Re: New to group and new to aspergers

[Guest guest]

Yes he will need to be evaluated by the school. Push for an IEP not a 504 if

possible. Check out this website for information on the process in Texas.

Start this process asap because it can take a while.

http://www.texasprojectfirst.org/

Have you talked to your dr about medicine for the anxiety? Try contacting your

sons teacher before school starts. Sit down with him/her and provide as much

information about your son as possible. Maybe you could have your son meet the

teacher in advance and tour the school. This may help him with his anxiety.

Good luck.

Vickie

>

> Hi! I'm Walton and I live in Greeville, Texas. I have a 6 year old boy

who was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome by his pediatrician. I was

told by someone that in order to get any help from his school the school will

also have to evaluate him. We knew since he was very little that he had social

anxiety issues but never really followed through with our suspicions and know he

is about to start first grade and tells us he hates school and is never going

back. Last year he spent about three months of school vomiting because school

made him so anxious. I am really worried about this year and what I will have

to go through to get my son the help he needs. If anyone has any advice for a

beginner please let me know. What should I tell his teacher and how should I go

about getting help. Also if anyone has any ideas on teaching social skills or

dealing with social situations please let me know.

>

> Thank you all in advance,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I'm in Austin. Where's Greeville?

"Over-optimism is waiting for you ship to come in when you haven't sent one out."

From: amanda.walton77 <amanda.walton77@...> Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 9:02:20 PMSubject: ( ) New to group and new to aspergers

Hi! I'm Walton and I live in Greeville, Texas. I have a 6 year old boy who was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome by his pediatrician. I was told by someone that in order to get any help from his school the school will also have to evaluate him. We knew since he was very little that he had social anxiety issues but never really followed through with our suspicions and know he is about to start first grade and tells us he hates school and is never going back. Last year he spent about three months of school vomiting because school made him so anxious. I am really worried about this year and what I will have to go through to get my son the help he needs. If anyone has any advice for a beginner please let me know. What should I tell his teacher and how should I go about getting help. Also if anyone has any ideas on teaching social skills or dealing with social situations please let me know. Thank you all in advance,

[Guest guest]

Social skills: Get a sensory evaluation (psychiatrist or ped will most likely have to do a referral) done at

an O.T. place is my best recommendation.

Get your child on the waiting list for a waiver through the department of human services, an appropriate waiver

for your child's diagnoses in your state (in home services rock, and ours include social skills training as well as a lot

of community support outside our home and we get respite as well!).

And, an amazing therapist to help teach the child emotions, feelings, etc., etc. etc.....

ANXIETY PROBLEMS:

SOME ARE GOING TO COMPLAIN BECAUSE I AM GOING TO SUGGEST MEDICATION: That being said, I

am TOTALLY AWARE THAT MEDS ARE NOT FOR ALL---that is FINE---to each there own: HOWEVER,

if your child had diabetes and needed insulin to live, would you withhold the insulin? As professionals told us

when WE WERE FIGHTING AGAINST MEDS, we would NOT (not give our child insulin---amazing enough, the child

in question at the time, is NOW A TYPE I DIABETIC, and we are having to GIVE HIM INSULIN----weird, isn't it?),

and to a person who REALLY HAS ADHD, for example,

to NOT give them RITALIN so their 'wires' can be reconnected (brain is like that---and 'like wires cut' if have ADHD--

ritilin 'reconnects the wires')-is just like not giving the Type I diabetic insulin--how professionals explained it to us....

we agreed, and our lives changed for the better immediately!

ANYWAY, that being said:

I would strongly recommend medicating the child for the anxiety proponet of Aspergers.

As a professional years ago once told me, when a person's (anyone, not just 'our' children)

issue (s) affect the entire family or alter their ability to live every day, it is time to consider

medications to help and / or to alter doses (if already medicated). Example of each: when

our 15 year old was 4-9 years of age, he would vomit every single time he went somewhere

mainly NEW, sometimes multiple times of going there (karate class---he loved it, but we had

to pull over for him to be ill on the way 1-3 times each time for several weeks)--by 10, we

were having to cancel trips LITERALLY because he would NOT come with us (or make it so

there was NO WAY YOU WERE GOING TO LEAVE---for real----even to see relatives!). TODAY,

for a current example now that he IS medicated, we are advocating to have his anxiety med

put back to where it was (3 times a day---center he lives in just refuses to do it more than 2 times,

and his psychiatrist HERE did the 3 times a day and it WORKS AMAZING FOR HIM) because our

son is having a lot of issues 4-8 pm (which were NOT occuring when he was medicated again at 3 pm

with his buspar), it is ABOUT like he is NOT medicated again---over the weekend, even though

he was looking forward to attending our neighborhood block party, at the last minute, we had to

