Guest guest Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 Thanks, !I hadn't heard of Dr. Mac, but looked up his site - it looks very helpful. Thank you for your thoughts and insights!Betsy ✟ JMJ ✟ Hi Betsy, I do not follow a curriculum per se as I am more of an unschooler. My son (age 17) is in highs school, creates his own stuff and submits it to NARHS (North Atlantic Regional High School). He takes a couple of classes at a coop here. He is studying Medieval Times, Movies as Literature, and a computers course there. He also runs a small on line business for airsoft repair. He writes for some airsoft blogs. His interests lie in skills such as bladesmithing, woodworking etc. A hands on kind of guy. NARHS takes what he does, looks at the time spent and gives him credit toward his HS diploma. The diploma will come from the state of land. My daughter is 13 and takes a mix of high school credit (which she will send to NARHS) and some courses at a coop we go to ( same ones as her brother). She also studies horse riding, grooming and training so she will be able to apply that as well. She does teaching textbooks for her math and is in a few book groups and Shakespeare group. Both older and take ballroom dance. My son is 10 and has mosiac syndrome so "schooling" is not as easy for him. He needs much more prompting and encouragement than my older two. He does a lot on the ipad and computer and we are just reinforcing basic reading, writing and math skills through games and whatever I can get him to focus on that day. He is behind his peers in this area but things are starting to click so I hope he will move forward more quickly now. My youngest, Birgitta, age 8 has ds-austism and fetal alcohol syndrome (birth mother did a lot of drinking during pregnancy as well as drugs), she has several seizures a day (We think Doose syndrome)and an array of other issues. She is completely dependent on me most of the day. Her "education" is just learning basic everyday skills, using a fork without throwing it, drinking from cup, signing etc. She really can not be left alone and is non verbal. After many years of trying she has maybe 3 signs but seems to understand more of what I say each day and learning other ways of helping me understand what she wants. For example she will come over to me and pull me arm and walk me toward the refrigerator when she wants a drink. She will go to the pantry door when she wants to eat. I will then sign what she is "asking" for and give it to her. Baby steps but some day it will pay off. I am going to start working with Dr. Jim Mc of Communicating Partners for both and Birgitta. Have you heard of him? Blessings, Re: Looking for a nice community To: Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 11:11 PM Do not move to NH. Good luck. Looking for a nice community For personal reasons it has become necessary for me to find a better community for me and my daughter (10 year old with DS and Autism). I would like to get feedback from all of you about where you live and the services available to your children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 Mac has been a forth right advocate for our kids for years before he got his PhD. love his attitude altho he has never worked with my son. Have heard him present a number of times at DS conventions.  Thanks, !I hadn't heard of Dr. Mac, but looked up his site - it looks very helpful.  Thank you for your thoughts and insights!Betsy  ✟ JMJ ✟ Hi Betsy, I do not follow a curriculum per se as I am more of an unschooler. My son (age 17) is in highs school, creates his own stuff and submits it to NARHS (North Atlantic Regional High School). He takes a couple of classes at a coop here. He is studying Medieval Times, Movies as Literature, and a computers course there. He also runs a small on line business for airsoft repair. He writes for some airsoft blogs. His interests lie in skills such as bladesmithing, woodworking etc. A hands on kind of guy. NARHS takes what he does, looks at the time spent and gives him credit toward his HS diploma. The diploma will come from the state of land. My daughter is 13 and takes a mix of high school credit (which she will send to NARHS) and some courses at a coop we go to ( same ones as her brother). She also studies horse riding, grooming and training so she will be able to apply that as well. She does teaching textbooks for her math and is in a few book groups and Shakespeare group. Both older and take ballroom dance. My son is 10 and has mosiac syndrome so " schooling " is not as easy for him. He needs much more prompting and encouragement than my older two. He does a lot on the ipad and computer and we are just reinforcing basic reading, writing and math skills through games and whatever I can get him to focus on that day. He is behind his peers in this area but things are starting to click so I hope he will move forward more quickly now. My youngest, Birgitta, age 8 has ds-austism and fetal alcohol syndrome (birth mother did a lot of drinking during pregnancy as well as drugs), she has several seizures a day (We think Doose syndrome)and an array of other issues. She is completely dependent on me most of the day. Her " education " is just learning basic everyday skills, using a fork without throwing it, drinking from cup, signing etc. She really can not be left alone and is non verbal. After many years of trying she has maybe 3 signs but seems to understand more of what I say each day and learning other ways of helping me understand what she wants. For example she will come over to me and pull me arm and walk me toward the refrigerator when she wants a drink. She will go to the pantry door when she wants to eat. I will then sign what she is " asking " for and give it to her. Baby steps but some day it will pay off.  I am going to start working with Dr. Jim Mc of Communicating Partners for both and Birgitta. Have you heard of him? Blessings, Re: Looking for a nice community To: Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 11:11 PM  Do not move to NH. Good luck. Looking for a nice community  For personal reasons it has become necessary for me to find a better community for me and my daughter (10 year old with DS and Autism). I would like to get feedback from all of you about where you live and the services available to your children. -- Sara- different pathways lead to Nirvana. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 ✟ JMJ ✟ I posted to the support group for Communication Partners. He emailed me after reading my post there. He is willing to do phone consults and have me video tape my daughter. I have ordered one of his books and videos to get a better idea of what to expect. I really like what I have discovered so far and am looking forward to working with him. Blessings, Re: Looking for a nice community To: Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 11:11 PM Do not move to NH. Good luck. Looking for a nice community For personal reasons it has become necessary for me to find a better community for me and my daughter (10 year old with DS and Autism). I would like to get feedback from all of you about where you live and the services available to your children. -- Sara- different pathways lead to Nirvana. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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