Hi, I'm here to give hope for autistic kids.

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by Cloaked Raven

I vaguely remember something about Nove leaving one morning. I'm glad she made it home safe and sound.

I agree that stress and anxiety can make people do strange things... Even a NT person can do things they normally wouldn't do if their stress level is very high.

You know, someone at the Autism Centre here said something about people on the spectrum having a higher base stress level than NT people do... After seeing how quickly my son can get stressed out even during a non stressful situation for him, I believe it.

I know stress in my life totally makes me anxious, especially if my health is bad to start with and I used to have a lot of health problems and stress issues.

Also, the reports I read nowadys indicate that most Autistics also have Sensory Disorders - which could certainly increase the amount of stress.

That's one reason the new teacher allowed Nove to move her desk into The Quiet Room for a few weeks, so she didn't have to deal with the noise and movement and light at such an intense level. Then they moved the desk into the classroom but with dividers so she still felt some separation from all the hub-bub.

Is sleep-walking possibly caused by high stress levels? I'm pretty sure that accounts for some sleep-talking.

[Cloaked Raven]

Originally Posted by Lunacie

I know stress in my life totally makes me anxious, especially if my health is bad to start with and I used to have a lot of health problems and stress issues.

Also, the reports I read nowadys indicate that most Autistics also have Sensory Disorders - which could certainly increase the amount of stress.

That's one reason the new teacher allowed Nove to move her desk into The Quiet Room for a few weeks, so she didn't have to deal with the noise and movement and light at such an intense level. Then they moved the desk into the classroom but with dividers so she still felt some separation from all the hub-bub.

Is sleep-walking possibly caused by high stress levels? I'm pretty sure that accounts for some sleep-talking.

I'm not sure about sleep walking but I know my little guy talks in his sleep a LOT... He's always muttering stuff about his favorite TV shows, his favorite toys, his Daddy and the cat of all things.

I know when I'm under a lot of stress, I kick a lot in my sleep or start throwing my arms around... My husband has mentioned this to me, and it seems I only do that when I'm worried about something or something has me really annoyed.

My son's speech pathologist said the same thing about a lot of people on the spectrum having at least some sensory issues, if not a lot.

That was a great idea to allow Nove to have some separation from the rest of the hub-bub if it increases her stress level... Good thinking on her teacher's part!!! I hope in time she'll be able to handle classroom time without the dividers but if she has to have them for the rest of her school career, let her in my opinion. The less stressed she is, the easier it will probably be for her to learn.

I know if my son gets stressed out at preschool and I'm not there, his one teacher takes him out of the classroom area and into the entryway, where it is a lot quieter... He seems to calm down a lot easier and faster if it's just him and one other person. There may be only 11 or 12 other students in his class but boy, they can make one heck of a racket if they want to... I don't know how the teachers do it without wearing ear plugs!!

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by Cloaked Raven

I'm not sure about sleep walking but I know my little guy talks in his sleep a LOT... He's always muttering stuff about his favorite TV shows, his favorite toys, his Daddy and the cat of all things.

I know when I'm under a lot of stress, I kick a lot in my sleep or start throwing my arms around... My husband has mentioned this to me, and it seems I only do that when I'm worried about something or something has me really annoyed.

My son's speech pathologist said the same thing about a lot of people on the spectrum having at least some sensory issues, if not a lot.

That was a great idea to allow Nove to have some separation from the rest of the hub-bub if it increases her stress level... Good thinking on her teacher's part!!! I hope in time she'll be able to handle classroom time without the dividers but if she has to have them for the rest of her school career, let her in my opinion. The less stressed she is, the easier it will probably be for her to learn.

I know if my son gets stressed out at preschool and I'm not there, his one teacher takes him out of the classroom area and into the entryway, where it is a lot quieter... He seems to calm down a lot easier and faster if it's just him and one other person. There may be only 11 or 12 other students in his class but boy, they can make one heck of a racket if they want to... I don't know how the teachers do it without wearing ear plugs!!

