homework

Dane is in the first grade.  He just turned 7.  Every night he brings home math homework.  Something I didn't find out till a couple nights ago is that Dane doesn't get to go outside for recess if he doesn't have his homework done.  Why was I not informed of this?  Dane needs that time to unwind and be a child.  It has been awful getting him to concentrate just to do a few problems.  He knows the work but he does not want to focus.  After school he's very overtired and cranky.

I have started more every night getting him to do his homework.  The teacher crosses off at least half the work.  I cannot imagine all this kids at this age doing this much every night.  I don't think it's fair.  I went to a private school during elementary and I don't remember bringing any homework home until at  least the 3rd grade.

Dane in 1st grade outside Occupational Therapy

Its true.  Kindergarten is like first grade now.  They want the kids to tie their own shoes and show their work on their math.  Are we growing smarter or just pushing our kids too hard?

I have to admit, I'm tired from working all day.  It's good if I can get a half hour nap in so I can be able to read and help Dane with his math homework.  There has been a night or two where I am just like..oh, screw it and I fill in the numbers for him or just tell him the answers.  All I can tell myself is that...hey...his work is done now let the boy go outside for recess.  Don't coop him up in class all day and punish him.

We got a review of Danes goals from the school today.  He is coming along on his reading.  He did poorly on his writing.  I can see this.  He needs to work more on his finger muscles to improve his fine motor skills.  He has troubles still buttoning his jacket and zipping up his coat.  Tying his shoes is not an option right now and we got the school to accept that he needs his velcrow shoes.  He has come a long way and I am so proud of him.

Danes teacher sent home a slip for an after school program.  I don't think so.  His day is long enough.  I don't want him to hate school this much.  No way do I want him staying there any longer then he has to.  Just like me getting out of work.  My job is done...I'm going home.

back to blogger/1 in 80 ASD

For the past year I had a domain name.  Would I have liked to keep it?  I guess but paying for it didn't make me want to keep it.  I was getting weird emails about the name and saying I'd have to spend x amout of dollars to keep it.  Basically it was spam trying to scare me that if I don't act now that someone else could have it...so be it.  I will stick to my free blog and try to enjoy writing what comes to mind.

Dad updated me the other night that on the news, probably FOX, that they had a report saying that 1 in 80 are now affected with autism.  There was a politician who wants a federal investigation to find out why the numbers are growing.  From what my dad told me was that this guy has a child/grandchild who got 9 shots in one day.  Afterwords, the child acted differently.

Dane on Newsline 9

 My attitude is starting to change about these shots containing Thermosol.  You can request to have shots without the preservative in.  The shot will cost more.  Is it worth it?  I don't know the answer.  For a child not getting affected with autism, my answer would be a definite YES!  We still don't have a scientific answer proven that shots are linked.  Will we have an answer someday...?  More importantly, will it be the truth of what is happening to our children?

I would also like to add that Dane had his first TV interview.  Not about his autism but about the Green Bay Packers.  The news reporter came up to him and started asking him questions.  All she really got out of him what that he liked the Packers.  A very short clip on the news but I was so very proud of my little man.

It's been a while

I'm Back!  Yeah, I deleted this blog thinking I have some kind of a writers block.  To catch up to speed...Dane was diagnosed with ADHD on top of his autism.  Not a very big surprise there.  During his re-evaluation of his autism symptoms he barely was on the spectrum.  I think they tested him on a good day.

Dane is doing well in school.  He hates homework!  I don't blame him.  He has homework every night.  At the teacher conference I mentioned how bad it is to get him to do it.  The teacher decided to cross off some of the math problems.  He basically has to do half of what the other kids are doing.

He has made  a couple friends as well.  He has problems asking for help when needed yet and are still working on that.  We got him on a reward chart for every day of the week and when he reaches his goal he gets a surprise.  Nothing big.  Just something that tells him how great he is accomplishing his goals.  He's a little behind his peers still.  Noises and fine motor skills are his weaknesses.  He still concentrates on spinning objects and banging his head on me for stimulation.

