Inclusion Not Assimilation

Every where I read, INCLUSION is mentioned.

What is inclusion?
According to Wikipedia "Inclusion in education is an approach once thought only necessary for educating students with special educational needs. Now it is crucial that all teachers ensure inclusive practice for all students in their classroom and the wider school. Under the inclusion model, students with special needs spend most or all of their time with non-disabled students."

Inclusion is important. It means unlike when I was in school, special education students aren't grouped together in a classroom down the hall that is separate from children that do not receive special education. 
ALL students must be taught together "to the maximum extent possible" (based on LRE Least Restrictive Environment which must be met under IDEA). This means if a child with special needs warrants a special kind of service like speech therapy or occupational therapy that they might be pulled out of class for a limited time but the majority of their day is with their peers.

I fully support inclusion. I think if we put children together that they can learn from each other. There is no more secrecy. 
I do not support assimilation.
To assimilate means to make someone/something resemble something/someone else.

In conversing with many adults with autism, one of their biggest gripes with teachers is how they were forced to be 'normal' and to "hide their differences."
I see this happening even today. 
When I sent my daughter to school with a chewy tube (a therapeutic tool to help relieve proprioceptive input in the jaw), she was teased. I sent her with one that looked like a bracelet and one that looked like a necklace but to no avail. Instead of educating the children, or equating it to chewing on a pen cap or encouraging them to mind their own business, I was told by the school to buy a $15 Camelbak water bottle. This type of water bottle has a soft chewy spout that my child can chew inconspicuously.
At first I thought this was a great idea. Like many other autistic children that I've met, she forgets to drink frequently and gets dehydrated. So really I figured we are killing two birds (drinking and chewing) with one stone (a water bottle). 
However, as time goes on, my child needed sensory breaks and instead of sending her to the OT room so she could get some deep compression or swing they sent an OT to the class to teach the entire class Brain Gym exercises so she wouldn't need to leave the room and so if she did use the exercises no one would make fun of my child. For some children, these Brain Gym movements might be enough. For my child they aren't and even worse, you have just explained to her that she needs to keep her issues hidden. If she isn't 'normal' she needs to pretend to be 'normal.' 

I want to scream - let my child be unique! She is awesome the way she is and if she needs a break - give it to her. However, screaming isn't effective. I really believe in educating everyone because I know the staff at the school really have the best intentions and are just doing what they have been told. 
So it is time to tell the world. I am asking everyone to send me a video (30 seconds to 1 minute) of you and/or your child with a sign that explains something you think people don't understand about autism. It is my goal to turn it into a music video to the Pharrell Williams song "Happy." My family and I are going to start with explaining how flapping is considered a stim. Stimming is your body's way of calming or outwardly showing happiness. So "come along with me now if you feel like 'flappiness' is the truth..." Let's raise positive awareness.
Send your video to Leslie@LeslieBurby.com. If anyone knows of anyone techy that can help make this dream a reality by donating their time please have them email me.

Leslie Burby

Autism Conference in Arizona

Tomorrow I will be flying from Connecticut to Arizona to go speak at the Autism Conferences of America among speakers Dr. Margret Bauman and Temple Grandin. I'm very excited and honored to be speaking at this conference about two things that have always been dear to me - tutoring and autism. 

My talk consists of years of research and personal experience about teaching students with traumatic brain injuries, dyslexia, ADD and autism. I combine the scientific research about how our brains learn and how we retain information to create specific teaching methods to maximize learning for any learner. 
I asked some of the most respected adults with autism that I know while creating this speech -
What do you wish your teacher's knew that would've helped you learn better when you were in school? 
And 
What would you say to teachers about teaching autistic children?

