Keeping the ball rolling..

We have had such a busy few weeks have not had a minute! Diddles profile was chosen by the Autism team in the University of North Carolina for the 5 day Teacch programme to be a little co-trainer. The programme was for various teachers of ASD units all around Ireland to learn methods for teaching children and teenagers with Autism. I was so nervous about his first day on the course. He does not usually react well to a large crowd. I did not know what to expect, maybe it was not his but my fear of the unknown I was nervous about. It was such a good insight  into what kind of schedules suit him. I have blogged before about using visuals for his daily routines and while he was part of the programme I discovered how well he responds to object schedules. I had never even heard of an object schedule before last week! In a few days the teacher had trained him to exchange an object for each part of his daily routine. For example a small hand soap dispenser for needing to go to the toilet, a Thomas the tank engine for play time, a crayon for table top activities, a cup for lunch time, these are but a few of the objects used and in only five days he knew them off by heart.

 It must have been very intensive training because he arrived home asleep on the escorts shoulder one day and he slept like a log for the week! They brought the kids swimming and the teacher told me after that he was a real water baby and would not get out of the pool, they had to swim in after him to get him out. I know he loves the pool but I was still nervous because he had never been to that particular pool. It may be that it is just in our nature to worry as mothers. All I know is I can't help it, I worry a lot about him. He is proving to me time and time again that he can accept change and new adventures and the majority of the time he takes it all in his stride. I think the course was great for him, now his teachers have the tools to teach him the way he needs to be taught.
 It is such a pity that we were told he is too old for that particular unit next year, He really settled in amazingly there. I am applying to a list of ASD units some local some not so local in the hope that where ever he goes they keep the ball rolling. Waiting lists are Irish (therefore not coping with the demand!). From what I have heard most of the issues the schools have in opening or continuing with the ASD units are the inability to obtain the proper services. Cutbacks, cutbacks and more cutbacks. A school place should not be an issue but it is for so many kids like Diddles. I just hope some politicians come knocking on my door soon regurgitating their prepared pitches for the election. Oh what an earful they'll be getting from me! Now is the time he needs stability to help him cope with what life throws at him. Hopefully by the next time I post I'll have better news on the school-front.

A typical hectic school morning ..........

The last few weeks have been a tad hectic. Diddles school had their official open day for the new autism unit. His teacher nabbed me the day before as I was collecting him and asked that I say a few words on behalf of all the parents. I am soooo nervous when it comes to public speaking. The minute she asked me this I felt my heart in my shoes!! She had mentioned the week before that if none of the parents came forward and volunteered that she would have to nominate someone. I am guessing she picked me because lately the mention of the word Autism and I can not shut up! Its like a chemical reaction in my brain, all the researching and studying of it just oozes out of me and after waffling on for about ten minutes realise that the person who asked me how Diddles was getting on was in fact only being polite! I agreed to say a few words not realising that the Mayor of the town and local priest and parents and teachers of the infant classes would be there also. I had myself all convinced that I would be fine, not a bother. However when the morning came as most parents know the morning you really want things to go to plan they absolutely NEVER do!

The Boys woke up at about 8am as both of them had been awake several times the night before, one of them teething and the other asking for rice crispies and thomas the tank engine (as you do at 4 in the morning). I had their clothes ready to go, I just had to get them dressed and fed and in the car to be at the school for 9:30. Simple yes?? ha one would assume but one would be wrong! I try to keep to a routine with the boys in the mornings but after a long night they are not always willing to co-operate (nor am I if I'm honest, just 5 more minutes please. I wish!!)

Incident number one was chasing Diddles around the landing with a tooth brush while I was singing "Old mac Donald had a farm" to Madman who was waiting impatiently in his cot.
Incident number two was dressing Diddles. He was quite calm and collective which I thought was great until I went to change Madmans nappy, I turned around to see Diddles leaping around the landing in his nip with his uniform in a pile on the floor!!  
Incident number three was getting breakfast for the two of them and Diddles asked for his usual "Juice please". I gave him his juice and he proceded to pour it all down his uniform! Madman thought this was hilarious and knocked his wheatabix to the floor while I was cleaning it up.

At this point I was just ready to get in the car and leave before they did anything else. I drank a cup of coffee like a shot, found Diddles spare uniform, dressed him then chased him with the hairbrush and got him into the car. Then wrestled Madman into his car seat. These are the mornings I miss working in the office!!
It is a 15-30 minute (in traffic) journey to the school and in that time Diddles managed to unbuckle his seat belt 5 times which led me to stop the car 5 times which in turn made us late for the open day.

By the time I got to the school I had developed a twitch! His teacher came rushing out to me to give me a hand with the buggy, I had a feeling she was trying to judge whether I was going to speak or not and right up until the moment she asked me I had intended to do it but I could feel the flash of nerves over me and I knew there was no way in hell I would manage to speak infront of a crowd with out bursting into tears or fainting or something. It worked out ok she said a few words for me. I managed to cut the ribbon! I'm surprised I remembered how to work a scissors! Only photo of that moment is of me with my back to the camera haha typical! Oh well if you can't laugh about it you'll cry as they say!