Yesterday was the UC Davis Physics Department Picnic, where the staff honored David and three other senior undergraduates with a departmental citation for hard work. Then, Dave and one other graduating senior also received the Saxon-Patten Prize ($$), the department's highest undergraduate honor. Wow.
Dave has come so very, very far from the days when a lot of people told me I was crazy to insist that he would ever attend college and have a career.
Those discouraging days are truly behind us now. The UC Davis physics people don't even bat an eye at including David fully in their common pursuit of science. So what if he "spaces out"? Actually, a certain amount of it is required of all of them in order to think those big, scientific thoughts. So what if he stutters while explaining his ideas? It's worth being patient to see what sort of awesome science finally makes its way out of Dave's amazing brain and onto that chalkboard for all to see and benefit from. I believed the professors yesterday who told me between bites of potato salad and veggie burgers, "We're all really glad that Dave has chosen to remain with us."
It's like a giant, invisible eraser has come along and magically erased all the painful, tough years of tears. Sitting in the oak-dappled sunlight of the UC Davis arboretum, watching some grad students take my autistic son gently under their wings to teach him proper technique for sending a volleyball over the net, it finally, truly settled into the rested and ready marrow of my soul: David, my dear son, you're on a whole new path with a fresh, clean start, and the best of angels to guide you.
Ph.D... here we go!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Big Honor
The Autism Spectrum ranges from "Level 1" (requiring some support) through "Level 3" (requiring very substantial support). My son, David M. Nisson, PhD, is at "Level 2" (requiring substantial support). He dreamed of earning college degrees in Experimental Physics, but only wealthy "Twice Exceptional" students could afford this. It's against my religious values to ignore "Talents", so, with my support, David went on to complete a Ph.D. at UC Davis Physics and contribute to the all-important world of scientific research. This blog serves both as a reference for the increasing numbers of parents following in my footsteps, and a warning that in addition to advocating for academic accommodations and arranging behavior programs, parents must also spend time studying medical issues that seem minor during childhood, and to
participate now in the reform efforts of crucial national agencies like SSA and HUD, and those of your city, county and state government to protect your sons' or daughters' futures.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Big Life-Changing Decisions
Wow, time has really flown by fast, so I haven't posted here in FOREVER.
First and foremost, David has decided to remain at UC Davis. Yay! He won the Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship, which is just great. And, we have excellent resources here to help me help him with his autism issues.
Second, after years of being focused almost exclusively on particle physics (at an unusually young age to decide something so specific), David has enjoyed his senior year condensed matter class so much that he's thinking about switching to that area of research. So, this summer, Dave's going to do a science project with one of the UC Davis condensed matter professors. This will help David clarify his decision-making process. Very exciting!
First and foremost, David has decided to remain at UC Davis. Yay! He won the Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship, which is just great. And, we have excellent resources here to help me help him with his autism issues.
Second, after years of being focused almost exclusively on particle physics (at an unusually young age to decide something so specific), David has enjoyed his senior year condensed matter class so much that he's thinking about switching to that area of research. So, this summer, Dave's going to do a science project with one of the UC Davis condensed matter professors. This will help David clarify his decision-making process. Very exciting!
The Autism Spectrum ranges from "Level 1" (requiring some support) through "Level 3" (requiring very substantial support). My son, David M. Nisson, PhD, is at "Level 2" (requiring substantial support). He dreamed of earning college degrees in Experimental Physics, but only wealthy "Twice Exceptional" students could afford this. It's against my religious values to ignore "Talents", so, with my support, David went on to complete a Ph.D. at UC Davis Physics and contribute to the all-important world of scientific research. This blog serves both as a reference for the increasing numbers of parents following in my footsteps, and a warning that in addition to advocating for academic accommodations and arranging behavior programs, parents must also spend time studying medical issues that seem minor during childhood, and to
participate now in the reform efforts of crucial national agencies like SSA and HUD, and those of your city, county and state government to protect your sons' or daughters' futures.
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