JUstin is on the bus for 1 hour at the very least, and all I can think about is how much pain he must be in. I met with his lawyer last nite and I will be calling for an emergency IEP and for an Assessment for sensory intragration processing disorder, I already know he has it, he received 7 years of therapy when he was younger..but now I feel I have to prove my point...what a mess...why can't people work together for the benefit of the child or adult?He has a lawyer because last year he was placed in a group home while I had major surgery....he was abused in the group home, along with being highly medicated...that is why things are such a mess...the more the meds are deceased the more he remembers...the more behaviors...the more separation anxiety he feels..to the extreme...my son is a good boy..I am trying to help but people keep getting in the way.
Keep fighting, sister. And hugs..........
My son comes to school early on Mondays because his brother starts early that day. He gets so agitated from being early and killing time. I would be livid if the school made it worse by banning us from the premises! I'm so sorry that you have to deal with that on top of everything else.
I'm also so sorry that the bus noise is causing him suffering. I've heard some people using Walkmans, so pleasant music shoves unpleasant noises to the background. If your son doesn't like wearing headphones or ear buds, maybe you could take the speaker part off the head band and have him hold them loose up against his ear.
Since you're looking for OT and assistive technology help, these online resources might be helpful:
http://www.sandbox-learning.com/default.asp?page=29 - list of assistive technology contact person for each state. They are trained to help with information and referrals for adaptive technology needs, and some even have lending libraries.
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/The_SPD_Companion -finding-an-OT.html - This issue of the Sensory Processing Disorder Companion includes various links for finding an Occupational Therapist.
Good luck with everything.
I am going to a workshop tonite with his lawyer about assistive tec. we were wondering if something like this might be an option for him..the school/bus situation sucks, I am once again being looked at as not knowing anything, and being "tolerated"...I fully believe it is sensory as far as the bus goes but cannot get anyone to hear me..I will try OT..but he has been rejected two times saying he does not qualify..That makes me so angry. What the hell? The kid is SUFFERING and yet he doesn't fit into a neat little qualification criteria? Makes me livid.
My son was an at awful school a few years ago and I was in your shoes. I was belittled, I'm sure they rolled their eyes behind my back because really, how dare I actually advocate for my child and call them on their shoddy excuse for support. Ugh.
My son had severe sensitivites to any sort of alarm. He would shake so bad they would mistake it for a severe seizure and he would end up in a heap on the floor. The sound was physically painful for him because he could hear a pitch that most people couldn't.
Your son sounds much the same and I'm shocked that no one is willing to help him. Big tight hugs to you.
Well school has been in for two days, and it is obvious my son does not want to be there. By law he has 2 more years, but I do not think he will even stay there for one more year. We have been trying to get him on the bus in the mornings, he rides it home in the afternoons. Here is what is happening and please tell me what you think: I tell him I am going to work and leave 10 minutes before the bus gets here...his aide and his brother then get him onto the bus..yesterday was ok...but it was the first day and it caught hin by surprise...today he was fine, got dressed, and walked to the bus,(in front of the house), then has soon as he hit the front of the bus with the bus engine going, he dropped covered his ears and refused to go any farther. After talking to him a bit, he got up and reversed himself walking back into the house. I was called, came and he calmly got into the car, where his brother,another father whohas helped in the past, and his afternoon aide got into the car and took him to school. Everthing was fine, but they were early and the principal would not allow them onto the campus. So they took a walk to get donuts and came back....He dropped when he realized that they were leaving him there....
I get a call from the principal who proceeds to read me the riot act about coming to school early..I already know all this and tried to explain I had to keep him moving..I was made to feel little and not important..I was informed he had an hour meltdown,where he rolled aroung in the dirt..he will not let anyone there touch him..she told him he looked terrible and awfull..he walked away from her...
I talked to his lawyer and we think he has a big sensory issue with the motor of the bus..even on the bus he covers his ears,he is on that bus for at least an hour...The older he has gotten the more the sensory issues become worse...headphones are out..he will not let anything touch his head...what now????
My son has big auditory/sensory issues and I too was in exactly the same position as you with the school taxi.......the school then suggested PECS and I havent looked back....hope you feel better soon and get it all sorted out for your son.........x
There was someone who recently posted about her younger child who did not like riding the bus because of the noise. She was looking for headphone suggestions. From what you described, it does sound like a sensory issue.
Would your son wear ear plugs? My mother uses moldable ear plugs. They almost look like a lump of wax, and they form to the shape of your ear. I don't know if they would filter out the bus noise enough for your son. They do filter out my father's snoring, which is pretty impressive.
I'm confused as to why the principal and the school was putting up such a stink about him coming to school early. I mean they are aware of his situation, right? They couldn't accomodate one day, I mean it's the beginning of the year. It takes NT children time to adjust, even teachers, etc...but they can't cut you and your son a break over 1 incident? Yes there might be more, but still...not very understanding, it seems.
Mason just finished day 4 and he too is struggling, A LOT...so I can feel your pain, luckily his school is being very cooperative so far with everything, I just hope it continues.
Sorry no advice, just hugs...hope things go a little better next week!
Can you bring in an OT to do some work with him? You could either bring him to the centre or some will come out to your house. But if you can find an OT who has a good solid knowledge of Autism and SPD and how they go hand in hand, that would be really beneficial. They can work at decreasing the sensitvity and find socially appropriate ways to work with his needs.