I have gotten many questions about Alan and his ice skating endeavors. He is now in actual skating lessons every week, this was a huge step for us. There are not many programs avaiable for children like him and I knew what we wanted. It took courage to make the call and ask. I was bracing myself for the "we don't have the proper accomodations for him." I will never not ask for him ever again.
Alan started learning to roller blade last winter in our basement. We figured it would be a great way for him to stay active during the cold winter months. Along with focusing on working his gross motor skills at the same time. He took to it very well and is independantly roller blading every night in the basement. I would have been fine stopping there, but when my nephew started playing hockey this winter, and we would take Alan to the ice rink, it felt like he found where he belonged. Not even on the ice, he loved the coldness, the sounds, the lights, he was enthralled with it all. This sparked something in my husband be cause he is always the one challenging Alan as well as my mama nerves and he wanted to take him to an open skate. Of course, my mind immediately went to ever worst case scenario of all the things that could go possibly wrong. I fought him on it, and inevitably I gave in. He took him to a local open skate, and let's just say Alan became obssesed with getting on the ice from that point on. It almost seemed as he was just, free. It's my only way of describing it.
As the winter has progressed my huband has taken all three boys to open skate after open skate. It still makes me very nervous because other people fly around the rink and they are absolutely not watching out for Alan, or have any idea he is on the spectrum. As a mama, my stomach is in knots, but as an advocate, I could not be more proud of him for jumping on the ice with a world that isn't made for him. This propelled me to find something that is structured for him that is his passion, ice skating. I do not think we are at the point of trying actual hockey yet, which I know there are programs for people with special needs. He just loves the freedom of skating and that is where we are at right now.
I called around, googled, and searched for something that would be fitting for Alan. I stumbled across a local program that had a Parent/Tot class on the weekends. It was perfect. It fit the chaotic weekend schedules we already have with basketball, travel baseball and my coaching schedule. The only hang up was it was for toddlers. I ended up calling to talk to someone to see if it would even be a possibilty for a nine year old to join their toddler class. I explained in great detail about Alan, how he is nonverbal, has a hard time following directions and truly how we just wanted him to feel a part of something that he actually loved. I also explained how my husband would be with him on the ice and they wouldn't have to worry about him one on one, we had it taken care of. And to my surprise they have been absolutely magnificent. The director got all of his information and let us sign him up. He goes every Saturday morning now, and another bonus they gave us was his own instructor. He is part of the group but working on more advanced skills with his instructor who is nothing short of amazing with him. There are times he just sits in the middle of the ice, but she gets him back up and has him follow the directions she is giving. He is calm, he is focuse and he is happy.
I was afraid the ice rink with a bunch of other people, espeically toddlers would be super overwhleming for him as he tries to navigate those big gross motor movements to be successful when ice skating. But again to my surprise, and I do not know why I underestimate what this child can do, he is a rockstar there. Handling it all beautifully. There is even open skate after where is does get chaotic, crowded and loud that we stay for and there he is, just jumping right in with everyone else. I have always wished we could find the one thing, that one niche that he loves and I think we are on the right track. To anyone reading this, and thinking of something you want to do with or for your child, do not hold back. This program has made accommodations for Alan on the fly and it is possible for other programs to do the same. Just ask. Make the call, and if they say no, you try another one until you find that yes, because it will pay off.
With grace,
This Autism Mama
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