The end of October brought Maria's IEP meeting. The meeting went well overall with the exception of one teacher who means well, but doesn't quite understand how Maria and most other kids learn. Her method is the kids read or watch a video and take notes.....for someone who is an English Language Learner this isn't usually the best approach. We are still working through the issue and it seems like it is starting to get better. Everything else with school has been great. Maria is getting all A's with really little to no help at all in her classes. According to the PE teacher (who comes and stays through the whole meeting, this is unheard of) she works harder in PE than most students. Even the basketball coach and Athletic Director were at her meeting.
Maria did basketball again this year. It was a much different experience than last year. Maria actually participated in practices with her peers. She had no associate assigned to her or was placed out in a hallway to work on skills by herself. She was given a game day jersey to wear and even warmed up with the team on game days. She was included in the team photo....not stuck off to the side, but actually front and center holding the ball with her teammates and friends around her. Her coaches actually allowed her to take part in a scrimmage in her wheelchair too. I cannot tell you the number of times during the season that Maria asked me why things were so different this year, why her old school wouldn't do these same things for her. Those were hard questions, but also reaffirmed that Maria is in a school district that is going to give her more opportunities.
At the end of October Maria and her friend Suz also decided (with some pushing from their parents) to race in their first 5k. Both girls had fun, it was a good learning experience. Maria learned that she needs to work on her endurance and stamina. So we have been trying to get her to do that when she is working out in PE and at the local YMCA. The girls are talking about a half marathon in June.....we will see if they are ready for that one.
November brought Maria's birthday. She is officially 15! Hard to believe she is so grown up already! We have been talking about her trying to get her drivers permit. She is nervous about driving and getting into an accident, but we have agreed that she needs to take drivers ed prior to finishing high school. She has been taking practice tests on her kindle and learning rules while I drive and talk her through what I'm doing. When I think about how little experience she has had in cars compared to her peers, it does make sense why she is uncertain about the thought of driving.
Last Saturday brought Maria's first archery competition. Yes, she is really getting involved this year! She wasn't able to attend many practices due to my work schedule, but has worked hard when she could to improve. The first competition she didn't do great at.....she wasn't the worse, she will improve I have no doubt. She got done shooting and we waited for the results. As we were waiting we saw a boy who also has a physical disability waiting around for his turn to shoot. I suggested that Maria go talk to him. She did and had a wonderful time connecting with someone else who understands. She was thrilled she wasn't the only one who had a physical disability at the competition! Hopefully we will see him and his family again.
Middle school dances.....the dread of every parent. Maria has gone to two this year. She has had a blast to be honest. It has been nice just dropping her off and letting her be a normal kid. We do use glow sticks on her wheelchair for fun on dance nights (plus it helps other drivers picking up their kids to see her).
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