An Opportunity For Re-Invention? (plus Update)

Is that what our current economic crisis can present us with? An opportunity to re-invent ourselves??

Last Monday Night on the Frontline programme on RTE, the current unemployment crises facing new Irish Graduates was discussed at large. Much was made of the fact that we have recently qualified, or soon to be qualified, Engineers, Lawyers, Physio Therapists (and most likely Speech & Language and Occupational Therapists) etc by the dozens and no jobs for them. This country has invested a lot in their education and there is a need for their skills....in fact there's a dearth of Therapists needed to provide much needed interventions. Yet these highly qualified individuals have no hope of employment here and most will have to emigrate to find work.

Of course they laid the blame squarely on this ineffectual, but not completely incompetent, Government of ours. It's true, they've done NOTHING to secure or create jobs as they've concentrated solely on shoring up our Financial Institutions (already us Tax Payers are at a loss as Bank of Ireland shares fall) and reducing wages to the extent that people can't afford to spend....thereby losing more jobs in the retail sector. There's absolutely no stimulus package. Where are these young people emigrating too?? Apparently England, Canada, Australia and America in some cases.

How come they can get jobs in those countries?? Or is that a very naive question? Perhaps the forthcoming Olympics in the UK in 2012 is providing employment opportunities there? The big question of course is what are the UK and US  Governments doing that our Government isn't??

However, the onus isn't completely on the Government, or on our Tanaiste and not completely incompetent  Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan. We can't wait for them to get their act together and these things are cyclical. We need to use all available resources and they should listen to economists and business peoples' opinions.

These recent Graduates are mostly from a generation that has had everything handed to them, including a far better education than my generation and my parents generation received. Are they molly coddled?? Does their well-travelled status really mean simply that they're well-holidayed??

Bill Cullen,  he who  started his career as a 5-year-old street seller, was also on the Frontline programme and he put these very points to them. He challenged them to get out there and get experience, even if only on a voluntary basis, and said so what if you have to emigrate. Go get the experience abroad and bring it back here when you're done! Mary Coughlan is also relaxed about people emigrating and feels it's not a bad thing.  Hmmm......

While Bill may have been a bit naive when handling the debt problems people have these days (he may have gone out to work at a young age to contribute to the family funds but his parents wouldn't have had the crippling mortgage repayments some of  these people have) when he told one participant to renegotiate his €2000 a month debt. He did however have a point. Hey....I bet he's gone fishing in many a pond for the wishing money in his time!!

This programme and a previous conversation with The Cuz got me thinking. Can unemployment be an opportunity for re-invention? We both know someone who is using their forthcoming job loss as such an opportunity and I'm sure there are plenty others out there brave enough to give it a go.

These young people have fantastic opportunities to do the same in this internet driven era. They are way more internet savvy than most of us and with eBay ,  facebook and twitter there are loads of cheap (cost free even) ways to promote yourself.

A young entrepreneur Dylan Collins was also on the Frontline Programme. He's made a fortune from Games and now Gamestop has made a major investment in his internet games company, Jolt Online.

WiiBoy's ambition is to work in Gamestop! 

See.... our children's obsessions, currently their re-enforcers, can ultimately become their future career path ;-)

Did you that there's such a thing as a Games Fleadh here in Ireland? It's a Games & Console Programming Festival held annually. I am taking a note of this for future reference ;-)

Of course, way before this economic crises, some of us stay-at-home-mums (and dads) have learnt the art of re-invention. Over the years, some parents have racked their brains to think of ways to successfully merge earning a wage with raising a family and still be there for school pick-ups, extra-curricular activities and homework etc; etc. A very daunting task indeed.

I suppose the trick is to think of your skills and perhaps how your hobbies/interests can be harnessed to fill a gap in the market??

We just have to look at how Hammie has used her writing skills and networking ability. Also, at how she's used her knowledge and experiences to help create the new Grace Application for iPhone to help non-verbal Autistic children communicate effectively. Steve Troughton-Smith was the iPhone developer on board for this fantastic project.

Also Coolkid is using her skills and interests and has co-founded a new venture : Picture This which is opening soon.

Whilst not making money for herself , the wonderful Taz put her thinking cap on and used her networking skills to help raise money for the Irish Guide Dogs: Assistance Dogs Programme . She set up Puppy Power and to date there are enough contributions to sponsor 5 puppies for a year.

I take my hat off to you ladies!

Of course some of my friends are an old hat at this using-your-interests lark, and are a long time in business. Like my show pal with his children's parties which he runs over at Really Grand Events!!

 With my 5 year Career Break (plus one year Carers Leave) due to finish this November, I may have to do a bit of re-inventing myself too! That is, if I want to be available for WiiBoy after school (and I do) and want to avoid returning to my good Government job. Oh good God....the thoughts of it. Makes me ill to think about it!

I may get yet another hat out of my closet....... my thinking hat!

Not as fabulous as my other hats, I know, but this is a very scary task and I need all the help I can get!

Hopefully we can all learn to reinvent ourselves not just individually, but collectively as a nation.

What skills or resources are at our collective disposal to harness for use in the Global Market and here at home, I wonder??

And what's this Government going to do to help us achieve our re-incarnations??

Resign, perhaps??


xx Jazzy

UPDATE:  

Ray Darcy had some young unemployed people on his radio show this morning over at Today FM . 

