Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Hi there! I didn't catch your name, but feel a kindred spirit in you! I have a 13 year old son with AS and my son has or has had many of the same symptoms as yours. Mine is also an avid computer user plus Xbox and Gamecube, which have become his latest obsession. He is on a 504 plan, which they are forever trying to cut or scale back and we have had remarkable success with outside interventions (not that they made him into an NT or anything... he is just enjoying life more fully now!!! ~winks~) Thankfully, I live in Portland, OR, where there is a LOT of support for kids with Autism and AS (as well as ADHD). If you are close, I would encourage you to involve your child in the Teen Aspie club that is open to any teens with autism and/or on the spectrum. I would also encourage you to bring him to Game Club, which has been set up in West Linn for kiddos who are on the spectrum. These are both very low cost activities (around $5 per family) that help our kiddos have down time, where they can be around others who won't judge them harshly, where they can have fun doing what they do while being supported in a positive way. There is also a support group that meets once a month for parents/teachers/caregivers, and ongoing trainings that are free or low priced... If you need an online buddy to help you figure out how to get local help for little cost (because it is available here in Oregon) go ahead and write me privately. My email addy is rabeccawhalen@.... I am going to send you another letter that I composed a while back that might give you a better handle on our journey to this point... Take care!!! ~hugs~ Rabecca Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 02:25:40 -0000 Subject: Hello everyone. I'm new here and today I have spent quite awhile reading some of the posts. Sometimes I feel like crying and sometimes laughing. I have a 14 year old son, , with a dual diagnosis of Autism/ADHD plus asthma. (Although some days I think he is closer to Aspergers and some days I'm convinced he is high functioning Autism). My husband and I also have a 19 year old daughter and a 4 month old granddaughter. He is very intelligent and an avid computer user plus XBox and Playstation. He is consumed by games and right now that is his obsession. (Younger years he obsessed over Toy trucks, Rocks & Minerals and Pokemon). He has an IEP at school and a full time aide. He spends most of the day in the Resource room but part of each class mainstreamed. He can usually last 20 minutes or so before he must get up and leave the classroom. He has problems with loud noises, bright light and too many people in the same room. He used to tear every tag out of his shirts (usually ruining them in the process). Now I remove all tags from the shirt before he wears them. He insists on wearing tube socks so that he does not have to waste time finding the heel when he dresses. He will only wear blue jeans and pull over shirts. He will only wear shoes if we demand it. He has problems with fine motor skills, he learned to tie his shoes when he was eleven but still insists that we do it before school. It takes him forever on his own and the frustration he endures is not worth the effort. His hand writing is very poor, he only prints. The only cursive he knows is his name. But, he can type 120 words per minute on the PC. He does very little school work; mostly he attends class and listens while playing on his laptop. But, he is amazingly smart. When he learns something he never forgets it, he asks how to spell a word if unsure and then he knows it from that point on. But, at the same time, he can never remember temporary information, such as a chore he supposed to do after school. That kind of info must be written down for him. I'm always amazed at how his brain works. We used to worry that he did not " do " enough school work but now we worry more that he has chances to interact socially with peers. He takes quite a few meds, (we've tried many since his diagnoses of ADHD at 6 and his diagnoses of Autism at 9) right now he takes Concerta, Risperadol, Effexor, Geodon and Topamax. The Risperadol really makes a difference for him but it causes terrible weight gain. He takes that only in the morning before school. The Geodon is like Risperadol but I don't think it helps as much. The Topamax is added to try to control his appetite. The Effexor is for depression and of course the Concerta is for hyperactivity and attention. We had lots of trouble with our school system, we finally resorted to getting a lawyer involved and finally things started happening. The lawyer threatened to sue and that was all it took. He got the IEP and services, but we still struggle thru every IEP meeting because they always want to cut services, citing money reasons. I am not sure how other states disperse their education funds but here in Oregon the school receives extra money if the child is in special ed. For every day of attendance they receive a certain amount of money. That's why anytime they send my son home from school they always make sure its after 11:00 AM, that way they get the money for that day. I do have to say that now that he is in high school things are better. The kids act more mature and do not try to tease or