6/17/10 - Last Day of School

Today is Ty's last day of school for the regular school year :(. he has a few weeks off and my mom will be staying with him and then he starts Summer school and Splash Camp. He's a bit out of sorts today, he's been waking up a lot lately in the middle of the night and he's quite exhausted as result. They are going to jump city today and he's helpign U of M conduct some ADOS training this afternoon so I'm hoping he makes it through all that ok.

So thought it would be a good time to summarize where he stands on his goals from his IEP:

Self Help Skills: Tyler rcontinues to struggle with self care activities like takign off his coat, putting away his backpack, going potty, washing hands, etc. He can do these things but it takes an adult to support him thruogh each task or he'll just wander away uninterested. I'm hoping to work on more of these things this summer.

Fine Motor Skills: Tyler is still behind on his fine motor skills including scribbling, stacking, opening lids, etc.

Speech/Language: As we all know, Ty can't talk and has been struggling with signs for the pst 9 months or so. He scrolls and it's hard to distinguish some of his signs unless you have an idea of what he's getting at. He does however, follow transitional verbal directions/prompts for actvities at school without pictures. He's been donig this at home for a while, but school was using picturs as a support to help him transition from one activity to another which used to really be hard for TYler. He has a really good core vocabulary that he comprehends.

Play/Gross Motor/Imitation: The goal was for Tyler to imiated 20 gross motor movements and currently he can do 18 of them. He struggles with a thumb's up and touching his head. He struggles with social interactions but has improved. HIs goal is to have 3 - 5 turns per setting.

Speech/Language: Tyler has significant oral -motor apraxia and is workign on skills to imitate differentiated vowel sounds and counstantns. He's producing the "b" sound and the "A" sound givin a hand signal and at home also with a verbal prompt.

Ok that's a summary of where he is... how here is an awesome article from ABC World News..... made me tear up....I hope/dream/pray that Tyler's story will be similar.....


Autistic Salutatorian Delivers High School Graduation Speech
Rhode Island High Schooler Leads Class Despite Speech Struggle
By BRADLEY BLACKBURN
June 16, 2010—
Eric Duquette is the salutatorian of his high school, an honor student, a musician, and he has autism.
The 18-year-old Duquette, who couldn't say a word until age five, gave the commencement speech at his high school graduation ceremony Tuesday night in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
"My parents were told I would most likely end up in an institution," said Duquette. "I stand before you accepted into every institution of higher learning I applied to."
He stood at the podium wearing a green cap and gown and a big grin on his face. His speech, funny and touching, was met with enthusiastic applause from his peers.
Watch 'World News' for more on Eric Duquette's story tonight on your ABC station.
Duquette graduated from Smithfield High School with the second-highest grade point average in a class of just under 200 students. He will attend Rhode Island College in the fall, with plans to study biology and eventually become a pharmacist.
"Tonight is all about reflection and looking forward to the journeys that lie ahead of us," he said.
It's been quite a journey for Eric. His success in high school came after years of work and slow progress. Diagnosed with autism when he was a young child, Duquette struggled with communication and language.
Mother's Dedication Gives Gift of Speech
His mother, Judith Duquette, began working with him early to break down his communication barrier with speech therapy. In addition to professional therapy, mother taught son using sign language and cards with pictures and symbols.
Despite his early struggles with speech, today he speaks both English and Spanish. He's a member of the Spanish National Honor Society and placed 93rd in the nation on the Spanish V exam.

Judy Duquette combs her son Eric's hair before he delivers his graduation speech.Photo credit: The Valley Breeze
"Daniel Webster wrote that 'if my possessions were taken from me with one exception, I would choose to keep the power of communication, for by it I would soon regain all the rest,'" Duquette said at the podium. "For me, learning to communicate did mean regaining all the rest."
Salutatorian with Autism Gives High School Graduation Speech
Listing the scholarships and college acceptances he's received, Duquette said that he hoped to inspire his fellow students.
"I tell you this so you do not allow yourself or others to be defined by your limitations but rather abilities. Never underestimate yourself," he said.

Eric Duquette, 18, receives his diploma during the Smithfield High School graduation ceremony on June 15, 2010.Photo credit: Lee Walsche/Lifetouch National School Studios
After the ceremony, Duquette told ABC News he was proud of his performance.
"I think I perfectly encompassed the compassion and spirit of Smithfield High School through each and every single one of my words," he said.

One last link.. this is a link to a blog of a mother with an autistic boy and this particular story discussed how an IPAD changed her son's life. I cannot wait to get Tyler one, he loves the one at speech...some guardian angels have ordered one for him and it's on its way :)

http://www.blogher.com/ipad-nearmiracle-my-son-autism


On the home front.. life has been rough lately. Lots of stress with death's, illness, work schedules, lay offs, etc. We are actively planning to have a simpler life come early next fall that will meet the needs of everyone and hopefully make us all a big happy family:)

xoxoxoxo