Teacher miscue and update....

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2005
Teacher miscue and update....
7
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 10:54am

Haven't had a chance to post lately...this PTO stuff is overwhelming! Wanted to share something that happened in Chase's class last week. He is in a mainstream 2nd grade and the asst.(who is actually very nice) accidentally referred to Chase as having a disease one day when explaining to another child why Chase was having a problem with his handwriting.
She told me Chase stood up and very indignant said "IT IS NOT A DISEASE, WHY WOULD YOU EVEN SAY THAT...IT IS A SYNDROME!" He then walked to the chalkboard and picked up a piece of chalk and proceeded to draw a large rectangle, turned to the class and said,"this is autism." Then he turned back to the chalkboard and drew a tiny square inside the rectangle and said, "this is how much autism I have." "It makes me have trouble with handwriting and paying attention and I think different than most people but it also makes me a good reader and very smart. It is called Aspergers...IT IS NOT A DISEASE!"

I was so tickled and proud when she told me the story.

Renee, sorry to hear your dd had a seizure. That must be very scary...keeping you in my thoughts, Vicky

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 1:05pm

That is AMAZING!!!!! He understands aspergers better than I do....LOL! Good for him.

(SMILE)
Christie

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 2:17pm

Wow, vicky!! Chase actually said that? OOHh...I'd be sooo proud of him!!! So mature....it's adorable. I'd really like to explain it to Nathan, but I still don't think he would really understand it all. I am looking forward to it, actually. At first I was a bit concerned about how he would take this information.....but now, I think it will really help him to understand himself better.

I'm glad Chase is able to grasp it all. How did you tell him? Did you use a book? or just sit him down and talk?

michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2005
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 3:46pm

Michelle,

I was very proud of him. Most of all that he stood up for himself and was not ashamed to explain who he is. With my kids I try to always demystify(is that a word?) things so they don't seem so big. When Chase was originally dx with ADHD he had many questions about what was going on and I explained to him then that his brain was different than most people's and that because of that he might have problems that others don't have but that it enabled him to see the world in ways others couldn't so it was kind of gift. When the AS dx came he was kind of relieved to find a name for what he has. He reads bunches and has learned most of what he knows about autism from reading.

He made his 1st communion Sunday and his uncle gave him a $2 bill. He looked at it and said, "hey, that's Thomas Jefferson. We're kind of related because he had Aspergers too." I've told him all about famous people who have had it and he likes that.
I also tell him that while AS makes things more difficult it doesn't mean he doesn't have to try and that sometimes he might even have to try harder at somethings than others...he hates that! Vicky

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 6:41pm

Thanks Vicky for the kind thoughts.

What a mature young man you have there. I will have to use his explaination when explaining to my kids, lol. We treat it much the same way but I still don't think they really "get" it. In fact Cait not long ago used the word "disease" when talking about AS. I had to try to explain to her that it wasn't but she just couldn't get it. I guess to her it is just words, disorder, syndrome, disease, all the same.

Renee

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 10:44pm

Wow!

WTG for self-advocacy Chase!

And what an AWESOME way to explain it. I will have to 'borrow' that one, I think. I hope he doesn't mind.

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2005
Tue, 05-02-2006 - 7:55am

Paula,

I don't think Chase would enforce any copyright infringment laws but ya never know, lol. The truth is somedays that little square inside that rectangle is larger than others. This morning I had to dress him from head to toe while he was absorbed in THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS. I doubt he realizes he has clothes on this morning. Also, he made his 1st commnunion Sunday and has decided he must teach his 4 year old brother all about Jesus; and I mean ALL about Jesus. Daniel has been hiding from him in every corner of the house! Vicky

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 05-02-2006 - 8:05am

Vicky,

Chase is having a "big square" day today. That may be a good self-regulatory tool/reminder for him, when he is older.

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com