pester him. He has a full time aide because he does have a hard time controlling his temper when he melts down and the school finally realized that I was NOT going to pull him out of school because they wanted me to. They suggested home schooling, (not possible, I must work, the med bills are too high and my job provides our health insurance) alternative school (where the kids in trouble go) and boarding school. We still get calls several times a month for his behavior but so far this year he has not been suspended. Its very frustrating to deal with teachers that have no idea how to handle a child with autism spectrum disorder, they think my son is spoiled or just a rotten kid. He looks normal; its worse that way, if his disability were obvious things would be easier. So many teachers are ignorant and not willing to learn about these kids. But, at the same time he has had some great teachers. Ones that will take the time to understand him and understand the challenges he faces every day. Our school system tries to educate the teachers but it's all voluntary, they cannot force any of the teachers to attend the workshops they have brought into our town. So, its still a struggle, even after all these years in the same small town, in the same school district. I am sorry this is so long, this is my first time I have ever posted a message and really the first time I have ever communicated with people who I know will understand our situation. Thanks for letting me introduce you to my amazing, funny, sometimes frustrating son. I am sure I will post more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Hi there! I didn't catch your name, but feel a kindred spirit in you! I have a 13 year old son with AS and my son has or has had many of the same symptoms as yours. Mine is also an avid computer user plus Xbox and Gamecube, which have become his latest obsession. He is on a 504 plan, which they are forever trying to cut or scale back and we have had remarkable success with outside interventions (not that they made him into an NT or anything... he is just enjoying life more fully now!!! ~winks~) Thankfully, I live in Portland, OR, where there is a LOT of support for kids with Autism and AS (as well as ADHD). If you are close, I would encourage you to involve your child in the Teen Aspie club that is open to any teens with autism and/or on the spectrum. I would also encourage you to bring him to Game Club, which has been set up in West Linn for kiddos who are on the spectrum. These are both very low cost activities (around $5 per family) that help our kiddos have down time, where they can be around others who won't judge them harshly, where they can have fun doing what they do while being supported in a positive way. There is also a support group that meets once a month for parents/teachers/caregivers, and ongoing trainings that are free or low priced... If you need an online buddy to help you figure out how to get local help for little cost (because it is available here in Oregon) go ahead and write me privately. My email addy is rabeccawhalen@.... I am going to send you another letter that I composed a while back that might give you a better handle on our journey to this point... Take care!!! ~hugs~ Rabecca Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 02:25:40 -0000 Subject: Hello everyone. I'm new here and today I have spent quite awhile reading some of the posts. Sometimes I feel like crying and sometimes laughing. I have a 14 year old son, , with a dual diagnosis of Autism/ADHD plus asthma. (Although some days I think he is closer to Aspergers and some days I'm convinced he is high functioning Autism). My husband and I also have a 19 year old daughter and a 4 month old granddaughter. He is very intelligent and an avid computer user plus XBox and Playstation. He is consumed by games and right now that is his obsession. (Younger years he obsessed over Toy trucks, Rocks & Minerals and Pokemon). He has an IEP at school and a full time aide. He spends most of the day in the Resource room but part of each class mainstreamed. He can usually last 20 minutes or so before he must get up and leave the classroom. He has problems with loud noises, bright light and too many people in the same room. He used to tear every tag out of his shirts (usually ruining them in the process). Now I remove all tags from the shirt before he wears them. He insists on wearing tube socks so that he does not have to waste time finding the heel when he dresses. He will only wear blue jeans and pull over shirts. He will only wear shoes if we demand it. He has problems with fine motor skills, he learned to tie his shoes when he was eleven but still insists that we do it before school. It takes him forever on his own and the frustration he endures is not worth the effort. His hand writing is very poor, he only prints. The only cursive he knows is his name. But, he can type 120 words per minute on the PC. He does very little school work; mostly he attends class and listens while playing on his laptop. But, he is amazingly smart. When he learns something he never forgets it, he asks how to spell a word if unsure and then he knows it from that point on. But, at the same time, he can never remember temporary information, such as a chore he supposed to