King of the Day!

...or, The Wonder League: Epilogue

The last weekend in June saw the Wonder League's (Rattlers') last game of their first season in Healdsburg. James has loved each and every game, so we all turned out to see him play. This was lucky because the team was short a few players, so siblings and cousins were welcomed on the field with open arms.

To call watching this "heartwarming" is a severe understatement.

James got his turn at the microphone to help "test-test-test!" and announce the first batter: himself. He squared up to the t-ball stand and whacked a good one. He looked at us to make sure we saw that and then ran gleefully to first base, his buddy (Healdsburg Sunrise Rotarians were on duty this week) at his side. He was having such a good time out there that he had to be reminded to advance the bases and tag the physical square on the ground with his foot. After he ran across home plate he jumped up and down, laughing and flapping both hands.

He yelled encouragement to his sister as she came up to bat. She's never played baseball before, or even wanted to try. The buddies and players helped her have a blast! She needed some help the first time or two around the bases, but then quickly caught on. She even swung at a few pitches while at-bat, which is is a remarkable testament to how this helped her self-confidence.

It was great to see that while James predictably became absorbed in patting the ground with his hands, he also chased after ground balls and knew to throw the ball back to the pitcher. As I watched him pounce on one ball, I broke into a big grin. How much fun he was having!

After the game was over, George, the league's organizer, announced there would be an awards lunch at the community center next door. James insisted on pulling the water coolers over to the hall:

After a great pizza lunch (with cookies and ice cream for dessert), the awards were handed out. George and the Rotarians really went all out to provide some thoughtful, exciting mementos. Each Rattlers player received a trophy, followed by framed photographs of the team and the individual player:

I have to tell you that the woman who took the photos all throughout the season did an amazing job! What did James think? After grinning big time, he hoisted his trophy and crowed "I am King of the Day!!!!!"

So thank you a zillion times, George, Healdsburg Rotarians, and all the Wonder League volunteers. You helped make our guy King of the Day and gave him memories that will last a life time.

If you are interesting in joining the Healdsburg Wonder League next year or interesting in volunteering, please call (707) 433-8477 or email HBWonderLeague@gmail.com. They are hoping to grow for next year!

Wonder League Teams Up!

Yesterday was our last game of the 2013 season with the Healdsburg Wonder League. Even though we hot the hottest day of the year, we came out to play. Normally James just melts and we stay home. This game was different.

We started later in the day, about 3:30, and the game was in town at Healdsburg's Rec Park. Déjà vu -- we'd just been there last week at the end of the Future Farmers Country Fair's Twighlight Parade. Our guys got to hit the field after watching a thrilling game between the San Francisco Seals and the Healdsburg Prune Packers. What a lot of fun it was to see the big guys play right up close! There were some fast action going on out there.

We did root, root, root for the Home Team!

We were right by the dugout.

I love the home team, just for the name, BTW. When I first remember coming to Healdsburg in the summer, the air was full of the smell of plums drying into prunes. As soon as we came off Fitch Mountain, we could smell their sweet fruity aroma, going into and all over town. The dried fruit would get packed up and sent out all over the country by truck and train. The trees were gorgeous with blossoms in the Spring.

Well, back to baseball ... James actually hit a pitch! He's been steadily batting Southpaw, and all his work with his APE teacher are paying off - he throws in a nice straight line, pretty much on target. I noticed he also stayed on the field more and did less wandering, but that could have been because of the iPad app I promised to download for him later. He did a great job running the bases too.

Big sister did much better at bat once she switched to a lighter one. She's really starting to get the hang of it now! Not so keen on playing the outfield, but the did leg it around the bases, even stealing home. Way to go, Girl!

The icing on the cake: the Prune Packers were the Buddies for the game. They did an awesome job, coaxing the kids to try for a better batting stance and hand positioning. Their pitcher braved our unevenly hitting kiddos and patiently pitched to each one until a hit was made. After the game, some players even hung out with us for our final BBQ and awards ceremony.

