I sat at the island in our kitchen and just watched… Our oldest daughter, filling her glass with water, our middle child Elizabeth getting ice in her glass and then, she too filled hers with water, set it down, and got busy getting her evening snack. It is [...]]]> Michele Gianetti: Life with SPD and Dyspraxia

I sat at the island in our kitchen and just watched… Our oldest daughter, filling her glass with water, our middle child Elizabeth getting ice in her glass and then, she too filled hers with water, set it down, and got busy getting her evening snack.  It is at this point that Emily decides to drink Elizabeth’s water….”why?” You might ask….Why when hers is right there does Emily have to drink Elizabeth’s?  According to Emily, it is because “Elizabeth always takes drinks of my water whenever I have it on the island”

I continue to watch this unfold and listen to Elizabeth’s return response…I had to smile as I heard her say (in a wonderful LONG sentence, sorry I can never NOT note the word count) “Emily, leave my water alone, it’s mine…EMMMIIILLLLYYY!! stop drinking it…you have your own water!”  I can see Elizabeth is getting mad as she is scraping the peanut butter out of the jar with some serious force, while looking at Emily and yelling at the same time.

I tried to wipe the smile off my face to intervene now, as the signs of anger from Elizabeth means that the teasing is now crossing some line I am sure that don’t want crossed.  ”Emily”, I say ” Seriously you need to drink her water?”  ”Elizabeth, just finishing getting your snack, I am SURE Emily will leave your water alone NOW” “Emily, leave your sister’s water alone..NOW!”

Emily starts to smile, walks over to Elizabeth, tells her sorry, gives her a hug…to which I hear Elizabeth say “It’s okay” and she hugs Emily back.

I was trying to get some work done at the island,but instead, I got to watch this interaction that made me smile, think and be so thankful.   I think after reading this scenario, it sounds, well…..pretty typical of sisters/siblings, this type of scene probably plays out in millions of homes, millions of times a day…but because of our journey with Elizabeth, because of her sensory processing disorder, because of her dyspraxia, because she did not talk until she was five years old, because I would have paid anyone any amount of money to have her talk and become the friend to Emily that Emily so wanted.because years ago, this would have escalated into a full on meltdown from Elizabeth, because it ended so well, because the are friends, because all the hard work was so worth it, because all the hard work…worked.  For these reasons and I am sure many more, I can look at that pretty typical scenario and feel it is just so much more.

Trust me, this scenario ended in a hug and with smiles but not all are so Norman Rockwellish…  when I hear a door slam upstairs, some yelling and another door slam, I don’t revel in the interaction and smile. No usually then there is a punishment.  But some interactions like the water-drinking one just makes me happy.  If someone would have told me that “one day Michele your daughters will be talking, teasing, hugging and laughing”, well I guess I would have cried with the simply want for that to be true, made them sign a paper promising as much and I would have clung to it.  But no one offered that out.  So I want to offer out the above scenario to those at the start of the journey. That the therapies work, that successes do come, be them big or little, I want to offer that Elilzabeth, who used to cry and fear the world has become the friend Emily wanted. I want our story to offer a smile, a warm thought and hope.      Have a good week.

[Source: www.michelegianetti.com]

The Occupational Therapist’s Role: From Evaluation to Treatment

LIVE WEBINARS WITH QUESTION & ANSWER SEGMENT

Get answers from the best! Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR and Sarah A. Schoen, PhD, OTR explain how assessments are selected for identification, [...]]]> REGISTER TODAY FOR OUR NEW WEBINAR SERIES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Occupational Therapist’s Role:
From Evaluation to Treatment

LIVE WEBINARS WITH QUESTION & ANSWER SEGMENT

Get answers from the best! Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR and Sarah A. Schoen, PhD, OTR explain how assessments are selected for identification, treatment planning and measuring progress of children with developmental concerns.

This three-part series is the first of many to come that focus on the flow from assessment to development of a treatment plan. Each series will highlight an assessment tool commonly used in clinic and school settings. Although intended primarily for occupational therapists, content may be beneficial to other professionals, including psychologists, physical therapists, and other childhood intervention specialists. This first series focuses on the M-FUN (Miller Function and Participation Scales).

Session 1⋅June 19⋅12 PM-2 PM EST
Selecting the Right Tools for Conducting a Comprehensive Evaluation
Explore major assessment tools including DAP (Draw a Person), GOAL (Goal- Oriented Assessment of Lifeskills), BOT-2 (Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency), M-FUN (Miller Function and Participation Scales) and more.

