'Enjoying The Hi-5's of Autism - A Family Experience': back to school

Hi5! We are still just as excited about our 5 year old as the day when the doctor pronounced,"You're Pregnant!" Yep, we're still jumping for joy,and so is he! We are sharing our joy,disappointments,successes and challenges as a family with a child touched by AUTISM-a neurological condition considered a developmental disability.If you care to share, please do.Join us on Google Blogger/Reader/Buzz/orkut,hi5, digg,Facebook,Twitter,Yahoo!Buzz,YouTube,MySpace, holiday WordPress.ENJOY!KBJCosse'Family

Showing posts with label back to school. Show all posts

Sunday, August 26, 2012

"How do you know WHEN 'It's Back-to-School Time'?"

Like most kids, our 7 year old can't wait for SUMMERTIME! He enjoys weekday recreation time, endless playing in the backyard and daily fun at community playgrounds, meeting new friends in his extended school year program, camps, staying up late, etc....

As Parents, we know it's back to school time WHEN:

big box stores put out the school supplies displays (1 month in advance)
clothing retail stores advertise school attire with summer clothes in their commercials (1 month in advance)
our son is 'tired' of summer camp (last 2-3 days)
our son is asking for new SCHOOL apps on the iPad, iPod Touch! (2 weeks in advance)
you've seen all of the summer movies at the local theater
you're bored with the selections in Redbox, Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, Media Hub, etc...
our son resets his summer 'wake-up' and 'go-to-bed' schedule to the SCHOOL TIME!

If you think about it, there are many signs of the school time. Students, Parents, Teachers and the Community share in the 'Back-to-School' annual mode.

"How do you know WHEN 'It's Back-to-School Time'?"

'Enjoyable School Year' shares transitions in life, and 'Special Needs Blogs' which are 2 'EnjoyHi5Autism' boards that pinned the following 'You Know It's Back to School When...':

A special kind of class: You Know It's Back to School When....

(www.facebook.com/...)

Sunday, August 19, 2012

What is your biggest worry as you send your child with autism back to school?

Mainstreaming or reduced numbers?
Will they view me as a 'helicopter mom' or an 'involved Parent who participates'?
WILL HE EXPERIENCE BEING BULLIED?
Full Inclusion or modified inclusion?
Which subjects should he take in General Education?
Will our picky-eater eat at school?
Will our son's new teacher understand his Sensory Processing needs?
Will he be able to handle being bullied?
Will he ever want to ride the bus again?
Will our picky-eater come home raving hungry when non-preferred food items are on the menu?
WILL HE TALK TO HIS NEW TEACHER?
Will his 'typical' peers accept him?
Will his need for 'stimming' make him seem 'weird'?
Will they respect he come home with a rash from exposure to citrus, milk, sand?
Will they let him hydrate according to the doctor's note?
SHOULD WE HAVE KEPT THE BIP? (Behavior Intervention Plan)
Will he 'babble' or will all those years of Speech/Language Therapy prove effective?

WILL HE ENJOY SCHOOL?

Well, we hope that our son will be viewed as a Student, a Classmate, a Schoolmate with 'uniquely different' approach to schooling.

Here are some tips for easing the Back-to-School process for Students learning on the Autism Spectrum: (posted in Cafe Mom)

Back to school time is always a tough one for parents. But back to school time comes with a whole different set of issues for parents of a child with autism. And when your autistic child is starting a new school -- say making the transition to middle school -- you have a whole new world to navigate.
Fear not brave parent!

5. Use that first week wisely. See if you, or a professional you trust, can observe your child's classroom environments in action once school starts. If your child has sensory needs, and if classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, or lunch areas are too overwhelming for them, you'll want to know so you can ask for accommodation. Otherwise they might be spending all day coping instead of learning. -- Shannon

7 Tips to Make Back-to-School Easier on Kids With Autism | The Stir

via

'Enjoyable School Year'

"All Children Can Learn."

