Touching base with everyone, I hope
like us, you're all having a great break, although our local weather has other
ideas......I've kept busy and distracted by arranging a few special little
outings, snuggling up watching our favourite movies together, or just doing
simple things while chatting about anything and everything, and generally chilling
out and relaxing.
With the school holidays in
full swing I have paused to think how amazing the past few
months have been; with
this year already touching the halfway mark, we are proud to say our little
man’s achievements are progressing ahead in leaps and bounds.
We received his half yearly
school report, covering the five mainstream subjects he attends and doing the
sixth in his support class, we were so happy to see the results all placing him
in a progressive position, with their only concern being, he still struggles
with group activities, and he is easily distracted and becomes “off topic” when
joining in discussion time; both expected outcomes.
The school is now preparing for
his introduction and involvement in another mainstream subject as the support
staff believes he is doing so well and should handle the inclusion.
Knowing A.J. still struggles
with any “physical activity” and although he didn’t receive a report for his
involvement in the sporting sector, his personal comments indicate his dislike,
leaving me to wonder how we can change this around and have him enjoy the different
aspects that go along with the many activities in this area as well.
A comment from his English
teacher has stated he needs to do more ‘casual’ reading for enjoyment to
further his English skills.
Maybe this has been a response due
to still getting to know A.J. or from not fully understanding the autistic
behaviours more-so than the knowledge he has; as in reality he has always read
books and now will go onto websites and google search to find things out as his
interests change; although the concept of transferring his thought and verbal
expression into a written dialogue is still in the learning stages.
As with all his subjects he is
still finding ‘his’ way of fitting in, with his ‘autistic’ tendencies overriding
his academic ability in some way; while knowing he would struggle in some formal
aspects due to the large majority of work he has missed through being repeatedly
removed from class during the past number of years.
Finding ways to overcome some
of these and other hurdles is still a struggle, I may need to address this with
the introduction of a tutor in some capacity, although the factor of his
afternoon schedule is still something we also need to manage, as he so easily
consumes himself into his ‘Fantasy Realm’ that has protected him for so many
years.
His protective world began long
ago when he needed to shut down and escape from the negativity he was
experiencing in the outside ‘cursed world of Reality’ giving him the power to imagine that even the worst
possible scenario can be eliminated by his special world!
Although he
has become more controlled and able to cope with the outside world and the many
distractions a lot easier without becoming totally unravelled, he is still affected
by the environment in different ways, and the need to hold back these un-natural
forces sent to curse him can only be truly eliminated while within his sacred
Realm. Once in there he blocks out all external sensory input and will shut
down to carefully protect himself, while remaining calm, settled, and totally
in control of his every movement.
The effects
of sensory overload still exist, although A.J. has learnt to adjust or adapt
himself to more readily accept and understand why it happens. I do however feel
that a lot of his calmer nature has come from being accepted at school and not
having to stress out about how he will be treated.
Overall this
helps us all to be mare calm and settled, giving me a little time to address
some of those long forgotten chores.
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