My son was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.?

Question

The school doesn't seem to be helping out much and is getting fed up with him. Any suggestions on how to deal with this situation?

Answer 1

Show them my video about Asperger's so they can understand him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbgUjmeC-...

Answer 2

My son has Asperger Syndrome.  He was diagnosed at 7 and now is 12.  In the beginning my school was not very helpful either, but I pushed the issue.  In Oklahoma you can request that the school themselves do some testing on your son such as IQ.  My son has an IEP plan in place and he is also not completely mainstreamed.  I also have him on a bus that doesn't have "normal" children on it due to the fact that the kids used to pick on him.  In Oklahoma they now have to take a class on the Aperger child.  I had a rough start in the beginning when he was first diagnosed and made sure I had the paper that told what he had.  I wound up having a meeting with the principle, counselor, special ed teacher, and the regular teacher he had to make sure they were all on the same page and made sure that it was written down.  I had two years when the teacher he had would just sit him on her lap and rock him, which of course doesn't help him cope with adversity.  Than I was blessed in second grade with a teacher and para that was wonderful.  They would make him do his work and be accountable for his actions because everyone at school said that he has a disability and can't help it.  If my son hits than there are actions going to be taken, I just can't let him get away with it and both of those teachers backed me up.  He is in 6th grade now and copes better than ever because I have told him that yes he was diagnosed with something, but that doesn't need to rule his life.  He is finally figuring it out.  Just keep pushing your school they will have to come around.  I bough this book and found it very helpful.  I will send you the link.  God bless and I will be thinking about you and your family.

Answer 3

Use your legal rights in a helpful way to educate the staff who works with your son.  Chances are he is the first diagnosed student with Asperger's they have worked with.  

First, in writing, request a full re-evaluation for your son.  (Address the letter to the principal and cc it to the director of special education.  The ball will begin rolling on both sides ASAP.)     This way you can begin the process of meetings, etc before the first day of school.  In this letter to the principal, tell them you have a diagnosis of Asperger's and will bring that information to the meeting to share with the IEP team.  Plan on leaving that copy with them.  They will most certainly need the evaluation.

Then they have 90 days (and less in certain areas)  to complete the reevaluation.  A new summary and a new IEP should be written at the re-evaluation results meeting.  In the meantime, get yourself in touch with the local autism society.  Know your rights and what you would like the school to do for him.  If you have a goal for your child you can articulate that for the school staff much easier.

Answer 4

Regardless of the formal dx the school district should be helping him as much as possible.  What state do you live in? I know in NJ they have to HELP! I just started out last June. My son was place into a preschool disabled Program and even sent him out of district due to our district not having a program. When he was thrown out of daycare and told he needed crisis at the age of 4 I fought tooth and nail to get him where he is today.  We now finally have a formal dx of PDD-NOS. However- as parents stand your ground and insist on what you want for your child with the school district.  Also- look into an advocate for your child as well.  Good Luck to you and your son.

Answer 5

Your situation is VERY common all over the US. Not just with aspergers, but with ALL childrens problems.

Learn all you can about aspergers and what the school needs to do to help your child. Make a list of these things.

Then write to district sped director and reqeust an IEP meeting.

Schools are only suppose to address a child problems in IEP meetings and if there has been no meeting, they will not address his problems.

And they wont' tell parents this either, hence yet ANOTHER trick and stall tactic to get out of doing their job.

You can request an IEP meeting at any time.

In the meeting, give everyone a copy of your list and specifically ask for each thing.

When they refuse, put 'refuse' by each item.

After the meeting, write to district sped director and request 'prior written notice' for each refusal, and list them.

THis is required by the school to give the parent when tehy refuse something. They have to have LEGAL reasons for refusing things and if they DON"T, they will sometimes magically change their mind and agree to what the child needs because they will not put illegal reasons in writing.

If this doesnt' work, there is more you can do. Here is a GREAT message board for help --

http://www.millermom.proboards107.com/in...

Answer 6

This link gives and example of a letter you can write to your child's teachers, therapists, and other staff members to help them understand your child.  When you compose a letter of this sort, make sure your school principal and special education director receive a copy.  http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/teac...

This article from the University of Michigan is also helpful. http://www.aspennj.org/pdf/information/a...

I would request an IEP meeting and have guidelines for teachers and staff to follow added to the IEP.  Make sure a school psychologist from the Special Education Department attends and consider speaking to the Director of Special Education before the meeting.

Answer 7

Talk to the SP.Ed coordinator, & school counselor about your conncerns. If he has an IEP ypu can request a team meeting to discuss your concerns. Also, speak to the doctor. If you still feel like nothing is being done to help your child you can contact your local dept of ed for support/advice for dealing with the school. Students are entitled to free apropriate public education under such laws as IDEA (individuals w/ disabiities education act), if the school isn't providing the best possible edcation then the law is being violated. Speak up for your child & don't give up.

