Bobby Hearts Stepping Stones.....and so do I!

When we were new into Bobby's autism diagnosis, his Occupational Therapist told me about Stepping Stones, an organization that does recreational activities for people with disabilities. One of the best phone calls that I have ever made!!  Bobby has now been participating in activities with Stepping Stones for about 8 years, and I still remember my first phone conversation with Kim, the recreational coordinator.

Stepping Stones is a small, non-profit organization with only 4 staff members.  This small size has been perfect in allowing us to get to know all of the staff.  They rely on volunteers to help make the programs that they run successful.  Over the years, it's been fun watching student volunteers help Bobby and his peers learn to get comfortable in the pool, jump on the trampolines at the gymnastics center, run up and down the basketball court and various other activities. Stepping Stones refers to all of their clients/participants as athletes, which I love!

Bobby's favorite local place to be is Stepping Stone's new outdoor pool.  The pool is only a few years old, which still qualifies as new.  When the pool cover comes off, smiles come on!!!

 Beach entry, heated pool, with a chair lift....what's not to love.

 Yes, jumping in seems to be the preferred way to enter when not using the beach entry!!

There is even a water splash area (that is currently not working....Bobby pushes the button every 15 minutes or so when we are there to see if it has self-fixed!!)

Stepping Stones offers swim lessons, social play classes and open swim times at the pool.  They also have an indoor pool.  It's not as awesome as the outdoor pool, but it is a great option for the rest of the year!

Bobby's second favorite activity.......Tiny Tykes tumbling.  Bobby and his buddies have been loving this class for so many years now, that they had to add a second class, Junior Tykes tumbling because the kids have all gotten older and there is a large group of younger athletes filling the tiny tykes class. The athletes are elated when they arrive at the WV Gymnastics Training Center and have a hard time sitting in the waiting area until they can go jump!!  Bobby asks for this activity on a weekly basis!!

You can tell by the look on his face just how much he loves to jump!!  The Stepping Stones staff also get into the action!!

 Yes, that's Monica, the Executive Director throwing Bobby's pal, Sonny, into the foam pit!!

 Kim, the recreational coordinator jumping with Bobby on the trampoline.

 Technically, Jenny doesn't work there anymore, she is going back to school, but I have tons of fun pictures of her jumping with Bobby that I had to share!!  Kara is their new staffer, so new that I don't have any pictures of her.....give me a few weeks!!  LOL!!! Speaking of Jenny, she got Bobby working on basketball skills that I had never dreamed he would do.  I signed Bobby up for a basketball skills class that I was very unsure of, but it is something that he continues to ask for.

Stepping Stones is also home to a full sized gym with a special floor that is softer and wheelchair and walked appropriate.

The team of athletes coming together at the end of their basketball practice.

 Stepping Stones is also home to the Miracle Field, a baseball field with a solid, soft service that wheelchairs and walker can maneuver easily.  Bobby has never participated in any of the baseball programs, but he did do a couple of soccer practices a few years ago, he had zero interest and wasn't into it at all.  He was into sitting in the dugout and on the ground!!

Stepping Stones also throws holiday parties for their athletes, but the favorite of everyone is the Christmas party thrown in congunction with Pittsburgh Pirates!!!  The hottest ticket of the holiday season!!

 As if this organization wasn't amazing enough, they also hold an Arts Festival every year for 700 or so special needs students in the region to come for a field trip day with their school.  Bobby and his school buddies have a great time.  Stepping Stones also know their athletes well enough, that they make sure that fun, energetic activities are part of the day.

A day full of special needs kids jumping in a bouncy house, dancing, crafting, face painting, tie dying, using musical instruments.........just having fun.  Priceless, but free to attend!!!!

