eep! i just got back from hope academy for my intro meeting with the directors.. looks like i'm going to volunteer in the mornings.. i'm so excited!!! :)
the kids are beautiful. each class is small, with grades blended together so that kids can be challenged while staying with their same-aged peers. and each class has 1-2 kids with ASD.. but in some grades, you wouldn't know it.
we toured each class, and the director pointed out the children who had high enough functioning ASD where they didn't need their own personal shadow, yet could still use some one-on-one time to work on specific skills that the teachers and aids can't offer during the school day. she introduced me to a handful of "opportunities" that i could chose from.. different children i could work with. so many opportunities there, so much joy.
"HI. Who are you?'
-- "I'm Bridgette. What's your name?"
-"Introduce yourself, Todd."
"MY name is Todd! I'm writing a book report."
and he proceeded to tell me all about his book report.. even after we walked away, his monologous conversation wafted after us. "He's one of the children who could use some extra help with conversational skills.."
he was adorable. the director later told me she knew Todd would win over my heart, and after meeting him, she knew i'd want to work with him.
so it looks like i'm doing three things each day.. working with Todd on conversational skills for 30 minutes, doing behavioral observations in another class to try to identify antecedants to seemingly-compulsive behavior, and working with a third child i have yet to meet. and they want to help me learn ABA therapy, which is perfect training for what i want to do.
i'm so excited. i left giddy... the academy is perfect.
:-D
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