MOMS AND IEPS

WELL ANOTHER EXERPT FROM A SET OF LETTERS BETWEEN  MYSELF AND ANOTHER MOM WHO IS JUST STARTING HER JOURNEY THAT I HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOWN--

SHE AND I HAVE ONLY MET ONCE BUT HAVE BECOME EMAIL FRIENDS AND SOMEHOW WE HAVE FORMED A BOND THAT WORKS   SO HERE  SHE IS GOING TO HER FIRST IEP AND EVERYTHING IS GOING WRONG AND SHE HASNT EVEN GONE YET  SHE IS ASKING FOR MORAL SUPPORT    AND I FOLLOW IR BY MY RESPONSE  HOPE THIS HELPS OTHER SOMEWAY!!!! 

Hi Cindy, I hope you and Dakota are well. I haven't emailed in awhile and right now I am in the thick of IEP issues. David will be starting kindergarten in August and I am in the process of requesting an aide for David... I am up for a fight and need all the good thoughts right now!! SO please send them my way... It seems as if so many things are going wrong. The IRC case worker can't make the IEP after all. My husband has to work a double shift tonight and can't make it tomorrow. Lastly, my sis was supposed to go with me and she has been to the emergency room today for dehydration. ACK! I am crazed and all alone in this and I thought of you. I thought you have handled a lot on your own and I can and will have the strength of Cindy! I know we have only met once at the initial picnic you had for the center but you have made a big impression on me and I read your journal. ANYWAY! I am a mess if you can't tell so send me some prayers and strength please and any words of wisdom would be appreciated!!
Thanks, Karen

 

HELLO KAREN

I AM NOT SURE I CAN DO MUCH BUT GIVE YOU LOTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND A FEW THOUGHTS THAT YOU SHOULD ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR ARSENAL----

FIRST-- WHEN YOU ARE TRYING FOR AN AIDE THE NUMBER ONE ARGUMENT IS SAFETY

EITHER FOR YOUR SON OR FOR OTHERS-- DOES HE RUN OR JET

DOES HE BECOME AGRESSIVE ESPECIALLY DURING TRANSITION??

THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES YOU HAVE TO TAILOR TO YOUR CHILD BUT SAFETY IS THE CLENCHER TO GET AN AIDE --USUALLY

THE OTHER NEED OR USE FOR AN AIDE IS IF HE WILL START IN A SPECIAL DAY CLASS AND YOU ARE ASKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAINSTREAM  TO TRADITIONAL CLASSES OR FOR SPECIAL ACTIVITIES WITH TYPICAL CHILDREN LIKE ASSEMBLIES OR LUNCH OR EVEN A RECESS

YOU NEED THAT AIDE TO MONITOR AND SHADOW YOUR CHILD TO HELP HIM BECOME A PART OF THE GENERAL POPULATION AS WELL AS EDUCATE THE AIDE TO HELP THE OTHER KIDS UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT YOUR CHILD

ANOTHER ARGUMENT THAT "THEY" LOVE TO HEAR  IS THAT THE AIDE IS THERE TO HELP YOUR CHILD BUT ALSO BE AN ADDITION TO THE CLASS TO HELP OTHER CHILDREN AS WELL AS THE OTHER ADULTS HANDLE THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF YOUR CHILD

IE. ANOTHER SET OF EYES ,EARS AND HANDS!!!

 

BE  STEADFAST IN YOU BELIEFS AND DONT LET THEM OUT NUMBER YOU OR BULLDOZE YOU-- YOU ARE A PART OF THE TEAM AND ACTUALLY UNLESS TYOU APPROVE IT IT WONT HAPPEN SO YOUR PART IS EVEN BIGGER THAN THE OTHERS THERE--YOU HOLD THE KEYS!

MOST IMPORTANTLY           DO NOT ;

I REPEAT DO NOT SIGN THAT IEP AT THE MEETING

TELL THEM YOU WANT TO TAKE IT HOME AND REVIEW IT AND  YOU WILL RETURN IT SIGNED IN APPROXIMATELY A WEEK. MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT THRE COULD BE THE POSSIBILITY OF RE-NEGOCIATION AFTER YOU READ IT AND YOU WANT IT DECIDED UPON NOW THAT EITHER YOU CAN RECONVIENE AN IEP OR THE BETTER THOUGHT IS FOR YOU TO MEET WITH THE PERSON WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS AND/OR CHANGES TO "TWEAK " THE IEP.

