05 Mar 2008, 3:04 pm
J had a trial run at an arts program run by our local autism school yesterday. (western autism school for all those in the west of melbourne aust)
There were only 4 boys in the group, they did clay animation, bowling, played age of empire on the pc's, and generally had a ball. J didn't want to go back to normal school.
The teacher at this group (Jack) is a fantastic American guy, who said that the system in Australian schools for asperger/autistic kids isn't great, in America there is more support.
Jack has my son J for an hour on a Saturday for a social skills group also run by W.A.S. So prior to starting this arts program, he had only known J for 3 hours. It's amazing to me that Jack had picked up on so much in just 3 hours but still J's normal school see nothing.
After the arts program J went back to normal school, (grinning from ear to ear). After school I went to his teacher to ask if he had settled in alright, she said yes he was fine, she said he is always fine stop worrying. She said as a mother she would probably do the same, but he is truelly ok they have never had a problem.
She hit the nail on the head THEY have never had a problem, he is yet to have a meltdown at school. They don't see the problem with J refusing to talk about school at home as an issue because I guess it doesn't affect their day. J wont tell them if he has any problems with the other kids because that will make things worse, he hasn't told them he doesn't understand the way the other kids play, because in his head this is his fault. Any way enough of that.
Jack has informed me that J fit in so well with the other kids that he can start going every Wednesday from 9-3pm, yay a mid week break from normal school should be great for J. He doesn't realise it but he is getting taught social skills,coping skills he is getting gross and fine motor help etc.
When I spoke to his normal teacher about the arts program she said that J came back to school with a grin from ear to ear she said he seemed so happy (hmm I wonder why) when I told her that he has been accepted to go for full days regularly on a wednesday, again she said but he is fine here.
When are they going to get it, if the autism specialists didn't think he needed it it wouldn't have been offered, considering if he had funding at normal school (which normal school wont apply for) 2% of said funding would have to be passed over to the arts program.
Thank goodness for western Autistic School and Jack. I think I'm getting my happy little boy back. 
05 Mar 2008, 4:07 pm
05 Mar 2008, 6:38 pm
