Experiences!!!

Max attended a program this summer called Arizona Youth Leadership Form. 

He loved it and enjoyed making friends and learning about himself. 

They helped him to see his potential and focus not his disabilities,

but to focus on his abilities

. 

Max had a wonderful time. 

Max and his parents.

 

Max and his mom. 

Max's friends and yes they are twins. 

Max dancing and signing the song, Eye of a Tiger.

Here are some questions that they asked him at the conference.  

MECHANICAL
Do you like working with your hands? No
Do you like to use tools? Yes
Do you like to build things? Yes
Do you like to fix things? Yes
Do you like to operate machinery? Yes
ARTISTIC
Do you like to express yourself? Yes
Are you creative? Yes
Do you like to communicate ideas, thoughts and feelings? Yes
Do you like to perform for others? Yes
PLANTS AND ANIMALS
Would you like to work outdoors? Yes
Do you like working with animals? No
Do you like to raise and care for animals? Yes
Do you like working with plants? No
Would you enjoy working in a greenhouse? No
Would you like working on a Farm? Yes
PROTECTIVE
Do you like helping others? Yes
Would you like to enforce the law? Yes
Would you like to protect others? Yes
Do you have a good communication skills? No
Would you like to work to improve your community? Yes
INDUSTRIAL
Do you like to create things? Yes
Do you like to build things? Yes
Do you like to work in production? Yes
Do you like to work "hands on?" No
SELLING
Do you like meeting new people? Yes
Do you have good communication skills? No
Would you work well under pressure? Yes
Do you like to influence others' opinions? Yes
Are you persuasive? Yes
ACCOMMODATING
Are you eager to help others? Yes
Do you enjoy working with food? No
Do you enjoy helping others improve their appearance? No
Would you enjoy working in a restaurant or hotel? Yes
LEADERSHIP
Have you always been a leader? Yes
Do you like to influence others? Yes
Are you persuasive? Yes
Do you like to direct others? No
Do you have good communication skills? No
Do you like to speak in front of an audience? No
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
 I communicate my health concerns to others is: Very Limited
Who I could talk to about health or personal safety concern is: Parents
If I didn't feel safe, the following people could help me: Parents
What I do to manage my stress: Technology
What I do to help manage my stress: Exercising
CAREER EXPLORATION
My interests, hobbies, favorite subjects are...Swimming
My extracurricular activities that lead to a career interest are:
Math, History, Baseball, Swimming, Network Security specialist.
My strengths: Memory, Swimming, Math, Enthusiasm and curiousness.
The accommodations I may benefit from while at work: Break
Career I'm interested in: Network Security Specialist, Banking, finance.
ASSETS AND STRENGTHS
A time when I felt really successful was when I...
 was doing swim and had accomplished work.
I have always been glad that I have the ability to...
swim.
My best friend would describe me as a person who...
nice
One thing that teachers/mentors have always appreciated about me is...
my curiousness to know.
I love learning about... sports
Something many people find hard to do that I find easy to do is...swim
I think I was born to...Pass the test that God the Eternal Father has given me.
What people find more likable about me is...
My enthusiasm and optimism.
What will make a true leader in my life is...
Unwavering Joy
A time I showed a great deal of strength or courage was when...
I climbed Mount Whitney without complaining.
Something I would like to be remembered for is...
My unwavering joy and my great accomplishments.
A time I felt really glad to be me, was when...
I swam for competition.
One thing my family enjoys about me is...My joy
My greatest achievement this year is...
Evit
Three words to describe how I see myself in five years are...
Proud, Family, Loving
Three things I do well are...
Swim, work, and church
A place I really enjoy being is at Church because...
I feel a strong connection.
My most prized possession is my Medals and Awards because...
I worked hard for them.
One of my skills that I hope to use in my work is...
Soft skills
An area of my life where I can express my individuality is...
Swim.
If I were to receive an award it would be for...
Swimming.
Participating in this Youth Leadership Forum shows that I am...
Willing to try something I do not know.
How much input I have about what I eat and drink is:
Yes, but I choose not to eat certain things.
What I do for exercise is:
Push-ups, oblique rotations, sit-ups and swimming.
The people who could help me if I were being hurt or bullied are: Parents
I know the following about internet safety:
That I should stay off certain websites and do not click on anything suspicious.