NOT GO---he was going to totally melt down at nearly 16 years of age over it (and that is NOT OKAY---

whenever 'the person's' behaviors alter his and / or everyone else's life around them, it is time to

consider medications-----my husband and I are again, advocating ---if he were living at home, it would

NOT BE AN ISSUE---a phone call, explaination of what he is doing, and them helping us would HAPPEN.

Anyway, we are very upset STILL that we did not get to attend....and that is ONE MINOR event but this

is for a whole lot of things, and that is just not okay.....

Our eight year old has been medicated for the anxiety proponent since he was 5, and recently, he was

like NON-MEDICATED for anxiety----jets were hitting our home, any noise was a break in to kill us and all

the other over the top stop---a minor dose adjustment was what the psychiatrist suggested, and two months

later, our son is like a new kiddos-----.

Most important to remember is that NO ONE WANTS TO HAVE TO FEEL LIKE THAT, so, our kids need our help....

Since your child is sooooo obviously having severe anxiety, your pediatrician may be willing to medicate the child

for anxiety...if so, great..............if not, you will have to wait to get the child in to a psychiatrist. I would still

recommend seeing a psychiatrist ANYWAY and letting them regulate those medications; the pediatrician may be

willing to help you in the 'meantime' as it can take 2-6 months to get in to the psychiatrist for the first time, and it

sounds like your child cannot wait as school is just about to start.....advocate THAT way to the pediatrician, and

they may be happy to help you as well as SUGGEST a psychiatrist TO GO TO in your area. Good luck.

Ruthie and Dolezal

parents of 15 and 8 year old sons with A.S. (and more)

and NT 6 years and 10 weeks old sons.

From: amanda.walton77@...Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:02:20 +0000Subject: ( ) New to group and new to aspergers

Hi! I'm Walton and I live in Greeville, Texas. I have a 6 year old boy who was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome by his pediatrician. I was told by someone that in order to get any help from his school the school will also have to evaluate him. We knew since he was very little that he had social anxiety issues but never really followed through with our suspicions and know he is about to start first grade and tells us he hates school and is never going back. Last year he spent about three months of school vomiting because school made him so anxious. I am really worried about this year and what I will have to go through to get my son the help he needs. If anyone has any advice for a beginner please let me know. What should I tell his teacher and how should I go about getting help. Also if anyone has any ideas on teaching social skills or dealing with social situations please let me know. Thank you all in advance,

[Guest guest]

>

> I was told by someone that in order to get any help from his school the school

will also have to evaluate him.

Hi . I am also from Texas--suburban Houston. Yes, the school must also do

an evaluation, but you can (and should) ask them to use the report from your own

evaluation as input. The school's evaluation will be different. They will do

more educational testing and more actual observation. My school district did not

repeat the testing we already had done, but rather added more, different tests

and observations to it.

> We knew since he was very little that he had social anxiety issues but never

really followed through with our suspicions and know he is about to start first

grade and tells us he hates school and is never going back. Last year he spent

about three months of school vomiting because school made him so anxious.

I agree with what others are saying. Find a psychiatrist, hopefully one with

experience with kids with ASD, and see what they think they can do with

medication. Obviously, you also need to find out what is going on at school that

he is so anxious. I would say you need to ask for an evaluation pronto.

> What should I tell his teacher and how should I go about getting help.

I would tell her about his symptoms, describe problems the teacher had last year

and what solutions she found, describe your son's strengths and weaknesses,

describe what your son is going through. Ask her what she thinks, what she

thinks you should do.

Probably the easiest way to find out what to do is call up your school district

special ed department and ask them what to do. Tell them about the diagnosis,

your son's problems, and ask their advice. They will most likely tell you a

little bit about how special ed works.

