charlyne

[Guest guest]

Elie spent 2 days with Mike. Went car shopping- even told the salesman

that the price was too high! Stayed with Mike and friends, went out to eat

- tablecloth place, played poker with the guys- Elie had a dummy hand that

he played, went to a folk music afternoon at the college (pre new years) and

is now home. Of course he also had that moment when he ran into the street@

The Handicrafter's Workshop is PURPOSE built altho I cannot see who designed

it. It is a sheltered workshop without the safety that one would expect.

The only safety that I heardor saw was that " cliients " are not allowed to

carry or move filled boxes- and that is the only job there that I saw that

Elie would do.

Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Charlyne,

I guess poor choice of words.

But it is a shame when some educators continue to educate and do

more harm to their students. Violate the law, might as well retire.

I guess my first chosen words was due to knowing the career chosen

and the schooling involved to become an educator and then teaching

for numerous years and then to get fired.

Numerous years of teaching I guess she had not learn anything from

parents who know their kids the best. How hard is it to listen to

some of us parents?

's Vocational instructor has about 33 years of teaching and

she is always so sweet still wanting to learn. I can tell she loves

her job and loves all the students. I see several of her ex-students

always calling out her name and giving her great big hugs!

Thanks to her when she reads what the AM teacher writes as I keep

the communication book for both classes on the same book, she'll let

me know her input of it on the side of knowing what I'm talking

about when I write why I would like certain issues addressed.

Good luck on the 24th for Seth's PPT meeting. Wow! Charlyne, swamped

with PPT meetings, in a way good as I know what a life saver for the

students and their parents to have you aboard. Good luck with this,

too.

What is Zeb up to these days? His Hip-Hop dance lessons?

Take care,

Irma,16,DS/ASD

[Guest guest]

> Hi Irma,

> I am no lifesaver I just have a big mouth.

Then what a wonderful gift and you know how to use it well.

Glad to hear about Zeb's update. Boy, he has become independent and

how he expresses it. Such a growing young man.

Irma

[Guest guest]

> Hi Irma,

> You have me tired already,LOL

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb DS/OCD/ASD?

I guess you could say I was ready for this challenge as I see

ready to learn new things. Charlyne, your the one who is always on

the go. : )

Speak about only one child withs special needs, check this out,

sorry if this has been posted before.

Autism's echoes fill this home

By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY

AUSTIN — There is a quiet irony in Jeanette and O'Donnell's

house, where autism has taken hold of five of their six children.

Five of and Jeanette O'Donnell's six kids are autistic.

By H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY

Though the brain disorder is most often associated with an inability

to speak, autism has rendered this household anything but silent.

" You have to get used to the sound, " Jeanette says of the crashes

and pops that mean something is breaking or hitting the floor,

usually propelled by small hands. The cacophony of seven older

television sets, usually tuned to different channels, drones in the

background, fed by a backyard satellite dish.

" We have to have TV on all the time, " Jeanette, 44, says. " It's a

stimulant. "

It's rare to have so many children with the disorder. A database

operated by the non-profit advocacy group Cure Autism Now says the

O'Donnells are one of only three known U.S. families with five

autistic children. Fourteen other families have four.

" People say, 'How do you do it?' " Jeanette says. " We weren't really

given a choice. It would be the same if we had diabetic children or

a child who had cancer. "

" We're not big into self-pity, " adds , 39, a print room

supervisor for an insurance management company.

A glimpse into the O'Donnells' modest four-bedroom home is more than

a look at the faded furniture they either inherited or bought at

garage sales: It's a peek at a family on the verge of overload.

" You get stressed, " Jeanette says. " Sometimes I go, 'Oh, my God, I

can't take another minute.' "

Living with autism has meant adjusting to diagnoses spanning a

spectrum of baffling symptoms. Jeanette provides almost non-stop

prodding, with reminders about basic grooming, and caters to the

rigid routines and personal quirks characteristic of the disorder:

• Caitlin, the oldest at 14, has classic autism, the most severe

form. She has a high-pitched scream and has difficulty being around

others.

• The next oldest, Deirdre, 10, has Asperger syndrome, the mildest

form. She converses about subjects like Greek mythology but is

socially awkward.

• , 8, has some signs of classic autism as well as a sensitivity

to sight and sound. Her diagnosis: " Pervasive developmental disorder

not otherwise specified. "

• , 5, is in pre-kindergarten part time and also attends

preschool for children with disabilities. He has the same diagnosis

as .

