/therapists

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I may be a little late with this response. I can never keep up with

this list, so I read the digests from the most recent backwards, if that

makes sense.

You wrote:<<

Then right afterwards, his therapist (the one he really doesn't like)

came. For some reason today, she kindof made me feel like I should

be treating Zach more normally, like he understands all this stuff,

that I shouldn't have the TV in his room, that I shouldn't let him

throw stuff on the floor, that I should MAKE him attempt to sign or

speak. I realize I give him more free reign, that I cater to him too

much, but darn it, its not like I don't TRY to make him do these

things. I'm just sick of fighting it. I DO work with him on

language...probably way more than anyone would ever realize. I'm

afraid they're going to think I'm making him like this on purpose or

something.

>>

I had this exact same experience for 2 whole years with the EI team at

our former school system. They refused to acknowledge that there was

anything going on with Annmarie besides being blind. Joe and I felt

that there was, but just didn't know what it was or where to get answers.

By the end of 2 years the EI team was getting really frustrated, because

Annmarie wasn't " catching up " the way they kept telling us they should.

They blamed us for not working enough with her, for spoiling her, not

" making " her do things, not pushing her to be independent.

What I finally figured out was that they were frustrated because their

work was not having the effect they were used to. They couldn't accept

their own " failure " , so they blamed the parents. After all, their

techniques worked on all their other students, they should work for this

one also.

Bottom line, it is this therapist's problem, not yours! These

professionals may be excellent at what they do. But they do not usually

have the experience of caring for an autistic child 24/7. Please don't

make the mistake of blaming yourself. That only drains your energy.

And the good lord knows we need all the energy we can muster!

mom to Annmarie (4.5, blind/autistic) and Flory (10)