Today we are going to Sesame Place.  How fun is that?  Ok, part of me is looking forward to it. The other part is thinking “Are you nuts????”  Mommy Dearest is coming as well.  We're going to meet one of DJ's classmates up there.  It has it's good points and bad points.  Two aspies, both want to do their own thing=chaos. 

The parade was cute yesterday.  It rained so they had to hold it in the auditorium.  I went back to DJ”s class afterwards to help them with their costumes.  Then they had a party.  Pretty cool.  Getting good use out of the camcorder.  If only I had a digita camera. Hint, hint.

I hate government offices.  I went to my appointment yesterday.  It's just a joke.  I'm getting denied anyway but I have to go through the red tape.  They told me I missed my appointment, it was earlier in the day.  So now I'm pissed.  To brighten my day even more, they ONLY have morning appointments, even for telephone interviews.  Now I need to take yet another day off work so I can handle this.  Grrrrrrrr.  This pisses me off. 

I love sharing stuff like this!!!!!!!!!!

From the LA Times

Acceptance Reigns Along With A King

Autistic Student wins hearts and prized homecoming crown at Culver City High.

David Mason crossed his fingers and squeezed his eyes shut as he listened to the announcement that confirmed his dream: This Culver City High School senior, an autistic youth enrolled in the campus' special education program, was named homecoming king after a landslide vote.

Fireworks exploded as last year's king plopped a fake gold crown on David's head. And the crowd in the bleachers cheered wildly.

For the 2,096 students and teachers of Culver City High, Mason's reign as homecoming king tells of a remarkable bonding that has taken place at their school between a small group of special education students and the rest of the student body.

"Even though this school may seem like it's, you know, all about football and all that, we have more respect than you think," said 10th-grader Paul Corker. "The homecoming king contest here is not a popularity contest. We don't just give it to football stars. We give it to people who deserve it."

Autism is a neurological condition with symptoms that can limit a person's ability to communicate, form relationships and respond appropriately to the environment. It affects each individual differently and to varying degrees.

One in every 166 U.S. children suffers from an autism spectrum disorder, according to an estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children with autism typically have trouble speaking, playing with others and following instructions.

David, 17, has some problems expressing himself and forming social relationships, said teacher Doreen Donahue.

"But he has overcome all of those things in such an amazing way," Donahue said. "He has captured the hearts and imaginations of all the kids at the school."

His special education program has focused on teaching him how to interact with others, including taking some classes with mainstream students.

"David is extremely popular, extremely well liked," said the school's principal, Franca Dell'Olio. "Of course the kids are going to elevate him to the king status, because he is just like them…. These students have moved beyond tolerance to acceptance."

David, who is in a class designed for students with moderate to severe disabilities, was nominated to the court by one of his classmates. He had competition; contenders included a football player and a youth involved in student government.

But classmates helped him color posters and hang them around campus. His sister, Tamae, a junior, appeared on a video telling other students why they should vote for her brother and "appreciate him as much as we do."

Some students in the mainstream program say they knew David before the campaign as a 6-foot, 4-inch gentle giant who loves sports. Others met him during his campaign. "He is obviously someone special," said senior Anna Brito, a David supporter. "He's just a really nice guy."

David's mother, Sherrie Johnson, said she wasn't surprised when her son made the final cut last week, assuring him a spot on the court. She was in the stands Friday night for the announcement, fighting back tears.

Wearing a black tuxedo with a gold tie, David led his fellow sovereigns in renditions of "My Girl" and "What's Going On" before they rode onto the field in a limousine. He soaked up the loud cheer that welcomed him when he stepped out of the limo and then strutted down a red carpet toward a small stage along the 50-yard line.

When he heard his name, David's face un-scrunched, his fingers unlocked. His eyes opened wide, and he mouthed the words "Oh my God" over and over.

Tamae Mason said that her eyes started watering the moment she heard her brother's name. It took her a while to gain her voice, she said; "I was trying to say 'Yay, David!' but it was coming out air for the first minutes," she said.

"He was so excited," said homecoming queen Vanessa Rodriguez. "He kept saying, 'My dream came true, my dream came true.' "

Once he was surrounded by family and well-wishers, David crowed a bit. "I am the king!" he cried out. Then, overcome by the emotion, he cried.

"He wouldn't take the crown off," said his mother Saturday. "It was so awesome. David is still riding high."

Today, my baby is in a parade!!!  I'm so excited.  It's a halloween parade they are having at his school.  He is going as the red Power Ranger.  He looks SO cute!!! 

Unfortunately I can't stay for the whole thing:(  Luckily I can go for the majority of it though!  I have an appointment with SSI this morning.  The school is just a few blocks away from the SSI building.

I need to appy for SSI benefits for DJ so I can get denied.  Once I get denied I can get MA (medical assistance) which will pay for all the therapies I need to get for him.  From everyone I spoke with, that's how it's handled in PA. 

