PT and autism!!! Lets teach with love not force:)

June 21, 2009

My son is 4 years old. He gets st,ot,pt during school. School is out so we do

private therpies until school is back in. We went to our first Pt appt for the

summer last week. It was with the same Pt that saw him last year. She does know

his backround of medical conditions and so on. When we got there she wanted the

student that she is shadowing to do the eval. I was fine with that. There

pediatric pt room is really nice and has all outside equip inside so they can

get a good eval. I explained that my son has been through alot lately and that

his behavior takes some more patience and understanding. After all autism is not

easy and I think it takes a kind heart. Here is how our appt went: Pam the reg

theripist was keeping him busy and doing lots of things like seeing if he can

get in and out of the ball pit himself, walk on balance beams, climb a rosy

climber and so on. He played hard and was very tired. The student pt went over

his medical history and goals for pt with me (mom). I noticed he was tired and I

told them that he prob will not do much more exercises and so forth. He went up

the rosy climber.He was scared to come down by himself and reg pt did get him

to comply with coming down himself. Then up again he went.This time the student

pt was helping him. When coming down she put a crash mat at the bottom. He

thought what any kid would she wants me to jump!!! I told him not to so he

didn't. She was helping him down and he lost footing. She could not lift/ catch

him so they both fell backward and he hurt his back. Personally she should have

left him hit the crash mat. Instead she tried to break the fall which really is

only 3 steps up. end result he got hurt and has another meltdown. They left the

room for me to calm him down. Them coming back in I told them he was done for

the day. We was only there any hr. Upon her coming back in she got smart with me

(mom). Told me that my son is going to have to follow the rules and cannot be

running wild!! Hello, he would not have been if he would not have gotten hurt.

Student pt also said he cannot be throwing balls outside of the ball pit. They

asked him to help pick up the balls for the ball pit. I gave him his favorite

color so he would help. At this point I was done as well. Also they had him

playing basketball so I'm sure that he not going to make it everytime and some

balls are going to be outside the ball pit. He did not want to pick up the balls

and I was using my techniques of encouragement and praise for helping if I could

get him to comply. Not them pt's she walked right over made him pick it up and

put it in the ball pit. This truely set off a meltdown. He belined for the door.

Student pt also did, well instead of letting him out the door his head got hit

in the door. Can u believe that she hit him with the door. Now it was even

worse. He didn;t even want me now. he just ran and screamed. Myheart broke into

a million peices. Here I thought soon as these balls was picked up we was out of

there. To calm him down I told him that she would say that she was sorry. Do u

think student pt did....??? NO!!! She actually laughed!! Now I was pissed. I

told her that she was expecting to much. He does have autism and he doesn't

learn things overnight, That she needed to understand more. She said ' Well he

needs to follow our rules. I was irrate. I soon got him to come back to me and I

held him and told him that she was sorry since she didn't know how to say

that!!! We left and I cried the whole way home and and well for the rest of the

day. He got his back hurt cause student pt thought she knew what she was doing,

He got his head hit by a steel door ( he does have epielpsy so I freak out every

time he hits his head)by student pt cause she thought that would be better then

me catching him down the hallway. So they want to force him to do there

excerises and force him to pick up balls and using force to get him to

cooperate. I do not want my autism child to be force anything. I do not want my

child in that misery. We use autism pecs and ecouragement, praise, love ,

understanding and lots of charts and things to get him to comply. He does have

disabilities so there for it takes time and patience. I am very upset of how all

this went down. Each little thing happen so fast. She didn't even ask about

making him pick a ball up she just walked over and did it. This is the second

time I've had to deal with a health care worker being just down right

wrong,rude:( Its been 3 days and I just don't want to go back there. Autism is

not a tradedy its the selfish ones that don't understand. I am not going to

force my son to learn things I will teach with love as his pt, sp, ot do at

school. Teaching by force what are u teaching???????????????? Any advice for my

horrible pt appt or give your opionin:)

June 21, 2009

>

> Any advice for my horrible pt appt or give your opionin:)

I could be totally off here, since I don't know your son's background--but I am

wondering--does he need formal PT? Your description of the session sounds just

like what my son (DCD) as a preschooler in kiddie gymnastics. I found a place

that wasn't all focused on competition; he loved it and got lots of exercise and

coordination practice. It was for a full hour, and they did things on all the

equipment, as well as floor exercises. One difference could be--my son is

hypo-sensitive as opposed to hyper-sensitive, so my son could tolerate a normal

class size. And they did not do things like tie shoes, fix meals and ride

bikes, like your aspie may need. That is one thing--you are so lucky to have a

diagnosis so young so you are aware of such needs. I can't get anyone to help

my son with these things now that he is older; it is all on my husband's and my

shoulders.

Ruth

June 21, 2009

Honestly, you need to pick up the phone and call. Speak only to

the NON student, and express (eloquently and with facts) how disappointed you

were with the way the student PT treated your son. Just tell it like it is, and

request that she not be present at any future appointments. That IS your right.

