|
violetchild
Snowy Owl
Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Age: 42
Posts: 140
Location: Australia
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 1:31 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
Hi Jillysue, im an Aspie and also the mother of an Aspie.
I strongly suggest to try to keep your child in school as its so hard for us learning about neurotypical people and trying to understand them as much as we possibly can. The school days I'd think are your sons greatest opportunity to learn as much as possible about them and if you take him away from that re home school, his social aspects may end up far worst.
One dont just go to school to learn maths, english etc but one also goes to school to learn how to socialise as much as one can. The socialisation may be even more important then the other things which are learnt. |
|
| Back to top |
|
violetchild
Snowy Owl
Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Age: 42
Posts: 140
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 1:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I also want to say that my daughter was on a IEP right throu her public schooling (thou they never knew she had Asperger's). The school organised all of it so i never had imput other than reading it and signing it.. I always thought the plan her school put out for her as excellent. They dealt with getting big assessments done on the way she learnt, her memoryand other stuff by child professionals. The school (they had an exceptional head mistress) was so sensible.
From the time she started, the school put whatever steps they needed in place to deal with her behaviours. When she started at 5 yrs old, she'd just wander out of the school and away (she wouldnt worry about being lost or other things)... so they implimented someone watching her full time during the breaks.
By the time she was 6, she'd stopped the wandering away but was still unsafe as she'd climb up high playground equipment if she got to the big kids side (where she wasnt meant to be but she never did as told).. and jump from the very top (she had concussion sooo many times from jumping off wardrobes and things at home), so they kept her under watch in the playground and close to them full time. She needed that till she was about 8 or 9.
She was in special ed classes right throu still to get one to one help.
...........
Things did get far more difficult but that was when she was in high school cause she still hadnt been diagnosed so none of us could understand why she couldnt even keep her diary right (I had to keep buying them as she constantly lost them between school and home including all her notes from the school to me). She hated high school as she got teased (the school tried to sort things)
She then started wagging school at 12 yrs old (wandering off after i'd got her to the school, before she'd signed into home class) and was going to the park to get cigarettes (i was horrified as no one in family smokes) from strangers in the public toilets. By 13 she was refusing entirely to go to school and i couldnt get her there (as she'd jump out the car while it was moving!!).
As i was going to get into trouble with the school for her non attendance, i decided to get in first so rang the education dept.. asking them how i could make my daughter get to school. The education dept.. told the school that it was up to them to get my daughter there.
So her favorite teacher came to our home to try to talk her into it.. my daughter just shut her door and held it shut and sat on other side of it, singing and humming loudly so she didnt have to hear the teacher, I couldnt even get her face to face with the teacher. When two teachers visits proved useless... the school had to make deals with her. They ended up getting her there by getting me to ask her what she'd like to be doing at school and what things she didnt like to do there. So a deal was struck that she wouldnt do the lessons she didnt like eg maths and instead the school had to make up special lessons with her eg doing gardening with her favourite teacher, learning about soap making? and other lessons which arent school lessons (teachers just did their favourite hobbies with my daughter if my daughter said they were interested in them). The poor school.. had to give her one to one time to do things which arent even school things.
She ended up leaving school when she turned almost 16
Anyway.. my whole point is that some schools can be great.. and really try. Aspies thou are just difficult to deal with both in and out of school. |
|
| Back to top |
|
rideon
Emu Egg
Joined: Jul 22, 2010
Posts: 5
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:34 pm Post subject: IEP Goals need to be specific |
|
|
here is a sample of an iep that I wrote up for class...the goals need to be very specific and measurable so you can tell if they have been attained in the past year getting my masters in special ed I have reviewed some of the worst IEP's ever written while doing my student teaching -- the poor kids but brilliant for the school system really skating by ---
Here is a good website to help you it is extensive but I would be happy to share all my notes if you email me, much of it came from my course work. This website I have they won't let me post because I ahven't yet made five posts....I will do that now (I am a new member and then post the link for you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
DW_a_mom
Ignoring the To-Do List
Joined: Feb 23, 2008
Posts: 9295
Location: Northern California
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ckay wrote: | | He hates keyboarding, but loves computers. |
How old is he? A rarely acknowledged reality seems to be that most kids don't have the hand development to keyboard effectively and comfortably before 5th grade or so. While a few kids can learn earlier, most just get frustrated. Perhaps he is simply not ready. It may change as he gets older. My son's keyboarding took off when he was in 6th grade. Before that, he was introduced, but not pushed.
_________________
Mom to an amazing AS boy (plus a non-AS daughter). Have at least a few AS genes myself, although probably more NT than AS.
