tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441989712918579133.post8705962599483858169..comments2024-01-26T03:49:33.080-05:00Comments on Rarer in Girls...My Daughter with Autism: Letting Go of Janey's HandSuzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08240262747073351481noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441989712918579133.post-3782953572058564942014-01-13T16:00:58.637-05:002014-01-13T16:00:58.637-05:00I'm so delighted by whatever skill my son acqu... I'm so delighted by whatever skill my son acquires. She waits and stops when you tell her to. That's huge!Anttihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03698236723394477310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441989712918579133.post-14758300036969563742014-01-11T11:10:35.711-05:002014-01-11T11:10:35.711-05:00I don't know why David never taught. I do kno...I don't know why David never taught. I do know that sometimes it is very hard to get a high school social studies position.<br /><br />Special Ed. teacher positions, on the other hand, are usually available, and special ed. tutor positions are almost always available. Tutor pay is around 17 dollars an hour, and might be a good way to ease into teaching, and see if you like it. Usually all that you need is a bachelor's degree.Mary Leonhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13751249833273087756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441989712918579133.post-21035249245596631332014-01-10T16:56:34.897-05:002014-01-10T16:56:34.897-05:00I wasted a year of my life earning a certificate i...I wasted a year of my life earning a certificate in secondary education for social studies. Never worked as history, government of geography teacher though I'm sure I could been a good teacher. I did learn about "scaffolding" where you provide support and help the child to build on what they know. I've been frustrated over the holidays as my daughter cannot say things she knew months before. I was hoping she was making steady progress at building up her vocabulary but it seem like the scaffolding is coming apart. I thought she wouldn't go through a regression phase and took some comfort in that but there's nothing worse than watching a family member just go blank when you know she could do something before. My wife is seeing the regression, too and nobody can really tell us what to next to compensate. We've never tried ABA due to the money but we are getting more tired of spinning our wheels. We may end up spinning wheels for long time but all the talk about early intervention makes me think- ok, but what kind of intervention works? I saw the amount the ABA therapists charge per hour but didn't really ABA listed as a specialty within a 20 mile radius from our home. I'm skeptical and see how some unscrupulous people could make a killing practicing a version of autism witchcraft on desperate parents. This brings me back to fostering independence as a stopgap measure for now. Anytime I think my daughter is "tuned in" I try to get her to do things for herself. It's a short list for a girl turning 4 next month but hey she actually started to use the toilet a little so hope springs up through the cracks of despair. I wish her teachers at the daycare would reinforce the potty training but they don't bother filling out the daily report regularly. It must be too much to ask them to help out the only autistic kid in the school and the only non-potty trained kid in her class. Freeyokehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12526846615176172310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441989712918579133.post-56787639529420969182014-01-10T13:00:16.053-05:002014-01-10T13:00:16.053-05:00I do much more for Sophie than for my other kids a...I do much more for Sophie than for my other kids at her age, because she needs it. I do notice though that sometimes I do too much- like carrying her up the stairs- she can do it! She's not at the stage yet to let go of her hand in public, but I'm progressing to letting her walk instead of carrying her everywhere (she used to fall a lot and doesn't anymore. But I guess in my mind I still think she's safer in my arms). I notice that when I start dressing her she sticks out her arms, or when I take her hands out of shirt sleeves she then puts the shirt over her head herself. Is teaching skills valuable even if she isn't ever going to live independently - I think yes! Anything she can do herself is one less thing you have to do. Any new skill will make connections in her brain, keep her mind active. There's no such thing as wasted knowledge. I say any little thing they learn will have positive effects on her life and yours. And also nevermind the impact on your relationship- trusting you believe in her, self-esteem from new independence. It's all good! Sophie's Trainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07774177895296697594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441989712918579133.post-19505149511290396652014-01-10T12:33:11.648-05:002014-01-10T12:33:11.648-05:00You are so amazingly turned in to Janey. Have you...You are so amazingly turned in to Janey. Have you ever thought about getting certified as a special ed. teacher? <br /><br />I know it would be very difficult, but think of the advantages. On an altruistic level, you could help so many more children. On a personal level, it would give you a well-paying career. <br /><br />You still have a good deal of time before Janey ages out of services. But when she does, it would be great to be tuned into what all is available (which your special ed. contacts would provide) and to be able to afford them (which your salary could help with).<br /><br />Just a gentle suggestion . . . When I was teaching, I would have loved having a case manager with your compassion and wisdom to work with.Mary Leonhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13751249833273087756noreply@blogger.com