OMG I can scream | Autism PDD
Thank you for the advice Tammiek and I agree that we need to find out what is causing the outbursts. She has regressed alot in her behavior since summer.
I truely believe kids know what is expected of them. This school and teacher has obviously labeled her a bad kid, and she will live up to it if you let them continue. I had to put up a 'fight' to get my child in a place where he is accepted, things are expected of him, and he is even loved. That should be the school experience. It makes me so mad these people who are supposed to be educating our kids do this.
I hope everything goes quickly and as easy as possible for you. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. I hope your daughter finds a place she deserves to be educated. Lots of good thoughts sent your way!
Sometimes a more restrictive enviorment is the LRE. You have a say in all decisions made to you daughter's educational programming. Including Placement. She may need a 1:1 aid. A FBA then a BIP or for one to be redone. Maybe an autism consultant for the teachers. Or a new placement. These decisions should not be made with out you. They should not have come to a decision of where she would be best served without you. Having an advocate would be great. Good luck with this. I would be very upset to say the least also. My daughter is in kindergarten. The child study team has her in a self contained special class with 12 kids. There is 1 teacher and 1 para. She is the only child with autism.In the last 3 weeks she has fled the room, been restrained, sent to the nurse, forced to have socks on, sent to the vice principal and child study team offices. Today she spent the day in the child study team office because she was having "disruptive behavior" Of course i got the phone call while I was at a dr appointment an hour away. They wanted me to come get her to teach her the consequences of her behavior. I was infuriated!
I explained that she doesn't understand behavior--> consequence. The vice principal told me that she is very bright and manipulative. (GRRRRR) I had a few choice words for him (in my head). The child study team wants to put her in a different elementary school now. They want to put her in a class with 5 boys (all autistic) who are 1st and 2nd grade. She will be the only girl and the only kindergartener. The children are all mainstreamed in the afternoon.
I explained that she needs to be in the special ed school (out of district) for autistic children where she can have 1:1 and ABA daily. People who understand her. They explained that they have to try the Least Restrictive Environment first. Well, I am not sure how this class they want to put her in LRE compared to what she can't even handle now. The only big difference is fewer kids and a teacher that understands autism. (which is great), but the 1st-2nd grade curriculum and mainstreaming in the afternoon doesn't seem like it would serve my daughter's needs.
I called a meeting for tuesday.... oh and I think I may have attained an advocate for free through njpanda.org
I am livid right now and my nerves are shot.
I need a drink LOL
We had a brief meeting with someof the child study team yesterday. They want to offer my daughter hald-day of kindergarten in the grade 1-2 classroom and then send her home. They said the schoolday may be too long for her. Oh, and that she always claims she is tired. LOL I told them that if they knew about behaviors they would realize that is her avoidance tactic. Idiots.
Anyway, just got done hand delivering my reply to that idea to the director, the superintendent, and the child study team. My answer is not on their life are they sending her half day. Her IEP says a full day. I told them it 1 of 2 options, a full day with the autism teacher or send her out of district to the special school. That is their choice. Emergency IEP meeting to be set up for Friday. So what happens next if we cannot come to an agreement? Arbitration??
You are already getting the best advice and seem to be on top of things. I just wanted to add that we went through this type of stuff last year with Nikolas, and I spent the summer undoing the teacher's damage to my son. When he entered private therapy at the begining of the summer he hid in the corner cowering when they asked him to sit at a table and cried his heart out when the crayons came out. Coloring at the table use to be a treat before I sent him to this school. He became very defiant at school, spitting and screaming at the teacher, and was very good at escape tactics. He was in timeout so much he use to fall asleep there. I was at a lost, this was not the child I knew at home, we all blamed Nikolas, the school, me, all of us. It wasn't until private therapy that I realized damage had been done by that placement with a teacher that knew nothing about autism. She was putting him in timeout for stimming. Because of his behavior and the school honestly beleiving that there was no hope I got him transferred to an ASD classroom for preschoolers and kinders at a different school. they didn't fight me much, they wanted to be rid of him I think. Lucky for us its only a mile further away, same district, but totally different philosophy. He is a totally different kid, cooperates, and I have been told one of the best behaved kids in the class. There are still some issues, she has said she understands why the other school said he table time issues, but she knows exactly what to do in those moments, he realizes he isn't going to be forced, does it in his own time, and then the next time around he is the only one doing exactly what he is suppose to be doing. I thank God for that woman everyday. Do not give up! If you want your child to go to the other school keep pushing. You shouldn't have to keep trying placements that will fail before she can go to a school that she needs. Good luck.
Are you taking the advocate with you to the IEP meeting?