I know I'm going to get denied.  Evidently there's an income cap.  Of course, I make more than that.  It never fails :)

It seems I might  be sticking with blogontheweb.  I hunted around all night.  Some of the free blogs I liked, I couldn't customize with html.  I'm still not done but for now I did change the layout to this blog.  Whatcha think?  I know it's a little pink but all that orange was giving me a headache.  They do have alot of templates to go with this.  Unfortunately, I didn't like the text writing.  When I post something, I just want to type.  I don't want to bold or italicize anything.  Nor do I want to change fonts and sizes. 

I still haven't given up on using my own web space.  Unfortunately I'm not a web design guru.  You give me a database and I can hook it up!  You give me a website to customize and I'm thinking “what does this button do?”

I'll work on it.  But for now deal with the pink!

I woke up at 2am with this neverending pain in my tooth.  I couldn't sleep so i took some meds.  I was half groggy so for some reason I used aspirin instead of ibuprofin.  After the endless night of waking up ever so often I decided there was no way I was going to work today and I was getting an emergency visit to the dentist. 

My dentist is in Newtown, which is odd because Philly is such a big city you'd think I'd have a dentist where I live.  You have to love the dental insurance plan!  I love this office though.  They are so friendly and nice and my dentist is a hottie.  It all works out. 

Of course when I call they admonish me because I never went back for the rest of my root canal on my broken tooth.  Oops.  I totally forgot.  My tooth broke way back when in February when DJ was having all the probs in school.  My appointment was scheduled right after I find out about the whole Aspergers thing.  I never went, evidently.  I can't believe I completely forgot about it.

The only way we could save the now infected tooth was to take some antibiotics and finish the root canal and crown it before December.  Yea right, I'm going to spend $400 on my back tooth right before Christmas.  I'm getting it pulled, yuck.  In about two weeks I'll be toothless.  Ok, it's only one tooth and it is alllllll the way in the back of my mouth but I still feel the stigma. 

I'm on antibiotics and Ibuprofin 800.  The hottie wanted to give me an rx for some narcotics.  Me on narcotics?  Yeah right.  Who's going to take car of my kid while I'm doped up?  Who's going to drive me to work while I'm doped up?  So I asked for the Ibuprofin.  Ask and you shall receive.

I'm bummed because I missed work today.  I'm also glad because I DID miss an All Staff meeting that I wasn't looking forward to because they are the epitomy of boring.  I was talking to my coworker last night.  I was telling Italian Stallion all about my problems with the Primadonna.  He said he would talk to her supervisor and get something worked out more to my liking. 

Yesterday, my supervisor (I call him Napoleon), felt it was extremely warm in our office.  I wonder why.  I told him what I had set the thermostat on.  He wanted me to call in Mr. Big to find out what was going on.  I was doing so good avoiding him too!  I was telling Mr. Big what was going on and he told me I wasn't the only one having problems with Primadonna.  I can't wait until her ass gets called out!

Sometimes I don't understand me.  Recently, I've started to take on challenges.  Now it seems I'm the challenge queen.  I think I'm too much of an over achiever.  My classes are over this week for school.  I start back on the 1st.  I did receive an A on my research paper!!!!  Go me!

First challenge, which isn't really a challenge yet.  I think I'm going to switch my major over to Applications Programming.  If not, I'm thinking of doing double majors.  I don't need to make that decision yet though.

Second challenge.  This is the biggie.  The mother of all challenges.  I've decided to quit smoking.  That's right, you heard it hear first.  This does NOT mean I will be telling everyone to quit smoking.  On the contrary, please smoke a few for me:) 

I've been thinking about this awhile.  I'm scared.  Scared I'm gonna die and leave DJ with nothing or noone to take care of him.  I'm personally wrecking my lungs.  So that's it.  It's been a little under 10 hours and I really really really want a cigarette. 

So that's where I'm at now.

Today we're going to spend a fun-filled day at Storybook Land.  Just me and the kid.  I must be crazy!  I know he'll have a lot of fun though!  Then next week we're spending the day at Sesame Place, but I'm bringing reinforcements with me.  We never did get a chance to do our annual pumpkin patch trip.  I don't think it's in the cards this year.  This week is my rent week, between that, today, and next weekend, there is no money going to be left over for the pumpkin patch.  I'm bummed.  DJ did get to go to the pumpkin patch with his class on Friday though.  I still feel like a bad mommy though. 

Work is really pissing me off.  I seriously think I'm going to be working on my resume this week and sending it off.  They hired a new chick about three months.  Let's call her Prima Donna.  First she wants a cd burner.  We don't NEED cd burners.  I have a cd burner because it came with my laptop.  She doesn't have a laptop.  But she wants a laptop.  I asked her if she words from home, she said no.  Well, honey, you only need a laptop if you work from home.  She's help desk, btw. 

