Re: new to group and Aspergers diagnosis

[Guest guest]

Hi Janine, I'm new to this whole thing too...my son is 3 and I also have

a daughter Faith, 18 mos. We're in the middle of trying to get a dx, but what

we have so far is that one doc thinks he is HFA. Just wanted to say hello...

itsallaboutme142 <itsallaboutme142@...> wrote: Hello. I am the mother of

a 7 year old boy who received an Aspergers

diagnosis last Monday. We have been told of this possibility for the

last few months but just officially diagnosed. I had an IEP meeting a

couple weeks ago and the school felt that he was Aspergers and want him

to go to a new a school where they have a special ed class for

emotionally disturbed children. So scary sounding. I check out the new

school May 17th. I haven't signed anything yet. I agree he needs a new

school. But I want to make sure it is a good fit first.

This whole school thing has been difficult. I am so tired of being told

negative things about my sons behavior. He is a good and very smart kid

who gets overwhelmed and then has trouble handling certain situations.

Well, that's the short version of the current situation and I am glad

to have found a support group. I don't know what I am doing or what I

am supposed to be doing. I am taking it day by day and trying to make

the best decisions for my child that will lead to emotionally pain-free

days for the both of us.

-Janine

[Guest guest]

Dear Janine,

You are doing the right thing to visit the new school and not to sign anything

until you see the class for emotionally disturbed children. It might or might

not

be the right place for your son, depending on the teacher and on the other

kids in the class. Children with Asperger's syndrome are sometimes mistaken

for kids with emotional disturbances, when what's actually happening is a

difference in the way their brains function. With the right supports (often

including an aide, but ALWAYS including a teacher who understands

Asperger's), they can often function in a regular classroom. Remember, the

federal law governing their education (the Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act) guarantees every child with a disability a " free and appropriate

public education " in the " LEAST restrictive environment. " A classroom for

emotionally disturbed children is a more restrictive environment than a

regular classroom.

You should read an article from the Yale Child Study Center called " The

Perfect Misplacement " about how children with autism spectrum disabilities

usually should not be placed in classrooms with emotionally disturbed

children. It's available at www.aspennj.org/klin.html.

On the other hand, when my son was in middle school, when his class was

involved in activities that he disliked, his aide would often take him to visit

the

classroom for kids with emotional problems. The teacher was great, and she

and the other kids loved to have him stop by. She was convinced that he was

a whiz at fixing computers because he once got her non-functioning computer

printer working again. It was nice that there was a place he could " escape " to.

So don't make up your mind ahead of time. Just go and look and see what

you think. And trust your instincts! Nobody knows your child better than you.

Good luck!

Jill

[Guest guest]

Janine,

I am in the same boat. My son is 7 and I have been told by his pediatrician

that he may have Aspergers. He has a meeting scheduled a CHMC to see if he

indeed does. His pediatrician's son has it, so I take his word. I don't know

what to do either. I used to confide in a person at my work whose son has this

illness, but he left. I feel lost as well.

itsallaboutme142 <itsallaboutme142@...> wrote:

Hello. I am the mother of a 7 year old boy who received an Aspergers

diagnosis last Monday. We have been told of this possibility for the

last few months but just officially diagnosed. I had an IEP meeting a

couple weeks ago and the school felt that he was Aspergers and want him

to go to a new a school where they have a special ed class for

emotionally disturbed children. So scary sounding. I check out the new

school May 17th. I haven't signed anything yet. I agree he needs a new

school. But I want to make sure it is a good fit first.

This whole school thing has been difficult. I am so tired of being told

negative things about my sons behavior. He is a good and very smart kid

who gets overwhelmed and then has trouble handling certain situations.

Well, that's the short version of the current situation and I am glad

to have found a support group. I don't know what I am doing or what I

am supposed to be doing. I am taking it day by day and trying to make

the best decisions for my child that will lead to emotionally pain-free

days for the both of us.

-Janine

[Guest guest]

Hi Janine,

I wanted to share with some of my experiences dealing with school. My son is

now 13 and he was diagnosed with AS last year. When he was small he went to a

nursery school that had children with disabilities and what they called role

models for these children. Believe it or not, my son was actually supposed to

be a role model. While attending school the teacher told me he never actually

had much to do with the other children. I took that to be because he did not

have many choices. As he got older things did not improve. He is a great kid

with a genius IQ but emotionally he has trouble. He has friends but his temple

vamps us quickly and some of the kids are afraid of that temper although he has

never hurt or even tried to hurt anybody.