I only heard some of it but he had 2 Graduates; a girl who had 2 Degrees in Engineering (I think) and Biology and had been studying for 8 years, and an Architect. Neither can get a job in this country and at least one of them has "worked for free" as Bill Cullen suggests. Soul destroying to think that you've invested your time in studying for a career that there are now no longer prospects in. You would have to wonder at the choice of courses some people choose though. The Biology Graduate would most likely have to emigrate anyway.

There was also a Cabinet maker on who cannot now continue the Apprenticeship he's half way through.

In all these cases it seemed that they were following their dream and this was what they've always wanted to do. The idea of re-training is not what they want to consider. Can't blame them as they've just come out of a long study period.

Still, they may need to get re-inventing....or adapting slightly perhaps?

The Cabinet Maker had some good ideas. See, the Government needs to engage with these people and hear what they have to say as they may have some feasible ideas that THEY can adopt! The Cabinet Maker, when in employment, had invested in a shed and some tools. Now, if he'd any sense, he'd be down in that shed practising his learned skills to date ....maybe even getting a  little business going ;) While he's waiting to get what he wants. Well, it look would good an a CV.

While we may worry about the Teenagers currently going through the Education system maybe we shouldn't. Quite possibly they're in the best place, potential future 3rd level fees aside that is. 

Educating themselves for when this thing turns around. 

Just pick the right courses. 

Think ahead. 

Be inventive.
xx Jazzy

Sunday Sojourn in Dublin City.....

Wiiboy and I had our annual get together with my Cuz and her almost-10-year-old boy J, my Godson, last Sunday in town. It was our..... ahem.... annual CHRISTMAS get together! We were a tad tardy this year in organising this reunion, as a badly timed Birthday party for WiiBoy (work day), a late night trip to the Hospital and a pesky Panto conspired to delay this much anticipated annual event!


We try to get together a couple of times a year but as we live on opposite sides of Dublin Bay (Rush and Shankill) it can be difficult to arrange.







Sometimes I think .... wouldn't it be great if there was a ferry operating from Rush (they have a harbour) and Bray?? It could stop in Dun Laoghaire and the Docks (City centre....kind of!) and Howth on the way. Now there's a start-up idea in these jobless times, even if it is born out of frustration at traffic and problematic Public Transport. Perhaps that's just me being fanciful though!

Luckily we have the usually dependable Dart (train) service here in Shankill so I NEVER drive into town. Wouldn't dream of it. Of course the once in a blue moon trip I do make on the Dart usually involves some cock-up! This Sunday, as we traveled (laden down with Christmas parcels) the Dart, due to engineering works, was only operating for 5 stops, then a shuttle bus to re-connect with the Dart for a further 3 stops....Planes, Trains and Automobiles!! We decided to get the Bus the whole way home and let me tell ya..... the seating and suspension on Public Transport vehicles does NOTHING to assist a coccyx that is trying very hard to reunite!! Have to say though, the Public Transport personnel I met that day get a major thumbs up from me. Professional and helpful.

So, the Cuz, J, WiiBoy and I finally met up in the Temple Bar area of Dublin and had lunch in the Hard Rock Cafe. It was lovely but quite expensive. No family or lunch deals of any kind whilst  Thunder Road Cafe across the road had "Kids eat free" deals and I know TGI Fridays and Pizza Hut have good deals too. I know where we won't be going next time! Although the staff were nice, and so was the Pinot Grigio!

The boys had a chance to catch up, as did we, although initially WiiBoy was more interested in his Nintendo. You see J isn't as interested and Wiiboy has to be more considerate of his friend's interests too;)) But they found a mutual interest....having a look around the memorabilia shop! Oh, they were giggling, messing and taking photos of silly stuff on their phones! We were beginning to get The Look so we decided that a walk up Grafton Street on this cold, but lovely sunny Sunday was just the ticket.

So, off we trotted up Grafton street to see some street performers, we hoped. There were only two unfortunately, a band called Mutefish  who's music is described as a celtic rock blend (they're very good) and a guy blowing enormous bubbles. Which WiiBoy insisted on bursting! I had just convinced him not to (we wanted to see how long they'd last) when other children came along and did exactly the same!

At the top of Grafton Street is an old Dublin Landmark..... St Stephens' Green. A 27 acre green park with ducks, swans, a fountain, a bandstand and a playground right in the heart of the city center.   This park was enclosed in 1664 and laid out in it's present form in 1880.

I don't think there's a family in Dublin who hasn't spent some family time in this park, steeped with history! The Cuz and I were brought by our respective parents when we were young. Well, it's free and money wasn't plentiful then. Just like now. We have some family photos somewhere and The Cuz distinctly remembers photos taken of her family at one of the many monuments in the park.

I believe this was WiiBoy's first trip to the park. The first thing you see when you walk in is the duck pond and when younger, WiiBoy had a natural inbuilt impulsiveness to run towards and immerse himself in ANY body of water, ANYWHERE in his peripheral vision!!

More trustworthy now, of course! Here's the two dudes....right before WiiBoy decided that terrorising the pigeons might be more fun (or "funner" as he himself would say!).......

 

He had great fun chasing them, until I explained they had tiny hearts and frighten easily. Sensing once more we were getting The Look (probably all in my head) we moved on.

                                     

WiiBoy saw the swans and sat calmly down at the waters edge to admire. J joined him and then the swan became curious.....

                                              

       and curioser still.........

Ahh....a hungry swan nibbling the bottom of his new runners!!

Knowing how frisky and dangerous Swans can get we found a piece of bread and threw it in......

