Life is good at the moment.

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I sat here for a little while reading posts, as I do most mornings, and I reflect on whats going on within my own family. I feel stupid because I'm grinning at the pc. For my little family and right now (doesnt mean it wont change within the next few hours ) life is good.

J's AS is still there, there are still big and small issues to deal with/learn to cope with but he is happy. If someone had of said to me last year, that in a years time life would be like this I think I would have brushed them off as being ignorant and cruel.

A friend gave me a book months ago about an autistic girl and her families struggle to get supports in place for her and them. They called all the positive supports part of their team, and any negative people they dismissed or moved on from. It was a simple message but one I have been working towards. We now have a team for J, without even knowing really that this is what I had been doing. J (my 10 yr old AS son) has a fantastic team. Every single member of J's team are working towards his wellbeing and happiness. A perfect example of team J happened this Wednesday. I had my first real scheduled student suport group meeting, I had asked J's OT (only the week prior) if she could send in some sort of report for the school with recommendations etc, I wasn't convinced it would happen in time but it did it arrived the day before the meeting. I was late for the meeting, I was in the wrong place. When I finally got to the room where the meeting was I was admittedly a little scared (the meetings at J's last school were horrible and nothing ever changed) the vp was at this meeting, along with J's 2 classroom teachers and the school psychologist. They had all this paper work spread all over the tables inluding the OT's report and the school psychologists' report. Because I had missed the first 15minutes because I had been waiting in the wrong area, I thought nothing much was going to happen, boy was I wrong. They had already had some sort of discussion and gone threw some of the reports and recommendations All I could say at that point was Thank you, every recommendation on the OT's list they are trying to put in place some how and then some more, not one negative thing was said about my son. We will be meeting again in 3-4 weeks to see if there is anything more to be done and to fine tune what had been decided on. This school will also be applying for funding for J (something the other school refused to do). They have called the autism resource worker in to see if there is anything else they can do for him. They will be using his interests and building their curriculum for him around his interests. WOW I am the happiest mum in the world at the moment, ( as we all know though that could change at any given moment lol) On Thursday the day after the meeting, J's teachers had all ready sourced out some of the equipment the OT had recommended, thursday afternoon the vp approached me after school to ask me how I felt the meeting went and to let me know If I needed any support at any time his office door was open. He also wanted to let me know that he thought he had made a connection with J, they both have a common interest HUH! The vp likes to play pc games and the wii lol. I had to tell him that J actually asked me just the week before who were the vp and the principle and J was blown away when I told him J's response was " huh, but they are my friends". What a foreign concept people in charge that are on your side and actually care.
I also discovered last week, J's swimming instructer who adores J and J has been seeing her now for 2 and a half years ( we even followed her to a new pool much to her delight) is now in her second year of psychology, was this inspired by J? maybe.

Anyway I just wanted to share the whole concept of having a team of positive influences for yourself and your child. If you don't feel that someone is part of your team or your childs team, if you can get rid of them, do so. Its a simple message one most people are already trying to do. Its important to remember all team members need to be on the same page so as to best suport each other. It can be a rough road but its well worth it.

Every child can and should be happy at school et al. I remember telling you that a year ago. I am so glad, so glad, to hear that you have found the right place. Getting there may have been one of the most stressful and difficult decisions you have ever made, but you know when you've finally gotten it right, don't you?