Summer is Here!

It has been awhile since I have updated everyone on Harrison and what is new!

It is amazing to look back at September 2010 when school first started and see a young man who was willing to try anything and determined to be successful in First Grade. I am so happy that Harrison is ready for Second Grade and the new adventures that that will bring. For those checking in we are still not receiving any Special Education IDEiA Services from Spokane Public Schools. We are looking forward to a 3rd year in our neighborhood school. The growth that he has had this year is directly related to his new found confidence and friendships in Cub Scouts.

This year Harrison and his Dad decided that they were going to try Cub Scouts. There is not an active pack at our elementary school so while going to yard sales last summer we found a Pack that met at a nearby school. Harrison and Dave joined the Pack and started their Scouting Adventure. We decided to start the scouting program based on Harrison's grade not his age so that he would have access to the entire program.

Harrison and Dad met with the Pack on Wednesday evening and worked hard toward the Tiger Badge Achievements with the group. With a pretty small pack with peers in the Tiger Den who were 1.5 years younger than Harrison it became clear that he needed to be with age appropriate peers as he would strive to meet them at their social and skill levels and more importantly he could do it and he wanted to be with the kids his own age. One of the joys of the Scouting Program is that accommodations are not a new concept to them. Harrison did wonderfully and achieved his Tiger Badge in January. They have awesome literature on line that describe autism and ASD related issues to leaders and other parents in such a positive way.

By February our family made a decision to leave that Pack and join another group who was better prepared to meet our unique needs in Scouting. It was bitter-sweet however a good choice.

We chose to move to Pack 479 in Spokane Valley at Trent Elementary. They were kicking off the annual Cub Scout Honey Sale. Harrison asked if he could have a Honey Tasting Party and invite our friends, family and neighbors to come, buy honey and support Harrison with working toward going to Day Camp this summer! Over 50 guests arrived to the Honey Tasting Party purchasing over $800 worth of Honey that day. When we finished the Honey Sale, Harrison sold 114 items totaling $1396. Harrison earned 4 entries into the Grand Prize Drawing, a $50 Walmart Gift Card, and self confidence that many have never seen from Harrison.

Harrison joined the Pack as a Wolf and worked hard in the 8 weeks before the end of the Pack year to earn his Wolf Badge. He learned to cook on a BBQ, made a food pyramid chart, visited a Park, to name a few things. He was so happy to receive his Wolf Badge and new Bear Book. Harrison has been showing his true leadership skills and is gain confidence each time that he meets with the Den. We are hoping to see those leadership skills transfer to the school setting this next year.

The best part of this past year is the acceptance and true friendship that has grown between Harrison and the boys from the Pack. Our biggest success comes with Harrison making his first "real" friend. As the parent of a child with Autism you always hope that your child with make a connection with another person their age and with the same interests. Harrison's friendship with the cub scouts in his pack is a dream come true for us. Harrison has been accepted just as he is, and is not only expected by his peers to do his part in the pack but also to be part of their non-scout lives with sleep-overs, play dates and all! Every Mothers Dream!

This summer will be full of fun! Harrison is going to Cub Scout Day Camp- Wild, Wild, West and Blast off! Space Camp, Shoot It! Build It! Burn It! Blow it Up!, Al American Sports, the Avista Stadium Scout Night and Camp Out, Cub Scout Family Picnic, Cub Scout Family Camp, SHOCK Scout Night, and Cub Country Resident Camp with Dad! Vacation Bible School, the Buddy Builders Group at Therapy!, Spokane Indians Baseball, and Fireworks...not to mention all the regular stuff that kids do in the summer! It is going to be busy and fun!

Parenting a child with Autism is not easy, but it is rewarding when you see the hard work pay off, and your child attempt to do the things that they love, and most importantly make a friend all on their own!

Same Issues different School Year!-Call to Action!

This year I decided that I was unwilling to settle!

Education Reform and Drop-Out rates are all the buzz in our School District. I did my part in contacting my legislators with the following asking them to consider the "Real Cost" of not fixing our education system and how it impacts my son and his peers in the future! This is my opinion and what our family truly believes. (Insert Soap-box warning here!)

I would like to let you know that ending segregation/discrimination of Special Education Students into self-contained classrooms is another measure that needs to be address in education reform.

A thought to ponder and share: The Department of Education provides federal funding to provide educational services to individual states and School Districts who practice segregation and discrimination. Please consider that making parents (not respecting parent choice of the neighborhood school placement) choose to receive special education services for their child dependent on placement in a self-contained classroom not at their home neighborhood school is the same as sending Children of Color to another school because of the color of their skin which they can not help. This is our current situation for the past 18 months. You are welcome to contact us to discuss our educational issue further.

We need to end discrimination in our School Districts. If you look at the costs associated with providing segregation to students who qualify for Special Education Services you will find that most of that cost is spent on Transportation to bus to another school and one-on-one services that are measured in minutes that on most IEP's do not total 300 minutes per day (typical number of minutes in an averarge school day) and can be provided at their neighborhood schools but districts have gotten into a this is how we do it model.

We cant afford the financial cost any longer and besides look at the APR testing for special education students-very few districts who allow segregation are meeting the standards....yet school districts who because of budget constraints are unable to segregate have students with special education services who are passing the APR.

Why? Those kids have the same disabilities as kids from the "Big Cities".

I believe it is because of FULL INCLUSION! Its CHEAPER, ITS the LAW, and ITS WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ALL KIDS!

Parents should not have to choose to attend a neighboring school to have their children receive the services they need if they live 5 blocks from an awarding winning Title I school!

I appreciate your attention and attempt in understanding my husband and my position on this matter. My son Harrison, 8 years old with Autism, is the future.

The current education system is setting up Harrison’s current peers to financially support him in the future instead of teaching all children to work together so that my son will be able to have livable wage employment without having to depend on Public Assistance for living expenses and Medical coverage.

That truly is the cost of not fixing this problem now!

It is amazing where passion comes from! I have found mine...ending segregation of children with Disabilities in Public School! What is your passion and what are you doing about it?

Gerriann!