Stepping Stones also offers a summer camp and numerous other recreational activities.  All of the classes are at a very low fee.  They do fundraising throughout the year to keep the costs to families low.  If you have a anyone in your life in the north central WV area, please turn them on to this awesome organization.

http://www.steppingstones.askwhymedia.com/about.html#section_team

https://www.facebook.com/SteppingStones-106408469425484/?fref=ts

Autism Quirks Front And Center On Shopping Trip

When you live in autism land, you get used to your own child's quirks.  For the most part, our homes have evolved into places set up with the particular child's comfort and safety in mind.  Bobby is the most comfortable at home.  The only real visible stressor here is when I pull out the vacuum cleaner. Bobby stops whatever he is doing when the hall closet door opens and he looks towards the door waiting to see if I am getting the dreaded vacuum or something else.  The second he hears the wheels of the sweeper move on the hardwood floor, he stops whatever he is doing, runs upstairs to his room and doesn't come back until it is put back into the closet and he hears the click of the door being closed.  He then comes to the top of the stairs to look down, I say, "I'm all done!!" and then he comes back downstairs.  The fear is absolutely visible on his face when the vacuum comes out. I try to respect this fear as much as I can, but sometimes I need to sweep the floor while Bobby is at home......ironically, usually for messes that he has made!

Bobby has preferred public places that he likes to go......Giant Eagle and Target are tops on his list....no stressors at these locations, but it is one of the goals that I have planned to work on this summer....getting Bobby out to new and non-preferred stores and other public places.  

On Saturday, Daddy needed to go to Home Depot.  We decided to all go and take Bobby to this non-preferred location.   As soon as we got out of the car, he ran right over and grabbed a cart. I was excited, thinking maybe he would go right on in since he had cart in hand. 

He made it to the front door, but couldn't get himself to go through the door.  I finally pushed the cart through the door and linked arms with Bobby and pulled him into the store.  He immediately starting pushing the cart outside to the garden center.  He could relax once he was outside.  He went to the back end of the garden center and stood and looked at the door that leads to inside the store.

He even watched the door through the shelves giving him a little more protection from his fear of walking through this door.  You can actually see it on his face.  He wants to go through this door, but he just cannot make himself do it.  After 10 minutes (Daddy went inside and did his shopping), I once again linked arms with Bobby and got him through the door.  We walked a few isles in, then Bobby turned around and ran back to the garden center.  Times like this autism really sucks!!!  I would love to know what it is with Home Depot and Lowe's that scares him so much.

We left the cart there, and I got him through the door again to go find Daddy.  I had to pull him through the door, but we made it.  I didn't unlink arms this time until we found Dad.  Found him, the store was very busy and he had to wait for someone to cut the 12 foot boards that he was buying so that they would fit into the car.  I took Bobby to the car to wait.

While we were in the car waiting, Bobby said "push the buggy."  I replied, "no buddy, we already pushed the buggy, we are waiting for Daddy." I couldn't believe he wanted to go back.  I was worn out and didn't want to go back for more.

Once Daddy was back, we decided to go grab lunch before the 45 minute drive back home.  Chick Fil A was close, so we drove out of the current shopping center into a different one close by to pick up our lunch.  Cars were wrapped around the restaurant but we got in line because this particular location gets you through very quickly.  By the time we got to order Bobby was upset.  He was hitting his head yelling, "push the buggy."

Then it dawned on me......"Bobby, do you want to go to Ollie's?"  Ollie's is a Big Lots type store that we have gone to immediately after Home Depot the couple other times that Bobby has ever been to this Home Depot store even though we hadn't been there for a couple of years.

After I said that, he calmed down, we got our food, ate in the car on our way back to the Home Depot shopping center.  It was exactly what he wanted!!!!  He got right out of the car and was a happy boy.

He saw a plastic shopping cart on the sidewalk and ran to get it  (he doesn't like the metal ones, plastic are his favorite.....who knows why).  He walked right through the self opening doors with no issue whatsoever.

This store is full of merchandise, making it difficult to get through easily with a cart.  I finally convinced him to ditch the cart so that he could walk around a little easier.

