An apology from your child's former teacher...

[tweedlemom]

Don't know if this has been posted yet. Great read!

http://flappinessis.com/2011/12/01/an-apology-from-your-childs-former-teacher/

 

[Earstou]

Wow, great letter!

I had a teacher apoligize to me once. She was a great teacher, never had complaints about her, but she did voice concerns that his diagnosis was wrong.
After giving him summer swimming lessons, she saw a side of him that (I guess) wasn't apparent to her in school. She apoligized to me and told me she now understood what I had been talking about the previous school year!

 

[buckeev]

Wow!
Tears...(from a Dad of an AMAZING Autistic son).
I really feel for the teacher/parent, and the countless other parents of those who are non-verbal. We are so blessed that our son speaks so well. His numerous challenges are in other areas, but as big as they are, I don't know how we'd do the day-2-day without verbal communication.

 

[minkydog]

Wow!
Tears...(from a Dad of an AMAZING Autistic son).
I really feel for the teacher/parent, and the countless other parents of those who are non-verbal. We are so blessed that our son speaks so well. His numerous challenges are in other areas, but as big as they are, I don't know how we'd do the day-2-day without verbal communication.

You get used to it. My DS16 is non-verbal, but that doens't mean he can't communicate. Not stuff like what he wants to wear or how his day went, but he can sure let you know if he DOESNT want something, like washing his face or eating green peas. And he can let us know he's hungry by taking us by the hand to go get it for him. Recently, he brought me a box of pancake mix. I didn't respond the way he thought I should, so he brought me the syrup! I finally had to open the box and show him that it was just powder, not fully made pancakes. Of course, you *know* I got up and made the boy some pancakes for dinner!

I will admit, there are times when I wish 'Christian could tell us exactly how he feels. Like when he falls down--if he could just express himself enough to let me know *where* he hurts. Like when he has an odd bruise on his back--if he could just tell me how it happened and if someone inflicted it. We are so lucky to have teachers and support staff who really like Christian and do their best to keep him safe. But I don't think the parent of a special needs child ever stops holding their breath, ya know?

 

[Dancind]

That's very nice. But I'm still waiting for apologies from teachers. They should apologize to my DD, not me. She was diagnosed with ADD and CAPD, but what she actually has is Aspergers. So, waiting to hear from:

1) the pre-school teacher that outright told us she thought DD might be retarded
2) the First Grade teacher that screamed at her on a regular basis
3) the Fourth Grade teacher that wouldn't let her go to Gifted pull out, her only haven, because she hadn't finished her copying work
4) the 6th grade Gifted language arts teacher that allowed the boys to bully DD every single day for two hours
5) the 7th/8th grade gifted science teacher and Fundamental Christian that kicked DD out of class into 17 degree weather because she loudly said "oh my Gaw".

There were some wonderful teachers, and I thank Gaw for them! She went to a performing arts charter school in HS, and had no problems with the teachers there. They were either used to unique kids, or maybe the fish oil and hours of dancing every day was doing it's job!