Re: Depressed after school meeting last night

[Guest guest]

> he did for 10 cycles of DMSA, and the school teachers/therapists

even

> noticed the difference these past 2 weeks.

>

> But, the shocker was....when they told me they forsee him being in

a

> self contained classroom for first grade..he will not be able to

> handle a mainstream classroom. THIS KILLED ME!

>

> How can they make predictions like that for 1st grade if we havent

> done kindergarten yet?

Let's see...you've been doing ALA for 2 weeks and the teachers have

already noticed a difference. So, can they predict where your son

will be more than a year from now? No they can't. A little guy

named n, who started chelating at 5 years old, says so:

/message/163876

You just never know until you get there. Keep your chin up!

[Guest guest]

Kim I think that the option to be able to go to both the Am and

afternoon kindergarten is great.

Plus if your child has the role models and being part of a structured

program that he is able to link into, that promotes advancement as

well.

Placement can go both ways and have different benefits. Sometimes you

want to keep in a self-contained environment to meet special needs

Sometimes that can be counter productive when they need more social

engagement. Or they are picking up bad habits from other students.

These decisions are hard. Especially if he enjoys them and the

programs accommodate his needs.

Having a program available to transition into and a child study team

that is working with you is great. Try to work with them especially

if they have a solid program. If so they usually know whats best for

a child and their advancement and you will be part of the process.

Now at the same time if they think they have a crystal ball and are

already predicting the future than that is a red flag danger. I call

that remediation to a child.

I hope they are not ole- schooled BC this is where you may have some

problems, but if the listen all your suggestions and consider you

part of the team then you probably one that is open.

I think an IEP is important that you define your goals and objectives

and you are part of the process.

We put in my child IEP that our son will be mainstreamed by the end

of this year as our objective.

Try to have a paraprofessional or a shadow put in his IEP for the

mainstream K class.

That way they will be able to continue to advance and thrive in the

right teaching environment.

Don't worry about age and comparing all that stuff. You're a great

Mom and are doing the right stuff with chelation and making grounds.

He will continue to do better. I am sure of that.

My son is going to be 8 this year and is in a 1st grade VB/ABA

program. I expect if not this year than next he will transition it is

my Hope and Prayer.

From where you are and what you describe your son will get there.

Too.

God bless

Kenny V

>

> Hello group: I had jackson's parent/teacher conference last

night.

> will be 6 years old in 2 weeks, still in pre-school as we

> didnt think kindergarten at age 5 for him was appropriate. We

wanted

> him to get another year of preschool in him first.

>

> regressed at age 4, wasnt diagnosed until age 5...and we

> started chelation with DMSA at 5-1/2 years old...started ALA last

> cycle. He has made more improvements since we added in the ALA

than

> he did for 10 cycles of DMSA, and the school teachers/therapists

even

> noticed the difference these past 2 weeks.

>

> When the issue of kindergarten came up for next year..they gave

their

> opinions only, (his IEP isnt until March 13th). They feel that he

> should be in an autistic-structured kindergarten for the

> mornings..with the option of going to the mainstream kindergarten

in

> the afternoon. Our district only has 1/2 day kindergarten

classes.

> He would go to 2 classes which would be full time. Depending on

how

> he does during the day in the structured kindergarten would

determine

> if he goes to the mainstream room....or stay in the structured room

> all day.

>

> But, the shocker was....when they told me they forsee him being in

a

> self contained classroom for first grade..he will not be able to

> handle a mainstream classroom. THIS KILLED ME!

>

> How can they make predictions like that for 1st grade if we havent

> done kindergarten yet?

>

> Finally....I know we got started later than others who were

diagnosed

> at 1, 2, and 3 years old. I have read many stories from parents

> when the schools told them that their kids would not get

better...and

> they did! PLEASE, is there anyone out there who was diagnosed a

> little later, got started later, and was still able to mainstream

> their kids? I keep dreaming of him being normal, go to school

with

> the mainstream kids.

>

> PS: We do our 2nd round of dmsa/ala this weekend! Please tell me

> that the good stuff we saw on round 1 is not a fluke...that it

> actually continues to get better.

>

> Thanks. Kim

>

[Guest guest]

IMO

I wouldn't even tell them anything you are doing biomedicaly. Just

say supplements that's all they have to know. We did that when my son

was at a preschool and kindergarten, but since he has moved up to

first grade (new building) we keep silent now.

Again I believe you will have a prejudged determination of your

child when you do. That again invites remediation.

