Why is it...

[Guest guest]

Why is it that when you talk to the School District regarding your dually

diagnosed child, do they always go back to the Ds? " Well, children with Ds do

this... " I have reiterated the fact the Tori's issues aren't with her Ds but

with her Autism, and they always seem to fall back to the Ds? Is it because

that is what they are more familiar with? Or is it because of her

characteristics? We haven't even gotten into kindergarten yet..and they are

really pi**ng me off! =)

Her transition meeting is in Feb.

Liz

[Guest guest]

maybe they need a course on autism? 's school never argues the fact of

autism, and do see the huge difference between him and others in the school

with just ds or just autism. shawna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/12/2005 6:06:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, dspn@...

writes:

> It is amazing how ignorant people are even in today's day in age. The

> gentleman I spoke with was a teacher of kids with Autism-that's what's making

> me even crazier!!! I am not sure what all our options are right now. After

> spending so much time on the phone with him, however, he feels we " should " be

> able to place Tori in the best possible learning environment as possible. I

> don't want her to start off at the bottom and work her way up-I want her to

> be challenged and start as far up as we can and take it from there. We are in

> the Bethlehem Area School District.

>

Hi Liz,

Remember needs drive services not labels. Placements are determined by Tori's

needs. Because someone is a teacher doesn't mean that they are appropriate

for your child. Only you can determine that. You have the right to ask about any

teachers background and quailifications.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?

[Guest guest]

Donna: It is amazing how ignorant people are even in today's day in age. The

gentleman I spoke with was a teacher of kids with Autism-that's what's making me

even crazier!!! I am not sure what all our options are right now. After

spending so much time on the phone with him, however, he feels we " should " be

able to place Tori in the best possible learning environment as possible. I

don't want her to start off at the bottom and work her way up-I want her to be

challenged and start as far up as we can and take it from there. We are in the

Bethlehem Area School District.

Liz

Re: Why is it...

In a message dated 1/12/2005 10:20:21 AM Eastern Standard Time, dspn@...

writes:

Is it because that is what they are more familiar with? Or is it because of

her characteristics?

Liz,

It's definitely because they stereotype kids with DS. People have this

corny, dreamy view that kids with DS are always sweet, always smiling, and

always angelic....HA!!!!!! They think that because kids with DS are so

social (another HA...they need to meet Miss Maddie), they couldn't possibly

have

autism. The psych who tested Maddie before her transition met with me

before meeting Maddie. He'd heard about her from the EI center and listened

when I described her to him, but didn't *buy* into the autism label. He

came right out and said he didn't believe they could co-exist. Then he

went

in and spent an hour in the classroom observing her. Afterwards, he

apoligized to me and said that he'd never seen a kid Maddie. Um, I'm glad

you

get it now, but SHEESH!!!!!!

It seems that some in the industry would rather just believe that the

reason for the difference in our kids compared to kids with DS not dx'd with

autism, is that they're severely retarded. Oh yea? I got a kid who they

say

is severe MR, who puts on her shoes, her coat, her back pack, hands me my

keys

and purse AND booster seat when she wants to go out. Pretty smart

communicating for a non-verbal kid if you ask me!!!!

Where are you looking to send Tori?

Donna