 

So peace resumed...for a short time. The swan came back and began chewing at their feet again! Perhaps this was nature's revenge for terrorising the pigeons earlier! As we were definitely getting The Look from the swan we moved on yet again!!

 This time we visited the fountain. I LOVE this fountain and have fond memories of it. Particularly during a break in the Aer Lingus rehearsals of the John Player Tops, National Finals 1989. We were rehearsing in the nearby Gaiety Theatre so we dropped into St Stephens Green to kill some time. It was such fun, all 20/30 of us doing  Grand Jetes around the fountain, a la Fame which was very popular at the time!

Today though, WiiBoy had his own fun in mind and was getting more "active" by the minute! J of course, tagged along for the ride! While we were busy chatting we noticed WiiBoy's  jacket was off and J came over with his fleece sleeve saturated. We were definitely getting The Look from a couple with their young child. A boy. Give it a few years love and he'll be as bad, I felt like saying! After all, all boys are like this, aren't they? 

So, I guessed he was no longer able to contain himself and would end up in the fountain yet so decided it was time to leave the park! Called him over and asked what he was doing. He held out his hands and showed me......" Look mum, I got 26 cents and a 20 kroner coin"!!! (It was a small Polish coin)  Ha ha ha ha ...... they'd been fishing for the wishing money!! Can't go wrong there!

Hmmmm...Hyper child, OR an entrepreneur in the making???

So, we then departed and made our separate journeys home, with promises to meet again soon for J's birthday.

We met Mr Jazzy and WiiBoy had another fizzy drink....was fizzy drinks the cause of the exuberance today??  Possibly.

However, as he had quite a hyper day in school yesterday (and somewhat today also) I'm thinking I've got to get up to date on his MorEPA , as he hasn't been getting them regularly.

So, maybe Sunday's exuberance wasn't normal boys-will-be-boys stuff after all. I really didn't think it was.

Perhaps we have an exuberant child...... with a strong entrepreneurial streak ;)

Go WiiBoy!  xx Jazzy

Spreading The Sunshine.

I felt honoured and humbled this week to receive a blog award.....not once but twice. So I want to say a very big thank you to Jen from The King and I and I  and Jean from Planet Outreach for bestowing on me the salubrious Sunshine Award which takes pride of place on my blog's sidebar! Who needs The Brits when you have this Universal Award...eh??!!


Awards are a lovely way of honouring and acknowledging our fellow bloggers and hey....they make you feel good too! They're also a great decoration on our sidebars and rank up there along with comments and new followers. Did I mention another seven followers and I'll have fifty followers?? Not hinting or anything...just saying like! Well.....it's nice round figure, fifty, isn't it? the big 5 Oh!! Oh well.....sigh!

So, back to the more important job in hand ........  Spreading some Sunshine. It is with great pleasure that I share this award with:

WiiBoy over at Wiiboy Blades of Fire for being my ray of sunshine! Nepotism I know.... but he's the best!

Kathleen  at Autism Herd for telling her tales with such humour...particularly her last post!

Coolkid over at Maddies Ramblings (and The Fabulous Mr Luca) for sharing her stories with us and always commenting over here! I'll leave you to your own spot of nepotism Coolkid;))

Lora over at  My Beautiful Child Griffin and Autism  for her lovely blog and all the lovely facebook comments and wall posts! You spread your own brand of sunshine Lora!

Andra at The Perfect Storm...... for her honest Blog Posts and for all her comments here and on facebook! I'm hoping this award will spark another Bblog Post from her ;))

Looking For Bluesky for her varied posts...you're like me C, blogging about whatever takes your fancy! Here's a little sunshine to go with the blue sky I know you'll find.

3laine for her very informative posts and the very helpful comments she's left over here.

The fabulous, bi-lingual Nan P who keeps me regaled with stories about her gorgeous Little Prince Charming....and other stuff too!

To Jen and Jean....right back at ya! Always enjoy reading both your witty and humorous Blog Posts.

To Petunia for her wonderful and informative Blog Posts.


And last but not least to the Queen of all us bloggers ..... the wonderful, wise and witty Hammie over at Hammiesblog! I've no doubt you've been inundated with this award but here it is again from me!

I'd also like to acknowledge all the new bloggers in our little blogging community so I'm exceeding my quota and selecting Popsie over at Crazy World  to represent this group. Well done Popsie, I look forward to reading more from you!

Now.....go forth all you winners of this salubrious award and spread some sunshine of your own  ;))

xx Yours truly...the "Bolshie" and "Feisty" Jazzy!!

These two tags also bestowed on me this week! I'll wear both with pride ;)

The SNA Angel and the Dissipating Cloud

A few years ago there was a little boy, recently diagnosed with ASD, who was the appropriate age for "Big" school. Unfortunately he didn't have the accompanying appropriate behaviours, so Big school was not a feasible option. In fact, there were very few options indeed. But the parents were fighters so they checked things out, they dug deep emotionally and made the difficult decision to send their gorgeous little boy to a Special School.

This school had small classes, six children with a Teacher and three SNA's. Most special classes have only two SNA's but if a child has particular needs then an extra SNA can be granted. That was in the good old days. A mere Six years ago

The little boy went off to school and the mum shed a little tear, like most mum's do on their little darling's first day. But these tears were different. You see, the little boy didn't have full Autism, he wasn't that bad really. So, the mum cried when she saw how upset he was... and how his eyes glassed over with the look, just like all the other Autistic children in the hall (used for transition purposes) that very first day. She also cried later that evening when she saw the traditional TV clips of all the Junior Infant children starting off in normal school. The little boy is an only child you see so they'd never, ever get that first day in normal school.

