Asperger's and the SAT/ACT Test

How I got here, I don't even know.

From a child that rocked and flapped and disappeared into his own world to a junior in high school, who is facing the stiffest tests in any young person's life. Don't ask me how I got here. One day at a time doesn't seem to do it justice. And I haven't gone crazy and neither has he. Don't say there aren't miracles.

I don't know any numbers and I am too tired to do the research, but how many children with Asperger's take their SATs or the ACTs? I am not talking about gifted Aspies. I am the mother of the run-of-the-mill child with average intelligence according to all the tests he's taken, but with definite below-average verbal skills. I won't parade the numbers in front of you, but he was diagnosed with Receptive/Expressive Speech Disorder since he was in elementary school. His recent testing put his reading comprehension age around 8 years old. And yet, his word recognition age is around 21 years old. Should he even attempt the SAT with a vacillating scores like that? He is pulling a C in Math and we have struggled to keep those grades in the high C range. It just seemed too far out there.

I know this is a side topic, but he is always talking outside the box,
creating new words and positively amazing us all with his quirky insights.I have talked/tweeted with other mothers who tell me great stories. I still remember a child grunting, whistling and humming.but now, he loves to create words that aren't in the dictionary (he knows this, because he loves to read the dictionary!). One word that family and friends have adopted is "linner." Linner is the comparative word for brunch. Brunch = breakfast and lunch. Linner = lunch and dinner. Linner is like a very late brunch or early supper. I told him people used to use the word supper, but he just replied, No, Mom, that word is used just like dinner now, so we need a new word." Can't argue with that one, so we use linner.

Well, back to the topic at hand; here we are in his junior year, and everyone is talking college. "College!?! What!!?!!," as I gasp and sputter. Yes, the school and this crazy program I signed him up for (since we don't get therapy at all, I sign him up for every free program I can get my hands on. He has been in AVID, Education Talent Search,etc) are sending home reams of paper and thick, glossy books entitled "The 411 on College."

I signed him up for the SAT. Then I took a look at the SAT. Kinda backwards, I know, but a lot is going on in our house lately. It hit me real hard: there is an essay requirement on the SAT. ESSAY. 8 yr. old comprehension. Okay, that's not good.

I did make a half-hearted attempt to search the library and online for help, but quickly realized that this test was just not going to happen.The study guides were thick, newsprint looking monstrosities. The tapes had suspiciously vanished. Dead end. Then, I headed online. YouTube (which, by the way, my son loves at the moment) had videos, but I couldn't get into any of them. Maybe I am wrong, and if someone finds a great one, let me know. Nothing moved me at all. It didn't look like this was going to happen. At least, not by May 13th (remember, like a dope, I scheduled before the due diligence)

My son has become very resilient over the years. We have no more meltdowns, we have no more stiff as a board "honey, are you there?" episodes. But, remembering my SAT almost through me into a panic and I remember scoring very high. I just couldn't do this to him. So, I decided that he would take the ACT. What is the difference?

SATs test critical thinking, logic and reasoning, where the ACT focuses more on what have you learned scholastically. I don't think I need to tell you that they really don't want my son to draw conclusions or make critical thinking analyses. They would never believe their eyes. The kind of leaps and connections he makes here at home are out of this world. But, still the problem was preparation. Even with a total multiple choice test with no essay, he needed prep.

And then, I found it. E-Prep. I fell in love. Here was a site that looked like it was MADE for us. Video run instruction. The ability to stop videos at any time. An entire prep course in video, showing, not just telling. I am in love.

I don't do reviews very often, and this is not really one either. Check the site out, but this is the answer for BOTH my children. For the oldest, who has a fantastic memory, he will quickly remember the video instructions. For my young son, who has a damaged memory system, the moving visuals that can be repeated are perfect in order to increase retention and recall. Unlike static words or audio, videos always seem to ease learning and remembering for him.

The downside? Yes, there is one. The course is not free. But they do give options that run from $69.00 to $249.00. Somehow, some way, I will scrounge up the money for one of the courses in the middle. Hopefully, it will be enough to give him a good grade. And, then we can start discussing what he would like to study and what he would like to be.

Now, that folks, is a WHOLE other post. Must tell you about the fun we are having getting him to volunteer and find a job.

Until next time, take care.

