Did your child that has Autism start school? What did you do or what are you going to do to help your child with Autism get ready for this transition?
First: WHY DON'T ALL SCHOOLS realize that children with Autism would do BETTER if they went to year-round-schools? The district we live in allows other students to go year-round BUT NOT the AUTISM students. AND yet all the world knows children (teens, adults) with Autism have a difficult time, MORE than a "normal" child/person, in adjusting to changes.
My son, Gus as I will call him -- will start public school in 3 weeks. I personally have homeschooled Gus for 1 1/2 years to keep him away from being bullied (a fellow student with Autism was allowed to strike my son and other students-teachers-aides. I DO NOT blame the student, I blame the professionals that allowed this to happen to my son). SO now Gus is terrified to go to school. I have worked with this new school district, school, principal, teacher to help assure my son's safety. BUT, life isn't always safe. NOT a concept my son understands.
My husband & I took Gus to buy a new backpack (Spiderman), lunch box (Spiderman), school supplies (we provide his supplies and a supply box since our son have SEVER egg allergies. That way no one touches his supplies! Gus picked out new clothes. Gus MUCH prefers to wear jammie pants (no zippers, snaps since he can't do either). Gus won't wear jammie pants to school now due to being bullied by "normal" students. Not one of these students parents (school principal called them all in) thought it was a problem and "that kid needs to wear normal clothes". Gus has been practicing with those new pants---he just pulls them down and pulls them up......no other option. Yes, we do have more accidents than we did with the jammie pants. BUT, I did find 3 pair of pants with elastic waist. I have in the past put in elastic waist. BUT he got made fun of for "being a baby"when he wore jammie pants so he and Mommy decided he will wear a longer shirt when he wears his elastic waist pants. Gus can't tuck his shirt in anyway. That "feel" bothers his skin. The words "hurts, hurts" and lots of tears. Texture is also a problem for my lovely. Gus wants to be like the other children, so he's trying hard to learn how to cope, sad to this Mommy. Normal children are allowed to bully those that have medical, mental problems. BUT alas Gus won't ever be like the "normal" children. Gus would never bully anyone. He has known the pain of being bullied.
NOW I just have to dye these three tan pants. Gus will only wear brown, green or orange colors. THEY are his only favorites. The other colors get lost in his world. Think I will go with browns even though he wants orange pants it's NOT going to happen. Anyhow browns don't show stains! Right??????
BTW, zippers are pronounced "jippers". Gus has no Z in his alphabet yet @ age 9. WE try to NOT have Gus say the word ZOO, in public. Change that Z to a J and you will get my drift. People stare or make hateful comments do to his speech problem. SAD adults need to grow up, oh yes, I do tell them so!!
I just thought of something. Gus has a favorite team is the Cincinnati Bengals---THEY WEAR ORANGE.....oh we do love this little boy! NO, he doesn't watch their games on TV. They like orange and he likes orange, that's the reason he needs to like them. IF only we were all so easy to get on with, right? BUT any time anyone starts on about their favorite team Gus is yelling Bengals, Bengals and WON'T stop until everyone stops talking about their favorite team. HA HA so the Bengals WIN! OH he's so wonderful.
My husband & I don't do Federal immunization program, for us or our son. HE was perfectly "NORMAL" per our family doctor, then the preschool system refused to take him until he got a second and NOT
necessary shot. The RN thought I had signed the release and gave him that second shot. She lost her
job and the principal about lost her mind (she retired and it happened @ school nurse office during registration) and our son became VERY ill. I never filed charges. I just demanded they change the process
so it wouldn't happen again. And so he is Autistic. BUT, seems that the medical professionals feel Gus had Autism before that overdose. Gus couldn't talk @ 2 yrs. Gus cried for endless hours even with bundling and rocking (he loved to be bundled and rocked for HOURS, we took turns 24 hours + @ a time.). Music, loud noises, flashing lights (Christmas tree) and so many other things bothered him. Gus slept from 3 days old --- until we figured out that noise bothered him, with his hands over his ears! Maybe the shot wasn't to blame, but it didn't help. Gus started having HUGE meltdowns @ age 5, 3 months after that "extra" shot. So, in my opinion the medical professionals were all covering each other---in case of lawsuit. Just my opinion!!!!
So the IEP's, the 504's, the medical paperwork that NEVER ends will all be done soon, for this year anyway. Then I have to put my FAITH into a system that has failed my son twice. NOT an easy thing to do, is it? But, with waiting list of 2+ years for the private Autism schools, my husband and I have no other choice. Homeschool has been wonderful for us all but Gus has a mind that never stops and wants and needs more, more, more. So, onward and upward. Gus is advanced in reading and science. Gus will now move on to a brighter future. HOW'S that for positive thinking! Hopefully this new school can keep his mind busy.
Good luck to them, I was working hard to do that myself. Since the school system keeps bragging about their tools and bashing homeschool --- here's their chance to put their system where their mouth is---.
We are trying HARD to move on. Past the bullying, overdoses by medical staff, mean teachers that don't believe in Autism, (ya' we have that problem too) and districts that show daily that they could careless about Autism student needs. Lots of tears later we are going to put Gus into a small classroom high-functioning Autism group. PRAYERS are welcomed.
MY LOVE, PRAYERS and BLESSINGS to you too. May we ALL have a better year than the last in
the "system". ~ jen~
PLEASE USE MY BLOG IF YOU WANT TO SEND THIS TO ANYWHERE/ANYONE. THX.
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