Obviously, I assume, that the other PT isn’t an issue?? This is the avenue I

would take

Good luck, and keep us posted. Oh, and give your son a few extra

hugs from us, too. Poor sweetie!!

=)

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of laughlove3

Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 12:13 PM

Subject: ( ) PT and autism!!! Lets teach with love not

force:)

My son is 4 years old. He gets st,ot,pt during

school. School is out so we do private therpies until school is back in. We

went to our first Pt appt for the summer last week. It was with the same Pt

that saw him last year. She does know his backround of medical conditions and

so on. When we got there she wanted the student that she is shadowing to do the

eval. I was fine with that. There pediatric pt room is really nice and has all

outside equip inside so they can get a good eval. I explained that my son has

been through alot lately and that his behavior takes some more patience and

understanding. After all autism is not easy and I think it takes a kind heart.

Here is how our appt went: Pam the reg theripist was keeping him busy and doing

lots of things like seeing if he can get in and out of the ball pit himself,

walk on balance beams, climb a rosy climber and so on. He played hard and was

very tired. The student pt went over his medical history and goals for pt with

me (mom). I noticed he was tired and I told them that he prob will not do much

more exercises and so forth. He went up the rosy climber.He was scared to come

down by himself and reg pt did get him to comply with coming down himself. Then

up again he went.This time the student pt was helping him. When coming down she

put a crash mat at the bottom. He thought what any kid would she wants me to

jump!!! I told him not to so he didn't. She was helping him down and he lost

footing. She could not lift/ catch him so they both fell backward and he hurt

his back. Personally she should have left him hit the crash mat. Instead she

tried to break the fall which really is only 3 steps up. end result he got hurt

and has another meltdown. They left the room for me to calm him down. Them

coming back in I told them he was done for the day. We was only there any hr.

Upon her coming back in she got smart with me (mom). Told me that my son is

going to have to follow the rules and cannot be running wild!! Hello, he would

not have been if he would not have gotten hurt. Student pt also said he cannot

be throwing balls outside of the ball pit. They asked him to help pick up the

balls for the ball pit. I gave him his favorite color so he would help. At this

point I was done as well. Also they had him playing basketball so I'm sure that

he not going to make it everytime and some balls are going to be outside the

ball pit. He did not want to pick up the balls and I was using my techniques of

encouragement and praise for helping if I could get him to comply. Not them

pt's she walked right over made him pick it up and put it in the ball pit. This

truely set off a meltdown. He belined for the door. Student pt also did, well

instead of letting him out the door his head got hit in the door. Can u believe

that she hit him with the door. Now it was even worse. He didn;t even want me

now. he just ran and screamed. Myheart broke into a million peices. Here I

thought soon as these balls was picked up we was out of there. To calm him down

I told him that she would say that she was sorry. Do u think student pt

did....??? NO!!! She actually laughed!! Now I was pissed. I told her that she

was expecting to much. He does have autism and he doesn't learn things

overnight, That she needed to understand more. She said ' Well he needs to

follow our rules. I was irrate. I soon got him to come back to me and I held

him and told him that she was sorry since she didn't know how to say that!!! We

left and I cried the whole way home and and well for the rest of the day. He

got his back hurt cause student pt thought she knew what she was doing, He got

his head hit by a steel door ( he does have epielpsy so I freak out every time

he hits his head)by student pt cause she thought that would be better then me

catching him down the hallway. So they want to force him to do there excerises

and force him to pick up balls and using force to get him to cooperate. I do

not want my autism child to be force anything. I do not want my child in that

misery. We use autism pecs and ecouragement, praise, love , understanding and

lots of charts and things to get him to comply. He does have disabilities so

there for it takes time and patience. I am very upset of how all this went

down. Each little thing happen so fast. She didn't even ask about making him

pick a ball up she just walked over and did it. This is the second time I've

had to deal with a health care worker being just down right wrong,rude:( Its

been 3 days and I just don't want to go back there. Autism is not a tradedy its

the selfish ones that don't understand. I am not going to force my son to learn

things I will teach with love as his pt, sp, ot do at school. Teaching by force

what are u teaching???????????????? Any advice for my horrible pt appt or give

your opionin:)

June 21, 2009

i am so sorry to hear this, my son is 11 he was dx with asperger's in 2007 so we are fairly new to all this as well, my son like your son but only most recently been dx with epilipsy as well, he is now on meds for this so i do completely understand you freaking out over him being hit with door cuz i would have too.i dont blame you for not wanting to go back i have not had this problem, as my son loves working with his pt and ot, we dont usually miss but have a couple of times due to other priorites that could not be rearranged, he has actually cried when he cant go or they have to cancel. i dont have sound advice to give but do believe i would have to call and tell someone there what happened, i do feel for him and i am sure that you gave your son lots of hugs after that i dont

understand why some people have to be so down right mean and rude but they are out there and they need to have better understanding of our children i wish i knew how to show people or make them understand . hugs to you both and good luck. sherryFrom: laughlove3 <laughlove3@...> Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 10:43:13 AMSubject: ( ) PT and autism!!! Lets teach with love not force:)

