One Big Step

An icy cold wind carried April fools’ greetings this morning.  With temperatures just over freezing, the brisk breeze relegates the mind to winter rather than providing the nudge into the renewal portended by April, Easter and the onset of spring.  While some draw parallels to the holy trinity when Passover, Easter and baseball’s opening day occur In close proximity, for us April is the annual reminder and time to heighten awareness about autism.  It is time to relight the blue bulbs, speak about progress made and pray for more breakthroughs from research.

Mason has made strides during these last twelve months.  He connected with Coco, the mare at Midnight Farm, whose walk and trot brought smiles, laughter and genuine joy.  Mason House was brought into its full mission of providing therapies and safe experiences for kids and families along the autism spectrum.  But Mason, himself, graduated.  He left Mason House and moved to the public school system – a huge step on his journey with autism.

Last fall Mason’s team met to define his IEP, individualized education program.  For parents who have children with special needs, the process is daunting.  In many cases, the rumors and facts about the kids who came before are enough to make any parent fearful or angry long before the meeting is scheduled.  In fact, stories of services denied, harsh or dismissive treatment of kids with disabilities, uncaring teachers and penny pinching school administrators predominate the lore.  The language used and parsing technical words as guides to treatments or therapies is often well beyond the knowledge or experience of the parent who just wants the right help for an exceptional child.

I asked to observe the IEP meeting for Mason and was glad to have been there.  For nearly four uninterrupted hours, a dozen highly trained and qualified adults talked about Mason – about Mason, the person.  His parents’ observations and interpretations about his skills and behaviors were instrumental in guiding the entire process.  Everyone there was committed to getting Mason’s school day structured to generate real progress against measurable goals.  To be sure, there were segments of the process that were laden with the prescriptive bureaucracy brought on by layers of legislation and public policy.  Yet in every sentence spoken and in every goal selected, Mason’s new team was focused on how to support, serve and stretch him to higher accomplishment.

After all the data were recorded and the plan reduced to the prescribed documents, the IEP was adopted.  Soon he would ride a yellow bus to school and learn to take his seat at his desk, just like all second graders do every day.  He carries his back pack and hangs it on the correct hook and joins the circle during reading and other group activities.  At lunch, he has said his name to the ladies serving him and carries his tray to a table with his friends.  He has recess with the rest of the kids and has already disposed of the extra accommodations used in gym class – he wants to do it himself.

The staff commitment to Mason was not unusual.  It was not a fleeting show to placate anxious parents.  The folks at Hawthorn Hill Elementary School live their mission.  “Each student, through collaboration among the parents, staff, and community, will be provided with exceptional instruction within a safe and caring environment that promotes high expectations for the development of successful lifelong learners.”  Mason’s every success is treated as a cause for celebration and a reason to call his mother to let her know just how special her son really is.  Every goal reached is another step on the ladder that brings Mason one step closer to the rungs higher up.

We all know that autism will be with Mason always and, so, it will also be with us.  With Mason’s team pulling together, progress will continue.  He will find new ways to share his inner joy and his pent up knowledge with all of us.  When he laughs out loud with genuine joy, his senses must be perceiving a joyous world.  A year or so ago, I wrote about wanting to learn how to walk a hundred steps in his shoes.  Now I’d like for him to share the story, the vision and the sounds that bring such a joyful countenance to him.

Easter is a time of renewal and regeneration.  Passover is a time for pilgrimage, liberation and gratitude.  Opening day is the onset of a new season for the most philosophical of sports.  When Jesus rose, he promised that He would return.  As I listened to the sermon and watched “The Bible” on television, I wondered what it would mean if, when the Messiah comes, He would choose to reenter the world afflicted with autism.  Who among us would lead the way for Him?  Follow Him?

--td