Um...pardon? How can I NOT worry about what's next? I'm ALWAYS worried about what's next. It feels like a constant hamster wheel going around and around trying to supplement our son's areas of need in order to "prepare" him for what's next. Yet in our hyper vigilance, we sometimes forget to explore and rejoice in his strengths right now. Our son is a brilliant story teller. He is an extraordinary engineer and game creator. He is constantly making up games and downloading game boards to go along with them. He creates videos and posts them and is creating quite the following. We sometimes forget that these skills will take him far in life. That he has created coping mechanisms to get through the daily grind in an environment not suited to his needs, is an incredible ability. I would never condescend him by saying his learning disabilities are gifts. They are not. They are challenges that he contends with every minute of every day of his life. However, his type of brain that grows creativity, enables problem solving and enlists critical thinking IS a gift. This gift will carry him and help him when things get rough. This gift will bring solace and escape on dark days. This gift will prepare him for what is to come. Some days we have to pause and reflect and breath. He may not go unscathed, but he will be O.K.
Here is a great article I found on focusing on strengths when creating IEPs. Click HERE to read more.
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