Re: Re: Brownies(long winded, sorry)

[Guest guest]

my dd didn't get her Asperger diagnosis until late in elementary school. but

she knew what was going on in the process and I've always been very open about

it and very careful that she knew that it created challenges for her not that

she was a broken person that needed to be fixed. we have always focused on the

positive. She almost 15 now and last week she did a search on the internet

about Asperger's. I knew she did because of the browser history but I waited

until she was ready to talk about it and a few days later she told me she had

searched and decided it was her. Again I pointed out the things in her

Asperger's that I saw as assests like her ability to totally focus on things

that interest her, like math, she is very gifted there and her intense interest

in animals especially horses, has already created a career path for her. She

was even able to hold down a summer job at a farm helping out with summer camp.

Her intense feelings about rules has helped her

navigate life in school and at the farm because she understands the structure.

Girl Scouts has also been a great help through out the years, she is currently

in her tenth year. she started as a Daisy in Kindergarten and continued all

through Brownies and Juniors and is in her last year in Cadettes, next year

she'll be a Senior Scout. I have been either the Leader or Co-leader through

out which I believe helped in the earlier ages. As the kids get older in

Scouting it is a different kind of kid that remains. Usually those who are

prone to teasing others drop out for other activities. In fact we have a very

unique troop now. Half our girls are on the spectrum and the other have are NT,

and all are equal in the troop. It is really wonderful because my co-leader and

I are really only there for facilitating and advice and the girls really run the

troop. I do know that one of our girls, who is on the spectrum, did have a

horrible experience in Brownies, in another troop, because the leader didn't

have a good understanding of her. The organization

does it's best to provide diversity training but the long and the short of it

is that leaders are volunteers who come with their own expectations of how they

think their troop should be and it may or may not be a happy place for our kids.

Don't be afraid to search for good match. you are not locked in to one troop

just because it is located at your local school. Our troop has 8 girls but they

come from five different schools.

Cassie Zupke wrote:

Hi --

There are some good books written for children that talk about autism.

I'm drawing a blank right now as to their names -- I think some are

" When my autism gets too big " and " Asperger's, Huh? " . I'm sure other

folks have ideas. That would be a good thing to show the leaders and

ask them to share with the other girls. I find kids are far more

understanding when they know a kid is having a hard time for medical

reasons. The books would also be good to talk to your daughter about

autism. I'm sure she notices that she's having a harder time with some

things than other kids are. I told my son that he has autism and that

means he has a harder time in some areas than other kids do -- then he

didn't think he was just stupid. I told him the autism wasn't an excuse

-- it meant he had to work harder in somethings than other kids. For

instance, writing is harder for him but I still expect him to do his

best every single time whether he wants to or not. I don't expect him

to be as proficient as the other kids and there are some things we just

opt out of (like music and assemblies) but for the things he's capable

of, he's got to work hard. I also told him that autism has benefits too

-- his single-mindedness means he studies very hard on things he enjoys

and he has a great memory -- better than all the other kids in his

class. Sometimes he gets mad because he has autism because it makes his

life hard but I tell him that everyone has stuff in their lives that

make them hard.

-- Cassie

sajustmyself wrote:

> I could try. But when you get a chance to read my last reply, I

> really don't feel that her leaders believe she's autistic. They seem

> like the type that think of autism as Rainman only. When I did talk

> to them it just like, " oh really?, I wouldn't have ever thought that

> it was that " in that kind of condescending voice; again, I am

> sensitive so maybe I read it wrong but...

>

>

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi everyone,

> > > > >

> > > > > Hannah (8) is currently enrolled in Brownies. 2 girls that

> are

> > > > there

> > > > > are very mean to her and bully her frequently (as they do at

> > > > school).

> > > > > The leaders keep assuring me that they don't " pull that "

> while at

> > > > > Brownies, but Hannah says they do. It's hard to say if she

> can

> > > > > separate school time from Brownies but...

> > > > >

> > > > > Do y'all think that a structured group like Brownies (with

> about

> > > 13

> > > > > other shrieking little girls) is a good setting? She has

> very

> > > poor

> > > > > social skills and before knowing her dx, I thought it might

> be a

> > > > good

> > > > > thing to get her involved in something.

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

my dd didn't get her Asperger diagnosis until late in elementary school. but

she knew what was going on in the process and I've always been very open about

it and very careful that she knew that it created challenges for her not that

she was a broken person that needed to be fixed. we have always focused on the

positive. She almost 15 now and last week she did a search on the internet

about Asperger's. I knew she did because of the browser history but I waited

until she was ready to talk about it and a few days later she told me she had

searched and decided it was her. Again I pointed out the things in her

Asperger's that I saw as assests like her ability to totally focus on things

that interest her, like math, she is very gifted there and her intense interest

in animals especially horses, has already created a career path for her. She

was even able to hold down a summer job at a farm helping out with summer camp.