I USED TO MEET WITH THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL ED AFTER THE FACT IN HER OFFICE AND WE WOULD CHANGE OR ALTER WHAT I TOOK EXCEPTION TOO-- THAT WAY THEY DONT HAVE TO GET EVERYONE TOGETHER ABD IT IS LESS INDTIMIDATING FOR YOU.

 

ALSO THERE IS A NARATIVE PART IN THE IEP PAPERS YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO WRITE ANYTHING YOU WANT FOR YOUR SON OR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY

DO NOT LET THEM TELL YOU YOU CANNOT PUT WHAT YOU WANT --ESPECIALLYU IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO AGREE WITH

ALSO THERE IS A PART CALLED DIS DESIGNATED INSTRUCTUIONAL SERVICES AND THIS CAN BE ANYTHING LIKE SPECIAL NEEDS FOR THE BUS RIDE OR ASSISTYIVE TECHNOLOGY OR REQUESTING YOUR AIDE BE TIME CARDED FOR A TRAINING SESSION

 

THIS IS PERFECT TO GET YOUR FEET WET

ITS ONLY KINDERGARTEN BUT MAKE THEM KNOW YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF

YOU NEED TO PUT YOURSELF IN YOUR SONS SHOES AND IN HIS CLASSROOM AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE HIM SUCCESSFUL

REMEMBER DO NOT SIGN THAT IEP

TAKE IT HOME AND LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THE KIDS ARE FINALLY DOWN FOR THE NIGHT AND THE HOUSE IS QUIET GO OVER IT WORD BY WORD AND MAKE SURE IT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE

THEN IF YOU ARE HAPPY READ IT ONE MORE TIME JUST TO MAKE SURE AND WHEN YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE VERBAGE AND THE INTENT

THEN SIGN IT

AND A;WAYS REMEMBER NO MATTER HOW PERFECT IT SEEMS TO BE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A GLICH

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE HOLES IN THE PERFECT PLAN

YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP PLUGGING AND NEVER GIVE UP

ON A RARE OCCASION IT WILL WORK BUT DONT GIVE UP

THATS WHY I  CALL MYSELF  RLNTLYS--RELENTLESS

YOU CANT LET IT GET THE BEST OF YOU

 

OK FOR NOW GO GET EM

ITS FOR YOUR SON YOU DONT NEED ANYTHING BUT YOUR DRIVE TO DO RIGHT BYY DAVID!

Cindy from DAKS OPEN DOOR

PS  PRINT THIS AND TAKE IT WITH YOU-- FOLD IT UP AND PUT IT IN YOUR BRA SO IT WILL BUG YOU JUST ENUF TO REMEMBER WHAT I WROTE AND IF YOU NEED IT REALLY BAD REACH IN AND FETCH IT AND READ IT OR USE IT IN THE MEETING --THEN YOU WILL KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!  YOU ARE ONLY WALKING THE SAME PATH MANY OTHERS HAVE AND FOR EXACTLY THE SAME REASON--YOUR CHILD!!!

NOW GO GET EM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

CHEWING

JUST A QUICK ONE ABOUT CHEWING    DAKOTA DOES A LOT OF CHEWING IN THE PRIVACY OF HIS OWN HOME. I HAVE TRIED TO KEEP THING AROUND TO ACCOMODATE HIS HABIT

I FOUND THAT WITH MOST AUTISTIC BEHAVIOR WILL REPLACE IT SELF WITH ANOTHER BEHAVIOR SO YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO ELIMINATE ONE BEHAVIOR YOU CAN TOLERATE FOR ONE THAT WILL DRIVE YOU TO DRINK OR ????

