A story from a high school teacher

August 17, 2005

My first day at school was crazy...I'm a high school teacher.

I ran into the Autism coordinator before school and learned that I

was getting an ASD student in my class with a facilitator our campus

hired the day before and had received no training. If I had not

KNOWN the coodinator from my dealings with my own son, I would have

known nothing until they walked in my room.

I know if the ASD student had been assigned to another class, it

would have been a disaster. The echoing of me going over the rules

and the once getting up and leaving class for the restroom without

permission would have been more than most teachers could have

handled, let alone TWO adults (the coordinator and facilitator) and

a student coming in 10 min. late (the bus was late) and not knowing

anything about any of it.

Then about 40 min. into this same class, a mom appears at my door,

and her child is in a wheelchair. Another surprise….no notice! I

didn't have an appropriate desk.

I was so MAD by this point. Neither child was new to our campus.

How is it I got NO NOTICE? Luckily, I knew what to say to the class

to hopefully make a smooth transition for everyone.

Today, when I was walking out of the building, I came across BOXES

of papers next to the custodial closet filled with special ed

consent forms, waiting to be thrown out. I picked one up, tried to

find an administrator, and then alerted the secretary who was going

to follow up getting them thrown out. So much for confidentiality.

I had a HARD time getting past this yesterday. I took it personally.

I saw my life 10 years from now still fighting for the basics for my

son…..

Once this beginning of the year stuff dies down, I will address my

concerns with my boss. I'm not even sure who's job it is to work

these transitions.

For tomorrow, I have a desk for the wheelchair. And for the ASD

student, I have a new seating chart; a highlighted text book for

tomorrow's work; a CD-ROM of the textbook for home; and more ideas

about expectations after I called the parents for more info and

promised them that their child would be safe and would be challenged

in my class....likely the first mainstream academic class ever taken.

Thanks for listening.

Beth

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