You see to me, I can read every book on the topic and adjust things to fit my students and my own children but I know for each and every person learning is a unique experience. 
To make my talk fully well-rounded, I went past internet searches, books and even my own life experiences to bring the best talk I possibly can. 
For more information o the conference please visit http://www.autismconferencesofamerica.com/ 

Taking Away Recess: punishing vs rewarding

Every year I dread the start of a new school year because I never know if the teacher that is assigned to my children will understand or be knowledgeable about autism. It seems like I am forever explaining things. I have been very fortunate in that the teachers and the school psychologist have been very open to hearing my suggestions. Last year I had to explain that although my child my not "look" like she needs a sensory break - she still very well might need one. (A sensory break is when a child with autism or sensory processing differences needs to take a break because their body is not feeling calm and therefore can't focus on the lesson. In some cases doing some tricks like pressing their palms together, squeezing a massage ball, or chewing on a chewy bracelet might be enough and in other instances they might need to go to the OT room to crash into a Yogibo beanbag seeking proprioceptive input or swing for vestibular input to give just a few example.)
This year, I sent an email explaining that my child has anxiety, delayed processing, often forgets to drink and eat because her focus is so intense so to kindly remind her to eat and drink and if she complains of a headache or stomach cramping that she might just need to eat and drink. I also suggested that they give her a schedule of when she will receive her services to help alleviate her anxiety over when they will be. Three days after school had started, my daughter had a panic attack. It took her three days to process her thoughts about the rules in her new teacher's class. According to her, the class was told that if they didn't finish creating their illustration for their story that they would have to spend recess inside finishing their picture until it was fully colored. The "only person that will play with her at recess" so she says, had to stay inside to finish his picture. This left her alone at recess. It also left her having a panic attack from 8-10 pm because the mere thought of missing the only time she has to get her energy expelled was being threatened by her ability to draw and color quickly. As a former educator I understand that this idea of "you need to complete this or I will take this privilege away" mindset comes into play and it often does help children that have difficulty staying on task. However, there are two things that the teacher may not know: 1. my daughter has hypotonia (she has low muscle tone) and 2. rewards work more effectively than punishing an autistic child. 
So I emailed her teacher letting her know that I wanted her to be aware that my daughter is hypotonic and that her lack of muscle can delay her ability to color as fast as her peers and that due to this physical disability I do not want her missing any recess. I would prefer she finish her coloring at home, at her own speed, if she doesn't have adequate time to complete it during the school day. I also explained that punishing, taking things away and time outs are not effective and actually increase tension, anxiety and decrease the confidence and mutual trust needed to learn. Thankfully, the teacher understood and said that she considers the individual needs of each child. 
So for today, my child is safe from not missing the little time she has to play outside freely, but I continue to worry for the child that doesn't say anything to their parents or perhaps can't communicate their frustrations (like my son). Recess is needed! Play is essential! This push to have kids sitting still is not realistic. They aren't twenty year olds expected to sit at a desk to work a 9-5 job - they are kids. 
In Finland they allow their students 75 minutes of recess and their students are scoring better read about it here.  In Norway, students have three recesses a day! One mom writes, "He has three recesses here, rather than just one, as in Minnesota. The school day is about an hour shorter than at home, giving him extra time to play before doing homework. He enjoys nearly two hours of unstructured, outdoor play every day here, four times more than in the United States." read the rest of the article here.
Also, in this article  there is scientific evidence that children that have recess are able to focus better. Hmm - really?! (joking) You mean if you let the kids run off their energy then they might be able to sit still and pay attention and learn more in less time? This is why, recess is not an option in my mind. Recess must not be taken away. Recess is needed so the kid can come back and finish his work without squirming in his seat. I remember being taught in college that children only have a ten minute attention span, if this is true then why are the children in the US expected to sit 9AM-3PM with only an approximate recess time of 20 min? Some of you might say but they have lunch time too, at least they can socialize then. WRONG! I have been learning of schools that don't allow talking at all during lunch. Silent lunches, because lunch is for eating only. The American education needs to get back on track. With all the testing, the stress on teachers I fear has turned to stress on students and no one's ratings or scores are going to increase with little to no social time. The brain needs a break. It's time we let kids be kids so their brains are ready to learn.