To Whom it May Concern,

I teach a self-contained autism K-2 class in East Brunswick, New Jersey.  One of my former students has just moved back to Puerto Rico.  School started there 3 weeks ago and he has been home because they do not have appropriate programs in place for children with autism.  His mother has started a petition to the government, asking for the creation of services that we know are vital to the success of our children.

I am sending you the link to her petition, as well as the English translation.  The first reason for this post is to ask that the petition be signed and forwarded to anyone possible.

The second reason for this post is to ask for advice or any information on how to help this family in terms of rights they may have in Puerto Rico.  

Thank you for your time.  I truly appreciate it.

Carrie

Teacher, Autism K-2

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I'm into a few weeks in college now and it's completely different battledfield. I only took 3 classes though so I have a lot of room to do so on. But what I've also noticed about myself and what my mom has explained to me, because like me she's a great observer, is that I'm not accustomed to change. I don't like change that much. My long known friend with autism doesn't like it neither. In this case, it was just something I programmed my mind to. Before I started college, I wanted to be a game creator; I still want to. So my mom didn't approve of me going out of state really to try out for DeVry University in Chicago or going to Phoenix. So I decided to go to ITT Tech which I found out has a gaming program, in fact many. I was apmted up in my mind so my mom helped me to sign up. I've had scholarships from when I was little for I don't know how long, but they were going to help out. Then comes to find out, to make a story shorter, I can't go. It seems because they want $45,000 for only 2 years! And you don't even get money while you are in. So I had to go to the city's college instead which I despise. I've been jerked around all my young high school life about being into the gaming industry along with KCTC and other things, that I just want to go into what I want to do. But it seems like every time I get closer, I get pulled back by something stronger. Now I'm going to college, even though I'm getting money for going, but I wanted learning quality. I can complain both ways, but I'm here now. And I now it's all too soon to think it, but when will I ever get to do what I want? Some may think it's cruel, but my mom forced me to accept change. Because if I hadn't, I probably wouldn't be typing this message here today. Observate your children thouroughly, because sometimes, they try to tell you something by not saying it, but showing signs.

Hello again from Ali-Pat Publications!

 Alison and I want to thank those who gave us some great ideas for the name of our new page. After a great deal of discussion we have made our decision.  The new page for teachers, caretakers, parents and therapists to post their ideas on educational materials and their uses will be called simply: The Message Board.

The way this works is this: contact us at info@alipatpublications with your ideas on how you have taken educational games or materials and recreated them to work for you and your students.  We hope this will be a great way for teachers, caretakers, parents and therapists to share new ideas and use them or to reuse old materials in new ways.

We look forward to posting your ideas!

 Patty and Alison 

Hi My name is Laura and I am a special education teacher working on getting my masters in early childhood special education at NEIU.   I loved student teaching in an early childhood autism room and am excited to learn many things on this site.

Hi everyone,

wanted to introduce myself, I am Priscila, and I am the parent of an 8 yr old with autism. I am also a trained Special Education Advocate. Here to help and keep learning whatever I can.

My son just turned three and is non-verbal. He just transitioned out of early intervention into an autism preschool for 3 year olds provided by the public school district. My son was in early intervention for a year and a half and has been rapidly improving. He is at his age level for his cognitive ability and also his receptive language. He has apraxia wich makes him unable to speak but has over 60 signs and can communicate at his age level through sign language. I feel like because he cannot speak his abilities are underestimated.

He recently started at the autism classroom provided by the school district which is 5 hours long 5 days a week. About 4 hours of the 5 are spent doing distcrete trials through A.B.A. alot of the kids in his class are very unruley and all over the place they seemed very unregulated and it seems to me that they are getting most of the teacher and aids attention through negetive behavior while my son sits and follows directions well and receives little attention.

I am worried about him, at home he has began to seek my attention through negetive actions he has been crying and protesting about everything, he has been frustrated and even has become aggressive with me. I have noticed ALOT of negetive behavior that I have never seen before and I know he had to have learned in the class from other children.

Is this a normal part of sending children to school?  read more »

This week we're featuring the artwork of Jaime and Jeffrey Rugh, artists who live in New Jersey and have produced an awesome line of posters that promote understanding about autism. Today: We're here. We're weird. Get used to it. 

We're getting ready for Alex to return to school - we found lots of great tips, videos, resources and some items for sale (well-priced) at Iteachautism.com. Check our blog for more: http://ow.ly/nMqi

This week we're featuring artwork by the Rugh family workshop. We'll give away a poster at the end of the week to one reader who leaves a comment. Today's piece features a nice quote from Dan Zanes, who was very nice to Alex when he was a toddler. I've always liked Dan Zanes because of that, and it was nice to see that the Rughs used a quote of his in their terrific work. 

I am planning on writing a book about autism in the form of a research guide for parents whose child/ren have been diagnosed. If you have any organizations or websites you like for information I would appreciate your input. Please include the name and type of organization, phone number, services provided, state of residence and a link to their website if they have one. Thanks!