Hoorah!! Bobby got to look at the double doors!!!  Ah, how much Bobby loves double doors!!

We made it all around the store back to the front and Bobby ran over to the patio furniture and grabbed a seat.  Happy boy.  Then.................................

He took a higher chair and pulled it to the front and turned it facing the front exit doors.

OH MY WORD, Bobby lined himself up with the door and got himself a seat so that he could watch the automatic doors open and shut any time someone walked by.  Daddy and I stood there with our mouths open!!! From the fear of Home Depot's doors to the joy of Ollie's doors.  What I wouldn't give to get inside that head for a little while!!!!

We didn't buy anything, but we left with a child who was happier than a kid who left with a cart full of toys!!

Dear 5th Graders

You may or may not know, but April is Autism Awareness Month.  I typically like to do a small awareness project on Facebook or in my blog, but this year I decided to do a project for the group of kids, who for the past 7 years, have been a part of Bobby's everyday school life.  I discussed the idea with Bobby's principal and one of the 5th grade teachers and they both agreed it was do-able.

The longer the idea rolled around in my head, it changed a little from my original plan.  I ordered some Autism Awareness trinkets from Oriental Trading.....pencils, pens, silicon bracelets and the like. A treat may or may not have been part of the plan too, but don't tell on me because sending sweets into school is taboo!!!  LOL!!!  I made up a gift bag for each student in the 5th grade of Bobby's elementary school, not just his home room, but all 3 total classes since they all have been part of his school life.

I sat down to write a letter to go with each classroom's gift pack and it wrote itself quickly as a thank you letter to these awesome kids.  I've decided to share the letter because Bobby and his class went through their promotion ceremony this week, even through they have a few more days of school to make up snow days from this past winter.  But mainly, I decided to share because of the totally unexpected reaction to the letter from the kids.

Bobby's autism teacher, Ms Kim, helping Bobby receive his promotion certificate.

Dear Skyview 5th Graders,

April is Autism Awareness Month.  In honor of the occasion, we wanted to share some autism awareness items with you.  We realize that you have more awareness of the symptoms and issues that can be a part of autism than most, because of your daily contact with Bobby and any other classmates that also have an autism diagnosis.  

Most of all we wanted to take a minute to say THANK YOU for the way that you have treated Bobby.  There are stories on the internet all of the time about special needs kids being bullied at school, however, Bobby has received the opposite treatment from you, his Skyview classmates.

Over his years at Skyview, we have received reports from his teachers and aides about you guys helping Bobby in specials, especially phys. ed. and music.  We have been texted pictures of classmates helping Bobby play basketball and hockey, holding his hand and helping him play at recess, and helping him in the cafeteria.  We have heard stories about classmates taking turns on the see saw with Bobby at recess and pushing him on the swings before he figured out how to swing by himself.  

I have witnessed his classmates yelling "Hi" and "Bye" to Bobby when he left school early or had to come in late. Last year, those of you in Mrs. Talbert's class, even risked getting in trouble for being loud in the halls when you all yelled "Happy Birthday Bobby" down the hall to him as we left early for his afternoon therapy appointment.  

However, when the entire class voted to include Bobby in the this year's Christmas program, even with his loud noises, you made us so incredibly happy and proud.  If only the rest of the world had as much compassion and understanding of those with autism as this group of 5th graders!!!

Thank you to Bobby's fellow classmates who have come up and said hi to him at the mall, grocery store, Wal-Mart and rail trail.  Thank you to those of you who have introduced yourself to me while I was volunteering during book fairs or in the office picking up Bobby in the afternoon and proudly told me that you were in class with him. 

Our greatest hope is that you continue to watch out for your special needs classmates as you venture on to middle school next year.

If any of you have any questions about Bobby or autism, please feel free to ask Mrs. Wasserman or your teachers.  If they don't have the answer they know how to get a hold of us and we will get the answer to you!

Sincerely Proud Skyview Parents,

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Bobby and his buddy, Sonny along with their autism teacher and aides.

