IEP's a sure sign of spring

If you read any other autism blogs, it seems obvious that spring begets flowers, showers, and IEP's. Today was Bens. These teachers are crafty!!! They start off raving about how cute and sweet your child is, and BAM... you're sucked in. Just kidding. They all did say it, but of course I know it's true, so I could not blame them. Ben is doing well. He's opening up more and more each day. They see it at school, and we see it at home. Ben is a very with it kid. You hear of many autistic children who appear to be in their own world. Ben if very much in the here and now. Even when it appears he's paying you no mind, don't kid yourself. Whisper Chucky Cheese, and you'll know! The goals for next year are pretty high. They're looking for him to be able to have age appropriate converstaion.....hmmm..... well, I guess that's our goal, so let's have at it. He'll be writing his first and last name (capital's). I will supply dunkin donuts for a year if this goal is reached. I'll be so proud, I'll pop. Asking the "w" questions. I know they're the hardest, so I asked which one they were starting with. What. Can I get a vowel? I then asked "Can you give me an example of a what question" duh... All in all it was a positive meeting. On another note..... We get to the school, and we're sitting on a bench outside of the principal's office. Down the hall comes a woman (aide) with a child who is on the spectrum. (Gaydar has nothing on us parents) The child looks happy (around 7) next thing, he tries to jerk away (much like Ben will do when he gets something in his mind) from "this woman" She jerks his arm, and starts saying in a nasty voice "you're not getting water. What? you want a reward for trying to get away!?" "you'll need to earn your reward" And at that point he's crying. Are you %&*#$ kidding me? After our meeting, I ask to speak to the psycologist in the hall. I told her what had happened, and if this had been my child, she probably wouldn't realize how unhappy I would have been. That Ben would have jerked if he had wanted something... hello!!! Autism.... not great at communicating their needs.... It was a situation that sits on a border. Was there abuse.... I can't pin it.... She jerked his arm, but not enough to hurt him physically. She spoke in what I would consider a intimidating voice, but didn't threaten him.....but there also wasn't that environment of caring, making a child feel loved....I hate people. I work in a retirement community, and an assited living facility very close by just had a horrible case of abuse yesterday. People need to stand up and say something when something looks wrong. There are 4 people who are going to be arrested for abusing a 78 yr old woman with alzheimers. Did no one see what was going on? People! Speak up! That could be your child or grandmother.