tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post188497876792900979..comments2024-03-09T01:07:20.958-05:00Comments on Day Sixty-Seven: What Happens to the Spirit?Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687586555108712164noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-20752287212322472842007-07-21T13:40:00.000-04:002007-07-21T13:40:00.000-04:00i'm right there with you. i KNOW that this sort of...i'm right there with you. i KNOW that this sort of thing would have broken fluffy's spirit. i KNOW a class of 15-20 strong would have done the same thng since i KNOW his style of acting out, given all his language and tendency to laugh and smile when feeling bad and out of control, would have been interpreted as 'naughty' and NOT as dysregulation due to sensory processing disorder and accompanying delays due to aspergers. <BR/><BR/>i don't even have to say, go with your gut. i know you will. <BR/><BR/>the image of oliver climbing on your back in the opposite orientation is priceless! that boy was communicating CLEARLY!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-57579656860132579252007-07-19T20:11:00.000-04:002007-07-19T20:11:00.000-04:00I've seen ABA classrooms just like you describe---...I've seen ABA classrooms just like you describe----not the one Charlie is now in! Thank you for posting this, Christine: Not all ABA classrooms are the same, and what you describe is why more than a few people are anti-ABA. If they are shoving desks against kids to make them sit, they need to re-examine their teaching methods. --- I'm getting on my high horse but our former school district would have gladly sent Charlie to such a classroom and I think you know the result.<BR/><BR/>That said, I am envious that you can still piggyback Oliver!kristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01104388229716638534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-11191499218929330152007-07-19T17:57:00.000-04:002007-07-19T17:57:00.000-04:00I hope they only spend a small part of the day doi...I hope they only spend a small part of the day doing that kind of ABA. I don't know if what a child learned in that way would generalize to anything else in life. I think ABA can be helpful, but in a really natural environment, not crammed into a desk.<BR/><BR/>Are there other options for him in your school system?mjsuperfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430437202459251288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-19453516156788929302007-07-17T13:26:00.000-04:002007-07-17T13:26:00.000-04:00Oliver is lucky to have you, a mom who understands...Oliver is lucky to have you, a mom who understands him and can read his communication messages in any form. I sincerely hope you find the right place for Oliver; a place where he can learn and still be himself.Daisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11647906900944224234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-76735571462246332822007-07-17T10:17:00.000-04:002007-07-17T10:17:00.000-04:00This also makes me cry. I agree, though, that ther...This also makes me cry. I agree, though, that there does seem to be good ABA and bad ABA. I desperately hope that John's preschool will allow for his spirit in addition to its emphasis on discrete trials.<BR/><BR/>We are their advocates. Trust your gut, you are doing a great job.KALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15212441008066693103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-78759920175092234122007-07-16T22:44:00.000-04:002007-07-16T22:44:00.000-04:00Sometimes I am grateful no one knows anything abou...Sometimes I am grateful no one knows anything about autism down here! The other folks are right there is good ABA, and that did not sound like it. Even in the most "by the book" ABA preschool, Cotton was never limited in his freedom of movement! I agree with limiting distractions, but that sounds a little extreem. I know you will make the right decision for Oliver.burgiboogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03409408452487415225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-53158977324275498952007-07-16T18:24:00.000-04:002007-07-16T18:24:00.000-04:00You are a wise mom. ((((Hugs))))You are a wise mom. ((((Hugs))))momof3feistykidshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02566146042674179482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-77860581163317407362007-07-16T16:29:00.000-04:002007-07-16T16:29:00.000-04:00Oh Christine, this post made me cry my eyes out. ...Oh Christine, this post made me cry my eyes out. We are in the same place with Conor. If you've been following along, we too have decided not to send Conor to school this year, and focus on social skills-based activities (which are actually ABA based, but not "clinical" -- why I chose this environment instead).<BR/>Conor reacts the same way as Oliver. How HORRIBLE that our kids have such a fear of school. On Thursday, the ABA therapist asked Conor, "Do you like school?" He vehemently shook his head and said, "I don't like school. I don't have to go to school." <BR/>Like Mamaroo said, we have to go with our gut instinct. There's a reason why we have it.GClef1970https://www.blogger.com/profile/02027258605839422577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-61085678746493753992007-07-16T16:17:00.000-04:002007-07-16T16:17:00.000-04:00If there was a reason that Oliver chose you to be ...If there was a reason that Oliver chose you to be his mommy - this is it. You are the Great Protector for Oliver, and it just amazes me how profoundly you know him and his needs.<BR/><BR/>-chris (sam's chris)KilkusFamilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09582949805483053683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-55426156318256910172007-07-16T15:37:00.000-04:002007-07-16T15:37:00.000-04:00Oh Mamaroo, I know! I know that all ABA isn't like...Oh Mamaroo, I know! I know that all ABA isn't like this classroom. I almost didn't post this because I didn't want it to be taken as a criticism of all ABA classrooms. Behavioral techniques are so powerful and the people I see using it sometimes only have minimal training. There is a danger there, I think. Limiting distractions is one thing; restraint and confinement is another. How can that be acceptable? I just can't believe what I saw was good practice and it made me feel so sad. <BR/><BR/>Also: you've been awfully quiet lately. Any updates in the works?Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09687586555108712164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-1946199778866362372007-07-16T15:30:00.000-04:002007-07-16T15:30:00.000-04:00Oh Christine, this made me cry. That is exactly h...Oh Christine, this made me cry. That is exactly how I felt when I toured the school where Nik **may** be placed if his current school cannot accomodate all his needs. I couldn't picture my spirited boy in that environment.<BR/><BR/>Trust yourself and, equally important, trust Oliver.Niksmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14715465327343655483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17425654.post-3721110270918551692007-07-16T14:34:00.000-04:002007-07-16T14:34:00.000-04:00I guess I sort of agree with you, which is why thi...I guess I sort of agree with you, which is why this post has made me feel bad because of the ABA type classroom Roo is in.<BR/><BR/>I guess what matters is how much time they are spending in their cubbies and how the skills are being taught in the cubby. Like Kristina always says, there is good ABA and bad ABA. <BR/><BR/>When I was at Roo's school last, he kept taking his para by the hand and leading her into his cubby. He liked it in there. The walls made it less distracting for him and so he was better able to learn. He didn't know that at first.<BR/><BR/>I do know what you mean about keeping his free spirit though. I have made sure to allow Roo plenty of down time.<BR/><BR/>Also how you describe Oliver's nervous reaction is just how Roo acts when he is nervous. And he also would recognize a place that he hasn't been to in a long time.<BR/><BR/>I guess we all just need to keep following our gut. Oliver will do just fine at home with your plans.Mamaroohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15418994345171144928noreply@blogger.com