My thoughts on our first readings

I have read and reread a certain section of our text "Asperger's Syndrome; Intervening in Schools, Clinics, and Communities".

On page five in chapter 1 - "If we expect a child with Asperger's to follow our orders without questioning us, what are we teaching that child about interacting with others? If we allow his peers to overpower him with insulting words or violent behavior, and we do not intervene, what is he learning about how to treat other people? If we are trying to teach her to think calmly before acting, and we respond to her with impatience, what is she learning from us about managing anger? If we do not listen to the child talk about what interests him or her, what will that child learn about listening to others? We need to stay calm and logical, explain the reasons for our behaviors and demands, learn to communicate effectively with people with Asperger's Syndrome, and make sure that they are treated with the respect that we ask them to give others."

This hits hime to me as I work in so many homes that typical children and children with various challenges are not listened to or taught appropriate manners or values that are important for a safe and functional society.

I realize that these families are asking for help and that is the first step, but so many parents do not realize that their behaviors are impacting these children in so many ways. What is going to happen to that child that is expected to do as he/she is told to do no matter what and someone goes to rape or molest that child?

These children need to learn by example of those around them. When I have had my neices and nephews, they know what behaviors are acceptable and that having fun is important as well.

I often work with children that can not make choices as they themselves have not been given the opportunity to have say in decisions or to make individual choices on their own. I find this to be maddening as they need to make choices all of their lives and when they can not even make a simple decision to where they might like to eat or even what they would want to eat - I do not what to pass my preferences on to them unless they are interested in trying some place new to eat or something new to try.

First class session thoughts

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flfartistsbnov23,0,2190782.story

I have been thinking about all that was said in class. I think that the most important thing that was talked about was meeting people where they are at and adapting programs for them - not trying to place them in a boxed plan or program.

I think/wish that everyone could be treated that way. I know that I would have done better in school myself if I had gotten to research things that interested me - I was not interested in many of the topics that my high school offered - I did not take college prep classes as those did not interest me at all - I took all of the HomeEconomics classes and then the "guy classes" such as Home Electrical Maintenance and Auto Diagnosis.

I was most comfortable with the peers that took those classes - I just did not fit the groups that were going onto college.

If I had been given options - I wanted to learn Latin (it was not offered), I would have loved to learn to play the piano (it was not offered and my mother could not afford to send me privately) and I would have enjoyed psychology classes as well.

If you look at my high schoool records - I skipped over 178 days (a school year) and I only attended school half days my last two years of high school. I took Algebra in 8th grade in which I was only one of three in the class and this was attending a K - 8th grade Elementary School.

I have always tried to encourage the people that I work with to work with what they have - I have attended classes with them as I am always game to learn new things. I have been to a mother/daughter self defense class, a lavendar gardening/craft class and a PESTO Party class.

I will continue to advocate for everyone to follow their interests and learn all kinds of new things that will help strengthen their educational and professional goals.

Why?

I am taking the ASD program at Antioch in Keene, NH as I have a desire to constantly learn more, but my ultimate goal is to travel to Azerbaijan and educate the people there what ASD is and how they might be able to make changes to their handling of people with ASD as well as other special challenges.

I have a passion for working with people on the spectrum and really enjoy the new ideas and challenges that are constantly thrown my way.

I am willing to do whatever it takes to help a family get through their ups and downs. I have gone on a trip with a teenager on the spectrum to Disney in FL - in that only he and I went. I have attended Pine Tree summer camp with two children various years - one of those children was on the spectrum.

Back to Azerbaijan - I have a friend that lives there and her country does not have any teacher certifications and children with special needs end up in orphanages and nursing homes or locked away out of sight. I think that with education and support some of these people can work towards a better quality of life for this population.