Team Daniel

Tomorrow morning we have our "Team Daniel" meeting. We are going to talk about the move to middle school, his classes, his support and general planning. I usually attend these meetings without my husband, but I felt the need to call him in to this one. I am a bit concerned about his support for next year and what's being planned. I'm not sure if I even have reason for being concerned or if I'm just being a worry wort because it is such a big move next year. But either way I think it's best to have a discussion about it now, before decisions have been reached than to wait until after and say we disagree. And for some reason, I think we'd disagree. . . so for now I'm running things over in my head deciding what should be said. Too bad my head is pounding from my more and more frequent migraines. It's hard for me to think clearly with the headaches I've been getting. Although I went to the Dr. today and got prescriptions for two different drugs to help with the relief. I'm hoping that helps. I need a clear head. The transitions in our school district are really hard on our kids and we are all working to make it as easy as possible. I'll update tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm planning and making some nurturing food for the soul.

Adaptive PE

When Daniel was younger, 1st and 2nd grade his "specials" were really difficult. The "specials" in our school district are art, music and gym. They go to art once a week for 1 hour. Music and gym are twice a week for 30 min each (I think). So this is 3 hours a week total.

Daniel uses a visual schedule every day. The schedule is stored in a clip board size board system. His schedule is lined up on it each day. If the routine is changed there is a "change" sign alerting him. He doesn't like to see the change sign, but he deals with it. Years ago this visual schedule (which he still uses) helped him TREMENDOUSLY. He is a visual guy and he knows his schedule. To this day if you say "Daniel did you go to your friendship group today?" He'd say "no, mom that is on Tuesday, during lunch, today is Monday." He has it down. But we always seemed to run into a problem with the specials. He would get upset before going to whichever special was next. I finally got the bright idea that, it just says Phys. Ed on his schedule. He doesn't know if he is going to play kickball, basketball, soccer. It's too unpredictable. So, probably much to his teacher's chagrin, I asked that when he gets to whatever special it is they have it posted somewhere, it could be on the wall, in art at his desk, a brief list of what they are going to be doing that day. Guess, what? It worked! He doesn't need this anymore, but it helped him transition until he began to use his own prediction skills (a skill that was being worded on in speech!) See how it's all intertwined?

Gym was hard, well, so was music, but today, I'm focusing on gym. He just couldn't do the things other kids were doing. It was frustrating him. Wouldn't it frustrate you if everyone else in the room is doing something and you don't understand? I can't remember where I heard of Adaptive PE, I'm sure it was from a parent. It helps them improve those skills. Coordination, running, serving a volleyball everything. Whatever it is. I asked for an Adaptive PE evaluation. "No, he doesn't need that." Bicker, bicker back and forth. I finally said, "well just evaluate him, then that will determine if he needs it, won't it?" He couldn't pump on a swing, couldn't ride a bike (but you've read that) most anything his peers could do. Why oh why oh why would they not think he needed it? Besides the obvious, of course. But that just may be me being a bit cynical? I have to give credit where it is due. They did it, with a pretty minor amount of arm twisting. You'll never guess what internet??? He qualified. Shocking. I know. It is really hard for me not to gloat in these situations. But I try to restrain myself. Of course I'm not happy that he NEEDS the service, it means he's behind, but you see, I already knew that, hence me asking. It just proves me being right, which I enjoy very much.

Daniel has been receiving these Adaptive PE services now for what we think is in his 5th year. Todd and I discussed this last night and neither of us could really remember. I think he started in 2nd grade and now he would be in his 5th year. Somewhere in there the instructor retired and a new young fresh out of college gal came in. This is one of those situations where you are terrified. It's going to be upsetting to him etc etc. This change was one of the best ever. She has some gung ho! When she laid out the goals after 4th grade, I actually said, "you're kidding right?" They were VERY aggressive. In a good way. It has been one of the top 5 best things we've ever done for Daniel. I would like you to read a passage she just sent me in an email. We are having a "team Daniel" meeting on Tuesday, she can't be there, so she sent this as an update.

