Teacher with PASSION

Two Sundays ago, a pastoress from Singapore came to our church to give a sermon. Her message was about building a Chrisitian family. She mentioned her daughter was a special ed. teacher in Hong Kong for 18 years, but lately has to take a break because of a bad back after years of hard work. I obtained her contact anyway as I want to get information about special education system in Hong Kong before I go back. I called her last week and turned out to be the best decision I've made.
Her name was Julia. I can tell she was a little shocked when she heard I was calling from Canada. But after a brief introduction about me and Jason, how I got her number, she was quick to ask me questions about Jason and seems to know already how to help me. The way she talked was so calming and positive and reassuring, that you know you can trust her. She offered to refer Jason to one of the house doctors within what is called Hong Chee Association for the disabled, so that we can get a doctor's letter and start applying for school. She asked me what Jason can do, I told her how he can answer yes or no to questions, expressed his basic needs, etc...she immediately said he would be a good candidate for the school in Shatin, which is catered for those with physical and mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities.
When I brought up the concern that Jason can only read certain English words but not Chinese, she said half of the students there do not know how to read either language or at all. But they will be taught pre-reading skills such as recognition of familiar signs in the community like MTR, washroom, etc... Then she said something which touched my heart. "There are toooo many things every one of us cannot do, so we don't count what one can NOT do. Instead, we look at what they CAN do and build upon those skills to help them reach their potential".

Isn't this so true? There are so many things each of us, able bodies, cannot do! I can't swim, you can't dance, he can't ride a bike, she can't play piano.... but we don't get classified by what we can't do! We respect each other for who we are, but not by how much we can or cannot do. And when I told her Jason is easily distractible and may not pay attention to his task on hand, her response to this remark made me cry immediately. She said, they believe that when a child did not pay attention or did not learn, it's not his/her fault, but that of the teachers. I cried because I have finally found a special ed. teacher with passion and conscience. I cried because I finally found someone who actually believed in and practiced what I wrote about the "Least Dangerous Assumption" (recall my post Reflection on the teaching journey dated Aug 7/2010.) I cried because I finally found a teacher who can rightfully take pride of her role as an educator, and not a unionized worker hanging onto a secure job.

Talking to her made me relieved. It rekindled my hope to Jason's future. I am looking forward to our meeting in November when I visit Hong Kong.

Second week of cold laser therapy

I have diligently gone through the reflex integration program prepared by Bonnie Brandes. It was a well-written handbook with lots of information about reflex and how it affects daily functions. I realized that Jason has many of the retained reflexes that make him unable to perform many tasks. For example, the Moro reflex is like a startle reflex that is triggered when there is a sudden loud noise. Instead of filtering the noise, Jason would paralyze with a blank stare, and stop whatever he is doing, and may even break into tears. We saw this since he was very young. It went away for a while when we were into the 2nd cycle of g-therapy but sneaked back in without any triggers.
So the first reflex we are dealing with using the cold laser is Moro. I have done this for 2 weeks by now. We did notice he crawls with better confidence. Balance is better but not good enough to allow independent crawling. But the "intentions" to move are definitely better. We didn't test his Moro reflex yet but noticed some changes that may or may not be related to this. He was sticking out his tongue more (with ease and longer) and would observe the environment more. For example, we were at the same Walmart that he's been going for years. But today, he suddenly got curious and looked up to the ceiling and started observing what's up there. (turned out it was the big circular vent). He did that the other day too at another place but I did not take note and forgot where it was.

Anyway, I am not supposed to see complete integration to happen so fast but I was told subtle changes will start to surface. Hopefully we are on the right track so my big investment into this laser is well justified.

Life, Death

I went to visit a dying friend last week. He was 60+, had lung cancer for about 3 years...and his time is almost here. I was by his side, holding his bony hand, can't do much but pray for him. I'm glad he chose to accept Christ in time and knowing his soul will go to heaven put me in peace.

Looking at his listless body and half-open mouth, he reminded me of mom, when she passed away last year. But mom was lucky. She was blessed with a loving family and was surrounded by all her children and grandchildren. She was attended 24 hours a day throughout the 6 weeks before she passed away. She was pampered and loved up till the very last moment in this world. If the nurse did something unruly, mom was sure we would not only defend for her, but we did it fiercely. But my friend was lonely. He was left alone in his sickbed most of the day at palliative care. There was no one to hear him whine when he felt the sharp pain. So he did just that when we were there.

Illness is tough. I am totally at ease with death cuz as a Christian, I know that I will be going to heaven, an eternal home. But I am the kind of person who likes a loud goodbye, otherwise, it's just not nice. I hope when it's my time, I will be surrounded by my family and my best of friends, and be able to say goodbye.

Otherwise, it's just not nice.