Session 2⋅July 24⋅12 PM-2 PM EST
Administration and Scoring of the M-FUN
Assessing Children Ages 3-8 in School and Clinic Settings
Focus on mastery in administration, scoring and basic interpretation of this standardized assessment.

Session 3⋅August 28⋅12 PM-2 PM EST
Advanced Interpretation of M-FUN and How it Informs Treatment
Synthesize client’s information, document and communicate findings to parents and translate findings into a treatment plan.

All sessions will use videos of actual cases that link the child’s history, and assessment findings to presenting problems.

Register Today Space is Limited

Can’t attend live?
All sessions will be archived and available for purchase after the live airing.

Sessions will be available for review for two weeks after live airing or two weeks after purchase date if airing date has passed.

Limited Time Introductory offer:
Save 25%! $59 per webinar or $149 for all three
Regular price $79 per webinar or $199 for all three

.2 AOTA CEUs offered per webinar

BREAKING NEWS: AVAILABLE BY WEBINAR OR IN PERSON ALL STAR LECTURE SERIES

Guest Speaker: Dr. Moya Kinnealey

Brought to you by SPD Foundation and STAR (Sensory Therapies And Research) Center.

Stumbling Blocks into Stepping Stones
Teens/Adults with SPD: Strategies to Improve Quality of Life
Moya Kinnealey, PhD, OTR/L, Temple University, PA

This course is being offered live in person or via webinar. Register here for webinar viewing or call STAR Center at the number below to attend in person.

When:
May 28, 2013
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Mountain Time

Where:
STAR Center
5420 S. Quebec St., Suite 103
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Cost:
$20 per person or $30 for two people
Add $20 for each CEU certificate processed

Who should attend?
Parents, caregivers, teachers, occupational therapists, mental health and medical professionals

.2 AOTA CEUs offered

Contact STAR Center at 303-221-7827 or info@spdstar.org to attend in person.
Because seats are limited, we are unable to accept walk-ins.

HURRY! DISCOUNTED OFFER FOR OUR ONLINE
2012 SPD SYMPOSIUM ENDS JUNE 30.

The SPD Foundation is offering a symposium for researchers, clinicians, educators and medical professionals ONLINE! Don’t miss some of the most prominent speakers presenting the latest findings and evidence-based data on sensory processing. These CEU-eligible courses are available day or night, in the comfort of your home or office, and on your mobile devise, wherever you are.

REGISTER NOW for day one, day two or both days at a special introductory rate. Along with this special pricing we are offering all other online courses at HALF OFF with the purchase of one day or more of the 14th International Symposium.

MORE ONLINE COURSES

Every parent and professional will benefit from the online courses covering the definition of SPD, the six subtypes and practical strategies for treatment at home, school and in the clinic.

Don’t wait! The special introductory price offer on the symposium is only available until June 30.
DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

SAVE THE DATE – OCTOBER 25-26, 2013

16th International 3S Symposium
SPD: Strategies, Science and Success
Charlotte, North Carolina

We are assembling a top-notch faculty to share their expertise and knowledge with clinicians, educators, parents, caregivers and medical professionals. Speakers already confirmed include:

Barry Stein, PhD – Wake Forest School of Medicine
Stephen Camarata, PhD – Vanderbilt University
M. Zachary Rosenthal – Duke University
Paula Aquila, BSc, OT – Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services

Plus, from the STAR Center in Colorado, Kay Toomey, PhD and the SPD Foundation’s directors of the Annual 3S Symposium, Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR and Sarah A. Schoen, PhD, OTR.

Save the date to attend!

DETAILS COMING SOON

EXPAND YOUR CLINICAL SKILLS. SIGN UP FOR THE ONLY PROGRAM OF ITS KIND!

Intensive Mentorship:
Clinical Reasoning in Intervention
Greenwood Village, Colorado
Join a small group of practicing clinicians to learn advanced methods and strategies during our five-day acclaimed Intensive Mentorship program at the SPD Foundation and STAR Center. Observe actual STAR Center treatment sessions and discuss clinical reasoning used by the therapists.

Level 1 Mentorship Dates:

June 10-14 (Waiting list only)
July 8-12
August 12-16
November 4-8

Don’t delay. Only a limited number of seats are offered per session.

