A choice... iPad or more goals met.

Thank goodness for this blog. It's my outlet, my place for brainstorming, my place of reasoning, the documentation of my sweet boy's life. And right now I need to use it for a brainstorming/reasoning session.

Just got out of a meeting the the behavior therapist in charge of the program here. She's a very talented and focused woman. On the case to help with Ian's behavior, specifically right now, his grunting and stimming when frustrated, lack of focus when he's being challenged and doesn't want to partake in a non-preferred activity, and his perseveration for all of the same reasons. We met last week to discuss the plan of action to help with this. At the time, we had tried the ipad for a week and it wasn't working. Taking too long, he would get sidetracked into the Thomas folder or whatever he felt like redirecting himself to. And the teachers, with the best of intentions, didn't know how to do what they do best with this distractor.

It is not an easy task. Keeping him on point with the iPad, enabling him to speak and not babble. To stay focused and continue to engage in the current activity. This is what we are up against. While there is a study downstairs on the 6th floor of the same building that proves using the iPad to aid communication actually produces more verbal language as well. Crazy they don't bring that info upstairs. Will ask why when I'm down there today.

The meeting ended with this... do we go ahead with the iPad and make it work, at the expense of some of the other goals they could be working on with him. Or do we just go forward with what they are used to and know works.

And here's my answer. This is not only for Ian. Do I take from him the full opportunity of this amazing program to have them sidetracked with the iPad. To enable them to learn this in order for other non-verbal children to have it integrated into their programs? The answer has to be yes. And I'll apologize to him later.

I spent weeks of time in the classroom at Step by Step for the same reason. Of course all the way, it has brought him to where he is now, verbally. But the larger goal is to allow for more options for children in the future. I do believe it will. Maybe not right away but the more they see it in action, the more they will get comfortable using it and realize the power it gives to these children who are acting out due to the frustrating position of their voice being trapped inside them.

Imagine someone taping your mouth shut. Stopping you from saying anything. And your a little kid, trying to navigate a playground or a classroom, not having a clue about social norms. To get "heard" you will use the only tools you have, your body, hands, feet, etc. And it doesn't go well. Then everyone looks at you as if you don't even know what they are saying to you. As if you are slow or intellectually limited. But you have so much to say, with no way of getting it out. You are constantly getting in trouble but have no way to say your side of things. And there are therapists and teachers constantly trying to teach you how to do things "right".