---
Think of the greening of my name as an emeritus thing; I used to be a moderator but am retired and have no authority to act |
|
| Back to top |
|
DW_a_mom
Ignoring the To-Do List
Joined: Feb 23, 2008
Posts: 9295
Location: Northern California
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ckay wrote: | | He hates keyboarding, but loves computers. |
How old is he? A rarely acknowledged reality seems to be that most kids don't have the hand development to keyboard effectively and comfortably before 5th grade or so. While a few kids can learn earlier, most just get frustrated. Perhaps he is simply not ready. It may change as he gets older. My son's keyboarding took off when he was in 6th grade. Before that, he was introduced, but not pushed.
OK, I found a post that says he is 14 ... so, old enough to learn, but if he has issues in his hands, it still isn't a perfect solution, and maybe he's had too many frustrating years behind him to get beyond the frustration. That is a difficult one; maybe it's time to go to voice software (I fought against that with my son because I wanted him to learn keyboarding, but at some point you do have to call it).
_________________
Mom to an amazing AS boy (plus a non-AS daughter). Have at least a few AS genes myself, although probably more NT than AS.
---
Think of the greening of my name as an emeritus thing; I used to be a moderator but am retired and have no authority to act |
|
| Back to top |
|
JamieB
Emu Egg
Joined: Jul 25, 2010
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:49 am Post subject: I.E.P |
|
|
Hi there I am a mom of a teen aspie my sons iep is very comprehensive some of the things in his plan are knowing he can bring work home ( this helps with the pressure of keeping up in class.)
If there are test problems he can come back in the next day to finish it
Isats have there own small group testing with breaks if needed to be determined by my son.
I email the teachers a reminder to send any unfinished or not turned in work to the office on fridays and i will return them on Mondays sometimes aspies just miss getting an assignment some times.
He can leave class 5 minutes early (he's in highschool by the way) this helps him get to his class with a minimum of sensory overload.
He also has one set of books at home and his teachers keep a book for him in class this helps him with sensory overload and the general muscle weakness that is quite common with aspies as a result he doesn't have to share a locker either which can also be very unerving
His teachers are required to give him copies of notes for studing or otherwise
I also make sure that all of his teachers fully understand that almost all of his actions are neither malicious or willful not all of them get it and i can usually tell which ones don't by his grades in the class
I think you should strongly advocate for your child but yyou must also be flexible. it is in your childs best interest if you understand that sometimes the iep plan doesn't work for all teachers let them know to come to you with e-mail or phone so you can troubleshoot these for your child.
This year i told my son that if the kids were too malicious and he was having too many problems with bullying that he could do online high school instead I really think that knowing that he had that option made things much easier to bear he has worked very hard with everyone so if he keeps getting harassed I want him to know that it's not his fault and give him options. |
|
| Back to top |
|
StatMama
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Aug 15, 2010
Posts: 34
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I think that was really impressive and shows great insight into your child's challenges and needs. It just again goes to prove what I have always believed; parents are their children's greatest allies, and the ones who absolutely have the greatest impact upon their outcomes.
In dealing with the public school system last year, my daughter's first year of public school, I went in optimistic and hopeful but found myself being more forceful than I thought I should have to be to get anything accomplished. CCing the Superintendent of schools got things accomplished and made meetings happen rather quickly. Of course, I don't think I am exactly well-liked by the principal, the special services coordinator, or anyone else that had to deal with me - but my daughter's needs were being met by the end of the year. Er, mostly.
_________________
Mom to two amazing children diagnosed with autism: 7 year-old daughter and 5 year-old son. |
|
| Back to top |
|
KissOfMarmaladeSky
Phoenix
Joined: Aug 25, 2010
Posts: 532
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
I never really got a strengths or needs thing, mostly stuff like, "She is arguementative and uncompliant. She does not follow rules. She repeatedly lies. She gets depressed easily and can say things like, 'I wish I was in Heaven', and 'Heaven is better than being here'. She cannot control her emotions. She plugs and covers her ears when exposed to loud noises. She doesn't respect the teacher and doesn't understand the kids. She likes to be alone and refuses to talk to others. She doesn't talk about normal things." The only thing close to strengths that I got was, "Good with metaphors, profiecent in writing, proficient at reading, and academically advanced." (Sorry if that was bragging...I'm sorry...)
I'm going to ask mom about my strengths and weaknesses. I have a feeling that "self-aware" and "intuitive" would be on the strengths part, and "hyper-emotional" and "prone to belligerence" would be on weaknesses. At least I think. |
|
| Back to top |
|
2berrryblondeboys
Blue Jay
Joined: Sep 26, 2010
Posts: 89
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| makelifehappen - the stengths and needs are almost exactly my son. Man I so hope they can SEE that at his IEP meeting on Wednesday. Thanks for sharing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
SonicBB
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Posts: 35
Location: US, dirty south
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:31 am Post subject: Re: my thoughts |
|
|
| outlander wrote: | | jaydog wrote: |
just so you know i had a pretty good education and did well in school, but parent divorces and family deaths and alcohol, diabetes, depression, family problems,adoption, family splitups, constant memories of bullying in school triggered, depression, ptsd, ocd,anxiety for me as an adult. The aspergers wasnt a issue for me, it was the neglect and ignorance and of others and family problems that is more severe then the aspergers as an adult. |
Wow! that has resonance with me!