• Kiernan, 4, also is in preschool for disabled children. Diagnosed

with severe autism, he rocks back and forth and is never far from a

TV.

Meaghan, 7, is the only child not diagnosed with autism. She loves

to draw and often helps her parents with the others.

" It kind of upset her that she was different, " Jeanette says. " I

said, 'That just makes you a special child in this home. You don't

want autism.' "

A silent epidemic

Autism can transform a loving toddler into a detached and

uncommunicative child. Researchers aren't sure of its causes and say

there is no cure. But numbers are increasing dramatically. A decade

ago, one in every 2,500 U.S. children had autism; now it's one in

166, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

The Autism Society of America, an advocacy group, says the number of

Americans with autism could rise from 1.5 million to 4 million in

the next decade.

Researchers are studying a number of possible causes and

contributing factors, including the role of genetics and childhood

vaccines. Scientists now believe there is a strong genetic link, but

exactly which genes and how abnormalities occur is still a mystery.

The O'Donnells say doctors told them in 1993, when Caitlin was

diagnosed, that it was not hereditary.

They had already had four kids by the time a second child, , was

diagnosed in 1999. Jeanette says the three youngest were conceived

while she was using a low-dose birth control pill.

" When autism comes into a family's home, it dominates the house and

puts the family in a crisis situation, " says Lee Grossman, president

of the Autism Society.

umpires softball two nights a week to help stretch their

single income. The family gets state and federal financial

assistance totaling about $2,500 a month, which also includes

respite-care money for a babysitter.

There is little couple time in this busy household,

acknowledges. " Our quiet time is 10:15 p.m. to 10:25 p.m., when you

pass out on the bed talking to me, " he says, glancing over at his

wife.

But they believe all their efforts make a difference. After years of

speech therapy, all the O'Donnell children but 4-year-old Kiernan

speak, though some haltingly. Caitlin stopped saying words at 15

months and didn't talk again until she was almost 8. Doctors say

Kiernan also could have mental retardation, though it's hard to

determine because he is non-verbal.

Caitlin, a middle-schooler in both regular and special-ed classes,

has a full-time attendant, provided by the school district to keep

her from running away from classmates. At home, she's usually in her

pink bedroom with Barbie curtains, at the computer, playing video

games or watching TV, even eating her meals there.

At home, they let go

The house may look disheveled and sound like a war zone, but

Jeanette wants it to be the one place the kids can relax and be

themselves after struggling to control their behavior all day at

school. " Sometimes they go nuts here. They draw on the walls. They

break the furniture. They've got to have somewhere they can let go. "

A yelp from upstairs turns into crying, as Jeanette meets Caitlin at

the foot of the stairs. " Honey, what happened? " she asks.

Caitlin holds out her hand, wailing, " My fingers. "

" You shut the door on it? " Jeanette asks as she soothes her. " You'll

be all right. "

" She's hypersensitive. She is a little dramatic. She can't help it, "

Jeanette says.

Autism has not affected the kids' motor skills. All but , 5,

walked by 10 months; he walked three months later. But some of them

often walk on tiptoe.

" They don't like to touch the carpeting, " Jeanette says, explaining

their sensory sensitivities.

likes only tight-fitting clothing; Caitlin, when she was

younger, and now Kiernan, shed their clothes at home. Kiernan, at 4,

walks around in a shirt and diaper most of the time. Deirdre is

sensitive to the textures of certain foods.

Sometimes the quirks are more disruptive — and dangerous.

Kiernan is most often the crash culprit. He climbs up onto cabinets

and breaks glasses. He knocks over the file cabinet in the garage

turned playroom. He pushed over the floor lamp in the den and

shattered a TV by knocking it off a table.

Just recently, he broke his right arm when he was climbing onto a

vacuum cleaner box 18 inches off the ground. Lack of impulse control

is another symptom of the disorder.

" He's got a big body, but he's only 10 months in his brain, "

Jeanette says.

Deirdre wasn't diagnosed until last year, at age 9. " We went all

these years and didn't know she had it, " Jeanette says. " We were so

used to a certain kind " of autism.

Jeanette and 's lives are far different from what they had

imagined when they met in 1989 in an elevator in Manhattan on the

way to the same New Year's Eve party. They moved back to Austin,

Jeanette's hometown, when her father was dying; Caitlin was 11

months old. She wasn't diagnosed until she was 21/2, after months of

doctors saying her constant crying was because of colic.