Her intense feelings about rules has helped her

navigate life in school and at the farm because she understands the structure.

Girl Scouts has also been a great help through out the years, she is currently

in her tenth year. she started as a Daisy in Kindergarten and continued all

through Brownies and Juniors and is in her last year in Cadettes, next year

she'll be a Senior Scout. I have been either the Leader or Co-leader through

out which I believe helped in the earlier ages. As the kids get older in

Scouting it is a different kind of kid that remains. Usually those who are

prone to teasing others drop out for other activities. In fact we have a very

unique troop now. Half our girls are on the spectrum and the other have are NT,

and all are equal in the troop. It is really wonderful because my co-leader and

I are really only there for facilitating and advice and the girls really run the

troop. I do know that one of our girls, who is on the spectrum, did have a

horrible experience in Brownies, in another troop, because the leader didn't

have a good understanding of her. The organization

does it's best to provide diversity training but the long and the short of it

is that leaders are volunteers who come with their own expectations of how they

think their troop should be and it may or may not be a happy place for our kids.

Don't be afraid to search for good match. you are not locked in to one troop

just because it is located at your local school. Our troop has 8 girls but they

come from five different schools.

Cassie Zupke wrote:

Hi --

There are some good books written for children that talk about autism.

I'm drawing a blank right now as to their names -- I think some are

" When my autism gets too big " and " Asperger's, Huh? " . I'm sure other

folks have ideas. That would be a good thing to show the leaders and

ask them to share with the other girls. I find kids are far more

understanding when they know a kid is having a hard time for medical

reasons. The books would also be good to talk to your daughter about

autism. I'm sure she notices that she's having a harder time with some

things than other kids are. I told my son that he has autism and that

means he has a harder time in some areas than other kids do -- then he

didn't think he was just stupid. I told him the autism wasn't an excuse

-- it meant he had to work harder in somethings than other kids. For

instance, writing is harder for him but I still expect him to do his

best every single time whether he wants to or not. I don't expect him

to be as proficient as the other kids and there are some things we just

opt out of (like music and assemblies) but for the things he's capable

of, he's got to work hard. I also told him that autism has benefits too

-- his single-mindedness means he studies very hard on things he enjoys

and he has a great memory -- better than all the other kids in his

class. Sometimes he gets mad because he has autism because it makes his

life hard but I tell him that everyone has stuff in their lives that

make them hard.

-- Cassie

sajustmyself wrote:

> I could try. But when you get a chance to read my last reply, I

> really don't feel that her leaders believe she's autistic. They seem

> like the type that think of autism as Rainman only. When I did talk

> to them it just like, " oh really?, I wouldn't have ever thought that

> it was that " in that kind of condescending voice; again, I am

> sensitive so maybe I read it wrong but...

>

>

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi everyone,

> > > > >

> > > > > Hannah (8) is currently enrolled in Brownies. 2 girls that

> are

> > > > there

> > > > > are very mean to her and bully her frequently (as they do at

> > > > school).

> > > > > The leaders keep assuring me that they don't " pull that "

> while at

> > > > > Brownies, but Hannah says they do. It's hard to say if she

> can

> > > > > separate school time from Brownies but...

> > > > >

> > > > > Do y'all think that a structured group like Brownies (with

> about

> > > 13

> > > > > other shrieking little girls) is a good setting? She has

> very

> > > poor

> > > > > social skills and before knowing her dx, I thought it might

> be a

> > > > good

> > > > > thing to get her involved in something.

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have to agree, don't give up on Brownie cause of this troop. Beth is in her

third year of girl scouts, in fact we are up early on a Saturday getting ready

so she can go on a field trip. TShe has done two years of Daisy's and this is

her first year of Brownies. There are 22 girls in the troop, I have to say

that the leaders are what makes the troop so great, especially at this stage.

As Carol said, as the girls grow older they run more of the troop, and the older

the get the mean ones are usually the ones who drop out (I was a GS till 14 when

our troop disovled cause the leaders both moved). I would contact the counsil

and find other troops and talk to those leaders and get a feel for what might be

a good fit. Beth's troop had at LEAST 5 special needs kids, and you can't tell

at any meetings which ones they are. (I only know a few of them from when Beth

was in a PPD class) Also Her troop is from MANY different schools in the area

(some even from different cities)

cause they are the only troop to meet in the evening.

Hang in there!