Hit the Wall...and Kept on Bouncing

Yesterday's post was a very hard one to write. I don't often let out that I feel overwhelmed and scared. But that post brought some quick assurances and good vibes from so many people. Thanks to all of you.

Well, what do you do when you get up the next day and nothing is any different? Did you read the last post to the end? There was a list of things to do and I am doing them.

Today, I printed out two flyers that I put near my computer to gaze at when ever I take those 15 minutes breaks per hour to rest my eyes. One says, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." The quote is by Thomas Edison and was tweeted to me this morning by @Outlaw_Marketer. The other one, I neglected to keep the tweeter's handle (in the future, I will be linking all tweets to web pages), but the quote went like this, "Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world."

Those are the new quotes near my computer to keep me going when I feel so overwhelmed. They join "Obstacles are placed before you to test your resolve and commitment towards obtaining your goals" and If God brings you to it...He will bring you through it." All these words mean a lot to me. They are reminders that others are suffering, others are in a worse position than I am and that I should give in for a moment, but get back to the business of doing what I do best: fighting my way out of a challenge.

So, today, I am up early (5:30am) with my head brimming with ideas. If you haven't noticed the new banner on the right, it is for a program I am involved in though a great online herbal store called iHerb.com. I am not a great salesperson, so I will just say occasionally you will see announcements about what they are doing in the side bar. This is a company that I have personally been involved with for nearly 13 years. I posted a note on my Facebook about my involvement.

Also, I am following a bunch of coaches through Tweeter, and three of my favorite ones right now is Pat Weber (@patweber) who is a great coach for someone like me - introverted and shy (did you know those are two separate types?), J.Sewell Perkins (@thesciccoach), who appeared on a great blogtalkradio show that I will follow as Tracey Tarrant parades experts in front of me every week. The third great coach who is just starting out, but is SO sincere, I just love her to death is Joanne Julius Hunold, CPC (@intandem). She is another coach for us introverted who is very real and down to earth.

I mention these women because in Tip #1, I mention getting rid of the negative speak and getting positive people in front of you. Well, if you are mostly housebound like I am that is not easy. So these women are my neighbors (along with all of you who comment or send emails or call!). I have made new friends who challenge me to go beyond my current (cold) circumstances and keep looking for those opportunities. Even if they seem like work.

Yesterday, I explained to my two boys about the circumstances in our home. Things are not well and I let them know it. But I assured them just like I did when I became disabled, Mommy will take care of it. Trust me. My oldest son, who always seems to know the right thing to say, exclaimed, "Well, we can just pray to God about it. But if you say you will take care of it, I know you always do." Who says Asperger's needs to be cured? He warms my heart!

Well, I hit the wall...I am okay...and I am back in the business of taking care of my family.

Keeping Myself Going Or I Feel A Faith Walk Coming On

Below is a list of Tweets I sent this morning. Not so much to my followers, but to me.

You see, I am feeling like I could hit a depressive wall soon. You know that dissonate wall when your dreams and goals smack into reality really hard? Well, I see it coming. Here is the problem.

I want to do so much. It's the reason I am back in school. I want to provide a safe home and environment for my children with a little land around it. I want to have a place for my sister to retire to when she is ready. I want to live comfortable with enough to eat and read.

And, right now, as I start my fourth day in a house without heat, I wonder if I will even live long enough to see my children grow up. My mother died when my sister was only 19, and I was 29. I have always felt we never had enough time.

Maybe that is what is wrong. I feel like I am starting late. I mean, I am 43 and trying to complete my associate's degree. I am so slow reading and comprehending. I wonder what am I doing.

So, this morning, in the bitter frigid air of my dining room, I decided that before I hit that wall, I would put on my inspirational music. You know what I mean. We all have those songs that keep us going when there is nothing tangible left to go on for.

Of course, I cried. Listening to these songs always makes me feel like I have been running 100 miles an hour in the wrong direction. I have been focusing on goals and accomplishments; tangible ones like grades. when some days I need to focus on internal goals. The ability to look inward, take stock of our lives and think about the good stuff.

Like the friends I have made through this blog, Facebook and Twitter. Like the difference people tell me I am making in their lives. How they appreciate me. Yes, little ole me.

Folks, I can tell you right now I am about to enter a Faith Walk. It is a term I came up with over 10 years ago, after my parents died within seven weeks of each other, while I was pregnant with my 2nd son and after my then 1st husband decided he didn't want to be married anymore.

