I am wondering if anyone knows an advocate to answer some questions about a student who has not been provided with the education he deserves and if there is anything the parents can do to recover some of the tuitions costs they are now being hit with

Alex started coming home with the dolls a few months ago. One every Saturday, it seemed, when he got off the bus from his rec program. He’d round the yellow hood cutching one in his hand. One week it was the grandfather doll, another week the grandmother, another the teacher and another the student. One week he scampered to the front door of our building holding what appeared to be the doll of a middle-age teacher wearing leg braces.

The grandfather (Alex calls him “grandpa”) is wearing a tourquoise sweater, the grandmother (“grandma”) a maroon pullover and big tan shoes. The teacher is holding a cell phone. The guy with the dark hair and the green shirt and brown striped tie started his life with Alex as “Daddy,” but now he’s “Uncle Rob.” “Aunt Julie” is wearing a dark blue jacket and has intensely grey hair. (We haven’t told the real Aunt Julie about this yet.)

What Could Have Been Said

Here’s how I wish it had gone in the line at the grocery store that quiet Sunday morning:

My granddaughter and I just moved to Austin, I'm looking for some support and some play groups. I don't drive so it can't be late in the day. My little one has a hard time making friends and the transition has been extremely hard on her. I'm hoping that once school starts it will make a little difference in her life but from past experience traditional schooling well dose not seem to help her any. She's very bright, but falls behind due to the behaviors. I don't know anyone here and our first appointment at the Mental Health Clinic is next week. I hope that it will be rewarding. Its been a hard road and I'm happy to see that there is a place that I can come to and just write and there will be someone to understand.

Dawning sexuality in the autistic sometimes takes the form of self-aggressive behavior, such as arm biting and slapping of one’s own face. I did not know that, but I learn it at this seminar, where another dad of an 11-year-old has just said his son does that.

“Can I expect an intensification of that kind of aggressive behavior?” the dad asks.