AT FIRST I TRIED TO FIND THING FOR HIM TO CHEW ON THAT WERE AGE APPROPRIATE  ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WOULD SURFACE IN A PUBLIC PLACE  BUT NOW THAT IT SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY ISOLATED TO HOME IT HAS BECOME MORE OF AN ISSUR OF PUTTING SOMETHING IN HIS MOUTH THAT I WANT HIM TO HAVE RATHER THAN AN OBJECT I DONT WANT HIM TO RUIN OR HURT HIMSELF , THIS KID WILL CHEW JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ACCEPT WHAT HES SUPPOSED TO --LIKE GUM---THAT HE SWALLOWS   WEIRD RIGHT??

SO I WENT DOWN TO THE LOCAL PETSMART AND FOUND A SPHERE COMPOSED OF SEVERAL SEPARTE SECTIONS  --YES THATS RIGHT A DOG TOY  SOMETHING HECANNOT DESTROY AND SOMETHING  THAT WILL NOT DISCINIGRATE IN ONE SESSION AND IT IS BY FAR THE BEST THING I HAVE FOUND  I WILL TRY TO TAKE A PIC AND POST IT BUT YOU PROBABLY KNOW YOUR CHILD WELL ENUF TO PICK SOMETHING APPROPRIATELY. OH YEAH I DID NOT TELL HIM IT WAS A BALL FROM PETS MART --- I JUST WASHED IT AND HANDED IT TOO HIM WHEN HE GRABBED SOMETHING I DIDNT WANT HIM TO HAVE.

ALSO I BOUGHT SOME LIGHT WEIGHT WHITE HAND TOWELS 10 IN A BUNDLES WASHED AND FOLDED THEM AND PLACED THEM  IN A DRAWER AND DIRECTED DAKOTA TO THEM. HE HAS CHEWED HAND TOWELS FOREVER AND ACTUALLY THE DENTAL HYGENIST SAID IT PROBABLY IS ONE OF THE REASONS HE HAS NO CAVITIES SO WHY STOP THAT BEHAVIOR??? I HAVE 10 OR 12 LOADED AND READY TO GO AND AS HE USES THEM I DEPOSIT THEM IN THE LAUNDRY  AND HAVE ENUF TO GET THRU THE WEEK USUALLY

SO I HOPE IF THERES SOMEONE OUT THERE STRUGGLING WITH THIS BEHAVIOR I GAVE YOU A COUPLE OF IDEAS!

 

SHOTS

THE SUBJECT OF VACCINATIONS HAS COME UP AGAIN  AND AS USUALL I HAVE A PRETTY STRONG OPINION-- ONE THAT ADDRESSES PERSONAL PREFERENCE BUT ALSO TRIED TO EMPOWER THOSE OF US WHO MAY HAVE A LESS THAN MAIN STREAM CHOICE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

JUST AS THE MANY DRUGS THAT HAVE COME OUT AND BEEN"MIRACLE " DRUGS LIKE THE DIET PILLS AND THE CHOLESTROL LOWERING DRUGS THEY GET OUT ON THE MARKET AND A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WE FIND OUT THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOSING THEIR LIVES OR BEING HARMED BY WHAT WE WERE TOLD WAS SAFE A YEAR BEFORE... THEN COMES ALL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING NOT TO MENTION LAW SUITS FOR WHAT?? BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN CONVINCED THAT "JUST TAKING A PILL WILL CURE US?"

WELL I SENT A REPLY TO AN ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP TODAY ABOUT DAKOTA AND A PROBLEM HE HAD WITH A VACCINATION HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE FOR SCHOOL  HERE IT IS

Well here goes the rantings of a mom who has and will continue to refuse to vaccinate my child - almost adult.

Good for those of you who are consciencous and want your child protected but my son fell victim to the DPT [dipherria,pertussis and tentanous} shot at 7 and that was the end of shots for my guy.

This was way before the mercury discovery--about12 years ago. I was doing my parental duty trying to protect against the exposure factor in school  and my son turned out to be the one who siezed from the Pertussis--THank God he was already on an anti-siezure medication which saved his life once he ended up in the ER.

The claim is that only 1 in 10,000 will have any reaction to the DPT shot and it is particularly the Pertussis which can cause death-- from violent siezure activity--- on the back of every door in the pediatric clinic at Kaiser there is a health warning and disclaimer that clearly states the draw backs and side effects of these
"CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS"  Of course they want you to give your child these shots and even imply that you are not a good parent if you dont vaccinate  but Buyer Beware!!

