The reality of the diagnosis.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-07-2004
The reality of the diagnosis.
14
Sat, 08-19-2006 - 1:29pm

Ok, I had read everything under the sun about AS and toally knew it was my son, so when I got the official diagnosis I wasn't surprised or upset. From everything I read, I knew with the proper assistance we would make it.

We started 1st grade this year and I set up a conference with my son's teacher that ended up being about 5 days after school started. I told her after the meetign that I had hoped to come in there and tell her he has AS and have her be completely unbeliving and dumbfounded. However, that was not at all the case, she knew something was wrong pretty quickly- which sorta scared me I guess. She said he has a very hard time focusing on the assignments at hand as he is off in another world (probably the space shuttle world). All he wants to discuss in class is space shuttles. She said he has a hard time writing that it takes him a long time and she is constantly redirecting him back to the assignment at hand.

So, fast forward to the 1st homework assignment- writing his spelling words (10) 3 times each. OMG, it was a nightmare. I litterally had to sit right next to him and CONTINUALLY redirect him back to the task at hand. When we finally finished I left the room and cried because it really dawned on me how much help he is going to need in order to get through school.

I sent my official letter to the school and they responded immediately. Their process required classroom intervention for a period of a few weeks to 45 days and the teacher reports back to as how everything is going. If all isn't well, then they begin evaluating him and determine if he will need special services. Unless they are complete morons, they will have to see he is going to need help.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 10:44am

If I were you I would send a letter to the principal. In the letter state you are waiving the child study team intervention and expect them to proceed with evaluation for special education instruction and related services according to IDEA. Our school has the same system as yours and it really is just a waste of time for a child already diagnosed and clearly in need of realted services such as OT. Handwriting is one of the things my ds really struggles with. He didn't get the needed intervention early enough. He now uses an alpha smart in school for typing, which is also very hard for him, and has an aide he can dictate to. You do have the right to waive the 45 day intervention but they won't tell you that. In fact they may lie to you and tell you they have to do it first but learn the laws and stick to your guns.

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-07-2004
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 11:24am

Thank you so much! I don't know what I would do without this board and all of you with your great advice.

How old is your child? I posted on another thread that our Dr. said that children with AS have been known to use a laptop or some type of typing devise- I am guessing like you mentioned. I was concerned about the thought of him not writing, what is your experience with this?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 10:24pm

Hi! just wanted to throw in my two pennies......

I agree with Samantha.......send a letter to the principal to get the eval going......no sense wasting time.....you do not suspect a disability, you have an actual diagnosis.

As for handwriting.......my son's handwriting is not horrible but he HATES to do any type of writing....it is in his IEP that he can dictate to a scribe, have modified assignments and can also type/use computer.....what ever works for him. He is entering the 3rd grade this year.

Good luck,
Christie

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Mon, 08-21-2006 - 8:37am

He is 11yr old now and going into 6th grade. They stared typing instruction through the OT in 3rd grade. He started using the Alpha Smart in 3rd but not very much. Each yr he's used it more. He does still write a little. They encourage him. It wasn't much of a problem in 3rd and 4th because they isn't much writing required. Most assignments can be modified to eliminate a lot of writing easily. In 5th grade the writing demand increased and it became necessary for him to have an aide there to scribe for him. We'll see how it goes in the upper grades. I'm guessing the biggest difficulty will be getting the teachers to understand and make the appropriate modifications/accomidations.

I'd definately persue handwriting remdiation ASAP. We tried since kindergarten to get them to help him. I didn't know the laws back then and was dealing with a very difficult principal. The finally offered OT at the end of second grade. By the begining of 3rd grade the OT was telling me it was really too late to fix at this point. The one thing we did privately for handwriting that helped the most was theraputic listening in combination with PT.

As far as writing outside of school. I'm not too concerned about it. With as far as technology has come I don't see too much need for it. We are teaching him to write a check. Its hard to read and his "signiture" looks like a 5 yr olds but so far no one has complained and they always go through the bank just fine. Even check are almost absolete though.

Samantha

Samantha

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