Since this is Halyn's page, the bio info should be about him too.  Halyn is a 7-year-old active Aquarian who loves to perform his ninja moves on make-shift obstacle courses everywhere he goes.  I love his spunk, but can do without him hanging off my bedroom ceiling fan.  His favorite shows are Ninja Warriors and Cops.  When he grows up, he wants to be a police officer with a black belt because he has a noble sense of duty.  He takes self-defense class with his sister every Wednesday and is the best player on his little league team (OK, mom's opinion here).  This is his third season with his team.  On weekends, we usually find ourselves at Universal or Sea World because rides, splash zones and arcades are big hits with this super active kid.

This year, all the kids in Halyn's class are second graders (except him).  He is techinally in first grade, but his school groups students by abilities.  It's a charter school specifically for autistic children.   His teacher has him teaching reading and math to his peers since, technically, he can't move him to higher curriculum until he is tested for the gifted program through the school system.  He feels it helps Halyn with his comprehension and Halyn just loves it.   Last year as a kindergartener, Halyn tested at a second grade reading level.  That was impressive since his expressive language was only about 40% were it should be for his age.  It's comforting as a parent to know the receptive skills are there - especially when I am scolding him for wrong doings and requesting compliance to time outs. 

Externally, Halyn looks like any typical 7-year-old - just somewhat hyper and very active.  I laugh with my friends and say that he has two modes: on and off.  I assume most people think he has ADHD and is just kind of shy.  Funny that he tested through the department of Children and Famillies as "profoundly autistic" just 4 years ago.  He has come so far.  After years of chasing after his eloping little spirit (there were those horrifing experiences of losing him at the theme parks and at stores when I looked away for half a second), I now feel safe that he has learned "the rule" and will ask before he goes off.  Of course, I just go along where ever it is that has sparked his interest.  He can spend hours watching the floom splash down the Rip-Saw waterfall at Universal, and even longer watching the Jurrasic Park raft plunge into its watery depths while racing back and forth from the splash area...and parents, if you ever hear of Monkey Joe's, take my advice - bring a very big book.  

What can I say about Halyn?  He swims like a fish, runs like the wind and laughs when you scold him.  His impish little nature makes it hard to stay mad at him no matter what the offense.  The comment I hear most from his teachers is, "Halyn is so smart."  Now, we have our rounds of tantrums where I just want to pull my hair out, and the days he refuses to cooperate and I'm nearly brought to tears.  He is smart and he is 7 - nuff said.  I just remember to apply "either-or" choices and connect the right choice to a prefered activity.  It works.  I say, "Don't want to get ready for school?  OK, no mini-golf tonight."

You should see how fast it motivates him.  I always remind him that I am the master ninja.  He laughs and tells me, "No.  I am the master ninja," as he is putting his clothes on for school.  I just smile.

Halyn is perfect in my eyes.  It's just the rest of the world that has difficulty accepting a child "outside of the box."  I believe that while he works really hard to learn how to behave according to everyone else's expectations, we should work just as hard to understand how he sees the world and how everything appears through his unique perception.  

Halyn's Mom