Just braggin

[Kathy Ann]

here's a cottage business for you - my son and his friends who live in a 4-bed group home for autistic men. They build birdhouses for a living.

RECYCLED REFLECTIONS (http://www.recycledbirdhouse.com)

http://www.recycledbirdhouse.com/images/bts/Web%20IMG_0090

[Casual Cottage]

Kathy Ann,
Those are great birdhouses! Just think of all those little birds raising their young in such unique houses. What a great way to give these men purpose and pride in a job well done.

[Kathy Ann]

Aren't they beautiful? 2 years ago when John was 18 I discovered that the school where he had been living for 7 years had changed their policy and were no longer trying to teach one group of students anything. They could get more money from the state if they declared all the autistic ones retarded. They took away their pre-voc and all their schoolwork and were just giving them daycare - and did not tell the parents! For 2 years I went to quarterly meetings and was led to believe all the components were in place, yet for some reason he was having anxiety attacks and tantrums and couldn't tell me why. He even landed in the psych ward twice. When I finally figured out what was going on I initiated legal action and began looking for a new program.
Just by chance, this housedad living 10 miles from the school, had graduated a guy out to his own apartment and was interested in taking in one more man. This was to be the last opening ever in this house, and if anybody graduates or moves out, the housedad will just retire with whoever's left in the house. We jumped at it and John got right to work on his first day.
The legal process against the school didn't go anywhere beyond getting one psychiatrist to resign, but I posted our experience on a web page for any parents doing research on that school, and I have delighted in showing John's work off to the people who declared him retarded and scuttled his education.
http://www.recycledbirdhouse.com/images/bh/1/111C.jpg

[zuzus_garden]

Kathy Ann,

When I read your post about what all you've gone through to improve the quality of your son's life, I cheered for you.

My daughter is 21 now, but we have a similar story. The public school programs just didn't cut it, and we finally found a private school that helped her to feel accepted, self-empowered, and worked with her to get a decent education.

The bird houses are beautiful. And the smile on the young man's face in the foreground (your son's?) says it all.

[Kathy Ann]

Yep, that's him!

[zuzus_garden]

Kathy Ann,

I'll add RECYCLED REFLECTIONS to my links page and update tonight. :)

Zu

[Casual Cottage]

ZuZu, that's a great idea!! I'll do the same.

[Kathy Ann]

Aw, thanks!