I just want to empower those opt you who do not want to vaccinate your children and support you to stand stedfast in your beliefs.
The schools over the years have questioned me about his shots and i never once was challenged to even produce so much as a note from the doctor about exempting him from theschool requirements.I merely told them he would not be vaccinated and that he siezed after a traditionally required shot and the was the end of the questioning.

For those of you who wish to vaccinate I say that you are brave souls and I totally support your decision for your family.

I only raise the question how much can we trust this information we have about any medication we use for our children? -- they have already been bio-medically challenged in so many ways
Do we really need to take a chance when we just dont know?
I dont mean to upset anyone I just want to let people know that even the safest most approved medical treatments are not beyond being questioned--- Evryone is an individual and what works for one may not necessarily work for another!

Thank for letting me blow off some steam!
Cindy

ANXIETY DRIVEN FEAR?????

A WEEK AGO THURSDAY DAKOTA HAD A SCUFFLE AT SCHOOL WITH HIS TEACHER. BASICALLY ANOTHER STUDENT AND THE TEACHER WERE ENGAGED IN  A CONFRONTATION AND DAKOTA SOMEHOW GOT IRRITATED ABOUT IT  CONSEQUENTLY DECIDED TO GET INVOLVED . THE TEACHER HAD ENUF ON HIS HANDS SO HE MADE DAKOTA GO OUTSIDE AND ONCE HE WAS THERE MR.DUTCHER BARKED AT HIM TO SIT DOWN WHICH DAKOTA DID .  I DONT KNOW  WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT ABOUT 1:45 I GOT A CALL THAT DAKOTA WAS DOWN AND  COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT GET UP --COULD I COME UP AND GET HIM SINCE HE HAD MISSED THE BUS?{THE TEACHER KATHY FROM NEXT DOOR WAS THE ONE WHO CALLLED} OFCOURSE I WAS UPSET  BUT I KIND OF UNDERSTOOF WHAT HAD HAPPENED  AND I COULDNT DRAW TOO MUCH JUDGEMENT AS I WAS NOT THERE TO WITNESS THE INCIDENT SO I GRABBED MY KEYS AND PEELED OUT TO GET MY "BABY"

WHEN I ARRIVED THERE HE WAS ON THE COLD COLD CEMENT LEANING AGAINST THE CHAIN LINK FENCE WHICH  IS ABOUT 6 FEET AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM RUNNING PPARALELL TO THE  BUILDING AND HE COULD NOT GET UP. HE WAS CRYING AND FEARFUL  - -  HE TOLD ME HE COULDNT GET UP CUZ OF HIS LEG . HE WAS AFRAID HE WAS GOING TO HURT IT OR THAT IT WAS ALREADY HURT. I SAT DOWN BESIDE HIM AND TOLD HIM HE HAD TO GET UP . IT WAS VERY COLD AND WINDY THAT DAY AND I WAS A LITTLE PISSED THAT HE GOT SENT OUTSIDE  BUT AGAIN I TRIED TO UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CLASSROOM GIVING THE TEACHER THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT      I TRIED TO MODEL A WAY FOR HIM TO ROLL OVER ON THE GOOD LEG AND HOIST HIMSELF UP , I TRIED TO GET UNDER HIS ARM PIT AND RAISE HIM UP HE JUST WOULD NOT BUDGE . I HAD TO SIT WITH HIM AND TALKTO HIM ABOUT WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO IF HE DIDN GET UP??? EVENTUALLY  I "TALKED HIM DOWN  OFF THE LEDGE"" so to speak.  IT TOOK BOTH OF THE TEACHERS AND MYSELF TO ASSIST HIM TO HIS FEET . HE WAS SO AFRAID OF HURTINGN HIMSELF AGAIN I THINK HE WAS PARALYZED. I AM QUITE SURE HE WAS RE-LIVING THE FALL FROM LAST APRIL.  BEFORE I LEFT I ADVISED HIS TEACHER THAT IF HE WAS SENT OUT AGAIN COULD HE PLEASE GIVE HIM A CHAIR OR DIRECT HIM OVER TO THE PICNIC BENCH- - - -  WE AGREEED THAT IN THE FUTURE  THAT WOULD BE THE COURSE OF ACTION