My son is 4 years old. He gets st,ot,pt during school. School is out so we do private therpies until school is back in. We went to our first Pt appt for the summer last week. It was with the same Pt that saw him last year. She does know his backround of medical conditions and so on. When we got there she wanted the student that she is shadowing to do the eval. I was fine with that. There pediatric pt room is really nice and has all outside equip inside so they can get a good eval. I explained that my son has been through alot lately and that his behavior takes some more patience and understanding. After all autism is not easy and I think it takes a kind heart. Here is how our appt went: Pam the reg theripist was keeping him busy and doing lots of things like seeing if he can get in and out of the ball pit himself, walk on balance beams, climb a rosy climber and so on. He played hard and was very tired. The student pt went over his medical

history and goals for pt with me (mom). I noticed he was tired and I told them that he prob will not do much more exercises and so forth. He went up the rosy climber.He was scared to come down by himself and reg pt did get him to comply with coming down himself. Then up again he went.This time the student pt was helping him. When coming down she put a crash mat at the bottom. He thought what any kid would she wants me to jump!!! I told him not to so he didn't. She was helping him down and he lost footing. She could not lift/ catch him so they both fell backward and he hurt his back. Personally she should have left him hit the crash mat. Instead she tried to break the fall which really is only 3 steps up. end result he got hurt and has another meltdown. They left the room for me to calm him down. Them coming back in I told them he was done for the day. We was only there any hr. Upon her coming back in she got smart with me (mom). Told me that my son is

going to have to follow the rules and cannot be running wild!! Hello, he would not have been if he would not have gotten hurt. Student pt also said he cannot be throwing balls outside of the ball pit. They asked him to help pick up the balls for the ball pit. I gave him his favorite color so he would help. At this point I was done as well. Also they had him playing basketball so I'm sure that he not going to make it everytime and some balls are going to be outside the ball pit. He did not want to pick up the balls and I was using my techniques of encouragement and praise for helping if I could get him to comply. Not them pt's she walked right over made him pick it up and put it in the ball pit. This truely set off a meltdown. He belined for the door. Student pt also did, well instead of letting him out the door his head got hit in the door. Can u believe that she hit him with the door. Now it was even worse. He didn;t even want me now. he just ran and

screamed. Myheart broke into a million peices. Here I thought soon as these balls was picked up we was out of there. To calm him down I told him that she would say that she was sorry. Do u think student pt did....??? NO!!! She actually laughed!! Now I was pissed. I told her that she was expecting to much. He does have autism and he doesn't learn things overnight, That she needed to understand more. She said ' Well he needs to follow our rules. I was irrate. I soon got him to come back to me and I held him and told him that she was sorry since she didn't know how to say that!!! We left and I cried the whole way home and and well for the rest of the day. He got his back hurt cause student pt thought she knew what she was doing, He got his head hit by a steel door ( he does have epielpsy so I freak out every time he hits his head)by student pt cause she thought that would be better then me catching him down the hallway. So they want to force him to do

there excerises and force him to pick up balls and using force to get him to cooperate. I do not want my autism child to be force anything. I do not want my child in that misery. We use autism pecs and ecouragement, praise, love , understanding and lots of charts and things to get him to comply. He does have disabilities so there for it takes time and patience. I am very upset of how all this went down. Each little thing happen so fast. She didn't even ask about making him pick a ball up she just walked over and did it. This is the second time I've had to deal with a health care worker being just down right wrong,rude:( Its been 3 days and I just don't want to go back there. Autism is not a tradedy its the selfish ones that don't understand. I am not going to force my son to learn things I will teach with love as his pt, sp, ot do at school. Teaching by force what are u teaching???? ????????? ??? Any advice for my horrible pt appt or give your

opionin:)

June 21, 2009

It is like looking for a needle in a haystack looking

for supportive medical people. Even people that say they

are good with special needs kids often have not been with my daughter.

I have found it tramatic too. This would be the people

you would expect kindness from.

Until you find someone alot better it will be hard to

get over this feeling.

I do my best to interview doctors etc. Prior to any visits.

Even so some just are not a good match.

It is draining to interview people, ask their style of

operation, bed side manner etc and still have issues.

But our kids are very sensitive and it takes special

people to work with them.

I would be furious with this people. But I rarely if ever

express criticism. People are wired for tit for tat and I

never know when I will need someone's help in some

way I didn't expect.

But I would look elsewhere!!!!!!!

Pam

>

> My son is 4 years old. He gets st,ot,pt during school. School is out so we do