ASD - The College Years

As you can see by the amount of posts on Autism Spectrum Disorder and the fact I have been posting about it since 2005 it continues to play an important part in my life.

Many of the children I worked with years ago are now graduated from high school and many are attending college.

I have always felt the best resource for Special Needs Education for students and parents is:


Wrightslaw provides valuable information and knowledge on continuing higher education at

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/college.index.htm#choose.

http://www.aspires-relationships.com/articles_asds_choosing_the_right_college_courses.htm

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network has a free download "Navigating College Handbook"

http://navigatingcollege.org/download.php

Here is a good article on choosing the right college and some potential choices:

https://www.bestvalueschools.com/rankings/students-with-autism/

Another good resource:

https://www.collegeautismspectrum.com/

Want Some Books:

https://www.amazon.com/Parents-College-Students-Autism-Spectrum/dp/1934575895

Scholarships are always wanted:

https://researchautism.org/how-we-help/scholarships/

Michigan’s education system for counselors needs a Transformation - Updated 11/8/17

Updated 11/8/17 - New focus on college and career planning.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday signed legislation - House Bill 4181 - that targets the 150 hours of professional development counselors must undertake in order to renew their license.
At least 25 of those hours must cover instruction on improving the college preparation and selection process, and another 25 hours must be on career counseling.

This is good but as I have said before the focus must for college and career planning must be systemic and start in 8th grade and run through 12th grade with as many meetings as possible - See Campbell Dream Mentor Program (http://qualityg.blogspot.com/2009/02/mentor-program-for-high-school.html. In Addition, without including parents in the planning and meetings it will still miss the mark because parents make the final decision and often it is based on finances available (That is why students and parents must be educated on the college process starting in 8th grade).


9/21/16 

The Michigan legislature has a House Bill that 4552 that will provide much needed training in the area of college and career planning for school counselors.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(m4hqvimovbxy0oflyosx1rfb))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=2015-HB-4552

While the idea for this is valid and much needed it still misses the systemic problem that continues to plague our education system. "Changing or Reforming" current practices with additional training and dollars will not solve systemic problems.

I have been working in the area of college and career planning within and outside of schools for the past 14 years. Changes that result in improvement must come from outside the system. I am from outside the counseling system.

"In order for each student to be successful there must be an understanding and balance between the partners."

Click on Pic to Enlarge

I have been using the "Quality Educational Partnership Triangle" since 2004. It comes in handy when I talk to teachers and most importantly when I talk to parents about education and what is needed to help their child succeed in school and get ready for college and career planning. All groups must be working together for the student to be successful. If one corner of the triangle fails, the percentage of the student to be successful falls at an alarming rate based on my years of meeting with thousands of students and parents.

It is a very simple concept that relies on each corner (Administrators, Parents, and Teachers) of the triangle to be working together interdependently. The main three groups of the triangle are revolving around the student rather than teachers, parents or administrators.

The key ingredient is to work with the decision makers and the person(s) who will be paying for college. In most cases it is the parent/guardian of the student. This must start in 9th grade and become a bond until the student graduates.

The "Transformation" must take place with each schools Counselor Office. No longer can excuses like not enough time, resources or money be used not to be doing college and career readiness planning starting in eight/ninth grade. I have done it and what's need most is planning with measures and the mindset to meet with parents and students before, during and after school on their time frame - not the schools. School leadership must work with counselors to prioritize their work functions. Many school administrators have no idea by what methods or process their staff does day in and day out. The following article provides some insight:

http://www.lifezette.com/momzette/guidance-counselor-you-barely-know/

Counselors can no longer work the standard way within the confides of a normal school day. Each process and work activity must be analyzed for process improvements and priority of what matters most to the student and parent.

Parents and students are the customers, and they must be treated as such. This means opening your school (business) to when it makes most sense to meet with them. I meet with parents on their time which includes nights and weekends. The meetings can happen as many times as necessary and most often followed up with phone calls and emails (All answered with 12-24 hours). The meeting(s) can last up to four hours with training that goes through the college process and website training that includes all the information at their fingertips. The key is providing the parents with the skills and knowledge to help their student. THEY DON"T KNOW HOW! And many counselors do not know how to help them.

http://qualityg.blogspot.com/search/label/Dream%20Mentor

I applaud House Bill 4552 but it will not work without the systemic changes required within the school system.

Over the years I have tried to "FREELY" share my findings, website and application of knowledge to many educators, administrators, colleges, state officials and newspaper editors and educational writers. None have been interested.

Enough Already ! C'Mon - Dr. Seuss!! Update 10/11/17 - NFL Protest

Each day now brings me to say Enough Already - C'Mon ...

10/1 /17
Enough Already ! C'Mon - Dr. Seuss!!

I can hardly watch any national cable news station or major networks anymore even when I am trying to learn more about the devastating storms, terror or sports. Every topic/segment is being politicized, radicalized, and just plain poor biased opinionated reporting by all political sides. It's really disgusting, divisive and just wrong.