Through pure perseverance by all involved, the transition to Mainstream school commenced by the end of that first year, and the little boy was accompanied by an SNA for his weekly 2 hour (including travel time) trip. The Special school could afford the temporary release of that SNA you see. Things went so successfully that the little boy became a bit of a trail blazer. As his hours increased in Mainstream they applied for an SNA for him so the Special school did not have to lose out on their SNA. The application was successful and paved the way for similar successes in other cases.

Not everyone believed it would be successful, but with fierce perseverance fast forward to six years later, and the transition to mainstream school was a complete success, amid lots of tears, tantrums and Homework Clouds along the way of course. A number of people were responsible for this success at home and in school but one person was essential in the mix....... his SNA Angel. Without her help in settling him in each year, reinforcing (or suggesting) new appropriate behaviours, dealing with homework issues etc, etc, etc we would be lost. In fact, this year it has taken WiiBoy until now (September to January) for things to fully settle down and for the Homework Cloud to finally dissipate, letting some light shine through. For this success he was recently awarded Student of the Week again! This time it was for "his fantastic work in school, his great homework all week and for his cheerful, positive attitude since Christmas break". Wow. Again, our SNA Angel was essential in achieving this. This week, for the first time this school year he also got 20/20 in his weekly spelling test. It's a goal he's been aiming for all year. SNA Angel has been at his side all year dealing with the tears at the unsuccessful attempts and sharing the joy with this weeks achievement. A huge boost for his self esteem.

During the early days of the integration into mainstream I had a quick chat with the then Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanifin on one of her many visits to our school. At the opening of the new school extension (that she had helped us with) I believe. I discussed WiiBoy's gradual move to a full time mainstream place and she was delighted with that. She advised me that that was best practise in the UK and ultimately it's what should happen, where appropriate. She also warned me to bear in mind that if it didn't work out we wouldn't be able to go back and that we'd lose services. Wise words that I did indeed bear in mind.


Now, while I don't agree with Mary Hanifin's recent dealings with Autism (hence her move from the Education Portfolio, I believe) nor do I agree with the savage cutbacks being currently imposed by her and this Government, I must give credit where credit is due. She was instrumental in allocating lots of extra SNA posts around the time that we were making the transition and that has assisted us greatly.

It's obvious that herself and the Government realised the important role SNA's could play in helping children with a varied range of Special Needs integrate and prosper in a Mainstream school setting. No doubt they also could see the value for money this investment in Education would ultimately bring. The economic downturn does not alter that reality.

An SNA working with a child anywhere on the wide and varied Autism Spectrum has their work cut out for them. The SNA can help the ASD child with staying calm, focused and on task in the classroom. They can deal with any tantrums and unacceptable behaviours in the classroom calmly and efficiently, even removing the child briefly if necessary. To go for a calming walk perhaps, or a visit to the Quiet Room (a proper Quiet Room) . The SNA can help the child with wordy maths questions or help them process some lengthy instructions. They can even sit beside them keeping them calm (all year long) and repeating the words so that they can stop tantrumming with frustration at not getting all their spellings right every week. All of this work minimises the effect that the ASD child's behaviour can have on other children and frees up the classroom teacher to continue with her lessons.The SNA, if she's truly on board, can also be a kind of buffer between you and the school if your school is not as supportive or as accepting of your child's diagnosis.While there's little they can do in this case it is good to have their support and they can speak up at meetings. If they're brave enough.

Then at the beginning of this school year things changed. Well the reasons extra SNA's were required as outlined above didn't change. Nor did the ASD diagnoses. But, yet again, it appeared that the rules of the game were changed as a result of our economic crises and the short-sightedness of this Government. The headlines screamed 2000 SNA's to be cut. However, the criteria as laid down by the Government in their circular entitled: Review of all Special Needs Assistant posts in primary, special and post-primary schools by the National Council for Special Education led us to believe that they were just ensuring that all SNA's employed were properly allocated and governed by the rules already in existence. The circular says:


While reviews of such allocations in schools are regularly undertaken, it has come to the attention of the DES that there are instances where the work being carried out by some SNAs does not reflect the basis for the allocation of the post and where the level of SNA resources in some schools is greater than the proper application of the criteria would allow. This, of course, may arise for a variety of reasons. It may, for example, be a result of decreasing care needs of pupils arising from their maturation and development or as a result of effective interventions, which have successfully enhanced a pupil’s independence. In other cases posts may have been retained when pupils who have been allocated SNA support have left the school. Schools are reminded that this role is a non-teaching role and that SNA posts should be actively reduced and withdrawn once the pupil’s care needs have diminished.

Fair enough. I can actually see the point. But that last sentence worries me as they don't define "diminishes". All Special Needs pupils, no matter the disability , will "diminish" with an SNA beside them. Remove that SNA though and it's a different story. The circular also lays out the actual criteria required to acquire an SNA:

SNAs are recruited specifically to assist schools in making suitable provision for a pupil or pupils with special care needs arising from a disability in an educational context. Schools may apply for an SNA post for a pupil with a disability who also has a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory impairment or where their behaviour is such that they are a danger to themselves or to other pupils. Schools are advised that where an application relates to the management of a pupil’s behaviour, there must be clear evidence that the pupil’s behaviour is a danger to themselves or others and that sustained efforts by the school have not proven to be successful in the amelioration of such documented behaviours.

