New book I am reaading - Awesome!

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Registered: 03-26-2003
New book I am reaading - Awesome!
5
Sun, 09-16-2007 - 10:42am

You all have to check out this new book someone recomended to me. I got it from the library.

It is called "The Short Bus; A Journey Beyond Normal" by Jonathon Mooney.

Jonathon is a young man who took the "short bus" as a kid with a learning disability. He eventually graduates from college etc and decides to go on a tour about how he "became normal" but realizes a lot of stuff along the way and then decides to take a "short bus" and tour the US and find other people like him and how it affected their lives.

It really is eye openning to see what he has to say about being labelled as a special needs kid, people trying to tell him all the time to be normal, hiding in bathrooms throwing up during reading classes, etc.

It really is giving me insight into my own "short bus" riders. I have always wanted them to be proud of themselves for who they are autism and all and I think I have done that. But this is particularly poignant story right now. You see, Cait has to take the bus in the AM to school. She is the only one with any inclusion with 2 non-verbal kids on the bus. The bus arrives everyday 10 minutes late and she has to walk into math class with ALL the kids knowing she is late because she takes the short bus. She is very embarrassed and it bugs her. She is handling it like a champ. I have been professional and now am getting down right nasty with the transportation department. It gives new insight into her feelings of all this school stuff with this book.

Anyone with a child in special education or considering it should read it.

Renee

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Registered: 03-28-2003
Sun, 09-16-2007 - 12:16pm

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Registered: 12-22-2003
Sun, 09-16-2007 - 12:24pm

Oh wow, Renee...this

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 09-16-2007 - 8:17pm

Sweetie, no flaming here. Sometimes you have to laugh at your lives. It is unfortunate that there has to be a "short bus" and all that goes with it. But that said, just today we had quite an "A" day in church. Then when getting in my suburban DH said under his breath so only I could here "everyone in the short bus now". Our ratio is out of whack too.

This guy has some great stories. I am only on the beginning. It isn't that he sings the woes of being on the short bus. On the contrary, it seems he first wanted to be "normal" and go beyond the short bus then he realized normal is just a state of mind. He visits a class near the beginning where the teacher is trying to make all the kids "act normal" and put on a show when really before she came in they were a cohesive group who enjoyed each other.

I guess what I am saying is the point of this whole thing is that different is OK. It is what the rest of the world puts on different. The negative connotation of the "short bus" that other kids will put on it that makes it something negative.

Anyway, I think both you guys will love it.

Ack, hard to explain.

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Registered: 11-28-2006
Sun, 09-16-2007 - 10:40pm

that sounds like a fascinating book renee, thanks for the heads up.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Sun, 09-16-2007 - 11:32pm

Thanks for the tip Renee,


I'll check it out.


-Paula

-Paula

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