do after school. That kind of info must be written down for him. I'm always amazed at how his brain works. We used to worry that he did not " do " enough school work but now we worry more that he has chances to interact socially with peers. He takes quite a few meds, (we've tried many since his diagnoses of ADHD at 6 and his diagnoses of Autism at 9) right now he takes Concerta, Risperadol, Effexor, Geodon and Topamax. The Risperadol really makes a difference for him but it causes terrible weight gain. He takes that only in the morning before school. The Geodon is like Risperadol but I don't think it helps as much. The Topamax is added to try to control his appetite. The Effexor is for depression and of course the Concerta is for hyperactivity and attention. We had lots of trouble with our school system, we finally resorted to getting a lawyer involved and finally things started happening. The lawyer threatened to sue and that was all it took. He got the IEP and services, but we still struggle thru every IEP meeting because they always want to cut services, citing money reasons. I am not sure how other states disperse their education funds but here in Oregon the school receives extra money if the child is in special ed. For every day of attendance they receive a certain amount of money. That's why anytime they send my son home from school they always make sure its after 11:00 AM, that way they get the money for that day. I do have to say that now that he is in high school things are better. The kids act more mature and do not try to tease or pester him. He has a full time aide because he does have a hard time controlling his temper when he melts down and the school finally realized that I was NOT going to pull him out of school because they wanted me to. They suggested home schooling, (not possible, I must work, the med bills are too high and my job provides our health insurance) alternative school (where the kids in trouble go) and boarding school. We still get calls several times a month for his behavior but so far this year he has not been suspended. Its very frustrating to deal with teachers that have no idea how to handle a child with autism spectrum disorder, they think my son is spoiled or just a rotten kid. He looks normal; its worse that way, if his disability were obvious things would be easier. So many teachers are ignorant and not willing to learn about these kids. But, at the same time he has had some great teachers. Ones that will take the time to understand him and understand the challenges he faces every day. Our school system tries to educate the teachers but it's all voluntary, they cannot force any of the teachers to attend the workshops they have brought into our town. So, its still a struggle, even after all these years in the same small town, in the same school district. I am sorry this is so long, this is my first time I have ever posted a message and really the first time I have ever communicated with people who I know will understand our situation. Thanks for letting me introduce you to my amazing, funny, sometimes frustrating son. I am sure I will post more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Rabecca and Des and all, Thanks again for the warm welcome. Unfortunately I live in a pretty small town (approx 5000 residents) although there are more in the area, over half are retired. I am at the other end of the state from Portland. I do receive some county services in the form of respite care. We get 20 hours per month which we always take all at once so that we can have a night to ourselves. We also live next door to my mom and dad and they have been wonderful plus my husband's mom lives just a mile from our house. I am blessed to have this much family support. 's biggest problem is his inability to handle the daily frustrations, this causes the most trouble at school and now that he is 14 we are also seeing the typical teen behavior. Mom and Dad know nothing……I'm sure you know what I mean. has two friends right now, that's the most he's has ever had. His best friend that he's had for 3 years is now hospitalized in Salem and he has been gone for 5 months. The new friend is starting to grow on me but I do have to say that I'm always suspicious when he says he has a new friend. Many times in the past these " friends " just wanted something from , usually to borrow or sometimes steal his games. In school is only graded on the work he does. We demanded early on that he have NO homework. It's a job just to get him to do the daily living chores like taking a shower, brushing his teeth, pooping etc.. That is one of the items that we wanted in his IEP, only grade the work he does. Before he would get a report card with all D's and F's and when he saw those he was seriously depressed and thought he was stupid. Now he only sees the report cards that have good grades. > Hi there! > I didn't catch your name, but feel a kindred spirit in you! I have a 13 year old son with AS and my son has or has had many of the same symptoms as yours. Mine is also an avid computer user plus Xbox and Gamecube, which have become his latest obsession. He is on a 504 plan, which they are forever trying to cut or scale back and we have had remarkable success with outside interventions (not that they made him