Re: Child with Aspergers put in state mental facility.

July 1, 2008

I urge you to contact both of these organizations and tell them what is happening with your son. Tell them you need assistance and support around navigating the special education system, your parental rights and appropriate placement for your son. Pam

Shepard, Project Director Parents Educating Parents & Professionals for All Children (PEPPAC) 8318 Durelee Lane, Suite 101 ville, GA 30134 (770) 577-7771 E-mail: PEPPAC@...

Joyce Ringer, Executive Director Georgia Advocacy Office, Inc. 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 870 Atlanta, GA 30309 (404) 885-1234; (800) 537-2329 (in GA only) Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.

July 1, 2008

Oh, how my heart goes out to you and your son! This is something I was always afraid of for my son and other children with AS. Has your son had a Pscyh. evaluation....I would request one ASAP and let the Psychologist fight for him. Write to your congressman, senator, local newspaper...call the local TV station...make it public...let everyone know how you son is being treated...he should not be at that facility. Do you have a local MH/MR office. Go to your minister or priest. Make a lot of noise! The squeeky wheel gets the oil. I am no expert in this area but I think if you make them aware of his DX things may change!

I will pray for your both tonight.

Jan

Janice Rushen

Mom, Mentor, Wife, Teacher, Advocate, Accountant,

Maid, Taxi, Shopper, Bulletin Board Artist

Nanny, Crafter, Therapist, Friend, Sister, Aunt,

Daughter, Grand-daughter, Personal Care Aide,

Student, Believer, and Giver.

From: cchrstms <cchrstms@...>Subject: ( ) Child with Aspergers put in state mental facility. Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 4:06 PM

Im trying to seek some help out there. Im a single, working mom withvery little help and no resources to know what my rights are in thiscase. Maybe someone out there has either been through this or knowshow I can get some help.Here's my story. I found out my son, now 16, had Aspengers when he was5. He was having problems in pre-k, but I really didnt know until hestarted having learning problems when he started school. After a lotof hard work he started to do better in school, but always worked at a3rd to 4th grade level. When he entered the 6th grade I started tonotice a change in him. He complained about being sick a lot and notwanting to go to school, but we made it through the grade and hepassed to the 7th. Thats were he started to miss school more and more.Then he went to the 8th grade and it got even worse. He missed moredays of school than ever. He had real medical problems with hisstomach

and allergies that already made it hard to know if he wasreally sick or just wanting to stay home. Finally, the school gotinvolved and took us to court. He was first put on probation with thecounty. 6 months into his probation period and still not going toschool he was place on state probation. He was at this time repeatingthe 8th grade and was getting more difficult to get up and made to geton the bus to go to school. Like I said, Im a single, working mom. Ileave before the bus gets to the house which made it difficult to makehim get on the bus. My mom tried to help me with him, but she is now85 and cannot control him. Because of all the time he missed fromschool his probation officer and her supervisor decided he will go toa facility 2 hrs away from home called Macon Behavioral. He was placedthere on Thurs Jun 26th. of this year. He has already had problemswith the other boys. He's in there with

problem boys with really badbehavior problems. Nothing like my son. The first full day he wasthere the other boys started to make fun of him, hitting on him andwhile he was resting on the floor of one of the rooms he was kicked inthe face by one of the boys that was trying to fight with him. My sonis a big boy, around 250 and 6ft tall, but because of his conditionhe's not a fighter. He was scared to death and cried the whole time hewas taking on the phone to me. He keeps telling me the other boys wantto beat him up and he dont know why. He has always been in selfcontained classes at school and never has been with the normal kids ina class setting and he dont know how to handle them.Ive contacted his probation officer and talked to her supervisor. Theytold me that know one told them it actually happened. She acted likeshe could have cared less. One thing, my son wouldnt lie about thatand secondly I

talked to the nurse the same night that did the reporton it. It happened!! I called the probation office and begged them toget him out of there. I told them he was going to get hurt. I haventheard from them yet. I also called the clinic and talked to anothernurse the other night. They just told me he was ok and the nightsupervisor will let him call me the same night, but he never did!! Ifthere's anyone out there with any advise for me and maybe lead me tothe right people to get him out of there, I would appreciated it alot. Im very worried about him, I havent slept well in day's. My nameis and we live in GA. Someone please help my son and me.

July 1, 2008

and Pam...I am happy to know that someone knew who to contact....this site is great and at least I can rest a little bit easier tonight but I will still be praying very hard!