I would love to share that Daniel is doing awesome for me and in PE. I make his PE time a couple times a month. (meaning she shows up at his PE to see how he is doing and incorporates it into her instruction time with him. Usually Adaptive PE is in addition to PE) The Monday before Winter Break he had a Sub para and a Sub PE teacher. I was there and they played line soccer. Daniel was number 13 (the last number that would be called). He had to play goalie (with 10 other classmates) while he was waiting his turn to go out and play soccer. He did awesome. After 15 minutes of waiting for his turn, I asked him if he wanted to keep waiting for his turn or ride bike. (when the activity is too much or he has had enough he rides an exercise bike, which he loves.) HE wanted to get his turn, and then ride bike. While he was out on the field during his turn he was excited and several classmates were encouraging him to kick the ball, chase the ball, etc. I thought that on a day with two subs Daniel did so well.... and HE wanted to play!!!! YEAH!!!!!

Now doesn't that just make you smile?? I feel so blessed by the support Daniel has. His peers, his instructors. He has thrived. He is coming along, little by little day after day. We WORK TOGETHER to make this happen. Not at a small price. This is my priority. I don't work outside the home, even though my children are in school all day. I am a college graduate with a decent earnings potential , but I am the puppet master behind the scenes making sure things are all happening when and where they are supposed to. I keep track of it all and keep coming up with new ways to solve problems right along side the professionals. It is my job. I do it well. At times like this it makes it all worth it.

I'm going to be in band PART 1

I know, not another series right?!? I'm sorry! I promise, it won't go as long as the last one!

I'll admit it. I was always one of the people who made fun of the marching band. If you were a band geek, I mean member, I'm sorry in advance. They seemed to be a very tight knit group, sort of on their own. I never understood marching band. I never had any interest in playing an instrument, my parents never brought it up. They never really ever suggested I do anything, except stay out of trouble and I didn't do a very good job at that! Band was bad enough, but marching band? Why? Just to really sound like a negative grumpy person. . . marching bands march in parades. I don't like parades either. Almost as soon as they start, I'm looking at my watch or trying to figure out where the nearest coffee house is. Let's just say, none of it is my cup of tea, or coffee as the case may be. In college we would make fun of the band geeks on the field. I should have known it would all come back to haunt me. Karma baby.

Music was always a love hate thing with Daniel. He could barely stay in choir for most of K - 4. I have always known how much he LOVES music. When he was 3 we had a keyboard. You could hit one of the keys and make it sound like another instrument, he could tell you the instrument every single time. It was amazing. I knew he had a tremendous ear. So when he was in school and he was screaming in choir and they would take him out. I would usually push for him to go right back in. I always felt like it would click at some point. His choir teacher eventually said, "I think he has perfect pitch and he gets mad in class because everyone's off pitch, or almost everyone." Made sense to me. We had taught him to tolerate things before, I felt we could again. We kept trying. Recorders came. He could not even be in the room for that! I don't blame him. It was horrendous. It was a constant push/pull. We kept at it. Again, this seems to be a theme. For YEARS. Then at the end of 4th grade, about a year and a half ago, we were talking about Daniel's classes for 5th grade. In our school system for 5th and 6th grade you have a choice between, 1. Strings 2. band and 3. Choir. You choose one of them. Daniel announces to me, "I'm going to be in band and I'm going to play the tuba" What? Where did that come from? I always know I'm in trouble when he announces something with such conviction. . . .it was very similar to the bike thing. He was going to do it. That was the end in his mind.

We had one of our "team Daniel" monthly meetings. Here I bring up the fact that he wants to be in band. Most people laughed. OK, don't get mad at them for laughing. Because you have to understand the group. We were all very close and most I consider my friends, and I still do even though he isn't in that school anymore. They had all been there through the ups and downs of choir. Knowing how hard music has been. I said, "no really, he wants to be in band and I'm going to make it happen". Cricket, cricket. I said, "you know what, Daniel asks us for almost nothing. He rarely asks for anything from us. This he is asking for and I'm going to give it to him." I left that meeting knowing that somehow, I had to make it happen. It was a dream of his. He could see himself marching with that damned instrument.

The first problem was that the tuba was not offered. So I found out what the closest instrument to that was. The baritone. I showed Daniel a picture of a baritone online. . . "that's it," he said. It's a done deal. Well, at least in his mind!?!