Klarinet Archive - Posting 001190.txt from 2004/03

From: "Thomas" <thomas@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: no child left behind
Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2004 12:03:18 -0500


> From: Dan Sutherland <dan.sutherland@-----.net>
> Subject: Aspie clarinet
> Message-Id: <6.0.0.22.0.20040319235304.01efc618@-----.net>
>
> How is his clarinet playing?

He plays cornet :) You can hear for yourself at
www.thethomaspages.com/bugmusic.html

> Well, the thing to watch for with AS is how others victimize an AS child
> because he lacks social acumen.

That IS my biggest worry. I have been complaining about bullies for the
last three years. He is the reason the school took the doors off the boys'
bathrooms! This is a rural district.... yee-has that have to prove
they're stronger, I suppose.

This year he is 5th grade, so there aren't older (or much bigger, he's over
5' tall) boys in the school. He says there is only one boy now who is
"bothering" him. Kid follows him around, calling him "evil." Before I
complained about him to the principal, I looked at a picture of this child,
and this kid is half his size, and looks somewhat albino. So I am thinking,
this kid has issues, too, let's see if we can weasel around them, LOL. I
sat my son down and talked to him about how he should be really really nice
to him, even if he bothers him. See what happens for the next few weeks.
If nothing changes, then we'll figure out what to do.

> You "will not permit" presumes the school district is accountable to
> you. I think it should be. But to what measure?

Well, to the extent that if they have no training in autism, then what CHOP
has given us for recommendations is the rule. Not what they think it should
be. They are not experts in kids with autism. And they aren't sending
anyone for training. And they know I won't budge on this. I also have an
advocate who is an expert in Asperger's coming to IEP and other meetings
with me.

It's not the special ed director or school psych that disagree with me.
It's the principal. He doesn't want to spend any money on anything, that
goes from sports to music to you name it. Cheap SOB.

> Our taxes are paying for all children's education. If I were to pay the
> extra it takes to provide adequate education for one Aspie, I would pay as
> much as what I earn for the full time aide required to keep the Aspie on
task.

Only if you earn $12,000 a year. That's what our aides make. And the FT
aide doesn't just work for my son, she can help others in the class.

> Sensory overload is a big problem with Aspies. Any kind of distraction
> knocks them off their rails. Authorities have suggested finding them
> a quiet place away from the regular classroom.

You probably didn't read my post from last week - his sensory issues have
been desensitized quite a bit, partly by playing trumpet, partly from meds.
I would LOVE it if they had a resource room in the school. But they don't.

Lynn

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