Just an observation.

On Fridays my wife goes in at 11 am to do his chelation dose and they

don't ask nor have to know what we are doing anymore. And that

includes the nurse.

Kenny v

>

>

> > he did for 10 cycles of DMSA, and the school teachers/therapists

> even

> > noticed the difference these past 2 weeks.

> >

>

> > But, the shocker was....when they told me they forsee him being

in

> a

> > self contained classroom for first grade..he will not be able to

> > handle a mainstream classroom. THIS KILLED ME!

> >

> > How can they make predictions like that for 1st grade if we

havent

> > done kindergarten yet?

>

>

> Let's see...you've been doing ALA for 2 weeks and the teachers have

> already noticed a difference. So, can they predict where your son

> will be more than a year from now? No they can't. A little guy

> named n, who started chelating at 5 years old, says so:

>

> /message/163876

>

> You just never know until you get there. Keep your chin up!

>

[Guest guest]

" I herar ya "

and IMO I wouldn't even tell them anything you are doing biomedicaly.

Just say supplements that's all they have to know. We did that when

my son was at a preschool and kindergarten, but since he has moved up

to first grade (new building) we keep silent now.

Again I believe you will have a prejudged determination of your

child when you do. That again invites remediation.

Just an observation.

On Fridays my wife goes in at 11 am to do his chelation dose and they

don't ask nor have to know what we are doing anymore. And that

includes the nurse.

Kenny v

>

>

> > he did for 10 cycles of DMSA, and the school teachers/therapists

> even

> > noticed the difference these past 2 weeks.

> >

>

> > But, the shocker was....when they told me they forsee him being

in

> a

> > self contained classroom for first grade..he will not be able to

> > handle a mainstream classroom. THIS KILLED ME!

> >

> > How can they make predictions like that for 1st grade if we

havent

> > done kindergarten yet?

>

>

> Let's see...you've been doing ALA for 2 weeks and the teachers have

> already noticed a difference. So, can they predict where your son

> will be more than a year from now? No they can't. A little guy

> named n, who started chelating at 5 years old, says so:

>

> /message/163876

>

> You just never know until you get there. Keep your chin up!

>

[Guest guest]

>

> How can they make predictions like that for 1st grade if we havent

> done kindergarten yet?

Because they have no idea what they're talking about. Educators and

mainstream medical people have little to no experience with kids who

are chelating and recovering, IME.

> PS: We do our 2nd round of dmsa/ala this weekend! Please tell me

> that the good stuff we saw on round 1 is not a fluke...that it

> actually continues to get better.

It really does! You'll show those school people!

Nell

[Guest guest]

Kim,

In a few months/ a year you will remember this message and will laugh at

yourself

My son was almost 4 when we started chelation with ALA-only. He was in such a

bad shape... he wasn't speaking at all (he could say one word), he couldn't

play, he couldn't eat, he couldn't even make the difference between two

colors.

He had to repeat preschool too, because even if he was progressing fast, he

was just not ready for kindergarten (he could read though and write, and he

could do math, and all these he learned all by himself, because of chelation

with ALA).

Today my son is in a normal first grade class, with a little help once in a

while, only when it involves speaking (he still has problems putting words in

sentences correctly). But he is actually above grade level in reading,

writing, and some other things...

I would say... Keep chelating with ALA and tell us again in a few months if

you are still worried

Did they tell you why they think your son " will not be able to handle a

mainstream classroom " ? I mean what exactly is he doing, or not doing?

Valentina

> Finally....I know we got started later than others who were diagnosed

> at 1, 2, and 3 years old. I have read many stories from parents

> when the schools told them that their kids would not get better...and

> they did! PLEASE, is there anyone out there who was diagnosed a

> little later, got started later, and was still able to mainstream

> their kids? I keep dreaming of him being normal, go to school with

> the mainstream kids.

>

> PS: We do our 2nd round of dmsa/ala this weekend! Please tell me

> that the good stuff we saw on round 1 is not a fluke...that it

> actually continues to get better.

[Guest guest]

First of all, I will say that the schools know just enough about our

kids to be dangerous. They are not generally knowledgeable. Also,

chelation has brought my son much further in the past year than anyone

thought he woudl get. This can happen to your son, too. Finally, you

just keep a solid hold on that hope and don't let anyone grapple it

from you. Let noone limit your child.

RUth

But, the shocker was....when they told me they forsee him being in a

self contained classroom for first grade..he will not be able to

handle a mainstream classroom. THIS KILLED ME!

