Autism,
Jon was scheduled for two special needs assessments today, both held simultaneously. We were meeting with the school's special needs coordinator and a speech pathologist. The meeting was held at a local early child center (which is a part of the school system).
We arrived around 8:20 a.m. having 10mins til our scheduled meeting. It felt like dejavu as we took a seat on the same wooden bench, eyes again focused on a re-run of Curious George, occasionally glancing over at a now torn poster of a chocolate bunny taped to the wall, reminding everyone that Easter is near. The difference, well, the difference is, this time school IS in session.
The doors we sat in front of were like a merry-go-round, students rushing into the scene and parents blowing good-bye kisses and frantically rushing out. This would be an attention getter to any of us, but it completely overwhelmed my timid little boy. He hopped in my lap and pulled the hood of his jacket over his head. My arms extended around him, hopefully offering a sense of comfort. As the traffic craze lightened, he began to relax a bit.
The sound of high heels filled the hall. Eventually, a teacher appeared to the side of us, with several tiny preschoolers in a well-formed line. She halted at the main office, which coincidentally is the room the benches we were sitting on, rested against. Krisjon went into overload! He hid behind me, yelling "They keep looking at me!" He quickly jumped up and ran to sit on the bench furthest away. I thought he was about to go into full blown melt down, but surprisingly he folded his arms, held his head down and sat quietly. I smiled and let him sit. Finally, a familiar face, strolled into view. I offered a smile, lips still firm, she mimicked my response, then greeted Krisjon aloud.
He turned to me and asked if I could hold him, I swooped him into my arms. He did not acknowledge her presence. She continued making small talk about the toys she had in her room, about puzzles and trains and teddy bears. He gave a quick glance over her way, but nothing more.
As we entered the room Ms. M, the education specialist was present, obviously having had the surgery she made note of at our previous encounter. Her leg was wrapped in a cast all the way up to her knee. She was riding around on a bicycle like contraption, something I've never seen, that had a place to rest her injured leg. I must admit it was in some sort of way, a bit comical. Though I would never let on.
I asked her how she was feeling. She replied she was doing quite well.
I removed my jacket, and attempted to remove Krisjon's hood, he pulled away, in refusal. I understood. It was his security blanket. Ms. W, the speech teacher invited him over to the area near the window where the toys were, mirroring the tone she used with him in the past, that he positively responded to. He did not acknowledge her.
I took his hand and we walked over together.
Ms. W showed him a few colored wooden circles stacked on a dial that was also made of wood. The items were similar to the ones you commonly see infants exploring (accept those are made of plastic). He stretched out his hand to pick a few of the rings up. The therapist inquired about the color of each one, he responded.
Shortly after, she placed in front of him a booklet that had 3 infants on the page. She requested that he point to the baby that was NOT crying. He pointed to a baby girl sitting calmly. There was further inquisition about shapes, and sizes he correctly responded aloud. Ms.W pulled out a purple teddy bear and well things started to go completely down hill.
I don't know why, I'm not sure if the whole morning ordeal had pushed him to far, or if it was indeed the bear itself, but he jumped into my lap and said "I'm ready to go!" I hugged him and told him it wouldn't be much longer. He wasn't having it.
The pathologist tried to coax him back to his seat. he buried his face into my chest. I answered some questions for the education specialist, and then turned my attention back to my son. I pointed to the trains and Ms.W made the train roll across the table. I showed him the books and Ms. M picked up one to hand to him... That's when all hell broke loose!
He kicked the book out of her hand and started yanking my hair and screaming. I knew he was done (and probably should have listened 10 mins ago). I gripped his hand in an attempt to stop him from pulling my hair, which he was doing so hard my head was no longer upright. I freed his hand which now held several curly brown strings of evidence. I stood with him in my arms.
The two annalist recalled how well the previous appointment went. They thought perhaps having his brother in the room had helped. I agreed. Krisjon and his twin certainly seem to borrow each other's strengths, they usually function well as a team (be it for good or for more mischievous activity).
I offered to bring him back a later, with his other half in tow. Krisjon and I left. As soon as we got into the car he let out a HUGE scream! I'M NOOOOT GOING BACK TO THAT PLACE!!!!