We recently moved to Texas and he was put into a program that he stays half

days in the regular school with classes that he can handle successfully and the

other half of the day in a small classroom with other children that have

problems. He LOVES it. He calls it his happy place because he gets more one on

one and the " kids are nice and they don't pick on me. " I suggest if there is a

program like that in your area, check into it. It has made a world of

difference for my son. He is happier, the flair ups are fewer and he is much

less frustrated. I hope this helped. If you have any more questions let me

know.

Joan

<jackfaithsmom0304@...> wrote:

Hi Janine, I'm new to this whole thing too...my son is 3 and I also

have a daughter Faith, 18 mos. We're in the middle of trying to get a dx, but

what we have so far is that one doc thinks he is HFA. Just wanted to say

hello...

itsallaboutme142 <itsallaboutme142@...> wrote: Hello. I am the mother of

a 7 year old boy who received an Aspergers

diagnosis last Monday. We have been told of this possibility for the

last few months but just officially diagnosed. I had an IEP meeting a

couple weeks ago and the school felt that he was Aspergers and want him

to go to a new a school where they have a special ed class for

emotionally disturbed children. So scary sounding. I check out the new

school May 17th. I haven't signed anything yet. I agree he needs a new

school. But I want to make sure it is a good fit first.

This whole school thing has been difficult. I am so tired of being told

negative things about my sons behavior. He is a good and very smart kid

who gets overwhelmed and then has trouble handling certain situations.

Well, that's the short version of the current situation and I am glad

to have found a support group. I don't know what I am doing or what I

am supposed to be doing. I am taking it day by day and trying to make

the best decisions for my child that will lead to emotionally pain-free

days for the both of us.

-Janine

[Guest guest]

Hello ladies, My name is Janie and I also have a seven year old son

with Aspergers. My son was diognosed at age six and I know exacally

what you are going through. There is a lot of information available

about Aspergers on the internet and a lot of good ideas out there, but

at times it is overwhelming. It is always nice to have a friend that

has been there and knows what you are going through. I have been

through a lot with my son since diognosis. We currently go to

Occupational therapy once a week still, however in the beginning we

went to a play therapist, a speech therapist, and his Ot. That is not

to mention the Family Doctor, The neurologist, the genetisist, and the

mental heath councilor. It has been a long road already and I know we

are far from done. If you would like to talk more feel free to e-mail

me or reply to this message. We all need each other sometimes.

[Guest guest]

Welcome Janie. You will find alot of ideas and support here. Welcome to

the 'boat'... Toni

janiemop30 wrote:

> Hello ladies, My name is Janie and I also have a seven year old son

> with Aspergers. My son was diognosed at age six and I know exacally

> what you are going through. There is a lot of information available

> about Aspergers on the internet and a lot of good ideas out there, but

> at times it is overwhelming. It is always nice to have a friend that

> has been there and knows what you are going through. I have been

> through a lot with my son since diognosis. We currently go to

> Occupational therapy once a week still, however in the beginning we

> went to a play therapist, a speech therapist, and his Ot. That is not

> to mention the Family Doctor, The neurologist, the genetisist, and the

> mental heath councilor. It has been a long road already and I know we

> are far from done. If you would like to talk more feel free to e-mail

> me or reply to this message. We all need each other sometimes.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Subject: ( ) new to group and Aspergers diagnosis

Hello. I am the mother of a 7 year old boy who received an Aspergers

diagnosis last Monday. We have been told of this possibility for the

last few months but just officially diagnosed. I had an IEP meeting a

couple weeks ago and the school felt that he was Aspergers and want him

to go to a new a school where they have a special ed class for

emotionally disturbed children. So scary sounding. I check out the new

school May 17th. I haven't signed anything yet. I agree he needs a new

school. But I want to make sure it is a good fit first.

This whole school thing has been difficult. I am so tired of being told

negative things about my sons behavior. He is a good and very smart kid

who gets overwhelmed and then has trouble handling certain situations.

Well, that's the short version of the current situation and I am glad

to have found a support group. I don't know what I am doing or what I

am supposed to be doing. I am taking it day by day and trying to make

the best decisions for my child that will lead to emotionally pain-free

days for the both of us.