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

"Stop.Walk.Talk" Bully Prevention

Watch Quest Education Systems and Stop.Walk.Talk anti-bullying Video Contest Entries!
Help prevent bullying in your school, home, sports team, church, youth group, playground, neighborhood and workplace, etc...

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Parent-Teacher Conference

' Parent-Teacher Conference'
Is your Parent Teacher Conference a 'Good, Productive and Enjoyable' Meeting about the Student?

Communication is essential during the school year. Parents, Teachers, Aides and Principals should maintain effective Communication throughout a Student's academic life.

We recently participated in a Parent Teacher Conference to discuss our child's Progress and inquiries on his Report Card(Progress Report).

We conversed with his 2 Teachers: Mild/Moderate and Kindergarten(General Education).

We met in a quiet, secluded area where matters of privacy could be discussed.

As Parents, we asked Questions, provided Insight about our Child and shared Comments.

His Teachers, asked Questions, provided Insight about their Student and shared Comments.

We learned.

We set goals/techniques.

We laughed.

We agreed to follow-up.

Communication is essential for a 'Good, Productive and Enjoyable School Year. :-)'

References & Resources

http://www.pta.org/2532.htm

Parent-Teacher Conference Tip Sheets for Principals, Teachers, and Parents / Browse Our Publications / Publications & Resources / HFRP - Harvard Family Research Project

Parent Teacher Conference - YouTube
	www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr5kWOdkHYAFeb 23, 2010 - 5 min - Uploaded by Sleepyprincesszzz Every teacher has had this conversation at least once!

More videos for parent+teacher+conference »

Survival Guide: Parent Teacher Conferences. New Member ...

Parent Teacher Conference Dos and Don'ts. Survival Guide: What Every ... Accompany parents to a place where you can sit together and converse comfortably. ...

Parent-teacher interview - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parent-teacher_interview

A parent-teacher interview (also a parent-teacher conference and parents' evenings in the UK) is a once per term, short conference between students' parents ...

How to Ace Parent-Teacher Conferences - WSJ.com

Oct 6, 2010 ... New efforts are under way to improve parent-teacher conferences. Researchers and consultants are focusing on what teachers and parent...

TeacherVision

Make your next parent-teacher conference a success with our planning suggestions, preparation advice, and conference forms. Use our great tips on building positive relationships with parents to increase their involvement and improve communication. Printable records will help parents and teachers plan for the student's future by tracking goals and outcomes of each interaction. These resources help maximize the benefits of parent-teacher collaborations to serve each child's educational needs

Parents as Teachers

Find out in this experiential session at the Parents as Teachers conference. Offered twice due to popularity, this session has limited attendance so register now. ...

for more Parent-Teacher Conferences advice, tips, and resources, refer to these sites

Enjoying The Hi-5s of Autism - A Family Experience

'a uniquely different' family sharing 'Positive perspectives' about living on the Autism Spectrum

http://vimeo.com/enjoyhi5autism

http://enjoyhi5autism.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/EnjoyHi5Autism

EnjoyHi5Autism - " Life on the Autism Spectrum can be Enjoyable."
{for Self-Advocates, Adults, Caregivers, Supporters of the Autism Spectrum lifestyle and people with disAbilities}

http://vimeo.com/enjoyhi5autism

https://www.twitter.com/#!/EnjoyHi5Autism

http://www.twellow.com/babymiracle2005 @KBJ Cosse'

"disAbilityVOICE - Disability Rights Advocate"

'a global perspective of the disability world'
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relationships, interests, rights, careers, population, issues,
groups, legislation, advocacy, resources, supports, services

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Legislation & Parents Resource on Restraints and Seclusion

Image via Louisiana (wikipedia)

'Legislation & Parents Resource on Restraints and Seclusion'

Hi5!

May 18, 2011

RE: [Update: LA State Senate Passed SB59!]