The only sports shows I like are with Neil Everett and Stan Verrett from Late Night ESPN Sports Center. I also enjoy Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

The anchors on the major cable news networks ( Especially CNN Morning News) use their voices and facial expressions when someone does not agree with their loaded questions and sarcastic tones.

Because so much of this trash reporting is on TV and Internet News people hide behind their keyboards and social media and say things that really show their colors. Perhaps this is good in a sense but people are swayed in to thinking it is true just because someone says it is true or false.

Last week I heard about the librarian who turned the books (Dr. Seuss)  the first lady sent out across the country in to a racially and politically motivated  stance that is just plain wrong.

While reading the Sunday Detroit Free Press this morning columnist Mitch Albom wrote a column that really tells the librarian how she should have handled the situation. I loved the part about the librarian herself participated in a Dr, Seuss birthday activity just a few years ago.

Here is the column -

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/mitch-albom/2017/09/30/librarian-melania-trump-dr-seuss-mitch-albom/719506001/

Heck each year while I worked in education I would read Dr. Seuss books to our kindergartners.

Updated 10/11/17

Enough Already - C'Mon - NFL Players Protest!!

This has totally got out of hand. In my humble opinion this is not a First Amendment Issue. It is a Work Place Issue. In order for the 1st amendment to apply there must be a government party on one side and a private person/group on the other side.The last time I looked the NFL Teams are owned by individuals or corporations. Being owners they establish the rules for their workplace (Has anyone looked at their manuals/policy for players regarding the National Anthem). If the owners don't have the sense (Guts) to establish consistent rules/policies then they are adding to the "Demise of the American Workplace." Poor leadership is at the root cause of this problem.


In addition, it is NOT the place of government to dictate what the rules should be for the NFL. This only adds layers of confusion about the First Amendment Rights.

I have worked for a number of private and public companies to know if I protested during my work hours (Especially on company property) for something that was not approved by my boss(es) I would would probably have been fired. If it were after hours or the weekend I might be safe to protest as long as I did not break the law. However, I still must remember I represent my company at all times and I again risk the peril of being fired or reprimanded. It is a personal choice.

St. Jude

Thank You St. Jude!

https://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/novena/jude.htm

President Trump is a counter puncher – Sorry - Nope - No Way! - Updated NFL

Updated - September 24, 2017

C’mon, - this is ridiculous - No counter punching here just a wild Haymaker hoping to land but it did nothing but destroy yourself. 

The “sons of bitches” who knelt for the national anthem should be fired.

Why do you need to be so divisive?” This would have gone its way and was already petering out with just a small amount showing their disapproval.

As President there are “way” too important issues facing our country that you are trying to accomplish. I want Obama Care replaced. I want Tax Reform, I want a stronger immigration policy against those who have committed crimes and I certainly want North Korea to stop shooting missiles.

Instead of trying to unite democrats and republicans you taunt. Instead of letting a diplomatic solution take place with your cabinet people you taunt the ones they need to negotiate with for settlement.

You make everyone’s jobs harder and that is just not good!!!

I always remember a few lines from the movie Braveheart:

Robert the Bruce: Now you've achieved more than anyone ever dreamed, but fighting these odds it looks like rage, not courage.

William: It's well beyond rage. Help me. In the name of Christ help yourselves! Now is our chance, now! If we join, we can win. If we win, well then we'll have what none of us have ever had before; a country of our own. You are the rightful leader and there is strength in you. I see it. Unite us. Unite us. Unite the clans!

You are the rightful President –Unite us as a country – you have a chance to do great things but all you do is throw barriers in your own way.

August 18, 2017,

I have heard this statement time and time again referring to President Trump. Trumpnocounterpuncher

People make this statement (Boxing Reference) because they feel every time President Trump is criticized he fires back with both barrels at the attacker. This is not counter punching this is just stupid. Why? Because it is a reaction that has not been thought out or is based on any experience other than a reflex action responding to a threat. In fact, it leaves you open for a counter-punch.

I have been involved with Boxing for over 55 years and a good counter puncher is one who has a plan and a sense of purpose in trapping their opponent by making him miss and then going on the attack. He is the patient boxer that simply stands there waiting for you to make the first move. For every punch that you throw, he has the perfect answer. He relies on the opponent's own aggression to draw him into a perfectly set trap.

Successful boxers who use this style must have great reflexes, ring intelligence, punch precision and excellent hand speed. Willie Pep, Archie Moore, Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather are all great examples of great counter punchers.

President Trump you are being counter punched by the idiot pundits and news agencies. So what should you do? You beat a counter puncher by out thinking your opponent.  Counter punchers sit back and wait for you to throw the first punch. Their goal is to exploit any openings in your attack. You need to develop a systems thinking persona and consider the whole (How will my response affect others) instead of just the piece (Personal attack).

http://qualityg.blogspot.com/search?q=systems+thinking

It takes time and experience to become a good fighter and I believe the same for being a good political fighter. President Trump is new to this arena and needs to rely on his political aides who have experience until he learns the ropes. 

If he can remain patient and learn -  he will then be a force to reckon with -  but for now he is just a punching bag.