Angry birds has been a reward system for him.  He is very good at it and keeps him happy.  It is part of his routine to play it after school.

Time out's have never worked with Dane.  We always had to take something from him to show him that bad behaviour doesn't deserve a reward.  "Do Not Reward Bad Behaviour!"  As I was saying, the sticker/reward chart was one of the best things that helped him understand what his goals for the day are.

I put of the Xmas tree last night.  Hours before he was being really naughty and not listening to anything.  I know he has a processing disorder and when he gets tired he's bad.  I said if he didn't stop that I was not going to put the tree up.  That did it.  He calmed down and the tree went up and he was happy.

His meltdowns have gotten better.  Instead of demolishing everything in his path, he cries.  It's a new emotion for him to get used to.  Sadness.  I feel so bad and heartbroken when he's like that but it's better then him trashing my house not having to try and restrain him from hurting himself.

All of Danes guinea pigs died.  We had two females together in a cage.  1 male in a separate cage.  Somewhere along the line one of the females had 2 babies.  Ally was a little rough with one and it lived for about a day.  The other baby I tried to find a home for it.  Then, the male got sick.  We thought Ally hurt it because it wouldn't eat and it would bleed out the bung hole.  Then in a week or two, it died.

I went to the hardware store where they sell rabbit food/guinea pig food.  I bought a 40 lb. bag for 20 bucks thinking that would be okay for the guineas to eat until I got paid to buy them Guinea pig food.  Then, one of the females died.  Then the baby and at last, the mother.  That sucked for Dane.  I think the food was tainted or something.  They were pellets.  I would think they could have eaten pellets for a week...I guess not.  We do however have the bunny that is still alive and well..for now.  Hopefully it will grow and die of natural causes.  I've buried enough wild rabbits, chipmunks and guinea pigs by my garage.

summer

Finally the brother in law moved out!  7 months of lazyness is enough.  You would think that taking in someone under your wing without a job, car or license would be more respectful.  Danes attitude was getting  very disrespetful and angry all the time.  It seems like all the therapy we were doing for him was going down the drain.  Dane was regressing big time.

Dane had an assessment a month back only to find out he has adhd.  That was not a big surprise.

My wife took the kids to their old day care to see how shes doing.  She ended up bringing home another female guinea pig a and a rabbit.  Great, more burden.  It hasn't been too bad.  The rabbit is really tame and the kids seem to take care of it alright.

It has been so hot out for the past week.  Roads were buckling all over the state and backing traffic up for miles.

All I can think of right now is how much better my house is now that the in law and his daughter moved out.  As if I didn't have enough stress with my own kids.  Sorry if your reading this Donny but you need to get your life in order.  God helps those who help themselves.  I wish you luck.

Neural Psych. Evaluation

We were referred to a neural psych evaluation when Dane turned 6.  I didn't see the point at the time but as he got older I thought it would be the right thing to do. 

It was to be another long day for Dane.  6 hours of testing.  We told his therapists that we didn't want him to do a bunch of tests he didn't need.  He was done in 3 hours.

They rated him on a bell curve.  They wanted him to fall within the 85% range.  During the first few fazes of testing which was very verbal, he fell way below the average.  Once they took away the verbal portion of the testing which was pretty much tests done to deaf children, his average shot way up into the 85%.  This means that he is very visual.

Danes fine motor skills and gross motor skills have gone way up.  He is starting to gain control of writing his own name and coloring within the lines.  His speech has grown much as well.  Some words are hard to tell sometimes.  He will say "baff" instead of "bath."

At the end of the test they determined that he has ADHD on top of the autism.  Not a big surprise because it runs on my wifes side of the family.  The therapists are concerned on how much he is learning at school.  Is medication the option???

Dane has been complaining a lot about headaches from school.  At home he has been really bad behaved.  The therapists think it's because he holds it all in at school.  At the end of the day he's overtired and takes out his frustration on us.

