My last two days at school (Crazy!)

Well monday I subbed at school and followed one girl around the whole day. She is a twin. It was her 16th birthday on Monday. She and her twin are autistic. Her sister had to go to the physc ward the night before. The gal I was watching I did feel sorry for, she was upkept, her body hygiene got worse as the day went on. If you have ever walked the hallways of a JR high or high school you will know that deoderant or lack there of is an issue! She picked her hand until it bled and she pulled out her eye brow and eyelashes throughout the day. She was a relatively calm gal and appologized profusely for everything she did. I was warned that typing class would set her off. I was prepared. We had to take the school elevator (which I didn't realize we had one) to get her to the 2nd level where the class was. That went fine and in typing class she did great. However because she wasn't as fast as the others she became upset, and began to hyperventilate and panic. I calmed her down and we walked back to the small elevator that only fit the two of us in it. I had to insert a key and unlock the door first. She turned to me and out of the blue said "I feel like hitting someone, someone who is closest to me" I was thinking, you've got to be kidding. I was there alone with her, was I about to get decked? The last thing I was going to do was get on an elevator with her after she said that. I diffused the situation and we made it through the day. Whew! Never a dull moment.

Today, I worked with a 15 year old boy who does not speak. He just says "HEY!" all day long. Try that one on for size. I had to help him hold a pencil and try to trace his name, BRAD. He could spell it all except for the A. He can never put and A in there. In this room were high school kids with so many different needs. The one that stood out to me was a girl that I have no idea what her diagnoses really is, all I know is that she is like a parrot. She asked my name over and over and over again. She repeats the same phrases over and over. One things she said is "Can I pull your hair?" Over and over, she said that to anyone and everyone. Then she says "Move on". That is a comment that the teaches have apparently said to her to get her off the words she is stuck on. She has to sit in a dark room and have time outs. The sign on the door says "I can not talk right now" and then when she behaves the signs says " I can talk now". I am serious, this is totally like what a physc ward must be like. I just had to get out of there. I have alot to be thankful for! If you have your health and your mind you have everything!! Just remember that!