The beginning of this the IT dept moved to a new office across the street.  It's just the 7 of us for now until they hire 3 more people.  We all basically get to pick where we want to sit.  I choose the corner so everyone can leave me the heck alone!  She chooses a cubicle one away from me.  The cubicle in between us is empty.  My cubicle was enlarged so it could fit my printer and printer stand and other odds and ends.  I don't think she was too happy about that.  She decides she need to go ergonomic.  Huh?  Needs a new chair and everything.  The desk she chose has cabinets above her where she wants her computer to be and her monitor doesn't fit well.  She needed a new flat screen monitor. 

For the past few days they've been working on lighting in our office.  There is no lights above my desk in the corner.  On the right of me there are track lights.  Behind me are fluorescent lights.  They were both on the same switch until 3 days ago.  I come in on Friday, and the fluorescents are off.  So my desk is in darkness.  I turn them on.  She didn't like that and sent an email to her boss (who is not my boss) asking him to work out some kind of arrangement with me to get a new lamp.  Basically I have to get a lamp and deal with it.  What the hell?  So I picked a very pricey lamp since I'm being bitchy about it. 

Then there was the other day I had to leave early because I wasn't feeling good.  We have staggered parking.  She was in front me.  I asked her to move.  She told me she thought I should come in earlier.  Bitch, shut up.  I waited 13 minutes for her to come out and move her damn car.  Instead of moving it, she left.  Prima Donna!

Did I mention it's 77 degrees in our office because she's cold.  No matter that some of us can't breathe.  I've just had it.  If we're going to keep giving in to her demands, I'm out of there. 

Last Wednesday was the day I took DJ to see the developmental pediatrician.  It took me awhile to write because I just had to get my thoughts together.  DJ did get the Asperger dx.  But I didn't like how 5 minutes into the appointment her first suggestion was to medicate him.  No, sorry, not going to do it.  I don't agree that a child who is hyper should be medicated.  There are so many other alternatives out there, other than drugs to help the situation.  Most of these drugs for autism have horrible side effects, such as tics, rages, suicide, etc.  I'm not going down that road unless I absolutely have to. 

I do understand some people have no choice.  Some kids are completely out of control.  For example, a child in DJ's class bangs his head on the wall if he doesn't take medications.  I'm all for that.  He could injure himself.  But just to give drugs for the sake of giving drugs, no. 

She also felt my son was overweight and needs to be put on a diet.  I don't agree with that either.  My son is healthy, he's 4'6 and weighs 60 lbs.  He doesn't wear huskies.  He doesn't have any fat on him.  She wants him to go to a nutritionist.  I'm starting to believe they are trying to put money in each other's pockets. 

I did agree to cut sugar and things to try to calm the hyperactivity.  She also wants me to give him only a maximum of 1 hour of either TV/Movie/Video games/Computer per day.  Well that's not going to work either.  What do you do for a kid who is interested in nothing else?  I've bought tons of stuff.  I try to get him to play games.  It works for about 10 minutes, then he wants to do something electronically.  I'm not saying I'm not going to try but it's going to be very very hard.

We're also going to walk everyday to the playground to see if he can run off some of that excess energy.  This is a change in schedule so this is going to be fun.  We're going to go directly after school, then we're going to do homework.  I'm looking at this as an attempt for some good exercise for me as well.

I have an appt. next Friday with SSI to apply for disaility.  I have to wait until I get denied and turn that letter in to Medical Assistance so I can receive it for his OT and things like that. 

She also wants him to have an OT eval and a SID eval.  The government better hurry up with that denial for disablity payments!

Original story located here.

Charges against Clovis High student dropped

By Erin Kennedy
The Fresno Bee

The Fresno County district attorney today dropped assault charges against a 15-year-old boy who shoved his special-education teacher and threw two chairs against a wall.

Prosecutor Houry Sanderson said in court this morning that Clovis High student Colin Frates has Asperger's, a form of autism, so he is unable to help in his own defense. Sanderson said the case reached court only because the District Attorney's Office did not know Colin had a neurological disorder when police submitted their case.

People with Asperger's have normal or higher-than-normal intelligence but do not understand social situations, have trouble deciphering facial expressions and have a poor grasp of complex conversations.

Although Sanderson asked for dismissal of charges, she stressed that did not mean that the assault did not occur last March at Reyburn Intermediate School. Sanderson said the District Attorney's Office will work with Colin's parents, Mike and Kathy Frates, to seek professional help with his social skills.

Colin's attorney, David Mugridge, was so choked with emotion after the case that he was unable to speak for several minutes. "This was a very unusual case," he said. "I had never heard of Asperger's before this. ... Parents with similar children came out of the woodwork on this saying, 'Oh, my God. Could this happen to our child?'" Mugridge said it was clear from the district attorney's response and sensitivity once prosecutor's learned about Asperger's that parents don't need to be afraid.

The case first went to court Sept. 15, with prosecutors seeking an opinion on whether Colin was competent to stand trial. The case has drawn criticism from psychologists and mental health workers, some of whom sent letters to the District Attorney's Office condemning prosecution.

Two psychologists, who conducted court-ordered evaluations of Colin, found that he does not understand court proceedings and that he did not have control or understanding of the consequences of his angry outburst.

The reporter can be reached at ekennedy@ fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6197.