Yesterday's SPED School Visit

When I mentioned in my yesterday's blog post that people should do their research about autism, it was because I guess most people have no idea about the different classifications of autism. I'd also like to point out that not all people living with the spectrum are learning disabled.

There are people diagnosed with ASD but belong to the higher spectrum, and there are those that belong to the lower end of the spectrum. Those that belong to the higher spectrum are the functional ones, they even have higher IQ's the rest of the normal people, while those at the lower end of the spectrum, have difficulty in learning  or have a lower IQ than the normal.

I will not delve much about the different classifications of autism because, number 1, I am not a doctor, and number 2, there is google! It's where you can check other medical websites that can give you a better understanding of what autism is all about. Number 3, I am just a mom who is learning as much as I can about my son's condition so I can help him get through with this life.

Back to my story about yesterday. Eli and I went to drop by Teacher Neki's class at a San Fernando Elementary. She was the friend from sped school that I was talking about who would like to help me with Eli's Occupational Therapy. Since she still has a class, I got the chance to observe two of her students that are also living with the spectrum.

She introduced them to me, as I was able to observe the world of autism was interesting and amazing. Both of the students are non-verbal. I think they are both at around the age of 3 or 4 years olds. One of them is with a higher IQ, he can calculate numbers mentally in his head without calculating them on paper or with the aid of a calculator, like I would since I'm very bad at math. The other one is of a lower IQ, but is a good little independent boy.

I knew because as I was observing, Eli was roaming around her classroom and perhaps he is thirsty, so he found his way to the dish rack opened it and took a cup, and helped his way to the water dispenser. In the world of normal, this is a big no, no, one has to ask and wait for a permission, or wait for his turn... but teacher Neki, I guess she just let it go since it's Eli's first time and he's still learning the ropes of having a routine, I am too he he.

After the two boys ate their recess snacks, the boy with the lower IQ went to take the plates away to the sink, and started washing the dishes. right in the middle of it, he went to look around and walked towards the cup that Eli used that he left on top of the table. He

waiting for his turn with Teacher Neki

also went to soap them and washed to rinse. Then after that both boys were assisted towards the clothes rack where their polo shirts were hanging, they changed into them and put on their shoes, waved their goodbyes and left for home.

I thought wow! Its amazing to me that these special kids are better than the normal kids who just waits around for their moms to do things for them and clean up after them.

As for Eli, he was able to have a 30 minute table top activity with teacher Neki before we went home. I will be transferring Eli to her class starting next week where he will be able to continue his Occupational Therapy.