A Faith Walk is a period of time you go through when you don't see ANY positiveness around. I mean it. Nothing looks good at all, and the disasters seem to pile up.

How do you keep going through one of these?

Everyone is different, but this is how I survived then and now.

1. Get rid of anyone's conversation that is not positive. Really. Even though you don't see anything good, surround yourself with good sounds and words from other people.

2. Go to the library (I had to walk to it one time) and come home with something funny, something miraculous and something spiritual. I don't care if you don't believe in any religion. Now is a time of negativity. Reach out for something beyond yourself and your situation.

3. Get the music that will keep you going playing. Put on constant repeat if you have to. Sing at the top of your lungs. Crying while singing is permitted. Getting angry at your situation is encouraged. This leads to letting the problem have its space and gets you ready to move on to solutions.

4, Take control of whatever you can. Control makes one feel a sense of power. The feeling of powerlessness has to be avoided at all cost. If all you can do is straighten the edges of the covers of the sickbed you lay in, by God, straighten them! Sit back and admire. Say to yourself, I did that!

5. Look forward to change. I mean this. I know you don't know where it is coming from, but get in the frame of mind that change eventually comes. I don't care if you think "this will never change." I was a single parent for 10 years. During that time, I became disabled and hit serious poverty. But that same situation is not here today. Back then, everyday I got up and looked for change. Expect it. It is coming.

6. Repeat this process for as long as it takes.


So, to get back to the beginning. Here is the tweets I sent out this morning. It is some of the lyrics to one of my favorite uplifting songs by Bill Gaither called "Thanks for Sunshine." If you click on the little music player under the picture, you should be able to hear it.

Well, I have to get going. This faith walk looks like it is going to be a long one.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

judielise Listening to my favorite "Thank You" song and thought to tweet some of the lines. ThankU lines.

judielise ThankU line: Thanks for sunshine

judielise ThankU line: thanks for love

judielise ThankU line: Thanks for flowers.

judielise ThanksU line: Thanks for children, for each girl and boy.

judielise ThankU line: Thanks for laughter, Thanks for the joy.

judielise ThankU line: Thanks for labor.

judielise ThankU Line: Thanks for tears.

judielise ThankU line: Thanks for tomorrow. Fill it with love.

judielise Thanks for listening. That's all. Back to your normal Twitter chatter.


Picture credits: Rosie Hardy on Flickr

An Extra Hand Services Lives Again

Due to some really bizarre happenings in my life over the last 3 years (that I will have to blog about later), I am opening my company up again. For those of you who don't know, I started a virtual assistant company back in 1996, back when hardly anyone knew about virtual assistants.

I performed clerical, customer service, and light graphic design work. I had a fabulous run for 10 years, working for everything from non-profits to sales executives and business directors, who needed extra staff. My greatest accomplishment was a mail program that I designed from scratch for a client that boosted his sales 532% in one year. That is still my crowning glory, thought it was tough designing the mail piece, coordinating with the mail company and keeping the back end database with updates twice a month.

I closed it down in 2006 due to illness. Now that I have been getting my health under control and I am back in school, several people have asked me (not including old clients who have begged me) to open it up again. I have hesitated and I will tell you why.

Sitting at a computer for 12-16 hours a day is no fun. It was hard on my back and after back surgery in 2005, I tried to limit my time sitting. Also, it is extremely hard on my eyes. I don't talk about it much, but I value my eyesight more than anything besides my children and try my best to protect what sight I have.

But, because of life circumstances and the fact that I now sit here anyway, going to school, blogging, Twittering, etc., I have decided to start it up again. Plus, to tell you the truth, I miss it!

Stay tuned for further posts about progress, projects, the trials and tribs of business ownership (again!), who I am working with and whether I survive this time around.

Wish me luck, send me prayers and well wishes. I am going to need them.

Sleep Issues in Children

If you go way back to the beginning of this blog, I brought over some links and articles regarding sleep issues in children. This is always a very big concern in our home, because of young's son inability to have good sleep experiences.

I realize I am jumping around a bit in this blog (yesterday, new apps, today sleep!), but I have yet to figure out how to put blogposts into groups and categories. Once I do that, this jumping from subject to subject will be better organized.

