Hi!

Can I introduce myself?

Jeffery LaJaunie, posting from the deep south... ya'll and all that.

Im 31, married and the father of 2 sons, both of whom have autism. I'm a regular over at the Bendis board under the name justJeffery, but this seemed like a nice place to stop by and visit... so here I am.

I'm an aspiring inker and my first work was published 2 weeks ago and has already sold out! Im a member of the virtual studio Ronin Studios and our first book Ronin Illustrated was purchased by the likes of Joss Whedon, Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack!

Anyway, I look forward to hanging out with you folks... Im sure my wife is to follow, as she's a comic reader and she cant stand the state of most message boards...so she'll love it here.

Jeffery

welcome Jeffery.

Nice inks, post some more of your work on the board.

Yes, definitely! And we like Sutherners 'round heah!

Hi Jeffery! I also have an autistic son. Let me know if you ever need to rant and rave at someone who understands!

Jeffrey & Kevin - I would be happy to make myself available if either of you have educational questions or concerns regarding your autistic children. I am the "designated inclusion teacher" in my school and I would be happy to lend any help that I could!

Thanks, Tracey! I'm lucky that my son's condition isn't severe. He is almost 11 and in 4th grade. He spends most of his time in a class with five other autistic boys, but he gets to go to regular ed. science and social studies classes each week. I'm hoping that he can completely mainstream by high school.

As "designated inclusion teacher," does that mean that you work with all of the kids with different disabilities and help them feel more a part of the student body?

Well yes...in a lot of ways that it exactly what I do! I am a regular ed teacher (certified for Middle Grades/4-8 all subjects) but I have a very interactive, yet tightly controlled classroom. The SpEd teachers will usually try mainstreaming a student in my class as a first step from self-contained. I've had many different types of students with disabilities in my classrooms, and I really enjoy the challenge of finding a learning style that meets their needs and creating an environment in which they can suceed. Some teachers, and some people as I'm sure you know, are very uncomfortable with people with disabilities and in our school we try to make the student's first mainstreamed experience the best possible by placing the child with a teacher who is willing to accommodate the student's needs. I currently teach 8th grade Civics and English, and it is so important for kids this age to "fit in", as it is to all children.

I love you! You deserve hugs on TOP of hugs for being willing to do that job... so many teachers want NOTHING to do with special need kids...


We've been VERY fortunate in that dept. My older son, Blaize is 7 and spends half a day in a class with 3 other autisitc children, a teacher and 2 aids... and half a day in second grade, where they treat him like a prince. Both boys have Hyperlexia, so they read VERY well... and the kids just think the world of him for it... they ask HIM to help them when they cant remember how to spell something... its really just too darn cute.

My younger son, Will, is 5 and spends most of his day in a non-catagorized pre-school class with several other children and they are starting inclusion into Kindergarden this year. He's been in the class for 2 years now, so he knows it really well and one of the aids has become our respit worker... so she knows him REALLY well... He also reads far better than anyone in his age range and LOVES to spell stuff with anything available... so the whole class makes a game of it...

Thank you BOTH sooo much for the offers! You never know when I may have to take you guys up on it... while the whole autism thing isnt new to me... I recently swapped roles with my wife and I now get them ready for school and stuff... basically being a stay at home dad and inking during the day... so Im kinda new to the day to day problems of school and stuff...

Jeffery

Welcome, Jeffery.

You have designated inclusion teachers at your school? Cool! I seem to be in the same role, but as an elementary, every grade level has to have that as well. Still, I love to hear about teachers that love the challenge! Makes me proud to be a colleague! You just made my day, Tracey.

And she did it four whole years ago! Is she good or what?

She's the best!!