DAKOTA IS SUFFERING FROM SO MUCH ANXIETY ABOUT THIS INCIDENT HE HASNT GONE BACK TO SCHOOL    HE HAS DECIDED HE WANTS TOTRY TO GO ANOTHE RYEAR BUT I THINK HE IS GETTING THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT HE IS NO LONGER WANTED IN THAT CLASSROOM  I DONT KNOW WHERE ITS COMING FROM --- SO I HAVE PROPOSED TO HIM THAT WE FIND OTHER CLASSES FOR HIM TO PURSUE   WHATEVER THE DECISION  WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUTTHIS  ANXIETY AND THE BEHAVIOR COMES WITH  IT.

  

 

AUTISTIC MEETS BUSH

ALRIGHT I AM A MOM OF AN AUTISTIC TEEN AND I AM ALWAYS THANKFUL WHEN  THE MEDIA GIVES THIS DISABILITY  SOME PRESS -  HELPING THE GENERAL PUBLIC GET MORE INFO ABOUT IT AND LEARN ACCEPTANCE.

ADITIONALLY I AM THRILLED FOR THIS YOUNG MAN WHO NOT ONLY GOT TO "STRUT HIS STUFF'" AND BE  APART OF A TYPICAL ACTIVITY  THAT WE AS PARENTS ALWAYS DREAM ABOUT BUT TO MEET THE PRESIDENT  HOW WONDERFUL

BUT  I CANT HELP BUT BE PISSED OFF AT THE FACT THAT THAT CHILD WAS PROBABLY USED MORE FOR A PHOTO OPT FOR THE PRESIDENT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

I DONT PRETEND TO BE TOTALLY VERSED IN ALL THE POLITICS OF FUNDING  PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR AUTISM AS WELL AS ALL OTHER DISABILITIES BUT AS A GENERAL BLANKET STATEMENT I CAN SAY THEAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE MORE TO SLASH FUNDING AND ELIMINATE PROGRAMS THAN HELP THEM. THE RUB IS THAT THIS IS INCLUSIVE OF EVEN THOSE WHO COME BACK FROM THAT FIASCO WE CALL A WAR  WHO ARE NOW PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED . IF MR BUSH HAD SUCH COMPASSION  HE WOULD BE SPENDING HIS LAST DAYS IN OFFICE WORKING TOWARDS HELPING ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES  RATHER THAN SCRAMBLING AROUND TRYING TO  FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND MORE FIGHTIG AND COVERUP ALL THE BLUNDERS HAPPENING IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

I TRY NOT TO MIX MY POLITICAL VIEWS WITH THE STRUGGLE OF A PARENT WHO HAS A DISABLED CHILD  BUT THAT HAPPEN TO BE  INTERTWINED MORE THAN I CARE TO ACKNOWLEDGE.

MY ONY HOPE IS THAT SOMEHOW THIS AUTISTIC BASKETBALL HERO CAN TEACH OUR PRESIDENT A FEW LESSONS JUST AS HE DID FOR MOST OF HIS SCHOOL  AND THE MEDIA . ALL ANY OF OUR KIDS ARE ASKING FOR IS A CHANCE TO BE ACCEPTED OR AT LEAST TOLERATED IN  A COMMUNITY SETTING . TO MANY RUSH TO JUDGEMENT ON WHAT OUT KIDS CAN OR CANT DO--WHY NOT GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY  AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS???

PERFECT EXAMPLE

I WANTED TO  SEPARATE MY THOUGHT BETWEEN THE 2 ENTRIES  EVEN THO THEY ARE  INNERTWINED THERE WAS A SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT OCCURED ON CAMPUS YESTERDAY WHICH SPARKED THIS WHOLE TOPIC OF INCLUSION AND SEGREGATION OR THAT VERY UGLY WORD DISCRIMINATION.

