Help please | Autism PDD

I need some advice, direction, whatever you want to say. I got a call from the school this morning. Reeves got suspended. It broke my heart. He is normally such a sweet child towards others. A boy broke line in front of him and he pushed him down and hit him. This behavior is not like my child at all. A week ago, he got in trouble as well with just a verbal warning. We had rough weekend. The littlest thing set him off. He hated me, said he didn't need a mom, etc. I don't know what's going on. I told the assitant principal that he has autism. I want them the understand, but at the same time, I think he should be accountable for his actions. I went to the school and talked w/Reeves. After a few tears, he told me he couldn't control himself. Help Please. We aren't on meds at this point. I don't know what to do.I think you need to call a ped. psychiatrist ASAP - get the appt - they can take a while.

Also, send a written letter to the school requesting an evaluation...the school psychologist, social worker, BCBA should be involved in this. They will get him a FBA and BIP to help with protocols on what to do.

YOU CAN RUSH A CHILDS PED PSYCHOLOGY APPT BY TELLING THEM HE IS A DANGER TO OTHER CHILDREN... USUALLY THEY WOULD GET HIM IN NEXT DAY....DO IT

not yelling, key was stuck

kate

Since you have the IEP, you need to request the FBA be done and a behavior plan put into place. His frustration behaviors are an offshoot of being able to express himself in an acceptable manner, and need to be addressed as such. Coming from elementary into middle school, your now dealing with the influx of testosterone as he hits additional growth spurts pre-puberty, and that will cause increased aggression. Unless this is addressed appropriately, the acting out will only continue to increase.

I believe the suspension can be expunged from his record if it is determined the behavior stemmed from his disability. You might check with Tzoya - she's our resident expert on these issues.

R&R - you haven't indicated how old your son is, and whether or not he has an IEP currently in place. You also don't indicate whether or not you actually have a medical diagnosis of autism, or if you are in the stages of suspecting he's on the spectrum and simply haven't had the testing done. That being said, here's some general pointers...

Whether or not you have received a medical diagnosis of autism, a comprehensive evaluation should be done by the school district in order to be able to provide him the supports he needs to function in the educational setting by establishing an IEP (Individualized Education Plan). That needs to be requested in writing to the school district, as well as requesting a Functional Behavior Analysis (FBA) in order to put a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) in place for issues just such as this. The school district has 60 days to do it in once you've requested it. If his behavior is attributable to his disability (and many times autistics who cannot use language use physical actions instead) then suspension is not appropriate, and the BIP would have to be followed instead. He is definitely accountable for his actions, but learning a more appropriate method of expressing his frustration and anger rather than physically is part of what an IEP and FBA are about.

Check out wrightslaw.com and the book From Emotions to Advocacy. It's definitely the "bible" on how to advocate for your child within the school system. You are your child's best advocate, but only if you educate yourself on how to do so, and what is needed.

Good luck!

He has an IEP. There is a behavioral therapist that he sees at school. He is 10 yr old and we have the diagnosis of PDD-NOS. He moved from the elementary to the middle school this year. I don't know if he's really a danger to other kids or not. I almost think he just kinda lost it. He was seeing a ped psych. She said she thought it was just behavioral problems and released us. He sees a therapist about twice a month. She's out of the country now, so I can't get in touch w/her.

I posted here because I know in the past, I've gotten some realy good advice.

Thanks for the help.

hey! All I have to say is that I have been their myself, I had occasional behavior problems often the result of not being able express how I felt any other way and wanted to get even I suppose... or express myself without words the only way I knew how at that particular time.

Did not do this a ton, but a few times, a few fights, and I did this actually more in the teen years to be honest then at your sons current age

! sorry, hope thats not his case, just somethin to think about. The older the kids get, or peers, the more the social behavior become complex, the more bulling, stronger, harder fights ect...

I dont think meds is a good idea, but a fit punishment and a stern warning may be, especally because one can be arrested for assult and battery these days and I can tell ya, and im serious about this, when me and another kid I grew up with after years of being picked on by him went toe to toe I found myself being charged

not cool, and although at the time I may have felt out of control (he hit me first + I responded) I still was the one in cuffs because he had received 'significant injury'. Lesson learned, dont want others to be their, autism is definalty not an excuse and I hope you dont have to go thru that mess like I did

Since he has the IEP, the suspension will be short (long enough to investigate and likely determine his behavior was a result of his disablity). This determination will be made quickly and I doubt you'll have a problem proving manifestation with the IEP and diagnosis in place. I am so sorry you have to go through all of this stress. Hopefully, the silver lining in this will be that an amended behavior plan is developed that will better suit your child's needs.