But how does it give Joey the movement he needs under his desk?

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"I see you in the front row, bouncing up and down, you're ripped and ready for a night downtown." ~ Margarita
What's wrong with a little flirtation?

Monster Tee

I can't speak for Helen, but I'm imagining it being tied to his desk on the bottom and he can push on it with his feet. Don't know if that's right, but it's an idea. Helen?

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Some people shine like a star in the first moment. Others keep their light hidden until they are ready to show us.

A positive precedent (in the US) - Ryan's Law

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sorry - I missed your question, Fran.

It is a large elastic band hooked over his desk legs.  He can press his feet against it, giving him a repetetive movement that doesn't disturb the class.  Movement of this sort can help a child wih hyperactivity or concentration problems to focus better. 

In Joey's case, since he was born with club feet, this is doubly beneficial for him, because it allows him to stretch his anlkes/achilles and it gives him a form of involuntary physical therapy.

Columbine - I am off to check out the link, thanks!

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Helen




I'm goin' Straight to Hell-On-Wheels!

Wow, Helen,...let me think if I can think of a few more things for life to throw at you now..! Good luck with getting what you need for Joey.

Next week I spend time at the charter school to see if it is right for Espen. This is a big scandal for our little community, that I would "reject" the regular school, so i am trying to keep it quiet.  They had the lottery and E actaully got drawn, so it is a real option, not just theoretical.. Just heard a big crash upstairs, so gotta go

ann

ps- made 8 batches of raspberry jam from our freezer berries today with a friend!

 

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Peace, Ann

Columbine:

A positive precedent (in the US) - Ryan's Law

Some good news to hear from the US on World Autism Day.

Helen, That sounds like the kind of thing that would be good for Kaesye. She's not really hyperactive, she just prefers the ability to move a little more that standing up gives her to do her work. Unfortunately, it also sounds like the kind of thing that she would abuse and somehow find a way to start a riot with in class :) 

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"I see you in the front row, bouncing up and down, you're ripped and ready for a night downtown." ~ Margarita
What's wrong with a little flirtation?

Monster Tee

Soooo, not the greatest day, and it's only 11:20 a.m.! Adrian is on his way home and when he gets here, it's not gonna be good. Yesterday he asked to stay home, because as you can well imagine, April Fool's Day has never been a good day for him. So I let him. When he left this morning, he was in a good mood, despite being woken up before 7:00 by one of the cats (he usually gets up at 7:30). Things looked good. Until he arrived at his locker to find that his lock had been stolen. (Every year I buy him one of those locks with a picture on it). He FREAKED. He must have felt horrible knowing that staying home didn't save him from anything. BUT, it didn't give him the right to scream at his EA, refuse to do work in cooking class and end up in the principal's office. One of the teachers paid for a lock from the school out of his own pocket and Adrian refused it because 'it's too plain'. Because of his actions in cooking, he lost his bake shop priviledges tomorrow (his favourite part of the class). When his EA called me, Adrian had been yelling at people for half an hour. I told her to tell him to get a bus home, because they didn't need to put up with that. Here's another BUT tho...I'm not allowing him to act like that and then walk in here and use the computer or video games, like nothing happened, so I've taken the mouse and controllers and locked them in my desk. So I know he's going to flip out. All I can think about is Chelsea...I'm surprised that kid doesn't have an ulcer with what she's had to deal with (uh oh, Adrian's home). The stuff that happened at school, parents who argue, a brother with the problems he has...geez. To top it off, Adrian brought home a form on Monday that we both had to sign to give the school permission to continue communication with me, which we both signed and he had the form with him to take to school today...when his EA asked him for it, she got the impression he didn't have it and explained why she needed it, to which he responded, 'So if I don't sign it, you can't talk to my mom?' My response to the EA was, 'Oooh, he is not THAT stupid'.

....So now Adrian is on his way up to his room with the knowledge that he has to do any and all homework to earn any computer or video game priviledges back. I've also told him that from now on, the homework will get done first, then he can use those things. ARRRRRGGGGHHH!

ETA...An hour later and he's done homework. I think that's a record. The things that motivate, eh?

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Some people shine like a star in the first moment. Others keep their light hidden until they are ready to show us.

First and foremost HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO ADRIAN!!!  I'm sorry he put himself and everybody else through a rough day today.   God knows Emma had many of those days at school.  I honestly think they were relieved when we took her out of there; they didn't know what to do with her; and suspending her just gave everybody a break (especially her) and then it would start all over again.

Anyhow, I haven't been on this thread in ages; haven't wanted to jinx the good news around my house.  Emma broke up with the boyfriend last Monday.  He controlled every aspect of her life - when she ate, slept, who she saw, whether she did her school work (or not), whether she went to her counseling appts (or not).  The last straw was that he starting taking her $$$ - right out of her wallet and/or her car - he felt entitled to it.  She has been working for about a month now and is realizing how hard you have to work for the amount of $$ you make.  She has broken up with him many times (and vice versa) but this is going on 10 days now.  He called her a lot at first but that seems to have subsided.  Apparently he already has a new girlfriend.  That in itself tells Emma he never really "loved" her.  That imbecile is incapable of love.  She showed me bruises all over her arms and legs where every time she'd get on his nerves or say something he didn't like he'd punch her.  I wanted to press charges but she said no she just wants to walk away and never have to deal with him again.  He is a sadistic, dark creature - hates everybody and everything.  I could go on and on.  I feel sure he will be in prison before he's 25 (I've probably said this before but I really think he will). 