I have to be honest and say that reading the above makes me wonder how we qualified in the first place. Yes, there were some danger issues at first but the needs of an ASD child are more than is outlined above. Children with Autism would appear to be squeezed in under "The Sensory Impairment" and "Behaviour" criteria.Perhaps keeping the ASD student calm and on task fits the "special care needs arising from a disability in an educational context".You only have to look at the difference our SNA Angel has made to the quality of WiiBoy's life to know it's good investment. I guess you play the game, you look at the criteria and work out how your child's needs fits their parameters. You make it fit. This is one way you apply for or fight to keep your SNA angel. You can also try to have reports from your clinical team supporting your child's needs..... separate from the NEPS psychologist's report, if necessary. I can't help but worry that SNA services are being withdrawn prematurely from some children, particularly the ASD children. These are the children whose needs will diminish as they gain independence and progress to the extent they can do more tasks unaided and without causing major disruption. Who makes the decision and how? Per the circular:

....the SENO, through interaction with the school, direct observation of the pupil, discussions with parents and other professionals supporting the child, is well placed to make a judgement call on the care needs of the child in an educational setting and how these care needs can most appropriately and efficiently be met in a particular school setting taking into account resources already available to the school.

Now, us parents of ASD children know only too well how our fabulous children behave perfectly whenever they're being assessed! And as 3laine points out in her post..... they look so normal. They don't have full Autism and they're not that bad really. 

How to fight this??  Apart from feeding them chocolate and coke for breakfast on Review day  (DO IT) this is where the school has the biggest role to play. It helps if they are truly supportive of your child's needs and diagnosis. While most schools are (it's in their best interests to retain supports) unfortunately some schools aren't. The school has to ensure that everyone involved with the child has an input to any meeting about that child. 

The best way we as parents can hope to influence these decisions (apart from having the necessary supporting reports) is to KEEP A HOME/SCHOOL COMMUNICATION DIARY. 

I cannot stress this enough. This is an important weapon in our arsenal and it's something I carried on from our Special School days. I am so glad I did. You need to record everything that happens on a daily basis. If you haven't got an SNA then this could help you get one...and if you have then it could help you keep her! If you haven't got an SNA then the teacher may be willing to spend 5 mins at end of day writing a 3  line report...but more detailed if there's been an event. 

Remember to enhance  everything that happens. You need to not only state what occurred but how it impacted on others in the class, how it disrupted the class, how upsetting it was for the child himself and perhaps how it impacted on his/her behaviour for the rest of the day...or even for a couple of days etc, etc, etc. Recording these events also helps you see a pattern and can assist in setting up new programmes to diminish the behaviours. You can also record the good things that happen too! Maybe he /she lent a pen to a classmate or played appropriately in yard, for example. Of course you enhance this too, stressing how important the SNA Angel was in helping your child achieve this goal. 

Recent reports show that they are really delving deep in these reviews and SNA jobs are being lost in lots of places. Read here for Councillor Padraig Mc Evoy's report. He states:  

Eligibility for continuing support in the classroom by an SNA is now based on health and safety assessments of pupils or medical treatment only. Challenges such as ADHD, various degrees of autism or physical limitations are now no longer the criteria to continue assisting vulnerable children in mainstream classrooms.

I was also shocked to read that other Special Needs children,not all of whom have Autism Spectrum Disorders but do have very significant medical care needs, are due to lose an also very significant portion of their teaching staff. 66% to be precise. Read here about the ferocious cutbacks in St Joseph's Special School in Tallaght, Dublin.  If you want to sign the online petition then sign here

This is absolutely appalling and we must fight it.A lot of people, including Clr McEvoy are comparing the severe cutbacks to the money spent on NAMA. I'll tell ya one thing...investing in our special children is a far better investment then any investment in our corrupt banking system who, in most cases still have the same CEO's in power. Invest the money in Wiiboy and his like. They're very good at computers and Maths etc and with their rigid sense of fairness and tendency to follow the rules they'd make far more honest CEO's in the future.

The children are our future Mr Cowen and the ASD children can play a very important part in this country's future. As I've said before here " Our children can be the future: Scientists, Engineers, Mathematicians, I.T (Programmers and Web Designers) Artists, Authors, Doctors, Surgeons etc, etc." Read the links in my previous post if you don't believe me Mr Cowen & Co.

But take heart, the SENO's have retained the SNA support services in some schools, so it is possible. We need to share our stories, batten down the hatches, gather our ammunition and prepare to fight for our children's true future 

I want the clouds to dissipate for all our children in whichever school setting is apprpriate for them, so that the light can get through and help them reach their true potential that will ultimately benefit our country and save money in the long run.

 xx Jazzy

Another Successful Panto Run, Come Meet the Team........

Well, another successful run for St Anne's Panto with "Old Mother Hubbard"! Oh, the fun we had over the last two jam-packed weekends!

We played to six full houses and probably could have done another couple of nights...... now there's a thought, as we go forward!

An inordinate amount of hard work has been put into this Panto by all involved, and it really paid off. The run was enjoyed by all I feel, Actors, Children, Production Team and Audiences alike.

As I've said before, this is just a local school production, albeit with the added feel good zest of a community that supports it. There is an unusual dynamic involved with this group in that the children are the dancers and are only at Primary School level. The children also play some acting roles, which they do extremely well. Normally, with other local Pantomime groups you will find that the dancers are teenagers or young adults.