School is almost over and he will be in the first grade this fall.  The pre-K teacher who Dane liked very much may be his teacher in the fall again.  That would be great.

Very Bad Behaviour

I don't know what the deal is.  Okay, so Dane's uncle, Donny and his 3 yr. old daughter moved in with us in January.  Maybe Dane feels his home space is being violated.  Maybe he is just so tired out from the long day at school.  Anyways, Dane has been terrible to deal with.

Up to date!  My wife quit the factory and went back into nursing in an assisted living facility.  She is much happier with her life.  We are dealing with a lot of stress.  Hmm, an autistic son.  A 6 dollar pay cut, the brother in law and daughter, work.  It's boiling down.

I was having marriage troubles in August last year.  My wife moved out on me for a day and rented an apartment.  She realized how nuts she has been going not seeing me and practically raising our children by ourselves.  It reached its boiling point and now it's all out on the table what we don't like.  Needless to say, her quitting the shitty factory with bitchy women was a major plus.  I missed my happy and bubbly girl I fell in love with the first time.  We felt like we were falling in love again.  It felt like the end of our marriage was near.  I lost 20 pounds and she is rail thin.  She looks good and I've had some turn around looks at work I never seen before.  Some old bags but I can still feel flattered in such a way.

About Danes behavior.  He was down to once a week therapy for one hour.  He is now being booted back to 2 days a week for 1 hour. 

At school he has been making friends and learning how to read.  His teacher tells me what a good day he had.  I am starting to think that he started to "hate" school when during one of his teachers deleted Angry Birds off the school Ipad in front of him without any warning.  I guess he was being unattentive and now he needs to earn the game back as a "privilage."

For the past few weeks now he has such negative things to say.  "I hate you, I hate school, I hate Donny and Bella, I hate this show!"  Hate Hate Hate...I don't get it.

I never watch violent movies.  I watch my language (sometimes the f bomb slipps) Not too often.  But he comes home and talks about hand on hand combat.  That I know he is not learning from home.

I was thinking while mowing lawn tonight.  He's around loud noised and flickering flourescent lights all day.  The lunch room is especially loud.  Kids in the halls talking and running are loud.  His teachers and therapists say how good and well behaved he is.  Is this the same kid?  Ever since Angry Birds was deleted in front of him without warning...he's been awful getting up and out to school.  He has been late lots of times because he won't get dressed.  When he does get to school, the whole class yells his name and give him hugs.  He loves school!

My wife went to visit the babysitter from the earlier years.  She brought home another guinea pig and a bunny rabbit.  Dane was so proud he took it to school for show and tell.  He was very popular that day.  I wasn't too thrilled about the critters but as soon as I pet the little rabbit..I melted.

Only 3 more days left and he will be in the first grade.  He's very happy because his pre-K teacher got promoted to 1st grade.  He likes her very much.

Today Dane had a field trip to the zoo.  His teacher told me the chaparone had nothing but good news and how well behaved he was during the trip.  I don't think the parent he knew he had autism even.  Lots of people don't.

On Fridays and Sundays I have to drive 50 miles one way to trade my bro in laws daughter with her mother.  Especially working all day, I am beat!  I want to get there and back as fast as possible.  I mean, the guy has no job, license, car..not a pot to piss in and he has been with us since Jan. 1st.  I already have my marriage on the line, Danes therapy, a sassy daughter, now this?  I am up to my eyes in stress and trying to manage everyone elses lives instead of mine.

I can see why Dane is acting out.  He needs his space as well as me. 

Headaches

Dane has been hating to to to school lately.  He does not cooperate getting dressed and out of the door for my wife.  A lot has been going on and I need to catch up to date .  About the headaches, he says he gets them in the hallway and in the cafe during lunch break.  He says he doesn't get them at recess.  I put his earmuffs the school gave him in his backpack today thinking he would know to put them on when he needs them.