into an NT or anything... he is just enjoying life more fully now!!! ~winks~) > > Thankfully, I live in Portland, OR, where there is a LOT of support for kids with Autism and AS (as well as ADHD). If you are close, I would encourage you to involve your child in the Teen Aspie club that is open to any teens with autism and/or on the spectrum. I would also encourage you to bring him to Game Club, which has been set up in West Linn for kiddos who are on the spectrum. These are both very low cost activities (around $5 per family) that help our kiddos have down time, where they can be around others who won't judge them harshly, where they can have fun doing what they do while being supported in a positive way. There is also a support group that meets once a month for parents/teachers/caregivers, and ongoing trainings that are free or low priced... > > If you need an online buddy to help you figure out how to get local help for little cost (because it is available here in Oregon) go ahead and write me privately. My email addy is rabeccawhalen@v... I am going to send you another letter that I composed a while back that might give you a better handle on our journey to this point... Take care!!! > > ~hugs~ > Rabecca > > Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 02:25:40 -0000 > From: " twolittlewags " <help@l...> > Subject: > > Hello everyone. I'm new here and today I have spent quite awhile > reading some of the posts. Sometimes I feel like crying and > sometimes laughing. > > I have a 14 year old son, , with a dual diagnosis of Autism/ADHD > plus asthma. (Although some days I think he is closer to Aspergers > and some days I'm convinced he is high functioning Autism). My > husband and I also have a 19 year old daughter and a 4 month old > granddaughter. > > He is very intelligent and an avid computer user plus XBox and > Playstation. He is consumed by games and right now that is his > obsession. (Younger years he obsessed over Toy trucks, Rocks & > Minerals and Pokemon). > > He has an IEP at school and a full time aide. He spends most of the > day in the Resource room but part of each class mainstreamed. He can > usually last 20 minutes or so before he must get up and leave the > classroom. > > He has problems with loud noises, bright light and too many people > in the same room. He used to tear every tag out of his shirts > (usually ruining them in the process). Now I remove all tags from > the shirt before he wears them. He insists on wearing tube socks so > that he does not have to waste time finding the heel when he > dresses. He will only wear blue jeans and pull over shirts. He will > only wear shoes if we demand it. > > He has problems with fine motor skills, he learned to tie his shoes > when he was eleven but still insists that we do it before school. It > takes him forever on his own and the frustration he endures is not > worth the effort. His hand writing is very poor, he only prints. The > only cursive he knows is his name. But, he can type 120 words per > minute on the PC. > > He does very little school work; mostly he attends class and listens > while playing on his laptop. But, he is amazingly smart. When he > learns something he never forgets it, he asks how to spell a word if > unsure and then he knows it from that point on. But, at the same > time, he can never remember temporary information, such as a chore > he supposed to do after school. That kind of info must be written > down for him. I'm always amazed at how his brain works. We used to > worry that he did not " do " enough school work but now we worry more > that he has chances to interact socially with peers. > > He takes quite a few meds, (we've tried many since his diagnoses of > ADHD at 6 and his diagnoses of Autism at 9) right now he takes > Concerta, Risperadol, Effexor, Geodon and Topamax. The Risperadol > really makes a difference for him but it causes terrible weight > gain. He takes that only in the morning before school. The Geodon is > like Risperadol but I don't think it helps as much. The Topamax is > added to try to control his appetite. The Effexor is for depression > and of course the Concerta is for hyperactivity and attention. > > We had lots of trouble with our school system, we finally resorted > to getting a lawyer involved and finally things started happening. > The lawyer threatened to sue and that was all it took. He got the > IEP and services, but we still struggle thru every IEP meeting > because they always want to cut services, citing money reasons. I am > not sure how other states disperse their education funds but here in > Oregon the school receives extra money if the child is in special > ed. For every day of attendance they receive a certain amount of > money. That's why anytime they send my son home from school they > always make sure its after 11:00 AM, that way they get the money for > that day. > > I do have to say that now that he is in high school things are > better. The kids act more mature and do not try to tease or pester > him. He has a full time aide because he does have a hard time > controlling his temper when he melts down and the school finally > realized that I was NOT going to pull him out of school because they > wanted me to. They suggested home schooling, (not possible, I must > work, the med bills are too high and my job provides our health > insurance) alternative school (where the kids in trouble go) and > boarding school. > > We still get calls several times a month for his behavior but so far > this year he has not been suspended. Its very frustrating to deal > with teachers that have no idea how to handle a child with autism > spectrum disorder, they think my son is spoiled or just a rotten > kid. He looks normal; its worse that way, if his disability were > obvious things would be easier. So many teachers are ignorant and > not willing to learn about these kids. But, at the same time he has > had some great teachers. Ones that will take the time to understand > him and understand the challenges he faces every day. Our school > system tries to educate the teachers but it's all voluntary, they > cannot force any of the teachers to attend the workshops they have > brought into our town. So, its still a struggle, even after all > these years in the same small town, in the same school district. > > I am sorry this is so long, this is my first time I have ever posted > a message and really the first time I have ever communicated with > people who I know will understand our situation. Thanks for letting > me introduce you to my amazing, funny, sometimes frustrating son. I > am sure I will post more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Rabecca and Des and all, Thanks again for the warm welcome. Unfortunately I live in a pretty small town (approx 5000 residents) although there are more in the area, over half are retired. I am at the other end of the state from Portland. I do receive some county services in the form of respite care. We get 20 hours per month which we always take all at once so that we can have a night to ourselves. We also live next door to my mom and dad and they have been wonderful plus my husband's mom lives just a mile from our house. I am blessed to have this much family support. 's biggest problem is his inability to handle the daily frustrations, this causes the most trouble at school and now that he is 14 we are also seeing the typical teen behavior. Mom and Dad know nothing……I'm sure you know what I mean. has two friends right now, that's the most he's has ever had. His best friend that he's had for 3 years is now hospitalized in Salem and he has been gone for 5 months. The new friend is starting to grow on me but I do have to say that I'm always suspicious when he says he has a new friend. Many times in the past these " friends " just wanted something from , usually to borrow or sometimes steal his games. In school is only graded on the work he does. We demanded early on that he have NO homework. It's a job just to get him to do the daily living chores like taking a shower, brushing his teeth, pooping etc.. That is one of the items that we wanted in his IEP, only grade the work he does. Before he would get a report card with all D's and F's and when he saw those he was seriously depressed and thought he was stupid. Now he only sees the report cards that have good grades. > Hi there! > I didn't catch your name, but feel a kindred spirit in you! I have a 13 year old son with AS and my son has or has had many of the same symptoms as yours. Mine is also an avid computer user plus Xbox and Gamecube, which have become his latest obsession. He is on a 504 plan, which they are forever trying to cut or scale back and we have had remarkable success with outside interventions (not that they made him into an NT or anything... he is just enjoying life more fully now!!! ~winks~) > > Thankfully, I live in Portland, OR, where there is a LOT of support for kids with Autism and AS (as well as ADHD). If you are close, I would encourage you to involve your child in the Teen Aspie club that is open to any teens with autism and/or on the spectrum. I would also encourage you to bring him to Game Club, which has been set up in West Linn for kiddos who are on the spectrum. These are both very low cost activities (around $5 per family) that help our kiddos have down time, where they can be around others who won't judge them harshly, where they can have fun doing what they do while being supported in a positive way. There is also a support group that meets once a month for parents/teachers/caregivers, and ongoing trainings that are free or low priced... > > If you need an online buddy to help you figure out how to get local help for little cost (because it is available here in Oregon) go ahead and write me privately. My email addy is rabeccawhalen@v... I am going to send you another letter that I composed a while back that might give you a better handle on our journey to this point... Take care!!! > > ~hugs~ > Rabecca > > Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 02:25:40 -0000 > From: " twolittlewags " <help@l...