My saga (grab a snack and beverage!)
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| Wed, 05-02-2007 - 9:24am |
Got that drink and snack? This'll be long, you've been warned lol.
What brought me to this board was that our 11yo son (5th grade) was just diagnosed PDD-NOS. A wee bit of history for you to digest:
Age 3 he went to preschool and was kicked out within a few days for behavior. Had him evaluated by CPSE, he started special ed preschool receiving counseling, speech and OT, full day program. Stayed in that school until K.
Age 5 started K in a self contained classroom receiving the same services. Pretty good year, though the only classification they could put on him was Emotionally Disturbed.
Age 6 started 1st grade in a new district as we had to move literally a few days before school started. Abrupt move that I know affected him. New school district looked at his info and asked why he had no diagnosis. So they sent him off to a psychiatrist and she dx'd him ADHD combined with ODD. No problem, I know my stuff and that was not a shocker. We started him on Adderall XR, things were great. At the end of 1st grade he was recommended for the 2nd graded blended class (inclusion, collaborative, basically some kids in the class have an IEP). He tested out of speech and OT, which was fine.
Age 7 started 2nd grade in yet another school (1st grade school didn't have this special class setting). Quickly discovered the setting was not appropriate and by the middle of October he was placed back in self contained in the same school. Through the year they mainstreamed him for one class, then added more and at one point he was in mainstream MORE than in self contained! At the end of 2nd grade he's recommended for FULL MAINSTREAM CLASS! woohoo!!
Age 8 started 3rd grade in ANOTHER school (our home school, there's 6 elem schools in my district :) ) Some bumps here and there, but he clicks great with the psychologist and did great!
Age 9 started 4th grade, same school - woohoo lol. He did absolutely GREAT this year! Grades were excellent, state testing scores were fantastic, he developed friendships - wow just a great year. In January 2006 we discontinue the Adderall XR as his weight gain was not doing so great - he was growing in inches, but not appropriately in pounds. Even after he's off, NO ONE KNEW (I didn't tell the school just to see what would happen). At the end of 4th grade, he's declassified.
Age 10 started 5th grade, still in same school. In class with best friend and others that he gets along with. One kid in the class is a bully and the type to get others to go along with him (a ringleader you could say). The classwork is tougher, LOTS of state testing (thanks NCLB) and he's having a tough time focusing, so we start him on Daytrana 10mg as he's not a pill taker. Things are going fine in school with the exception of an issue here and there (no more really than happened in 4th grade). Around Christmas he tells me the patch is not working, he doesn't feel it's helping him concentrate. So we stop it.
Wow, big mistake apparently. They go back to school after the holiday recess and he's a WHOLE DIFFERENT CHILD. They take a CPR course and he says he wouldn't want to save his family, he pulls away from friends, doesn't want to do things he thought was fun before, wants to be alone and does things to isolate himself from other kids (making them not want to be with him). When he comes home - I have NO clue that anything's going on, he shows no signs of what's going on at school. So I get calls from school and am shocked (really shocked, not the "not my child" faux shocked). Finally in early Feb he was holding some screws he found in the classroom. He was told to give them to the lunch aide, he refused. Asst. Principal was called in, he wouldn't listen to her either. Not the Principal. He said something to the effect of "want to see some blood?" Finally the psychologist was able to calm him down. I was in school for the Valentine Boutique, they got me and spoke with me and I had to take him home and keep him home.
As I said, he was showing nothing like this at home, so all I had to go on were school reports. They were recommended a psychiatric eval. Ok, no problem. I was not able to get in to see one right away, those appointments take time. Finally went to one and he said for me to take him to a University for a FULL eval. Nice, those take MONTHS to get into. I try another psychiatrist and in a few minutes (literally, appt was less than 15 minutes) he says my son is depressed and prescribes Lexapro. Um, hello?!?! You would think he'd want reports from teachers or something.