With all that, Emma is spending more time at home - is laughing and smiling for the first time in way over a year (year and a half almost).  She can now go to work without being threatened.  She can see her girlfriends again - she only has 3 but she has had so much fun with them this past week.  She had a double sleepover here Fri. night and a single sleeover Sat. night.  It is so wonderful to hear laughter and giggles in this house again.  A couple of her friends are not ones I would choose for her and aren't the best influence on her, but for now I'm just glad she's happy again.  Her friendly personality has come back.  No more vulgar language and screaming at us all the time.  She still is bipolar and has some MAJOR issues, but there is renewed hope with that jerk out of the way.  We can actually work with her now on a day to day basis without her flipping out.  It is still like pulling teeth to get her to do her school work, but we are going to keep working and pushing her on that.  We actually are going to an open house this coming Sat. to look at a technical school close by.  She was apparently on a list, they sent her an invitation and then called here.   She answered the phone and set the appt. up herself and then asked if her dad and I want to join her.   Well, I guess we'll go since we're the ones who would be paying for it.  :-)    Not that she'll go to this school, but this is the first time she has expressed any interest in any type of continuing education.  She has to finish high school first, of course.  I don't want to get my hopes up too much but I am praying hard that she will turn herself around now.  Oh, and she's taking her meds without any fight at all.

Just wanted to tell y'all the good news.  I just pray it remains good and things keep getting better.  I'm just so darned skepticle after all she's put us through, I must admit.  I will back her 100% if she tries to better herself.  Just the fact that she has held down this job for a month is a wonderful thing.   God is good - all the time!!!!   

Cheers!

Robin

Oh Robin, I'm so happy for you. And Emma. What a relief it must be for her. It must be horrible for you to know the abuse that was being inflicted on her, but now it's over and Emma knows what she DOESN'T want in a boyfriend! My wishes for continued success!

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Some people shine like a star in the first moment. Others keep their light hidden until they are ready to show us.

Oh Robin! How wonderful for you! I know how tat feels when you finally realize the corner has been turned. And you know that the bipolar thing has its ups and downs. (not trying to be funny here, but it is, I guess)

I hope it continues and things only get better from here. I saw my Nick the other day and he is manging to do what he needs to do in a way that is not alienating people. A big step for him. I felt good, too.

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

It is great for Emma. Not just because she dumped him but because she's not wallowing. She's having fun with her friends. Even if they're not what you imagined the most ideal friends to be, you now have proof that she can make good decisions when it comes to the people she hangs out with.

 Trace, I hope you managed to get through your day. Just remember, DEEP BREATHS. On the positive side it helps to calm you, to centre you..and all that jazz. Of course on the negative side, it also fills your lungs full of air so you can yell louder (Can you tell I just got off a horendous evening of kindergarten homework with a Kinder who kecided that most kords begin with the ketter K? This is just a preliminary suspicion I'm throwing out there, but it may possibly have something to do with the fact that said child's name begins with K, hence K is the centre of the universe. Too bad bad, after suddenly not knowing how to write any letter of the alphabet, I could no longer use deep breathing techniques for the good. Sometimes I wonder if all children think they're parents are just insane since it makes total sense to them.)  **walks away giggling hysterically at the letter K, because at this point it's either laugh or cry**

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"I see you in the front row, bouncing up and down, you're ripped and ready for a night downtown." ~ Margarita
What's wrong with a little flirtation?

Monster Tee

All words start with K Ah Fran, yep, I've said it many times myself that you've got to laugh or you're gonna cry! But just think what a funny story this will be when it's long over...a nice embarrassing story...mwahaha!!

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Some people shine like a star in the first moment. Others keep their light hidden until they are ready to show us.

Robin-YAY for you and Emma I hope all continues on an even keel for you for a long time.

Fran every thing is as it should be K IS the most important letter of the alphabet!

Trace -isn't 18 fun!

I have a new 18 comming up this weekend myself I'm bracing for the independant new improved Laura Things have been a little rocky here for the last coupla weeks, with partying teens and questionable report cards, the choosing of consequeces to match the related inappropriate actions, that can be resonably imposed. To top it all off Alex comes down with a bacterial infection that should have him in bed for at least 4 days, but for pain, they gave him Tylenol#3. the caffine sends him just spinning so, after I pry those out of his shaking hands and get him down off the eveil drug, I have to get him to call the Doc. for more info( he's over 18!) and a new pain medication. Devious as I am I sent him for a shower in case the Dr needed to see him, so when they called back I got the call(timing is everything). They were more comfortable giving me the info as they knew Alex would not completely understand what they were saying to him anyway. Now I am hoping and praying he will be well enough to attend his course that starts on the 14th.

     Life goes on!

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~The mind is like a parachute, It always works best when it's open~Edna Buchanan~

~Northern Spy~The Apple of my Pie~

~Audrey~

TV recommendation...."Autism- The Musical". It's showing on HBO in the states this month. It is truly inspirational, wrenching, joyful and beautiful, and many on this board will relate to it. the mother of an autistic child, weho also happens to be a drama coach, thought a musical would be a good therapy for her son. she rounded up other kids and families with autism, and put on a show. It will make you cry, but in a good way!

NorthernSpy:

 for pain, they gave him Tylenol#3. the caffine sends him just spinning

I suggest next time they prescribe Empracet instead. It's the same as Tylenol #3 but there's no caffeine. (Caffeine may sometimes help increase the transit of the painkiller but it's really only to help keep the real