Monday, June 02, 2008

An IEP, Art, a diagnosis, and still a lot of questions

Brandon's art. He never ceases to amaze me:




Friday we had our IEP meeting at the school my son will be attending next year. I had just received the results of his most recent testing from the psychologist. They did give him a diagnosis of Asperger's. The IEP went much better than I was anticipating. I think it is going to be a challenging next couple of years for my son, but I think he is in the best place to deal with that challenge. The counselor assigned to my son has over a decade of experience working with asperger's and autistic children. It was amazing to hear how she deals with some of her students. Finally someone that really get it. Not to distract from the truly awe inspiring job my son's current teachers did this year. To have gone a whole school year where I got very few calls from school is something I cannot fathom. It is really just now hitting home for me how very well he did in school this year. Next year may be different, but I'm holding out hope that it will be different in a good way.

A number of thoughts and things have come up lately that put me in a fairly melancholy mood today. Part of it has been pondering this song:

Big blue skies and an open field
My right hand on the steering wheel
Two young lovers runnin' wild
We bought string and a brand new kite
We couldn't wait to watch it fly
But it flew too high, it flew too high

Here comes the wind let your string unwind
Run as fast as you can in your mind
Back to a place that you never forgot
Before everything was lost
I don't remember when we ran out of rope
When we did we lost all hope
And we just stood there cryin'
That what's we learned about flyin'

So I took your hand and you took mine
And we waltzed togheter in time
But looking back I guess I didn't know
That I was in love and you were letting go
It's funny how your mind plays tricks on you
Seemed like the higher and higher we flew
You took off and I was made of stone
I was made of stone

Here comes the wind let your string unwind
Run as fast as you can in your mind
Back to a place that you never forgot
Before everything was lost
I don't remember when we ran out of rope
When we did we lost all hope
And we just stood there cryin'
That what's we learned about flyin'

Here comes the wind let your string unwind
Run as fast as you can in your mind
Back to a place that you never forgot
Before everything was lost
I don't remember when we ran out of rope
When we did we lost all hope
And we just stood there cryin'
That what's we learned about flyin'

7 comments:

  1. I have posted what is going on with my son, he not with us. And do not know what will happen in the next month. I do know this parents that love their children will persue to get the answers they are looking for.
    S.R.

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  2. That first piece of art of his is amazing.

    Glad to hear next year is shaping up to be a better year. It's amazing what the *right* type of support at the school can do.

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  3. I would frame that first picture of Brandon's and hang it in my room. Both of them are great. He's a special sounding boy!

    I'm glad you're feeling good about his school plans.

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  4. Summer,
    You, CH, and your two boys are in my thoughts and prayers ALL the time. Between jobs and school, and dealing with insurance and school officials, I really feel for you and your family.

    ABF and FADKOG,
    I'll certainly pass your compliments on to Brandon. I'm probably going to get them both framed and put up. The shapes on the first one all represent something. He has haikus on the back that kind of tell you what to look for. The second is a dolphin jumping at sunset and it was done with materials that are tactile. I'm very proud of him and really impressed with his artistic ability. He certainly didn't get it from me. :-)

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  5. Wow. That is beautiful artwork. I would totally hang that in my house. (And I collect art!)

    Good luck with everything. With your love, he's a lucky little man!

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  6. Wow, I'm blown away by the artwork! I want a copy!

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  7. Your son is quiet the artist!

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