I would be livid too - at all of it. I have to comment on one thing specifically though - the calling you to "come get her to teach her the consequences of her behavior." That is NUTS. What exactly would you be teaching her - that if she acts up at school she gets mommy? Even better would be if she acted up at school and mommy got to come take her home. And that motivates her how??? Do these people have an OUNCE OF COMMON SENSE?!? Our kids may have ASD but they are not stupid - your daughter will figure out quickly how to misbehave to get out of anything she doesn't like so she can get REWARDED with a vist and some attention from mommy. The fact that they would call you and even suggest this action is a major read flag to me that they are CLUELESS!!!
I have never heard of "we have to try LRE first." The team is supposed to figure out what LRE is for your daughter based on her individual needs, not just try her in a bunch of different placements to see what works. This is something the team is supposed to be skilled in doing, and the expectation is that they should get it right the first time. Of course, sometimes placements need to be changed, but that should be the exception and not the rule.
Call an IEP meeting and bring an advocate. When I hear stuff like this it makes me LIVID!
I want to throw something out there as well regarding my own experiences with LRE. LRE does not automatically mean mainstream. My son was in mainstream kindy with a 1:1 aide. He did ok, but he was extremely dependent on his aide, and he was pulled out so much he missed alot. It was like he was a little class of 1 sitting within the larger class. This year he is in a SpEd 1st grade class with no aide and push in services rather than pull out. The team felt that for C, being in a mainstream class where he had an aide was actually more restrictive then a sped class where he could operate more independently.
An specific environment does NOT have to be tried first. It has to be CONSIDERED first. That means that the IEP Team must have a rationale for why it thinks that a more mainstreamed environment won't work for a particular student. IMHO, most regular mainstream environments COULD work for most ASD kids. However, there is ONE thing that MUST exist for that environment to work. Staff that completely understands autism. And I mean from the cafeteria ladies up through the main building administrator -- the principal. A place where the principal thinks an ASD child is manipulative is not a place where a mainstreamed environment will work well. At least not for most. If parents want a mainstreamed environment to work for their particular child, they MUST get autism consultation services written into the IEP so that someone who truly knows autism can come in and advise the staff on regular basis. Of course, this is true no matter HOW restrictive an environment the placement is. If the staff doesn't understand autism, it won't work. Even in situations in which staff understands autism, the mainstreamed environment might not work. Oftentimes, our kids NEED more attention and less stimulation. Being in a self-contained class IS the LRE for many kids. Mine included. And that does not always depend on whether or not the child does poorly academically. I know PLENTY of high functioning Asperger's kids who would totally melt down in large classes. They seem to be the hardest to place. Few school districts have 8-1-1's or 6-1-1's that are geared to exceptionally bright kids. Some do, though.
In this case, I would IMMEDIATELY DEMAND (in writing) a Functional Behavioral Assessment done by someone who is an expert in autism, preferably a BCBA. Then, a positive Behavior Intervention Plan that the expert teaches all the staff to follow. The expert MIGHT suggest a more restrictive environment. If that recommendation is in a report and is fully explained, I'd certainly think it's advice worth following.
That's NUTS! I never heard of LRE having to be tried first.
My son s in an exclusive autism program and doing just fine, and I'm so glad he is there. NO ONE ever suggested mainstream ... it wasn't even in the discussions we had for his kindergarten placement.
Ya know maybe she might do well in a LRE. Maybe what is happening in the class is to much for her. Sometimes putting these kids in regular classes pans out. My child has been in a class with 15 other students and has done wonderfully. His academics might not be what we would like but the socialization with others is a great plus. As for being restrained I agree with you but with socks, yes she does need them on. I think thw problem is is that n one is looking at what is triggering your daughters outbursts. What is happeniong before these episodes. Is it possible she may not be comfortable where she is and if not WHY. Read some information on CARD.. Center on Autism and related disabilites. You might find some very useful information there. I do know that the programs has some awesome stuff that does work!
Your story sounds horrible and like they have no clue on autism.. I agree an autism expert to train the team and a FBA done asap!
I saw so many things in your post that got me red and you have every right to be upset. You got some good advice though and I wish you strength to fight for your dd best interests..the school will do as little as they can get away with. An emergency IEP meeting will get the ball rolling:) They should be thinking the total opposite of what they are doing if they knew autism at all..it sounds like they dont to me!
Good Luck!
I read the first two lines and stopped, I am just so scared of Sharlet starting kinder next year I don't think I can read it right now
I promise I will come back to your post when I'm feeling tougher...
After our county support meeting the other night I have been urged to and will hire a consultant. Anne Holmes from EDEN institute to be exact. I am calling first thing Monday morning for her to come observe my daughter.
I am also calling Director of Special Services first thing Monday morning to let her know that the team is supposed to have a meeting discussing my daughter's placement without me there. NO NO NO! They cannot get away with this.
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