" We did everything we knew how, " says. " We were raised to

believe doctors knew best. We weren't doctors, but after dealing

with some ... we realized they had less of a clue than we did. "

The diagnosis was sobering. " The norm is, you get really mad that

your kid has it, " Jeanette says. " Then you get depressed because

you've been cheated. "

Keeping calm day by day

acknowledges that it is tough to parent such

children. " Jeanette has said I'm one of the most calm people she's

been around, but I have a lot of frustration and anger underneath. I

have seven people who depend on me for whatever they depend on me

for, and I can't let the frustration or the anger spill over. "

Playing softball twice a week with pals works off his frustration,

he says. " I get to hit a 12-inch-round ball instead of hitting an 18-

inch-round head. "

Jeanette's mom sometimes helps with the kids, and babysitter Michele

Pollard, 30, has provided some relief for the past 10 years. Paid

largely from state respite-care funds, Pollard takes some of them to

bowl, play miniature golf or the children's museum to improve social

skills.

Jeanette, whose degree was in agricultural education, helped pay for

college by working with autistic teenage girls; until two years ago,

she operated an in-home day-care center to boost the family income.

Now she volunteers mornings at the elementary school, where she

retreats to the quiet copier room to photocopy paperwork for

teachers while her kids are in class. " I've had six kids in that

school, and I think I kind of owe them, " she says.

Having six children — even without autism — can be a handful. But

having five with autism has meant learning how to become their

advocate and fighting for them.

" They're here to teach me something, I'm sure, " Jeanette says.

[Guest guest]

Charlyne,

Good luck with your taxes getting done.

I guess your hobby will never end, it does sound like it keeps

growing. Your obviously doing well and glad that you are. Prayers

that you will continue succeeding in this area as possible.

Glad that all is going well for Zeb this school year. I know this is

work especially to have him in inclusion.

Hope all turns out for the boys with the touching issues. Please

post the information on this when you get a chance. Even if it cost,

it still helps to know what you found. Sounds interesting. I'm glad

that does not like being touched but sometimes he is

irresistible.I know here its part of our culture with the hugs, but

of course with the reality for our kids or just anyone it could get

anyone in trouble.

It breaks my heart to hear Phil's mom (HF AU)telling me that one day

I might see a cop car showing in front of her house as she can no

longer deal with him. Right before Spring break a couple of weeks

ago, she had an appointment with the MHMR to discuss Group Home

Living as he will turn 18 y/o the end of this year but some of my

feelings are that he would probably be better off than with her as

she never has time for him, another story.

When I had gone over to observe in his classroom, Phil is in

the same classroom but I did not see that challenge or structure he

needs, he ended up sitting close to me and wanted to hug me but I

told him that he was not allowed to do that especially at school or

he could get in trouble again. I do not remember if I had shared

this with you, he ended up getting suspended from school for about 4

days and then placed in the self-contained room in the AM class for

inappropriate touching. He does not need to be in that classroom.

His mom said he was getting pretty stressed with all his academics

but I do not think it was the entire problem along with the

inappropriate touching which was just hugging the girls and he can

be annoying but this is part of his social skills due to his

disability just need to be taught. Ok, it could be stressful with

the academics but only because they did not modify his assignments

and his mom does not want to fight this. I know the school district

is failing him and he DOES like to be in the self-contain classroom

as everyone gives him attention that he craves for.

He shows up at my door everytime he sees my van pull into the

driveway so that he could visit and now he tells us that his name is

C.(part of his last name)/Canfield. He even told the teacher

this slash Canfield.

Well, if you do get the name of that program, let me know, ok. I'll

look into it.

But who am I?

Irma,16,DS/ASD

>Irma, adults should not be asking or wanting to hug .

is smarter than they are for shaking hands. I would have been so

proud of his good choice. If was taught that hugging

strangers was ok he could also get into a problem someday. I found a

program called circles that uses colors in a rainbow to show who

they can hug and talk to. It is taught in school. I was upset to

find all these great social programs for educators to teach these

kids and not one school district in this area has ever used them.

Some of these programs are male and female hygiene etc. They are

wonderful but expensive for us to buy for one child. The older that

Zeb gets the more concerned I am.

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?

[Guest guest]

No problem when you have a chance.

Oh Zeb, Zeb, he is just a joy.

Good night.

