My dream job

My dream job for when I get older is to work in a special education room. The ultimate position I would like to have is teachers assistant with the younger ones. I maybe will get some practice during my senior year working in the autism class at the community education building which is in walking distance from my high school. The reason I said maybe on this topic is because I might have to move school districts for my senior year and I would continue my education through their post high school program. I have had previous experience when I helped at a camp for special needs kids in my school district. This camp I was a camper at for many years before I became a helper.      

Abilities

When you have a disability some people just think that you can do anything. This is totally not true. Like for example I have autism but I can still play sports. When you meet a person with a disability just think about all the fun you can have with that person. If you meet someone in a wheelchair for example just think that you could go bowling with them and just have fun with them. Two things you should think about are don't think about there disability just about their abilities and treat them the way you want to be treated.     

Social situations

Social situations can feel awkward for any special need individuals to handle. It usually makes their brain go crazy inside. Even some normal people can't handle some situations.The ways you can help is just by talking to that person that is having the trouble only if they tell you verbally that they need help with the situation. Another way you can help is by trying to help them get through the situations. To start off in the situations when feel ready just start by saying hi and your name.

From class to class

I go to a different classroom every class period at school. Let me just tell you I barely make to class with out getting overwhelmed with the noise. If your child does the same thing I do just tell them to listen to there I pods. Another thing you could do is ask their school if there is a different time they can pass to there next class. Another thing you could ask is if your student can carry there school bag to each class. This is a way they can avoid their crazy locker area. Another thing you could ask is if they have any way to get your child a locker key for when he has to use their locker.

Friendships

It can be hard for people with special needs to make and keep friends. If you get them involved with activities they like. This way they can meet other people with there same interests. Like for example I got involved with varsity soccer and every year the seniors that graduate it becomes harder and harder to say goodbye. The way to tell your child is to walk up to the person they want to meet and say hi and say there name. Then introduce them to water cooler talk which means topics that are easy to talk about. This could include the weather if they have any thing in common they could also talk about that. Water cooler talk can be about the news or if they have free time in class they can talk about what they learned that day.  

Special needs buses

If you have a child with a special need and they hate noisy situations and they ride the bus to school it would properly be in you best interest to look in to special needs busing. Especially if your child complains about riding the bus because it is too noisy for him or her. Once you get them switched they most likely will come home happier. I speak from experience because I use to ride a general education bus and every day I would hate it even more because of the noise level. If switching is not an option for your school district just get some headphones and if your child likes music get him a music player that is portable and easy to carry so you child feels comfortable on his or her bus ride. Another thing you can do if you cannot switch is tell the bus driver so if they have to assign seats they know to put your child up front.      

Structure

Structure is a big factor when dealing with special needs individuals. Like for example when I don't have structure I could have a melt down or just get plain overwhelmed or both. The best way to provide structure is planning ahead. This may include but not limited to playing a family game. Another thing you could do is if your child likes sports or anything competitive make a game which brings out there competitive side. These are all good ideas for anyone that needs some structure to there days they do not go to school or work.  

Support People

Support people for your child in school is as important as having a support group outside of their schooling. The group for school must include people your child trusts as well as you the parent. The support for me at school includes my social worker, the attendance lady in the office, almost all of my teachers and a couple of my friends that know me really well. Let your child know that these people are there for him or her. Most of my support people outside of school include family members and close friends.

Changes

I bet if you know anyone with special needs you know they most likely have a hard time with change. For example I hate when there is a change in my schedule at school I almost have a melt down with out prior warning about the change. If your child has difficulty with change is good to let their teachers know that at their school. This way they can prepare your child if their going to be a change in their schedule at the school setting. Another example relating to me is moving schools through my different moves of houses. It was very hard to leave the friends I made in one school district because i had a hard time at that time to make new friends. Then adjusting to the new school when most of the kids have been there for a couple years or there whole lives. Another thing that you can help with is letting your child know there are changes that people just cannot warn them about and that changes are just a part of life.    

Special Olympics

Special Olympics has been a part of my life since my seventh grade year. During that time I started just with soccer. My mom heard about our local Special Olympics through a friend of hers because she knew about it because her boys with also have autism play sports through this origination. All the sports that I have been involved include swimming, soccer of course, bowling, basketball and half a season of track and field. When I did swimming at the county meet I took two second places on the 25 meter freestyle and the 50 freestyle races and took third in 4 x 25 freestyle relay. This past season of soccer me and my team brought home a bronze medal. I just did bowling for one season so far and at the county tournament and on my lane I got second place ribbon. During the basketball season we had a game at my high school where everyone in the school came and watched me and my team play against oxfords team and the most exiting part of this for me was making my first basket of the whole season in front my home crowd. Did I mention it was the last basket of that game it was amazing feeling for me. The reason I only did half a season of track and field is because the first and only meet before states got canceled and plus the weekend they had the state summer games I had Relay For Life that weekend. So if you have a child with a special need and they like sports of any kind it might be in the best interest of you to look in the Special Olympics in your area the sports they offer that they offer in michigan are 

• Alpine Skiing
• Aquatics
• Athletics
• Basketball
• Bocce
• Bowling
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Cycling
• Figure Skating
• Flag Football
• Golf
• Gymnastics (Artistic & Rhythmic)
• Horseshoes
• Poly Hockey
• Powerlifting
• Snowboarding
• Snowshoeing
• Soccer
• Softball
• Speed Skating
• Team Handball
• Volleyball
• Weightlifting
• *Plus: Unified Sports®, Healthy Athletes® Program, Young Athletes™ Program, Motor Activities Training Program

compensations

Usually people with special needs and other people don't mix very well. But over the years I have had success with this. When you meet someone special needs or not just treat them the way you want to be treated. Like for example if you think someone needs a friend to sit with at lunch offer for them to sit with you and your friends. Then ask them what some of there interests are. Then ask them how is there day going. Another topic that is always a good one is what they think about the weather. Another thing you can say is that you will always be there for them not only at lunch and school but outside of school.Then exchange phone numbers if you want to and feel comfortable after knowing them for a few weeks.

My favorite sport

As many of you know my favorite sport is soccer. Soccer is been a part of my life since I was four.It all started when I got to see my Uncle Kyle play. From then I feel in love with the sport. The first team I played for was A.Y.S.O. Which my papa coach along with my mom. The funny thing about this team is our field that we played on was next to train tracks so when ever a train would go by the game would stop and everyone on my team would watch it go by. The next team I played for was through Jack's Place for Autism. The next team i played on was with one of my best friends and that team was an indoor team through independence township park and recreation. That team played at Soccer Zone in Grand Blanc and it was a lot of fun season even though we only won one game the whole season.Then I got involved with Special Olympics soccer and I have been involved since seventh grade and still loving every minute. Since my Freshman year I have been manager of the varsity girls soccer team at my high school. This team has made me so many friends over the years

Transitions

As you can imagine it is hard with people with autism to make the transition from home to school. I have a especially hard time when it is a term for my school. The reason why I have trouble is because most of the time I have new classes for that term. This last time was especially hard for me because I had soccer going on at the same time. The week prior to the start for thee term I have exams.With exams the week prior it does not make the intro week an easier it actually much harder.The reason why it makes it much harder is because you want to get a good grade on your final so you have to study