The yearly ARD meeting

If you have a child with special needs, you speak another language.  For instance, ARDs, IEPs, Content Mastery, Resource minutes, and such.  It stinks to know this language.  Sitting in the ARD meeting with the principal, the diagnostician, the speech-language pathologist, the special ed teacher, the general ed teacher can be overwhelming.  We are so super blessed.  The sweet little public elementary that Dillon attends is top-notch.  We are certain that the staff truly want what is best for him and they really like him!  Mr. B. told about the huge difference he has seen over the last 3 years.  The SLP has been with him for almost 5 years.  His Resource/Content Mastery teachers act like he is their child and send home pictures they take of him at school events, even gifts for him!  If you are a special ed teacher, hats off to you!!

Today we talked in depth about his apraxia.  He has made great progress, just has a long way to go still. They mentioned evaluating him for an assistive language board.  The problem with giving him the board is that we are afraid he will quite trying to communicate.  As Mr.B pointed out, you can see the wheels turning, Dillon tries so hard to form the sentences and communicate his thoughts.  Yes, he gets frustrated when the words don't come out; but when he quits getting frustrated and decides to not try anymore, that will be the real tragedy!  So, if he gets the assistive board and begins to see that it is easier to use the board than talk, our fear is that he will quit trying.  The SLP feels that there is nothing more powerful than him being able to communicate effectively with the world.
Here's the hard part...school is getting harder and harder.  The other students are reading books alone and learning about solids, liquids, and gases.  WHY is everything much harder for my son???  I'm not lamenting for us, I'm lamenting for him!  It breaks my heart to watch him, 3months shy of 9, try to tie his shoe.  He shoots baskets over and over and over, never giving up, but almost never making a basket. 
For now, he loves school, LOVES food and music, actively participates in his classroom, takes up the offering every Sunday at church, loves the Texas Rangers(especially number 5 Ian Kinsler--or as he says "Cleanser").  Dillon loves to worship, lifts his hands and sings loudly.  He is a great checkers and Connect 4 player. He has 10 sight words memorized, is doing well in math, and has a blast on his Upward Soccer team at our church.  He's a pure delight, a rare jewel of a boy who loves his family with all his being.  We are so thankful.