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| May 2001 Well, here we are at the end of another school year and PJ has accomplished a lot ! In fact some things I found out he knew and never "told" us. I was told at his IEP that he is a great basketball player. He can also mimic sounds like "mama". Even if he doesn't know its a word and has meaning I still love to hear him say it. He even "told on himself" . I now have learned that he DOES know how to snap and zipper. Mom wasn't doing it quick enough. He pushed my hands out of the way and did it himself. Boy was he mad! He now is using picture symbols at home and school along with some sign language. He is also using the "voice in a box" at school and is doing very well with it. He is one heck of a kid, but then, aren't they all!!!! Have a great summer! PJ's Mom A simpler form of 'sign language' has recently been developed by an industrious college student that may make it easier for autistic and other mentally handicapped children and adults to communicate. Click here to read the article posted in a recent FEAT newsletter A great site for learning American Sign Language is 'Hand Speak'. Check out their 'word of the day' and create a visual vocabulary in no time! For adapting computers for easier access to the disabled, try 'Assistive Technology'. Fall 2002 I�m sitting here this morning watching PJ get ready for school�not fighting to get his socks on, not wrestling to get his pants and shirt on, and not trying to cram an unwilling foot into a shoe. I�m sitting here on my stairs watching (bawling my eyes out none the less) and, as I�m typing, his bus pulls up and out the door he goes. He doesn�t even wait for me to go open the door for him. He still looks at me as if to ask, � Is it okay for me to go?�. I nod and tell him I love him. He gives me his �heh� (his way of saying hi, bye, I love you, give me food�etc) and a smile and off he goes. NO!!!!!!! This can�t be happening. He�s��growing up! I thought I would never see the day when he wouldn�t be always dependant on me. Then I dreaded the day it would happen. And now I realize �.that day has come. It gives me a whole new, and even scarier outlook on what his life might include. Will he ever be truly independent�and how far do I let him go? I know he�s only 11 but ....it�s all happening to fast. I suppose for him, not fast enough. Just watching...I don�t think I can handle just watching. They grow up so fast. I t seems faster than what I expected for PJ. though, I suppose, that�s a good thing. But what now? Do I still butt in to be the deeply needed mom of a special needs child? Or do I stand back, let him do it, smile and wipe the tears out of my eyes when he�s not looking. I guess he�ll let me know. I guess I should be happy. And I am. I�ve seen my other boys hit milestones and it sure didn�t affect me like this. I guess he�s going to keep me guessing. At least it won�t be a boring journey...THAT�S for sure! PJ's Mom |
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