R-ism: Umbrella language

Driving to school one day last week, R. is kicking an umbrella with his feet and it is making an annoying "whooshing" sound...

Me: R, please stop kicking the umbrella.
R: No, I like the sound.
Me (being playful): Are you speaking to the umbrella in its language?
R: Yes
Me: What is it telling you?
R: That it is an umbrella.

(Watch the "In My Language" video in the post below to get more context for this conversation)

New Autism links

• The Blame Game: Are School Problems the Kids' Fault? (from Wrightslaw, a great resource for parents looking for information on IEPs, state and federal laws, etc.)--a great article about school culture in terms of pinning almost 100% of children's educational problems on them and their parents, rather than looking at faulty teaching, faulty curriculum, etc.
  

• Article on new brain research regarding autism
  

• "In My Language Video"--a YouTube video made by a person living with autism to describe how she interacts with her world...make sure to watch it all the way through as the second half is her explanation of the first half. This is a facinating video!
  

New Year

An update on R.: he was suspended on his 2nd day back at school due to hitting his teacher. As I explained yet again to the principal how suspension to R. is like a reward (he gets to stay with mom! And doesn't have to go to school which he hates!), she basically admitted to me that the suspension was more about setting an example for the other kids than helping R. to deal with his problems. Anyway, I didn't fight it, so he was at work with me for one day, and he had in-school suspension for one day--both of which he enjoyed. I had him write an apology letter to his teacher, and had a long talk with her about some of the possible causes for the hitting incident. She was very gracious and she told me that she didn't want him suspended, but that it was the principal's decision. Whatever. At this point, I am just trying to keep R. off her radar screen and hope that we don't have any further incidents this year. When he got his most recent report card, he had brought all of his grades up (to A's and B's), so that was a definite plus. Also, after the suspension incident, I made an appointment to go see a new psychologist. We have seen Dr. J. 3 times now (once with just D. and me and twice with R. and me), and I think it is working for R. He really seems to like Dr. J., and looks forward to his visits with her. I hope she can give him some tools to deal with his aggressive and fearful feelings.

Sigh. Some good days, some not-so-good days. And so it goes...