Since you have a firm diagnosis, it may not be as hard to get help as people are

saying. My son is 14 with Asperger, by the way. Once we had an official

diagnosis from Texas Children's, he was immediately put on a 504 Plan after a

short observational period. The hospital said he needed an IEP, but the school

insisted on trying a 504. I could see they needed to see for themselves, so I

didn't fight it. After about a year, they realized the 504 wasn't enough, did an

autism evaluation, and put him in special ed. By special ed, I don't mean in a

special ed classroom, by the way. Since they are bright, most Asperger kids are

put in normal classrooms with facilitators and/or resource room support.

Anyway, from the time we handed the school the diagnosis to the time our son was

given full special ed services was a little bit less than 2 school years. And

he was on a 504 Plan with accommodations the whole time, so he had at least some

support from the moment they got the diagnosis.

Just to give you an idea, your first step will be to ask the school IN WRITING

for a full and individual special education evaluation, detailing your concerns

and what you want checked out. It is important to give this some thought, as

they don't " have " to do anything you don't specifically ask for. In Texas, if

you let them know your son has a condition on the autism spectrum, they must

evaluate your son under what they call the autism supplement as well as the main

special ed evaluation. Once you make this written request, they have a certain

time frame to either do the evaluation or inform you in writing as to why not.

Like I said, contact your school district for details specific to your school

district. For example, my school district has a parent input form they have

parents fill out. Also, they will need to tell you who to give the request to at

your particular school building.

> Also if anyone has any ideas on teaching social skills or dealing with social

situations please let me know.

I am not very good at this myself. There are social skills training group

therapy for ASD kids that can help you with this. If you get special ed services

at school, this will most likely be part of the services. You can also find some

private groups. They can be hard to find. Ask the school counselor if she knows

of any, your family doctor, whoever diagnosed your son, your local autism

groups, etc.

Hope this helps! Good luck. There are several of us from Texas on the list;

don't hesitate to ask if you have questions.

[Guest guest]

>

> Get your child on the waiting list for a waiver through the department of

human services, an appropriate waiver

>

> for your child's diagnoses in your state (in home services rock, and ours

include social skills training as well as a lot

> of community support outside our home and we get respite as well!).

> And, an amazing therapist to help teach the child emotions, feelings, etc.,

etc. etc.....

FYI--to save you time and aggravation--you will not be getting this in Texas, at

least not any time soon. There are " some " services available for indigent

people, and some services available with waiting lists 10 years long, but don't

expect much. Texas is close to last in rankings for social services, and autism

is no exception.

That said, you should go ahead and register even though your child would be an

adult by the time you get anything--so the need is registered. There are people

working to make things better, and that is something you can do to help.

[Guest guest]

>

> Get your child on the waiting list for a waiver through the department of

human services, an appropriate waiver

>

> for your child's diagnoses in your state (in home services rock, and ours

include social skills training as well as a lot

> of community support outside our home and we get respite as well!).

> And, an amazing therapist to help teach the child emotions, feelings, etc.,

etc. etc.....

FYI--to save you time and aggravation--you will not be getting this in Texas, at

least not any time soon. There are " some " services available for indigent

people, and some services available with waiting lists 10 years long, but don't

expect much. Texas is close to last in rankings for social services, and autism

is no exception.

That said, you should go ahead and register even though your child would be an

adult by the time you get anything--so the need is registered. There are people

working to make things better, and that is something you can do to help.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

In some ways I am in the same boat. My son, Caleb, 15 was recently diagnosed

with AS and significant ADHD inattentive type. As I look back, I see it all so

clearly now. He is starting high school this year. This is his first year back

in brick/mortar schools if you will. He has been home schooled via Minnesota

Virtual Academy. I am very concerned about his returning.

He has been enrolled in a High School that has an AS program. I am just

concerned that he won't receive the special ed that he needs. He is very

smart...but, obviously his social skills will need help. I am so concerned that

he won't receive the help he so needs. He is seeing a therapist, and that has

helped. I am hoping just being back in the public school setting will help a

lot. Now that he knows why he is the way he is that in itself has helped. It is

very difficult seeing him try so hard to socialize, but struggling and then just

waunders off. Breaks my heart. I have heard really good things about the

program he is going into...i just pray that it will be what he needs. As for

medication, he is on Concerta at the moment. It might take a few months to nail

the dosage down.

A person I met said you really have to advocate for your child to make sure they

get what they deserve. He said they have certain rights as to what they need?

