Magic Marker Monday: Rainbow Spelling Words

James is really taking off in his new classroom, and doing amazingly better with his school work. I am so very thankful for his new aide, who is making the hugest difference in our lives. We went from a situation where James was not learning, resisted vigorously going to school, and becoming a disciplinary problem to one where he was participating with his class in class work, much happier to come to school, and making progress with doing more work independently.

Case in point -- rainbow spelling practice!

He scored 100% on the test, too.

 Normally James needs someone prompting him through his spelling word list. He insists on a yellow, #2 pencil, and gets frustrated part way through the list. This week, his aide showed me the simple spelling flash cards she'd made for him; she printed the words first in colour and James then traced them in pencil. This could explain why last week James wanted to write the spelling list by himself -- in crayon. I printed the lines for him and the result was delightfully colourful.

Not content with that, James went on to write words in crayon -- something he usually did with pencil or pen, as he'd snap the waxy sticks.

Oh, and instead of touch math (old class and aide), he's memorized addition facts so he can add 3 columns of numbers and is getting better at subtraction. Again, this is the difference that a well-matched aide can make. She tells me she's making up multiplication cards for him to use. I cannot tell you how grateful I am that there are people like this woman out there to help children like James. She is helping to give him tools, education, and creativity.

And hold on to your hats -- there's an ostrich report in progress; with drawings!!!


For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit
5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

                               
 

Walking and Raising

Yes, this is late going up but yes, we will be walking in the 2013 Walk Now for Autism Speaks event this coming Saturday in Windsor, on the Town Green.

Yes, the numbers have risen again over the year: CDC now pegs the number of diagnosed children (ages 6-17) as 1:50 children and 1:31 boys. Last year they were reporting 1:88 and 1:54, respectively (for 8 year-olds). A diagnosis is made for some form of Autism every 11 minutes, instead of every 15 minutes.

Yes, we are making progress in understanding more about Autism -- its causes and resources for those affected by it.

Yes, there is more that needs to be done.

Yes, you can help:

Yes, you can come walk too! This will be our 4th year walking and every one has been a blast.
 * 2012
 * 2011
 * 2010

The FAAvourite Fun

Where has James continuously asked to go visit, ever since he started preschool, over 5 years ago?

That's right, the Sonoma County airport, officially known as the Charles M. Schultz Airport.

He loves to watch the planes take off, their spinning propellers, and the observation posts around the field. He likes visiting in December, to catch the tree of lights atop the air control tower ... and visit Santa, who lands from a Sikorsky helicopter.

 At least once a year we visit the adjoining air museum. Their Wings Over Sonoma County air show makes going back to school exciting.

And he loves, for some reason, the red REACH helicopters. By golly, we have sat parked for up to 15 minutes, just observing those babies parked on the tarmac. And if we get lucky and see a take-off or landing? Oh my -- such the ecstasies of delight!

So yes, we went there too, over Spring Break. Several times.

Still Talking About It

Easter was last weekend, but James is still excited about getting together with his cousins at his grandparents' house.

 He enjoyed the egg-citement of the hunt through the light rain and misty garden for the colourful plastic eggs. He still doesn't eat the candy, though.  The Easter Bunny knows to fill the eggs for James' basket with cat cookies and little Ritz/peanut butter sandwiches.

What James has focused on (to the point of obsession) is the hide-and-go-seek games that came at the end of the afternoon, inside the house. He constantly wants to "tell the story of hide and seek." Breakfast, as soon as I pick him up from school. The afternoon hours until bedtime are punctuated with requests for hide-and-seek stories. It's his new bedtime routine.

So glad he's enjoying these social interactions. The focus and repetition, however, are a little wearing. I think I'm going to start trying to hide people on the ceiling and in the fridge next time I tell the story, to see what "happens."

Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Bowling

We had one weird hanging chad (remember those?) Monday of a Spring Break day left this week. Guess what James wanted to do?

Yes Bowling. Go figure, it is literally across the parking lot from his school.

What is bowling like, with an 8 year-old boy on the autism spectrum? Well, it's a ton of fun!

This guy was into the entire bowling experience 210%. He took to the bowling shoes like they were his beloved Crocs. This is the same kiddo who pitched a small fit in Payless Shoes when I suggested he try lace-up and velcro shoes. While we did play with bumpers, he tried bowling on his own (not using a special ramp) for the first time. I suggested he try bowling with his left hand and he did well.

Every roll brought the same level of excitement, hand flaps, jumps, and big grins. I think James loved playing a sport that let him cheer loudly and often.

Boom! Cur-ash!! He took the noises of a busy lanes well, yet he still can't take a leaf blower.

