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6.16.2001
My brother sent this to me. Thanks, Denny!
Autistic Teen Is Valedictorian
By HEATHER GREENFIELD
.c The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - Being the class valedictorian is notable for anyone.
Then
there's Lee Alderman, an autistic student graduating at the top of his
class
in the nation's capital.
The 141 seniors graduating from Cardozo Senior High School gave him a
standing ovation after his graduation speech Tuesday.
``I had heard the rumors about D.C. public high school, and I was
nervous,''
Alderman said. ``In spite of a few minor incidents, bullying wasn't as
serious as I heard.''
At the ceremony at Howard University, Alderman, 19, thanked teachers
and
fellow graduates for helping him overcome his social and academic
obstacles.
``I would also like to thank my mother for everything she has done to
bring
me to this point in my life,'' Alderman said.
Alderman has mild autism and was attending private school in Northern
Virginia until two years ago when his mother, Hazel Robinson, decided
the
school was too easy for him and transferred him to Cardozo.
``It's a prayer answered, a day four to five years ago I never
imagined''
Robinson said after the ceremony.
She credits teachers, especially her son's Advanced Placement English
instructor, Frazier O'Leary, for helping him thrive.
O'Leary said he did not really know about Alderman's disability.
``He was nervous, maybe painfully shy,'' O'Leary said. ``His
handwriting was
hard to read, but his work was sophisticated.''
O'Leary shared some of Alderman's writing with the honors class.
Students
developed a respect for his intelligence and would seek him out for
before-class tutoring help.
Symptoms of autism can include repetitive speech, resistance to change,
poor
motor coordination and a lack of empathy.
Alderman has a full scholarship to St. Mary's College in Maryland this
fall
and told reporters he will study chemistry. Six other Cardozo graduates
will
join him.
The class salutatorian, Thu-An Trinh, will attend college with
Alderman.
Trinh is from Vietnam and overcame her own obstacles to achieve her
class
standing. Trinh summed up the achievements of the class: ``If you think
you
can't, think again.
posted by dad on 3:17:38 AM | note me
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6.14.2001
Small correction to what I wrote earlier: there are 21 Regional Centers in California. The Inland Regional Center is the name of the one we go to. I'm sure the others have different names. You can check out what the IRC does at www.inlandrc.org.
posted by dad on 3:08:12 AM | note me
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6.13.2001
Well, I just had a rather productive meeting with the Program Manager at the Inland Regional Center, where Kristav is a client. The IRC has about 29 centers throughout California, under the auspices of the Lanterman Act, who provide services for developmentally disabled children and adults. 'Developmentally Disabled', in this case, refers to those with autism (like Kristav), cerebral palsy, mental retardation, epilepsy, or a shadowy fifth area similar in nature to mental retardation.
Kristav, right now, doesn't have a case worker, which explains why Domynoe couldn't contact her. The Program Manager, the head Kahuna as it were, doubles as the Case Worker in times like this. He said a new case worker (male, this time), is being assigned to Kristav's case. I'm getting redundant with this constant use of the word, 'case'. Sue me! I gave him a copy of Kristav's Individualized Education Program (IEP), which I--as a nurse--know better as a Care Plan. I also told him that Kristav has not had his Saturday respite care for several months. He said he would get something rolling on that--either the ball, or somebody's head! I further told him of Kristav's doctor referring him to the hospital's Occupational Therapy. All in all, a productive day.
posted by dad on 3:55:20 PM | note me
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6.12.2001
tomorrow is kristav's yearly i.e.p. took me over a week to get a hold of his i.r.c. worker, only to find they may be transferring him to another worker closer to home. still no respite care.
he's doing pretty good. it's obvious he's been off his meds, but those take time to build back up in his system. he was very eager to get to school this morning. ;)
posted by domynoe on 1:32:22 AM | note me
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