This week marked Coco’s first week back in our school district.  After four years of exclusion, Coco started summer school back in our town on Tuesday.  She had a wonderful three days.  Then today, a district administrator and the district assistive technology expert  came in to make sure no one on Coco’s team was allowing Coco to spell.  They made it clear that Coco was only to be allowed access to PODD – a picture based system of communications that Coco has never been properly trained in or enjoyed any success with.  In Coco’s words:  THESE PEOPLE CAME IN AND TALKED ABOUT ME LIKE I WASNT IN THE ROOM.  She spend three days getting to know her wonderful  aide, experiencing success answering word problems with her teacher, and generally easing back into public school.  All that ended today.  It will take a great deal of pep-talking and encouraging to get her back there on Monday.  I’m not sure if it’s even the wise choice, but here’s what Coco has to say to her teacher and aide tonight…

YOU ASKED ME TO CALL YOU TEACHER

I DID

YOU ASKED ME TO TRY

I DID

TO GIVE SOMETHING NEW A SHOT

I DID

DO YOU STILL BELIEVE

I DO

DO YOU STILL KEEP HOPING FOR ME

I DO

CAN YOU TRY TO STICK IT OUT WITH ME

I WILL

I HAVE MY WAR PAINT ON