Welcome to my website!
I hope to be able to share, gather, and collect information that will be informative and helpful in improving the QUALITY of life for yourselves and those you love who are part of the world of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
About the Author
My teaching name has been "Miss Kathi" for thirty some years; it is only fitting that this blog includes that as my name as well--although I am 'married with children' for nearly the same amount of time as I have been teaching.
I am both wife and mother; with a wonderful husband and three children, now ages 25, 22, and 14. They have all been a very large part of my success as an educator, whether through direct help, tolerance of endless projects, or indirectly by helping out with thousands of pieces of 'homework' over the years. My life would truly not be the same without them by my side.
Teaching is a dream fulfilled, and a passion in progress still. It was a 4th grade teacher that first gave me the idea of being a teacher; a newspaper article about a child in an institution that pointed me in the special education direction, and my first year of teaching that introduced me to the world of 'autism'--although the spectrum did not even have a 'name label' in 1979! It so happens there was this beautiful 4 year old little girl in my class....but that is another story...perhaps I can get her mother to share it on the blog at some point. That 'beautiful child' is now age 37.
My career as a teacher has some unique features; the first one being that, for twenty years I taught in a rural area of Michigan, and was privileged to have the SAME students from preschool through young adult age (26). It is DEFINITELY the reason I came to know the "lifespan" and "family" perspectives that is an integral part of what I know about autism, and what I do in the classroom, both with students and for the families.
The second unique feature is a love of reading and learning. As a fan of children's literature, Dr. Seuss is a favorite author--especially his book I Can Read With My Eyes Shut. My favorite page carries these two lines: "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you'll go." So... I have read countless books, articles, texts, reports, and internet resources about autism over the years; in addition to attendance at many conferences, in-service opportunities, and even serving on the ASM Board for nearly ten years. That 'accumulation of knowledge' has actually brought me squarely to this spot--a blog site for "sharing autism ideas".
A final unique feature is a personal need to give credit and pass on something of the past history of autism spectrum disorder, to explore and examine the present state of the art in the field of autism, and, by doing so, to give families hope for the future of their childrens' lives. For this piece, I credit those persons with autism who have been a part of my life--whether 'famous name' authors of what it is like, students I have had over time, or ASD individuals at conferences--they have all contributed to teaching me the finer skills of how to communicate, appreciate, and recognize fully that we learn the most through mutual respect for each other.
I hope if you are visiting this blog, you will find something to comment on, something of help or of curiosity. Whatever the case, I am happy to be 'sharing autism ideas' in a 21st century format.
"Miss Kathi"
I am both wife and mother; with a wonderful husband and three children, now ages 25, 22, and 14. They have all been a very large part of my success as an educator, whether through direct help, tolerance of endless projects, or indirectly by helping out with thousands of pieces of 'homework' over the years. My life would truly not be the same without them by my side.
Teaching is a dream fulfilled, and a passion in progress still. It was a 4th grade teacher that first gave me the idea of being a teacher; a newspaper article about a child in an institution that pointed me in the special education direction, and my first year of teaching that introduced me to the world of 'autism'--although the spectrum did not even have a 'name label' in 1979! It so happens there was this beautiful 4 year old little girl in my class....but that is another story...perhaps I can get her mother to share it on the blog at some point. That 'beautiful child' is now age 37.
My career as a teacher has some unique features; the first one being that, for twenty years I taught in a rural area of Michigan, and was privileged to have the SAME students from preschool through young adult age (26). It is DEFINITELY the reason I came to know the "lifespan" and "family" perspectives that is an integral part of what I know about autism, and what I do in the classroom, both with students and for the families.
The second unique feature is a love of reading and learning. As a fan of children's literature, Dr. Seuss is a favorite author--especially his book I Can Read With My Eyes Shut. My favorite page carries these two lines: "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you'll go." So... I have read countless books, articles, texts, reports, and internet resources about autism over the years; in addition to attendance at many conferences, in-service opportunities, and even serving on the ASM Board for nearly ten years. That 'accumulation of knowledge' has actually brought me squarely to this spot--a blog site for "sharing autism ideas".
