Final Elementary Concert

Tonight was Teddy's last elementary school concert. We have come so far in his elementary years in so many ways. Here's just a few:

1. Teddy wasn't included in the school concert his kindergarten year. It was one of those awkward questions of whether we should be coming to the concert as we hadn't heard anything. When we saw his kindergarten graduation and how he loved participating in the 3 songs at the program, we immediately decided there's no reason he couldn't join for every future concert. After conversations with his team, he was included in every single concert since. 
2. In the early years, Teddy needed someone right by his side for every moment. Each year, it seems like we've celebrated in whispers of, "Oh, look! He stood where he was supposed to by himself for 10 seconds ... 30 seconds ... a minute." That time has increased, and he's gotten much better focus.
3. His dance moves now include his para joining in. This year he made her clap, dance and readjusted her because she wasn't standing correctly, according to the world of Ted. And through it all, she was smiling and happy to support him. This was actually the first year he didn't have his main teacher Mr. Skaaland supporting him (that I recall) because he was helping another student. 
4. He's learned to play the ukelele. Well, that might be a stretch, but he got to play the ukelele this year. He was sooooo darn proud. We've been talking about this for more than a week, and he was so excited about his concert and especially playing the ukelele.
5. Everyone knows Teddy and roots for him. He literally got nearly a standing ovation from the 4th graders taught by Sigrid (our childcare provider who also happens to teach at Teddy's school). He had so many people come up to him afterward and tell him what a good job he did. He had friends come up and say hi.
   

The timing is a bit coincidental because yesterday I got a voicemail inquiring which elective Teddy was taking next year: orchestra, choir or band. I chuckled as I called his soon-to-be new middle school back. My answer was along the line of, "Well, Teddy is non-speaking, so I think choir isn't the best fit. I don't trust him anywhere near a stringed instrument, so that rules out orchestra. He does love music, though, so he'd absolutely love band if he could play some sort of percussion. I'm not sure the band teacher would love that, though." 

Apparently I was wrong because, clearly, he did play a stringed instrument tonight. But it didn't have a bow (aka a weapon), and I think they give him the ukelele that's already been loved the most. We'll have the more serious conversation about middle school and electives and integration opportunities starting at his IEP next week. Now to prepare for that while watching ukelele videos ...