Communication

The bus's "backup beep" that we heard each morning meant good times for Sarah.
It meant "I had better have her ready to go!" for me.

Noises communicate.  Touch communicates.  Actions communicate.

The interviewer asked, "Does she communicate?"
That was never a yes/no question to me.
I would explain how we know what she wants and needs.  We can read her eyes and facial expressions.
She also vocalizes.  The interviewer would mark "No" anyway.
There was no place for anything but Yes/No on the tests and reports.
No room for "unique".

An older teacher stated, "The goal should be for her to communicate "yes" and "no".
I thought, "Are you kidding?"
I argued that at three years old I have not seen any evidence to believe that she could do this.
Someone like our child had never been in their school. We were paving the way.

Emotional anxiety came with knowing what your child needed but having to convince others who
believed they knew what was best.  To deal with laws, forms, regulation, goals, annual plans, caseworkers and teachers became overwhelming.  It was hard not to become very angry when someone would not listen. "I know her, I spend alot of time with her." I would explain.

Twenty years of meetings has taught me patience.
I don't know how many of those well thought out goals were met.
I do know that without all the help in the schools our child could not have progressed as far as she has.

Many people helped us through the years: nurses, speech therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, superintendents, principals, classroom teachers, LD teachers, bus people and many paraprofessionals.

Sarah loved school, riding the bus, seeing the kids, talking with the adults and all the activities at the schools. I am so thankful for the schools.

Many children in the schools loved her and helped take care of her.
I believe all the people who knew Sarah at school will remember her throughout their life.
They will remember because she was unique.  Because she was different.

What did she communicate?