Re: Not sure how to handle...

[Guest guest]

I think I would express that...

No harm was done and there was no harm intended. She was trying to help her

classmates out. There should be no reason to berate her, but perhaps it could

be addressed in social skills training simply because bodily fluids are involved

(saliva and possibly blood). There was no intent...she simply didn't understand

the social rules. Punishment in this case is akin to arresting an infant for

taking someone's glasses and putting them in her mouth.

If the principal persisted, I might point out that the real issue is 'child

neglect and endangerment'. They left a 6 yr old Aspie with additional issues

unattended long enough that she was able to pull loose teeth from her classmates

mouths (with their consent), and she was exposed to bodily fluids. You could

even suggest that all 3 kids need to have their blood screened for diseases.

Perhaps, this was simply their way of providing OT to work on her fine motor

skills.

Or...he can just chalk it up as a cute innocent incident.

I'm homeschooling, so my tact is pretty low when it comes to dealing with

administrators, but I have a very hard time seeing how she did anything wrong.

It may be inappropriate and it may be necessary to teach her not to do it again,

but she was trying to be helpful and she was socializing. No need to blow a

teachable moment out of proportion.

-

>

> Hi all:

>

> Well I got a note yesterday my 6 yr old aspie blessing took two classmates

aside and pulled their loose teeth. Initially I thought she was helping them

wiggle their teeth but no I found out today she actually helped them pull them

OUT (ahahahha). I didn't know what to think at first but then thought about her

attending some future school reunion and these girls say I remember when you....

>

> Anyway today as I was picking up dd from school, the principal said he was

going to call me and that he had dd in office to discuss the " tooth pulling "

incident.

>

> I haven't heard from him yet but I am not even sure what to say. She has been

diagnosed with severe ADHD and AS. My first inclination is to ask where were the

teachers and assistant when this happened. My DD just can't be left

unsupervised. She is very high functioning and in a regular ed classroom. I

had an IEP meeting two weeks ago and it seemed the team blamed everything on

ADHD. I got the impression they ignored the AS diagnosis I got but did agree to

change her classification at my insistence. The team is really trying with

social skills classes once a week, weighted vest, independent seating, etc.

They are great but I feel they don't understand AS.

>

> I do get counseling services from the state and the counselor keeps STRONGLY

suggesting I medicate dd and feels most her issues are ADHD driven also. I was

hoping to eliminate all other options before having to make that decision.

>

> Your thoughts on how to respond to principal? They know I have been working

very hard at getting DD outside support.

>

> Maureen

>

[Guest guest]

Maureen,

Your concern about the teachers not understanding children on the spectrum is a

valid one. Please know that it is within your rights to find out everyone's

qualifications in the field of autism. If their qualifications are not enough,

the law has a provision that requires the district to obtain the appropriate

training for the teachers.

I recommend that you first start by asking for the qualifications of the

teaching staff as it regards to autism. You need to send the request in a

letter to the special services department of your district. When you get that

info., post the results back to us here and we will explore as a group what to

do next.

Regards,

>

> Hi all:

>

> Well I got a note yesterday my 6 yr old aspie blessing took two classmates

aside and pulled their loose teeth. Initially I thought she was helping them

wiggle their teeth but no I found out today she actually helped them pull them

OUT (ahahahha). I didn't know what to think at first but then thought about her

attending some future school reunion and these girls say I remember when you....

>

> Anyway today as I was picking up dd from school, the principal said he was

going to call me and that he had dd in office to discuss the " tooth pulling "

incident.

>

> I haven't heard from him yet but I am not even sure what to say. She has been

diagnosed with severe ADHD and AS. My first inclination is to ask where were the

teachers and assistant when this happened. My DD just can't be left

unsupervised. She is very high functioning and in a regular ed classroom. I

had an IEP meeting two weeks ago and it seemed the team blamed everything on

ADHD. I got the impression they ignored the AS diagnosis I got but did agree to

change her classification at my insistence. The team is really trying with

social skills classes once a week, weighted vest, independent seating, etc.

They are great but I feel they don't understand AS.

>

> I do get counseling services from the state and the counselor keeps STRONGLY

suggesting I medicate dd and feels most her issues are ADHD driven also. I was

hoping to eliminate all other options before having to make that decision.

>

> Your thoughts on how to respond to principal? They know I have been working

very hard at getting DD outside support.

>

> Maureen

>

[Guest guest]

ADHD ...What in the world? If she has AS than she has

AS with executive function deficits in attention, organization,

transitioning. When she is about 9 years old you can have

a neuropsychological assessment that will do tests to see

just how much her attentional deficit is.

AS is the more delibilitating disorder. Of course the school

wants to call it ADHD ...ADHD itself doesn't often qualify

under IEP.

Be careful treating attentional issues with AS. It is not the

same. Many many AS kids have anxiety and stimulants

like Ritalin make anxiety worse. Kids with AS often do

not have the same good response to stimulants that

pure ADHD hype kids do.

Rarely if ever have I heard that an AS child's social behavior

has improved with a stimulant.

Usually AS kids are so overwhelmed by the time they get home

from school that there are many meltdowns. Stimulants

don't improve this issue or reduce sensory overload.

Does your daughter have any anxiety?

I would write a note to the principal saying that

AS lack social perspective and she was thinking she was helping

not hurting anyone. They take things too literal.

If she doesn't have an aide can they give her a female buddy?

Usually this is possible up to grade 3. Someone needs

to keep an eye on her. There is no cure for lack

of perspective.

Pam

>

> Hi all:

>

> Well I got a note yesterday my 6 yr old aspie blessing took two classmates

aside and pulled their loose teeth. Initially I thought she was helping them

wiggle their teeth but no I found out today she actually helped them pull them

OUT (ahahahha). I didn't know what to think at first but then thought about her

attending some future school reunion and these girls say I remember when you....

>

> Anyway today as I was picking up dd from school, the principal said he was

going to call me and that he had dd in office to discuss the " tooth pulling "

incident.

>

> I haven't heard from him yet but I am not even sure what to say. She has been

diagnosed with severe ADHD and AS. My first inclination is to ask where were the

teachers and assistant when this happened. My DD just can't be left

unsupervised. She is very high functioning and in a regular ed classroom. I

had an IEP meeting two weeks ago and it seemed the team blamed everything on

ADHD. I got the impression they ignored the AS diagnosis I got but did agree to

change her classification at my insistence. The team is really trying with

social skills classes once a week, weighted vest, independent seating, etc.

They are great but I feel they don't understand AS.

>

> I do get counseling services from the state and the counselor keeps STRONGLY

suggesting I medicate dd and feels most her issues are ADHD driven also. I was

hoping to eliminate all other options before having to make that decision.

>

> Your thoughts on how to respond to principal? They know I have been working

very hard at getting DD outside support.

>

> Maureen

>