The ceremony is now over and I would like to add to their thank you letter.....

Thank you for not even noticing or being bothered in any way by Bobby's loud noises that he made during the ceremony!!!  

It just showed that Bobby is part of their lives, just like a family member, and these noises are just part of the package that they have accepted....no big deal!!  Oh my goodness, how I love these kids!

Bobby and Sonny with the women who rule their lives!!!!

The 5th grade teachers read the letter and passed out the goodies on April 1, the beginning of Autism Awareness month.  The 5th graders reaction to this was more and greater than any of us would have ever guessed!!  The goodies and gift bags were absolutely secondary.  No one had ever mentioned them, it was all about the letter.  Have I mentioned lately how I love these kids!

Bobby's regular ed homeroom teacher told me that one girl, after the teacher read the letter, said, "wow, it must have been really hard for her to send him to school."  OH MY GOODNESS, I never expected the kids to GET IT, really get it at this age.  Yes, sweetie, it was very hard!!  His teacher posted the letter on the board in the classroom and she said that she has seen each student, at one time or another, go up and reread the letter.  Yes, I love these kids!!  One of the other 5th grade teachers reported that she had never witnessed her class be so quiet as a group as when she was reading the letter aloud to them. 

A few days later, I was asked if I could come in and be interviewed about Bobby by some of the 5th graders for a project.   Turned out the project with an Autism Awareness video that would be posted on the school website for the entire school to view.  A 5th grade student interviewed Ms Kim, Bobby's autism teacher and me about autism.  So the letter turned into an school wide autism awareness project.  Have I told you lately how much I love his school and never want him to leave there!!

Ms Kim reported to me that many people came up to her and said the video was very helpful and that they learned a great deal.  Best possible outcome for autism awareness where I really need it most, with his peers and teachers!!!!

Bobby with his super proud parents!!

The 5th graders stepped up their game even more with Bobby as a result.  It went from random reports of his regular ed classmates being helpful to daily reports!!!  A student, on his own, went over and helped Bobby hit a ball with a bat.  They were in gym class, the boy came over and hand over hand, helped Bobby at his turn at bat.

The gate was open on the playground when his class went out for recess, Bobby saw the opening and went out.  He just wanted to stand there and look in from the other side of the fence.  A girl from his class went out and stood beside him and talked to him until he was ready to come back in.  

Have I mentioned lately how much I love these kids!!

I was sitting in the school office waiting for Bobby to be brought out so that we could leave for his therapy.  A boy walked in, put a paper in the basket and turned to leave.  He looked at me and said, "are you Bobby's mom?"  I smiled and said "yes" and he nodded to me in a cool kid, cocky way with a slight smile on his face. A look that said....you are good people!!

5th grade graduates Sonny and Bobby

My advice to autism parents.....teach their classmates about autism.  As a parent, you know much more about the topic than their regular ed teachers.  The word autism was never taboo in his education.  I jumped into the conversation when Bobby was in the 3rd grade when I made up a presentation about Bobby, with pictures of him doing what he likes to do, and it was shared with the entire 3rd grade.  Instead of being "the weird kid" he is a boy with autism.  

Bobby and Ms. Kim, his autism teacher.  I'm not sure what we are all going to do without each other next year.  Who's going to take it harder.....Bobby, Ms. Kim or me???  

Good luck to the 5th grade class of 2016.  I couldn't me more proud of you!!

12th Birthday Fun

Bobby is 12.  Next year he will be a teenager!!! Doesn't even seem possible.  However, it happened, so we HAD to celebrate!!

He got an early gift last weekend, we were excited, we knew that he was going to love it.  He opened the gift immediately and couldn't wait for Daddy to get it assembled.

Well, that was the last time that he sat on it, once in the garage.  He has zero interest in his new riding toy.  Oh well!!

On his actual birthday, we celebrated at home with a small family party.

Time to blow out the candles!!