How can they make predictions like that for 1st grade if we havent

done kindergarten yet?

[Guest guest]

Kenny: Thanks for your comments, they are truly appreciated and they

shed another light on this whole subject. I am glad that I

approached this subject last night at the conference, so that I have

this valuable time to discuss his placement with all of you wonderful

people who have " been there, done that " . His IEP is march 13th,

which should be interesting.

One thing that I did not ask last night (of course I thought of them

later)....was WHY they feel that our son could never be mainstreamed

into a regular 1st grade. For example, are they arriving at that

decision based on his behavior? Based on academic performance?

Based on what? I do know that he does NOT read. He doesnt even

know letters of the alphabet completely! Oh, he did prior to his

regression...but certainly not now. It's as if all academic

performance just stopped, frozen in time since his regression. His

height changes, weight changes...but everything else is frozen.

Right now, he does a structured program in the morning (9:00 am -

2:00 pm) and goes to a regular pre-k program in the afternoon. His

teacher said that the kids in the pre-k class love . That's

really good to know. participates willingly in that

classroom as long as he is " doing " something, like a craft, or

calendar, or snack...but if he has to sit and listen...forget it. He

cant do that yet. And, they did acknowledge that his behavior is

better now than last fall (when we hit gut bug hell).

Kenny: Thanks again for your input, it really meant a lot to me!

Somedays it gets lonely when you are the only person hoping for a

brighter future for your son....and then you have all the negative

people who send little mental road blocks towards recovery.

Take care, have a great chelation weekend!

Kim

> >

> > Hello group: I had jackson's parent/teacher conference last

> night.

> > will be 6 years old in 2 weeks, still in pre-school as we

> > didnt think kindergarten at age 5 for him was appropriate. We

> wanted

> > him to get another year of preschool in him first.

> >

> > regressed at age 4, wasnt diagnosed until age 5...and we

> > started chelation with DMSA at 5-1/2 years old...started ALA last

> > cycle. He has made more improvements since we added in the ALA

> than

> > he did for 10 cycles of DMSA, and the school teachers/therapists

> even

> > noticed the difference these past 2 weeks.

> >

> > When the issue of kindergarten came up for next year..they gave

> their

> > opinions only, (his IEP isnt until March 13th). They feel that

he

> > should be in an autistic-structured kindergarten for the

> > mornings..with the option of going to the mainstream kindergarten

> in

> > the afternoon. Our district only has 1/2 day kindergarten

> classes.

> > He would go to 2 classes which would be full time. Depending on

> how

> > he does during the day in the structured kindergarten would

> determine

> > if he goes to the mainstream room....or stay in the structured

room

> > all day.

> >

> > But, the shocker was....when they told me they forsee him being

in

> a

> > self contained classroom for first grade..he will not be able to

> > handle a mainstream classroom. THIS KILLED ME!

> >

> > How can they make predictions like that for 1st grade if we

havent

> > done kindergarten yet?

> >

> > Finally....I know we got started later than others who were

> diagnosed

> > at 1, 2, and 3 years old. I have read many stories from parents

> > when the schools told them that their kids would not get

> better...and

> > they did! PLEASE, is there anyone out there who was diagnosed a

> > little later, got started later, and was still able to mainstream

> > their kids? I keep dreaming of him being normal, go to school

> with

> > the mainstream kids.

> >

> > PS: We do our 2nd round of dmsa/ala this weekend! Please tell

me

> > that the good stuff we saw on round 1 is not a fluke...that it

> > actually continues to get better.

> >

> > Thanks. Kim

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> But, the shocker was....when they told me they forsee him being in a

> self contained classroom for first grade..he will not be able to

> handle a mainstream classroom. THIS KILLED ME!

>

> How can they make predictions like that for 1st grade if we havent

> done kindergarten yet?

>

>

Kim,

I'm a teacher and I've seen these completely unwarranted comments

offered all the time by other teachers. One of my favourite stories

from teaching is this: one of my fellow teachers pulled one of his

students aside and told him with great certainty he'd never amount to

anything. The kid became a well-known goalie in the NHL earning more

in one year than my fellow teacher earned in his lifetime. Well.

Don't let others, especially ignorant others, decide your son's future.

Best wishes,

Anita

[Guest guest]

Kim,

I know it's horrible, but foremost try to stay positive and keep your chin up.

The longer you chelate on the proper protocol the better will be.

Remember chelation therapy is curative and not temporal.

