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[Guest guest]

Anne,

I have been reading your posts, and like someone else said, it

brings back many memories for me also. I have a 16 year old with

Asperger's (diagnosed 2 years ago) and an 11 year old with autism

(diagnosed when he was 2). When you do get your diagnosis, you will

feel better, I think, because the unknown is much scarier than the

known. Once you find out for sure what it is, then you can begin to

do your research and busy yourself in doing whatever you can to get

your son into the program (and the therapies) that he needs. My 16

year old son with Asperger's was always in the SLD (learning

disabilities) because even though we knew something wasn't right

with him, we didn't know exactly what. So the school system did

give him OT for years, which really helped. Now that he just started

high school, regular classes (changing classes since it's high

school) is now way too stressful for him...the noise, lights, etc.

So we are in the process of having to have him reevaluated by the

school so he can be put in their autism/asperger's class. There are

only 8 students in this class, they stay in the same classroom all

day and it is quiet and does not have fluorescent lighting. I showed

up WITH a letter from a very highly respected psychiatrist stating

that my son has Asperger's, bipolar and ADD. The school system then

informed me that this wasn't GOOD enough...that he couldn't get into

this class until THEY determine that he was autism....HUH???? I

asked " since when does a school system determine if someone is

autistic and a letter from a doctor isn't good enough? " They gave

me some convoluted explanation that they must " determine his

eligibility " . Baloney! Anyway, we are almost done with all the

testing and it will be worth it in the end.

Sorry I'm rambling here, but I do feel your pain and remember well.

It does get better, I promise. I had many days of tears,

frustration, depression, etc. What helped me work my way through the

grieving process was busying myself with research, etc.

And the " mama bear " instinct kicks in and you would slay a dragon to

get your child what he needs. I was never a " go up against

authority " type of person..on the shy side. One positive that came

out of having two sons on the spectrum is that that doesn't apply to

me anymore at all!

Thinking of you and hoping you get your diagnosis for him soon!