However, we have been attracting some teenagers in recent years. Once they leave the Primary school they tend to come back and audition for parts, usually from Transition year but sometimes from as early as 1st year, Secondary School level. And it is this young blood that keeps the panto going for so long. This is interesting for me, as I have choreographed for seven years now I get to see them growing up through the panto. For example this year I had three Transition year girls, plus one First year girl (my assistant), back to dance for me! Oh, and it also means I have a steady stream of babysitters!

The success of this year's panto is down to phenomenal Team effort....so, lets go meet the Team.

ONSTAGE TEAM: THE ACTORS

Most of the lead roles are played by adults, with a handful of teenagers and a large serving of children for the smaller roles and chorus parts. I believe there were three people (two for definite) who have performed in all 14 productions! Traditionally, the parts were played by parents of children in the school, or Teachers, with some Friends of the school taking a small proportion of the roles. This year, as pointed out by the Principal, this situation has been reversed! There were far more Friends involved this year....and a lot were were new Friends. That's always good news and new Friends are most welcome! They did a wonderful job too. I hope they come back!

All the Actors did a fantastic job and they deserve a massive round of applause. However I have to mention two in particular.....

Old Mother Hubbard .....herself . Our Dame was ably played again this year by my friend N who is a co-founder of this group! This was her brainwave fourteen years ago and she has performed in every show! N is a an amazing woman with bundles of energy. She plays her Panto role with relish every year whilst also organising tickets, posters, over-seeing Front of House and opening the hall for me when I, or the Director has an early rehearsal! Well done N.....you were great!

Courtesy of Bray People

The Bear ...... who was everywhere, as ably demonstrated by the Principal himself who played this role! The wonderful Mr C (who also manages to be everywhere in real life too!!) always gets to play a role every year no matter how small. Mr C is also the other co-founder and over the fourteen years he has played a woman (complete with beard!) at least twice, an Ape, a Giant and a very memorable Ali G ......to name but a few roles! Now, this is one of the reasons I admire him so much. You see, I made a decision years ago when I joined this group and saw him in action. This was before WiiBoy was even a twinkle in anyone's eye! I wanted any child of mine taught in a school run by a Principal who was willing to get up on stage and do this..... and walk through the corridors afterwards with his head held high!! Now you know why I persevered all this time! Well done Mr C.... take a well earned bow!

THE CHILDREN

Now, this is TRULY what the Panto is about and the reason we fill those seats every night. The wonderful children....all 140 (approx) of them! They were fantastic. They got up on that stage and danced/acted/sang their little hearts out. Seeing them up there is the main reason I do this, although I do have to remind myself of this from time to time! To see up there beaming, particularly when receiving their well-earned applause makes me very proud of them, and happy for them, indeed. Sure I was nearly in tears as each group performed for the last time last Saturday!

What stood out the most this year, certainly what was commented on the most, was the amount of boys involved, none of whom attend dance classes. I reckon I had about 40 of them. I used to always say wouldn't it be great to have a boys only dance routine?? This year I had three of them! Of course one boy stood out.......

 

                                          WiiBoy is in the Blue Shirt                                            
Well, I am biased...but I can't really post any pictures of the other children here, can I?!! Seriously though, he was great (they all were) and I am very, very proud of him.

Another group has to get a special mention....my Teenage Can Can Dancers who were fabulously fronted by that wonderful Hussy, Lulabelle! Well done girls.....you were FAB!! It was my pleasure to work with you.

WARDROBE

Now, as fabulous as all the onstage cast are, an awful lot of work goes into getting them up there. They need costumes for starters. I mean, they can't go onstage undressed after all, can they?! Although.....that threat has been made!!

We have an amazing Wardrobe Department led by two very organised and talented women. You think you can re-use and re-cycle?? These ladies would put you to shame, they could give classes in the subject! We are on a very tight, shoe-string budget so this is a necessary skill to have. The costumes they make and adapt are amazing and are always commented on every year. Of course this Department consists of a lot of helpers/sewing ladies and they do a fantastic job. I must point out though, they don't only make the costumes. They make sure they're cleaned and ironed for each weekend and that they're cleaned and cataloged before they're stored away safely after the final show.

Well done Wardrobe!

SETS

We try to keep sets and Props to a minimum. There are still a lot of scenery and backdrops to be painted though, and R, our Set Designer and her team do a great job. R and her helpers also do make-up for all onstage so take a bow R!

We also have a very good Friend of the school who's a real handyman and builds some of the bigger sets for us, and does Backstage too. He's also a very good Painter/Decorator ...he's a great Belly Dancer too !!!....and I should know ;-). So, well done to all involved in Sets!

BACKSTAGE

Oh, our Backstage did a tremendous job and were led by the wonderful G who has returned to us after a few years hiatus! Again, G was ably assisted by her wonderful team..... and an errant cow! The Backstage do like to have their fun you see! Especially on the last night! Mother Hubbard's son, Hughie, was particularly worried that his large glass of "Low Alcohol Rot Gut" that he had to drink in one go, would be replaced on the last night with the God only knows what!! He took great care to make sure that didn't happen though! Spoil Sport!! Nah....he was right......I know only too well what Backstage are capable of!!

Backstage also get their moment on the stage ....... at the After-Show party! Hilarious!! Especially seeing burly men in dresses and ...ahem....wigs(??!!)... doing the Can-Can!! I could upload a photo here....but I don't want to be sued!

THE PRODUCTION TEAM

This is the Team that gets them all up on stage. And to do that we have:

Our amazing, talented, motivating, Duracell driven, Multi-tasking and always smiling Director! Seriously, this lady has amazing energy and keeps us all on our toes.

