My girlfriend is a "skills trainer" here on Maui. She also "subs" at several schools on the island working with special needs kids, including some autistic children.

They can be tough to deal with on a daily basis. It can really drain you of your energy. The other day she tolerated more than 30 fist blows from an 8 year old when he was throwing a fit. It was over soon enough, but she really got pounded! It happens.

Most of her time at the schools is spent "shadowing" which is taking notes on behavior patterns. This is key to understanding what is going on in the autistic mind.

Whats kind of cool though, is each kid has some cool thing they are really good at!! And they're pround of that, just like anyone! They are still just kids, and they do kid stuf.

The mind, brain, body is amazing. We are only barely begining to understand really, how things work in our grey matter.

Best wishes in your renewed position!