Thank you to all of our Louisiana State Senators! SB59: 35 Yeas 0 Nays

Thank you Senator Jack Donahue for authoring SB59 and gaining all of the support of your State Senate Legislators!

La Teach SB 59 Passes the Senate!!!!!!!!!

Hi5!

Today, we are sharing excerpts of a letter we emailed to some of state Legislators. We hope that you will be inspired to communicate your views with your leaders,too. You may choose to call, write a letter, email, text, Twitter, Facebook or use other social media that your Legislator shares on their website. Legislators are elected by the people and they want to know what their constituents think.

May 17, 2011

To: Louisiana State Legislators

RE: FYI: TASH: Restraints and Seclusion Parent Guide

Greetings LA State Legislators,

This month, our Senate Education Committee supported LA Senate Bill SB 59 authored by Senator Jack Donahue(R-11) . SB59 which focuses on guidelines for the appropriate use of Restraints and Seclusion in our Louisiana Schools. Soon, this bill will be voted on by more legislators. I am hoping to be able to inform the Self-Advocates and Families with Special Needs whom I represent that SB59 - primarily authored by Senator Jack Donahue - has been supported by our Louisiana Legislator.

In light of this hope, I am sharing an online tool that is free and can be downloaded for Parents to understand about the use of Restraints and Seclusion in schools. TASH explains, " Shouldn’t School Be Safe?’ is a free resource developed for parents and written by parents that offers insight and advice to respond to and prevent restraint and seclusion." TASH -"Offers Free Parent Guide on Restraint and Seclusion . For more info. about TASH, refer to TASH- Equity, Opportunity and Inclusion for People with Disabilities .

'Shouldn't School Be Safe?' is a general publication and not targeted to any particular state, disability, special need, age group, etc... As a Parent of a 5 year old who has attended school since the age of 3, I am mindful of what, how, when , where, why and who provides services for my son. I am responsible for ensuring that my son develops, learns, grows, contributes to and enjoys life – even on the Autism Spectrum. My son enjoys bowling, computers, festivals, nature walks, gymnastics, 2k races, beignets and school. Yes, he faces challenges:

as a Student with Sensory Processing Integration needs who utilizes his schools Sensory Room as part of his Sensory Diet;
as a Student who desires peer engagement and therefore participates in socialization strategies via after-school school-based P.A.L.S. (Play And Learn Social Skills); and
as a Student who learns in a 'uniquely different' way by increasing his communication with P.E.C.S. (Picture Exchange Communication System).

What many Parents like myself are concerned about for our children with special needs is the use of Restraints and Seclusion to address undesirable, inappropriate and dangerous behaviors, for every Student needing this help. We understand that some measures must be taken to maintain order and safety. We hope that research-based, proven techniques will appropriately be applied. Additionally, we ask that you support SB59 to provided guidelines and training for the appropriate use of Restraints and Seclusion in our Louisiana schools.

Legislators have many means of communicating with constituents, stakeholders, organizations and agencies. As you are aware, many of your Constituents ‘like’ that our Legislators inform us via email blasts, social networking sites and micro-blog affiliates. Many of your Voting Supporters rely on social media as their preferred conduit of 24/7 news and networking. These collaborative platforms provide instantaneous connections with hundreds of people –who then share with their networks–and before you know it your bill, proposal, event, fundraiser is supported by people whom you may have never reached through traditional means.

This is exactly how I learned about SB59 – from LaTEACH Action Alert-'It's Time to Contact Senate Education Committee Members'and LaTEACH 'Action Alert-Next Critical Step for Advocacy. For those who were unable to meet at the LA State Capitol, LaTEACH provided a link to the Senate Education Committee Meeting LIVE via the LaTEACH Facebook page.

I am proud to share SB59 and TASH’s 'Shouldn't School Be Safe?' on my 'EnjoyHi5Autism' global sites. Also, I have shared a poll on Facebook 'Have you reviewed the TASH Parent Guide 'Shouldn't Schools Be Safe?' on Restraints and Seclusion? ' in hopes of sharing this free resource with Louisianans and other interested Parents, agencies and advocacy organizations.