In my daily perusal of medical journals (yes, I have strange hobbies!), I came across these two article titles:

Cognitive Abilities May Be Affected By Childhood Sleep Problems Persisting Through Adolescence

and

Underlying Sleep Problem Linked To Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder In Children

I know reading medical jargon and study results is not everyone's cup of tea, but when it affects your everyday life, you get smart and interested really fast. Basically, the sleep world finally woke up and realized that a lot of the issues with cognitive function and performance can be linked to faulty sleep habits, patterns and brain wiring/firing. In our case, my young son barely seems to have a circadian clock. He was diagnosed with Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. It looked like narcolepsy (before he got his CPAP machine) and insomnia, which is kind of impossible to have.

The big issue is that this has DEFINITELY affected his cognitive functions, executive functioning and memory. His short-term memory is shot and long-term is sketchy. He can not draw inferences and his brain stubbornly refuses to make leaps of connection from one subject (or even word!) to another related subject (or phrase!). Teaching him is very difficult (on bad days, I say it is non-existent) and I struggle to keep information flowing and relevant.

Okay, I am getting off subject. This is not about my son, per se, but is about awareness. Parents, please listen to me. My son went through the usual diagnosis of ADHD for years. However, though the behavior is similar, it is NOT the same disorder. My son remains unresponsive to ADHD meds. In fact, he is on Concerta (also took Ritalin for awhile, but made the sleep phase problem worse!), but it does not increase focus or attention. Makes him more hyper actually.

The point I want you to take away today is sleep disorders are very real. They have very real symptoms that mimic other disorders. And most doctors are not thinking "sleep disorder" immediately. This is changing.

I had the chance to attend a sleep conference last year in D.C. sponsored by the Sleep Foundation. There I heard the latest research into sleep disorders. Out of that meeting came the recommendations for doctors to begin asking questions regarding sleep for children as young as 2 years old, especially if there were hyperactivity symptoms.

Sleep issues are real. Here in the Unique Family, we live through it everyday. Three us (out of 5) wear CPAPs (hubby fights wearing his. Grrr!). All three have memory and cognitive issues.

Pass this along to anyone you think it might benefit. Also, let me know, anyone in your family/Friends that you are concerned about?

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New App I am Trying out Today-Animoto

Today, I have come to the conclusion that I am a geek. How have I come to this conclusion? Because even though I spent 12 hours typing up my final project APA-styled paper for my IT class, I still found time to follow Tweeter and find new apps online.

I will talk about one I played around with today. I actually got this from a blog I follow in my Google Reader (don't ask me how many blogs, I have totally lost count). It is from Jose Picardo who blogs at Box of Tricks. He is a wonderful person to listen to (great video content) and learn from. And one of his apps that he has written about is Animoto.

Animoto takes your pictures and creates a wonderful dynamic slide show out of them with music. I just had to try it. Doesn't matter that the furnace died yesterday and I am sitting here as cold as ice in Baltimore's first big snow in nearly 6 years. Doesn't matter that I should be tired or that my eyes should rest.

It is amazing how you can make your body wake up when you are excited about something.

So, below, is my 1st attempt at Animoto and I love it! I used my rose flower pictures because I already have them batched at Flickr . A couple f steps later and this is what I got.

I had stopped taking pictures because I hate putting them in albums where they languish. This may actually spur me to purchase a digital SLR. After all, my major in high school was photography. Check Animoto out and give it a try.

And, no, they are not paying me to say this!

My TweetSheep Cloud

Just found a very interesting twit app that I really like. TweetSheep.com generates a tag word cloud from the profiles of the people you follow. It is one of those little apps that seem to be poppping up all over the place.

My TweetSheep cloud serves as an introspective look into who I tend to be drawn to on Twitter.

It also let me know whether I am not searching for people who cover or represent certain subjects that are dear to me. I'll give you some examples.

I have posted a pic of my current cloud. You can see that autism practically jumps off the page. I have said it already that the autism community is represented very heavily in Twitter. Then mom comes up quite big and so does technology. But as an IT tech major, that tells me my connection to the tech world is not so strong in Twitter.





Now at first glance, that may not look good. But I already know enough about me to know that even though I love technology, I love it in context to people and learning.

What is minuscule in my cloud is the disability tag. So small I could barely read it. Not good. I want to know more about disability advocacy, assistive technology and the issues that surround that community.

Now, the thought comes to my mind: Am I not searching/connecting to Tweeters involved in these areas or are they not online?

Here is an open call. Anyone who has followers or follows Tweeters involved in disability issues, AT and the like, please post some people to follow in the comments.