Last year they let Nove use the Quiet Room (a lot) to calm down and regain control. They started out this year the same way, but after talking with Nove the teacher asked her if she'd like to work in the Quiet Room all the time. So her desk was in there for almost a month. Then it was moved to the classroom with dividers in place for another month. And then the dividers were removed. Each change the teacher talked with Nove and asked her whether she wanted to give it a try.

I would love to volunteer to be a helper at school. There is a woman who's older than me who's been volunteering for as long as we've been going to this school - about 7 years now. I don't know how she copes with the noise, or how any of the teachers and other people cope with the noise. It's too much for me, even with earplugs. Nove's mom went to school and ate lunch with Nove at least once a week last year - the lunchroom and the gym are certainly two of the noisiest places in a school. I don't know how she did it. I certainly can't.

[Cloaked Raven]

Originally Posted by Lunacie

Last year they let Nove use the Quiet Room (a lot) to calm down and regain control. They started out this year the same way, but after talking with Nove the teacher asked her if she'd like to work in the Quiet Room all the time. So her desk was in there for almost a month. Then it was moved to the classroom with dividers in place for another month. And then the dividers were removed. Each change the teacher talked with Nove and asked her whether she wanted to give it a try.

I would love to volunteer to be a helper at school. There is a woman who's older than me who's been volunteering for as long as we've been going to this school - about 7 years now. I don't know how she copes with the noise, or how any of the teachers and other people cope with the noise. It's too much for me, even with earplugs. Nove's mom went to school and ate lunch with Nove at least once a week last year - the lunchroom and the gym are certainly two of the noisiest places in a school. I don't know how she did it. I certainly can't.

Leaving it up to Nove whether or not to have the dividers removed, etc was a great idea, it gave her some control over her situation and it sounds like they were trying to make her as comfortable with things as possible.

I'm probably going to be a volunteer at the school my son will be attending. I already mentioned to my husband that I would be going on field trips, etc and helping out a lot with my son's class for the first year or so at least. I'm going to give it a try at least so the teachers have some help with Lil Cloaky if there are any problems with trips, etc. I'm already going on field trips with the preschool, to help Shelley and the rest of my son's teachers, just in case he has a meltdown or gets frustrated. It will be even noiser with a larger class. I do plan on buying plenty of ear plugs just in case.

I understand, the noise and confusion of a classroom is why I decided not to become a teacher myself. I would have enjoyed teaching children of elementary/grammar school age but I don't think I could handle the noise, etc. Heck I get confused if I'm in a room and more than two people are talking at once..

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by Cloaked Raven

Leaving it up to Nove whether or not to have the dividers removed, etc was a great idea, it gave her some control over her situation and it sounds like they were trying to make her as comfortable with things as possible.

I'm probably going to be a volunteer at the school my son will be attending. I already mentioned to my husband that I would be going on field trips, etc and helping out a lot with my son's class for the first year or so at least. I'm going to give it a try at least so the teachers have some help with Lil Cloaky if there are any problems with trips, etc. I'm already going on field trips with the preschool, to help Shelley and the rest of my son's teachers, just in case he has a meltdown or gets frustrated. It will be even noiser with a larger class. I do plan on buying plenty of ear plugs just in case.

I understand, the noise and confusion of a classroom is why I decided not to become a teacher myself. I would have enjoyed teaching children of elementary/grammar school age but I don't think I could handle the noise, etc. Heck I get confused if I'm in a room and more than two people are talking at once..

When Katlin was in the primary grades, the teachers were always saying that parents were welcome to come and help with things in the classroom. There is always something the teacher doesn't have time to get done, prep work for lessons such as sorting copied pages, setting out glue sticks and scissors - lots of things. Unfortunately I needed to stay at home with Nove when her big sister was in those grades.

I assumed it would be the same way when Nove moved into Kindergarten and First Grade and was very quickly informed that I would not be welcome. I don't know whether they felt I would be more of a distraction for a kiddo who was already overwhelmed, or what their thoughts were, but except for riding on the bus with her to visit the pumpkin patch and helping some of the moms set up and serve food at a party, I haven't visited the school since Nove started pre-K over three years ago. I hope your son's teachers welcome you and that James finds it reassuring to have you there.