My workload is in the process of changing. I have handed over most of my caseload to a new therapist so that I can take on a new caseload. I am quite excited about this new position because it is working with children with autism. I have never had a specialist type position before and I am a bit nervous about having a whole caseload of clients with the same diagnosis. I really enjoy working with children with autism, though, so I think it will be a good challenge.
Part of my caseload has become working with children at a school for children with autism. The school has approval but there is only one teacher (and she will go on maternity leave soon) hired and two therapists assigned. We can’t get a psychologist or social worker. We haven’t been able to get qualified teachers or a principal. The parents are frustrated because the school was supposed to be open this month. Yet, you can’t open a school without staff, can you?
We went out to the building today to get ideas on how the space should be used and how the classrooms should be set up. We moved existing furniture around and luckily the three of us who went out all agreed on the basic plans. It was a great brainstorming session. We will have to go out again soon, though, to see what existing furniture can be used and what needs to be thrown away. The process of this is very exciting. However, it can be a bit daunting walking around a dark, damp school that has water damage, is dusty, and has trees growing into a couple of the rooms! That’s right, I said trees growing inside. Some of the windows are a bit propped open and the trees have grown into them. I know the building will be wonderful and it is great to have a blank slate to work with (more or less), but trees inside? We’ll get there. I know we can…