Video of iPad app - myChoice

I had trouble uploading the video to the previous post, so I am attaching a new link to YouTube here.  Jason's intention to touch is there, but precision is not.  Ataxia is the culprit.  I also hope that as his visual attention improves, he will get better in doing this app.

iPad app designed for Jason is finished!

Thanks to Andy (my nephew), the app myChoice is finally completed. It is not officially rolled out yet but I have the privilege to use it for more than a month now.

It is inspired by the program called "Choose-it Maker" by Macromedia which is a choice making software for PC using touch screen, mouse click, or switches. I have been using it to set up activities so as to teach Jason step-scanning using two switches, with little success. Step scanning, after all, is a complicated concept and is cognitively demanding. It also requires coordinated use of both hands to control two switches and this is something very challenging for Jason. The invention of iPad, and the emergence of many new apps for communication caught my attention and I know Jason can use one, eventually, by simply touching a button on the iPad screen. So I asked Andy, who is into his 4th year of computer engineering, to make an app for Jason that does just what I want. And he, for the love of his little cousin, and the aspiration to do something meaningful to give back to the world, agreed to take up the challenge.

After months of preparation to familiarize with the App design software, programming and testing, the app was finally finished last month. Although it does not have a lot of fancy graphics and aesthetic elements, it does exactly what I need. Here is a video showing Jason using it. His touch-to-choose skill is not rock solid yet but he is getting there for sure.

I can't believe just a few months ago, this was just a possibility....but now it is a dream come true. Thanks to Apple for providing such an ingenious platform, and thanks of course to my very smart and soft-hearted nephew who did what he promised.  I foresee Jason will improve his touch-to-choose skills soon which will then prepare him for more advanced AAC device.

Quantum Reflex Integration

I cannot believe I just made another big-ticket purchase of almost $6000.  This time for a scalar wave laser package.  This is a hand-held cold laser device that is supposed to have therapeutic value. The laser (light) that comes out from the unit is supposed to stimulate functions at the cellular level, reverse stress, and bring about rejuvenation of tissues, cells, glands, etc..  More interestingly, Bonnie Brandes uses laser to carry out the reflex integration program. http://www.reflexintegration.net/QRI.html 
Long time ago, I have read about the relation between retained reflexes and learning from Sally Goddard Blythe's book Reflexes, Learning And Behavior so I am familiar with the principles behind reflex integration. Simply said, if a child has any "retained" reflexes, i.e. reflexes that should only be present at a certain age, that means part of his nervous system has not completely matured and his learning and behaviour would be adversely affected in one way or another.  These effects range from lack of attention, poor balance, hyperactivity, poor visual/auditory processing etc...Yet, after years of neurodevelopmental programming with Jason we can't seem to reach our goal. When my friend's baby came to our house the other day, I noticed the baby's Moro Reflex  was exactly the same as Jason's startle response. It reminded me about reflex integration again and that I really have to work on it one way or another.  Then comes Bonnie Brandes.
Using cold laser as a tool is unheard of but after hearing from many parents who all have very positive things to say, I decide to go for it.  Yes it's expensive.  But it works as multipurpose cuz it's supposed to alleviate back pain, neck pain, tendonitis etc...so it definitely has its value in my house (LOL). Oh, after hearing a friend who just spent $6000 on a set of allegedly chemical-free cookware set, I feel so much better about spending this money.  So looking forward for it to arrive.

First week of school

First week of school was a short week (4 days). As everyone is trying to adjust to the new schedule, I expect things to be erractic. Indeed, the school bus that was supposed to pick him in the morning changed the pick-up time 3 times in 4 days. And the school bus that sent him home took as long as 50 minutes to finish the route. From my memory, this took longer than when Jason went to Bloorview School which is in midtown Toronto. I must admit I was a little concerned. First, it was a longer day than Jason can handle. Then, the long and bumpy ride was also a concern because Jason hates going on a wheelchair bus because every time the bus went over a bumpy part of the road, the sensory input to his system can be shocking and hurtful and he would cry big time...poor thing. My tender heart wants to take over the transportation responsibility, so Jason can have a comfortable ride to and from school, in his own van. But Tina my friend gave me a frank advice...that I should let Jason learn to tolerate and handle this. Especially if we are to return to Hong Kong since we won't be having our own vehicle in Hong Kong and Jason would be on a school bus anyway. This is true, so I just have to bite my lips and give Jason a little more time to learn and get used to the situation. Thank God when Jason returned home Friday, the very nice school bus driver told me she tried to go on the left lane to avoid the bumpy curbsides and Jason didn't cry that day.

Yes we all have to learn to adapt to new situations. And there maybe more ways to handle a situation than you think. By not taking it over in my own hands, I have now given others an opportunity to offer help, and Jason now gets to receive the love and care from another person. This is how a friendly community should live.