My wife quit the factory and got back into working at an Assisted Living with 34 residents to take care of as a CNA.  She took a 6 dollar pay cut but she enjoys her job and wants to be a nurse someday.  The time is now to figure out what we want and what I want is for her happiness.  Now for me to get on the ball and figure out a fullfilling career move for me.

My brother in law moved in with us with his 3 year old daughter and theres been drama.  He has no license, job, car and fighting for custody of his kid.  Not to mention his ex is preggers again and hes a 1/4 candidate of it being his...or not.  I am doing my best to stay out of it.  I have my own family and my own problems.

Dane also got prescription glasses.  He uses them in school and no where else.  At least he knows how to take care of them like a big boy.

The tranmission on our 06 Escape has been acting up.  I talked to the mechanic today and he says it may be a neutral switch.  It skips 2nd gear and goes from 1st to 3rd and the rpms reach almost 5k before switching gears.  He cant rule out the the  tranny may be going out. 

Dane is crazy about Angry Birds and he is really good at it.  He really concentrates like he is calculating in his head how to slingshot the bird and get the green pigs.  He gets past levels that I can't get past. It's amazing but I have to use it to my advantage to ground him from the  game when he hits and swears and doesn't listen.  He needs to understand the the game is a privaliage and he needs to earn it by being good at home as well as school.

A boy in class wanted a play date set up.  I talked to the father and we met at Mc|Donalds.  That went good except there was a birthday party and lots of loud kids running around.

Comming up is a neurological evaluation that the state passed that we do NOT need a doctors reference.  We have been having trouble twice getting a referral for Danes services for this test.  Now he has a date set from 9 in the morning to 3 at night.  Thats going to be a long day for the little man.

Things haven't been easy having another kid and grown adult who acts like a kid in my home.  On the contrary Dane has had less meltdowns since they moved in.  When he does have a meltdown it has been pretty agressive.  I think hes holding it in and then unleashes the dragon when enough is enough already.

Fixatin on pinwheels never stops.  It seems like he gets one and breaks it to fix it and then whine about getting more pinwheels. 

Dane is the leader in school tomorrow so I bought some cookies for his  class and he needs to take something to school for show and tell.  Im guessing it will be a pin wheel this  time.  The good news is that Danes class really likes him and looks up to him.  One day I got him out early to take him to his therapy and the whole class ran out to say goodbye.  I think a little hispanic girl has a crush on him
also. 

My brother Jeremy sold his house and is moving closer to my sister.  The way things are going in my town I may just throw in the towel at my dead end job and sell my house and move there as well.  The only thing left for me here are my parents.  Dane loves them so much and it would really break his heart to move.

What Meets ASD Criteria

Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across contexts, not accounted for by general developmental delays, and manifest by all 3 of the following disorders...

1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity; ranging from abnormal social approach and failure of  normal back and forth conversation through reduced sharing of interests, emotions, and affect and response to total lack of initiation of social interaction,

2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction; ranging from poorly integrated- verbal and nonverbal communication, through abnormalities in eye contact and body-language, or deficits in understanding and use of nonverbal communication, to total lack of facial expression or gestures.

3. Deficits in developing and maintaining relationships, appropriate to developmental level (beyond those with caregivers); ranging from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit different social contexts through difficulties in sharing imaginative play and  in making friends  to an apparent absence of interest in people

Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities as manifested by at least two of  the following disorders...

1. Stereotyped or repetitive speech, motor movements, or use of objects; (such as simple motor stereotypies, echolalia, repetitive use of objects, or idiosyncratic phrases).

2. Excessive adherence to routines, ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior, or excessive resistance to change; (such as motoric rituals, insistence on same route or food, repetitive questioning or extreme distress at small changes).

3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus; (such as strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interests).

4. Hyper-or hypo-reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of environment; (such as apparent indifference to pain/heat/cold, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, fascination with lights or spinning objects).

