Hoodies banned at some NJ schools, the September 12th NJ.com reported.

Fortunately, not Charlie’s school: What would one do without a soft blue hood to pull over one’s ears and head, whatever the weather? And now that it’s gotten fall crisp and cool, a hooded sweatshirt isn’t just fashion, it’s necessary, especially while waiting for the schoolbus on a misty morning.

We’ve gotten Charlie a new blue hooded sweatshirt as the sleeves on the one he wore up till July are now “bracelet length” on him. The new sweatshirt’s big and floppy and not quite the right fit. But a little room to grow into is good too.

An article in today’s Morning News of northwest Arkansas describes a multi-sensory room for adults with “severe intellectual disabilities.” The room is equipped with a “clear plastic, 5-foot-tall column of illuminated bubbles, an aroma generator and a projector that throws a variety of soothing images on the wall,” along with a giant vibrating pillow, a “vibro-acoustic mattress.” Specialty stuff indeed—-though the article begins by noting that some of these devices borrow a page from the likes of aromatherapy devices, recordings of rainforest sounds, beanbag chairs, and other 1980s trends, and got me thinking about how Charlie tends to address many sensory needs with the stuff around us: Polar fleece blankets and hooded jackets of course, but also the cushions and the couch frame (he gives himself a deep pressure squeeze by sliding in among them), an office chair with wheels, squishy pillows found for cheap at Walgreens, liquid soap and shaving cream.

Sensory delights are out there, just lurking and waiting to be found.

Yelling at Charlie is a 100% surefire guaranteed way to assure that he won’t do what I ask him (does it work with anyone, really?). He’s been so sound sensitive these past few months as it is, often putting his hands over his ears and, regardless of muggy June Jersey weather, snuggling the hood of his blue fleece (”summerweight”) sweatshirt over his head. So no buying a mom megaphone!

96 degrees here in New Jersey today. I don’t mean to turn this blog into a weather report, but changes in the weather—-in particular, when it starts to get humid before a thunderstorm—can affect Charlie. He’s not able to tell us why he might be feeling uncomfortable: At school and home we have been working on teaching him what’s the right clothes to wear when it’s hot, cold, raining. (Not that Charlie’s yet ready to relinquish his hooded blue sweatshirt.)

Whatever the season, we go to the pool (indoor and outdoor) several times a week, both for the physical activity and also, as I’ve learned, because being in the water is just something Charlie needs. It seems to soothe and calm his sensory needs; it’s fun; it’s good to be around other people. Charlie often likes to swim right among kids his age playing basketball (there’s a small hoop at one end of the pool) and just to be around them.

I have to agree with what Joe DiPietro, assistant principal at the Southern Regional autistic program in New Jersey, said in an article in today’s Asbury Park Press:

“Though no formal studies have taken place, surfers and parents have witnessed the calming effect the ocean and surfing has on children with autism.”

The students are learning to surf under Wave Hog Surf Shop and Brighton Beach Surf Shop instructor Michael Lisiewski and will hit the surf in July.

It’s supposed to be in the high 60s and into the 70s all this week and sunny. This means yet another transition for Charlie: He’s been donning his blue fleece vest, blue fleece coat, and blue fleece gloves routinely for the past several months. Last Saturday in New York he kept moaning in 60-plus degree weather and that fleece get-up, and looked surprised then was smiling when he removed his fleece items (his armor, I guess you could say). I do think Charlie been grateful for the big hood on the coat to screen out sounds (which he has been much more sensitive too of late) but summer is coming, and the sensory delights of the salty ocean, foamy waves, and sand (wet and dry).

I think we’ll be able to make an exchange of fleece for the beach. Eventually.