Irma

> Hi Irma,

> I will post the program this week.I gave in and called the

accountant for an extension today. So sorry to hear about your

neighbor and not surprised. I meet many parents like this mother, so

sad for this child. Are you sure you don't want another boy,LOL? I

just went into the frig to make my dh lunch for work. I was

wondering why Zeb didn't bug me for supper continually while I was

trying to get some work finished this afternoon. The lunchmeat is

gone, all two pounds!! He ate like a horse at suppertime besides. Dh

will have to settle for whatever I can find now, that kid.

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?

[Guest guest]

Why thank you Charlyne,

I do want them to remember me when something good their way in the

adult world has a positive impact when they confront the reality world

and know they have someone to fall back on for support and glad that I

will be there when something like Graduating to me is an

accomplishment. It is another story as some family members do not seem

to understand the meaning of " What is the big deal about it? "

Irma,16,DS/ASD

> Hi Irma,

> You are a sweet and thoughtful Aunt and Godmother. I hope your (kids)

appreciate your goodness.

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?

[Guest guest]

Hi Charlyne,

Yes, you're right. It does makes us appreciate more.

Something else I've been wanting to share with you. I just started

attending a couple of advocate training meetings and its alot to learn.

I always think of you and wonder " How do you manage to grasp so much

info? I guess its more the " On the job training " for you.

Sometimes I feel this is not me but I know I must continue learning as

much as I can along with everything else. You're just awessome, which I

could just focus on one thing but there is just too much to deal with

and learn.

I have been invited to an Autism camp for Educators, just loved it as

they included " a parent " out in the Dallas area. It'll have lots of

hands on activities with visual & beahvior strategies, sensory

activities, etc. for one entire week in June and another workshop on

Growing Language, Using Sign to Facilitate Verbal Language, right after

that.

Then and I will attend a " Mommy and me " workshop once a week for

one hour interacting with sign language, something new for 6 weeks. I

had asked about the age group, mentioned 's age and of course

accepted.

My grandson is also learning sign language and has decreased him from

yelling when he wants something. Yesterday his mom went out with one of

her cousins and her 1 y/o baby for dinner. Noah's mom returned all

upset because she said that Noah sign eat, more, thank you & please and

then her cousin made a remark while yelling at her baby and would turn

to Noah's mom " Why are you teaching him sign language, he's not mute " .

Noah's mom, Kim was so upset and told her, " my son is communicating, do

you hear him crying, etc " ? Look at your daughter, do you even interact

with her? Oh gosh you can imagine what everning she had could not wait

to tell me. This is where I told her, that once they cool down give her

an article or educate her because many think like this. When I had gone

to my bedroom after she told me her news. I smiled to myself and was so

happy to hear how much Noah can sign.

I've been busy dealing with wonderful doctors also in the picture whom

I met this year and are knowledgeable about how to work with ,

especially figuring out those periodic reocurrence infections

experiences. It does seem I will have to have him on a strict diet and

so I need to read up more on it. They just fell in love with and

I could tell its not for the money as they have so much compassion.

Some of the docs would ask me questions how have I managed this far and

could see tremendous progress at his age and could definitely see the

autism in him as he walked in the room. They even gave me a hug, I

almost broke down but held it as its a relief to know they were nothing

like the past doc's we've dealt with and of course thanked them.

Thanks Charlyne for always cheering me on as is still doing well

at school and I even have the school district paying for several future

workshops as the story use to be " never have funds " and sometimes it

does make a difference of who you know to get things done.

Good luck with Zeb's future transition to Middle school, what fun

you'll have but I know you can change their attitude's for his

Individual needs. " You go girl " .

Lots of hugs!

Irma,16,Ds/ASD

> Hi Irma,

> I think many typical parents take milestones for granted; being

parents of disabled children reminds us to appreciate everything. You

are a good role model for these kids in many ways. GO IRMA,RAH,RAH, LOL

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?

[Guest guest]

LOL, Donna to the rescue, great idea! I totally agree this group keeps us on our

toes, very supportive.

Irma

Re: Re: Charlyne and buddy drama

Hi Donna,

That's a good idea. I was so upset that I wasn't thinking very clearly,thanks.

I love this group!

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?

[Guest guest]

Hi Charlyne,

Nice to hear your get-together went well. Hope your friends from

Texas have a safe trip back. Are they enjoying living out here in

Texas?

I say Zeb sounds like a typical teen at a store.

I actually took with me to a Super Wal-Mart for last minute

groceries and I was so impressed with him staying by my side and

pushing the cart and then waiting in line at the checkouts. Just

awesome!

Is Zeb out for the summer from school?

