Re: 1st day of Kindergarten

[Guest guest]

Bryce starts school this coming Tuesday - and he's

pretty excited about it. Mommy & Daddy are also

excited on the one hand, but apprehensive at the same

time. I'm wondering if he'll be questioned by other

kids about why he runs the way he does, etc. I expect

Bryce may have some questions for us sooner or later

about any such comments other kids may make - as to

the " why's. " While Bryce has asked us on two

occasions why he falls down so much (about 2 years ago

now) - and he hears " SMA " used in daily language, I

think he sees no differences between him and any other

kid (which is good because I don't want him to treat

the other kids differently just because they're not as

strong mentally - - but knowing kids, I'm sure

they'll be more than willing to point out differences

to him.

Just the other day - while we were at therapeutic

riding lessons - after the lesson, Bryce said to the

other little boy who was in the class that day (a

makeup class for him) - who was in a wheelchair - " are

your legs broken " - to which the really friendly &

smart little guy (who was about 8 years old) replied

" no, this is the way I was born " - and that was that -

Bryce replied " ok. " After that short exchange they

talked a little bit more about their horses they rode

that day - and then we both had to leave. We talked

about it a little bit after that everybody has their

strengths and weaknesses.

Any words of wisdom from those that walked when

younger - and from those that didn't walk - and the

things other kids said or did. I want nothing more

than to be at my boy's side all day long to protect

him from potentially mean things other kids are bound

to say - but I know that's certainly not feasible, nor

necessarily helpful either. What things did any of

your parents do or say that you found helpful - or

not? I think I'm most concerned with (or worry about)

recess time on the playground & gym class (cuz Bryce

will kick all their butts on the academic side of

things!) - any thoughts or advice on this?

Thanks - Mitch

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> What things did any of

> your parents do or say that you found helpful - or

> not?

Honestly, I think my parents made *way* too big a deal

about my disability. They were constantly trying to

" toughen me up " for all those mean, prejudiced people

they believed populated the world. It was almost

more shocking to me how nice many people were.

Of course, when I started school in the 70s, " main-

streaming " was still getting sorted out. All students

with disabilities were sent to the same school and

had special homerooms. So I was always around

other kids with disabilities a lot and I didn't feel that

" unusual. "

Jenn

[Guest guest]

Jenn, my high school tried that approach and it worked for those students who

were in need of more time to write, but for me my hands, mouth and will kept

me out of such rooms.

I used the " Special Needs " room as my " locker " and just went there to pee and

grab my coat.

I had the entire schools student body at my disposal. They had the " Buddy

System " put in for fire emergencies and made wheelchair access broader

throughout the school grounds. The corridor doors were salloon style and so I

just rammed my way through. They had an elevator too and with a long wooden

stick, I made my way around on my own or with classmates.

I was one of the first disabled students to attend this high school; in all

there was 8 of us.

Mainstreaming was all I wanted to do and I swam just swimmingly!

Angie

On Thursday 31 August 2006 17:17, jennifer wrote:

>

> > What things did any of

> > your parents do or say that you found helpful - or

> > not?

>

> Honestly, I think my parents made *way* too big a deal

> about my disability. They were constantly trying to

> " toughen me up " for all those mean, prejudiced people

> they believed populated the world. It was almost

> more shocking to me how nice many people were.

>

> Of course, when I started school in the 70s, " main-

> streaming " was still getting sorted out. All students

> with disabilities were sent to the same school and

> had special homerooms. So I was always around

> other kids with disabilities a lot and I didn't feel that

> " unusual. "

>

> Jenn

>

>

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

In junior high I was completely " mainstreamed. " In fact I was mostly in honors

classes. I

went to an all-girl private school for high school, and I was the first student

ever to go

there in a wheelchair.

Jenn

[Guest guest]

Hi Mitch,

My son is 24 years old, so it's been a long time since kindergarten. I

will pass on my bit of advice...your son will be better able to deal

with questions from other kids if he knows the answers to those

questions himself. I know you don't want to get too detailed in

discussing it with him yet, and you don't want to scare him, but I

feel Bryce should be prepared for other kids' questions and have

answers that he is comfortable with giving. You might want to think

about asking him if he has any questions about falling down, taking

therapy, etc...and let him know that it's ok for others to ask

questions also, because that's the only way they can understand too.

