Updated Topics: Grants, Gathering, BCSC Eval

I can only say that a much needed post tonight is mandatory.  I have been preparing for so many different events that I have forgotten to keep updating myself on the progress.

First topic: Grants applied - I have sent the three applications March 1, 2013.  As of today, I have not yet heard any news.  On a much happier note, I must say that sometimes, paying it forward is a much greater gift in life than those who sit and watch.  My appreciation is lost in words.  Thank you Aggie.

Second Topic: Today I visited our venue for our Gathering in August.  I felt so at home "on the farm".  Our guide, Lynne, was so kind and generous that they are willing to let us use their facility at no charge!   I have also heard from two different suppliers that they will be donating items for us.   I have experience generosity to a degree that can be overwhelming.

Third Topic:  Our BCSC evaluation is tomorrow.  I have had to complete many surveys and questionnaires about Eva.  For one particular survey called the ABAS (Adaptive Behavior Assessment System II)  I have looked over the results and knowing how to statistically score these assessments, I was surprised.  She scored average in the categories of Leisure, Social, and Self-care.  She scored the lowest in Functional Pre-Academics, Community Use, Health and Safety, and Communication.  She scored the best in Motor skills which to me was surprising.  The average mean score is 50 and Eva's was 37.7.  I know that these questionnaires might have resulted differently if someone beside myself took the survey but I am not sure how much information they would have. 
The second survey was called the REEL-3 (Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Test).  This booklet asks questions regarding language ability.  It is categorized by age and I was shown to only answer the questions within her age group being 25-36 months.  After I started this survey, most of my answers were "NO" so I decided to start the survey from the 7-12 month stage where I could circle some "Yes" answers.  Her Expressive answers were much lower than receptive, which I assumed would happen in all age group categories.  I can related to this with my usage for Spanish.  I can mostly understand what your saying to me as long as you speak slowly but unfortunately, I most likely can not answer you in Spanish.  I feel Eva has the same language capability.  She can understand simple commands, questions, or requests.  She just can not answer your questions, comments or requests unless it is a yes/no question.  She can just show action with your request - example "go get me your shoes", or "where's your cup?" and she will simply go get the items.  Her Expressive Language in all age categories scored 44% where her receptive language scored 80%.  In her age group she scored 18% and 53%.  I am interested to see what our evaluators talk about tomorrow.