Bonnie Sayers

Los Angeles, CA

Single parent to two boys on opposite ends of the autism spectrum. I am a home health care worker for 12 yr old non verbal son. I homeschool my HFA almost 14 yr old for his Middle School Years.

I am the Secretary in the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) with LAUSD - Los Angeles Unified School District.

http://autismspectrumdisorders.bellaonline.com

Bonnie commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Special Olympics in Greece 2011

I have always wanted Matt to participate in Special Olympics. His early intervention program school had a competition against another school and Matt won a running contest. He would be good at track and field - reason why since age of 2 I have referred to him as the next Carl Lewis and Nick as the next Jack Hanna - 11 yrs later they can still be described same way.

the time committment and driving time plus by the time he gets home off the bus have been reasons I have yet to pursue further.
Bonnie commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Violence and Bullying: What happened to Sean Carter

One of the reasons why Nick is being homeschooled during middle school years since he was in general ed in elem school. Our home school for Middleschool has only a handful of white kids and I was told to get my son a haircut like the Latino kids and that it would be best for him to be on the same track as the Armenian kids.

It is safer for him to be home. I do hope he gets into the Zoo Magnet which is on its own campus across from the Zoo and has 300 students, but it is rigorous and college prep.
Bonnie commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Back on the Road to Find a School

so does this mean that Charlie cannot attend 7th grade at the same school no matter what? Matthew is lower functioning that Charlie and he is in public school.

Will they be doing the assessments in Sep that havenot been done in three yrs?
Bonnie commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

"We have to learn to live together"

Matt likes to move furniture and if he does not like the way I change things he puts it back. HIs latest thing is changing his socks like three times a day insisting on putting them on and sometimes they are on backwards or insideout. He also picks at them creating holes and wanting little strings cut. I read that article good that the info is getting out there.
Bonnie commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

On Miscommunication

same there here within LAUSD - aide cannot fill out the comm form, part of behavior support plan and IEP.
Bonnie commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

On Miscommunication

our teacher for Middle school that started with 6th grade this past yr fills out the same form that I provided for the Elementary school.

He specifies what happens daily in Horticulture (elective) and Adaptive PE - usually how many laps matt ran and if he ran around or did gardening.

teacher gave run down for some or most of the classes -

English - worked on name, following directions

Math - practiced identifying #s, using the calendar

played dominoes

Vocational - watered plants in garden

rested in APE

watched a movie in Horticulture

this was the last week of school

earlier in the yr:

Dec day before vacation break

Eng - comunication board

listened to sing along songs

History - made a pilgrim puppet

Math - practiced telling time, counting, sequencing #s

played UNO

watched a movie in horticulture
Bonnie commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Autoimmune Disorders in Mothers: More to worry about?

I clicked on too fast - meant to also add that I converse with many parents that also have eczema and/or asthma too. There seems to be some correlation there with having kids with autism.
Bonnie commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Autoimmune Disorders in Mothers: More to worry about?

Matthew used to drink Ensure, two of them a day but in a bottle, this was before Risperdal and it helped to stop the PICA.

I weighed 3 lbs in 1960, my Mom had toxemia and was given last rites in Hospital & I had an emergency Baptism - it states this on my document. I was in incubator for 6 weeks.

Matt weighed 9 lbs 15 oz and Nick was 7 lbs.

What is reason for Charlie taking the anti epilepsy drug, what is it called? Wonder if that would be advised for Matt?

Over the yrs Drs get confused with my eczema and rosacea and have wondered if I have Lupus - never did any testing though.
Bonnie commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

The Hawai'ian

NIce pic. So the velcro on his wrist keeps him attached to the boogie board? Never seen one before so trying to visualize.

I started writing in Jan of 2000 on www.epinions.com and talking of the kids and autism and on BellaOnline in June of 2005, same as you. I did not realize that before.

We did day trips to Long Branch, and vacations in Cape May and Wildwood and other trips to Seaside Heights, spent other times at the New Providence Pool.

My kids childhood is so different by going to camp, except this year and will learn from this disaster and plan for something else in spring for next yr.'

Being only one adult and two kids with autism it is near impossible for me to teach them to ride bikes or go swimming, and I feel bad that they dont get that experience and I wonder if Matt would like that. Only so much one parent can do, plus being in the sun with my skin issues would not be a pretty sight and uncomfortable for me.
Bonnie commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Where Should the $$$ Go To?

Those on SSI have already had two cuts to their checks this year. My kids gained money in Jan, it was taken away a few months later and then on July 1st another cut and they will not give increase next Jan either, so we are getting hit as well as those Reg Ctr workers.