Jan

Janice Rushen

Mom, Mentor, Wife, Teacher, Advocate, Accountant,

Maid, Taxi, Shopper, Bulletin Board Artist

Nanny, Crafter, Therapist, Friend, Sister, Aunt,

Daughter, Grand-daughter, Personal Care Aide,

Student, Believer, and Giver.

From: ppanda65@... <ppanda65@...>Subject: Re: ( ) Child with Aspergers put in state mental facility. Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 5:11 PM

I urge you to contact both of these organizations and tell them what is happening with your son. Tell them you need assistance and support around navigating the special education system, your parental rights and appropriate placement for your son. Pam

Shepard, Project Director Parents Educating Parents & Professionals for All Children (PEPPAC) 8318 Durelee Lane, Suite 101 ville, GA 30134 (770) 577-7771 E-mail: PEPPAC@...

Joyce Ringer, Executive Director Georgia Advocacy Office, Inc. 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 870 Atlanta, GA 30309 (404) 885-1234; (800) 537-2329 (in GA only)

Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.

July 1, 2008

The other ladies gave you good advice and you should follow it. Also, contact

once of the

associations for Autism, they may be your best advocate because they are

fighting to make

people more aware.

I have to ask you. It took a couple years of your son missing school for it to

get this far. I

assume that the truancy agency sent or verbally told you the consequences of

what would

occur if this continued. Did you seek help other than your mother during this

time to see

what else was available for your son? I assume your son has a dx of autism

since he was

in

a specialty class room, which I am not convinced is the best thing for Asperger

kids. IMO

this only further cripples their interaction with the rest of the world but that

is water under

the bridge now.

A Psychologist or Psychiatrist that deals solely with kids that have learning

differences can

be a great asset in finding alternative methods for your child to learn.

Virtual school is

one.

Perhaps he would prefer to take classes on a computer at home and do the work

when he

is up and awake. There may be other options in your area, also. But you need to

connect

with the people who know the American with Disabilities Act and the No Child

Left Behind

Act. And that is NOT the public school system. Your son needs a place to learn

where he

feels safe, and with someone who can be firm yet loving with him.

Good luck.

Dee ><)))*>

July 2, 2008

Did he have an IEP while he was in school? Sounds like he was really behind academically, which can contribute to his not wanting to go to school. It's hard to imagine things getting so out of hand and yet, I believe it. You can google "school refusal" and find a ton of articles on this subject.

I would probably try to find a special education lawyer. They would be able to help you use the law to your benefit. You can usually find a lawyer over at http://www.copaa.net/ Call a few in your area and see if you can get someone interested in helping you. If the cost is a problem, ask them for help (payment plans? or referral to a lower cost substitute) but definitely push and ask and find someone to help you. Also, others will probably send links to your local parent advocacy center. Call these people - everyone up the food chain. Make noise, get people moving to help. The more the merrier. Google "disability + (your state)" and call agencies in your state, ask them to help. Also, contact your local/state autism organization (usually, autism society of america is in every state somewhere) and talk to these people. Networking is the best way to find help - people know people who know people.

Let us know what's going on!!

RoxannaAutism Happens

( ) Child with Aspergers put in state mental facility.