We let him have his family gifts instead of waiting for his upcoming party.

He opened them pretty well, however after he would open one, he wanted to go outside and I would prompt him back to open the next one.

New shoes, swim trunks.....ready for summer.

What's in the big bag from Grandma????  A car wash kit of course!!!

Bobby couldn't wait, so we let him go outside and begin washing.  The old bucket was already outside, so he used it.

Last year, one of Bobby's buddies/classmates told everyone that he was going to Bobby's house for his birthday party, causing me to scramble and throw together a party.....which turned out to be a huge success.  I decided to invite the same couple of kids and have similar fun outdoor activities for this year's birthday.

After I invited the guests, the forecast changed from sunny to rainy with thunderstorms.  GREAT!  I went ahead and decorated inside and mentally prepared for a house full of boys!!

When I was planning a menu, Bob said to me, "what is the one food that they will all eat?"  Umm, when you are talking about a group of kids on the spectrum, there is not one food!!!  They are all so picky.  I decided on pizza and french fries and all of the kids were happy.

As soon as the guests arrived, they all sat down to eat because it was lunch time.  Something amazing happened......all of the boys sat down at the kitchen table together and ate.  They sat together wonderfully and got their own seconds!!!!!!!  The adults all ended up sitting in the dining room to eat and left the kids in the kitchen.  I am still in shock.  Of course I had to grab my camera and second amazing thing happened....the ALL looked at the camera!!!!!  Thank you boys!!

After the kids finished eating, the electronics came out.  We let them chill while the adults finished eating.

When everyone was finished eating, we got the kids outside for a silly string battle!!!!!  The pictures speak for themselves.....30 cans of silly sting later..................

Our poor driveway!!!!!!

I bought something else to add to the mess and the boys had no idea what to expect, but they were game for the next activity......confetti canon.......

Since they were already standing in a group, I wanted a group picture and again, they shocked me and I got a super cute one with everyone looking at me, of course I took many to get that one, but I got it!!

 Jacob doesn't realize that Bobby's can of silly string is empty and is prepared for the worst and Bobby doesn't realize that his can is empty.  Sorry bud, the silly string is all gone.

Great picture of this super awesome group of boys!!!!!  Up next??  Airplanes, trampoline jumping, Rhino rides with Bob........just boy fun!

Grandma Carolyn and Aunt Dianna got the airplanes prepared.

OK, this is more impressive if you know where I live, but Michael flew a plane from our house to the side of Rt. 19 at the bottom of our hill!!!!!!  Bob went down on the Rhino to get it and someone from the business across the highway directed him to where it landed!!!  YIKES!!!!!!! The boys were beyond thrilled by this flight!!

Not all of the flights were successful, so even landed in the trees.  These two were right on the job of getting them down.

Joey is a great photobomber!!!!

Bobby had a great time and did a lot of laughing.

Bobby and Sonny playing chase in the trampoline.

After Bobby and Sonny had Rhino rides, Jacob decided to give it a try.

 So proud that he voluntarily got in and went for a short ride!!

 Another airplane stuck in the tree....Joey to the rescue with a rake in hand.

The boys were finally wearing down, so time for some more sugar.......CAKE!!!!

The cute little cake decoration that I got for the cake was way too wide.  So Bob and Mimi decided to hold it for the picture!!!

Bobby wasn't overly interested in opening his gifts, so I let party guests open them.  Score......a Giant Eagle gift card!!!!!!!Yes, the people in our lives KNOW what Bobby likes!!!!  After everyone left, Bobby ripped open a box of magnetic squares that he also received and carried them around all evening and all morning and they even went to the bus stop with us this morning.

The party was perfect!!  The kids all had fun.  The all actually ate.  They all actually played and enjoyed being outside.  Mother Nature cooperated.  NO RAIN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PARTY even with thunderstorms forecasted.  No meltdowns, new activities tried.  Party success!! Thanks to all of the guests, Bobby had such a great day!!