An Update, Some of Ryan’s Poems, a New Story, and Personal Training

In case you missed it, we posted this on Facebook last week!  So much wonderful progress because Ryan worked so hard!

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Ryan wrote the following poem and story with Adriana Barriga, during sessions in his school week.

HAVING DIFFERENCES IS REALLY HEALTHY

I AM DIFFERENT
AND YOU ARE TOO
THAT IS GOOD
THAT DIFFERENCE IS A FORTUNATE THING
THAT CAN BE A TERRIFIC HELP
I AM DIFFERENT
THAT IS TRUE
I AM DIFFERENT
TO HAVE A DIFFERENCE IS A GRATEFUL THING
BEING THE DIFFERENT ONE IS HEALTHY
HAVING DIFFERENCES DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A BAD THING
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I AM DIFFERENT.

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THE STORY OF THE TERRIBLE LION

THERE ONCE WAS A TERRIBLE LION THAT ALWAYS TREATED HIMSELF TO A MEAL OF A RABBIT. THE LION NEVER HAD TO EAT ANOTHER TINY ANIMAL. THERE WERE SO MANY RABBITS THAT HE NEVER GOT HUNGRY.

THE TERRIBLE LION HAD TO GO AND FIND THE MEAL HIMSELF. CHEWING THE RABBITS RIGHT UP, THE TERRIBLE LION TRIED TO GET SO MANY RABBITS THAT HE THREW UP. THE TERRIBLE LION HAD TESTED THE LIMITS.

THE MORAL IS TO LEARN YOUR LIMITS. THE END.

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Ryan wrote these three Haiku poems as a result of an assignment by his music teacher, Ben, to come up with ideas for song lyrics.

INSPIRED
I FEEL FREE RIDING
LOVE TO, IDEAS COME TOO
LIKE A BIRD I AM FREE

ART MEANS TO ME
LOUD TO HEAR, TOO GOOD
HAPPY TO REALLY LEARN ART
MUSIC TO MY EYES

CAPABLE ME
STILL WAITING FOR YOU
MY TRUE MOVING, PLEASING ME
CAPABLE SO MUCH

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One of the things that we are working on with Ryan is strengthening his entire body.  Many older autistic RPMers have written about the role that exercise and strength training have played for them.  I connected with Daniel Stein on Facebook and we set up an appointment for an initial personal training session.  We drove almost an hour to meet Daniel and we were not disappointed!  Daniel treated Ryan like any other kid and pushed him but did not push him too hard.  Ryan did great.

He did spell a few times I AM REALLY TIRED but he stuck with it.  I know that this is hard for him, but we discussed the importance of this and once again, Ryan is very motivated to do it.

We will be practicing the exercises that Ryan learned today at home and we will follow up with Daniel regularly.  This is what Ryan had to say once we got home:

I AM INTO PERSONAL TRAINING.  TODAY MOM AND I MET REALLY KIND DANIEL.  HE SHOWED ME HOW TO DO EXERCISES THAT WERE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DO.  I LOOKED TO MOM FOR ENCOURAGEMENT AND SHE GAVE IT TO ME.  I AM FINDING TOO MANY COOL THINGS AS A RESULT OF HOMESCHOOLING.  I AM HAPPY TO BE A STUDENT OF CURRY CURRICULUM.  I AM LOOKING TOWARDS MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DANIEL.