> > Subject: > > Hello everyone. I'm new here and today I have spent quite awhile > reading some of the posts. Sometimes I feel like crying and > sometimes laughing. > > I have a 14 year old son, , with a dual diagnosis of Autism/ADHD > plus asthma. (Although some days I think he is closer to Aspergers > and some days I'm convinced he is high functioning Autism). My > husband and I also have a 19 year old daughter and a 4 month old > granddaughter. > > He is very intelligent and an avid computer user plus XBox and > Playstation. He is consumed by games and right now that is his > obsession. (Younger years he obsessed over Toy trucks, Rocks & > Minerals and Pokemon). > > He has an IEP at school and a full time aide. He spends most of the > day in the Resource room but part of each class mainstreamed. He can > usually last 20 minutes or so before he must get up and leave the > classroom. > > He has problems with loud noises, bright light and too many people > in the same room. He used to tear every tag out of his shirts > (usually ruining them in the process). Now I remove all tags from > the shirt before he wears them. He insists on wearing tube socks so > that he does not have to waste time finding the heel when he > dresses. He will only wear blue jeans and pull over shirts. He will > only wear shoes if we demand it. > > He has problems with fine motor skills, he learned to tie his shoes > when he was eleven but still insists that we do it before school. It > takes him forever on his own and the frustration he endures is not > worth the effort. His hand writing is very poor, he only prints. The > only cursive he knows is his name. But, he can type 120 words per > minute on the PC. > > He does very little school work; mostly he attends class and listens > while playing on his laptop. But, he is amazingly smart. When he > learns something he never forgets it, he asks how to spell a word if > unsure and then he knows it from that point on. But, at the same > time, he can never remember temporary information, such as a chore > he supposed to do after school. That kind of info must be written > down for him. I'm always amazed at how his brain works. We used to > worry that he did not " do " enough school work but now we worry more > that he has chances to interact socially with peers. > > He takes quite a few meds, (we've tried many since his diagnoses of > ADHD at 6 and his diagnoses of Autism at 9) right now he takes > Concerta, Risperadol, Effexor, Geodon and Topamax. The Risperadol > really makes a difference for him but it causes terrible weight > gain. He takes that only in the morning before school. The Geodon is > like Risperadol but I don't think it helps as much. The Topamax is > added to try to control his appetite. The Effexor is for depression > and of course the Concerta is for hyperactivity and attention. > > We had lots of trouble with our school system, we finally resorted > to getting a lawyer involved and finally things started happening. > The lawyer threatened to sue and that was all it took. He got the > IEP and services, but we still struggle thru every IEP meeting > because they always want to cut services, citing money reasons. I am > not sure how other states disperse their education funds but here in > Oregon the school receives extra money if the child is in special > ed. For every day of attendance they receive a certain amount of > money. That's why anytime they send my son home from school they > always make sure its after 11:00 AM, that way they get the money for > that day. > > I do have to say that now that he is in high school things are > better. The kids act more mature and do not try to tease or pester > him. He has a full time aide because he does have a hard time > controlling his temper when he melts down and the school finally > realized that I was NOT going to pull him out of school because they > wanted me to. They suggested home schooling, (not possible, I must > work, the med bills are too high and my job provides our health > insurance) alternative school (where the kids in trouble go) and > boarding school. > > We still get calls several times a month for his behavior but so far > this year he has not been suspended. Its very frustrating to deal > with teachers that have no idea how to handle a child with autism > spectrum disorder, they think my son is spoiled or just a rotten > kid. He looks normal; its worse that way, if his disability were > obvious things would be easier. So many teachers are ignorant and > not willing to learn about these kids. But, at the same time he has > had some great teachers. Ones that will take the time to understand > him and understand the challenges he faces every day. Our school > system tries to educate the teachers but it's all voluntary, they > cannot force any of the teachers to attend the workshops they have > brought into our town. So, its still a struggle, even after all > these years in the same small town, in the same school district. > > I am sorry this is so long, this is my first time I have ever posted > a message and really the first time I have ever communicated with > people who I know will understand our situation. Thanks for letting > me introduce you to my amazing, funny, sometimes frustrating son. I > am sure I will post more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 Wow, this sounds so much like my own son, it's scary, lol. All the things you described your son as a child is how my son is now. He's recently diagnosed as Aspergers, but the psychiatrist has not written down on record. Carissa > >Reply-To: autism-aspergers >To: autism-aspergers >Subject: Hello all, I'm new >Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 02:25:40 -0000 > >Hello everyone. I'm