A final unique feature is a personal need to give credit and pass on something of the past history of autism spectrum disorder, to explore and examine the present state of the art in the field of autism, and, by doing so, to give families hope for the future of their childrens' lives. For this piece, I credit those persons with autism who have been a part of my life--whether 'famous name' authors of what it is like, students I have had over time, or ASD individuals at conferences--they have all contributed to teaching me the finer skills of how to communicate, appreciate, and recognize fully that we learn the most through mutual respect for each other.
I hope if you are visiting this blog, you will find something to comment on, something of help or of curiosity. Whatever the case, I am happy to be 'sharing autism ideas' in a 21st century format.
"Miss Kathi"
Oh! The Places You'll Go!
Dr. Seuss (also known as Theodore Geisel) had it right--"...there is no end to learning, just things out of sight!"
For me, a long-time dedicated 'Seussian', the ability to now do such an item as this website is beyond words!
The fact that I am able to share insights, information, and even pictures or YouTube links via this method is a wonderful time saver--and I hope you will enjoy 'visiting' as much as I will enjoy adding and expanding the possibilities!
For those of you with computer aptitude, no explanation is needed.
For those of you new to such a 'space', please call me and I can help you through it--or come to class for a visit and we will look at it together.
A few words of introduction:
Now begins my third decade of teaching...and I dedicate my successful experience to the many families with whom I have come in contact over the years that have taught me more about life and living than I could have known otherwise. They also gave me the opportunity to understand 'family' long before I had my own husband or children!
Which brings me next item: the 'thank you' to my own parents--who were TOTALLY courageous to have seven children in 13 years time! Being of Irish & German heritage, there was never a shortage of wit and determination...or noise and activity!
Next, a TREMENDOUSLY LARGE thank you to my husband and our three children, two of whom are in their early twenties, and one still a teenager! Without their tolerance and patience for my 'teaching time tasks' over the years, I KNOW I would not have been able to accomplish what I manage to do...and each of them have some classic memories of: 'remember when Mom did this...!.'
Finally, those awesome and engaging youngsters-to-young people-to adults who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with whom I have worked over the years....what a collection of unique abilities and personalities! I have covered the age span from 2 1/2 years old, right up through age 45 (at this point), and it is a perspective that is rarely possible in a teaching career. Someday, I plan to write a book about that unusual circumstance. In the meantime, I will continue to teach and learn on a daily basis since "each day is a new beginning", and that myriad of daily pieces is gradually becoming a mural!
Enjoy this new piece for the 21st century--a website!
Now begins my third decade of teaching...and I dedicate my successful experience to the many families with whom I have come in contact over the years that have taught me more about life and living than I could have known otherwise. They also gave me the opportunity to understand 'family' long before I had my own husband or children!
Which brings me next item: the 'thank you' to my own parents--who were TOTALLY courageous to have seven children in 13 years time! Being of Irish & German heritage, there was never a shortage of wit and determination...or noise and activity!
Next, a TREMENDOUSLY LARGE thank you to my husband and our three children, two of whom are in their early twenties, and one still a teenager! Without their tolerance and patience for my 'teaching time tasks' over the years, I KNOW I would not have been able to accomplish what I manage to do...and each of them have some classic memories of: 'remember when Mom did this...!.'
Finally, those awesome and engaging youngsters-to-young people-to adults who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with whom I have worked over the years....what a collection of unique abilities and personalities! I have covered the age span from 2 1/2 years old, right up through age 45 (at this point), and it is a perspective that is rarely possible in a teaching career. Someday, I plan to write a book about that unusual circumstance. In the meantime, I will continue to teach and learn on a daily basis since "each day is a new beginning", and that myriad of daily pieces is gradually becoming a mural!
Enjoy this new piece for the 21st century--a website!