As we left, one player called out "See you next year!" I sure hope so. Thanks again to George and everyone who made our kids smile as they got their chance at bat and on the field. Baseball, the Wonder League, and the Prune Packers make a winning team.

A Boy and His Dad

James has started to really play with other kids. They don't have to be his age; he is a social guy who is really starting to interact with others. The sparkling, slightly naughty boy who knows how to use his cute charm is wanting to be part of the playing scene within a group.

How lucky for us that the Wonder League just started up this Spring, and that James' teacher sent an informational flier home in time for us to sign him up.

It's certainly been wonderful for James. My husband reports that he loves his uniform, can hardly wait for his turn at bat, and runs with total joy. The volunteers who work with the kids are not only helping James learn the game, they are mentors for playing with others, socializing, and role models for the teen years.

It's also a special time together for James and his Dad. They've gone to practices together and are creating a lot of special memories. Like the times James gets to announce the next at-bats, talking over the game together in the car, and his Dad watching him from the stands like any other proud Dad.

Then there's the time that James refused to come over for the team picture. His Dad shook his head as he told me that three teenagers could not catch him as he ran laughing across the huge field. Even when they ran him into the dugout, James evaded them. Kind of makes us feel better about all those times he's evaded us!

So if you clicked on the link above for the Wonder League, James is behind the photographer. Somewhere. Running amok and laughing like crazy, loving every second. His Dad is in the stands, torn between yelling at him to come over and grinning at the spirit his son has.

Here's a photo from when we had him in the car:

After I asked him to say cheese:

Thank you , thank you, thank you, Wonder League! Special times, special memories for all our special people. And Happy Fathers' Day to all the Special Dads out there!

Tackle It Tuesday: Alongside, Awareness, Action

I read this interesting article in a feed from MyAutismTeam.com and it brought up an good topic. The article is titled "What Typically Developing Children Learn Alongside Their Differently Abled Peers" and reminds us that programs like full-inclusion in classrooms and elsewhere in society can result in more typically abled people learning from those with special needs.

To me, this can bring anything from awareness to a desire to become more involved and help others. Also importantly, it begins a change in perception for next generations to be more open to the idea that there is more than one way or pace to live a life. And yes, I've seen it around me. My family's become more aware of what it means to be autistic. People in our community see James on a regular basis and start to see past the stims to his personality. Two of our respite care givers have learned more about special needs and run with it, helping James practice his letter writing, reading, and math.

At the CATS Party; he won a tool set!

There are ordinary people whose lives were touched by special needs and turned what they learned into programs to help others. Lorna Catford's daughter was born with many special needs. What she learned by trusting her observations turned into parental advocacy and a wonderful institution called the CATS (Collaborative Autism training & Support) Program. This program not only helps and support families of kids on the autism spectrum, it also helps train students to work with our kids and prepare them for a variety of new opportunities related to special needs. We've participated in this program 3 times; the support, information, and warmth it provides is truly a gift.

George Lawson saw a baseball program for special needs kids and was so inspired by what he saw that he started a program of his own here in Sonoma County, the Wonder League of Healdsburg. We appreciate it, because I don't know that James would enjoy that Challenger games as much as the Wonder League, let alone a regular Little League team. This will be our 3rd year of hitting baseballs, practicing our throwing, and running bases. James' big sister is an enthusiastic participant. Our guy adores his baseball shirt and cap. George told me of one game where a wheelchair-bound player was celebrating a solid base hit with a thumbs-up, and our son ran to him and gave him a high five. That's a greatest game moment right there.

Just this year we changed class rooms for James. He went from one where he was included, yet not connected to one that had students who swooped him up in class activities and saw him as part of their whole the first week he was there. As a parent, the feedback I got went from "problems and issues" to "doing good and these things need work." Might sound slight, but it's a huge change for the better in our lives.  To me, it's the best about the possibilities of full inclusion in a class that's a mutual good fit.

 So how will our world change, with children being exposed to differently abled peers, and learning alongside us about autism? I hope it's for the better, with less us/them attitudes and more of a we concept. I hope it results in more open minds, sparks of curiosity, and ability to work, live, and love together.