Our son has a medical diagnosis of severe autism. He was originally placed in a

trainable mentally handicapped class. That lasted about seven months. We didn't

like it, but we gave it a go. We maintained confidence that plucking the mercury

molecules would ultimately continue where-ever the system felt he should go.

Our son regressed horribly in the class. His transitions became horribly

unseemly. He was always coming home sad, crying and gave us these just

heart-rending episodes of getting him off to school in the mornings. We would

drive by the school on weekends and he would kick and cry because he thought he

was going to class.

We found out in time there was another school in the district with dedicated

autism classrooms. Now he hits the door on the fly most mornings. Honestly we

think he is so excited to be going to school that he doesn't sleep at night

sometimes. He comes home happy and smiling.

I have no idea what level of functioning is at right now. Mainstream

classes may or may not be the right thing to do. We do know of several parents

in our area that have successfully prodded the system to acheive mainstream

classes for their kids only to see it backfire in their faces. Lots of stress

and lots of headaches and ego conflicts.

So maybe give it a go for a while, but keep an ear to the rail about

autism-specific class and check them out.

-------------- Original message --------------

From: " Kim GIll " <kim.gill@...>

Hello group: I had jackson's parent/teacher conference last night.

will be 6 years old in 2 weeks, still in pre-school as we

didnt think kindergarten at age 5 for him was appropriate. We wanted

him to get another year of preschool in him first.

regressed at age 4, wasnt diagnosed until age 5...and we

started chelation with DMSA at 5-1/2 years old...started ALA last

cycle. He has made more improvements since we added in the ALA than

he did for 10 cycles of DMSA, and the school teachers/therapists even

noticed the difference these past 2 weeks.

When the issue of kindergarten came up for next year..they gave their

opinions only, (his IEP isnt until March 13th). They feel that he

should be in an autistic-structured kindergarten for the

mornings..with the option of going to the mainstream kindergarten in

the afternoon. Our district only has 1/2 day kindergarten classes.

He would go to 2 classes which would be full time. Depending on how

he does during the day in the structured kindergarten would determine

if he goes to the mainstream room....or stay in the structured room

all day.

But, the shocker was....when they told me they forsee him being in a

self contained classroom for first grade..he will not be able to

handle a mainstream classroom. THIS KILLED ME!

How can they make predictions like that for 1st grade if we havent

done kindergarten yet?

Finally....I know we got started later than others who were diagnosed

at 1, 2, and 3 years old. I have read many stories from parents

when the schools told them that their kids would not get better...and

they did! PLEASE, is there anyone out there who was diagnosed a

little later, got started later, and was still able to mainstream

their kids? I keep dreaming of him being normal, go to school with

the mainstream kids.

PS: We do our 2nd round of dmsa/ala this weekend! Please tell me

that the good stuff we saw on round 1 is not a fluke...that it

actually continues to get better.

Thanks. Kim

=======================================================

[Guest guest]

-`YUP "

I will agree that this is the general rule.

Most schools are using old school methodologies that are abrasive and

ineffective and the social workers are older than the programs. And

ya cant teach old dogs new tricks if they don't want to learn them….

With our school this is an exception we have a solid VB/ABA program

that happens to be a model school in our state. Our pre K and

kindergaden program is AWSOME.

Then as you get to the upper grades we only have one or two classes

for each grade that uses the same methodology, however if the

children start out (as we did) in the program early the effectiveness

of the program should follow them up through the grades. And we are

hopefully to transition in early elementary.

But this program is relatively new and just came about 5 years ago.

I must mention it happened to come into existence by (POAC) which

started by 5 parents of Autistic children. Just like you and me who

believed in the program and actually paid to train our district

before the program was excepted.

Awesome what parents can do when they come together. Especially those

with special needs.

I wish everything worked that way.

Kenny V

-- In , " Ruth " <dan-ruth-setlak@...>

wrote:

>

> First of all, I will say that the schools know just enough about

our

> kids to be dangerous. They are not generally knowledgeable.

[Guest guest]

I was told that my son was retarded and I should go have another child and

put him in a school. He is now an excellent student in college. Yes, he

still needs an aide with him to help with behavior and " secretarial " tasks

like typing (he also has mild CP) but his thinking is college-level.

Never say never!

Barb

Re: [ ] Depressed after school meeting last night

> Kim,

> In a few months/ a year you will remember this message and will laugh at

> yourself

>

> My son was almost 4 when we started chelation with ALA-only. He was in

> such a

> bad shape... he wasn't speaking at all (he could say one word), he

> couldn't

> play, he couldn't eat, he couldn't even make the difference between two

> colors.

