Fall is upon us

I've been kinda bad in the photo taking department as of late.  However, I hope to have some new pictures soon since the Fall brings fun stuff to do like pumpkin patches, hikes, walks, carving pumpkins etc.  My different assignment at work keeps me busy and so I don't get to view new articles about adoption like I used to.  However, it's not an all bad thing.  Still have a few posts in draft version almost ready to post so hopefully my groove will be back.

Tigger loves preschool now.  She is learning so much.  The language I hear, while still not in conversation mode surprises me every so often.  She knows the colors pink and yellow.  She can count to 10 minus the numbers 4 and 7.  She has the weirdest vocabulary.  (I mean I don't remember teaching her what a snake was, or the word "asleep", because we either use mimi or night night at home) She sings songs, knows 15 body parts thanks to preschool songs and my own teachings, points to pictures in books, and is starting to use 2 word phrases more often.  She still has that whiny sound accompanied by gestures when she wants something, and that is something I'm trying to diminish by having her tell me "I want _____" or telling her to calm down and show me so I can then give her the words she needs.  Her articulation leaves much to be desired....however I can understand her approximately 70% of the time, so all in all I think my child is developing in speech and language.  My capabilities in this area since it is my area of expertise is way better with kids I'm not related to!

Thanks blogosphere for letting me "brag" about Tigger.  I love that little girl!

Merging Two Passions Together This Month

I’m actually excited about writing a post to include in Foster 2 Forever’s month long blog hop. The blog is highlighting the fact that May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. Of course this always makes me look at ways to help out to make the foster system a wee bit better where I live, however, this is doubly great because May is also Better Hearing and Speech Month, and since I am a Speech-Language Pathologist, I’m excited that these two issues are highlighted in the same month.


Ever since college ended and I started working in the local public school system, I have been an avid supporter of working to promote children and families in the community around me. I believe the future of my state lies within the walls of the schools I am a part of and I believe the future of our state depends on our ability to care for our own children within our state. So with me and how I’ve morphed in my own beliefs about life and what my life’s work and beyond should be, it includes being involved in my community.

I’ve written about my foster care journey and I will highlight it here and here or you can also click on the “our family story” tab above and it will take you to the same links. These two posts adequately describe my journey with adoption through foster care and I wouldn’t change a word.

What I will add to this post though are some things related to speech/language development as I do know many foster parents worry about it when they receive a new placement, primarily if the child is a little older (2 years and above) and there seems to be limited language skills.

What I can do if I suspect a child in my home has a speech/language delay:

• If under the age of 3, contact your local Early Intervention agency or if you are unsure, contact the local school district or your Pediatric Doctor for a referral or number to call. As a foster parent you can also contact the child’s social worker or your social worker for a referral or a number.

• If between the ages of 3-5, contact your local school district and ask where your child can receive an assessment due to your concerns. If you are a foster parent, discuss your concerns with the social worker and see if the social work or biological family or you or all of the above can sign a letter to ask for an assessment. Be aware that depending on who has educational rights, you (the foster parent) may not be able to sign an IEP for implementation, however, you can advocate for the help the child needs. Always know who has educational rights and discuss with the social worker how the signing of any documentation will go (either the parents will need to also come and sign, or the social worker will be liaison, or the GAL will come and sign…etc. this is important information to know)

• Do not underestimate the power of stimulation and involvement in language through everyday activities.

• If a child has not had the typical exposure to language and different activities, it may take a bit to catch up, however, don’t lose heart, change and language development will happen over time and increased awareness with putting out various language opportunities during the day.

What I can do at home to stimulate language:

• Follow the three A’s
      o Allow
                Encourage the language that is there (e.g. wa-wa for water)
                Speak in short phrases or single words to allow for success in imitation.

       o Adapt
                Give the proper name (e.g. shirt, water, juice, ball)
                Repeat, repeat, repeat (e.g. “throw me the BALL, BALL, yes that’s the BALL)

        o Add
                Add a new idea or expand the utterance (BIG car vs. car)
                Actions can solidify the meaning of the word (baby sleeping…along with the action for ‘shhhh’)

• Engage children in everyday activities

        o Laundry (sorting by colors)
        o Cooking (making a snack is always a hit)
        o Library (always something going on…check your library listings)
        o Outdoor play
        o Creative play
        o Reading time

What I can be aware of:
 Be aware of hearing primarily if history of chronic ear infections
         o Have hearing/speech screenings often
          Be aware that sometimes foster children may lag behind and may need some time with us before making leaps and bounds. Patience and understanding are key

On behalf of two very important areas that I’m very passionate about (Local foster care and Speech/Language) I was happy to sit down and write this short blurb to promote speech/language awareness as well.