 

I know this is a rather abstract Tackle project, but I'm driven to advocate for acceptance and programs that will help my guy every day. Especially when I see his beautiful happy smile, and feel his joy at being in the world.

The Wonder League: Magic Lens

We had another great day playing ball up in Healdsburg with the Wonder League. The whole family got into it. Both kids played and cheered. James' Nana came and rooted for all the players, especially her two rookies. My husband and I whooped, clapped, and took pictures. He even helped sell t-shirts.

I turned on the Magic lens at the end of the game, and got a little arty:

 We'll be doing it again next Saturday too!

Activities for Special Needs Kids

This has been a good year for getting James more active. Although he has some issues, such as low muscle tone, uneven fine muscle control in his fingers, and vestibular disorders, James is a guy on the go. He likes people and being able to play sports is becoming more of a requirement for him to participate at recess and social occasions with others.

So we love it when we hear about programs for kids with special needs. Any helpful boost we can get for our kids is an investment that pays rich and diverse dividends. Here are some programs we've used over the past year:

Healdsburg Wonder League

A non-profit organization that runs a mini baseball league designed for children, ages 4–19, with special needs. Their first game is this weekend and it's not too late so sign up for this season! Find out more on their website (http://wonderleague.org/) and come on out to cheer on the Players and their Buddies. James and his sister have enjoyed two years with this great program. Our daughter learned to hit a pitch, and James has actually improved his throwing skills. Here are some posts about our experiences.

Saturday Sidekicks

We've had some fun Saturdays down at Sonoma State. The Saturday Sidekicks program has truly made both kids excited about being more active. It's nice to have some focus time too where the kids and their university sidekicks join in a circle to sing and try a group activity. The energy is high and the kids get a chance to do outside of normal play, such as ride a plastic scoot, get rolled down a ramp while inside a tubular mat, or ride on a platform swing. Being pulled on a blanket while sitting in an inflatable raft is novel, as is having a big cardboard box to hide out and giggle inside. We sure hope to participate in Saturday Sidekicks next year!

Town of Windsor Parks and Rec

We've tried two programs, with gratifying success. Half days of summer camp sessions and group swim lessons. For both, I've gone in person to the office to talk about James and his needs. At first, they were willing to give it a try, with the clear condition that the counselors were not 1-on-1 aides and that if there were too many issues for either of us we'd withdraw James. Amazingly, issues never came up.

Instead, with the summer camp, his verbal abilities soared, and he got into crafts and enjoyed play times. He loves wearing the camp t-shirts all year long. At the talent show last summer, he insisted on performing a song learned at camp on stage, solo, with a microphone. I heard he was a fun act to watch. I have strangers waving to me now at the Town Green, asking me to say hi to James. We remember the summer camp programs with great fondness.

The group swim lessons for kids were an important developmental milestone. I finally felt James was comfortable enough in water and group dynamics to get something out of a class and would not be too much of a distraction. It was a very good start and we'll be doing more this year. He even started to float on his back and jumped in at the last class, getting his head wet: victory over sensory issues!!

New to try this year,

Cycling Without Limits

James is eager to try and ride his bike without training wheels, like his big sister. His balance is rather precarious, so we haven't gotten there. Meanwhile, he is so big he is outgrowing his beloved Star Wars bike and bending the training wheels. Here's hoping both kids will be 2-wheeling it by Summer's end. We heard about the Cycling Without Limits program by participating in Saturday Sidekicks, and I am already looking forward to June.

Speaking of being physically active and programs supporting kids on the autism spectrum, James and I are walking this Saturday in the North Bay Area Walk Now for Autism Speaks event. Please join us in person at the Windsor Town Green or consider supporting us as we walk to raise awareness and funds to understand and create resources to deal with Autism.

Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Wonder Ball

I've been working on the website for the Wonder League, updating it with photos from the games. I just kind of fell into creating the website and taking photos. It's been a blast!