-Janine

Well, do check out the class of course, but your ds is not emotionally

disturbed. How about regular classes with aide support, counseling and

therapy for social skills?

Roxanna

[Guest guest]

I agree with Roxanna. Check out the other school but your school should be

trained and able to help your son without moving him.

Roxanna <madideas@...> wrote:

Subject: ( ) new to group and Aspergers diagnosis

Hello. I am the mother of a 7 year old boy who received an Aspergers

diagnosis last Monday. We have been told of this possibility for the

last few months but just officially diagnosed. I had an IEP meeting a

couple weeks ago and the school felt that he was Aspergers and want him

to go to a new a school where they have a special ed class for

emotionally disturbed children. So scary sounding. I check out the new

school May 17th. I haven't signed anything yet. I agree he needs a new

school. But I want to make sure it is a good fit first.

This whole school thing has been difficult. I am so tired of being told

negative things about my sons behavior. He is a good and very smart kid

who gets overwhelmed and then has trouble handling certain situations.

Well, that's the short version of the current situation and I am glad

to have found a support group. I don't know what I am doing or what I

am supposed to be doing. I am taking it day by day and trying to make

the best decisions for my child that will lead to emotionally pain-free

days for the both of us.

-Janine

Well, do check out the class of course, but your ds is not emotionally

disturbed. How about regular classes with aide support, counseling and

therapy for social skills?

Roxanna

[Guest guest]

There is a school here also for children on the spectrum. However,

since social skills is such a big part of the disability, I wanted him

to be around typical children. I was afraid his behavior would

gravitate more toward the students who are not as high functioning as he

is. He shares an aide in school with another child with AS. Things are

still difficult and there are stuff I still need to fight for. If he

didn't have the aid to help with organization and to keep him on task I

doubt he'd get anythig work completed in school. But I think he needs

the social interation with typical kids.

>>> reneemdallas4@... 5/7/2006 1:18 PM >>>

I agree with Roxanna. Check out the other school but your school should

be trained and able to help your son without moving him.

Roxanna <madideas@...> wrote:

Subject: ( ) new to group and Aspergers diagnosis

Hello. I am the mother of a 7 year old boy who received an Aspergers

diagnosis last Monday. We have been told of this possibility for the

last few months but just officially diagnosed. I had an IEP meeting a

couple weeks ago and the school felt that he was Aspergers and want him

to go to a new a school where they have a special ed class for

emotionally disturbed children. So scary sounding. I check out the new

school May 17th. I haven't signed anything yet. I agree he needs a new

school. But I want to make sure it is a good fit first.

This whole school thing has been difficult. I am so tired of being told

negative things about my sons behavior. He is a good and very smart kid

who gets overwhelmed and then has trouble handling certain situations.

Well, that's the short version of the current situation and I am glad

to have found a support group. I don't know what I am doing or what I

am supposed to be doing. I am taking it day by day and trying to make

the best decisions for my child that will lead to emotionally pain-free

days for the both of us.

-Janine

Well, do check out the class of course, but your ds is not emotionally

disturbed. How about regular classes with aide support, counseling

and

therapy for social skills?

Roxanna

[Guest guest]

Welcome Roxanne,

Can the school actually tell you to send your son to another school. That is

illegal here in Australia

Beck

( ) new to group and Aspergers diagnosis

Hello. I am the mother of a 7 year old boy who received an Aspergers

diagnosis last Monday. We have been told of this possibility for the

last few months but just officially diagnosed. I had an IEP meeting a

couple weeks ago and the school felt that he was Aspergers and want him

to go to a new a school where they have a special ed class for

emotionally disturbed children. So scary sounding. I check out the new

school May 17th. I haven't signed anything yet. I agree he needs a new

school. But I want to make sure it is a good fit first.

This whole school thing has been difficult. I am so tired of being told

negative things about my sons behavior. He is a good and very smart kid

who gets overwhelmed and then has trouble handling certain situations.

Well, that's the short version of the current situation and I am glad

to have found a support group. I don't know what I am doing or what I

am supposed to be doing. I am taking it day by day and trying to make

the best decisions for my child that will lead to emotionally pain-free

days for the both of us.

-Janine

Well, do check out the class of course, but your ds is not emotionally

disturbed. How about regular classes with aide support, counseling and

therapy for social skills?

Roxanna