Answer 8

Bad luck if the school are getting "fed up" with him. They still need to cater to his needs. You need to be persistent and if you need to be at the school everyday nagging them until he gets what he needs, then so be it. YOU are the expert on your own child and your input is invaluable. Stand up for what you believe in.

Also do your research: in particular find out about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (a.k.a. IDEA). Some schools rely on parents being uneducated about their rights (this makes me so angry!)

Answer 9

In our state of DE there is an autism/asperger's resource coordinator that will help you get all the services your child needs, even if its through due process.  There is also a parent information center, and a pro bono educational lawyer that takes cases on an as needed basis.

My son is 7, and dx PDD.NOS he is in a full-inclusion classroom.  This is regular ed. with up to 33% of the children identified as special needs.  My son repeated kindergarten and is now going into first grade.  He is getting services for speech 2X/week, OT 1X a week in group, and he is getting reading 1:1 with a multisensory approach (orton-gillingham) from a reading specialist.  He scored 50%tile in reading and math on state tests.  His reading group is the middle level.  He is also getting 1:1 help for math.  He is also getting social skills training.  Two skills a marking period to start.  He has accomodations on state tests, untimed, prompted, scribed, 1:1, over several sessions.  He has a computer due to dyspraxia.  He has a pointcard system, a break card, a coral around his desk, preferential seating, a ball chair, Wilbaurger brushing protocol, a slantboard, weighted pencil with grip, and highlighted paper.

These accomodations, at least some may benefit your son.  

Suggestions based upon what has worked for me.  Request a meeting.  If you are unhappy with the testing request an independent evaluation.  I have done this.  Do not sign the iep until you have read all of it including the minutes, and after reviewing the test results.  Have your own IEP goals that you want to incorporate.  Make sure that they are accountable.  I have had meetings where the goal was work on social skills.  No, not acceptable.  It needs to be measureable.  The time needs to be precise.  For ex.  Work on social skills goal initiating conversation.  Quiz on the steps 100% accuracy 3 out of 4 trials for 10 minutes a day with 1-2 prompts.  Keep meticulous detailed correspondance of everything.  Try to create paper trails.  I like to email that way I can save it to sent mail and should I need it at a due process meeting I have it.

We choiced our son into the school district that has the most money in our area.  We also went to every elementary school and grilled the principal, educational diagnostician, and sp. ed teachers before choosing what school to choice to.  Network with other spectrum kids parents about what is working for them in your area.  We have a parent support group where alot of info can be gotten as well.  good luck, its a bumpy road, and 1 good year in a school does not mean the next teacher he has won't have a clue.

EDIT I would like some feedback as to why so many people think this answer is thumbs down worthy.  I am truly perplexed.  Maybe some insight could help me better my relationship with the schools.  Feel free to email me with some constructive criticism

Answer 10

She is right...you need to get a full evaluation thru the school..........MOST schools do NOT know how to deal with Asperger's. I am from Virginia....and our Spec ed teachers are only educated in ED, LD and MR...but there are no endorsements for autism or aspergers.........I am a Guidance Couselor......and the spec ed teacher and myself along with the parents research as best as we can...goto trainings and try to implement what is learned.  We also do not have any disability in our system for Aspergers....so our kids would be categorized as OHI(other health impaired).  You need to send a copy of the DR's diagnosis....to the Spec ed dept.....and refer your child..........ask for an educational and psychological evaluation...........and depending on how old the child is......maybe a developmental (if the child is under 8).  They cannot deny the testing......if the child is found to be eiligible to receive services then he/she will have an IEP in place....with accomodations.  We also have an outside agency case manager to work with the one child we have in our school who was diagnosed with Aspergers..........the case manager specialilzes in autism and aspergers...good luck to you!  Just to let you know.....you say the school isn't much help...that is probably because they have never dealt with Aspergers before........

Answer 11

Does he have an IEP?  If so, what accomidations are being made.  If not, perhaps he needs one to help with his issues.  You would have to contact the director of special education (in writing, and keep copies) requesting a full evaluation for your son, who was recently diagnosed by Dr. X with Aspergers.  Written notice starts the timeline by which the school must act.  They must evaluate your son if you request it.   http://www.wrightslaw.com is an excellent website for information about  your legal rights regarding special education.

Well since he's had an IEP all this time, it sounds like a new IEP meeting is in order.  Why is the school getting "fed up" with him?  Is it behavior issues?  If that's the case, they need to do a "functional behavioral analysis" FBA for short. Anytime that educators have concerns about the behavior of a student with a disability, they are required by IDEA to undertake the functional behavior assessment process in order to determine why the child is showing such actions   Here's a link to a good article about FBA.  At the bottom of the article is another link to a great webpage. http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/m...    

Again, do go to the wrightslaw website and educate yourself on your son's rights as well.

Answer 12

There is a lot to cover and it is easier to answer specific questions.  Please feel free to email me..I have a 12 year old with autism, have worked as an advocate for families when dealing with schools and have a degree in education.  I'll be happy to help in any way I can.