I picked up Grace after school at our regular pick-up spot. Her para (assistant) told me some bits and pieces about Grace's day. I love these bits of info because usually Grace can't tell me anything about her day. Then, I gathered up her equipment and saw her PODD communication book was missing. So the para went to get it while Grace and I waited.
I asked Grace, "How was your school day. Did you enjoy it?"
I kid you, not, but Grace touched her nose (her sign for "no")
I said, "Oh, you said, 'no,' you didn't enjoy your day?"
Grace touched her nose, again, then touched her ears.
I said, "Oh, it was too loud today?"
Grace signed, "Yes," by touching her chest.
To recap: Grace told me that she didn't enjoy her day because it was too loud.
Just after our exchange, a different para of Grace's came up and asked if the first para had told me about Grace's morning, the time when this para was with Grace. She hadn't seen/ heard our conversation but went head and told me this little story about Grace's morning:
It turns out there was a surprise fire alarm at the school, today, meaning unplanned by everyone except another curious student. This para was with Grace and realized that this was the "real" thing and had to get Grace out of the building. During planned fire drills, Grace along with a handful of other students are taken outside before the alarms go off because they are so loud. The para tried to cover Grace's ears as much as possible but was also focused on getting Grace out of the building as fast and safely as she could. It sounds like she did the right thing.
So- back to the afternoon pick up: Grace told me something about her school day!
How incredible and exciting is that!
Of course, I would never have known about the fire alarm loud noises if the para hadn't mentioned it but I was able to understand from Grace that she had had a loud day because Grace had communicated that to me. AWESOME.
