ipads

Some time last year my friend Nicole and I started talking about ipads. How our boys (her son Nicholas is 8) use them, learn from them, are drawn to them. Both our boys visit By Your Side for therapy and use the ipads there as well as at home. Then we started talking about how the school does not use ipads with the CSI program they boys are in and that everywhere you turn there is an article or news spot about ipads and Autism. Why does the school not use them when they could draw so much out of the students with ipads? What can we do to make the district see what they need to do to keep up with technology and new strategies for teaching kids on the Autism spectrum.

We hatched a plan with 6 other moms from the class to raise enough money for 8 ipads and present it to the school.  Nicole sent a letter of intention to the Special Ed Coordinator and Superintendent by letter and a meeting was set up to to discuss what we were expecting from the school district.

At first it appeared we were met with skepticism.  The Superintendent liked our idea of keeping up with technology and was interested in what we had to say but he was unsure of the importance ipads held in the future education of our children and didn't share our enthusiasm.  It seemed as this was going to be an uphill battle for us.  We were told the ipads could not come from funds raised outside of the school and that all the kids, not just the special ones, would need to be taken into consideration.   Frankly, Nicole & I were not concerned with the typical students who could pick up a book or ask for help when it came to learning but we were hopeful in the end it would be clear this was what was best for our kids especially.  By the end of our meeting last October it had been decided a committee was going to be formed to test out the ipads and share ideas on how they can be used in the classroom.

After months of waiting and many phone calls we were contacted for another meeting to discuss where the district was at regarding the ipads.  I just found out that same day that a boy from Mitchell's class was being sent out of district for school and I honestly thought "well there goes our funding!"  We went into the meeting prepared for the worst but willing to sick to our guns.  What a shock we got.

Turns out not only was the superintendent totally excited about the feedback he received but he had done a 180 himself on where he felt the ipads would lead us and the district as a whole.  It has been decided there is enough money in the budget to buy 30 ipads per district building - that's 180 ipads, 6 of which are going to our class.  The plan goes on to add 40-50 per building each year moving forward.  He was thankful to us for opening his eyes on this subject and giving the district the push they needed.

On June 26 it will be presented to the board and expected to be approved.  The ipads will be purchased and training will begin before to beginning of the 2012-2013 school year.

What a day

I knew my Wednesday was going to be busier than normal but I had know idea how exciting & emotionally drained I'd be by the end of the day. My morning started earlier than normal as I needed to get kid related stuff done so my dad could get the kids on the bus as I headed for a meeting with the district superintendent at 8:30. Months ago, we Autism class moms started discussing iPads and how great they would in the classroom and decided we needed to make that happen. It started with a phone call to the wonderful Pat Ryan , special ed coordinator, then a letter to the superintendent. We came up with a way to personally raise enough funds for 5 iPads to donate to the school mainly because we assumed financial issues would keep this dream if ours from coming true. From that letter came a meeting and our expectations were exceeded. Not only does Superintendent Morrow support our idea, he has formed a committee to work out all the details and wants my friend Nicole and I to be a part of it. Yay. He also does not want our money for the iPads but might need our help in the near future on fundraising for covers, apps etc. double yay. After working all of that out, Nicole and I are overjoyed when the timeline is given to us. Committee/focus group is formed now, present to school board in May, plan to purchase iPads and train over summer, iPads ready for use in CSI (Comprehensive Skill Integration) classroom in Fall. Yay yay yay. This is the best New Years gift we could have gotten for our kids.


 After leaving the administration building, I head home to grab Grace and shoot to my MOPS leaders meeting I am already late for. I walk in just in time to eat some yummy food and catch some insight on hospitality.   Next, it's my turn to talk about my role in Craft leadership. All went very well last semester and look! we have been gifted money by a mentor mom who passed recently. My craft budget has just soared. God Bless Ina. Even in death she is supporting moms who need an outlet, who need MOPS. The timer buzzes that my time is up just as I announce I am not returning to MOPS in the fall. Thought I could hold it in but the waterworks turned on. You see, I started attending MOPS in Sep 2004. Since then I have made more friends than I can count.  They have seen me through 3 pregnancies, a miscarriage,  Mitchell's regression & diagnosis.  I have served on leaderships roles in hospitality, discussion group and craft and I have formed a family with woman I never would have met otherwise. All because my friend Becky saw that I could use some encouragement and God's presence in my journey as a new mom. Thank you Becky! I am going to volunteer as a sub for childcare but cannot commit right now to full time.  I need that 6 hrs a month back for myself.  Silly it seems when I say it aloud, 6 hrs a month, really?  There was a time I needed MOPS and now my house needs me. Mainly to clean organize but non the less, it needs me.  

We wrapped up our meeting a little after noon and Grace & I headed to the Dr office. I had a call on Monday that Dr Irizarry had indeed signed my application for Mitchell's permanent handicap placard. That's right folks. We Ivey's will be living it up with Rock Star parking from here on out. Autism has a few perks and handicap parking is one. Now if my Dr would have written a diagnosis where she should have I wouldn't have to go back on Friday but with the day I'm having, I'll let it slide.

Now back to Lockport to pick up Mitchell at 1:30 for 2:00 therapy. I stop at home to fill up Grace's juice and see Mitchell's teacher has called. Hmm, never a good feeling when I see the school on the caller ID. Turns out Mitchell decided to start using a fork Tuesday at school. He hasn't used silverware in over 3 yrs.  It took 45 min, alot less than anticipated, but he carried his plastic fork to lunch too. Thus day just gets better & better. Dropping him off at therapy I call my mom and leave a message asking if they want to eat over or take their dinner to go. I started paying my dad in food for watching my kids Wednesday afternoons. He is retired and all now, so we need to fill his days. Ha ha. I rush home to start making stuffed peppers when my mom calls back to say they made other plans. Drat. I could have stayed in Burr Ridge until 4, guess I'll attempt to clean the family room before I leave again at 3:30.

Finally back home again at 4:30 with Mitchell and ready to start dinner. Love it when I make something more than 2 people will eat. Steve rushes in at 6:15, we scarf down dinner and now it's time to head to Island Hop'n for a little Special Needs Inflatable fun night. Whoo hoo! Everyone had a blast. It was especially nice of the woman who had been sitting with her boob out the whole time nursing her child to tell me I might want to "keep a closer eye on him, he was trying to push my daughter down the slide". Um, yah. You know what I said on the inside. I also got to introduce Steve to Angela whom I my met a my new Autism Family Support Group at Easter Seals I started attending this past Monday and how I found out about jumping fun night. Back home my 8:20 and got everyone asleep by 9:30.

So that's it guys, my not so average day. A little more emotionally taxing than most but just the right amount of chaos.