Kids and their words

So I have a normal and very average 18 month old.  This means she has some words, but not a whole lot.  However, she's now trying to communicate through the spoken language so it makes for fun scenes around the house.

Scene 1:  in her room after coming in the morning and smelling something that indicates a diaper change
Me:  Hi baby
Tigger:  NO!
Me:  yes let's change the diaper
Tigger: no, no, no, NO all the while wagging a finger in my face
Me:  change diaper, here we go
Tigger: waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

ah the toddler diaper hating years

Scene 2:  in the tub
Me:  let's wash the hair
Tigger:  giggles, uh oh
Me:  uh oh what?
Tigger: me
Me:  me what?
Tigger: me bye bye....waves hand

bath time yields so much!

Scene 3:  in the bathroom
Me:  Tigger get out of the bathroom
Tigger:  mami, mami, go peepee?
Me:  you go peepee?
Tigger: no, mami
Me:  I don't have to go
Tigger: mami, peepee
Me:  *sighs* ok mami go peepee
Tigger:  yay.....mami peepee
Me: (after an unprecedented privacy free time in the bathroom) ok all done
Tigger:  bye peepee!

Great my own cheering section....now that she owns her own potty chair we'll see how interested she gets in herself.

Scene 4:  at grandparents house after spending the night and having Tigger in my bed for most of the night
wakes up to giggles and patting of face
Me:  Tigger go see grandpapa
Tigger:  no, no papa
Me:  Tigger go see the dogs and play
Tigger: no, no doggies
Me:  are you going to stay here and pester mami until I'm awake then?
Tigger:  *claps hands* yay
Me:  what happened to "no"?
Tigger:  MAMI.....*giggles*

apparently mornings are much cooler if mom is awake too.

Blogging has been slow this week

As usual this time of the year is hectic with IEPs from my work and now apparently school parties....for the daycare Tigger is in.  Tomorrow is her party and I had to bring fruit suitable for toddlers.  Luckily I got that, I've had two very late days this week and I'm just tired and trying to do Christmas over here so tonight I'll leave you with a Mommy prayer I was thinking all week long....it doesn't come from any of my mommy emergency prayer books...this one is all on me. 

Dear God,

It less than 2 weeks before Christmas.  Please let all the plans go smoothly.  May I get a good outfit for Tigger and myself for Christmas Eve, let me have the energy to wrap presents, let me not forget my fruit bowl for the daycare nor the present for the gift exchange.  May I get the shredding I want to get done over vacation, and may I get caught up on her scrapbook.  May I find the energy to keep up with her and still enjoy my time off from work.  Oh and if those nightly tantrums that happen every night could start diminishing that would be awesome!

Thanks,
DannieA

The big bad school system has feelings too!!!!!!

You know I get it!  I really do.  The public school system isn't the best sometimes.  Special education and all that it entails is also another system where things can go right or things can go awry. 

However, the people working with the kids, sometimes YOUR kids....they have feelings too.  Sometimes it just gets old to hear people venting away about how evil the school district is;  how people in special education don't care about their child, how they aren't doing anything.....people are people, some people are very good at their job and some aren't.  It's really that simple....then it gets complex because us laypeople in the schools (Special Education Teacher, Speech Therapist, School Psychologist) are doing what we can do in adherence to the law and to our districts school policy.  Then if a parent isn't happy with their child's educational plan they can take it up with the special education department, and then there are parent rights that let you file against the district if you think your family/child has been wronged. 

It's in my nature to be a people pleaser, to sit down and listen, to try and come up with a better plan if a parent is upset, but I draw the line at rudeness.  *I* am not the enemy.  *I* am not the evil one.  *I* am not part of a big conspiracy to keep your kid from learning or speaking.  Believe it or not *I* am tired of being 'god' (if your child begins to talk and use language and progress in that area) and *I* am tired of being the evil speech therapist (if your child is not becoming verbal in a quick amount of time).  *I* am not a robot and *I* don't like to be ragged on and be made out to be an evil part of a conspiracy that is hell bent on making sure your child doesn't learn.  Yes parents, *I* have feelings too and they can be hurt. 

If you are feeling angry or frustrated with your staff at your child's school site or think your special education team isn't listening to you, here are some things to try:

*Call an IEP meeting and beforehand make a list of concerns you would like to discuss
*Ask for a special education administrator or program specialist to attend so your concerns are documented not only with the school but with the special education
*Read your parent rights.  If you really are not happy with a particular service or services ask where the directions are to file for a due process hearing....if the team is shady and doesn't want to tell you, call the department of ed. or the district's office of resolution
*attempt to work out differences with the individual....if there is animosity or you do have a special ed. team member that is rude, cease contact and speak to that person in the principal's office
*seek and inter or intra district transfer....sometimes things are better at another school.

Above all, remember we who work in the public system are people too....and we do care about your kids and their success.