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.