RE: Re: Kids calling my son crazy

[Guest guest]

Well put Haven! In addition, the next time they tell you they can’t stop bullying (and that’s what name calling is!) for your child without doing it for all I’d ask why that would be a bad thing. Of course they will say something like kids will be kids, or staff shortage. When they pull out the staff shortage card, that’s an opportunity for you to volunteer in the school if you have the time. I did it for years and it was well worth the time. Teachers got to know me and me them. It sure helped later when problems arose that they knew me as a person and not just someone who wanted something “extra” from them.Tonya>> Well, quite frankly, I am against these informal meetings when there are> serious issues to discuss. Often, these informal meetings are set up to> manipulate parents into forgoing needed accommodations.> > The statement that if she accommodates for your child then she has to do the> same for all is .... well, I won't be crass, but I get sick of hearing this> kind of stuff.> > If your child is covered under the IDEA, then he MUST have accommodations> that meet his " unique " needs and allow him to progress and feel safe in the> school environment. Being verbally and emotional abused by being called> " crazy " will certainly NOT provide this.> > Your son has PDDNOS/ADHD? Honestly, you need to get it called what it IS> for educational purposes. These together amount to autism, though he may be> high functioning on the spectrum. I don't know as you would have to give me> more information regarding his abilities with speech, social skills etc....> > You need to get your child covered under the autism supplement. My son was> was also labeled PDDNOS as no doctor wants to call it autism before they> have to, and few school districts want to call HFA autism because it is more> work for them.> > My son originally had the PDDNOS label. My son has what is called the> politically correct term " autism. " I believe what it really is is toxic> overload, but we don't have a " toxic overload supplement " as part of IDEA,> so for educational purposes it is " autism. " > > That is the first thing you need to address at the ARD, and I would rather> see you prepare for an ARD and set one up and see that he is covered under> the autism supplement and that he gets the services and accommodations that> he needs.> > Your son is in kinder? Does he have an aid? Does he need an aid?> > Autism is becoming so widespread that we cannot pretend it does not exist> and not explain it to the other kids at school. We desperately need for> educators to prepare NT kids and to teach compassion, understanding, and> forbearance of this disorder.> > Quite frankly, I think ALL schools in Texas should be required to have an> in-service of autism sensitivity training these days. Most are sorely> misinformed and unequivocally ill-prepared to deal with the rise.> > I don't know how the bathroom is set up in the classroom, but for a long> time, I would never allow my son to go into a bathroom with other children.> > He is now eleven and he does NOT go into the Men's bathroom in public> alone. Our children are easily taken advantage of. I knock on the Men's> room door. If no answer I holler in several times to be sure no answer.> Then I GO in to be sure it is empty. Then I let my son go in and I stand at> the door barring any male from going in until my son comes out.> > Or -- I take him into the women's room and he uses the handicapped stall.> > One time a woman did say something, and I gave her an education. I have> taught my son to not look in through the cracks in the stalls -- to give> people privacy, but until I am convinced no one can take advantage of him,> he is not going in alone.> > I would make this an accommodation -- that he must have privacy in the> bathroom with a teacher or aid outside the door in case he needs help.> > I would write down all your concerns, what it is you want, what your child> needs to meet his unique areas of disability, prepare for an ARD and bring a> tape recorder with you.> > If you need help preparing for the ARD, just drop me a line.> > This business of him being called crazy is a form of bullying, and the> teacher needs to explain things to these kids and NOT tolerate it.> > I was a teacher for fifteen years - mostly in the inner city, and I NEVER> tolerated any form of prejudice directed at a particular student nor a group> of students - though I know it is out there. As soon as I heard or saw> something in my room that smacked of it, I nipped it in the bud, and my> expectation was that no matter a person's personal feelings towards a> student or a certain group, in my class we treated one another with respect> and compassion.> > Sometimes it gets tough. I had one kid in my class who was an all around> jerk of a kid (high school), and one day a GANG of kids tried to get into my> room to beat him up! It didn't matter that I could personally see how he> could tick the wrong people off. I barred the doorway with my body and> screamed LOUDLY for help.> > I do believe it is a teacher's duty to teach compassion and respect for all,> and to teach acceptance for differences.> > Your son has a right to feel safe and not threatened at school. Stop this> nonsense now or I can see how bad he is going to dread going to school. No> one would want to go where others are calling them names and picking on them> for whatever reason. Sounds like these other kids need some serious lessons> in social skills.> > Talking about things in an informal meeting carries no legal weight nor> merit. Addressing it in an ARD and having it written in there makes it> legally binding.>