WELCOME TO JIM'S AUTISM BLOG





Hi everyone and thanks for visiting our blog. My wife and I created this blog to chronicle our experience while raising a son with Asperger's syndrome. Since our son was diagnosed with an ASD at age 5, we've had a lot of questions. Lucky for us we have a great support network in place. And our blog gives us an opportunity to share what we've learned with our readers. We hope you find our blog informative and interesting. Thanks again for visiting.


"It seems that for success in science and art, a dash of autism is essential." Dr Hans Asperger 1906-1980



Sunday 13 May 2012

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there in blogger land and beyond.  This week, has been very draining.  My work season is in full swing and last week I worked almost 70 hours.  I don't mind because Summer's can be slow, but like always my work is so much at once.  I had no choice, but to take last night off, just so I could go out to dinner with my wife.  I also had to work this morning, so I was unable to enjoy a couple of after dinner drinks, but it was great to relax and have dinner as a couple.

Jacob's week at school was also interesting.  The resource teacher at my son's school, along with his EA's, have implemented their own sticker reward system.  Since our reward calendar is so effective at home, we all thought one at school would be very beneficial.  If Jacob earns enough stickers while at school, he's given time on the resource teacher's own Ipad 2.  And of course, Jacob loves the Ipad.  He even visits the Apple website, just to look at one.  Needless to say he's hyped for the chance to use one.  So, this week Jacob earned:








6 OUT OF 10 STICKERS

The last couple days of the week were his best in a long time.  They scored 7 and 8 out of 10, which is great.  If this keeps up, we'll have no choice but to get him his own Ipad 2 for passing into grade 3.  I know a $700 Ipad is a bit much for an 8 year old, but if his behaviour is so good when he has access to one, it's a small price to pay.

We also enrolled Jacob in a Summer camp, but we also received an email from the director informing us that there wasn't a one on one space available for Jacob.  No matter though, we know enough not to get Jacob's hopes up by telling him about how great the camp was.  If we'd have told him that he was going, and then told him he couldn't go, it could have been a huge meltdown.  That's why it's best to hold back some information.

We also have a meeting at school tomorrow to help us develop strategies that will help Jacob's in class behaviour.  The use of the Ipad is working, but it's still new.  And with Jacob, it's only a matter of time before he finds even the Ipad boring.  We, and the teachers at school are in agreement that Jacob needs some behavioural therapy in school.  We've had sessions at home and we have some strategies that work well, but it's impossible for us to implement them in school.  So we're going to have an informal meeting at lunch, well, at least I'll be in my work gear so it will be partly informal.

This week too, is looking like it's going to be busy so I'm not sure when my next post will be, but I promise I'll be posting as soon as possible.  And again, I hope everyone has a great Mother's Day.




4 comments:

  1. Busy, busy! It seems like we're all having a busy weekend...just need a break, some time to relax and get things straight in my head. Hi Jim....I just wanted to stop by and wish your wife a Happy Mother's Day! Glad to see that Jacob is having some good days at school lately. That ipad2 seems like a worthy investment ;).

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    1. Thanks Jewel. His behaviour is improving, but he still has some rough times. We just keep on going.

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  2. And we thought summer was going to be slow...hahahah!!!

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    1. Oh yeah, the Summer. I'm actually looking forward to it this year. I need a break from work and I enjoy all the family time. But I hate the heat.

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