We only played 10 frames, but they made James' morning. He had so been looking forward to this -- he even dressed specially for the event, and wore his hat his Dad found for him:

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

Apps Fantastic for Autism Awareness Month

Because it was such a great event last year I went looking for free or discounted apps today, World Autism Awareness Day 2013.

Yowza -- Smart Apps for Kids has a great post all set up with lists, links, and descriptions.

We don't have iPhones, but we do have iPads, and kiddos who love them.  We're also on a very tight budget, and so appreciate all the speciall offers out there, however fleeting they may be.

After a quick look-through, I think we'll be trying:

Toca House, because Toca Store and Toca Hair Salon are such bit hits. Both kids have been wanting to add apps and we hold to one a month, and they must do chores to earn the apps.

Happy belated Easter?

If it gets them interested in the real-life chore counterparts, I am all for this one. Best of all -- it's free!

Sequences for Autism
James is working on this at school for speech sessions, reading regrouping, and learning to write a story.

In fact, ever since the epic games of Hide and Seek with his cousins on Easter, we have been writing stories aloud about games of hide and go seek.

Another fun and timely app that's free for a limited period.

Picture Me Calm -- bee-cause we can all use a little more calm in our lives.

James is starting to experience frustration and anger more often, and I've been working with him to breathe deeply and communicate a little more maturely.

He's going to be a big guy. I want to get him some effective coping tools before the hormones hit.



What are other good apps out there for spectrum families?
    

World Autism Awareness Day ... Because We Already Know

Today is April 2, World Autism Awareness Day. If you are here to find out more about Autism and/or our journey, this post is for you.

Be aware. Be very aware. You are your child's best advocate.

It's been over 6 years since I felt in my bones that something was off about our beautiful boy. At 18 months, he didn't exhibit the same burst of development that his sister did.

He was happy and smiled, but did not "talk much." He rolled over a bit late; tried standing much later than his sister's 11 months. Once he started standing, the speech babble went away. His communication resembled a parrot's squawking.

His pediatrician told me I was being a worry mom; that I should not compare him to his precocious, older sibling.  Boys can often develop a little late, especially if they have a talkative big sister, he explained. Besides, he assured me, "he can't be autistic, because he looks you in the eye."
  

Do not be afraid to insist on assessments. Don't let fear of a diagnosis or well-meaning reassurances of family and friends put you off getting your child assessed.

By age 2 James started to scream and bite with frustration. He started zoning out on us, looking dreamily off into the distance and not responding to his name or attention-getting noises right next to him (yet he could hear a pencil drop on the other side of the house).

I came back to that pediatrician, who wanted to "give him 6 more months," and told him that what I needed was for him to call in a referral to have my son assessed for autism/developmental issues. I needed to know, I said -- if only if to be told to stop worrying. I needed that call NOW. He did call, but afterward was never comfortable in discussing my son's developmental issues.

There is help out there, and services are available that can help your child. The sooner you start, the better the response and results.

Within a month, a caseworker from the North Bay Regional Center came out and started giving me questionnaires to fill out. She chatted comfortably with me as we exchanged information, focusing attention on James as she tried to engage him with simple activities. After about half an hour, she started writing. When I asked what she was doing, she explained she was writing up purchase orders. What a lot there were: speech twice weekly, in-home and group developmental play therapies (each weekly), and weekly occupational therapy. Our lives changed with this visit, before we realized what was going on.

1 in every 50 boys. It can happen to your family. The numbers, when we started this journey, were 1 in 120 children. Every year there's been a scary march closer to 1 on 1 odds of a child being born with autism. Every year thousands more are diagnosed with spectrum disorders.

It took 5 months on a wait list to get James into the CAD clinic, where he was examined by a panel of medical, behaviourist, and developmental specialists.  The thought, going into the assessment, was that James would be found to be PDD-NOS. He actually scored a solid Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is technically more severe. Since then, we have become very aware. AndI have found the importance of building relationships with schools, doctors, and more people than I ever thought possible.

Communities and relationships are vital to stay afloat in a life or family that has been swamped with Autism or special needs.

The impact of James' diagnosis and special needs constantly strains at our family. We love him dearly and would not change him. We think his autism is part of who he is. We don't think it's caused by food allergies or vaccinations. I know that every child on the spectrum is unique, and presents as individually as "normal" kids do. I have learned the power of asking for help, felt acute relief and thankfulness for the kindness of someone who reached out to do something nice for me or mine "just because." Being with others who "get" what I am going through and don't attempt to brush off my worries, accepting it is what it is ... has never been more welcome.