Summer School...

So I'm working Summer School this year. (I will not be next year because of two students I have for summer school.)

So I thought it would be fun to do a class roster like I do during the school year and tell you about my students.

*THX - This student has Angelman's Syndrome/Angelman's Disorder, named after a British pediatrician who first diagnosed in the mid-1960s. If you are bored, look it up, it is a pretty interesting disorder. THX is a perfect specimen as he displays even the rarer characteristics of the disorder. THX has a barely functional set of goals to work on: Going to the restroom and greeting people. My first day with him, he made quite the impression, he played with his urine as it was exiting his body and smeared fecal matter on his cheek. So now I hold his hands while we practice his bathroom routine. THX's name comes from the sound equipment company best known for movie theater surround sound. He makes sounds at a constant rate throughout his school day. Wonderful for the ears. My favorite sound he makes is what sounds like somebody repeating "I be, I be, I be...". When I get exasperated enough, I ask him, "You be what?"

Puddles - A student with Cerebral Palsy, who due to his disorder, drools constantly. Another example of idiocy displayed by caretakers of a child, he has patches that help control the drooling, but his caretakers will not send them to school for an unknown reason, so I get to clean my room with disinfectant every afternoon after he leaves. He is a high schooler working on semi-functional things too. He is working on making requests and sorting objects. I have to strap him down, otherwise he runs around the room...he still tries to run even with a chair on his butt though...He eats strangely, I believe due to the CP, he puts food on his tongue and swallows it whole like a reptile or killer whale, because it is difficult to chew. When he has to chew, he uses his hand to push food to a side of his mouth and then chews.

Cloud - No, not the character from Final Fantasy VII with a big sword and spiked, yellow hair. He just looks like he is always daydreaming. Always. Getting him to work is quite a task. He may pick up a work item and stare at it for 15 minutes before starting. On his best days though, he is just really slow. He is a Classic Autistic, with very little verbal, but a sense of humor and turtle-paced work ethic hiding behind his glossy eyes.

Screech - Another Classic Autistic. To get attention he jumps up and down and screeches in a shrill tone. He also slams wooden blocks together, slams his hand on the table, or runs across the room. Loves to eat, so that is a good motivator. He is really lazy, but when you get him to work, he can do about anything. My wife says he is a stellar artist too, but I cannot inspire his Rembrandt or Picasso or Van Gogh to come out, but he does make colorful collages of scribble...so maybe he is more of a Pollock.

Then I have the return of Parrot,  an old student of mine. Exactly the same as when I had him, except grabby on females and his crotch. Oh puberty and Special Needs...Two star-crossed lovers.

And from my classroom I have Hot Wheels and Headbanger.

Always a treat.