Danny, my son, was never hurt by kids' questions because he was ok

with being different and knew how to answer them...much like the

" smart little guy " your son met at riding. Hope everything goes well

for Bryce next week,

>

> Bryce starts school this coming Tuesday - and he's

> pretty excited about it. Mommy & Daddy are also

> excited on the one hand, but apprehensive at the same

> time. I'm wondering if he'll be questioned by other

> kids about why he runs the way he does, etc. I expect

> Bryce may have some questions for us sooner or later

> about any such comments other kids may make - as to

> the " why's. " While Bryce has asked us on two

> occasions why he falls down so much (about 2 years ago

> now) - and he hears " SMA " used in daily language, I

> think he sees no differences between him and any other

> kid (which is good because I don't want him to treat

> the other kids differently just because they're not as

> strong mentally - - but knowing kids, I'm sure

> they'll be more than willing to point out differences

> to him.

>

> Just the other day - while we were at therapeutic

> riding lessons - after the lesson, Bryce said to the

> other little boy who was in the class that day (a

> makeup class for him) - who was in a wheelchair - " are

> your legs broken " - to which the really friendly &

> smart little guy (who was about 8 years old) replied

> " no, this is the way I was born " - and that was that -

> Bryce replied " ok. " After that short exchange they

> talked a little bit more about their horses they rode

> that day - and then we both had to leave. We talked

> about it a little bit after that everybody has their

> strengths and weaknesses.

>

> Any words of wisdom from those that walked when

> younger - and from those that didn't walk - and the

> things other kids said or did. I want nothing more

> than to be at my boy's side all day long to protect

> him from potentially mean things other kids are bound

> to say - but I know that's certainly not feasible, nor

> necessarily helpful either. What things did any of

> your parents do or say that you found helpful - or

> not? I think I'm most concerned with (or worry about)

> recess time on the playground & gym class (cuz Bryce

> will kick all their butts on the academic side of

> things!) - any thoughts or advice on this?

>

> Thanks - Mitch

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

When started kindergarten, I must say I had the same concerns

and questions you described. has used a power wheelchair

since 18 months old, and was very adept at handling it practically

from the start. But, when she started school we had the additional

worries about someone damaging her chair, or having her accidentally

drive down a stairway or pinning a kid against the wall (which she

will do if you tease her too much).

Nonetheless, I found over the past three years that all of the kids

have been very receptive, polite and accepting of . The first

day, there were a lot of questions about her chair, but after that

the kids have always treated her like anyone else. To my knowledge,

no one has ever asked her about SMA. She tells me that no one has

ever asked the dreaded question, " what's wrong with you? " Maybe I

fear too much for her, but I am frankly shocked at how smooth it has

been for her so far.

The only awkwardness and stupid attitudes have come from other

parents or a few of the teachers. The kids themselves see her

differences as no big deal. I do wonder whether kids will continue

to have the same acceptance of as they all get older.

>

> Bryce starts school this coming Tuesday - and he's

> pretty excited about it. Mommy & Daddy are also

> excited on the one hand, but apprehensive at the same

> time. I'm wondering if he'll be questioned by other

> kids about why he runs the way he does, etc. I expect

> Bryce may have some questions for us sooner or later

> about any such comments other kids may make - as to

> the " why's. " While Bryce has asked us on two

> occasions why he falls down so much (about 2 years ago

> now) - and he hears " SMA " used in daily language, I

> think he sees no differences between him and any other

> kid (which is good because I don't want him to treat

> the other kids differently just because they're not as

> strong mentally - - but knowing kids, I'm sure

> they'll be more than willing to point out differences

> to him.

>

> Just the other day - while we were at therapeutic

> riding lessons - after the lesson, Bryce said to the

> other little boy who was in the class that day (a

> makeup class for him) - who was in a wheelchair - " are

> your legs broken " - to which the really friendly &

> smart little guy (who was about 8 years old) replied

> " no, this is the way I was born " - and that was that -

> Bryce replied " ok. " After that short exchange they

> talked a little bit more about their horses they rode

> that day - and then we both had to leave. We talked

> about it a little bit after that everybody has their

> strengths and weaknesses.

>

> Any words of wisdom from those that walked when

> younger - and from those that didn't walk - and the

> things other kids said or did. I want nothing more

> than to be at my boy's side all day long to protect

> him from potentially mean things other kids are bound

> to say - but I know that's certainly not feasible, nor

> necessarily helpful either. What things did any of

> your parents do or say that you found helpful - or

> not? I think I'm most concerned with (or worry about)

> recess time on the playground & gym class (cuz Bryce

> will kick all their butts on the academic side of

> things!) - any thoughts or advice on this?

>

> Thanks - Mitch

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>