Oh yes you are.
But this time, with reinforcement. This time you will bring your back bone, this time we face it as a family. We were scheduled to meet again around noon.
Once we arrived home, he did several stomps, let out few loud screams and I allowed it. I knew he was trying to get his emotions in order. He and his brother had a snack and then got some running and wrestling out the way.
I pulled my preschooler to the side and mentioned that we were going back to the school in a little while, but he will have mommy, brother and even big sister who was home from school.
He replied "No."
"The lady was nice, right? What was wrong there, what didn't you like?"
"I was scared."
"Krisjon, we can hold hands, we can wear shirts that match, so we can be the same. You are not alone baby, you have your whole family."
He hesitantly responded "Okay."
---
We headed back to the meeting, I bought along his favorite books and puzzles just in case.
We arrived a few minutes early and sat on the bench. Krisjon was in a totally different mode.
My 17 year old daughter, L'Oreal, desperately tried to keep Shon (his twin) from joining in the antics.
Finally I saw the scooter, I mean school specialist riding down the hall. Thank goodness! I didn't have an ounce of energy left. I let out a large sigh, holding my squirming son in my arms, and said "He's in a totally different mood now."
"I see!"
We headed to the classroom where Ms. W was waiting, lunch box in hand, taking a final sip of water, then greeting us as if she hadn't seen us at all today.
Krisjon went directly to the toys, no coaching necessary. Like a pro, he took his seat and I did the same. There were a few extra chairs beside me that Lori and Shon occupied.
"So bringing his brother does help." Ms. W stated.
"Yeah" I mustered still trying to catch my breath.
The two specialist took turns asking questions and waiting for answers. Once Krisjon realized he was the star of the show, he started to speak very softly. You could barely hear him unless you were right up under his nose. They kind of just repeated what he said and gave him kudos for the responses he got correct and said good try, on the ones he had trouble with.
I bought along my camera in hopes of capturing a glimpse into the assessment process with photos, but my daughter ended up recording the parts of the session. I'm kind of glad she did :)
Here is a peek into part of his assessment.
Speech and Cognitive Assessment
We arrived around 8:20 a.m. having 10mins til our scheduled meeting. It felt like dejavu as we took a seat on the same wooden bench, eyes again focused on a re-run of Curious George, occasionally glancing over at a now torn poster of a chocolate bunny taped to the wall, reminding everyone that Easter is near. The difference, well, the difference is, this time school IS in session.
The doors we sat in front of were like a merry-go-round, students rushing into the scene and parents blowing good-bye kisses and frantically rushing out. This would be an attention getter to any of us, but it completely overwhelmed my timid little boy. He hopped in my lap and pulled the hood of his jacket over his head. My arms extended around him, hopefully offering a sense of comfort. As the traffic craze lightened, he began to relax a bit.
The sound of high heels filled the hall. Eventually, a teacher appeared to the side of us, with several tiny preschoolers in a well-formed line. She halted at the main office, which coincidentally is the room the benches we were sitting on, rested against. Krisjon went into overload! He hid behind me, yelling "They keep looking at me!" He quickly jumped up and ran to sit on the bench furthest away. I thought he was about to go into full blown melt down, but surprisingly he folded his arms, held his head down and sat quietly. I smiled and let him sit. Finally, a familiar face, strolled into view. I offered a smile, lips still firm, she mimicked my response, then greeted Krisjon aloud.
He turned to me and asked if I could hold him, I swooped him into my arms. He did not acknowledge her presence. She continued making small talk about the toys she had in her room, about puzzles and trains and teddy bears. He gave a quick glance over her way, but nothing more.
As we entered the room Ms. M, the education specialist was present, obviously having had the surgery she made note of at our previous encounter. Her leg was wrapped in a cast all the way up to her knee. She was riding around on a bicycle like contraption, something I've never seen, that had a place to rest her injured leg. I must admit it was in some sort of way, a bit comical. Though I would never let on.
I asked her how she was feeling. She replied she was doing quite well.
