Grade One - Check.

Been there, done that.  Grade one is so yesterday.

Moving on.  Moving up.

 

So much has happened in ten months it is hard to remember it all.  There is alot I wish not to think about again, but there is also lots that was really, really great about Sophie being in school this past year.  To say it was a learning curve for everyone would be an understatement, that is for sure.

So many nights I worried over what was going to be happening the next day, or the day after that in what seemed to be battle after battle.  And it was all ridiculousness.  All we wanted was for Sophie to be part of the class.  It didn't seem like it should be so insurmountable. 

For the kids in the class it was a no brainer.  They love Sophie and were sad when she wasn't part of their day.  Everyone could learn so much from these six and seven year olds.  No preconceived notions of what a person with severe disabilities can or cannot do.  When the goal is for Sophie to thrive in an inclusive setting her educators need to know that each day may look different for Sophie.  That it isn't all about assessment, that sometimes you just can't know what she is taking in, and that is ok.  Her teacher from this year tried so very hard, but I know she was incredibly frustrated.

Sophie loved every moment of being in an inclusive classroom and that is why we went through the struggle.  It was all for her and I know it was worth it.  And we will be there when she needs us to be her advocate again. 

We already have concerns for grade two.  Hopefully with some of the supports we have we will be able to deal with them so that next year is much more enjoyable for all of us.

Switch adapted for the fun of it

Playing on her own terms is not something that Sophie gets to do very often.  We are able to give her choices between items that we choose for her to pick from, but we don't really always know if she wants something different.  When she plays with something we sometimes have to help her play.  I love the concept of Active Learning because it is more on her own terms, playing without help. 

Excited about what has landed on her tray

Checking out her switch

I ordered some battery interrupters in the winter and a few days ago I finally got around to making some of Sophie's toys switch adapted.  One more step on the road to independence for my girl.  When a battery operated toy is switch adapted, Sophie is the one who has the control of that toy.  She makes it go, she makes it stop and she had a great time figuring that out this weekend.

Checking out her horse

Hand on the switch, ready to make it go

I know the more that she is able to use switch adapted toys, not just programs and games on the computer or Ipad, she is going to enjoy all the fun toys that are out there more than if we held it for her and she wasn't a participant in the playing.

Holding her switch and watching the horse walk

Happy with her toy and that she made it go :)

I switch adapted the little horse that neighs and walks across the floor first.  Next I used a dollar store fibre optic light to switch adapt.  Both worked really well and were easy to close the compartments that hold the batteries. It isn't always that easy, sometimes you have to file away the plastic to make everything fit.  It is hard to tell in the photos but there is a wire that goes from the back of the horse which attaches to the plug for the switch. 

 It is possible to make your own battery interrupter, which I will probably do at some point.  There are lots of tutorials on the web, but for now it was nice and easy to order a premade one that I could just use right out of the package.

Lots of opportunity for fun awaits. :)

Italy condensed

This month Jason, Lucas and I were able to go on a trip to Italy.  I was there for a week and the boys were lucky enough to have two weeks to travel around. 

I took a couple thousand photos (seriously!) and had a wonderful time. 

Here are just a few of my faves from Rome and Florence, the two cities I visited.

Roma...

 

 

Firenze...

 

 

 

 

 

 

What an amazing way to kick off the summer.