All the while, the school psychologist is pushing for one of these Drs to write a report so we can get him into a particular special school. He would NOT give me info on this school other than that they have an intensive theraputic program and it goes longer than a school day. He kept telling me I would find more as they evaluated my son to see if he was appropriate for their program. Finally I consent to let the school district send (and pay) for him to get a psychiatric eval as the ones through my insurance company just stink.
In mid April we have the appointment. Same psychiatrist that evaluated him in 1st grade, which is good. She looks at what the school psychologist told her (more that my son is psychotic), looks at his reports, reports I filled out, teacher filled out and my son filled out. Basically school psychologist is way off and she finds it strange that he wasn't written up for anything he did, nothing of these incidents is documented in his records, etc. She diagnoses PDD-NOS, Mood Disorder-NOS and ADHD-NOS. She recommended medication again (no problem, we're seeing a neurologist to work on that).
He's been on homebound instruction for 3 months now. His actual 5th grade teacher comes to the house and he's to get 5 hours instruction a week. He has NOT received 5 hours in one week yet!! We have a CSE set for next week to get him back in.
If you've read this far - congrats!!! That's just a bit of what we're experiencing now. There's more, but I'll save it for another message :)

Holy Mother of God!
It sounds like you guys have been through a lot. We have a few things in common: My
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Welcome to the group. Our son's stories are so similar it was eerie. My son had the same experience this yr as yours. We decided put our son on an anti-depressant and some calming supplements. Then after he was adjusted to the meds he stared back at school part time in a self contained class. We homeschool the rest. He's doing so much better now.
What a year, huh?!
Samantha
Paula, I think you mentioned you were in Nassau, I'm in Suffolk.
As for the school changes, it's very understandable. We were in one district in Kindergarten, moved suddenly to a new district for 1st grade. For second grade he had to go to the 3rd school because they were the only one to have the 2nd grade class type. 3rd grade he moved to our home school where he's been for grades 3-5.
As for the teacher not coming as needed, the district knows that as he has to write out a time sheet that I sign stating when he was here, so they have no leg to stand on there. They tried to supplement with another teacher (who was actually his 4th grade teacher), but she also wasn't always able to come when his 5th grade teacher couldn't.
Right now the focus is to get him BACK into school for the last few weeks of 5th grade. Our last day is June 22nd. I will be asking for him to be returned to his mainstream class setting (he WANTS to return to that class) to finish out the year. I told him he could move to the class that his 4th grade teacher teaches (she's a 5th grade teacher this year) but he didn't want to, even though he loves that teacher and doesn't quite like the one he has.
Honestly, once we're into June it's really just party central as the 5th graders go to middle school for 6th grade. There is instruction, but not full days.
So the focus will definitely be on 6th grade and I was told that some middle school officials may be there (though none are listed on the CSE "invitation") to discuss transition. I have no issue with a blended (inclusion) program for him. Self contained I'm not keen on for him as he's shown such success in mainstream for 2 1/2 years straight. The "special school" that they spoke of is way out of the question and I'm hoping it's not even brought up as I already discussed my negative feelings about it with the school psychologist. If they insist on self contained, that's my walking point for him. At the last meeting they discussed self contained as an option for the rest of this year, but I said no as that was too restrictive (plus he'd have to change schools).
I am not against self contained (just in case anyone thinks that). I have my 2nd grader in a self contained class, which he'll probably remain in for many years to come. My oldest does so well academically and I know they go a bit slower in self contained as some have educationally related disabilities there. UGH! I wish they had a setting for kids with social issues but great academics.
I feel so ADD right now myself, thoughts all over the place, so I hope this all makes sense :)
Boy, you guys have had quite a year! One thing I would suggest is to really insist on having the appropriate people from the middle school at this meeting. This is going to be a big transition and having someone that knows your son's history at the new school is really important. It's also good for you to have a contact person you feel comfortable going to when issues arise. Working with them now will make for a smoother transition in the fall.
