autism

For some odd reason IEP services never kick in at the on set of the school year.  It can be really frustrating getting your program in to gear.  Don’t assume that because your child is starting school that their paper work is organized and ready to go.  Contact your IU prior to the first day, because they get buried right away.  If you know who will be providing your services ,(speech, ot….) try and contact them directly to set up your schedule.  Talk to your child’s teacher if they are in a mainstream situation to arrange times where pull-out services won’t interfere with other things.  Patience along with persistence will get you through the first month.  It is important to try and stay organized.  When you get your kids school supplies get yourself new folders to keep your paperwork together.  Many districts are going “paperless” so you can set yourself up with folders on the computer.

About a month after my son was diagnosed, my mother sent me and my husband out to see a movie.  Something About Mary was reviewed as the best comedy around at that time and we felt like a good laugh was what we needed.  In the very first scene a boy with obvious special needs was made fun of.  While the audience around me thought the scene was funny and roared with laughter, I cried.  Humor takes on a very different tone when it applies to your own misfortunes.

The new movie Tropical Thunder is getting a lot of flack by special needs interest groups for making fun of people with special needs.  I had actually taken my son to the movie not knowing this element of it and thought to myself right away how unnecessary some of the statements they used were.   My son didn’t really pick up on any of that and he thought the movie was hysterical.

For some reason people find humor in human tragedy.  The Tropical Thunder movie also jokes about  people getting killed in the war.  Comedy can be hurtful when it hits home.

Change can be hard to deal with for many of our kids.  It seems just as they start to get into the swing of summer the back to school ads get started.  Although many of our kids actually seem to be more content with the structure of the school year it may still be difficult for them to switch back to school mode.  Preparation is key for any transition issues.  Slowly put them back on their school sleeping schedule.  Gradually have them do some reading if they blew it off all summer.  Make an excuse to pick something up at their school just to get them in the building before the first day.  Sometimes having them actually go to the school can help ease the anxiety of walking in on that first day.

Tactile aversions effect many children along the spectrum. Small seams and tags in clothes can feel like sand paper rubbing against their skin to some of our kids.  This can make clothes shopping some what challenging.  Sticking to soft cotton clothing is usually a good choice.  T-shirts and underwear with stamped tags are available instead of having those stupid tags sewn along the top.  If you do need to take the tag out, try using a scissors instead of just ripping because they are usually sewn in so tight that you can end up ripping the shirt itself.  Stay away from socks with acrylic fibers in the mix.  Try and get socks with out seams.  Many socks are made with a seam sewn right to the end of the toe.

I don’t think it is any bodies preference to do their business in a public restroom.  It can be a major issue for our kids on so many levels.  It can be a major issue for us because as our kids age there comes a time when it becomes inappropriate to take them into restrooms of the opposite sex.

I noticed my first Public Family Bathroom in a local mall long before I had realized the importance of it.  It is usually set up as a single room with a door that locks and is big enough for you to be able to help your child if need be.  I have seen them available in airports and some rest-stops along the highways.  I think all public facilities need to offer these type of accommodations.