Today is so special to me...I remember being at Childrens Hospital and trying to absorb the words PDD-NOS, severe speech delay, and Autism after a grueling 3 hour evaluation with an overstimulated 3 year old Travis. He wasnt talking (spontaneously), had echoalia, and meltdowns when wed be at birthday parties, or playdates, or loud places (just to name a few). He couldnt express what he liked, wouldnt play a board game or puzzle with me, NEVER scribbled and I kept replaying the psychologists voice in my head Your son is very literal, as if he doesnt have any imagination. I refused to not be a part of his world, to keep going so that I would FINALLY hear him say how he was feeling, or what he liked and wanted. He was attending Prince of Peace preschool. Just like any other kid. It is THE best school, and I only wanted THE best for him. He cried every day. Every day for 2 months. But Miss Tina McGuckin Schmitt and Miss Sandy Etling and Miss Judi Kiesel showered him during his years there with hugs, and let me cry on their soldiers, and told me he WOULD eventually get it. And he did, he finished up there and was ready to start Mountain View Elementary! During this time, he was blessed to have squeezed a spot in to Barclay Rehab for speech therapy. Miss Courtney Aller built his trust, dried his tears, and played NUMEROUS games of Cariboo with him. She got him to respond, got him to ease his meltdowns, poured her heart in to every session. I consider her a part of my family, her waiting room, at times, our home. I was lucky to get to know other moms in that time there, getting to know their stories, sharing ideas, and LEARNING so much from Brenda Lohr Toth and Alissa Rose McMullen. I looked forward to seeing them, even in passing, because I felt that they got it when a session didnt go well for Travis, or I wasnt feeling supported by everyone. I knew wed be cheering each other on during the week, high-fives for everyone!! We started Kindergarten at Mountain View. How lucky were we to have Julie Chamberlain Teslevich for our teacher! I knew she would love Travis from the start, she helped us get through the pre-testing, we saw her and her family at different rec activities with the kids. I just KNEW hed be ok. But sometimes, life throws you a curveball. And while my very bright 5 year old could read the phone book, and was FINALLY potty-trianed, he couldnt get through the day. Julie told us about an opening at Baggaley Elementary school. An autistic support class had a spot that would be offered to Travis. We should consider it. After many talks, and many tears, everyone was eventually on the same page. It would be what was best for him right? Would the kids tease him? Would he EVER have the experience he should from school? Why my kid? Just a few things that ran continuously through my mind....AND THEN... We met Kara Guinther Stenger and her INCREDIBLE classroom! My little kindergarten man had found a home! There were trampolines, and wiggle seats, and sensory EVERYTHING! And he was welcomed by EVERYONE at the school. And I couldnt have been more relieved to know that the right decision was made, and that we couldnt have gotten there without ALL of these wonderful people we have met along our journey. I thank GOD for the district, for his teachers, for EVERYONE that has gotten us to this point. He LOVES school! He is TELLING me how his day goes. He has an OUTSTANDING staff and my now FIRST GRADE little Travis has great friends and has the brightest educational future ahead of him! I am aware of Autism everyday. But today is a fun day to bust out the blue and the fun shirts and the fun bracelets, and maybe educate someone else who may not understand how YOUVE got to where you are. How NOTHING would work without all of the pieces of the puzzle. From our
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 18:19:11 +0000
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