WHAT IS OF VALUE TO YOU? LIST YOUR TOP FIVE VALUES.

Staying apart of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints... not to depart.
Sports and to leave a mark on history.
Family and be in history books.
Independence and service and integrity
Wealth and security, and honesty.

Max went to Arizona Youth Leadership Form

What is Autism?

Max's Spice 2 class did a presentation for the teachers at his school to help them understand more about Autism. Max's special needs teacher is an amazing lady. She does so much for the her classes at Max's school. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE  HER.
Here is the outline of the presentation.

WHAT IS AUTISM?
Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with others.
Just to clarify a few things, What we are explaining is NOT a disease.
As explained in the previous slide, Autism is DISABILITY!
Each person with Autism id different in some way.

What is SPICE?
S- Social
P-Pragmatics
I-Independence
C- Communication
E- Emotional Regulation

SPICE teachers students with Autism and other mental disabilities how to operate in Social environments, manage their emotions, work on organizational/executive functioning skills and focuses on learning independent living skills.

DID YOU KNOW?!
 -  The creator of Pokemon had Autism?
 -  Satoshi Tajiri
 -  Guess who else?
 -  Dan Harmon
 -  Susan Boyle
 - Temple Grandin

SOMETIMES STUDENTS WITH AUTISM GET STRESSED EASILY...
Homework overload.
Hard to understand directions.
New Surrounding. (New Class, New School)
Fire Drills/Lock-downs
Test Taking
Getting to school later than usual (road closures, rush hour).
Not getting work down on time.

-NOTE TAKING-
Let's say someone is taking notes and they are
 falling behind the rest of the class.
What is a way that they can stay on track while taking notes?

- Use Chromebook for notes. (Google Docs)
- Give copy of notes ahead of time
- use fill in the blank notes
- Post notes on Google Classroom

-UNCLEAR DIRECTIONS-
Give clear and slow directions.
Clarify and /or repeat directions.
Give a written directions.
Have a peer repeat and clarity the directions to them.
Check for understanding.

MORE THINGS THAT MIGHT CAUSE STRESS
New events on a schedule either in class, personally,
 or any event on campus at school.(Pep Assemblies,
Field trips, Doctors appointments, Etc).
 Presenting a project in front of a class.
     (Stage Fright)
Trying to keep up with the class while taking notes.
Reading aloud in class.
Silence at times.
Being called out in class.

WHAT TO DO TO HELP WITH HOMEWORK OVERLOAD
Less homework problems/questions.
Do not give homework every single day.
Allow homework completion in class,
give the last 10 minutes of class to start working, that way,
questions can be answered if the students have them.
One specific due date for all homework assignments
(Example: All homework due by Thursdays).

TEST TAKING
Multiple Choice Questions - Less Choices
Provide word blanks.
study guides given ahead of time.
Able to test in another room (small group testing)
Have the test read aloud.

IF THERE IS A FIRE DRILLS / LOCK DOWNS
Don't tell students when fire drills / lock downs are.
Give out specific jobs

HOW TO HELP WITH A SCHOOL PROJECT.
Explain the directions on how to complete the project.
Give specific roles so your group can succeed.
Assign an appropriate peer partner.
     To promote and help with social skills,
communication skills and organizational skills.
Chunk large projects.
     Give due dates for chunk projects
Allow alternative way to present the project.
     One on one, not in front of the entire class,
before school or after school, etc. 

INFORMATION OVERLOAD
Simplify directions.
Say the information clearer
chunking information
Focus on specific topics.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, each person with Autism is different.
If you've met one person with Autism,
you've truly only met one person with Autism.

HAVE RESPECT
HAVE COMPASSION
BUT MOST OF IMPORTANTLY, HAVE PATIENCE.

Max's own words

8/2/2018
Max wrote this ;letter to him self last year in his 5th hour class.

Dear Max,
You I hope will have a wonderful year. I often now have a perspective of that I am often seeing what I have done as much. Well, when someone come up to me they often say, "Your awesome, you did a great job for blank." My response is usually I smile or nod or some acknowledgement that I heard them. The point you meed to know how special you are. Your Olympian, Tiger, Eagle Scout, and a Child of God. You should find gratitude in all things.