But, what are those rights? What do I ask the school for to make sure he does

get what he deserves? Any suggestions?

Has anyone ever just struggled with the feelings of how did I not see this

sooner??? What is the matter with me & my husband that we could not see what he

was going through??

>

>

> Social skills: Get a sensory evaluation (psychiatrist or ped will most likely

have to do a referral) done at

>

> an O.T. place is my best recommendation.

>

>

>

> Get your child on the waiting list for a waiver through the department of

human services, an appropriate waiver

>

> for your child's diagnoses in your state (in home services rock, and ours

include social skills training as well as a lot

>

> of community support outside our home and we get respite as well!).

>

>

>

> And, an amazing therapist to help teach the child emotions, feelings, etc.,

etc. etc.....

>

>

>

> ANXIETY PROBLEMS:

>

> SOME ARE GOING TO COMPLAIN BECAUSE I AM GOING TO SUGGEST MEDICATION: That

being said, I

>

> am TOTALLY AWARE THAT MEDS ARE NOT FOR ALL---that is FINE---to each there own:

HOWEVER,

>

> if your child had diabetes and needed insulin to live, would you withhold the

insulin? As professionals told us

>

> when WE WERE FIGHTING AGAINST MEDS, we would NOT (not give our child

insulin---amazing enough, the child

>

> in question at the time, is NOW A TYPE I DIABETIC, and we are having to GIVE

HIM INSULIN----weird, isn't it?),

>

> and to a person who REALLY HAS ADHD, for example,

>

> to NOT give them RITALIN so their 'wires' can be reconnected (brain is like

that---and 'like wires cut' if have ADHD--

>

> ritilin 'reconnects the wires')-is just like not giving the Type I diabetic

insulin--how professionals explained it to us....

>

> we agreed, and our lives changed for the better immediately!

>

>

>

> ANYWAY, that being said:

>

>

>

> I would strongly recommend medicating the child for the anxiety proponet of

Aspergers.

>

> As a professional years ago once told me, when a person's (anyone, not just

'our' children)

>

> issue (s) affect the entire family or alter their ability to live every day,

it is time to consider

>

> medications to help and / or to alter doses (if already medicated). Example

of each: when

>

> our 15 year old was 4-9 years of age, he would vomit every single time he went

somewhere

>

> mainly NEW, sometimes multiple times of going there (karate class---he loved

it, but we had

>

> to pull over for him to be ill on the way 1-3 times each time for several

weeks)--by 10, we

>

> were having to cancel trips LITERALLY because he would NOT come with us (or

make it so

>

> there was NO WAY YOU WERE GOING TO LEAVE---for real----even to see

relatives!). TODAY,

>

> for a current example now that he IS medicated, we are advocating to have his

anxiety med

>

> put back to where it was (3 times a day---center he lives in just refuses to

do it more than 2 times,

>

> and his psychiatrist HERE did the 3 times a day and it WORKS AMAZING FOR HIM)

because our

>

> son is having a lot of issues 4-8 pm (which were NOT occuring when he was

medicated again at 3 pm

>

> with his buspar), it is ABOUT like he is NOT medicated again---over the

weekend, even though

>

> he was looking forward to attending our neighborhood block party, at the last

minute, we had to

>

> NOT GO---he was going to totally melt down at nearly 16 years of age over it

(and that is NOT OKAY---

>

> whenever 'the person's' behaviors alter his and / or everyone else's life

around them, it is time to

>

> consider medications-----my husband and I are again, advocating ---if he were

living at home, it would

>

> NOT BE AN ISSUE---a phone call, explaination of what he is doing, and them

helping us would HAPPEN.

>

>

>

> Anyway, we are very upset STILL that we did not get to attend....and that is

ONE MINOR event but this

>

> is for a whole lot of things, and that is just not okay.....

>

>

>

> Our eight year old has been medicated for the anxiety proponent since he was

5, and recently, he was

>

> like NON-MEDICATED for anxiety----jets were hitting our home, any noise was a

break in to kill us and all

>

> the other over the top stop---a minor dose adjustment was what the

psychiatrist suggested, and two months

>

> later, our son is like a new kiddos-----.

>

>

>

> Most important to remember is that NO ONE WANTS TO HAVE TO FEEL LIKE THAT, so,

our kids need our help....

