While chatting with Tami yesterday she expressed a serious fascination with the TankChair. I thought of another wheelchair worth mentioning: the iBot, a gyroscopically balanced chair invented by inventor Dean Kamen, who then used the same technology to develop the Segway.
And really, Jon doesn’t need one. He pushes himself around at school, and elsewhere when he has strong opinions on things. Like when we’re shopping at MEC and he just wants to ride the elevator.
(This is the creative writing piece Jon did when Tami visited. He had just been playing his Toy Story computer game, which features a tic-tac-toe-type game where you have to get five characters (either toy soldiers or weebles; in Jon parlance, “guys”) in a row. In case you’re wondering, “grafe” means giraffe. —L)
I love going to play Tick Tac Tow. I am about to play with the snake and the grafe. Jake the snake has to get 5 gise in a row. Kaff the grafe has to get 5 difrint gise in a row. Kaff the grafe has to win Tick Tack Tow. Kaff feels happy when he wins. He says yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Jon
Jon’s teacher Tami has been out of class since before March Break with a severely hurt ankle and nerve damage. Poor Tami.
Jon has been keeping in touch with her a little by email and by phone:
Jon’s first initiated and dialed (with coaching) full-length phone call
But we have been seeing a slowdown in his learnin’. This can’t be helped: although the EA’s are doing a fabulous job of keeping the routine going, the qualities that make a star teacher great are, by definition, gone when she isn’t there.
So it came to pass that she was, well, if not in the neighbourhood; close to being in the neighbourhood on Sunday afternoon and dropped by. Jon was delighted; gobsmacked, but delighted. Tami visited for a while, then jumped in and had Jon read for her, show her his computer and do some creative writing. Three hours went by quickly. It was also educational for Tami to see how physical Jon is here: climbing the stairs, crawling, stepping with me holding his hands, standing at his computer (pushing with his belly when he wants to clap or wave his hands), sitting cross-legged. He portrays himself a little more porcelain-like at school.
Jon was in a sort of stunned delight for the rest of the evening; it was so social and motivating.
What a great opportunity seized!
Something happens in the spring. I like going to get up in the spring. I am about to get warm in the Spring. I love to see water, trees in bud, flowers and leaves. Butterflies and birds are flying all the way to my house. Do you like to see water,trees and birds? I love to! Do you like to see something in the spring? I like to!
Jon
(On Thursday night Jon’s school presented a spring concert “We are the World”, featuring songs from different countries around the world. Jon’s class joined three other classes in a rousing rendition of Australia’s “Waltzing Matilda”. Very sweet! —L)
I like going to see the spring contseret. everybuddy was at the gym. then everybuddy was singing a song called Walltzing Matilda. I like to see the rest of the spring contseret. everybuddy finshed the song Walltzing Matilda. I am about to sing the song Walltzing Matilda.
Jon
Click on picture for enlargement.
Note the jolly swagman sitting near the coolibah tree (blue billibong in foreground) about to get accosted by the squatter on his thoroughbred and three troopers in straw hats at far right. Not visible in photo: Jumbuck in tuckerbag. Yes, we know all the words by now!
(Jon picked a picture of a horse for creative writing today. —L)
Horses go naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. People are going on a horse ride. I see a horse. Cow is the horses name. Horses galup. Do you like to galup like a horse? I Like to! I am about to go on a ride with the horse.
Jonathan
The staff at Jon’s school put on the play The Wizard of Oz. I’m fairly certain that Mrs. Bynoe played the Wicked Witch of the West, but got good reviews doing it.
I like to see the song Some where over the Rain Bow then Mrs. Bynoe was the good witch. The scare crow was singing If I Had a Brane in the play. I was in my favorite spot I was in the spot in the gym then I watched the play.
Jon