We are two months into the school year which has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. My last post was written when he was in his third week of school and attempting to go to VPK without his ABA tech to help him. Well, that lasted less than two weeks. After a couple of trips to the school director's office for behaviors, it was agreed that Miss Ronda should return to be another set of eyes, ears, and hands to help him get acclimated to his new school environment. 

Fast forward to today, October 26, 2018 ...

1. Bryce has learned to sit properly and participate in circle time.

2. He is interacting with peers and loves to play Duck Duck Goose + Hide and Seek. Maybe a little too much but that's okay ... ☺ ... 

3. He is beginning to understand that he has "school friends" and talks about them.

4. He LOVES his Friday "Show and Tell" days. We coach him what to "tell", and he takes great pride in it. ☺

5. He participated in his class Fall Festival program - Sang on the stage with classmates and quietly covered his ears during the clapping. No anxiety. No outbursts. Huge victory! 

The list goes on but this gives you some highlights. 

He also has struggles. One big issue has been singing at inappropriate times. We have addressed this daily and it seems to have simmered down. It's tough. We don't want to squash his joyful enthusiasm for singing - But he has to understand when it's okay to do it. His morning ESE class is chocked full of songs - a helpful way to keep children on the spectrum engaged. It's a huge transition for him to go from one style of teaching + classmates to a completely different environment in the afternoon.   

It's kind of funny. The first song that was on his repeat track and driving his teacher nuts was "Rudolph the Red NOSE Reindeer" (YELLING the word "NOSE") ... When we told him he couldn't sing Rudolph in the classroom, he complied ... and began to sing a different song. Mr. Literal. Haha.  

Bryce does extremely well in his ESE class. He ranks among the most advanced in this class ... And this is why we wanted to give him the opportunity to stretch and grow in a typical class. He gets group language and occupational therapies at Windmill Point which he still needs. We are beginning to witness Bryce verbalizing his own thoughts and needs without prompting or reciting someone else. It's exciting and encouraging!   

And then, the emotional roller coaster makes another drop ... We are very sad to report that Bryce's health insurance carrier was changed by the state of Florida when he turned five years old earlier this month. Effective November 1st, Bryce will no longer have ABA therapy available through his new insurance plan. The quote for ten hours of weekly ABA service out of pocket was $2,200 month. He currently receives 20 hours a week. Needless to say, it won't be happening under those conditions. He will no longer have Miss Ronda at school nor in-home services to help with his behaviors. He has made such tremendous progress the past two months and would hate to see regression. It's about to get real ... It will be challenging for Bryce to blend into a neuro-typical classroom environment with his ADD and quirky behaviors. BUT we know that God has placed him with his wonderful teachers, director, and peers at All Villages. We'll be working with him at home and cheering him on until he crosses his VPK finish line  

We are bummed about the whole situation but remain at peace. We are taking all the steps that we can feasibly take to get him the help that he needs. We leave everything else that is beyond our control in God's very capable hands.