May I join you?

May 13, 2006

I'm new to your board. I have an eight year old son that is currently under

evaluation by his school board. They have the school's principal, teacher,

nurse, occupational therapist, educational diagnostician, an intern

psychologist, social worker and speech clinician all working to evaluate my son.

Thursday, I was asked to come in for an interview with the social worker to

obtain the last of the information they need from me. When she sat down with

me, the very first words out of her mouth were, " Are you familiar with the terms

Autism or Aspergers? "

My son has not been officially diagnosed with either autism or Aspergers at this

point. However, it appears to be going in that direction. The social worker

said that any diagnosis would be made by the team I mentioned above, and that dh

and I were members of that team. We would be involved in any diagnoses made for

our son. Fortunately, I was vaguely familiar with autism and Aspergers, because

an online friend of mine has a son with moderate autism. She was one of the

first people to suggest to me that my son's behavior does sound like he might

fall within the autism spectrum. During the lengthy evaluation that has been

ongoing with my son, I have been trying to prepare my dh for this possible

diagnosis.

In reading all I can get my hands on, I can see why they suspect Aspergers. On

some of the web pages, I've found a similar description of Aspergers, and it is

a very precise description of my son. I've heard people describe my son in

various ways over the past eight years, and that simple explanation of Aspergers

described my son better than his own teachers, babysitters or playmates could

describe him. It was exciting to read, and gave me hope.

I can't say I'm not wavering between acceptance and denial, because I most

certainly am. It's very hard to let go of the assumption that my son would

" outgrow " his unusual behaviors, or in time learn to have better self-control.

But I know he needs more tools than I am able to teach him, and I know he needs

some kind of help to succeed in school, even if that help just means a teacher

that doesn't look at him like some kind of spoiled rotten brat, demon child, or

an unruly or disruptive influence. If a diagnosis of autism or Aspergers will

provide my son help, then it is a good thing. He is really a very sweet and

polite child, with a great sense of humor and a lot of charm, and he is very

very bright - but few teachers have ever bothered to see that in him, once he

has thrown one of his " fits " in school - they would rather just kick him out.

I've been fortunate this year that his teacher is a compassionate soul, and she

is familiar with autism, so she had shown him

more understanding and tolerance for his behavior than anyone else has before.

I had to deal with threats of expulsion on a weekly basis during his fist year

at that school. At least a new principal has brought an end to that.

So right now I am full of questions, and I'm rather frightened of the unknown,

and a little daunted by my ingnorance of the autism spectrum. At this point, I

don't even know what questions to ask. I'm facing my first review of my son's

evaluation, and my first IEP, and I'm intimidated and overwhelmed. I just know

that I need to help my child. Up until now, I have felt very alone, and

isolated, and felt that no one understood my son. I have also felt like a

failure as a mother. But it helps to know that there are other parents that

experience some of the things I do, and who understand.

~Mystic

May 14, 2006

I have sent along some very good basic information/articles to prepare you

for your child's IEP meeting. I also recommend that you contact your local

Parent Information Center. They can talk to you about the process and send you

out hard copies of IEP information and guidelines. If you let me know where

you are located, I can get that information to you.

Pam

Buy this book:

_Amazon.com: The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed

Child: Explore similar items_

(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1413301991/ldonlinelearningA/104-4501877\

-7498330)

More info:

_HS - Special Needs / IEP Preparation, - PageIt/Ver. 1.1_

(http://www.lcc.ctc.edu/pages/561.xtm)

_IEP Information and Tips_

(http://www.parentsinc.org/newsletter/fall98/ieptips.html)

_IEP: A Road Map To Success_ (http://www.hyperlexia.org/iep_roadmap.html)

_LD OnLine :: Developing Your Child's IEP_

(http://www.ldonline.org/article/6345)

May 14, 2006

Pam, thank you so much!! I really appreciate this.

I'm not so sure there is a Parent Information Center near me. I have had a

hard time finding any kid of support groups, or even a branch of the ASA in my

area. I'm in the second largest city in Illinois, second only to Chicago, yet

there seems to be no doctors, no support groups, nothing in this area. It is

discouraging.

I live in Rockford, Illinois.

Let me know if you find anything. It would be very helpful.

Sincerely,

Joni (aka Mystic)

ppanda65@... wrote:

I have sent along some very good basic information/articles to prepare you

for your child's IEP meeting. I also recommend that you contact your local

Parent Information Center. They can talk to you about the process and send you

out hard copies of IEP information and guidelines. If you let me know where

you are located, I can get that information to you.

