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September 11, 2005

A Light!

I could probably write a long entry (as y’all know is my non-concise style) about how nervous I was about Thursday’s evaluation at the government sponsored center. Instead, I will just touch on a few points. (But I don’t promise to be succinct!)

The night before, we had a great time with friends. Unfortunately, the Cat had peed in our bed as he napped that afternoon. It was too late to wash and dry everything before bedtime. So, we slept on fresh sheets and used the comforter from the guest room. I tossed and turned. I was nervous about the evaluation, but the musty smell and crinkly nature of the unfamiliar comforter made me uncomfortable. It felt like I was sleeping in someone else’s bed. I couldn’t help thinking about how I should be glad to be sleeping in a nice bed, and how for so many hurricane displaced folks, they were sleeping in all kinds of difficult accommodations. Once I started thinking about that, I couldn’t stop. I ruminated on how lucky I was, and yet how I was worried about a silly evaluation of my son. (I also realized I have to air out the comforter if we have guests come! It is a brand new comforter that clearly needs some breaking-in.)

The evaluation went spectacularly. I was so surprised. I was expecting a fight. I went in with a really pessimistic expectation of the psychologist and her assumptions about my child. I stand corrected. Many of the tests were very similar or identical to those the Cat had done during the evaluation from hell several months prior. This time, the Cat was fairly calm. This time, the psychologist didn’t yell inappropriate diagnoses while the Cat was performing. Instead, she made some astute observations of the Cat’s strengths and weaknesses. Her impressions made sense. I no longer fear the in-class evaluation next Wednesday. I was impressed with her and expect that her presence in his preschool class will not be obtrusive. She made me hopeful that she can point us in a direction that can get the Cat the help he needs.

The one negative part of the experience was the trip to the restroom. The bathroom had fully automated toilets and faucets. The Cat is nervous about flushing, so was afraid the toilet would flush while he was doing his business. I believe this is a fairly normal, typical concern for a 4 year old. This bathroom is near the government-sponsored-center, but part of a public complex that involves other businesses, a pretty fountain, restaurants, etc., so there are a variety of people using the restroom. When the Cat nervously asked me to help him so that the toilet wouldn’t flush, his voice quivered and he was whining a bit. I was at the sink, and a woman pointed towards his stall, saying, “Oh, is he a…” she looked at my bright green “visitor” badge from the center, and finished, “Yes, of course, a (Government Sponsored Center) Client!” nodded, clicked, and left the bathroom smugly. I know I am being overly sensitive on this, but I know I would never go up to someone in a public restroom and assume/ask if their child had “special needs.” Why would I want to answer her question? Does it reassure her that there is a “reason” for the Cat’s fear of flushing? I don’t think his fear has anything to do with ASD except for perhaps sensitivity to loud noises. I know plenty of little kids for whom automatically flushing toilets may be frightening. So really, her analysis of the situation may have been erroneous. What good does it do her to know whether my child is a client of that center or not? It wasn’t just polite conversation.

But all in all, I was relieved by our evaluation experience at this center. Perhaps there is a light at the end of the tunnel, or at least a light in the middle of the journey.

Posted by karianna at September 11, 2005 07:44 PM

Comments

Posted by: Julie at September 12, 2005 07:43 PM