Comments on: School’s On!

By: Happy Autistic Pride Day and Happy Birthday

Happy Autistic Pride Day and Happy Birthday — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:37:54 +0000

[...] be celebrating here by doing “the usual”: It’s Charlie’s first day of Extended School Year and of us getting back into the usual routine. We will be baking a cake—Charlie sighted a [...]

By: Bonnie Sayers

Bonnie Sayers — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:52:06 +0000

Yes the school was year round, they changed two years ago. Most elementary schools in Los Angeles are no longer year round, but the middle schools are, not sure about high school.

I am going to print out that sciene daily article on later school time to proove what I am saying for Matt to get the school that starts at 8:30 vs 7:24 AM.

NIck is past 100 pounds and Matt is about 80. He is very lean, although weighed almost ten pounds at birth. Nick just finished almost 30 min on ex bike since homeschooling he does not really get PE.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:20:42 +0000

@Bonnie, interesting—was he in year-round school?

I’m very very grateful that Charlie gets ESY—he would struggle mightily in the fall without it. We know a number of families who have children with as Asperger’s diagnosis and who do not receive ESY services; Charlie does have a “more severe” diagnosis and we’ve never (in New Jersey) had to ask for ESY. So very grateful—very.

Yes, lots of eating and lots of sleeping seem to be constantly called for for Charlie now. His teachers told me that he was about 80 pounds last year when the school nurse weighed him—-he’s over 100 now.

By: Bonnie Sayers

Bonnie Sayers — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:22:08 +0000

The floortime therapist we had a year ago would like to shake things up on Matt and change the routine a bit.

This Thursday is the last day here. In years past when his almost no more elementary school was a year round one he would have a few days off and then camp and then two days off before school started. It worked really well, except for the month of Jan he had off with nothing to do. this is why he has to have a school that follows the traditional calendar. They want him to go to one that has off in Sep and Oct and again in March and April (April for ESY for four weeks)

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:18:39 +0000

Hmm, here I thought all sp ed kids were offered ESY. Here, kids with severe disabilities (and I think what qualifies are kids in multiple-handicap classrooms) get one week off after the regular school year and then one week off before it begins again. Kids like mine have one week off and then back on for 5 weeks for ESY, then about 3-4 off until school begins again in the fall.

I guess that’s one more reason for me to feel lucky about our school district.

By: Linda

Linda — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:43:52 +0000

You know how I feel about food especially for boys 10 and up (food, lots of food, food after lunch, food after dinner. food at night and during the day). Same for sleep. These are the growth years, 10-18 and beyond. They need their sleep. What was once seen as slothful, lazy teens is not true. They need their sleep.
Regarding school start time: they need to start early in high school to get into training for the college 8:00 a.m. classes!

By: shell

shell — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:33:09 +0000

Wish my son had ESY too. He did last year automatically same as all the students in the autistic early childhood classroom. The teacher felt that ESY was important for consistency. This year our district changed their policy and the children in his class had to qualify based on certain, stricter criteria. Only one student qualifed in his class, so I guess they can save some money this way. There are no programs for children under 5 at any of our park districts or Easter Seals, etc. So, we’re doing our own thing…hope to find activities next year.

By: ange

ange — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:19:37 +0000

Oh so true: “I think it’s important to “shake things up” occasionally or the routine becomes like a box that we can’t get out of…” As an adult, I am constantly pushing my own boundaries, growing each time, whether it is meeting a new person, putting myself into a new environment. Same with my boys.

By: School’s Out. (Or is it in?!): June Channel Theme Day

School’s Out. (Or is it in?!): June Channel Theme Day — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:55:33 +0000

[...] Chew of Autism Vox wrote: School’s On! Summer school, that is—-Charlie’s first day of Extended School Year is tomorrow; he does best [...]

By: sharon

sharon — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:34:06 +0000

I really wish we had ESY for our kids. They can never find enough teachers to teach all but the most severe.