Re: small vs large class

[Guest guest]

I was wondering how many of you all have kids going into a large class for

activities like gym, music, library and cafetaria? How does your child do?

Does the autism make this difficult? I have gotten different opinions. If you

would share your experiences with me it would help me make some decisions

regarding these activities. Does age matter or is it unique to the child? I

may drop in and observe these activites without Rochelle seeing me.

I have mixed feelings about Rochelle participating in a regular gym class

with support. I can't tell if it is bothering her or not. But the

Psychologist did recommed a small class in general. Thanks for your thoughts.

No wrong answers here.

On another note, the Physical Therapist said in our IEP meeting that she

didn't think Rochelle needed Physical Therapy. She feels only children who

can't walk need it. Urgh. Soooo, I don't necessarily trust her judgement. We

have clashed many times already about things. She also said Rochelle would be

with them a very looooooong time. I don't know what that comment was about or

am I naive?

Diane (mom to Rochelle ds/asd and Danny 7)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/01 7:49:44 AM Eastern Standard Time,

dben937342@... writes:

> I was wondering how many of you all have kids going into a large class for

> activities like gym, music, library and cafetaria? How does your child do?

> Does the autism make this difficult? I have gotten different opinions. If

> you

> would share your experiences with me it would help me make some decisions

> regarding these activities. Does age matter or is it unique to the child? I

> may drop in and observe these activites without Rochelle seeing me.

>

Hey Diane,

This was a biggie for us. The schools I checked out all ate in large

cafeterias and I knew Maddie could NOT deal with that. Melmark was the

only one that ate in the classroom with classmates (only 5) Some kids

adjust and do fine, but I know my kid and I foresaw HUGE regression is she

were forced to eat in a cafeteria....well, she just wouldn't eat, among other

things that would happen. How does Rochelle deal with social gatherings

with you? At church, or a loud restaurant, or your other children's school

plays and such? Maddie has an extremely difficult time in all these

venues. Some restaurants she handles better than others---there's many

factors that could make it a peaceful outing, or not an outing at all!!!

The school shows are brutal!!! CAN'T do them with her. The clapping, the

music, all those people---freaks her out!!!

It's a very good idea to go and be a *fly on the wall*. I've become SUCH a

good spy!!!! ;-)

Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/01 7:59:18 AM Eastern Standard Time,

duffey48@... writes:

> How does Rochelle deal with social gatherings

> with you? At church, or a loud restaurant, or your other children's

> school

> plays and such?

Well, she has progressed some. She use to put her hands on her ears and shut

down when things got to loud. I thought she had and ear infection. After

ruling that out I figured it was just to loud for her. She would cry at the

mall during Christmas time. Lots more people. Teachers didn't have any

suggestions. This is preschool mind you. Said some kids do this. The thing is

she doesn't necessarily have a tantrum and misbehave badly. So, it is hard

for me to tell what is going on.

After she got her ear tubes she didn't seem to mind the noise as much. But

she will go off by herself or push people away when it is sensory overload.

She sometimes misbehaves but that has lessened. Pulling hair, pinching and an

occassional bite. She doesn't do this at school at all so they tell me. But

she will take off her shoes or dance on lunch table (just once), lick food

off floor if they don't watch her carefully. Does this make sense?

Donna, This morning Rochelle threw her food off the table. Guess she didn't

want waffles today. Hope we aren't back to throwing food again. She then was

banging a measuring tape on furniture. I took it and she came in the kitchen

and pulled my basket full of everything I can't find a place for on the

floor. What a stinker. She definetly did it on purpose. I couldn't even yell

at her since my brother is visiting and was sleeping downstairs. I put her in

her room. I know you are working on this that is why I mentioned it. The

school can't believe she use to throw her food. But the aid did tell me she

threw her peas.

Diane

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/01 7:48:54 AM US Eastern Standard Time,

dben937342@... writes:

<< I was wondering how many of you all have kids going into a large class for

activities like gym, music, library and cafetaria? How does your child do?