5 Symptoms must be present in early childhood (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities)

6. Symptoms together limit and impair everyday functioning.

Change

My wife got hired as a CNA at a local nursing home.  The interview went really good and they will call her on Monday.  She needs to get out of the factory 3rd shift.  She feels unappreciated and does not like at all what she's doing.  The women are mean and crabby and all talk shit about one another.  It does feel like a prison.  The office doesn't care about us.  We are just a number.  I will not ever try to voice my opinion again.  They don't care.  They don't do my job and yet they think by doing it this way will be easier.  Whatever.  I need to find myself as well.  Factory life is hard work unless you supervise and just watch everyone else break their backs.

I am back to getting the kids up in the morning.  I have to drive my brother in law across town and then take his 3 year old daughter and my 2 to work with me.  My wife get's off work, gives me her keys and then we go our own way.  I go to work and she goes home to watch the kids. 

The past several years have been hard.  I soon had to realize about my depression and anxiety and I needed help.  Antidepressants have help me a lot the past few months.

Dane hasn't had too many meltdowns in the past month.  I think his uncle and cousin has been on his level to play around to his liking.  He has been doing amazing in school.  A mother wrote the teacher a note to have me call her and set up a play date with her son. 

Over the past couple weeks my niece who is residing with us was sick.  So it goes, Dane and Ally got sick and had to have breathing treatments every 4 hours.  A nebulizer inhaler on all 3 kids.  My wife missed a week of work with FML to get them back to health.  All three have lost that bad cough.

Today the theater burnt down.  It sounds like 1 firemen died in the blaze.  I took my kids down to the corner to see the fire.  Lots of firetrucks and a helicopter.  This theater was a historical sight.  I remember I first saw E.T. and Ghostbusters here.  I took Dane and Ally to see Cars 2 and Alvin and the Chipmunks, Chipwrecked here.  Now it's gone. 

Anxiety

What a stressful new year it has been so far.  My brother in law is staying with us and his 3 year old daughter for a while.  He has no job, car, license and a girl pregnat which possibly may not be his child.  Poor guy.  I really wish the best for him.  The good news is that I don't have to load up the kids at 5 in the morning and haul them to work with me to exchange them with their mother.

Dawn is sick and tired of 3rd shift at the factory.  People are grumpy and disrespectful and lazy.  Not to mention the management is terrible. She deserves better and wants to go back into nursing..soon.  But right now she just wants to get off the graveyard shift.

Thank the heavens for Prozac.  I have been on it for the last couple months and has really took the edge off the stress of raising kids like a single father.  Things between my wife and I were awful.  I guess we really had to hit bottom to realize we need help.  We are now very happy again.  We realize how much we need each other and do love each other.  We felt like we grew apart for the past several years.

At Danes last therapy treatment I talked to this single mother who has been taking her 5 year old to therapy 3 days a week for 3 years for behavior.  She had an IPad with her and let Dane play Angry Birds on it.  I have never seen an IPad that close before.  I was amused how much attachment Dane took to it.  He tells me that school lets him play with one and he wants one.  I don't blame him but he just wants to play angry birds on it.

Happily though my brother-in-law got a job interview and orientation at a local meat packaging plant.  He will start at 7 which means the kids can sleep in until my wife gets home, take him to work and then take Dane to school and come home and hopefully get some sleep in.

I have been waiting to get a picture of Danes "squeeze machine" his case worker gave us.  He really likes it.  I will have to get a picture on soon.  His therapist also had him made a body sock.  He knows when to get in it for his own sensory break but the first night in it he hit his head on the table.   Ally, my daughter likes to get into it and say she's a ghost.  "Ooohhhh"  she moans...so funny.

Goals of an IEP

These are a couple links with IEP goals with and without objectives for students with autism.  Some pretty good information to glance at.

Goals with Objectives: http://www.specialed.us/autism/05/g_o.htm

Goals without Objectives: http://www.specialed.us/autism/05/gwo.htm

Liquid Timer - Calming Attachment

Dane found an old liquid timer in my old bedroom at my parents house.  It's one of those, well, it's like an hour glass that you flip over and blobs of liquid colors spin gears inside the thing.  It is so old that the colors faded and it just looks like water.  Now, he has an obsession taking this with him everywhere.

