IEP Meeting

          Basically, an IEP is where teachers and parents come together and figure out what the educational needs are for the child...like a personal game plan. 
         Our son was tested at school and along with the home personal survey; they have found that he is on the Autism spectrum...and Aspergers was mentioned.  We have him scheduled to see a specialist, a really great doctor.  I say that because I have personally met with him before and I have even recommended him in the past.  I am confident that after all the other tests our son might have to through the specialist that there will be no long drawn out process as it is/was in my case.  This will be a learning process for the whole family. 
         I was observing him the other night a dinner with my sister and her youngest son.  My sister is a nurse and was very good with him.  My sister had refilled the salsa dish with a different bottle that he had used and he was very quick to point out she had use the wrong bottle and it wasn't the same.  She explained to him that it had the same salsa in the bottle that she used.  She also went on to explain to him that she was going to get another basket of chips and that they would be the same type of chips just a different basket.  I personally didn't think he needed this explanation since he has been to Mexican restaurants a lot since he was little.  I didn't say anything, I continued to watch.  My son said that it was ok as she was handed a new basket of chips.  I thought to myself, would I know when to explain things to him when things are different like a basket of chips?  How will I know what I should explain to him and what I shouldn't.  I don't want him to feel like he's different, I want him to feel like himself.  I am sure I will learn with my husband the do's and don'ts as this process and progress goes on. 
Thanks for Reading.

"HELP"....

    

Nothing is more frightening to a parent than hearing their child cry for help.  Especially when you can tell the difference between a fake cry for help and a real one.  Now to get to the story as to why I labeled it HELP...
     This weekend my husband and daughter were out all night with a church the youth group at church for their "Survivor" weekend challenge.  I thought it would be nice to take our 11 year old, J and 10 month old, W out for dinner.  J and I agreed on Waffle House.  Dinner went on and I was very proud of J for not making a mess while eating.  He excused himself from the table to use the restroom.  One of which he has used before.  While I am waiting on him to return to the table I proceed with getting the W ready to go.  Still no sign of our son in the restroom.
     I thought I heard a faint, "Help,".  It was so faint that I thought I must have imagined it.  Then came the panic almost frantic sounding, "HELP".  I have the W in my arms and our stuff still at the table, "Are you ok?", I ask him through the restroom door.
     "I can't get out!", J said.
     I asked the waitress, which didn't seem to thrilled to be there in the first place, and her response was tell him to turn the lock."...that was a lot of help.  I am sure he knows that considering he had to do that to lock it in the first place.  The waitress did tell someone else and luckily he was quick and had the key.  He saved the day.
     I am surprised by this because he has used this restroom before and I am not sure if this has anything to do with aspergers or not.  I felt helpless, all I could do was wait for the door to open.