Im trying to seek some help out there. Im a single, working mom withvery little help and no resources to know what my rights are in thiscase. Maybe someone out there has either been through this or knowshow I can get some help.Here's my story. I found out my son, now 16, had Aspengers when he was5. He was having problems in pre-k, but I really didnt know until hestarted having learning problems when he started school. After a lotof hard work he started to do better in school, but always worked at a3rd to 4th grade level. When he entered the 6th grade I started tonotice a change in him. He complained about being sick a lot and notwanting to go to school, but we made it through the grade and hepassed to the 7th. Thats were he started to miss school more and more.Then he went to the 8th grade and it got even worse. He missed moredays of school than ever. He had real medical problems with hisstomach and allergies that already made it hard to know if he wasreally sick or just wanting to stay home. Finally, the school gotinvolved and took us to court. He was first put on probation with thecounty. 6 months into his probation period and still not going toschool he was place on state probation. He was at this time repeatingthe 8th grade and was getting more difficult to get up and made to geton the bus to go to school. Like I said, Im a single, working mom. Ileave before the bus gets to the house which made it difficult to makehim get on the bus. My mom tried to help me with him, but she is now85 and cannot control him. Because of all the time he missed fromschool his probation officer and her supervisor decided he will go toa facility 2 hrs away from home called Macon Behavioral. He was placedthere on Thurs Jun 26th. of this year. He has already had problemswith the other boys. He's in there with problem boys with really badbehavior problems. Nothing like my son. The first full day he wasthere the other boys started to make fun of him, hitting on him andwhile he was resting on the floor of one of the rooms he was kicked inthe face by one of the boys that was trying to fight with him. My sonis a big boy, around 250 and 6ft tall, but because of his conditionhe's not a fighter. He was scared to death and cried the whole time hewas taking on the phone to me. He keeps telling me the other boys wantto beat him up and he dont know why. He has always been in selfcontained classes at school and never has been with the normal kids ina class setting and he dont know how to handle them.Ive contacted his probation officer and talked to her supervisor. Theytold me that know one told them it actually happened. She acted likeshe could have cared less. One thing, my son wouldnt lie about thatand secondly I talked to the nurse the same night that did the reporton it. It happened!! I called the probation office and begged them toget him out of there. I told them he was going to get hurt. I haventheard from them yet. I also called the clinic and talked to anothernurse the other night. They just told me he was ok and the nightsupervisor will let him call me the same night, but he never did!! Ifthere's anyone out there with any advise for me and maybe lead me tothe right people to get him out of there, I would appreciated it alot. Im very worried about him, I havent slept well in day's. My nameis and we live in GA. Someone please help my son and me.

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.101 / Virus Database: 270.4.3/1528 - Release Date: 7/1/2008 7:26 AM

July 2, 2008

Yes he did, he is really behind. He has been in special ed since he

was in 1st grade. Nothing we did seemed to help him. He was doing ok,

but never really got ahead. Then Middle School became a problem and he

got even more behind. He is very depressed and has terrible anxiety.

I believe my son needs help getting on the right track, going back to

school and I believe in education. I just dont feel this is the right

placement for him and the fact they lied about the type of children he

was going to be with, was not fair to him or myself. I appreciate the

information. Im going to look into it. One of his Doctors called me

today and they want to put him on prozack. I dont think its a good

idea. I dont want him learn to rely on medicines to get through life.

They want me to decide, but I dont believe that for one minute. They

are determined to put him on some type of meds. His brother and I are

going to see him this weekend. I talked to him a little while today

also and he sounded a little better. Not as upset as the other night.

I will let you know whats going on, and thank you very much for the

support.

J

>

> Did he have an IEP while he was in school? Sounds like he was

really behind academically, which can contribute to his not wanting to

go to school. It's hard to imagine things getting so out of hand and

yet, I believe it. You can google " school refusal " and find a ton of

articles on this subject.

>

> I would probably try to find a special education lawyer. They would

be able to help you use the law to your benefit. You can usually find

a lawyer over at http://www.copaa.net/ Call a few in your area and

see if you can get someone interested in helping you. If the cost is

a problem, ask them for help (payment plans? or referral to a lower

cost substitute) but definitely push and ask and find someone to help

you. Also, others will probably send links to your local parent

advocacy center. Call these people - everyone up the food chain.

Make noise, get people moving to help. The more the merrier. Google

" disability + (your state) " and call agencies in your state, ask them

to help. Also, contact your local/state autism organization (usually,

autism society of america is in every state somewhere) and talk to

these people. Networking is the best way to find help - people know

people who know people.

>

> Let us know what's going on!!

>

> Roxanna

> Autism Happens

> ( ) Child with Aspergers put in state

mental facility.

>

> Im trying to seek some help out there. Im a single, working mom with

> very little help and no resources to know what my rights are in this

> case. Maybe someone out there has either been through this or knows

> how I can get some help.

> Here's my story. I found out my son, now 16, had Aspengers when he was

> 5. He was having problems in pre-k, but I really didnt know until he

> started having learning problems when he started school. After a lot

> of hard work he started to do better in school, but always worked at a

> 3rd to 4th grade level. When he entered the 6th grade I started to

> notice a change in him. He complained about being sick a lot and not

> wanting to go to school, but we made it through the grade and he

> passed to the 7th. Thats were he started to miss school more and more.