Here is a link to our original post about TASH's Restraint and Seclusion Parent Guide: 'EnjoyHi5!Autism' shares'Tash-group-offers-advice-to-parents' .

LaTEACH –Louisiana Together Educating All Children

Want some tips on how to be a more effective member of this grassroots movement? Check out our 10 Tips to get your voice heard this legislative session by clicking HERE.

ENJOY!

'EnjoyHi5Autism' on HowCast

http://twitter.com/#%21/Babymiracle2005

'EnjoyHi5!Autism'

Event Planning & Strategic Training & FUNdraising

Also, 'EnjoyHi5Autism' shares on Google Buzz, Google Reader, Vimeo, and Viddler.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Happy VALUE Day - Special Education Teachers

Hi-5!

'Happy VALUE Day!' is the theme reflecting the inherent, innate, undeniable VALUE that is present in all people with a developmental disability, or disability in general.

We believe that our son is valuable to us, every day. We select Sunday's to honor the value in others, like him with Autism and other neurological conditions. People with disabilities should be understood, accepted, and appreciated, too. So, we want join others in celebrating the great things our special needs family, coworkers, friends, neighbors,etc... do for our communities.

Victory

Already

Love

Unfolds

Eternally

Why do you VALUE your child's Special Education Teacher(s)?*

We thought about this question as we shared with other Parents during our son's 'Meet & Greet' at his elementary school. He has a new teacher, old and new classmates, and a somewhat new classroom(shared in snack time, previously);and all at the same school.

We VALUE our son's special needs Teachers because they are trained professionals who compassionately help our son learn his academic lessons.

His Special Education Teachers help him embrace inclusion concepts while he plays in a least restrictive enviroment.

His special needs Teachers are mindful of his need for specific accommodations and modifications that assist him with learning.

No, they do not 'baby' him!

Rather, our son's Teachers show him how to learn from his autistic perspective.

His Teachers do not focus on the 'dis'.

Instead, his Teachers target his ABILITIES!

Having a unique learning style is not bad or sad.

Skills for learning from within an autism spectrum presents innovative opportunities for his educators.

Our son's Teachers help him communicate, socialize, share, laugh and play with his classmates.

Our son's Teachers help his classmates understand, accept and appreciate him as a fellow student with VALUE!

So, 'Happy VALUE Day!' to Special Education Teachers!

ENJOY!

Note: * Special Education (needs) Teachers include the paraprofessionals and paraeducators who diligently work hand in hand with the Teachers. Thank you, too.

Monday, July 12, 2010

FYI - Back to School #2 - Introductions

Hi-5!,

Hope you've been enjoying our blog.

Thought you might be interested making a booklet to prepare your child and teachers for a new school year. It's entitled, "Introducing Me Booklet", developed by First Steps Referral Consulting,LLC.

Their booklet consists of 8 topic pages: [You can use some of the topics and add your own.]

Let your child help because he/she will then be proud to call it their own bio.]

1) These Things That Help Me Learn and Have Fun

2) Here Are Some People I Spend Time With

3) These Are My Favorite Photographs and Pictures

4) Here Are Other Things You Might Like To Know About Me

5) Here Are Some Of My Favorite

6) All About Me

7) Ways You Talk to Me So That I Understand

8) This Is My Daily Routine

Remember to include a photo or your child.

First, review it with your child.

Then, bring it to your child'd school Meet and Greet or Orientation.

If your child is with a new teacher, give them a copy briefly explaining why.

If your child is attending a different school, give a copy to his Principle, Counselor/Advisor, teacher and any other Service Providers.

Are you getting ready?

YOUR CHILD GOES BACK TO SCHOOL

IN LESS THAN A MONTH!

(depending on where you live)

ENJOY!

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