On Thursday 6th January 2014, my ASD son had started learning Business Certificate 2 at our local Tafe college. I went with him on the train and walked him to the college part of the way. He kept insisting he was fine. I think I was the one that wasn't fine, I was worried that he wouldn't follow the rules for adult learning, or he would upset someone and he would have to leave the college.I said goodbye and said I would meet him at the end of the day at the train station and we would go home together. I stood there watching him walk down the road to the college, thinking how much he has changed over these last few months.
He rang me during break times, to let me know he was fine. He said he bought his lunch at the cafeteria it was hot chips. He sat talking to the other students during his break times. My ASD son was placed in a mixed class, some were his own age and some mature people with children. He has three teachers - not sure how this work, but anyway we will keep positive and point out it is adult learning. He loves the library and he could borrow books, movies and TV series, but he has to have his tafe card. At the end of the day I get a phone call from my son saying he is going to be late, because he was organising his Tafe card, he did want me to come to tafe and help sort it out, I said no, this is adult learning and he needed to sort this out by himself. He was 40 minutes late with a big smile on his face and he said I have my Tafe card!!! I said well done!!He had such a good day!!! He was so tired when he got home had to have a nap!!!
Day 2 My ASD son insisted he could manage the train ride and the 15 minute walk to Tafe and didn't want me to come with him. I wasn't keen on this at all. What if something goes wrong? will he react in his usual way and meltdown, I guess I would soon find out!!! He left with his dad, it meant he would have to buy his ticket and wait 10 to 5 minutes for the train and get off 2 stops away and then walk into the college. As he left for school, I promised him I would not ring him today at all. This was a hard thing for me to do. I lasted until 2.30 pm, when he was supposed to finish. He takes my call only to tell me he is still doing school work, they were staying back a bit to get work finished. I quickly hang up. He rang a short time later to tell me he missed the train, and he caught train to the next station so he could buy an ice cream at McDonald's it is beside the train station and he had a twenty five minute wait!!! So he was going to his favourite shop E B Games and yes he bought a computer game. I asked him if he wanted to be picked up from the train station. He said no he would walk home. I no sooner hung up from our phone conversation, he came through the door. I asked how did you get home so quick!!! He said it was too hot to walk home, I caught a taxi!!! He showed me he bought a bargain a $4.00 computer game, he couldn't help himself. He showed me his work. Today he did touch typing, wrote a letter and wrote up an agenda.
He bought his lunch a roast beef sandwich and a cup of tea. He ate the sandwich and tried the tea and realised he doesn't like tea. So he thought next time he might ask for a hot chocolate. He was so impressed you get breakfast at the cafeteria. Maybe he will try a breakfast one day!!! Now he is trying different foods!!I am so impressed!!!
He rang me during break times, to let me know he was fine. He said he bought his lunch at the cafeteria it was hot chips. He sat talking to the other students during his break times. My ASD son was placed in a mixed class, some were his own age and some mature people with children. He has three teachers - not sure how this work, but anyway we will keep positive and point out it is adult learning. He loves the library and he could borrow books, movies and TV series, but he has to have his tafe card. At the end of the day I get a phone call from my son saying he is going to be late, because he was organising his Tafe card, he did want me to come to tafe and help sort it out, I said no, this is adult learning and he needed to sort this out by himself. He was 40 minutes late with a big smile on his face and he said I have my Tafe card!!! I said well done!!He had such a good day!!! He was so tired when he got home had to have a nap!!!
Day 2 My ASD son insisted he could manage the train ride and the 15 minute walk to Tafe and didn't want me to come with him. I wasn't keen on this at all. What if something goes wrong? will he react in his usual way and meltdown, I guess I would soon find out!!! He left with his dad, it meant he would have to buy his ticket and wait 10 to 5 minutes for the train and get off 2 stops away and then walk into the college. As he left for school, I promised him I would not ring him today at all. This was a hard thing for me to do. I lasted until 2.30 pm, when he was supposed to finish. He takes my call only to tell me he is still doing school work, they were staying back a bit to get work finished. I quickly hang up. He rang a short time later to tell me he missed the train, and he caught train to the next station so he could buy an ice cream at McDonald's it is beside the train station and he had a twenty five minute wait!!! So he was going to his favourite shop E B Games and yes he bought a computer game. I asked him if he wanted to be picked up from the train station. He said no he would walk home. I no sooner hung up from our phone conversation, he came through the door. I asked how did you get home so quick!!! He said it was too hot to walk home, I caught a taxi!!! He showed me he bought a bargain a $4.00 computer game, he couldn't help himself. He showed me his work. Today he did touch typing, wrote a letter and wrote up an agenda.
He bought his lunch a roast beef sandwich and a cup of tea. He ate the sandwich and tried the tea and realised he doesn't like tea. So he thought next time he might ask for a hot chocolate. He was so impressed you get breakfast at the cafeteria. Maybe he will try a breakfast one day!!! Now he is trying different foods!!I am so impressed!!!
This is awesome Annette, I'm so excited for you both, you must be so proud :)
ReplyDelete