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Picky Eaters vs. Problem Feeders:
The S.O.S. Approach to Feeding

Two great cities and dates to choose from:

Long Beach, California
Basic 3-day Course: July 18-20, 2013
Advanced Workshop: July 21, 2013

Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Basic 3-day Course: Dec 5-7, 2013
Advanced Workshop: Dec 8, 2013

Kay A. Toomey, Ph.D., Pediatric Psychologist, Erin Ross, Ph.D., CCC-SLP and Bethany Kortsha, MA, OTR will present the Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S) Approach to Feeding, a family-centered, transdisciplinary program for assessing and treating children with weight/growth problems from birth to 18 years. It integrates posture, sensory, motor, behavioral/learning, medical and nutritional factors to comprehensively evaluate and manage children with feeding/growth problems.

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION LONG BEACH
DETAILS AND REGISTRATION FORT LAUDERDALE

BRING OUR EXPERTS TO YOUR COMMUNITY!

Faculty Speaking Engagements

Bring the SPD faculty – including Dr. Lucy Jane Miller or Dr. Sarah A. Schoen – to your facility or community. Our faculty teaches basic and advanced workshops all over the world.

Sign up to bring the new G.O.A.L. (Goal Oriented Assessment of Lifeskills) workshop to your facility or in your community. Learn how to administer and score Dr. Lucy Jane Miller’s latest standardized functional assessment for school-aged children.

Email Caraly at info@spdfoundation.net for booking information.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announced last week that they will be re-orienting research away from the DSM categories toward a new system called the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). NIMH will support research projects that look across current diagnostic categories in [...]]]> NIMH Launches the Research Domain
Criteria Project to Transform Diagnosis

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announced last week that they will be re-orienting research away from the DSM categories toward a new system called the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). NIMH will support research projects that look across current diagnostic categories in an effort to develop a more precise diagnostic system. This is a huge shift, as the NIMH used DSM categories to define sample inclusive criteria for decades.

What might this mean for the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) community? We view this as a positive step forward to more dialog about sensation as a potential dimension in the RDoC. The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation will be collaborating with colleagues in the SPD Scientific Work Group to determine how to continue our mission to have SPD recognized as a legitimate condition.

We thank all of you, our supporters and colleagues, who have expressed enthusiasm in our quest to spread awareness about SPD. We will be counting on you to help us advocate for SPD recognition as we move forward in making a difference in the lives of those living with SPD. We look forward to the day when everyone with SPD has access to the services they need and deserve.

Read the full article by Dr. Thomas R. Insel, M.D., Director of the National Institute of Mental Health here.

“Elizabeth, click here, now hit images..now hit print…send it to the printer marked Brother” ” Okay, get it out of the printer” “Let’s cut them out and glue them on the sheet” and out comes a picture. One of four that we are required [...]]]> Michele Gianetti: Life With SPD and Dyspraxia – May 5, 2013

“Elizabeth, click here, now hit images..now hit print…send it to the printer marked Brother” ” Okay, get it out of the printer” “Let’s cut them out and glue them on the sheet” and out comes a picture.  One of four that we are required to look up, print and label.  They must all be from a certain time in history.  Yeppers…it is class project time.

I, like so many of you, have to LOVE the days when our children be them our special needs ones or our typically developing ones, have NO homework.  They come home with the happy news but it is me who does the happy dance right along with them.  And on the flip side, when I hear about a project, I think ” Ugh, what is do when?” “How should we plan the time to do this?” ” How do I break this up for Elizabeth so she can do it and learn?”

Funny because it takes the teacher a mere five seconds to state what the assignment is and it takes me so much longer to ponder the above questions and more.

Dyspraxia makes all things such a roll of the dice.  By that I mean if Elizabeth is feeling organized and calm, then great learning can take place and she can follow those above stated steps and happily.  Her sensory processing disorder can make things difficult when she does not want to touch something or focuses on her hair, her shirt etc. But on calm days…..when all the planets line up correctly…..she can do so so beautifully.

The trick to working with our children is to help them learn and achieve on the time when those planets are NOT in alignment. When they are not organized, when their systems show signs of stress. That is the challenge. Because we all know that the world is not going to wait until all is well before putting challenges to our children.  We have to help them understand this fact as well as helping them cope and still succeed.