Carol Latimer wrote:

my dd didn't get her Asperger diagnosis until late in elementary

school. but she knew what was going on in the process and I've always been very

open about it and very careful that she knew that it created challenges for her

not that she was a broken person that needed to be fixed. we have always focused

on the positive. She almost 15 now and last week she did a search on the

internet about Asperger's. I knew she did because of the browser history but I

waited until she was ready to talk about it and a few days later she told me she

had searched and decided it was her. Again I pointed out the things in her

Asperger's that I saw as assests like her ability to totally focus on things

that interest her, like math, she is very gifted there and her intense interest

in animals especially horses, has already created a career path for her. She was

even able to hold down a summer job at a farm helping out with summer camp. Her

intense feelings about rules has helped her

navigate life in school and at the farm because she understands the structure.

Girl Scouts has also been a great help through out the years, she is currently

in her tenth year. she started as a Daisy in Kindergarten and continued all

through Brownies and Juniors and is in her last year in Cadettes, next year

she'll be a Senior Scout. I have been either the Leader or Co-leader through out

which I believe helped in the earlier ages. As the kids get older in Scouting it

is a different kind of kid that remains. Usually those who are prone to teasing

others drop out for other activities. In fact we have a very unique troop now.

Half our girls are on the spectrum and the other have are NT, and all are equal

in the troop. It is really wonderful because my co-leader and I are really only

there for facilitating and advice and the girls really run the troop. I do know

that one of our girls, who is on the spectrum, did have a horrible experience in

Brownies, in another troop, because the leader didn't have a good understanding

of her. The organization

does it's best to provide diversity training but the long and the short of it is

that leaders are volunteers who come with their own expectations of how they

think their troop should be and it may or may not be a happy place for our kids.

Don't be afraid to search for good match. you are not locked in to one troop

just because it is located at your local school. Our troop has 8 girls but they

come from five different schools.

Cassie Zupke wrote:

Hi --

There are some good books written for children that talk about autism.

I'm drawing a blank right now as to their names -- I think some are

" When my autism gets too big " and " Asperger's, Huh? " . I'm sure other

folks have ideas. That would be a good thing to show the leaders and

ask them to share with the other girls. I find kids are far more

understanding when they know a kid is having a hard time for medical

reasons. The books would also be good to talk to your daughter about

autism. I'm sure she notices that she's having a harder time with some

things than other kids are. I told my son that he has autism and that

means he has a harder time in some areas than other kids do -- then he

didn't think he was just stupid. I told him the autism wasn't an excuse

-- it meant he had to work harder in somethings than other kids. For

instance, writing is harder for him but I still expect him to do his

best every single time whether he wants to or not. I don't expect him

to be as proficient as the other kids and there are some things we just

opt out of (like music and assemblies) but for the things he's capable

of, he's got to work hard. I also told him that autism has benefits too

-- his single-mindedness means he studies very hard on things he enjoys

and he has a great memory -- better than all the other kids in his

class. Sometimes he gets mad because he has autism because it makes his

life hard but I tell him that everyone has stuff in their lives that

make them hard.

-- Cassie

sajustmyself wrote:

> I could try. But when you get a chance to read my last reply, I

> really don't feel that her leaders believe she's autistic. They seem

> like the type that think of autism as Rainman only. When I did talk

> to them it just like, " oh really?, I wouldn't have ever thought that

> it was that " in that kind of condescending voice; again, I am

> sensitive so maybe I read it wrong but...

>

>

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi everyone,

> > > > >

> > > > > Hannah (8) is currently enrolled in Brownies. 2 girls that

> are

> > > > there

> > > > > are very mean to her and bully her frequently (as they do at

> > > > school).

> > > > > The leaders keep assuring me that they don't " pull that "

> while at

> > > > > Brownies, but Hannah says they do. It's hard to say if she

> can

> > > > > separate school time from Brownies but...

> > > > >

> > > > > Do y'all think that a structured group like Brownies (with

> about

> > > 13

> > > > > other shrieking little girls) is a good setting? She has

> very

> > > poor

> > > > > social skills and before knowing her dx, I thought it might

> be a

> > > > good

> > > > > thing to get her involved in something.

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have to agree, don't give up on Brownie cause of this troop. Beth is in her

third year of girl scouts, in fact we are up early on a Saturday getting ready

so she can go on a field trip. TShe has done two years of Daisy's and this is

her first year of Brownies. There are 22 girls in the troop, I have to say

that the leaders are what makes the troop so great, especially at this stage.