Pam

Buy this book:

_Amazon.com: The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed

Child: Explore similar items_

(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1413301991/ldonlinelearningA/104-4501877\

-7498330)

More info:

_HS - Special Needs / IEP Preparation, - PageIt/Ver. 1.1_

(http://www.lcc.ctc.edu/pages/561.xtm)

_IEP Information and Tips_

(http://www.parentsinc.org/newsletter/fall98/ieptips.html)

_IEP: A Road Map To Success_ (http://www.hyperlexia.org/iep_roadmap.html)

_LD OnLine :: Developing Your Child's IEP_

(http://www.ldonline.org/article/6345)

May 14, 2006

Parent Information Centers are mandated by federal law, so there is one

located in every state. Here is the information for yours....Tell them that

you

are looking for information and guidance through the IEP process. Pam

Charlotte Des Jardins, Director

Family Resource Center on Disabilities

20 East Blvd., Room 900

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 939-3513; (312) 939-3519 (TTY)

(800) 952-4199

May 15, 2006

Hi there!

Welcome to the Board! You're going to just love the folks here.

There are quite a few seasoned IEP pros in this " audience " . You'll

be pleased to chat with many of them.

I think the fact that you are trying to educate yourself as much as

you can so you can be your child's advocate is the first/foremost

important thing you can do. Im sure you'll keep in mind that

everyone's approach/methodology is based on their unique child. To

be sure, every child on the spectrum is as different as their are

people in this world.

Read up on the IEP process so that you feel comfortable with the

seemingly overwhelming bit. Always keep in mind that you can

schedule another one to change what you believe isn't right for your

child, or bring out a new finding.

Perhaps you can involve your Intermediate School District? They are

a wealth of information! We basically had to because there was the

lack of an autism " oversite " or committee where we are back then (6

years ago, my Aspie kid is now 11.5).

See the links here on the board too. One link leads to another and

you might hit a goldmine! Autism of Michigan and Autism of Oakland

are great ones to see.

Pop out more questions along the way. You'll be amazed at the

attentiveness of the folks here.

And again, Welcome!

Robin M.

>

> I'm new to your board. I have an eight year old son that is

currently under evaluation by his school board. They have the

school's principal, teacher, nurse, occupational therapist,

educational diagnostician, an intern psychologist, social worker and

speech clinician all working to evaluate my son. Thursday, I was

asked to come in for an interview with the social worker to obtain

the last of the information they need from me. When she sat down

with me, the very first words out of her mouth were, " Are you

familiar with the terms Autism or Aspergers? "

>

> My son has not been officially diagnosed with either autism or

Aspergers at this point. However, it appears to be going in that

direction. The social worker said that any diagnosis would be made

by the team I mentioned above, and that dh and I were members of

that team. We would be involved in any diagnoses made for our son.

Fortunately, I was vaguely familiar with autism and Aspergers,

because an online friend of mine has a son with moderate autism.

She was one of the first people to suggest to me that my son's

behavior does sound like he might fall within the autism spectrum.

During the lengthy evaluation that has been ongoing with my son, I

have been trying to prepare my dh for this possible diagnosis.

>

> In reading all I can get my hands on, I can see why they suspect

Aspergers. On some of the web pages, I've found a similar

description of Aspergers, and it is a very precise description of my

son. I've heard people describe my son in various ways over the

past eight years, and that simple explanation of Aspergers described

my son better than his own teachers, babysitters or playmates could

describe him. It was exciting to read, and gave me hope.

>

> I can't say I'm not wavering between acceptance and denial,

because I most certainly am. It's very hard to let go of the

assumption that my son would " outgrow " his unusual behaviors, or in

time learn to have better self-control. But I know he needs more

tools than I am able to teach him, and I know he needs some kind of

help to succeed in school, even if that help just means a teacher

that doesn't look at him like some kind of spoiled rotten brat,

demon child, or an unruly or disruptive influence. If a diagnosis

of autism or Aspergers will provide my son help, then it is a good

thing. He is really a very sweet and polite child, with a great

sense of humor and a lot of charm, and he is very very bright - but

few teachers have ever bothered to see that in him, once he has

thrown one of his " fits " in school - they would rather just kick him

out. I've been fortunate this year that his teacher is a

compassionate soul, and she is familiar with autism, so she had

shown him

> more understanding and tolerance for his behavior than anyone

else has before. I had to deal with threats of expulsion on a

weekly basis during his fist year at that school. At least a new

principal has brought an end to that.

>

> So right now I am full of questions, and I'm rather frightened of

the unknown, and a little daunted by my ingnorance of the autism

spectrum. At this point, I don't even know what questions to ask.

I'm facing my first review of my son's evaluation, and my first IEP,

and I'm intimidated and overwhelmed. I just know that I need to

help my child. Up until now, I have felt very alone, and isolated,

and felt that no one understood my son. I have also felt like a

failure as a mother. But it helps to know that there are other

parents that experience some of the things I do, and who

understand.

>

> ~Mystic

>

May 15, 2006

Thank you Pam!