new here and today I have spent quite awhile >reading some of the posts. Sometimes I feel like crying and >sometimes laughing. > >I have a 14 year old son, , with a dual diagnosis of Autism/ADHD >plus asthma. (Although some days I think he is closer to Aspergers >and some days I'm convinced he is high functioning Autism). My >husband and I also have a 19 year old daughter and a 4 month old >granddaughter. > >He is very intelligent and an avid computer user plus XBox and >Playstation. He is consumed by games and right now that is his >obsession. (Younger years he obsessed over Toy trucks, Rocks & >Minerals and Pokemon). > >He has an IEP at school and a full time aide. He spends most of the >day in the Resource room but part of each class mainstreamed. He can >usually last 20 minutes or so before he must get up and leave the >classroom. > >He has problems with loud noises, bright light and too many people >in the same room. He used to tear every tag out of his shirts >(usually ruining them in the process). Now I remove all tags from >the shirt before he wears them. He insists on wearing tube socks so >that he does not have to waste time finding the heel when he >dresses. He will only wear blue jeans and pull over shirts. He will >only wear shoes if we demand it. > >He has problems with fine motor skills, he learned to tie his shoes >when he was eleven but still insists that we do it before school. It >takes him forever on his own and the frustration he endures is not >worth the effort. His hand writing is very poor, he only prints. The >only cursive he knows is his name. But, he can type 120 words per >minute on the PC. > >He does very little school work; mostly he attends class and listens >while playing on his laptop. But, he is amazingly smart. When he >learns something he never forgets it, he asks how to spell a word if >unsure and then he knows it from that point on. But, at the same >time, he can never remember temporary information, such as a chore >he supposed to do after school. That kind of info must be written >down for him. I'm always amazed at how his brain works. We used to >worry that he did not " do " enough school work but now we worry more >that he has chances to interact socially with peers. > >He takes quite a few meds, (we've tried many since his diagnoses of >ADHD at 6 and his diagnoses of Autism at 9) right now he takes >Concerta, Risperadol, Effexor, Geodon and Topamax. The Risperadol >really makes a difference for him but it causes terrible weight >gain. He takes that only in the morning before school. The Geodon is >like Risperadol but I don't think it helps as much. The Topamax is >added to try to control his appetite. The Effexor is for depression >and of course the Concerta is for hyperactivity and attention. > >We had lots of trouble with our school system, we finally resorted >to getting a lawyer involved and finally things started happening. >The lawyer threatened to sue and that was all it took. He got the >IEP and services, but we still struggle thru every IEP meeting >because they always want to cut services, citing money reasons. I am >not sure how other states disperse their education funds but here in >Oregon the school receives extra money if the child is in special >ed. For every day of attendance they receive a certain amount of >money. That's why anytime they send my son home from school they >always make sure its after 11:00 AM, that way they get the money for >that day. > >I do have to say that now that he is in high school things are >better. The kids act more mature and do not try to tease or pester >him. He has a full time aide because he does have a hard time >controlling his temper when he melts down and the school finally >realized that I was NOT going to pull him out of school because they >wanted me to. They suggested home schooling, (not possible, I must >work, the med bills are too high and my job provides our health >insurance) alternative school (where the kids in trouble go) and >boarding school. > >We still get calls several times a month for his behavior but so far >this year he has not been suspended. Its very frustrating to deal >with teachers that have no idea how to handle a child with autism >spectrum disorder, they think my son is spoiled or just a rotten >kid. He looks normal; its worse that way, if his disability were >obvious things would be easier. So many teachers are ignorant and >not willing to learn about these kids. But, at the same time he has >had some great teachers. Ones that will take the time to understand >him and understand the challenges he faces every day. Our school >system tries to educate the teachers but it's all voluntary, they >cannot force any of the teachers to attend the workshops they have >brought into our town. So, its still a struggle, even after all >these years in the same small town, in the same school district. > >I am sorry this is so long, this is my first time I have ever posted >a message and really the first time I have ever communicated with >people who I know will understand our situation. Thanks for letting >me introduce you to my amazing, funny, sometimes frustrating son. I >am sure I will post more. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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