Irma,16,DS/ASD

> Hi Irma,

> I would guess that Noah will hang on you too if they move out. I

was the first person to bond with this baby after her birth and I

truly think that is one of the reason's she is sooo attached to me. I

also walked the floors with her for the first five months between the

colic and reflux. My party went very well and I am dog tired. I had

just finished cleaning my mess and company walked through the door

from Texas. It's a blessing that I cooked lots of extra food today.

Zeb does ok at Cosco if I let him push the cart and unload it at the

register. He doesn't like to shop but doesn't mind coming to Costco

with me.

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?

[Guest guest]

Wow! Check you out, definitely a good one on surprising Zeb. Too

cute. I know where Mansfield is at, glad they enjoy their new

environment.

So true with your battle going on, everything would be minor. Once

you have something chugging along. Fingers crossed or prayers your

way during Zeb's transition, that all will fall into place.

This is exactly what some of my friends or family have noticed of me

when something happens. They are shocked when I do not get upset as I

did in the past for whatever is going on and I turn around and tell

them " it's not worth it,I have bigger fish to fry " .

I know you'll br fine Charlyne.

One more week and I will be on no mail for an entire week as I'll be

at an Autism Camp for Educators and at a Growing Language Workshop,

Using Sign to Facilitate Verbal Language out in the Dallas Fort Worth

area.

Went to a concert last night to see one of my brother-in-laws cousin

sing Mark Chestnutt and once again had the pleasure of seeing him

backstage. It was nice for a different scene of my world. I told my

dh for Father's Day that he could choose a location and no matter

where McCartney is at, to get some tickets and for us to fly out

to see him. What a sacrifice for me to allow this over my favorite

Country singer Strait but I do enjoy listening to too.

We've already attended an Eagles Concert. He is shocked that we are

actually going out or to travel alone together as a couple as I was

non-stop about when we would step out and he could not

tolerate me calling or wondering every second. DH was able to handle

it better than I could. Some long overdue repayment now that

has come a long way and doing well I do not worry as much.

Towards the end of June back to the other scenery begins ESY

when we return from our trip from DFW. A possible Mommy and Me, sign

language. Another AU Workshop, luckily its local and for one day,

medical appts. and ABA/VB sessions. This is just June, July is pretty

booked so one more week of relaxing and just ABA/VB sessions.

Irma,16,DS/ASD

> Hi Irma,

> The party went well, thanks for asking. My Texas guests with be

here for another week. They love their new home in Mansfield and

consider the move a very good choice so far. Zeb will not be out of

school until the 21st. It is very difficult getting Zeb to school

knowing that his friends are at home. I never told him that his

girlfriend was coming to visit. They arrived about 9:00 Monday

evening. Zeb wanted to go to bed. I was trying to keep him up by

making excuses that I had a surprise for him but I needed to finished

cleaning first. I was sitting at the table with him and asked him to

give me a few minutes to relax before I he got his surprise. I was in

contact with them on the cell. Zeb was sitting with his back to the

door when knocked. Zeb answered the door stunned for a second.

He bear hugged so hard I was afraid he would hurt her. I am not

looking forward to the day she leaves. I am still in meetings with

the middle school working on Zeb's transition. We have over

> met over 10 hrs. thus far with very little progress. I am

beginning to feel my frustration build but I refuse to give up. The

school district office has been wonderfully supportive as they

promised. I am convinced if I can make it through this battle

anything else is minor.

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?

[Guest guest]

> Hi Irma,

> An autism camp for educators!!! You go girl, I am proud of you!!!!!

*** Doesn't this sound awesome? I am so excited & looking forward to

see what I get out of this. Its about a $549.00 camp expense, when

the presenters who put this together invited me I was surprised as I

had written back to them and mentioned that I thought it was just

meant for educators. I immediately thank them for inviting me and

told them due to the short notice of a " parent " being invited due to

the expense, I would not be able to attend and greatly appreciated

them for inviting me. Then another response back from them was that

if I could pay a (REALLY)small portion they would reserve a spot for

me. I could of had the school district pay but it was too late, the

staff in charge was on her summer break as school is out. Still,

affordable for me so I decided to take advantage as they are just

excellent AU professionals whom I met last year at a State AU

Conference. It will involve lots of hands on activities too. I guess

I made a good impression on them and they love the thought how I've

been pretty proactive for for him being an older child/student

with disabilities. They have been in touch with me via email when

needed. has open doors for many educators & Paras,etc. and

what a delight! So I guess this makes it all worth it devoting my

time/focusing on staying educated on what I can.