The first night home with it he was getting tired.  I was thinking that it wouldn't surprise me if he watched it until he fell asleep.  My assumption was correct.  It must have taken 45 minutes of him flipping it and watching the little wheels spin and eventually he fell asleep on the couch.  He has always has a visual attachment with spinning objects.  Maybe some day he will be a disk jocky spinning records or maybe he will design roller coasters.  He says he wants to be a scientist and a fire fighter or a teacher.  Its fun to hear him say these things.  Up until he turned 5 I didn't think I'd have actual conversations with him.  His replies are short yes or no answers but he has been asking "Why?  I have to keep my answers short because I see the confusion in his eyes when I talk too much.

His meltdowns have been short to none lately.  He still has no control of hitting his sister when he's mad.  Allyson does bring on the situation when she interrupts him or takes something from him.  Other then that they play really good.

Next Tuesday Dane doesn't have therapy.  I made him his first eye doctor appointment.  Before I go in with him I will show him a video of someone getting their eyes checked or pictures of what will happen.  This will be so he is aware of what will happen.  I will show him an eye chart and possibly the eye drops to dialate the pupils.  Then I will show him that thing that goes in front of your face where you look into and the doctor tells you which one is blurry.  1 or 2?

I think Dane needs glasses.  He squints just like I do without my glasses.  If he does get glasses I want them to have a special tint to them so he won't have to wear sunglasses in certain stores that freak him out.  He goes crazy over the ceiling fans when we walk into Menards.  That's the first department walking into that store.  For some reason it makes him happy so I always make a quick stroll through.

Before I go into a store like that, I have to tell him that we are Not going to look at the fans if we are in a hurry to avoid a stressful situation.  Telling him before hand what I expect from our shopping experience really helps a lot.  Like, "were just here to look."  "We are not getting any toys or candy for you."  "If you are really good you get a treat when we get home."  He replies with an "Awwww man"  Which is better than an embarrassing tantrum from a 6 year old.  Therapy has been helping him a lot.  He has come a long way.

I have always had Dane around kids his own peers to learn from.  Picture schedules were a godsend and Baby Einstein videos were a life saver when he was a baby.  His little sister has helped him learn how to be more social as well.  All the kids in his class really seem to like him and his teachers love him.

Explaining Death Again - R.I.P. Gizmo

Another one bites the dust.  Gizmo, the black and white guinea pig was killed in a tragic accident.  I could have probably prevented it by telling the kids to put the pigs back in their cage while I got ready.  Both Wubbzy and Gizmo were squeaking happily and the kids were petting them.

Dane opened the door and said he was going outside to put Gizmo in the grass.  I thought that would be okay for the next couple minutes while I took a quick shower.  I was wrong.  I got out of the shower with a towel on and Allyson said to me that Gizmo wasn't moving or playing.  I was like, "What?"  I walked around the corner and to my disappointment, there was Gizmo.  She was laying on top of the garbage can on her back, lifeless.  Dead as a doornail.

I admit to myself that I did not much like cleaning up after these pets.  All they do is eat and go to the bathroom.  We got them to teach Dane some responsibility.  He does good keeping them fed and watered.  I need to remind him a lot to look over them.  Not to mention that Dane makes quite the mess taking care of them.  Always spilling pellets everywhere and putting more food dishes and moving the water feeder all the time.  Dane cannot get comfortable with any set spot the food and water are in.  He's always rearranging them.

Okay, so I ask what happened? Dane said that Gizmo is dead.  "Yeah, I see that.  How did Gizmo die?" It took some time but Dane told me that he threw the poor thing.  I don't know if he was playing catch with it or dropped it or sat on it.  I asked Ally and she said she didn't know.

