Late last night, we emailed two of Schuyler's teachers, the one who teaches her Box Class and the one who is the Assistive Technology Team Leader in Plano. We told them what happened.
They made calls.
Today when Julie picked up Schuyler, the site manager found her as she walked in the door and told how Schuyler had a very good day, how they had reintroduced her to the rest of the kids and had her demonstrate her device. Schuyler had shown them how the Big Box of Words worked, and used it to ask them questions. They were apparently very impressed. It sounded a little like the coffee cup all over again. I have no idea how things will be tomorrow, and I remain skeptical. But today, things were much, much different.
You'll read all about them in the book; they are all a part of its unexpected happy ending. But until such time as you can go throw a fistful of dollars at your local bookseller and walk out with my monstery tome in hand, just know that Schuyler's teachers are brilliant educators, but that's not why they are superheroes.
They are superheroes because they love Schuyler and never, ever, ever stop fighting for her. They are fiercely protective of her, like family.
It's not just her regular school year teachers, either. Her summer school teacher already knows Schuyler. In one of those fun coincidences that never feel like chance, her teacher for the summer was one of the assistants in the Box Class during Schuyler's first year in Plano. She called me a couple of weeks ago to tell me, and the absolute joy in her voice about seeing Schuyler again made me happy, and proud.
People dig my kid. I'm not always terribly concerned how they feel about me.
Had tears in my eyes yesterday due to anger and today have got tears in my eyes again which are of joy. Can you clone those teachers and send them to the UK?
ReplyDeleteYay! I am so happy that things resolved so well for everyone. You are truly blessed to have such caring people around Schuyler; even more so because they are her teachers and willing to fight for her. I hope that this is the first of many posts telling us what great times Schuyler is having at camp.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you have (so far) a good resolution on this. Those teachers sound like they really handled it well, all around, and clearly that happened because you advocated. I'm sure it gets tiring sometimes, advocating, but you never sound like it, or never lose heart over it.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, in our society, when we don't understand something new, we just clam up and get afraid. So I think calling her teachers who know all about the aac and having them
ReplyDeleteedyou-macate the uninformed people at the after school class is one of the best things you could have done. Hopefully now that they know, the environment will immprove, and now they have no future excuse, if there should be any (hopefully not) incidents. I, being the optimist for the moment, am going to say these people just needed some education on the matter, and now that they know, things will go more smoothly.
This is one example that just makes sense and makes it all the more great that you have written this book. I believe the main reason we get problems like this is because people just don't understand, and they clam up, and they don't know how to be.. (this is probably why kids too have an easier time accepting) so if the word gets out, if people are exposed to the world of aac then people will understand more and these problems will be less and less. And the only problems there should be would be with truly evil people, who understand but don't give a bleep.. and well, we all have problems with those people.. no matter how we communicate.
so this is me hoping again that your book is huge huge ! and everyone in american knows what aac is and about these kids who use it !
I'd never read the coffee cup post - man, your girl is something, isn't she?
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm pleased that things went better at school. Hopefully - this smooth sailing will continue for awhile.
I have been absent from reading for a few days. I came today to catch up. a few comments:
ReplyDeleteI am sad.
I am furious that anyone at any time would suggest striking this little girl in anger or as punishment or for any reason. Furious.
I am so glad she has you for a dad.
I am sending only good thoughts and positive feelings to you both. You have my heart.
People dig my kid. I'm not always terribly concerned how they feel about me.
ReplyDeleteA mantra for many Shepherds, myself included.
I'm far from a religious zealot (okay, "far" could be understated), but I do firmly believe in the golden rule and have used it to educate the neighborhood kids about dealing with my son. Treat him only how you would want to be treated. If you don't? Don't whine to me about how he responds. It works for teachers and other adults too.
If adults could follow that rule and teach it to their children, imagine the world we would have --- and the fighting we Shepherds wouldn't have to do just to protect our kids.
So glad for a great day. :)
And, Schuyler? If you kick another kid because you're frustrated, then yes, Daddy will wish you could have stopped, calmed down, and made a better choice--BUT he'll still love you. That choice does not make you a bad person.
He will love you even if you beat the other kid senseless and feed him to a monster or sell him to a witch to put in her cauldron. No matter what you do, your Daddy will always love you. You are both very lucky to have each other.
I hope you have a wonderful summer. :)
It seems that Schuyler's situation is a double-edged sword that has a lot to teach us about tolerance and understanding one another. At first glance, your daughter is just this really beautiful kid. Some people then expect her not have any problems. In contrast, some other people with problems that are more visible at first glance, cause us to turn away. My sister struggles with her speech sometimes due to her strokes. She walks haltingly with her cane. Some people then expect her not to be able to do anything. Sadly, to get along we have to figure out who people are, what they can do and where they need help. A lot of us just can't be bothered, especially with strangers. Schuyler has taught us readers that even though her monster is a big one, that it makes her actually more than just another very pretty and clever little girl. It's been great to really get to know her...which your writing helps to do.
ReplyDeletePeople dig my kid. I'm not always terribly concerned how they feel about me.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned, all three of you guys are heroes.
I am so glad Schuyler had a better day and her champions set things right. I hope it continues!
ReplyDeleteAwright! Go Schuyler. And those teachers you talk about, wow, they sound like real Menschen. You guys rock!
ReplyDeleteGlad that the teachers were able to intervene. Odds are that the after-school class staff are paid by the hour, untrained, and uninformed. Is the after school class run by the city parks and rec department? What are the legal agreements between the school and the program?
ReplyDeleteThis whole situation illustrates why parents, teachers (professional educators with advanced degrees), paraprofessionals, and other staff must work together as a team in the best interests of the kid. As a mainstream teacher, I've been on many an IEP team, and constant communication is the key. As long as everyone is willing to listen, learn, and communicate, and make sure that the kid's best interests are being met, then the kid will be successful!
If the after school program, is indeed a parks and rec-type program- I know what the after-school class staff did was wrong, common sense wrong, but to all who are bashing them, please remember that they are probably paid a menial wage and have little to no training in education. They are not professionals or even paraprofessionals. Schuyler's device was probably so out of their scope that they had no basis on which to go on. I'm very sorry that she got caught in this mess. And I can see that parks and rec needs to consider some extra training in attending to special needs kids of all types. Often parks and rec-type summer programs focus on activities and fun, not on needs of kids so perhaps that is something that can be suggested to the head of the program- not the site director, but the department head. No one, I'm sure, wants this situation to happen to any kid again. (I'm making some assumptions here about the program-feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).
I'm so happy things are going better! I hope it continues that way.
ReplyDelete~Meg in Los Angeles
"In one of those fun coincidences that never feel like chance..."
ReplyDeleteYou know Rob, as much as you are angry with God, your faith never fails to astound me. I hope one day the two of you can reconcile...
You are an amazingly awesome father, and Schuyler is lucky to have you. Congrats on your happy ending, and you can bet I'll be reading it the day it hits the shelves.
Thank you for sharing with us, I always look forward to hearing The Continuing Adventures of Rob and Schuyler!
I'm so glad to hear that. I hated the thought of Schuyler being so unhappy. Kudos to her teachers! May the happy days roll on for her this summer.
ReplyDeleteHow is it going now?
ReplyDeletebeautiful words.
ReplyDelete