tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968832750980690379.post7415996482136116013..comments2023-06-13T07:02:01.670-02:30Comments on My Yellow Apple: Journeys in Parenting Asperger's Syndrome: The Chicken and the EggNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16464849405793772115noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968832750980690379.post-90492305890776039492010-07-01T19:37:04.319-02:302010-07-01T19:37:04.319-02:30Caitlin, you do know I'm North American right?...Caitlin, you do know I'm North American right? lol... I would have agree with you on the short sighted stingy people that surround me. By all means, support our police force so that you can be protected from criminals-but don't give a dime to education so that our schools can turn out educated employable individuals that will aspire to do great things. Lack of money is a big issue for our schools. <br /><br />Another issue that I ran into, and Natalie touched on, is trying to make our kids fit... A common IEP goal for my son as well as others in his Special Education classroom was to remain seated. They wanted our kids to sit in their seats when they actually could focus better standing. The year prior, main stream classroom, my son was allowed to stand and do his work. His school OT praised him for knowing what his body needed, some input to his feet. His teacher could care less as long as he did his work and wasn't a distraction to the other kids. He moved to a special ed class and was not allowed to. They would rather he sit and learn 'less' than stand and do his 'best'. A simple accommodation not allowed because all kids sit to learn and he should to, it looks better (the school PhD actually said that to me). This is not an accommodation that required money, but rather an open mind and flexibility. That year was all about shaping the children into the traditional mold. A mold that my son will never fit.Just another Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11055286051125648905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968832750980690379.post-7340393133937320132010-06-29T13:10:35.890-02:302010-06-29T13:10:35.890-02:30"School" is such a catch 22. You need a ..."School" is such a catch 22. You need a system to deliver school because of the volume of kids, but the nature of systems is that they won't accommodate differences, they are slow to evolve, they miss nuances. <br /><br />My take on school is that it comes down to money. 20 years ago it would have been more an issue of philosophy - the ingredient needed to even recognize the need for accommodations and diversity in the classroom. But as you explained, we're there now. We've got a pretty good handle on what a broad range of kids need to be successful. We just don't have the RESOURCES to accommodate them all.<br /><br />That comes down to money, and money for education comes from taxes. One of my biggest pet peeves - and really it's too massive to be called a peeve - is how north americans have been indoctrinated to fear and loathe taxation.<br /><br />Taxation is what got us this comfy society in the first place. Spreading the wealth, acknowledging that if something benefits others it will eventually come back full circle to benefit you. School taxes are always a huge political firecracker because so many people don't have kids or no longer have kids in school, and many of them feel they should not be paying any, or should paying less, school taxes. How absurd! Whether you have kids or not, you benefit directly from a society with educated, happy, well adjusted children! <br /><br />North Americans need to start INVESTING in the education of ALL children. Because while it may mean an extra couple hundred dollars at tax time, it's just the right thing to do.Caitlin Wrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06683662224096157734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968832750980690379.post-27357770171724016192010-06-29T10:05:37.664-02:302010-06-29T10:05:37.664-02:30I really enjoyed this post! Very thought provokin...I really enjoyed this post! Very thought provoking. I posted a rant about some of my family's lack of understanding about autism.Twisted Cinderellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14273548648344779210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968832750980690379.post-20362515360656668502010-06-28T10:34:07.494-02:302010-06-28T10:34:07.494-02:30This is a great post, Natalie. I recently had the...This is a great post, Natalie. I recently had the opportunity to hear Jonathan Mooney speak ("The Short Bus") and he mentioned many of these same points. Much food for thought. Thank you!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07226691769768760275noreply@blogger.com