I removed my jacket, and attempted to remove Krisjon's hood, he pulled away, in refusal. I understood. It was his security blanket. Ms. W, the speech teacher invited him over to the area near the window where the toys were, mirroring the tone she used with him in the past, that he positively responded to. He did not acknowledge her.
I took his hand and we walked over together.
Ms. W showed him a few colored wooden circles stacked on a dial that was also made of wood. The items were similar to the ones you commonly see infants exploring (accept those are made of plastic). He stretched out his hand to pick a few of the rings up. The therapist inquired about the color of each one, he responded.
Shortly after, she placed in front of him a booklet that had 3 infants on the page. She requested that he point to the baby that was NOT crying. He pointed to a baby girl sitting calmly. There was further inquisition about shapes, and sizes he correctly responded aloud. Ms.W pulled out a purple teddy bear and well things started to go completely down hill.
I don't know why, I'm not sure if the whole morning ordeal had pushed him to far, or if it was indeed the bear itself, but he jumped into my lap and said "I'm ready to go!" I hugged him and told him it wouldn't be much longer. He wasn't having it.
The pathologist tried to coax him back to his seat. he buried his face into my chest. I answered some questions for the education specialist, and then turned my attention back to my son. I pointed to the trains and Ms.W made the train roll across the table. I showed him the books and Ms. M picked up one to hand to him... That's when all hell broke loose!
He kicked the book out of her hand and started yanking my hair and screaming. I knew he was done (and probably should have listened 10 mins ago). I gripped his hand in an attempt to stop him from pulling my hair, which he was doing so hard my head was no longer upright. I freed his hand which now held several curly brown strings of evidence. I stood with him in my arms.
The two annalist recalled how well the previous appointment went. They thought perhaps having his brother in the room had helped. I agreed. Krisjon and his twin certainly seem to borrow each other's strengths, they usually function well as a team (be it for good or for more mischievous activity).
I offered to bring him back a later, with his other half in tow. Krisjon and I left. As soon as we got into the car he let out a HUGE scream! I'M NOOOOT GOING BACK TO THAT PLACE!!!!
Oh yes you are.
But this time, with reinforcement. This time you will bring your back bone, this time we face it as a family. We were scheduled to meet again around noon.
Once we arrived home, he did several stomps, let out few loud screams and I allowed it. I knew he was trying to get his emotions in order. He and his brother had a snack and then got some running and wrestling out the way.
I pulled my preschooler to the side and mentioned that we were going back to the school in a little while, but he will have mommy, brother and even big sister who was home from school.
He replied "No."
"The lady was nice, right? What was wrong there, what didn't you like?"
"I was scared."
He hesitantly responded "Okay."
---
We headed back to the meeting, I bought along his favorite books and puzzles just in case.
We arrived a few minutes early and sat on the bench. Krisjon was in a totally different mode.
He was running up and down the hallways, I'm getting a much need, but completely unwanted exercise regeman, chasing him. My patience was growing thin because school was still in session and we are directly outside of classroom doors. I placed him in my arms and he struggled to get away. I carried him over to the main doors, encouraged him to look at the flowers, focus on something, anything. He laughed, seemingly only interested in torturing me.
Finally I saw the scooter, I mean school specialist riding down the hall. Thank goodness! I didn't have an ounce of energy left. I let out a large sigh, holding my squirming son in my arms, and said "He's in a totally different mood now."
"I see!"
We headed to the classroom where Ms. W was waiting, lunch box in hand, taking a final sip of water, then greeting us as if she hadn't seen us at all today.
Krisjon went directly to the toys, no coaching necessary. Like a pro, he took his seat and I did the same. There were a few extra chairs beside me that Lori and Shon occupied.
"So bringing his brother does help." Ms. W stated.
"Yeah" I mustered still trying to catch my breath.
The two specialist took turns asking questions and waiting for answers. Once Krisjon realized he was the star of the show, he started to speak very softly. You could barely hear him unless you were right up under his nose. They kind of just repeated what he said and gave him kudos for the responses he got correct and said good try, on the ones he had trouble with.
I bought along my camera in hopes of capturing a glimpse into the assessment process with photos, but my daughter ended up recording the parts of the session. I'm kind of glad she did :)
Here is a peek into part of his assessment.
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