stop, let him go, and that he doesn’t like that.  However, the difference between him and any other typical 3-year-old is that my son says it with politeness and a great deal of charm!

Thank You Hollywood

Just another night in Hollywood when celebrities come together for yet, another award show. However, the last two I’ve seen have really been pushing for Autism Awareness.

It started when Conan O’Brian hosted the Tony Awards and walked on stage with his bright blue Autism Speaks puzzle pin. I thought to myself, “I knew I loved him!”

Then on Sunday, I spent the day in West Hollywood with some friends and a much needed visit to Rich’s restaurant. What a blast we had and I was quickly reminded of how busy this time of year is for his hotel….they lovingly refer to it as “Award Season.”

Stars coming and going. Rooms booked quikly to enjoy the seclusion of the Chamberlin Hotel and wouldn’t you know it…..as we walked off the elevator to the lobby, Sendhil Ramamurthy from NBC’s new drama Heroes walks by.

At the Golden Globes, one NBC star after another displayed their Autism pin ontop of their Dolce and Gabana,Calvin Klein, and Hugo Boss suits. I loved every minute of it and found myself waiting to see who walked on stage next. Everytime I saw a celebrity wearing the pin, I somehow felt connected to them.

Had I known I would have seen Sendhil get into the elevator at the Chamberlin and that he would be proudly displaying his Autism Awareness pin the next night; I would have stopped him and thanked him for being so brave and generous to stand up for a very important cause.

By the way…..Sendhil is very attractive in person. Who’d of thought?

“I Need Back Up!”

One of the aggreements Tod and I have as a couple and as parents is to stand by each other on whatever decision the other has made.  Especially, when it comes to Yester.  When one of us has become that minutes disciplinarian we expect the other to fall in as back up should we need it.

It goes something like this…..

 Me:  Yester, it’s time to go to bed….say good night Blue.

Yester:  NO GO TO BED!

Me: Yester….we’ll watch more Blue tomorrow, let’s go.

Yester: (whining) Noooo goooo tooo bed.

Me: Say good night

Yester: No say good night.

Me:  Yester? (pause) let’s go. (walk to tv and turn it off)

Yester: (angrily and with a deep voice) I SAID NO MOMMY! STOP THAT! RIGHT NOW!

Me:  Daddy!! I need back up!

You can guess from there what happens. Tod backs me up and we deal with Yester’s tantrum together.

Well…..

The other day I asked him to pick up his toys and our conversation and his stance on not wanting to pick up the toys could have lead to a similar situation to the one above but, this time it went like this.

Me: Yester, it’s time to clean up. (singing) Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere……

Yester: No MOMMY! Stop THAT! NO SING! NO CLEAN UP!

Me: Come on, Yester…Mommy will help (demonstrating) See, clean up, clean up……

Yester:  DADDY I NEED BACK UP!!!

My eyes wide opened and shocked yet, I still had to try really hard not to laugh and smile!  Boy oh boy, he sure does understand team work!

Yester’s New Love

Yester has decided that every day should be a Care Bear day. That’s all he wants to watch these days that, and a revival of Blue’s Clues. It’s pretty cute but, we’ll see how long this 80’s circa cartoon lasts?