Going to the games and watching all the joy, excitement, and plain social fun these kids and their families share is priceless, and makes me want to share it some more:

One of my favourites

For more images from the heart and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.






               and ... Wordless Wednesday

Powerful Reasons for Raising Awareness

Several events have hammered home for me the need to raise awareness regarding Autism and special needs of our kids might have.

Booth from 2011 Walk now for Autism Speaks

• I have had staff of two different schools approach me and ask about resources for autism screening and resources. There seems to be a definite need for educators to recognize signs of Autism and resources to both offer referrals, as well as additional training for staff.
    
• When a big Autism story hits the news, family and friends look to me and ask if I've heard the latest. They want to know what I think, which is a great opportunity to discuss and raise awareness. Would be so much better if I knew more and therefor had better information to share.
     
• At least two of my child's pediatricians have questioned that he has Autism. This is in a big HMO. One of these pediatricians actually challenged his diagnosis from the CAD Clinic. A third pediatrician went to bat for us, requesting additional services to help our son. Most of these requests were denied - especially in the ABA area.
     
  
• I was asked to give a talk last year on Autism to a local volunteer organization and many of them had no idea of the impact it was already having on our community. They wanted to learn more and how they could help.
     
• There have been several heatbreaking news stories about families dealing with in despair who decided the best solution they had was to end their lives. The constant wear to one's energy, financial burdens, lack of resources, and social isolation can be deadly.
     
• People are starting to find their own answers that can both help mainstream individuals on the spectrum and provide them a way to live independent lives. Examples: The CATS Program, MyAutismTeam.com, Specialisterne, and programs like the Wonder League. This is the tip of the iceberg, my friends. We need more thinking  with this in mind; there can be success stories!
     
• Budgets again are being slashed for the front-line providers: Regional Centers and the public schools. This is bad in so many ways, I could make a short story out of the reasons why I know this is both short-sighted, false prioritizing, and wrong. The biggest reason being ...
     
• The numbers of our children being diagnosed with Autism keeps rising, with no end in sight. How can we halt or treat something we don't fully understand? The official CDC numbers are now 1: 88 children on the spectrum; 1: 54 for boys. In Utah, the numbers show 1: 47 children and 1: 33 for boys. Experts believe that the true numbers are closer to 1: 33 than 1:88. These children will be adults in about a decade. More generations of Autistic children will follow.
     
• Too many children are being diagnosed past the ideal diagnostic age of 18 months. If a child can be diagnosed and receiving services before age 3, their brains have a much better chance to develop and allow better communication and development overall. More parents need early detection information so they can act earlier.
    
• The problems of dealing with children on the Autism spectrum, integrating them into society, and helping them grow into independent, well-adjusted adults cannot be ignored. Knowledge is power and we as a community need more of it to get more information about Autism, and use it to help our children, the people who work with them, and help avoid Autism in future generations.

I love James for who he is. I accept that Autism is part of him. I do not love what Autism is putting us all through.

So yes, we will be walking on April 14th. And talking. And sharing. And hoping.

 Thank you to those who have helped us so far. It really means a lot to us!

Sports Challenge

James needs more regular exercise. He has low muscle tone to begin with. His extreme weight loss last year has made his already skinny frame more frail. He is also growing like a weed.

Because James is happiest in a familiar environment that is quiet, and happiest yet when online, incorporating physical activities are tough.

At school, James will use a foam football to interact with other kids and toss the ball around. His adaptive PE coach has been super encouraging him to jump rope with others and his regular PE class had a great week of bikes. James' sister takes him on walks around our neighbourhood or to a local park. I try to take James with me on weekly grocery shopping runs and swim play sessions at the pool.

James's Dad gets him out to parks and took him to the always fantastic Wonder League baseball program. This year saw some wonderful changes to the program, including earlier start times, warm up practice, and great groups of Buddies for all the players. While James was reluctant to play at times, he loved the attention. He started switch hitting and running after grounders. He actually started to hit pitches near the end of the season, and the week cheer section showed up, he ate up his personal rooting section as he rounded third base.

I wish we could find a local, affordable sports activity for him that he would enjoy. It's always good to have options outside the Xbox.