Does the autism make this difficult? I have gotten different opinions. If

you

would share your experiences with me it would help me make some decisions

regarding these activities. Does age matter or is it unique to the child? I

may drop in and observe these activites without Rochelle seeing me. >>

Diane,

For Gene, who is 13 and in 6th gracd, he does OK with all those things. The

only thing that he doesn't like is the class parties at school where the room

is opened up between the two rooms and there are 50 kids running from

activity to activity and yelling alot. On those days, he likes to go to a

quiet place adn play computer. But as far as gym, lunch, etc and in general

the classroom, it is not a problem.

Lauri

[Guest guest]

I must agree here too, this was a biggie for . This school year

is the first time that he is able to slowly cooperate with large

crowds , as the school is aware that this was an issue for .

He is able now to go on their trips to stores , malls ,theatres, &

restaurants . During his elementary times , it was hard for him to

sit in the cafetaria, the school tried everything . So they let him

eat in the classroom , this will be up to certain teachers , plus all

the other events . He would be pretty aggressive . Now he is such a

big boy eating with his classmates during luch time . Participating

during gym , adaptive PE, music & art classes . I can say the same

for us , we are able to enjoy going out now . Gosh , it was hard in

the past . The reason behind all this was just educating about

understanding autism and the school also learning along , which has

helped tremendously . It all involve so much sensory issues , which I

was not aware of . I would observe as much as possible , this had

helped me to see how or why the cause of the behavior and how to work

around it . I'm just glad the school district has not been mean

towards me , you know as the mother from (7734) , upside down .

Please don't repeat , I try to keep my words tamed , hehee. I've

gotten to know to the main school personnel and they just praise me ,

so I've luck out in this area . Only because they all know my story

from the past and have seen what I've been through . So, I made sure

I did my homework well and still learning and preparing. So that I

could work around what needs . Do spy , its the best way to

identify behavior problems or what might work . Even when the label

was not included , I would suggest trials .

Irma, 13,DS/ASD

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/01 10:05:38 AM Eastern Standard Time,

dben937342@... writes:

> But the aid did tell me she

> threw her peas.

>

Yea, but Jeez!!! Peas DO look like little balls....LOLOL Maddie still

throws, but not if she's really hungry. That has been the key factor

lately. Diane, I hope Rochelle isn't getting back into the throwing food

thing again....for your sake as well as hers...;-) And Maddie climbs

EVERYTHING Diane!!! Even people!!! And yes, she licks things too. She

especially likes to lick car tires. But I draw the line there!!! I told

her she is NOT allowed to eat road kill.....;-)

Donna

[Guest guest]

Good question. When I co-uped in the elementry

school the kids went to the caferteria to eat lunch,

well their were like 3 or 2 teachers to help the

students. IF the child was going to buy their lunch

they would get in the line and buy it and have the

money also. The teacher wouldn't help with that.

Well the teachers were to help the children cut their

foods, and give them the foods that they were to eat

out of their lunch bag if they brought food from home.

The kids always sat at the same table each time they

went to the caftertia, and they had the same rountine,

so I guess the children knew what to do. The children

were to thow away their stuff after done eating. I

was amazed that they could do all of that when I was

their mostly all the day helping.

Hope that's kindof what you want.

> << I was wondering how many of you all have kids

> going into a large class for

> activities like gym, music, library and cafetaria?

> How does your child do?

> Does the autism make this difficult? I have gotten

> different opinions. If

> you

> would share your experiences with me it would help

> me make some decisions

> regarding these activities. Does age matter or is

> it unique to the child? I

> may drop in and observe these activites without

> Rochelle seeing me. >>

>

>

=====

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[Guest guest]

Again I was in the co-uping class a few years ago.

