Re: Check-in Day!, 10/2/2006, 12:00 am

[Guest guest]

Sheryl,

You're right!!!

Gail

Re: Check-in Day!, 10/2/2006, 12:00 am

Also... in terms of whether it's "too far off" for your daughter -- they've repeatedly told me at school that my daughter is "not ready" for the program, because OT's typically have a "checklist" of prerequisite/pre-writing schools that they like to get through before they start actually working on letters.... yet this private OT and I agreed that, given that my daughter's classmates were all writing letters -- and her inability to do so was really holding her back at school -- that we'd start working on whatever letters she could manage. Plus the HWwoT program really focuses on the components elements (i.e., lines and curves) that make up the letters -- prior to actually requiring them to create these letters/components, so I think she'd really benefit even at this stage.i.wronski@... wrote:

Hello everyone.

If anone is familiar with the Handwriting without tears program, I would love to hear any comments you have on it. Gretchen is in her 3rd year of pre-k and has really started to know her ABC's. Her sister is starting to write them, but I think that is far off for Gretchen since she cannot really draw circles or all her straight lines too well. I'd like school to use this program and if they won't I want to do it at home. Any suggestions from those who have used it?

Thanks!

Inga

Mom to (9) and Gretchen-DS & a (4.5)

-------------- Original message from Multiples-DS : --------------

Reminder from:

Multiples-DS's Calendar

Title:

Check-in Day!

Date:

Monday October 2, 2006

Time:

All Day

Repeats:

This event repeats on the first Monday of every other month.

Description:

If you haven't posted in over 8 weeks - you are now at risk for being removed from Multiples-DS! Please check-in with the group by posting to the group -- even a small update! Lurking is NO longer allowed on this group!!Thanks!Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

[Guest guest]

Hi, this is Deanna mom to Alyssa 13, 10, Jarod 6, 3 1/2, and ~i~Jordan 1/20/03-2/2/03. Not too much going on here. I am so far behind on my bills, we haven't been doing anything!!!!! Kids are all in school and doing ok. just got his flu shot last Weds.....hopefully he will not get the influenza and end up in the hospital on O@ for a week again like this past March!!!!!!! I have already started saying prayers. still doesn't walk, doesn't talk, and is still 100% tube fed. Basically he is the same as this time last year!!!!! But he is happy and that is all that matters. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Deanna mom to Alyssa, 13

, 10 Jarod, 6 , 3 1/2 (DS) ~i~Jordan (DS) 1/20/03-2/2/03

[Guest guest]

Checking in: Luke (DS) and Jake are both doing well in pre-school,

and in Luke's traveling notebook his aide almost always writes that

he's had a great day, and this year seems much more attentive and

engaged in what's going on. We're still struggling with speech, and

they're really working with him on PECS. I was chatting with Luke's

teacher yesterday when I picked the boys up from school, and she

commented on how great he's doing with the PECS, so of course I say I

want to come in and learn what they're doing so we can do it at

home. I am all for any mode of communication. Then she commented

that of course we need to keep working with him on speech, but that

data shows that if children don't have an emerging (or some such

term) vocabulary by age 6 then they probably won't have " functional "

speech. Is this true???? Luke's vocabulary is " emerging " but we

still don't have a lot of words and getting him to initiate

communication is a struggle. However, he will respond to us, usually

thru a combination of sign and speech, and we continually get a word

every now and then. That just really hit me wrong, and I assumed

that as with most children, speech continues to develop as they grow

up. Am I wrong? Does anyone have experiences to share about their

child's speech progress at this age (4.5 and older)? I would really

appreciate your input.

Thanks a lot!

--mom to Luke (DS) and Jake (age 4 1/2)

[Guest guest]

Nice hearing from you Deanna; you always have a positive attitude.

Sherrill

[Guest guest]

-

Gretchen had her 2nd set of tubes put in as well as an adnoidectomy in early August. Since then we have seen an explosion of speech. She went from about 100 words to over 200+. Just the other day, she told me "quiet mom". I nearly hit the floor. Gretchen will be 5 in November, and I am certainly aiming high for her speech ability. I have never been told by anyone about an age cutoff from which to expect a plateau of speech. Then again, I have not asked.

Definately try to use PECS at home. We invested in Boardmaker and I put together charts for Gretchen to review her day with her dad. I also send in a yesterday I/today I board to school so she can tell her teachers/classmates what she did afterschool the day before and what she did in the morning (she is in afternoon prek).

Good luck!

Inga

Mom to (9) and Gretchen -DS & a (4.9)

-------------- Original message from "" : --------------

Checking in: Luke (DS) and Jake are both doing well in pre-school, and in Luke's traveling notebook his aide almost always writes that he's had a great day, and this year seems much more attentive and engaged in what's going on. We're still struggling with speech, and they're really working with him on PECS. I was chatting with Luke's teacher yesterday when I picked the boys up from school, and she commented on how great he's doing with the PECS, so of course I say I want to come in and learn what they're doing so we can do it at home. I am all for any mode of communication. Then she commented that of course we need to keep working with him on speech, but that data shows that if children don't have an emerging (or some such term) vocabulary by age 6 then they probably won't have "functional" speech. Is this true???? Luke's vocabulary is "emerging" but we still don't have a lot of words and getting him to initiate communicat

ion is a struggle. However, he will respond to us, usually thru a combination of sign and speech, and we continually get a word every now and then. That just really hit me wrong, and I assumed that as with most children, speech continues to develop as they grow up. Am I wrong? Does anyone have experiences to share about their child's speech progress at this age (4.5 and older)? I would really appreciate your input.Thanks a lot!--mom to Luke (DS) and Jake (age 4 1/2)

[Guest guest]