>

>

>

> Since your child is sooooo obviously having severe anxiety, your pediatrician

may be willing to medicate the child

>

> for anxiety...if so, great..............if not, you will have to wait to get

the child in to a psychiatrist. I would still

>

> recommend seeing a psychiatrist ANYWAY and letting them regulate those

medications; the pediatrician may be

>

> willing to help you in the 'meantime' as it can take 2-6 months to get in to

the psychiatrist for the first time, and it

>

> sounds like your child cannot wait as school is just about to

start.....advocate THAT way to the pediatrician, and

>

> they may be happy to help you as well as SUGGEST a psychiatrist TO GO TO in

your area. Good luck.

>

>

>

> Ruthie and Dolezal

>

> parents of 15 and 8 year old sons with A.S. (and more)

>

> and NT 6 years and 10 weeks old sons.

>

>

>

>

> From: amanda.walton77@...

> Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:02:20 +0000

> Subject: ( ) New to group and new to aspergers

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi! I'm Walton and I live in Greeville, Texas. I have a 6 year old boy

who was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome by his pediatrician. I was

told by someone that in order to get any help from his school the school will

also have to evaluate him. We knew since he was very little that he had social

anxiety issues but never really followed through with our suspicions and know he

is about to start first grade and tells us he hates school and is never going

back. Last year he spent about three months of school vomiting because school

made him so anxious. I am really worried about this year and what I will have to

go through to get my son the help he needs. If anyone has any advice for a

beginner please let me know. What should I tell his teacher and how should I go

about getting help. Also if anyone has any ideas on teaching social skills or

dealing with social situations please let me know.

>

> Thank you all in advance,

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> > A person I met said you really have to advocate for your child to make sure

they get what they deserve. He said they have certain rights as to what they

need? But, what are those rights? What do I ask the school for to make sure he

does get what he deserves? Any suggestions?

Since he is in a program for AS, the first step would be to look at what he is

getting versus what he needs. What does this program entail, exactly? What do

your son's evaluations say he needs help with? Does he need more evaluating or

observations to be able to tell? What needs has the school established? Do you

agree? Do you think they are missing anything? Do you agree that the

interventions planned will work? Do you have other ideas that they have not

thought of (and vice versa)?

> Has anyone ever just struggled with the feelings of how did I not see this

sooner??? What is the matter with me & my husband that we could not see what he

was going through??

{{{hugs}}} Don't blame yourselves. Try to move on and focus on the future.

High school is not too late. Our son was not officially diagnosed until age 12,

so you are not alone.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Greenville is about 45 minutes northeast of Dallas.

From: MacAllister <smacalli@...> Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 10:16:37 AMSubject: Re: ( ) New to group and new to aspergers

Hello,

I'm in Austin. Where's Greeville?

"Over-optimism is waiting for you ship to come in when you haven't sent one out."

From: amanda.walton77 <amanda.walton77> Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 9:02:20 PMSubject: ( ) New to group and new to aspergers

Hi! I'm Walton and I live in Greeville, Texas. I have a 6 year old boy who was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome by his pediatrician. I was told by someone that in order to get any help from his school the school will also have to evaluate him. We knew since he was very little that he had social anxiety issues but never really followed through with our suspicions and know he is about to start first grade and tells us he hates school and is never going back. Last year he spent about three months of school vomiting because school made him so anxious. I am really worried about this year and what I will have to go through to get my son the help he needs. If anyone has any advice for a beginner please let me know. What should I tell his teacher and how should I go about getting help. Also if anyone has any ideas on teaching social skills or dealing with social situations please let me know. Thank you all in advance,

[Guest guest]

Hey Ruthie! Nice to see you! How is the baby?

Roxanna

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." E. Burke

( ) New to group and new to aspergers

Hi! I'm Walton and I live in Greeville, Texas. I have a 6 year old boy who was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome by his pediatrician. I was told by someone that in order to get any help from his school the school will also have to evaluate him. We knew since he was very little that he had social anxiety issues but never really followed through with our suspicions and know he is about to start first grade and tells us he hates school and is never going back. Last year he spent about three months of school vomiting because school made him so anxious. I am really worried about this year and what I will have to go through to get my son the help he needs. If anyone has any advice for a beginner please let me know. What should I tell his teacher and how should I go about getting help. Also if anyone has any ideas on teaching social skills or dealing with social situations please let me know.

Thank you all in advance,