As of my other e-mail all the kids go for lunch in the

caferteria with like 60 other children w/ out special

needs. I don't think that the chilren go to the

library, and I don't know what the reason why they

don't. Music is really touft for them. I think it's

too much music, I don't think any of the children like

it so much. Gym, when theirs no one in the class then

all of the chilren go to the gym to do basketball,

walk, etc. for like 20 min or so. But when theirs a

class for P.E, or art, music, then like 1 or 2

children with a aid or volunteer helper, goes and does

their own thing. Like for art they do what their

doing if it's not so hard and if the child can handle

it. For PE, they usually sit in a corner and roll a

ball, or they walk around they gym. The really self-

motived children go and do what the other children are

doing.

>

>

> > I was wondering how many of you all have kids

> going into a large class for

> > activities like gym, music, library and cafetaria?

> How does your child do?

> > Does the autism make this difficult? I have gotten

> different opinions. If

> > you

> > would share your experiences with me it would help

> me make some decisions

> > regarding these activities. Does age matter or is

> it unique to the child? I

> > may drop in and observe these activites without

> Rochelle seeing me.

> >

>

> Hey Diane,

> This was a biggie for us. The schools I checked

> out all ate in large

> cafeterias and I knew Maddie could NOT deal with

> that. Melmark was the

> only one that ate in the classroom with classmates

> (only 5) Some kids

> adjust and do fine, but I know my kid and I foresaw

> HUGE regression is she

> were forced to eat in a cafeteria....well, she just

> wouldn't eat, among other

> things that would happen. How does Rochelle deal

> with social gatherings

> with you? At church, or a loud restaurant, or

> your other children's school

> plays and such? Maddie has an extremely difficult

> time in all these

> venues. Some restaurants she handles better than

> others---there's many

> factors that could make it a peaceful outing, or not

> an outing at all!!!

> The school shows are brutal!!! CAN'T do them with

> her. The clapping, the

> music, all those people---freaks her out!!!

> It's a very good idea to go and be a *fly on the

> wall*. I've become SUCH a

> good spy!!!! ;-)

> Donna

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

nathan has always attended all specials with his re ed

class, but there is rarely more than 20 kids per

class, they just have 3-4 classes of the same grade,

this helps trememdously witht he teacher student

ratio. I imagine recess and luch ALL the class would

be there and he has done fine. As he has gotten older

and with behvior mangement and constant interactions

with his peers and each year you will have some of the

same classmates and others from previous years maybe,

they mix them up each year. And his peers and teachers

are always keeping an eye out for him/on him interact

wiht him trying to get him to talk,lol, you wuld be

surprised how good his peers are, they have learned

well over the years,lol, and many want to be nathans

hleper and get to activities or teaching with him,

like reading in pairs etc. shawna

=====

shawna

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

i remember those days too, i think some is an age

issue, when nathan was young toddler to early school

age it was a nitemare for anywhere public, or family

gatherings, for us and shcool. But we just kept

takeing him and and school too kept exposing him and

his scl/respite workers too, its part of his icp goals

for them and puclic places, now we are working on

communication at these places wheather its voice or

augmentive. As he got older it has become quite

easier, there are still occasions where he will whine

for something whaether it be a pop or toy or

haaaamburger at mcyd's, lol so we try to make sure if

we take him that we have enough $$ for him to choose

something to his liking. Usually we can get away with

a pop to cool his jets,lol.shawna.

=====

shawna

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

oh i forgot nathan also eats breakfast at school, this

encourages him to get dressed quicker in the morning

so he can go eat some toast and juice or pancakes

whatever they make, and saves alot of mus and fuss at

home too, im going to miss that in jr high I think

they dont serve breakfast anymore, darnit,lol. he goes

through the line both times and has to tell the

teacher there that day scanning their lunch cards his

name and then chooses what he wants form the servers

and cooks, etc. I think he gets some help with

carrying his try depending on the meal like if its

soup or something like that, and ofcourse there is

always a teacher or the principle is there by him due

to his choking problem. shawna.

=====

shawna

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