Summer Camp - a go!

I know the woman was going to try to turn me down this morning, but just as she got ready to tell me they cannot attend unless they are fully potty trained, I broke in with, "but I knew you would be understanding and work with us."

Ummm, yeah, of course. So we talked for a bit and I told her of course I wouldn't expect them to change a BM and they could just call me. It sounds like it should work out just fine. I am a little sad though, the summer teachers are usually college kids, but both of those teachers graduated and got - real - jobs. This year it will be 2 high school students with a full time employee supervising. It's only a week at a time, so we'll try it the first week and we can always stop attending if it doesn't work out. I'm excited though, I can't imagine it won't work out. And think of all the typical kids she will get to be around!

God Give Me Strength

Not to fold that is. I sure hope I'm not on His bad side after scooting out early of Easter mass. I could sure use some strength. I went to our local County Parks & Rec to sign Chelsea up for summer camp today. Of course it was too late in the day to speak with a manager about her "accommodations."

After talking to some coworkers today they confirmed my inclination that they would have to accommodate her b/c of her disability. They are state funded, so by law, they'll have to make reasonable accommodations ... mostly just for her not being potty trained.

I'm sure they're going to love me. They already know us well from a year and a half ago when I had to pull Logan from preschool b/c their unqualified teachers wreaked of smoke and were running a glorified daycare.

When Logan was in the preschool summer camps last year I asked them if Chelsea would be able to attend when she was three even though she likely wouldn't be potty trained. They said no. That was before I read in the city's brochure that accommodations are made for ALL individuals with disabilities. If the city does it, the county should too, right? I'm sure not without a fight.

This afternoon when I asked the registrar to speak with a manager about accommodations I need for my daughter the three employees behind the desk stopped what they were doing and they all looked up at me. I'm sure they were thinking, "great, who's this coming in here trying to cause a ruckus?" Well I am not trying to cause any problems. I love their summer camps, they are run by energetic, enthusiastic college students (unlike their preschool teachers). All I want is for Chelsea to have the same opportunities Logan had.

God, give me the strength to hold my ground. I will not fold on this. They will accommodate.

The Challenges that Come

I've been reflecting lately on community. Our children first join a community when they are born, they become part of a family. A family is a place where a child feels loved, respected and safe. As they grow, we gradually hand them over to another type of community at school. Once children are in school, they become a member of a classroom community. Again, they should feel safe in this community as well as respected. As they delve into adulthood, they are then sent off to explore their lives as individuals and become part of a bigger community. A community in which we hope they will successfully contribute.

My first born has just stepped out into a classroom community. I couldn't be prouder, he seems to be doing well. He is making friends and still likes his teacher. But it's not my son I'm worried about. I'm worried about the attitudes of the members of my son's new community.

On the first day of school I received the same surprising response regarding special education children from three people. A parent in the classroom, the paraeducator and the classroom teacher all had the same concern about the high number of students in this years Kindergarten class. While 24 students is a lot of Kindergarteners in one class, they all agreed that it was really only 22 kids b/c two of the kids are special ed. and won't be in the classroom all of the time.

Just like that. Two children with disabilities have been excused. They were discounted. How can this be acceptable? Because they have special needs and leave the classroom for part of their day, doesn't make them any less part of the community. Those two girls still have a seat in the classroom, they still have their crayon box, a backpack. They are members of the class, so why are they being discounted in this way? I am sad for these girls, and their families. This is not how I would want Chelsea to start her first year of school. I am even more saddened for the school community. Do the attitudes of these three people reflect the attitudes of the entire school? Does the rest of the staff share these feelings?

At our parent night tonight I did hear the classroom teacher refer to the classroom as a complete 24 students, and I truly do not think she is one to value these children any less. I am not sure about the other parent, or the para. I feel this is a sign of things to come. While I have time before Chelsea begins Kindergarten, I now feel obliged to change the attitudes of our school community. For if our children can not feel accepted, respected and safe in their classroom, how can we expect them to successfully contribute to their community as an adult?

Thinking

I think we've finally made some meaningful revelations about our new life. I don't mean to be pessimistic all the time, but I think I've finally figured out why things seem so difficult to adjust to. Let me explain. If you're a parent, I think you'll understand.

Imagine your child as a baby, just before he/she is able to walk, maybe 10 months old. They're crawling and beginning to explore their world. Still a baby, but trying so hard to be a toddler. Now think about your child a year later. Full fledged toddler mode. Entering that terrible two stage, tearing into everything, throwing fits and rearing their independence. Two completely different stages right?

Just like your child, Chelsea made this transition from baby to toddlerhood also. The difference ... her transition happened overnight. We left last September with a baby, just beginning to walk. We came home this summer with an ornery independent toddler. It was like we woke up at home one day in early June and our family was back, things were supposed to be great, but we weren't ready. We weren't ready for this new child. She's gone from baby, to sick child, to healthy, outgoing vibrant child when we weren't looking.

Logan is doing his best to handle this transition as well. If you have more than one child you've probably seen your older child behave like the younger, reverting to baby talk and such. Logan has been doing this a lot. I'm sure he has seen all the attention his sister has received in her short life, so it only makes sense that he would want to act like her. It's not fun for me though. He's not acting like a two year old, he's acting like a two year old with a disability. There's nothing cute, or fun about listening to TWO children in the backseat grunting and screaming, kicking the seats, chewing on books. It's just not fun.

And if you're wondering what I mean by 'two year old with a disability' it's the grunting and noises. Yes, she signs, but when you can't see her, signing isn't very effective, so her form of communication consists of grunts and repetitive sounds. Now, if we could get Logan back to acting like a five year old, and modeling good behavior and speech, maybe Chelsea will have the opportunity to pick up on it!