Just a thought for today -

Autism awareness starts by recognizing that you probably know or are related to someone with autism. Take a look around you. There is probably someone you know or many someones who are on the spectrum. What can you do to assist or accept them? If everyone gave just a little bit of time to a person on the spectrum to assist them or to help them be accepted for who they are life would be that much easier and happier for those on the spectrum and their loved ones.

We're not asking for everything on a silver platter, just a moment a day. Stop a person with ASD from being bullied, don't look at the parent of a child having a meltdown due to being over stimmed like a strange alien from another planet that needs to leave, acknowledge that those on the spectrum have a right to exist and can contribute to society. Volunteer, walk in a fund raiser, etc. Just a moment a day from everyone can make a lifetime of happiness for so many.

puzzles sadness and disappointment

Well today came a day I was hoping wouldn't come. By enrolling my child in a day care that specializes in special needs children and stresses inclusion and intermixing of nt and non nt children (nt= neurotypical) I had hoped that my sons challenging behavior would be worked around instead of excluding him from things. I was wrong.

Today was the big weekly field trip. They were going to a local-ish train yard for a ride. A was very excited as trains are his thing. ANY train floats his boat. They arrived there too late to ride the train so they opted to go to another attraction local to the yard. While at the other place A had issues listening, staying with the adults (he is a bit of a bolter , but this is nothing new, they KNEW this, its in his IEP they helped draft) and while on the way back to the center he opened his door that had not had the child locks activated on it scaring the driver. A never rides in my car without the locks activated so he really isn't used to the latch actually opening his door. But because of all this A has been un invited to the swim trip tomorrow to a local lake. We're in the northeast so you can imagine how hot it is right now , upper 90s and the dew point in the 70s makes for VERY uncomfortable weather. Add to that my last post where I mentioned just how much A loved swimming last week and you can imagine how upset I am about this. I was ciounting on the trip to help keep A cool since the heat only makes things much worse behavior wise for him.

I understand they are concerned for his safety BUT A has autism. They are supposed to be inclusive and trained to handle kids like him. They know him. This summer program is run to provide ESY (extended school year) services over the summer to kids making the transition to school from pre-school. I watched the school system exclude N from too many things due to his quirks before I knew what his diagnosis was and that exclusion was inappropriate. This incident with A just brings back all of that. I'm hoping this is a one time only thing because if they start excluding A from more trips that are being done as part of the ESY program with the school district I'm going to file a complaint with the school district about this. Exclusion is not an ongoing solution to the issue and the school isnt paying for him to not be included in the program.

I thought school and the teachers were supposed to mold themselves and their teaching style to make a place for each kid in their institution of learning? Not that the kid was to be bent, molded, changed to fit the teachers mode of teaching. My child is a puzzle piece and you cant change the piece's shape to fit the puzzle , you have to find the right place/orientation, etc for the piece.

There has to be a place or a program to fit our puzzle pieces... the problem is I cant seem to find it. Which really makes me sad and disappointed in society.

School is out, schools in

Well minor miracle happened in our town last month, N passed all his classes for the year. No summer school for him. A has started with his ESY (extended school year) program and is having a blast. N is starting to line up volunteering opportunities to keep him busy this summer(jobs are scarce in our area for teens with so many adults out of work, even the NT kids are having a hard time). Life I have to admit is far less stressful in the summer as I'm not fighting with N to do his work and picking up the pieces when the challenges of being an Aspie get to be too much or the local inbreeds bully him too much.

A is starting his medication trials this week. A has ADHD in addition to his autism and I'd rather try all the meds with a one month trial and get that out of the way than listen to years of the school going, Have you tried medication?. A quick yes we tried all the 3 major medications with no effect tends to shut them up pretty quickly. Were starting with Adderall and then next month we'll move on to Ritalin and then straterra. N had a horrible time on Wellbutrin with new and hard to handle behavioral issues while on it so we wont be trying that one with A. And that's pretty much the all the first line drugs used for ADHD. If they don't work I'm not prepared with a kindergartner to try 2nd line drugs with their more numerous side effects.

And on the behavioral/sensory front A has had a great June. He got his hair cut and didn't cry or flinch much while Dad was using the clippers on him. That was a first! and This week during his ESY program they took them swimming and he went in up to his chin (scared the adults a bit with his bravery) and even when he slipped and went under briefly he didnt get upset or not want to go back into the water! A officially likes swimming! so We're going to try the local swimming hole this holiday weekend. Its a resident only location so hopefully it wont be too crowded with riff raff.

I hope you all have a happy 4th of July this weekend and wish us luck as we try to conquer another sensory issue, the fireworks.