Good luck
Oh, we have another kicker here... The person that heads the CSE comittee for middle schoolers is leaving at the end of June (or August?), new person won't be here until September as he's coming from upstate NY. Rats :(
I feel like the school psychologist is messing with me, won't give me a straight answer on things, yet wants access to my son's Drs to talk to them? He's leaving this school in a few weeks, school psychologist doesn't NEED access to my son's Drs to get back into school.
A class for kids with social skills but good academics. Been looking for one for YEARS! Trying to get the district to start one even but they keep doing it wrong. You see they insist that inclusion is based on academic ability alone which is a mistake. Inclusion aught to more be related to an individuals childs coping ability and overall picture. There are many kids who are cognitively behind but can cope very well and progress beautifully in a mainstream class.
My 11yo (5th grade) ds is very high academically but we did have to put him in a learning handicapped day class about 3 years ago. He has been in the same day class all this time. He COULD NOT handle mainstream anymore. Currently after 3 years iwth a great teacher and the same aide, he is included for about 2/3 of his day.
The first year he was not included at all. ZILTCH! Ya know what, his standardized test scores skyrocketed. He was taught in a small group or 1:1 setting in a way he learned best and they jump like 60points in each area.
He is included now (5th grade) because the LH classroom is far behind him, but he gets his math 1:1 and some other things in the LH class.
What made the difference for him was the teacher. Sure the other kids were behind him academically but she was creative in how she taught him and made sure they covered the grade level content standards.
Next year he goes to middle school too. Again there is no appropriate place for a kid who is academically able but cannot cope. Instead he is going to a non-public special needs school which happens to have alot of kids just like him.
Renee
Hmm, what's interesting is you ds's manic like symptoms (cpr class and the screw issue) occurred after the removal of the daytrana patch. The fact that his behaviors are limited to school is not unusual either. Many kids with a mood disorder can keep it together in one environment and then all heck breaks loose in another, (eg: school v's home).
My ds (7) was removed from several daycares before the age of 5 ,and kindy was a nightmare. He is in self contained now but we are hoping to do some partial inclusion for 2nd grade. I am wondering was there a trigger in school around Christmass that set off your ds's manic-like behaviors in the classroom? It's unfortunate that the school psych is so unwilling to really work with him and all he can suugest is a more restrictive environment. I mean has your ds ever actually hurt anyone? Sounds so much like my ds on that score, he's all talk and hot air and no follow through. Defies authority, especially when push come to shove. These people are so scared of a child who can articulate their rage and frustration. My ds is also dx high functioing autism, mood disorder-nos and adhd combined type. He is currently on risperdal (for rage and aggresion,) and focalin for attention and impulsivity.
I think your fight to get him back into the classroom for the last few weeks is an excellent move; I would do the same. I am still wondering though whether removing the one med triggered the rush of mania you saw, and the instability of a school environment just addded fuel to the fire?? hmm....
Please stick around and tell us the outcome
(((Hugs)))
Dee
Welcome to the board.
Debbie - our homeschool journey hasn't been the best. 1st of all because I wasn't prepared for it, it was thrown at me. At the time he was sent home and asked not to come back, there were no "professional teachings" for 2-3 weeks (granted, one week was our Feb break). Teacher would send work home through my younger son and I would do it with him. Granted, I'm smarter than a 5th grader (sorry, love that show), but I still wasn't prepped.
The big issue I have with homeschooling is the lack of socialization. It's almost like I now have to pay for him to socialize (skill groups, karate, etc). It's frustrating, especially because he does not WANT to socialize! We've offered everything to him and he just doesn't want any of it. I feel now we may have to force a social skills group at the very least. I'm working on it...
As for the timing of diagnosis, that doesn't bug me. I have a 7 1/2yo who was diagnosed late for the spectrum as well, age 4. He's doing great with his therapies, but his issues are so incredibly different. ACK!!!!
Dee - yes, definitely taking him OFF the patch triggered this, it worked for him for something it seems! We'll talk with the neurologist to try to get him back on that or something similar. As for hurting anyone else, from what I've been told, he's done no more than pushing a few of the boys that have been bully-ish to him. That was all during the month of January when he had these problems.