I wish I could say that I always act the way I know I should, that I offer only the kindest of words, pats on the back and the gently encouragements to “breath and relax Elizabeth”  No, I can only wish I did these things because so many times what I do is, I behave like a person, I hurry her a bit too much, sigh when she cannot bring to fruition a skill I KNOW she KNOWS.  I pray for patience, I pray she knows that my pushing and saying “Elizabeth, I know you can do this” comes from the deepest part of my soul that believes SO VERY MUCH that this is true.  Our children can succeed, can learn and can love life.  It just may take them a bit longer or a few more tries.

I offer out these thoughts and feelings tonight to those who may be feeling the same thing.  We are human, we try, we try, we try.  Sometimes we play it all right, and sometimes we stumble but one thing we never lose is the feelings we have for our children. We all need to support each other, as we are the ones who truly understand what it means to live this life.  I will say that Elizabeth was in that good place today…she was wonderful to work with today and YES she did all those steps and smiled ear to ear, laughed and darn it, we actually enjoyed this project.

Maybe next time I only have to devote half as much time analyzing the project and try to remember my own words…HMMM???  Have a good week.

[Source: www.michelegianetti.com]

Although more than 5 million children in the United States have a speech, language, and hearing disorder, parents are often uninformed and unsure about what to do when they suspect their child might [...]]]> STAR Center celebrates
Better Hearing and Speech Month
by encouraging parents to seek early intervention
for children with communication disorders

Although more than 5 million children in the United States have a speech, language, and hearing disorder, parents are often uninformed and unsure about what to do when they suspect their child might be delayed. Every May since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has used the May is Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) celebration to provide parents with information about communication disorders to help ensure that they do not seriously affect their children’s ability to learn, socialize with others, and be successful in school.

Speech and language delays or difficulties can occur at any time in a child’s life. They may be born with a disorder or it can be caused by accidental injury or illness. Child speech and language delays or difficulties include:

• Stuttering
• Articulation problems (”wabbit” instead of “rabbit”)
• Language disorders such as the slow development of vocabulary, concepts, and grammar.
• Voice disorders (nasal, breathy, or hoarse voice and speech that is too high or low)
• Social communication disorders (difficulties in social situations)

Parents who suspect their child has a communication disorder should see an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist. These professionals identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders. STAR Center in Greenwood Village, Colorado offers both speech-therapy services and a trans-disciplinary feeding program.

“Fortunately, most children with speech, language, and hearing problems can be treated successfully,” according to Carrie Dishlip, CCC-SLP of STAR Center. “Even if the problem cannot be eliminated, we can teach the child strategies to help them cope with their communication disorders, or provide them with the appropriate technology to facilitate communication. By promoting Better Hearing and Speech Month, we hope parents will learn about communication disorders and what they can do to help their children.”

Parents who think their children may have a speech, language, or communication disorder or know of a loved one who may have such a problem will benefit from Carrie Dishlip’s lecture titled:

“Understanding Early Childhood Speech and Language: Development and Delays” May 7 from 7:00 PM-8:30 PM at the STAR Center.

Learn about speech and language milestones, the current best practices for speech and language therapy, and practical and effective strategies that can be incorporated at home to help a child’s communication development.

For detailed information and to RSVP contact STAR Center at 303-221-7827. For those outside of Colorado and unable to travel, search for service providers at spdfoundation.net/directory, Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation’s online directory.

So many times I read about and hear about parents with a special needs child and their experiences with people looking and commenting about their child. Due to a lack of understanding and sometimes a missing compassion gene, comments get made, looks get sent and we [...]]]> Michele Gianetti: Life with SPD and Dyspraxia – 4/28/2013

So many times I read about and hear about parents with a special needs child and their experiences with people looking and commenting about their child. Due to a lack of understanding and sometimes a missing compassion gene, comments get made, looks get sent and we as parents die a little bit inside.

We try to speak for our children, we try to teach others about our children, we try to be their advocate, we try to get the world to bend to their needs. Yes, each and everyday we live and work with our children.

I know from my personal experience that Elizabeth is with me ALL DAY, EVERYDAY….meaning I know I think about how she is doing, has she made any gains, has their been a problem? I would dare anyone to challenge a parent of a special needs child to deny the above…..

