labels/ additional diagnosis

[Guest guest]

Just a little note about additional labels for people

with disabilities. Having spent the last two years

teaching high school students with developmental

disabilities the labels can be used as a crutch by our

kids. I can't tell you how many times my students have

used their multiple disabilities as an excuse for

their behavior and lack of academic progress. E would

say " I'm retarded and ADHD and bipolar thats why I

can't do this " My reply? " Compensate. No one on the

street is going to care about these additional issues

that you have " . WE all have issues and we all must

learn to compensate to survive.

I have had many people try to label my daughter with

ADHD and Autism along with DS, but no thank you. I

have seen the looks on people's faces when they read

those files. They are children with unique

characteristics just like everyone else.

heidi

__________________________________

Mobile

Take with you! Check email on your mobile phone.

http://mobile./learn/mail

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

I don't allow Karrie's multiple dx's to be used as a crutch. She is

receiving behavioral therapy in addition to the behavior modifications put

in place by the psychologist and myself (I work with kids with behaviors in

occuaptional therapy).

Karrie is not affected just by having Down syndrome. While I realize every

child is different, Karrie has some mental health issues in addition to the

issues she/we deal with that come with Down syndrome. She doesn't understand

the idea of using her diagnoses as a crutch, doesn't ever verbalize or

indicate that she understands that she is any different that other kids. She

started out being fully included when she began school at 3. Because of the

additional dx's (or the affects thereof), she is now in a life skills

program. She is unable to control motor tics (kicking out and hitting out)

and her verbal tics (repeating shut up, even when no one is talking).

I'm just struggling to get a handle on all of this so that Karrie can

function in an acceptable manner in social settings, such as school.

I guess maybe the additional labels did help me realize that it's not just

poor parenting on my part

Sue mom to Kate 15 and Karrie 9 w/ds and other issues

..

[Guest guest]

As much as I hate the extra labels, it does give a description (to some

degree) of what else is going on in my little guy. It's just not DS and

" we " need to compensate and change the environment to help our children

adapt. can't verbalize that he's overstimulated or he can't focus -

we pick up on his cues and work with what we have and strive for more as

progress is made.

Now what I try really hard to do is label him a special needs child. All

children are special - sometimes I slip up, but I do try hard to avoid that

term.

[Guest guest]

As much as I hate the extra labels, it does give a description (to some

degree) of what else is going on in my little guy. It's just not DS and

" we " need to compensate and change the environment to help our children

adapt. can't verbalize that he's overstimulated or he can't focus -

we pick up on his cues and work with what we have and strive for more as

progress is made.

Now what I try really hard to do is label him a special needs child. All

children are special - sometimes I slip up, but I do try hard to avoid that

term.