> He had to repeat preschool too, because even if he was progressing fast,

> he

> was just not ready for kindergarten (he could read though and write, and

> he

> could do math, and all these he learned all by himself, because of

> chelation

> with ALA).

> Today my son is in a normal first grade class, with a little help once in

> a

> while, only when it involves speaking (he still has problems putting words

> in

> sentences correctly). But he is actually above grade level in reading,

> writing, and some other things...

> I would say... Keep chelating with ALA and tell us again in a few months

> if

> you are still worried

> Did they tell you why they think your son " will not be able to handle a

> mainstream classroom " ? I mean what exactly is he doing, or not doing?

>

>

> Valentina

>

>

>

>> Finally....I know we got started later than others who were diagnosed

>> at 1, 2, and 3 years old. I have read many stories from parents

>> when the schools told them that their kids would not get better...and

>> they did! PLEASE, is there anyone out there who was diagnosed a

>> little later, got started later, and was still able to mainstream

>> their kids? I keep dreaming of him being normal, go to school with

>> the mainstream kids.

>>

>> PS: We do our 2nd round of dmsa/ala this weekend! Please tell me

>> that the good stuff we saw on round 1 is not a fluke...that it

>> actually continues to get better.

>

>

> =======================================================

>

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately there are still a lot of people out there who believe the MYTH

that autism is lifelong and incurable. Folks on this list are proving them

wrong and you can, too!

S S

<BR>

<BR>

> But, the shocker was....when they told me they forsee him being in a <BR>

> self contained classroom for first grade..he will not be able to <BR>

> handle a mainstream classroom.   THIS KILLED ME!<BR>

> <BR>

> How can they make predictions like that for 1st grade if we havent <BR>

> done kindergarten yet?<BR>

> <BR>

><BR>

<BR>

Kim,<BR>

_______________________________________________

Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com

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[Guest guest]

>>One thing that I did not ask last night (of course I thought of them

later)....was WHY they feel that our son could never be mainstreamed into a

regular 1st grade.

----

I think most folks on planet earth (but especially people like teachers,

doctors, et al) want life to be simple: Once an autistic, always an

autistic. They are in the business of categorizing people and it isn't

within their mental paradigm to think that people can dramatically change.

When I was diagnosed with a genetic disorder after being very ill for a long

time, they finally changed their tune: instead of telling me they could not

treat me because it was all a product of my overactive imagination, they now

told me that they could not treat me because " people like you do not get

well " . My genetic disorder (like my presumed " insanity " ) was just another

convenient label to explain away the fact that they simply did not know how

to help me.

I initially hesitated to reply to this thread because I have not chelated my

kids and I homeschool and my kids are lots older than yours. So I wasn't

sure I had anything relevant to say. However, it seems to me that the MAIN

things you are asking for are:

1) Rebuttal of the statements and judgments handed down to you from an

" authoritative " source (the school personnel).

2) Hope for the future from parents who have BTDT, defied " official "

expectations and now have concrete results with older kids -- ie " proof "

from another " authoritative " source.

So, with that in mind:

My oldest was in half day kindergarten at age 5. He had been in preschool

at age 3 to force him to start talking or I doubt I could have put him in

kindergarten at all. Even so, the first couple of weeks, I had to

physically hand him off to the teacher so she could restrain him while I

left the building. He was so strange that they went over him with a

fine-toothed comb -- ran various tests and even had him observed by a

psychologist. They basically came up empty. It would be many years before

we began to come up with clues to what was really going on and solutions for

effectively dealing with his problems.

He is now 18. Although we did not do chelation, we did address other

medical issues. He has made dramatic progress in recent years and I firmly

believe that early intervention maximizes the ability of the child to

recover so I do believe there is a LOT of hope for your child's future to be

bright. I expect my son to be " a late bloomer " and to always be kind of

quirky. But I also expect him to have a full and happy life. Lots of his

" aspie " traits largely disappeared with getting proper medical treatment for

his particular medical issues.

If you would like to see an example of his writing, you can find a few

things by him here: http://califmichele.com/speaks.html He once hated

writing and would not write -- which is consistent with the fact that he

talked late. He now writes fiction on the internet as a hobby.

HTH,

Michele in Limbo (formerly in California)

talithamichele@...

Visit Michele's World!

http://www.califmichele.com

" Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. "

-- Albert Einstein