But here is something that I have not heard about ….the people who do NOT ask about your child. The ones who do NOT show a genuine concern for them. This is not something I have heard many people talk about. I have heard so many say that their families don’t understand their child or offer advice that is ill suited to the situation but what about the times when you are with people who should care about your child, should ask about them in a form or a question that delves deeper than “how are the children doing?”

I know that so many times, people are afraid to ask. I wonder if they think we don’t want to talk about our child. As I have stated before they are always with us so to ask is really okay with me. I would love to tell you about her recent successes, her recent gains, moods, grades or plans. But you did not ask, your question was a bit to generic for me to take the chance of unveiling these wonderful parts of Elizabeth. I guess I hesitate to really open up unless I am pretty sure the other party really wants to hear and hopefully will be as excited as we are about the fact that Elizabeth did this or that. But can I chance it????

Those who feel that others in their family or circle of friends do not understand their child, they may relate to my topic today in a way….It is a hard thing to get that sometimes people just don’t ask….they just do not show their concern, or care. There is no anger here in me as I write this just the all too real realization that some people are okay to offer a topical balm to calm what is to us a third degree burn.

Life with our special children is just that special…so to ask, to genuinely ask, is to us a gift, a chance to share what is our LIFE. Please know that to ask in any other way than in a genuine way is just too much for us to decipher. Do we share? Don’t we share? and How much? and to simply not ask at all is just to us a sad denial of the very reason we fight, advocate, laugh, rejoice and cry.

My daughter is amazing, loving, caring and fun, worth every bit of effort we have made over the course of her life. Perhaps by not asking, I offer out that they are missing out on sharing the lives of these wonderful children we call ours.

Hope you all have a good week.

[Source: www.michelegianetti.com]

Lecture 2: May 7, 2013 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Understanding Early Childhood Speech and Language: Development and Delays

Learn about speech [...]]]> All STAR Lecture Series
RSVP today! Seats are very limited.

You won’t want to miss lectures two and three of this three-part series. Individuals, parents and professionals will benefit from these informative sessions.

Lecture 2: May 7, 2013 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Understanding Early Childhood Speech and Language: Development and Delays

Learn about speech and language milestones, the current best practices for speech and language therapy, and practical and effective strategies to incorporate at home to help your child’s communication development.

Join Carrie Dishlip, M.S. CCC-SLP, one of STAR’s speech language pathologists, for a parent-friendly discussion on speech and language development and delays in toddlers and preschoolers. Carrie has served as Augmentative and Alternative Communication Specialist and has advanced training in motor speech disorders including childhood apraxia of speech and dysarthria.

Lecture 3: May 28, 2013 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Stumbling Blocks into Stepping Stones. Teens/Adults with SPD: Strategies to Improve Quality of Life

Learn a method that can aid in identifying the positive and negative aspects of an adult living with SPD. The rationale of various sensory-motor and counseling-based interventions will be presented as well as how and why specific interventions work. Incorporating intervention strategies into various aspects of a demanding adult life will be explored as well as self-reflection.

Our guest speaker, Dr. Moya Kinnealey,PhD, OTR/L is Emeritus Faculty of the Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Professions and Social Work, Temple University. Throughout her career as an occupational therapist she has explored the impact of sensory processing disorders on both children and adults including its impact on daily functioning, social emotional well-being, and quality of life. Dr. Kinnealey has published a number of seminal articles on the topic of adults with SPD and has presented her work at state, national and international conferences.

Cost for Lecture 2:
$15 per person or $20 for two people
CEUs not offered for this lecture

Cost for Lecture 3:
$20 per person or $30 for two people
Add $20 for each CEU certificate processed

Where:
STAR Center
5420 S. Quebec St., Suite 103
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Who should attend?
Parents, caregivers, clinicians, teachers, mental health and medical professionals

Registration required:
Contact STAR Center at 303-221-7827 or info@spdstar.org. Because seats are limited we are unable to accept walk-ins.

Light refreshments will be served.

SPD Foundation is an AOTA approved provider of continuing education credits.

Much to my dismay, I received a crisp white and yellow envelope in the mail a few weeks back. “Jury Summons” it read on the front. I cringed. I know I’m not alone in my cringing, and I’d be hard-pressed to find someone leaping up and [...]]]> Coming To My Senses blog – April 23, 2013

Much to my dismay, I received a crisp white and yellow envelope in the mail a few weeks back. “Jury Summons” it read on the front. I cringed. I know I’m not alone in my cringing, and I’d be hard-pressed to find someone leaping up and down in glee for a day or three in jury duty. Don’t get me wrong, there’s something to be said about doing your civic duty and possibly taking part in a jury of your peers. Oh, but we SPDers don’t like change and we do like structure.

