Spectrum Educational Services

Micah Sudom, my son and former ASDreams member, composed Give it Time.  His band, Mostly Micah, played it during high school graduation. Micah is the one on piano. Mostly Micah also provided the dinner music for the school district's teacher retirement party. Micah's first educational assistant and his kindergarten teacher both retired this year. The PUF administrator who got me started in the school support system was one of the two honoured educators at the event. The title Give it Time wasn't chosen for a graduation theme or a teacher retirement gig, however I can't imagine a more fitting title. Early educators who gave of their time not knowing how their involvement would shape the lives of their students. Junior high boys who spent six years eating their lunches together in the band room, learning new instruments and jamming together. A mom who invested 18 years into countless appointments with Family Supports for Children with Disabilities, service provide...

When a special needs child becomes a student at school, the role of parent expands. With many different people and levels in the education system, learning to work together benefits the student. I've had the privilege of facilitating parent panels which gave educators the opportunity to hear directly from parents their experiences of navigating the system. The following is the handout I created for participants. We both play a valuable and distinct role in my child's life requires effective communication system share what is working School is only a part of my child's day extra disability supports greater need for down time regular kids activities Life continues after graduation parental hopes and dreams undergo continual readjustment pacing for the long term skills for life maximize abilities by strengthening strengths To receive supports, there must be demonstrated need it is hard to focus only on my child's special needs technical language can...

I don't have a special interest. I get a tad disappointed when people learn I have Autism Spectrum Disorder because the follow up response is often, "Do you have a special talent or interest?" I reply with no. While my IQ is at or above the 99th percentile, I don't have savant skills. Brilliant, but not necessarily genius. With so many interests, none get elevated to the level of positive obsession. While sharing this frustration with my psychiatrist this week, she used the phrase " globally gifted " to describe me. I quipped, "No wonder I've been lacking career direction." I didn't know how to pick what I was good at. After high school I enrolled as an Arts major with Calculus as my option - I knew it would be an easy A. Not the usual academic combination. However, because of my global giftedness/Autism combination, I ask questions some perceive as out of context. Cutting edge leaders and policy makers value innovation, creativity and ...