Hi- This is Bess St. Lawrence - checking in from Newburyport, MA - mom to twins Ben (DS) and Tucker, who are about to turn four and Gretel who is six. The twins are both in preschool again this year - in separate classrooms. Although both are in integrated classes and could be together, we have found that they do better separately. They do get to see each other at recess, and like to play together on the playground. We are doing some at home therapies with Ben in addition to those he does at school. I am finding that the private speech therapist is making more rapid progress than he has made in school. Although he is putting together small sentences (4 words or so), his articulation is still in need of lots of help. His biggest

challenge is fine motor. Those little hands! Hope everyone is doing well - Bess Multiples-DS wrote: Reminder from: Multiples-DS's Calendar Title: Check-in Day! Date: Monday October 2, 2006 Time: All Day Repeats: This event repeats on the first Monday of every other month. Description: If you haven't posted in over 8 weeks - you are now at risk for being removed from Multiples-DS! Please check-in with the group by posting to the group -- even a small update! Lurking is NO longer allowed on this

group!!Thanks!Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

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[Guest guest]

I know of someone who's daughter (w/Ds) didn't say her first word until she was 5 -- and it was unintelligible ("boo" for "blue"). She's now fully and successfully included in her HS, has lots of (typical) friends, and speaks "like a teenager" (what lucky parents...). My daughter spoke very early, but her gross/fine motor skills always lagged considerably. I think that kids (all kids, but particularly those with special needs) can only really "surge" in one area at a time... Sheryl wrote: Checking in: Luke (DS) and Jake are both doing well in pre-school, and in Luke's traveling notebook his aide almost always writes that he's had a great day, and this year seems much more attentive and engaged in what's going on. We're still struggling with speech, and they're really working with him on PECS. I was chatting with Luke's teacher yesterday when I picked the boys up from school, and she commented on how great he's doing with the PECS, so of course I say I want to come in and learn what they're doing so we can do it at home. I am all for any mode of communication. Then she commented that of course we need to keep working with him on speech, but that data shows that if children don't have an emerging (or some such term) vocabulary by age 6 then they probably won't have "functional" speech. Is this true???? Luke's vocabulary is "emerging" but we

still don't have a lot of words and getting him to initiate communication is a struggle. However, he will respond to us, usually thru a combination of sign and speech, and we continually get a word every now and then. That just really hit me wrong, and I assumed that as with most children, speech continues to develop as they grow up. Am I wrong? Does anyone have experiences to share about their child's speech progress at this age (4.5 and older)? I would really appreciate your input.Thanks a lot!--mom to Luke (DS) and Jake (age 4 1/2)

[Guest guest]

Joyce here! We've moved from California to Ohio and we're still trying to

settle in. We're all doing well and I'm trying not to lose or

. I'm short on time and just wanted to check in.

Joyce-wife to Mike 31 years

Mom to seven: -30, Leah-29, Mikey-26, -23-DS, -21,

-13-DS, and

-9 1/2 DS/Autistic

>From: Multiples-DS Reply-To: Multiples-DS

>To: Multiples-DS Subject: Check-in Day!,

>10/2/2006, 12:00 am

>Date: 2 Oct 2006 02:57:45 -0000

>

>

>Reminder from the Calendar of Multiples-DS

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Multiples-DS/cal

>

>Check-in Day!

>Monday October 2, 2006

>All Day

>(This event repeats on the first Monday of every other month.)

>

>Notes:

>If you haven't posted in over 8 weeks - you are now at risk for being

>removed from Multiples-DS! Please check-in with the group by posting to the

>group -- even a small update!

>

>Lurking is NO longer allowed on this group!!

>

>Thanks!

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Late as usual! Same old things going on here. Fighting with the school, teenage angst, and not enough sleep. Sami, my youngest, got tested for speech therapy and was found to be behind. I told them, when they stopped it when she turned three, they would regret it. So, now we need to write an IEP. They are acting like I've never seen one before. Come on people, four kids, four IEPs. I am actually glad we are finally writing one, maybe now, I can get her bus to stop dumping her in the middle of the street! They say their policy is "If it LOOKS like someone is home", they can leave her. She is only three! You can bet that will be addressed in the new IEP. Otherwise, it 's the same battles, different year.

Sue -- mom to Zack 14, DS; Matt 12, PDD, cataracts, glaucoma, and hearing loss, forever 4 (04/20/96-12/31/00) DS, and Sami 3, possible autism

[Guest guest]

Our family walked in the third annual Low Country Down Symdrome Assn Buddy walk, this month. We had many friends join us which was extra special. We named our team M & M, since we had always referred for and as M & M.

Can't believe it is already fall. The boys have been in preschool for a month and a half. They are going three mornings a week, to a regular preschool. They really like it and have started coloring a lot more. We love that since coloring it a prerequisite to writing. They are also very interested in learning to ride a trike since they see children on the playground riding. We finally found two small trikes and are now working on the pedal adapters.

Just got back from Magic Kingdom at Disney World. We had a great time, but the boys are a little young for it. We were able to get the guest with disabilities' red card, so they wouldn't have to wait in line so long, but it was still too much for them. We learned a lot about what is available for people with special needs at Disney, so that will help us for our future trips. They will let the stroller be equivalent to a wheel chair, then we didn't have to take them out of the strollers for the train, etc.

will be getting his third set of tubes in his ears next week. The Doctor will also be removing his adnoids.

Not much else for news. We are just really enjoying our sweet boys.

a, and , 3 1/2 years with DS

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[Guest guest]

HI Bess,

Nice to hear from you and good to know all is going well.

Time sure does fly; when I met you the boys were only a few months old. I met you and your husband with I think Tucker at the D/s convention in Worcester.

Sherrill

mom to Jillian 9, and (D/s) 4