Many people have asked for an update on Paul and I would have done this sooner, but our schedule has been crazy. We have visited Paul at Lakemary Center in Paola, Kansas, a total of three times since February. I will share some pros and cons of our experience, some highlights from both of our two most recent trips, an update on his court case, and an overview of the whole process of getting Paul needed services. Pros: Paul’s behavior and skill at coping with sensory triggers is improving. More often than before, he is enduring fire alarms, tornado drills, and unwanted directions from authority. We reckon Paul has another nine months to one year, but we are all just guessing. We think we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. We do not want him to leave, too soon, the placement, only to need, once again, residential therapy, once he returns home. The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) has agreed to increase our travel budget, which enables us to visit him once per quarter (every three months) for a bit longer, while spending less of our own money. Susan and I have bought a travel trailer which we are able to pull behind our car and enables us to travel with our dogs (avoiding kennel fees $70/day) and at lower weekly rates in certain rv parks. Our civil rights lawsuit against MPUSD is moving forward. I hesitate to share any details, I hope you can understand I do not want to cloud or compromise this case. Paul has lost over 66 pounds. Cons: Paul still has some adverse reactions to emergency events and unwanted directions. We originally hoped for only a year; Paul is very homesick. MPUSD still refuses to pay for more than four days of travel. Paul was able to be a “day student” for one week while we visited and he enjoyed that. The travel trailer is a huge expense and may be more than we can afford. We can only hope that our lawsuit helps recover some of the costs associated with the discrimination Paul was given by this school district. Trip Highlights: Our second visit was in late May-early June. Susan and I chose to drive to Kansas and a road trip of this length was a first for both of us. Paul was happy to see us and we treated him to a trip to the Kansas City amusement park, Worlds of Fun. Paul was very sad when we had to leave and struggled with our departure. In tears, Susan and I left. I die every time I have to leave him. Our third visit, we drove out again while picking up our new travel trailer in Des Moines. Paul got to camp in Branson, Missouri and go the amusement park, Silver Dollar City. Paul was well-behaved and truly enjoyed himself. He had lost enough weight that he could go on the ride called Wildfire, but, to his disappointment, not enough weight for Outlaw Run. As I already mentioned, Paul had the treat of being a “day” student for one week and he seemed to enjoy it. Once again, it was torture leaving him, but Paul settled back more quickly than during our previous departure. Our next visit will be during Christmas time. Paul wants to return to Silver Dollar City to see it at Holiday time. Criminal Justice Court Case: So far this case has become quiet. Our defense attorney suggests that we seek expungement (clearing) of his record in a few years. I am still outraged that someone can be prosecuted, let alone convicted, for behavior directly caused by their disability. I hope people will continue to become aware and advocate for change in the criminal justice system. Overview: I believe there were people in the school district that are/were hoping to criminalize behavior of students on the autism spectrum. Why not? It’s expensive to deal with it as a disability and provide needed services, while it costs nothing to turn it over to the police. https://www.facebook.com/PAGOs.Dad/media_set?set=a.1281012665282307.1073741843.100001207571567&type=3 Autism is Not A Crime (ANAC) Update: To Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and All Political Candidates, Here is A Manifesto for ANAC (Autism is Not A Crime). Please read and comment on the document included in the link below. It is a working draft of a manifesto for change in how the criminal justice system deals with people with developmental disabilities. https://docs.google.com/document/d/14yLnOsNBdyhh24hG3ScowHwx1gn2JOFb_ep4m9uNXfQ/edit?usp=sharing