Suitable program for

[Guest guest]

This is yet another desperate plea for any information out there relative to a

suitable school program for our 8 year old son , whose diagnosis is

PDD/Autism, Hypotonia+. For the last three years, he has been in a special

education program through BOCES (Board of ative Education Services) using

the TEACCH method. This program was initially working while attended

preschool-level classes but since then, we seen no notable progress.

(There is a lot of bureaucratic bologna going on within the school district and

with contractual issues with the BOCES program for various therapies and the

program itself is administratively top heavy. This of course, does not serve

the best interests of the special needs children involved.)

As background,, functions on a fifteen month to two year old level. His

present program is very rigid in that there is silence in the room for the most

part and children are not verbally/vocally motivated or encouraged. The only

accomplishment by the teacher thus far (in 3 years) has been to teach to

hand back an empty plate for a refill. will age out of this teacher's

room by Sept. 2002, and we have no idea where to put him next. How we wish we

felt qualified to home school him and/or find someone who is qualified to come

in and spend one-on-one time with him which we feel would be the most effective

route and way to teach him.

also receives occupational, physical and speech therapies through this

program as well as visual consultation. In print, his IEP (individual education

plan) is a work of art. Yet it does not seem to be the 'ticket' to providing

whatever it is that needs to progress,, if he can progress; and at what

point do parents and physicians, professionals and the like, decide that no

progress can be made?

Unfortunately, we have found that programs and/or services for such children

remain 'top secret' unless we are referred by some compassionate and/or informed

individual who has either had experience in this area or has become of aware of

a potentially suitable program.

Along with all of this of course, seems to go the issue of school personnel's

unwillingness to deal with the behaviors connected with autism. While it seems

important that these children behave 'normally', there is nothing normal about

their behaviors and, they're like the 'girl with the curl'--very good or very

bad. With this in mind, it would seem somewhere out there, are people who can

deal with such and thwart some of the energy involved in the 'stimming'

behaviors into healthier exercise which would have the same sensory effect for

the patient/child involved.

Perhaps all of this sounds like we're letting off steam, but trust us when we

say, although we're tired,, we've been patient and continue to try to keep our

son in school program all to no avail only to have him repeatedly sent home

because they feel he's potentially ill and/or 'off' and they choose not to try

to cope. There are times of course, when he is sent home to an already stressed

situation because of exhaustion of parents from being up nights and dealing with

his 'bizarre' and 'unruly' behaviors, 24-7. Of course, there are times when he

is genuinely ill as well.

To sum it up, we feel that there has to be a program available--in and or near

the Elmira, NY area which would be more suited to our son's needs and if

not--would someone please tell us that too? Do we just put him on a shelf and

say--don't bother--he's retarded and will never be a viable citizen or what?

Shirley & Ted Semesky

Elmira, New York 14901

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