Jury duty is the antithesis of structure.

You are asked to report to a previously unfamiliar place at a possibly unfamiliar time to sit amongst strangers and wait to be called, escorted to another unfamiliar place, and asked questions for which you cannot plan. There are bright, institutional lights; foreign scents; unpredictable sound changes; and lines. There is lots of sitting and waiting. In short, jury duty is scary for SPDers.

Yes, and it gets better. These days, at least in New York City, we have a waiting system wherein prospective jurors must call in or go online daily to see if they’ve been summoned for the following day. I scrambled to find an SPD-friendly solution. Surely, my snazzy blue-tinted glasses and Wilbarger brush indicate that I might not be the best candidate for a jury. I’m smart as a whip, but I’m a sensory dope. I combed the Internet, looking for any extensive proof that an SPD adult has ever had to cope with jury duty before, to no avail. I get that I’m a trailblazer, and typically that thought motivates me and excites me to be my best sensory-self. Last week, though, I felt like the first SPD adult ever to have to cope with jury duty. Okay, second. An SPD pal of mine let me know that he had survived jury duty by discussing his SPD while being interviewed for a jury. It was nice to know that a frank discussion would help the situation. However, it surprised me that there was no wiggle room with the courts themselves. I guess if SPD doesn’t appear in the current DSM or the DSM-V, then how and why would the legal system care about excusing me. My therapist rightfully preached coping instead of avoiding, and so I followed suit.

Ever the good little citizen, I diligently – if not hesitatingly – checked in with the courts the Friday before last. The courts had called numbers 1,000 through 5,999 to be on standby. I was relieved to see that my number was over 2,000 jurors away from Monday’s jury pool. I wrung my hands, doing the math. There was no way I would be spared the entire week. Every day at 4 pm, I waited with baited breath for the court website to load. I was cleared on Monday for Tuesday and Tuesday for Wednesday, but Wednesday afternoon, the notice appeared. I would be part of Thursday’s jury pool in an unfamiliar part of town (another town, I guess). I cried. I packed my bag as if it was a sensory toolbox – putty, Wilbarger brush, blue glasses, gum, pens and pencils, magazines, a crossword book, water, snacks.

Thursday morning, I decided to take cabs to the courthouse instead of adding navigation of unfamiliar subway stops to my list of difficulties for the day. When I arrived, I found myself in the middle of a very long line outdoors, waiting to pass though a metal detector. I made calls and distracted myself from the seemingly-endless wait. Once inside, I followed a herd into a room that could only be described as airport-meets-hospital. Chairs flanked the walls of the room and sat in rows throughout the middle. I grabbed a seat near the door and against a wall (my favorite place to sit always), and tried taking deep breaths. About an hour of announcements and paperwork followed, lead by a uniformed officer with a sharp sense of humor and soft touch. I watched as he gently spoke to those with “legitimate” excuses and sent them back off into the world away from our jury room. I decided not to even try getting out of serving with my sadly flimsy SPD excuse, and just sat and watched the parade of the pardoned shuffle off.

By the time they called the first panel around 11 am, I was a mess. We had just oriented to the day and the room, and I used my Wilbarger brush way too frequently in the event I’d hear my name called, and be away from a place to brush and calm down. Much to my surprise, the first group was lead not upstairs, but outside, down the block, and across the street to another courthouse. I froze. This was not part of the deal. No one had said this jury pool served multiple buildings. It was scary enough to be in a new space with numerous new spaces upstairs where I might be questioned and selected. I hadn’t prepared for a field trip.

Mr. Gentle Uniformed Officer took a break after calling this first panel. He stood just outside the juror waiting room, texting and looking out the window. I considered my options: possible sensory nightmare outdoors with strangers (and on court property . . . contempt of court much?) or have a frank chat with the man whose job it was to call jurors. I got up and pulled him aside. I explained my SPD, expressed how frightening it would be for me to be questioned in another building – let alone this one, and asked if I could participate in panels only in this building. I told him I was happy to be there, as long as I could stay within a more familiar place. His face softened as my eyes watered. I am not used to advocating for myself and my disorder. In the three years since my diagnosis, I hadn’t had to face jury duty.

