I have a question that I'm hoping someone out there will have the answer to. I teach preschool kiddoes with autism and have a TEACCH work system in place in the classroom. I am continually adding to it and make most of my own materials. I have resources like Tasks Galore and things like that. What I would really like is to learn what kind of tools I could invest in to make workboxes. I've seen Shoebox tasks and other similar already made work tasks. They are better put together than the ones I make and would have more durability with preschoolers, but they are very expensive and do not always address the goal I want to address. I need a tool that would cut smooth holes and slots in plastic such as the plastic lids of plastic shoe boxes you can get at dollar stores. There must be something out there that would be a versatile tool to help me make safe and effective work boxes for my kiddoes. Does anyone know of such a tool and how I would go about looking for and acquiring one? I would rather invest in a tool that would give me endless possibilities than a few specific already made workboxes. Thanks,

Why is it so hard to get services for your child? I heard from several parents who said "You'll have to fight to get your son what he needs". I thought they were just plain wrong. Nope, I WAS wrong. I find that every day I need to wage a war with someone. I'm tired. My house is falling apart, my other kids are not getting the time they need. But on the bright side, my son (will be 4 in 2 months), can now point to his nose, mouth and teeth when asked. I hope when the school district finally agrees to giving him a speech/language pathologist he might say a word. I live for that day!

As I write this, my husband is attempting to do 5th grade math homework with Jackson. In fact, I came in this office to write this blog in order to get away from John and Jackson and 5th grade math homework. I am a self-professed math moron. In every other subject I am somewhat gifted (or so they would have labeled me in this label crazed world), but math and I have never spoken the same language. So you can imagine my immense joy when John took a new job closer to home, simply so he could do math homework with the boys! (Well-not the only reason but I'm sticking to my story...) Problem is - while John is very good at math (he's computer man, after all)- he's not very good at relating math concepts to a boy on the autism spectrum who doesn't want to learn math. Jackson is an exceptionally intelligent boy. He came home from school yesterday and bragged to me that in social studies, the teacher gave the kids a blank map of the U.S. The class had a contest to see who could fill in the most blanks in the shortest amount of time. Jackson won by a full minute - and filled in every blank! But social studies is easy - he has studied this map every day since first grade when his reward for staying in his seat was the chance to sit by the map on the wall and read. Math takes longer - you have to actually think. And then - try applying the concept to the real world! (that's where I gave up...) So tonight - we are dealing with prisms and pyramids and determining the volume inside. But we don't have a prism or a pyramid to look at - and Jackson can't imagine what one would look like. He needs to SEE it. So John draws a prism (rectangle) on a piece of paper and writes the numbers for length, height and width beside it. But - Jackson says - the numbers are upside down! And, that rectangle on the piece of paper is definitely NOT eight inches long - it's more like an inch and a half. I love my husband and I know he wants to understand Jackson but - he could not figure out why it mattered that the numbers were upside down...and that Jackson kept looking away...and that he was drumming his hands on the kitchen island...and that he was humming an incoherent tune. (well maybe I had trouble with that one...it was actually Pirates of the Caribbean) They made it through to the end - the battle of the "why aren't you listening?" versus the "why do I have to do this?" titans! *See more blogs from SportsMum at www.sportsmum.blogspot.com

I have had a lot of response on my own website to this blog (in fact, Shannon found me because of it!) I believe it provides a hopeful perspective for those of us who don't quite know what the future holds for our children...I hope it provides hope... Jackson had his heart broken today. He is now in middle school (5th grade in our town). He loves to brag that he is considered a pre-teen, even though he just turned 11. All his friends are "going with" girls (or so he tells me). It appears to be THE thing to do in 5th grade - ask a girl to go with you, exchange little notes and presents, and nothing more (Thank GOD!) His other bestest friend (besides Donnie), is a blond football stud named Christian. He has been groomed for a career in football his whole life; the plan is for he and his brother to attend one of the most prestigious football high schools in the state, and be awarded a full scholarship to ANY college they choose. It is predestined... Christian, as a football stud, can "go with" any girl he wants. He has chosen a girl named Jordan who completely dotes on him - including baking brownies for he and his friends to share at school during lunch. Jackson wants and expects the same attention, (he is a defensive beast, after all..)and has chosen our neighbor, Betsy, as his object of affection. Therein lies the problem... Betsy is THE girl in middle school. She is IT! He is one of many boys in line.. Today he asked her to go with him and today she said NO! He came home and asked me if he had to go to his youth group tonight, explaining that he had been "rejected" today and wasn't up to socializing. We let him stay home and deal with his rejection... As I was telling his stud brother about this situation, who, as part of the middle school team, has 8th grade girls surrounding him at high school games on Friday nights; I realized that this too will pass... Our defensive beast, our boy who has been diagnosed on the autism spectrum, will wear one of these jerseys in two years...and Betsy will notice...

Any parents of Early Onset Childhood Bipolar? Would love to connect and compare! LisaO