I TOOK DAKOTA TO SCHOOL AS I DO EVERYDAY  WHEN  I WAS LEAVING THE CAMPUS I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A MOBILE IN-N-OUT BURGER  VAN PARKED AT THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL . THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY AROUND IT AND THE PEOPLE WERE SETTING UP - I ASSUMED FOR LUNCH  MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS TO CALL TO THE CLASS AND TELL THEM  ABOUT  IT AND OFFER TO COME BACK AND BRING MONEY SPECIFICALLY FOR DAKOTA BUT PERHAPS ANY OF THE OTHER KIDS  THAT MIGHT BE  INTERESTED IN  GOING DOWN AT LUNCH TIME  AND GETTING A BURGER WITH ALL THE OTHER "TYPICAL" KIDS--PERFECT OPPORTUNITY  WE ALL LIKE TO EAT BURGERS -- A NON THREATENING ENVIROMENT; DONT  NEED TO MANY SOCIAL SKILLS AND DO NOT HAVE TO ENGAGE IN TOO MUCH "MINGLING " YET OPEN A DOOR TO THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING "SEEN".

WELL I THOUGHT IT OUT FOR MINUTE LONGER AND I THOUGHT:BETTER CALL THE SCHOOL FIRST AND ASK   ABOUT WHATS GOING ON.AFTER INTIALLY TALKING TO THE STUDENT RECEPRTIONIST I WAS PASSED TO A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR WHO WAS "IN-CHARGE" OF THIS EVENT. I ASKED HER ABOUT THE HAPPENINGS AND SHE REPIED OH - 'YES ITS BY INVITATION ONLY. " SHE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS SET UP TO "REWARD " KIDS THAT HAD DONE WELL OR IMPROVED TEST SCORES. I ASKED " WELL WERE THE SPECIAL ED KIDS  INCLUDED IN THIS ?" "OH YES ANYONE WHO HAD TAKEN THE TEST AND DONE WELL!" I ASKED HER "WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM TESTING  BECAUSE OF THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS ??'{for anyone that doesnt know we have a waiver that many of our special students fall under because although they may be of "normal " intelligence or still have the ability to learn the TESTING PROCESS  does not accurately  measure their knowledge} SHE REPLIED "OH NO  I AM SORRY ITS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO TESTED" I SAID ""THANK YOU VERY MUCH -- EXCLUDED ONCE AGAIN " AND HUNG UP. 

NOW LET ME CLARIFY  I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AGAINST THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE IMPROVED AND DONE  WELL AND A RECOGNOTION  PROGRAM FOR THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT-- KUDOS    WHAT I TAKE ISSUE WITH IS THE FACT THAT "FAIR IS NOT NECESSARILY EQUAL"   HOW CAN A CHILD ACHIEVE THIS  RECOGNITION  IF HE /SHE WAS NEVER   ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THE TESTING IN THE FIRST PLACE?  SOME OF THESE KIDS CAN TEST OUT AS HIGH AS THE "NORMAL" KIDS BUT THE SUPPORTS NEEDED TO AGUMENT THE TEST TO MEASURE THEIR K NOWLEDGE IS TOO EXTENSIVE TO PULL OFF  FOR THE SHOOL DISTRICT SO  THEY ARE EXEMPTED-- SOME OF THE OTHER  KIDS THE PARENTS CHOOSE TO EXEMPT THEM FROM TESTING BECAUSE IF THEY TEST TOO HIGH --LIKE ABOVE A 60  WHICH IS THE EQUIVILANT TO ABOUT FORREST GUMP  THEY WILL LOOSE ALL THEIR  SUPPORTS LIKE REGIONAL CENTER AND OTHERS WHO QUALIFY THEM FOR SERVICES. SO MY QUESTION IS  HOW  IS THAT FAIR TOO NOT INCLUDE THEM  IN AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS? WHAT BETTER EXAMPLE IS THERE TO TEACH OUR KIDS THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY OF MANY DIFFERENT KINDS AND THE LESSON  IS  INCLUSION?

WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS SAID IS THAT I DONT EXPECT ANYONE TO EMBRACE OR INCLUDE MY SON IF THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH HIM OR HIS AUTISM  BUT WHAT I DO SAY IS IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT TO HIS DIGINTY TO TOLERATE HIM AS A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.                                         WHAT BETTER LESSON TO LEARN IN SCHOOL?? MAYBE ONE DAY WE WILL LEARN TO EMBRACE AND ACCEPT EACH OTHER {in the famous words of Mr. Rogers}"JUST THE WAY WE ARE".