He motioned that I follow him, and together we approached his boss in a Mr. Rogers sweater who lingered behind a desk in the juror waiting room. Mr. Gentle explained my request softly as my eyes continued to tear. His boss repeated my name, and promised he’d help me. I sat back down, relieved but still anticipating a day of questioning and newness. The movie Armageddon blared from two TVs set into the walls. I tried a crossword, failed, tried another. A woman next to me tried to sell me on ordering coffees and teas from her company. Panels were called. Each time, I waited to hear my name, and each time, my name was passed over. I was spared.

At the end of the day, Mr. Gentle announced that we’d all served jury duty and we were all free to leave, covered for another four years. A cheer rang out across the echoey room. I was last to get my parting papers. Mr. Gentle said he couldn’t find my juror ID stub. He said “it’s the piece the lawyers return to you when you’re done being questioned,” and I admitted that I hadn’t been questioned all day. His boss stood nearby, and peered at me kindly through thick glasses. He said he knew where my stub was, and handed over my papers.

I can’t be sure quite what happened on my day of jury duty. Did I somehow manage to avoid being called for at least a dozen panels? Did the honest explanation of my situation sway two unusually caring court employees? I will never know. I stand by what my SPD friend advised from the start: go to jury duty, but find your champion. Someone somewhere is always bound to understand. A good lesson on living with SPD, indeed.

[Source: comingtosenses.blogspot.com]

I saw the weather forecast….a severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for….

As much as we had been waiting for and praying for and thinking about Spring, I had forgotten the one part of it that I so dread …the weather. To you and [...]]]> Michele Gianetti: Life with SPD and Dyspraxia – April 13, 2013

I saw the weather forecast….a severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for….

As much as we had been waiting for and praying for and thinking about Spring, I had forgotten the one part of it that I so dread …the weather. To you and me it is rain, some wind and thunder…to Elizabeth and others with SPD it is a hugely nerve wracking experience. Complete with the repeatedly asked question ” the rain is done now, right mom?” To which I answer ” Almost”, “I think pretty soon it will pass us” until the I reach the point where, if physically possible, I would fly up to the sky and push the storm away.
SPD and dyspraxia have been a part of Elizabeth’s life since birth. The disorders for Elizabeth showed themselves in such a severe way. Her first Occupational Therapist told us that she was the most severe case of SPD that she had ever treated. Elizabeth was afraid of EVERYTHING…she cried all day long. Elizabeth has been in therapy in one form or another for the two disorders since she was two years old. Through the hard work of therapy and follow up at home. The world became a much less scary place, the hold that SPD and dyspraxia had on her lessened inch by inch, bit by bin,

In my mind’s eye, many years ago I see the letters of SPD and dyspraxia as big and frightening and as we have made gains and have seen such growth in Elizabeth, the letters look smaller, less intimidating. They are so much a part of her and why she is who she is.

Sometimes when you see your special needs child doing so well, just humming along (we have all had these times…short lived or not) there is that feeling, that wonderful feeling that perhaps whatever your child has is lessening its hold…that for this moment you can relax. I know sometimes for me I will try to figure out what magical steps I have taken to make this moment happen with the sheer driving force being the need to be able to recreate it again, But , as we all know, there is no magical order of steps, no real magical anything. Our children are so complex in their “wiring” that there are days they are simply more organized, their systems are simply more calm and can handle things better. We can help them by doing the things such as brushing or a sensory diet etc… But magic does not really fit in.

…This storm has the possibility of producing large hail and winds in excess of….

Yes, this storm made Elizabeth very nervous, quite anxious and truthfully she looked so much like the frightened child we had so many years ago, I don’t want you to feel sad after reading this… Rather, we can use these times to remember that all the things we have done have made a difference in their lives. I like to think of it like this…if she was still that frightened child she was when she was little, her behaviors and fear about the storm would not have stood out as much as they did.

I know, you know, we know these disorders our children have will be with them forever. But we will do our best to help them succeed, to help them manage those times when the disorders show their faces again. This storm to you and I is just rain and wind but what it is our reminder that our work continues. That we need to be ready for when the weather alert beeps as well as for when our children just cannot handle their world right then.

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Yes it was just rain…but for us it was so much more.

[Source: www.michelegianetti.com]