As Carol said, as the girls grow older they run more of the troop, and the older

the get the mean ones are usually the ones who drop out (I was a GS till 14 when

our troop disovled cause the leaders both moved). I would contact the counsil

and find other troops and talk to those leaders and get a feel for what might be

a good fit. Beth's troop had at LEAST 5 special needs kids, and you can't tell

at any meetings which ones they are. (I only know a few of them from when Beth

was in a PPD class) Also Her troop is from MANY different schools in the area

(some even from different cities)

cause they are the only troop to meet in the evening.

Hang in there!

Carol Latimer wrote:

my dd didn't get her Asperger diagnosis until late in elementary

school. but she knew what was going on in the process and I've always been very

open about it and very careful that she knew that it created challenges for her

not that she was a broken person that needed to be fixed. we have always focused

on the positive. She almost 15 now and last week she did a search on the

internet about Asperger's. I knew she did because of the browser history but I

waited until she was ready to talk about it and a few days later she told me she

had searched and decided it was her. Again I pointed out the things in her

Asperger's that I saw as assests like her ability to totally focus on things

that interest her, like math, she is very gifted there and her intense interest

in animals especially horses, has already created a career path for her. She was

even able to hold down a summer job at a farm helping out with summer camp. Her

intense feelings about rules has helped her

navigate life in school and at the farm because she understands the structure.

Girl Scouts has also been a great help through out the years, she is currently

in her tenth year. she started as a Daisy in Kindergarten and continued all

through Brownies and Juniors and is in her last year in Cadettes, next year

she'll be a Senior Scout. I have been either the Leader or Co-leader through out

which I believe helped in the earlier ages. As the kids get older in Scouting it

is a different kind of kid that remains. Usually those who are prone to teasing

others drop out for other activities. In fact we have a very unique troop now.

Half our girls are on the spectrum and the other have are NT, and all are equal

in the troop. It is really wonderful because my co-leader and I are really only

there for facilitating and advice and the girls really run the troop. I do know

that one of our girls, who is on the spectrum, did have a horrible experience in

Brownies, in another troop, because the leader didn't have a good understanding

of her. The organization

does it's best to provide diversity training but the long and the short of it is

that leaders are volunteers who come with their own expectations of how they

think their troop should be and it may or may not be a happy place for our kids.

Don't be afraid to search for good match. you are not locked in to one troop

just because it is located at your local school. Our troop has 8 girls but they

come from five different schools.

Cassie Zupke wrote:

Hi --

There are some good books written for children that talk about autism.

I'm drawing a blank right now as to their names -- I think some are

" When my autism gets too big " and " Asperger's, Huh? " . I'm sure other

folks have ideas. That would be a good thing to show the leaders and

ask them to share with the other girls. I find kids are far more

understanding when they know a kid is having a hard time for medical

reasons. The books would also be good to talk to your daughter about

autism. I'm sure she notices that she's having a harder time with some

things than other kids are. I told my son that he has autism and that

means he has a harder time in some areas than other kids do -- then he

didn't think he was just stupid. I told him the autism wasn't an excuse

-- it meant he had to work harder in somethings than other kids. For

instance, writing is harder for him but I still expect him to do his

best every single time whether he wants to or not. I don't expect him

to be as proficient as the other kids and there are some things we just

opt out of (like music and assemblies) but for the things he's capable

of, he's got to work hard. I also told him that autism has benefits too

-- his single-mindedness means he studies very hard on things he enjoys

and he has a great memory -- better than all the other kids in his

class. Sometimes he gets mad because he has autism because it makes his

life hard but I tell him that everyone has stuff in their lives that

make them hard.

-- Cassie

sajustmyself wrote:

> I could try. But when you get a chance to read my last reply, I

> really don't feel that her leaders believe she's autistic. They seem

> like the type that think of autism as Rainman only. When I did talk

> to them it just like, " oh really?, I wouldn't have ever thought that

> it was that " in that kind of condescending voice; again, I am

> sensitive so maybe I read it wrong but...

>

>

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi everyone,

> > > > >

> > > > > Hannah (8) is currently enrolled in Brownies. 2 girls that

> are

> > > > there

> > > > > are very mean to her and bully her frequently (as they do at

> > > > school).

> > > > > The leaders keep assuring me that they don't " pull that "

> while at

> > > > > Brownies, but Hannah says they do. It's hard to say if she

> can

> > > > > separate school time from Brownies but...

> > > > >

> > > > > Do y'all think that a structured group like Brownies (with

> about

> > > 13

> > > > > other shrieking little girls) is a good setting? She has

> very

> > > poor

> > > > > social skills and before knowing her dx, I thought it might

> be a

> > > > good

> > > > > thing to get her involved in something.

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

>