Gosh, I still have to pinch myself as you know when I first came

aboard this list it took some time for me to have some courage to ask

questions during my rookie years and I am definitely shy. I will not

say hi first until the other person does. Always in my own world.

I'm already getting butterflies thinking of it.

Can you imagine if I had to deal with what you are dealing with

having fully-included in regular class. This would of been a

different scenery, but I'm not that far off as many new moms & Para's

who are contacting me via phone or emailing me privately have asked

me for some info and of course I have to remind them that with

its a different matter with the school district but they were still

interested on hearing from me. So at least with the school district

attends most are starting to do something for the younger kids

with HF autism, Aspergers or with ADHD, etc. and this school district

actually stinks when it comes to having a student with special needs

fully-included. I have seen a difference from the self-contained

classrooms with the school's has attended they are no longer

like babysitting. Many of the regular teachers are willing to attend

several AU workshops to understand should they come across having

some students with autism so that many students spend all or a vast

majority of their day in regular education and partcipating fully in

the general education curriculum.

Good to hear that you are finally getting out to enjoy yourself with

dh.

*** Yes, my dh is actually shock. I heard him yesterday evening as we

were visiting my brother-in-law.

On the last concert I attended, will you know since my life has been

on a different route, I even ended up speaking to Mark Chestnutt's

manager if I could count on them for some autograph items to auction

off for future AU fundraisers and he told me " yes " . Of course I'm

just planting the seeds for when needed as it never hurts to ask or

sow those seeds towards anything that will help for a good cause.

>>Zeb's transition does not look good. The ed consultant and attorney

are maxed out. The middle school principal is a very difficult person

with a high need for control. The sped staff are not the brightest.

Zeb's sped teacher, inclusion facilitator, has permission to train

them. In my lifetime I never imagined I would hear a sped teacher

tell a PPT team that she did not know how to modify curriculum and

teach my child. I do not have an educational background but I could

certainly modify curriculum to meet his IEP goals. If the middle

school doesn't pull it together soon Zeb may be entering high school

a few years earlier. It has been mentioned. I bet I would have the

only kid with DS that jumped two grades,LOL. I'm giving myself a few

days of r & r away from school stuff. I'm hoping to revive myself. I'm

not giving in!

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?

***Sorry to hear of this hard headed principal not respecting your

wishes. Makes you wonder how the other students with special needs

managed, obviously their way which does not sound good and just

letting them be. I guess they never had to deal with a " Charlyne " ,

but I know you, you will find some strength to adversity, you have a

willing heart, & availability. The struggle is giving you strength.

The higher standards of how much Zeb can do and you're only doing

what is right. I know once you're ready to get back on track with

this mission you will find a way to determine whatever you do, you

will remain calm and peaceable even when those around you are not and

I have Faith on you that you will overcome evil with good. The love

you have for Zeb never fails and you will find a handful of blessings

for all you do. So I hear you on not giving in.

Lots of hugs!

Irma,16,DS/ASD

[Guest guest]

Thank you Charlyne,

I never would of done this without anyone who have supported me through

this journey. I will definitely make a point of it along with the

school district's autism unit and several schools which has

attended as some of the ex-teachers who have stayed in contact are very

compassionate towards their students.

I'll pray on whatever happens that its for Zeb's best interest and for

the school district to come through and not fail him.

I hear you and totally understand where you're coming from now that

I've heard this side from other parents who also have to battle this

arena at the Advocacy Training classes I've attended, there are like 2

more classes to go.

Such a Zeb, should he skip middle school.

Question: How do they normally handle kids with disabilities at the

middle & High school levels out there? Do they include vocational

training along with the academic skills? What exactly does the school

have in mind?

With your knowledge and having so many on your side, I hope you do have

more positive information your way on what you would like to hear. This

is just the beginning of where, what or which school during this

transition. The thought of the after. Lots of hugs your way! Do hang in

there.

Irma,16,DS/ASD

> Hi Irma,

> I am so pleased that you are going to this camp of workshops. I hope

you make a point to let your school staff know this in the fall. I am

not very calm with this transition piece, in fact, I'm the one that

takes high blood pressure meds,LOL. The attorney and the ed consultant

will have to determine where we go from here. We have just finished

assembling the notes from this week's meeting via email. They will be

submitted to the sped office tomorrow. They may have a few ideas. I am

so pleased that what they promised they did and more. Time will tell if

Zeb skips middle school.

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?