Slowly but surely, we're seeing progress. A little boy who doesn't like to interact with others, who prefers to play on his own terms and very much in his own space, has found a friend. A lot of his classmates have taken to him, cheering him on and encouraging him as he tries to navigate a traditional preschool classroom.
One little girl in particular has taken him on as her project. She loves to "help" him find his way through the classroom, and he, in turn, loves to let her help him. He's even gone so far as to start taking her by the hand, instead of his teachers, and leading her to areas where he needs (or wants, I should say) help.
She also helps him with the day-to-day routine of things, like when he tries to stand during circle time. She will sign "sit" to him, as the teachers do, and then gently take his hand and lead him back down to his seat on the carpet. Sometimes he will even pull her behind him, put her arms around his waist, and then sit in front of her (as you see above, thanks to Mrs. Russell for the picture).
That's my boy. If he finds a willing accomplice, he's going to latch on for dear life. He's very good at figuring out who will help him gets the things he wants and needs in this world. And we love watching him come along, in his own time and in his own way. That's just who he is.