Re: Digest Number 11267

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Vickie, for the courage it took to write this post. I was reading it

to my husband, and he asked " Did you write that? "

As a former teacher, I often feel guilty about all of the kids I did not help,

simply because I didn't know. In my 4 years of university and 7 years in the

classroom, I did not receive 1 single class or training session on autism, AS,

or any of the other disorders so many of our children have, and my area of

specialization was Special Ed. However, I learned more about more " common "

disabilities, such as learning disabilities, mental retardation, and cerebral

palsy.

So, it's been a huge learning curve, lots of " guilt " (both personally and

professionally), but it has helped me to be compassionate and understanding with

those at the school.

All of that being said, I, too, have had a good experience with the school my

son is in, with them going above and beyond, reaching out to specialists in the

district on our behalf, etc. If I wasn't having this type of experience, I know

I would be as tough as I needed to be, with no concern other rhan to do whatever

it took to get my son the help he needed. I would probably begin in " partnership "

mode, b/c that. Has always worked best for me... But if I sensed in any way that

they did not have his best interest in mind, and that they were not interested

in learning about what they didn't know, the gloves would probably come off.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

[Guest guest]

MY DREAM...I HAD CONSIDERED TAKING ACTION AGAINST THE FORMER DISTRICT BUT WHAT

WOULD IT GET US? SO MY ENERGIES ARE GOING TOWARDS GETTING A BILL PASSED THAT

WOULD REQUIRE SPECIAL ED TEACHERS TO BE RECERTIFIED EVERY 5 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN

SPEAKING TO SPECIAL ED TEACHERS AND THEY ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO BE KEPT UP TO DATE

ON THE ACADEMIC COURSE THAT THEY TEACH. THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BRUSH UP ON

WHAT'S NEW IN SPECIAL ED. I WANT TO GET AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. I'M IN A

CUSTODY BATTLE AT THE MOMENT AFTER NINE YEARS OF DIVORCE. I DON'T FEEL

COMFORTABLE AIRING THE DETAILS OF THIS MATTER HERE BUT IT'S ALL COMING DOWN TO

THE COURTS NOT UNDERSTANDING A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ASPERGER'S CHILD. WHEN I

GET THIS SETTLED I INTEND TO PURSUE THIS BILL IDEA. SOME OF THE POSTS ON HERE

WOULD MAKE EXCELLENT EVIDENCE. IF YOU ARE WILLING TO LET YOURS BE USED, WOULD

YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME AND GIVE ME THE " OK " . I'D RATHER SPEND MY ENERGIES DOING

SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP EVERYONE OF US THAN JUST MY CHILD. THIS NEEDS TO BE

REMEDIED. I WELCOME YOUR THOUGHTS. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM IS LACK OF

EDUCATION ON ASPERGERS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. IT WAS DOWN'S SYNDROME 35 YEARS

AGO. THAT WAS FINALLY ACCEPTED. THEN CAME ADHD AND ADD. THOSE KIDS WERE PUT IN

SPECIAL ED CLASSES AND TREATED AS MENTALLY CHALLENGED. NOW SPECIAL ED CLASSES

HAVE CHANGED TO ACCOMODATE THEM. SOMEBODY FOUGHT TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. WHY

CAN'T WE DO THIS FOR OUR CHILDREN? I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SOME HIGH PROFILE

POLITICIANS WHO THINK THIS COULD HAPPEN OR AT LEAST IS WORTH PURSUING. I NEVER

EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT RALLYING FOR SUPPORT THROUGH AN ONLINE GROUP. BUT AS I READ

THESE POSTS, I AM REMINDED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING I NEED TO JUST BAIL ON BECAUSE

MY CHILD IS NOW IN A GOOD PROGRAM. AS SOON AS I'M DONE WITH MY LEGAL MATTERS,

I'M ON IT. I'LL BE STARTING LIFE COACH SCHOOL COMPLIMENTS OF THE COMMISSION FOR

THE BLIND. I BECAME JUST UNDER THE LIMIT OF BEING LEGALLY BLIND IN JAN OF 07 AND

DISCOVERED THE CULPRIT WAS MS IN MARCH OF 08. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO DO THIS

LIFE COACH THING. I FEEL I'M SUPPOSE TO SHARE WHAT I'VE LEARNED AND I CERTAINLY

DON'T INTEND TO LIVE OFF OF DSS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I'M ALSO WRITING A

BOOK. BUT THIS LAW IS IMPORTANT. IT'S DUBBED RACHEL ROSE'S LAW. AFTER MY

DAUGHTER OF COURSE. AGAIN...I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS, NEGATIVE OR

POSTITIVE. IT'S ALL GOOD. THANKS, BETSY

>

> Thank you, Vickie, for the courage it took to write this post. I was reading

it to my husband, and he asked " Did you write that? "

>

> As a former teacher, I often feel guilty about all of the kids I did not help,

simply because I didn't know. In my 4 years of university and 7 years in the

classroom, I did not receive 1 single class or training session on autism, AS,

or any of the other disorders so many of our children have, and my area of

specialization was Special Ed. However, I learned more about more " common "

disabilities, such as learning disabilities, mental retardation, and cerebral

palsy.

>

> So, it's been a huge learning curve, lots of " guilt " (both personally and

professionally), but it has helped me to be compassionate and understanding with

those at the school.

>

> All of that being said, I, too, have had a good experience with the school my

son is in, with them going above and beyond, reaching out to specialists in the

district on our behalf, etc. If I wasn't having this type of experience, I know

I would be as tough as I needed to be, with no concern other rhan to do whatever

it took to get my son the help he needed. I would probably begin in " partnership "

mode, b/c that. Has always worked best for me... But if I sensed in any way that

they did not have his best interest in mind, and that they were not interested

in learning about what they didn't know, the gloves would probably come off.

> Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

>