A rare daytime post--from a luxury Drury Inn

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Buffacuse · #1 Post by **Buffacuse** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:23 am

Heya! I have been travelling and dealing with Lil' Buff's IEP fiasco so haven't been able to post much, but I have muchly good things coming together for my little buddy:

They are doing a summer program for him in Buffalo--the parents convinced the program directors to do an entirely therapeutic--non research--program for veteran kids so I am elated--and another five weeks in Buffalo this summer!

We got our school system to give him the exact placement we want for next year and into the future if, in effect, we agree not to sue them this year or make them pay for a private placement. Again, I am elated over this, since I want him to remain in the public schools for the social modeling he is getting--but we had to involve all kinds of county officials and actually fire our former advocate (who believed he belonged in a room for severely disabled kids despite much evidence to the contrary). I didn't want to end our several year relatiosnhip with this woman but she was disagreeing with us in front of the school staff so I felt I had no choice.

And, another tear-jerker moment for me--kids with Aspergers are often severely delayed in their fine motor skills so PE class is usually a nightmare for them. Two days ago, Lil' Buff runs into the car clutching a trophy shouting "look Dad look." Turns out his PE teacher had a scooter race in class and the little guy, who has used a scooter for years--won. First time he's ever gotten a trophy for something like this. I love this PE teacher.

Catch y'all later--heading back to DC tonight.

TheCalvinator24 · #2 Post by **TheCalvinator24** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:27 am

The actor playing George Kittredge in my production of The Philadelphia Story has Aspergers. Is an incessant play for attention a common trait for Aspergers?

Appa23 · #3 Post by **Appa23** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:32 am

TheCalvinator24 wrote:The actor playing George Kittredge in my production of The Philadelphia Story has Aspergers. Is an incessant play for attention a common trait for Aspergers?

No, but it is a trait for actors.

a1mamacat · #4 Post by **a1mamacat** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:43 am

Appa23 wrote:
TheCalvinator24 wrote:The actor playing George Kittredge in my production of The Philadelphia Story has Aspergers. Is an incessant play for attention a common trait for Aspergers?
No, but it is a trait for actors.

HD you owe me a new monitor and keyboard....

gsabc · #5 Post by **gsabc** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:45 am

Buffacuse wrote:Heya! I have been travelling and dealing with Lil' Buff's IEP fiasco so haven't been able to post much, but I have muchly good things coming together for my little buddy:

They are doing a summer program for him in Buffalo--the parents convinced the program directors to do an entirely therapeutic--non research--program for veteran kids so I am elated--and another five weeks in Buffalo this summer!

We got our school system to give him the exact placement we want for next year and into the future if, in effect, we agree not to sue them this year or make them pay for a private placement. Again, I am elated over this, since I want him to remain in the public schools for the social modeling he is getting--but we had to involve all kinds of county officials and actually fire our former advocate (who believed he belonged in a room for severely disabled kids despite much evidence to the contrary). I didn't want to end our several year relatiosnhip with this woman but she was disagreeing with us in front of the school staff so I felt I had no choice.

And, another tear-jerker moment for me--kids with Aspergers are often severely delayed in their fine motor skills so PE class is usually a nightmare for them. Two days ago, Lil' Buff runs into the car clutching a trophy shouting "look Dad look." Turns out his PE teacher had a scooter race in class and the little guy, who has used a scooter for years--won. First time he's ever gotten a trophy for something like this. I love this PE teacher.

Catch y'all later--heading back to DC tonight.

I feel your pain with the IEP's. Had to go through them myself with HS, and BD is now going through them from the point of view of a teacher advocating proper help for students. She's good at it, too. Good for you on firing the original advocate and getting what you want and what Lil' Buff needs to succeed.

tlynn78 · #6 Post by **tlynn78** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:49 am

No, but it is a trait for actors

Now that was funny.

t.

TheCalvinator24 · #7 Post by **TheCalvinator24** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:05 am

Yes, it was funny, but my question was a serious one. I need to know if this guy's behavior is explained by his condition, or if he's just annoying.

MarleysGh0st · #8 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:27 am

Outstanding news, Buff!

Sorry about firing your advocate, but you did what you had to do.

peacock2121 · #9 Post by **peacock2121** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:27 am

TheCalvinator24 wrote:Yes, it was funny, but my question was a serious one. I need to know if this guy's behavior is explained by his condition, or if he's just annoying.

I must just be really crackupable today.

This cracked me up as well.

Do you mean that if we can blame his condition for being annoying, then he will no longer be annoying?

tlynn78 · #10 Post by **tlynn78** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:29 am

Terrific news, Buff. You are a fantastic advocate for your son.

t.

peacock2121 · #11 Post by **peacock2121** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:32 am

My bad!

Great job Buff!

Keep on keepin' on - it will pay off.

TheCalvinator24 · #12 Post by **TheCalvinator24** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:38 am

peacock2121 wrote:
TheCalvinator24 wrote:Yes, it was funny, but my question was a serious one. I need to know if this guy's behavior is explained by his condition, or if he's just annoying.
I must just be really crackupable today.

This cracked me up as well.

Do you mean that if we can blame his condition for being annoying, then he will no longer be annoying?

No, he'll still be annoying, but perhaps more tolerable.

peacock2121 · #13 Post by **peacock2121** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:48 am

TheCalvinator24 wrote:
peacock2121 wrote:
TheCalvinator24 wrote:Yes, it was funny, but my question was a serious one. I need to know if this guy's behavior is explained by his condition, or if he's just annoying.
I must just be really crackupable today.

This cracked me up as well.

Do you mean that if we can blame his condition for being annoying, then he will no longer be annoying?
No, he'll still be annoying, but perhaps more tolerable.

Maybe more excusable as well.

Buffacuse · #14 Post by **Buffacuse** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:21 pm

Thanks for the kind thoughts--had a chance to sneak back on before heading to the airport to fly home.

Serious answer to Cal's question: Aspergers itself usually manifests just the opposite tendency--people with it tend to withdraw and want to be left alone. But, their behavior can be extremely socially off-putting, to put it mildly. Lil' Buff will often narrate stories to himself outloud, lose his temper in supermarket check out lines, not be able to handle crowds, and do a host of things that the untrained observer would suggest are ploys for attention. They are not--they are direct manifestations of his neurological disorder--in some ways not unlike the outbursts of a Tourette's sufferer. Believe me, he doesn't know what he is doing and can't help himself. If this guy has Aspergers, he literally may not be able to stop himself.

I find this individual's choice of acting frankly remarkable for an Aspergers patient. My only theory is this: acting itself may be his single-threaded obsession--a trait most Aspergers patients have. Lil' Buff's is Thomas the Tank Engine--I've met other patients/kids who obsess about Spongebob Squarepants, light switches, baseball, fishing, and a host of other things. If this guy is obsessed with acting, it may be something he retreats to for comfort in times of stress. In any event, the forced socialization of acting is unusual for an Aspergers patient and, frankly, although it is no doubt extremely difficult for your group to deal with, laudible.

WWTBAM Bored

A rare daytime post--from a luxury Drury Inn

A rare daytime post--from a luxury Drury Inn

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