Our also talented, multi-tasking, finger-in-every-musical-pie, one man band of a Musical Director! And he's young too! What a find! Who needs an orchestra when you have this guy???

Yours truly, the multi-hat juggling Choreographer! Ably assisted this year by J, a first year student who, unfortunately due to injury, couldn't do the Can Can for the last weekend:(( Thanks for all your help J. Hey, we make a good match J...your ankles and my coccyx!!

FRONT OF HOUSE

These are the Team that make everything run smooth out front and run the shop etc and for all that we are very grateful. One lady in particular always makes a huge fuss of my mam when she comes to see the show with her Carer...thank you very much P, your kind act is much appreciated. xx

SUPERVISORS

Now, this is the group that truly makes everything run smooth on the night, and for the dress rehearsals...... the Classroom Supervisors. Seriously, with about 110/120 children backstage for any one performance this Team truly comes into it's own. The children are backstage for 3 hours and only go on stage for 6 minutes so you could not under estimate the work that this team does backstage keeping things relatively calm. I sit out front for the performances and could not do this if it wasn't for this Team. So, step up C, and your team, and take a very well earned bow. Many thanks from me... and the whole Production Team! xx.

We also have to express our gratitude to THE AUDIENCES who came from the local community, and from further afield to pack out the hall for each performance and to show their appreciation. Our Audiences also included our usual special guests: our two Priests, Mary Hanafin, Eamonn Gilmore and Barry Andrews..... all of whom were enthralled by the show!


Well done to all involved in Team Panto 2010, and all who sailed in her..... let us all take a collective well-earned bow! We had a very happy group this year and we can now look forward, positively to next year's production.

xx Jazzy


PS....I've based this post on the Director's format in her annual thank you speech, as I thought it was a good way to introduce our team to you!

Revealing Labels......or Removing Them Entirely

Some time ago Petunia wrote a fabulous post on labels and how important they are to obtain for our children. Jean also recently shared her thoughts with us, and pondered on how appropriate is it to want to change our children in the first place..... who says their way is "wrong" anyway?? Both were very thought provoking posts and centered around the labeling issue.

Some parents have to fight very hard to get a label for their child and then have to further fight for the accompanying interventions that will essentially change how their child interacts with the world at large. A world that initially they may have no interest in. But we fight and hope that we're doing the right thing and making the right choices in obtaining the scant services available.

Other parents find it difficult to accept that their child has any difficulties at all and don't seek any label , therefore no services are offered. Or , they don't believe in labeling children at all. And maybe they're right.

My personal belief on Labels is that they are essential to further our children's development as we can't get services without them. I also totally subscribe to Hammie's theory that labels are not permanently tattooed on their foreheads and so can be removed when and where necessary! If I had to have a label tattooed on my forehead, then like Hammie, I'd like this one..... and the body to go with it!

         This first appeared on a Hammie post but it was a big party trick with us years ago.....We used to stick the foil labels off the necks of Ritz bottles on our foreheads when we had a few!! Today Bulmers labels would do the trick!!

Labels are also subject to change as the child responds to the interventions in place. In our case, WiiBoy's diagnosis has changed over a 5 year period from ASD to PDD-NOS.

I reckon the ASD label was a semi-permanent tattoo that was revealed to the world on a daily basis. The PDD-NOS label on the other hand is definitely a stick on tattoo and can be worn prominently...... or not  at all. It's peeled off whenever necessary. I also believe that the "Cloak of Normalcy" comes as an added extra to the PDD-NOS label and so we wear that most days instead of the label!

When I got my head around the initial label and could say the "A" word out loud, I was brave enough to reveal that label when we were in a difficult situation. Like I say, that label was worn on a daily basis! In time, I had no problem whatsoever in sharing that label wherever we went! Hey, if it makes things easier and stops people assuming he's bold, then I'm all for it. I've even been known to shout out the "A" word in both Spanish and English on a Spanish bus, in an attempted explanation as to why my son engaged in an apparent unprovoked attack on another child, who was sitting in the seat WiiBoy always sat in! It completely turned the situation around. Instead of  everyone tut-tutting at us, the parents of the child offered the seat to us. I thanked them profusely but declined....he had to learn.

I often wonder though.....

Is it right to reveal the label??

What damage might it be doing to his self esteem and to how others perceive him?

In future, would it be better not to reveal that label at all??

Should he now be given the choice whether or not his label is revealed??

The Instructor of every extra curricular activity WiiBoy's involved with, is aware of the label even though it's no longer permanently displayed.

His Taekwondo instructor knows about it and while she doesn't let him away with messing and inattentiveness, allowances are made when it comes to belt testing and he doesn't have to do sparring....as I previously discussed here.

The same applies to his Gymnastic, Swimming and Drama teachers.

All of these instructors welcomed WiiiBoy, and his label, to their class.

The psychologist who gave the amended label expressed her concern at giving him a label at all and thought he'd be better served by not having one, as it might change how educators deal with him in the future. Perhaps in how they approach his education and subject choices that are made. Also having a label AND an SNA gives him a further label as he may be officially labeled as Intellectually Disabled (which he is NOT!) on some secret list within the Dept of Ed and Science! 

WiiBoy previously attended a stage school and they were also aware of his label. To be honest it explained a lot of his behaviours to them. They kept him on but wouldn't take any other children with ASD. WiiBoy was a bit hyper on their stage productions so I stopped going when he got to the age that they would be doing more dance steps, as I didn't think he was able for it and I didn't really get much encouragement to keep him on. They weren't as open to Special Needs, which to be honest I understood.... to a degree. They are preparing children for a career in Stage and Film and have Agents attending their school productions. However, looking at his performances in this years and last years pantos, all I can say is..... their loss!! Silly me...I should have known better!