It was an accident and Dane wants another guinea pig.  I had to explain death again to which he has no concept of.  I say that Gizmo is with Jesus and he's in a better place.  Either way, a pet killed by rough play cannot be replaced like a toy car.  We need time to show Dane that Gizmo isn't coming back.  We tell Dane that he needs to take extra special care of Wubbzy now.  We told him that he cannot throw, sit or cover the guinea pig.  He needs to be very nice or the same thing will happen to Wubbzy as Gizmo. The problem now is that Wubbzy is depressed and not eating.  I hope it doesn't starve itself to death.  My wife wants it to have company or it probably will die from starvation.  Who knows.

I wrapped Gizmo up in a small towel and my wife told Dane to tell Gizmo goodbye and that he's sorry. Dane showed concern but didn't cry.  I don't think he realized what he did.  Accidents happen and it happened so fast.

My wife went to get the kids ready to go shopping.  In the meantime, I dug a quick hole by the garage and buried Gizmo.

Temple Grandin - Autism in the Workplace

Dr. Temple Grandin on Autism in the Workplace: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

Temple Grandin was born with severe autism. She has written several books about animal behavior and autism/aspergers syndrome. She has a PHD in animal science and is also a professor at Colorado State University. If you have or deal with children on the autism spectrum disorder, you may want to do research on her to get a better perspective of what people with autism endure in their lives. I recommend reading her book, "The Way I See It" A Personal Look at Autism & Aspergers.

Social Situations

Dane is more comfortable with adults to interact with but he is starting to explore more of his peer interactions.  A strength of his is complying to his teachers directions and willingness to try something new.  He is showing an interest in stories being read out loud and computer activities presented in his class.  He is beginning to start conversations with one or two children his age during play activities especially on the playground without being asked something.  He is starting to hold conversations and ask questions about what they are doing daily.  He is expanding his social interactions to other peers more often and is being worked on throughout the day as well as activity including himself in whole group sessions.  He works better with one or two children then he does with five or more to be more active with his class.  He is starting to state his first and last name but is currently working on spelling and writing his last name.  Overall, his teachers believe he is doing very well and is a pleasure to work with.

Adaptive - Self Help

/Dane has been getting better with more independent skills.  He is able to go to the bathroom unassisted, pick out his own food for lunch and get ready for recess.  His adaptive skills he is very distracted.  He needs individual support during group instruction and after to help complete activities in class.  Without support, he is not able to complete the assigned work.  He continues to need practice asking his teacher for help on his work.  If Dane is stuck or does not have the proper material to work, he usually sits and waits.  He does not raise his hand for help or to at least ask what he should do.  To help complete his work, sensory breaks are given after he completes a set amount of work.  He benefits with limits of how much work needs to be done first and then given after he completes a set amount of work.  Dane relies on imitation while playing childhood games and is working on the intent/outcome of the game. 

I am to inform Danes therapists of what the school can use for sensory breaks to begin working on that with him.  His occupational therapist at school recommended a 3.5 pound weighted sack to place on his lap for 15 minutes.  To overuse a sensory item like this would make his body become used to the weight and therefore be unaffective on further usage.  At home when he is going into a sensory overload, he gets into his sensory sack/body sock and stretches putting pressure against him.  It has been quite useful before bedtime.

IEP Services

Part of a Special Education Student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may include, but not be limit to these services:

Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Speech Language
School Psychological Services
Guidance Counseling Services
Mental Health Services
Transportation
School Health Services
School Nursing Services

IEP - Strengths & Concerns

Dane attends Kindergarten with the support of the Early Childhood teacher, Speech and Language Pathologist, and Occupational Therapist.  Dane enjoys coming to school and always greets teachers with a smile upon arrival.  He participates regularly when doing small group activities, while in a quiet environment.  He occasionally recognizes when his body needs a sensory break.  When asked in class what he needs he will reply to push on his shoulders.  Sensory breaks help Dane stay on task and complete an activity/assignment.  Academically, Dane can identify all uppercase and most lowercase letters.  He can identify almost all numbers 1-20.  He knows all his colors and shapes.  Dane is making progress with his fine motor skills and control.  He currently can write his own name.  Overall, he has shown he is making progress with aquiring skills.

