Summer school

Summer school is about to end on the 29th of July 2009. The school district is somehow trying to minimize the impact of the recession. The district allowed only four schooldays for this summer that is Monday - Thursday.

It took me to some heights again to press the summer school where he is attending that he must be given grade-level academic work. Imagine, the first 3 days of school, the summer school teacher showed me three pages of preschool work? I flipped. I sent an e-mail to the principal of his current school to demand that he must be given grade-level activities. Yes, I flipped in a sense that I was determined that he must not be given stupid lessons when a teacher wants to buy time inside the classroom. I used the word, "demand" because I was firm that AX's thinks far beyond than he can speak. On the first Thursday of the summer school, he was finally given something relevant. It was minimal but am thankful that what I did made them come to their senses. However, I am still cautious. Nonetheless, let it be known that the teacher is kind and is trying her best. However, I hope that she believes more that students with autism can go mainstream. I just felt so bad that she thinks low of what the students with autism can reach or do in life. She thinks, that these disabled students are forever chained to their current situation. It tells me that HOPE is a very elusive word and should not be for children with autism. Life is choice and choosing hope to live everyday is wonderful.

On a similar note, I saw some videos of adults with "severe mental disabilities" and they are picking up trash. They are being interviewed by a lady. They answered her questions properly albeit some in a slow pace response. This is my commentary and I hope she will publish it.

I feel bad that their job is to pick up trash just because they have "severe mental disabilities." They responded to your questions properly and that does not essentially qualify them as having a "severe" condition. I hope you can post more videos showing these individuals what they can really do. It somehow tells me that they went to school when they were young and since they have severe mental disabilities, all they could end up to is picking up trash in their adult years? Life is harsh.