Which brings me to another aspect of this labeling lark..... are the people to whom we send our children to not entitled to know if any of the children in their class has a removable label?? ! Most classes have you sign a form where you advise them of any medical condition. Should you not also advise them of the label under "other conditions"??

When it comes to the Panto we take every child who auditions, whether they have a label or not. In fact we pride ourselves on this. While we are NOT a Stage school, both the Director and I are perfectionists and we strive to get the show to as professional a level as is possible. This may mean putting some extra work into specific children, whilst trying not to make an issue about it, to get them to be the best that they can be. To get them to reach their true performance potential ....... does that sound familiar to you??!!

I can count on one hand the amount of parents who have come to me, to share their child's diagnosis, in the 7 years I have choreographed this show. I think the fact a child has a Spectrum Disorder (by this I mean the FULL unabridged Spectrum...i.e. Autism, ADHD, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia etc, etc) has a huge relevance to me as a choreographer. I am trying to teach them a Dance routine (Gross Motor Skills), Performance Skills (Smile, eyes and teeth etc...they may not be to do this properly for OT/Sensory reasons) and I am constantly issuing instructions (Auditory Processing Skills.) To do all of this I also need their full attention (ability to focus.) If they can't focus then it distracts/upsets the other children and I can't do my job. If any of their skills are impaired in any of these areas, then I think I need to know. Anyone teaching them needs to know. I can perhaps teach them better or make allowances, so I don't expect more from them than they're able to give. The diagnosis would be dealt with in the strictest of confidence, of course.

Also, these children are being supervised backstage so any "Labels" should be revealed, however discreetly, so that we can appropriately deal with any meltdowns or hyperactivity that are displayed.We can also deal with any name calling appropriately. I will not stand idly by when a child with a diagnosis is called names .... we wouldn't allow it in any case but especially not  if there's a "label" attached!

Of course those I suspect of having a diagnosis of something don't actually have one..... officially, that is! I believe at this stage though, that  I have a very highly tuned radar in this regard, so I trust my instincts and deal with things as appropriately as I can. I don't always get it right but I do try my best....well, one hand is effectively tied behind my back!

I think I've answered my first question above...... it is right to reveal the label. Most of the time..... although no doubt others will disagree.

I think, if the label is revealed discreetly, then it can only help the child's self esteem. I can honestly say that participation in the school Panto (or any school activity) is highly recommendable for children whether diagnosed or undiagnosed! In fact, their self esteem soars! I have a few prime examples of this but, for obvious reasons, I can't share them here! 

Now for the last two questions.......

I have been thinking about this a lot. I now only reveal WiiBoy's label on a need to know basis and I have someone, discreetly, on standby to come get me when he's supervised backstage. I can't be there. But should parents of children who do have "labels" be there to help supervise?? I believe so. For years I was always the only mother who stayed with her child in extra-curricular activities. Except stage school where they don't allow stage mammies!!

And, as for the final question I pose...... A very good friend of mine, with whom I've shared the highs and lows of our journey, shared some of her concerns about her teenage son with me. My highly tuned radar screamed Aspergers...with a dash of Dyspraxia and a hint of Dyslexia at me, any time she mentioned this! You see,  I see the Spectrum as a kind of menu...a large dollop of Autism with a sprinkling of ADHD and a dash of Dyspraxia might apply in our case, as another example;)

I was afraid to say anything to my friend, but was prepared to drop hints....meanwhile she was afraid to reveal that she felt the same. She thought I'd be annoyed or upset because our situation seemed worse!! It turns out that he should be assessed but the child himself chooses not to be as he doesn't want any stigma....or any notations at the end of his Leaving Cert results this year. Fair point. He's a very intelligent child (serious intelligence gene pool involved here!) and is coping. He has friends (and possibly a girlfriend!) who accept him and his quirkiness.

All food for thought, isn't it?

I think WiiBoy is reaching an age where I should be including him when I'm deciding with whom I should share his reduced and removable "label".  Alternatively, he's given a coping strategy and learns to help himself....otherwise the label is discreetly revealed. To the Instructor only, of course.

We know we have to Label to get services but ......... is labeling children the right approach?

It has been been brought to my attention that UNESCO have a current best practice plan when it comes to assessing children. It's under the guise of C.P.L. I'm told. I don't have the link but will update this post when I do. Here's a related link to be going on with, in the meantime. Basically there's a huge Questionnaire, a Diagnostic Tool I suppose. Nothing new there! The results of this Questionnaire show a child's needs to be in specific Areas and the resources are targeted at these areas.

So, it seems there's a Diagnostic Tool which results in a Statement of Needs, as opposed to a label, and services can be accessed. It would seem, in fairness that our Psychologist was right on track with her Statement of Needs for WiiBoy last year. Unfortunately, she was ahead of her time and the rest of her colleagues in the H.S.E. were not on the same page, therefore we also got a reduced label.

This may ultimately mean that more children can access necessary services. I would think it would definitely help in situations like ours, were labels are being reduced and removed (albeit replaced with the Cloak of Normalcy) along with services. It should help close the existing Services gaps between Special Needs and Mainstream Education. Shouldn't it? I would be a bit wary though, because what's Best Practice one year can promptly go out of fashion the next.

What do you think?

xx Jazzy