I did not have the long litany of problems that you did but did have
-- Family strife
-- constant memories of bullying in school which probably qualify as ptsd
-- minor ocd
-- anxiety problems
The bummer is the flashbacks that I experience where suddenly I have the entire mental image of a stressful or embarrassing moment replay in my head with a complete set of all associated emotional discomforts. It is like a video clip with emotional response added. This happens all the time and often even to the point that I wince and maybe even make a vocal response apropos to the flash back and utterly unrelated to anything actually happening to around me in the present.
Is this flashback thing frequently found among other aspies as well? |
wow.  i'm just a newb here, trying to learn more about my kid. but i can't believe you just described me to a tea like that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
tasha1011
Butterfly
Joined: Nov 14, 2010
Posts: 15
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 4:22 pm Post subject: My Brother |
|
|
| That list sounds similiar to my brother. He is 3 years of age, incredibly bright, a computer programmer and lives alone, far away from others. I'm concerned because he continues to isolate himself. I know he isn't happy. I suggested that he sees a psychologist to see if he is on the spectrum. |
|
| Back to top |
|
dave_in_ag
Emu Egg
Joined: Nov 10, 2010
Posts: 3
Location: Central Coast, CA
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 5:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Our (five year old) son just started Kindergarten and we're in the process getting an IEP. This is incredibly helpful (THANK YOU!) and I'll be interested to see what the school comes up with, especially since they sound like they're prepared to disagree with the Asperger's diagnosis we got earlier this year (though they do admit that he isn't normal and they still definitely want an IEP). And this is at a school where the principal's child is on the Spectrum!
I've also been told that we're not obligated to sign any IEP right then and there--we can take it home, think about things, get input from others (like professionals or advocates). |
|
| Back to top |
|
vicky2011
Emu Egg
Joined: Feb 27, 2011
Posts: 4
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Did you miss the IEP meeting or something? |
|
| Back to top |
|
statesman
Emu Egg
Joined: Mar 10, 2011
Posts: 8
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Ckay wrote: | | He hates keyboarding, but loves computers. |
As a non-AS computer scientist who never learned to properly "type" or as we now refer to it "keyboarding", I think that typing/keyboarding is a useful, yet over-emphasized skill taught by the schools. My typing method (the "hunt-peck-swear-erase" method) has served me just as well throughout life - Even now when my job has me write more lines of English text than computer code. The way that I learned to type has also made it really easy to finger type on the new small touchscreen devices (such as the ipod touch) where the normal typing method is impossible.
Also, I have found that many people are unaware that there is fairly inexpensive speech-to-text software that can be used in lieu of or in addition to keyboarding. Windows has some built-in software (you can find it in windows 7 under: control panels -> ease of access -> speech recognition) and I know of at least one third-party package (Dragon Naturally Speaking) that is availiable. Here's how it works - you basically plug a quality microphone into the computer (typically a headset/microphone) and after a short setup/training period dictate into a text document. It is that simple to use. However, the software is not 100% accurate - some wrong words that sound alike (but are not the words that you meant) will be placed in the text. I find this technology most useful for getting my thoughts on paper quickly and in generating rough drafts of documents that I can then edit (and clean up) later.
For my purposes, I find the Dragon software much better at accuracy than the built-in software - but my advice is to try the built-in software first before spending the money on Dragon. I also use the cheapest version of Dragon. (The more expensive versions are IMHO not worth the money unless you are dictating medical or legal terms) I would also imagine that if your child is having a very hard time with the physical aspects of writing words on paper, the software would be very useful to help with that issue as well. |
|
| Back to top |
|
ketchupklf
Emu Egg
Joined: Mar 12, 2011
Age: 43
Posts: 7
Location: Arkansas
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 7:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi... brand new member today and wanted to put in just a quick note to correct a misconception: Homeschoolers *do* socialize... with all types of people. My 14 yr old son is diagnosed with Aspergers and is homeschooled... he has more real *relationships* with NT people (and other Aspies) in our regular activities (both in and out of 'homeschool circles') than he would ever be able to form in the five minutes between one class and the next at a public school. And I will *never* have to worry about the school messing up writing or implementing his IEP.
_________________
Kristy / ketchupklf
__________________________________
If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
