Well he sure is growing up. His first years have been full of ups and downs (mostly ups!) but he is much improved over the last year and a half. We are at a bitter sweet point in his life. He has gained so many new skills that he needs hes only a small bit behind his nuerotypical peers. There are some things that appear not to be improving and will most likely require ongoing therapy maybe for a while longer possibly through out his life.
(mind you he has been in school since his 3rd birthday)
Lets start with last school year , at age 4 he was not able to use the potty. He mastered that in the first week of school. He had issues with fine motor skills and was not able to draw or write and also required help feeding himself. He was very "shy" and tended to get lost in his class of 15 students. They implemented PECS cards and he adjusted nicely to having a schedule. He would engage only by following other students on the playground rather than playing he would silently follow in there footsteps and watch them as if he wanted to join but wasn't sure how.He would not speak to his teachers to communicate, mostly pointing and "signs". At the end of the year IEP meeting , after a full school year (+ 6m prior) OT, PT & speech, He was able to make marks, feed himself and was joining the class a bit more in group. At home his stemming was much improved. Also using PECS at home was a great help for him.
This year he has mastered writing his name and we are so happy to say he was dismissed from PT. This year has been a little different in his special Education class room. They have only 2 other students and Kamron has a "helper". He has also been making trips into his normal Ed kindergarten class for next year trying to avoid the social shock and possible regression.
His tantrums have improved , (still need work). He still has trouble expressing his feelings. Stems only when happy : ) Wanders, and likes to go out by himself and space out a bit to the point he doesn't listen when I call for him. (Most of the time hes setting in the grass or under a tree in deep thought.) He is a great help with Karter and likes to talk to him, hold him, make him dance (LOL) and keeps him company when I'm busy with chores. The fact that his reasoning skills don't seem to be improving had us questioning weather to try medication. I had to come to the conclusion that he would either learn to cope with his problems using taught skills or take medication for a life time.
Finding out that your child has learning disabilities is not easy at first, and many parents go through grief and maybe even depression. Their mind wants to change how they thought of their child but their heart will not. Education is so important , but there comes a point when you must step away from that and ask yourself what you can do to help your child have a happy and fulfilling life. Its a simple thing to show love and thats what can give them all the self confidence they so dearly need to learn and grow. Your job as a parent is not to cure your child , but to help them obtain the emotional tools to work at their challenges.
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