> Then he went to the 8th grade and it got even worse. He missed more

> days of school than ever. He had real medical problems with his

> stomach and allergies that already made it hard to know if he was

> really sick or just wanting to stay home. Finally, the school got

> involved and took us to court. He was first put on probation with the

> county. 6 months into his probation period and still not going to

> school he was place on state probation. He was at this time repeating

> the 8th grade and was getting more difficult to get up and made to get

> on the bus to go to school. Like I said, Im a single, working mom. I

> leave before the bus gets to the house which made it difficult to make

> him get on the bus. My mom tried to help me with him, but she is now

> 85 and cannot control him. Because of all the time he missed from

> school his probation officer and her supervisor decided he will go to

> a facility 2 hrs away from home called Macon Behavioral. He was placed

> there on Thurs Jun 26th. of this year. He has already had problems

> with the other boys. He's in there with problem boys with really bad

> behavior problems. Nothing like my son. The first full day he was

> there the other boys started to make fun of him, hitting on him and

> while he was resting on the floor of one of the rooms he was kicked in

> the face by one of the boys that was trying to fight with him. My son

> is a big boy, around 250 and 6ft tall, but because of his condition

> he's not a fighter. He was scared to death and cried the whole time he

> was taking on the phone to me. He keeps telling me the other boys want

> to beat him up and he dont know why. He has always been in self

> contained classes at school and never has been with the normal kids in

> a class setting and he dont know how to handle them.

> Ive contacted his probation officer and talked to her supervisor. They

> told me that know one told them it actually happened. She acted like

> she could have cared less. One thing, my son wouldnt lie about that

> and secondly I talked to the nurse the same night that did the report

> on it. It happened!! I called the probation office and begged them to

> get him out of there. I told them he was going to get hurt. I havent

> heard from them yet. I also called the clinic and talked to another

> nurse the other night. They just told me he was ok and the night

> supervisor will let him call me the same night, but he never did!! If

> there's anyone out there with any advise for me and maybe lead me to

> the right people to get him out of there, I would appreciated it a

> lot. Im very worried about him, I havent slept well in day's. My name

> is and we live in GA. Someone please help my son and me.

>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG.

> Version: 8.0.101 / Virus Database: 270.4.3/1528 - Release Date:

7/1/2008 7:26 AM

>

July 2, 2008

Thank you for your response. We did get letters and had school

meetings. He had the same teacher for the last 2 yrs and we worked

together to help Nick, But once he decided he wasnt going to do what

he was told then it started to get worse. He became more defiant and

deeper in depression. I took him to a Psychiatrist and all they wanted

to do is put him on medications that made him sometimes sleep more and

he didnt act like a child at all. I could barely get him out of his

room to eat for months. He still is a little like that now, but since

he's been off of the meds he started to join his brother and I in

watching movies and other activities. I believe my son needs help in a

lot of area's, I just dont believe he's in the right place to help

him. Im not debating the fact he needs help. He's just not in a safe

place. He's scared. He's just not use to someone trying to fight with

him all the time. My son is a very sweet child and dont understand

what he has done to the other boys. I did talk to him today for a

while, he sounds better, still upset, but is trying real hard to get

along. Thanks for your concern, Ive got a lot of good information.

J

>

> The other ladies gave you good advice and you should follow it.

Also, contact once of the

> associations for Autism, they may be your best advocate because they

are fighting to make

> people more aware.

>

> I have to ask you. It took a couple years of your son missing school

for it to get this far. I

> assume that the truancy agency sent or verbally told you the

consequences of what would

> occur if this continued. Did you seek help other than your mother

during this time to see

> what else was available for your son? I assume your son has a dx of

autism since he was

> in

> a specialty class room, which I am not convinced is the best thing

for Asperger kids. IMO

> this only further cripples their interaction with the rest of the

world but that is water under

> the bridge now.

>

> A Psychologist or Psychiatrist that deals solely with kids that

have learning differences can

> be a great asset in finding alternative methods for your child to

learn. Virtual school is

> one.

> Perhaps he would prefer to take classes on a computer at home and do

the work when he

> is up and awake. There may be other options in your area, also. But

you need to connect

> with the people who know the American with Disabilities Act and the

No Child Left Behind

> Act. And that is NOT the public school system. Your son needs a

place to learn where he

> feels safe, and with someone who can be firm yet loving with him.

>

> Good luck.

>

> Dee ><)))*>

>

July 2, 2008

Thank you for you support. Ive have a lot of good information from

everyone. Our prayers will be answered. He needs help, I just dont

feel this is the right kind of help.

>

> From: cchrstms <cchrstms@...>

> Subject: ( ) Child with Aspergers put in state mental

facility.

>

> Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 4:06 PM