Autism and the WASL

I was poking around the archives of the Aberdeen Daily World and came across a neat article about an autistic student in Montesano who was taking the WASL this year. From the article:

Charlie, now 10, is a fourth-grader at Simpson where his best subject is reading, according to his mother.

“And dodgeball,” adds Charlie, rocking back and forth on the couch at family home in Montesano.

“I’d say he’s at least a third-grade level in reading, maybe better,” his mom said.

Charlie actually began the year in fifth grade, but the decision was made around Thanksgiving to move him back to fourth grade for another year because of his difficulties, his parents said.

Twice a week, Charlie goes to school 30 minutes early to work with a tutor on problem areas.

He’s learning how to type on the computer but still has “a heck of a time writing” due to difficulty with hand-eye coordination, his mom said.

I worry about our sped students. We try hard and they try harder, but it's still an uphill battle. I hope Charlie soars on the WASL (they had him take it)--it'd be a neat thing.