a touching moment in Allie's class today

[Guest guest]

I just got this email from Allie's CDC teacher.

It was so touching that I had to share, esp

considering last weekend's conference on

inclusion. For background info, Allie was trying

to bite and hit this same teacher just two days

prior during math class:

In transition time inbetween returning

> from lunch and starting Math

> she was reading a book on her beanbag. (in

> Ms.**** room) She was being

> very quiet. I came into the room and talked

> with Ms. **** class briefly

> about the other day and Allie's outburst. Since

> you and I have talked

> about it being okay to discuss Allie's autism

> with the other students, I

> did. I talked about it on their level and how

> much Allie enjoyed being in

> the classroom and having all them as friends. I

> discussed some of the

> things Allie does, and how she needs their help

> to learn appropriate ways

> to behave when she is in group. I told them

> that I helped Allie too and

> that Allie was really a cool little girl and

> could be a lot of fun. I know

> Allie overheard some of what I said. I hope

> that is okay. Debi, when I

> went to get her from the beanbag so we could

> start math, she got right up

> walked across the whole room. She sat down

> quietly at her seat and was

> ready to work. She sat for the next 15 minutes

> listening, watching and

> doing her worksheet. When she got up to leave

> (she had earned all her

> tokens) the entire class erupted in

> applause.... no one told them to do

> that, they did it on their own. Allie's face

> just lit up. I wanted to just

> burst out in tears, I was so happy. I told her

> all the way down the

> hallway how proud I was.

> I know there will be more difficult days ahead,

> but I will remember this

> shining moment and know it will happen

> again.......

> Have a nice evening,