singing bowl therapy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD8W_UfENiI

Bedtime Routines

Eight O' Clock.  Bedtime.  Go to bed.  Brush your teeth.  Get on your pj's.  It's not that simple is it?  My wife and I basically slept in separate beds for the past 5 years.  I'd fall asleep in my recliner and she'd go to bed without waking me up to get me to go to bed.  When we would get into bed together the kids would end up between us.  There just isn't enough room.  I guess I'll lay by Dane so he sleeps and I can get some sleep. I need to get up at 5 a.m. and get ready for work.

One thing I remember hearing before having children was, "Don't let them sleep with you.  Not as a baby even."  It may seem easy at first but you will have a hard time getting them to break the habit."  That person was right.

My wife and I work separate shifts.  I work days and she works nights.  It was easier just having Dane sleep in bed with us.  It was the only way he'd stay sleeping.  Allyson did awesome sleeping in her crib.  Until we tried to convert her to a toddler bed, she wanted nothing to do with bedtime.  So it started.  Both kids slept in my bed.  It seemed fine at first.  Okay, maybe tonight but tomorrow they need to sleep in their own beds.  For the past several months I've struggled getting them to bed.  Now Dane is afraid of the dark and tries to sneak into bed with me.  I guide him back to bed half in his sleep.  Our family counselor told us not to get excited and raise our voice when this happens.  Lead him back to his room and tuck him back in.  Don't alert the brain or he will wake up more and be harder to get back to sleep.

Tonight at Danes therapy, the family counselor advised me to switch up my bedtime routine.  I should work on getting Ally to sleep first because she's younger.  Get Dane to his room to talk to his guinea pig or play until I get to him and read him a bedtime story.  She told me to make up a story without pictures in a book and talk calmly..almost hypnotising to get Ally to sleep.  Rub her back and speak slowly.  I tried this..it almost worked for this being the first time.  I am usually riled up and just want the kids to go to sleep so I can relax for an hour before I go to bed myself.

Tonight, Dane fell asleep on his way to therapy.  He didn't want to have his therapy when he got there.  When he seen that I had to talk with the counselor that's when he went back with his therapist.

The counselor implied that the kids need more sleep.  Easier said then done.  I'm happy that they can actually get to sleep at 8:00.  They have to get up with me and leave at 5:30 a.m.  Sure, they only get about 9 hours of sleep.  Dane has school full time and then goes to his therapy a couple days a week.  That makes for a long day for the little guy.  He catches a cat nap on the drive there and then he needs to concentrate on his therapy.  I try to get them down to sleep but the counselor thinks that now I need to get them to bed at 7.  That's early but it takes at least an hour to get them both down.  It's hard work.  I'd like them sleeping by 8 so I can have that hour to myself and get to bed by 9. 

It's a good thing that Dane was really tired so I could try the calm slow hypnotic story telling to see if it would work on Allyson.  Her eyes did get glossy and was getting sleepy.  I used a book with pictures because I thought it would be easier to tell the story.  Every page she'd sit up and point at the picture and ask why that is.  I'd agree and answer her and rub her back and shhh her.  I thought I had her sleepy enough to leave her in her room.  About 5 minutes later I heard her get out of bed and ask for water.  I have to keep this a routine to get this down and both kids to bed on time.  The first week will be the hardest.

Interventions & Success Strategies

http://www.specialed.us/autism/Autism.pdf 

Here is a link with some valuable information.  It provides chapters on...

- Assistive Technology for Children with Autism

- Children with Asperger’s Syndrome: Characteristics / Learning Styles & Intervention  Strategies

- Effective Programming for Young Children with Autism Ages 3-5

- Structured Teaching: Strategies for Supporting Students with Autism

- Increasing Expressive Comunication Skills for Verbal Children with Autism

- Developing Expressive Communication Skills for Non-Verbal Children with Autism