Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Let's Play Ball

My Donomite has been asking for quite some time to play baseball.  He had never asked for anything like this before! He asked to go to the beach, zoo, park, and dinosaur museum.  A few other places, but never a sport or place where he would have to be active and focused.  Most of all something so social.  

My nephew plays for the bronxchester league and we'd gone to see him play.  I was talking to one of sisters from another mister about Dono's interest in playing baseball.  She remembered that there was a parent who had an autistic nephew who played in westchester.  We asked her and she couldn't remember the name, but she would get back to me.  

It wasn't very long after when I got the text with the info.  I immediately looked it up.  The Miracle League of Westchester.  The website was very outdated.  I thought maybe I had the wrong site, but I emailed them and it took them a day or so to reply.  They said that they met on Sundays.  We couldn't go that Sunday because Devynn had her annual dance recital, I was gonna make sure I was there the following Sunday!  AND, I am so thankful we did!  Look at the smile on my Donomite's face!  He sat patiently in the dugout, waiting his turn at bat.  He engaged with the other person when throwing the ball during catch time.  He needed little to no assistance at all.  He hit the ball with the first swing and he ran the bases like a champ!  

Unfortunately that was the first and last game of the season for my Dono, But we are beginning training for next year!  Dad is excited about working with him.  Dad was a major sports player growing up!  He was a Deon Sander or Bo Jackson.  He played most sports with baseball and football being his best. It feels good seeing them together!  And I loved sitting in the bleachers with his other two cheerleaders Dev and Dusty!!! So Let's Play Ball!!!


Monday, June 24, 2013

If I write it they will come!

So it has definitely been quite a long while since my last post.  I am so new to this, and most times I don't have time to sit and write.  BUT, believe you me, the thoughts and ideas are all running around in my head!!!! I couldn't really figure out how to work the site and I sort of abandoned ship!  I am back and I will do my best to post more.  Like I said before this is whole cheaper than a therapy session and less time consuming.  Self medicating is always an option, but Eh! A glass of wine or two won't hurt nobody!!! Right?!

The last post, was my very first post, and it was a little blurb about me and why I chose to start blogging.  And I think those reasons may be the same reasons that brought me back.  My life has been very overwhelming.  for those that are not aware,  I am a mom of Three.  One girl, and two boys.  Since my last post my daughter was diagnosed with Dyslexia and my youngest has aged out of early intervention.  He in fact will be entering Pre-K in September.  Donovan my middle child was diagnosed with Autism and is ending his year of 1st grade. 

I may have missed my calling, seems like I should have run away with a circus.  I feel like the ring master, or some sort of clown show where I juggle everything that comes in my way.  I guess I should be proud of what I have accomplished and that I am able to continue even when things are heavy or feel like they are too much for one person to handle. 

I am in the process of trying to get compensatory services for Donovan.  His school failed to inform me that they did not have enough staff to cover his mandate of OT 3x a week for 30 minutes.  As soon as I found out, I pushed until I was handed a RSA Voucher for external services.  I let them know at that time that I wanted the hours he missed made up.  Everyone agreed and I was told that they only offer compensatory services in the summer.  Well low and behold!!! Hello summer and no voucher has been received.  Surprise, Surprise!!! I contacted the school and spoke with his OT, and the parent coordinator.  They informed me that I should contact the office of Related and Contractual Services.  When I did, I was told that I needed a justification letter from an administrator of the school, such as a principal, or Vice-Principal not his Occupational Therapist.  The letter must state that my son is not showing any progress and/or that he is regressing.  They will only issue the voucher for the missing services if it is required due to these reasons.  Not because it is required on his IEP and the school failed to do so.  Shame on them. 

With every experience I encounter, I learn something new, and I become more saddened by the thought of all the many children that are losing  and their families that aren't informed or that are not savvy enough to push back at the system.  So because of this, I am going to push myself to keep with my blog.  I don't have many followers, but if I write it, they will come!