Behaviors

[heathery]

A couple at the meeating with David Farabee had had concerns about the school handling behavior issues properly and that the school district stated the policae can be called after their son reaches 10 years of age.  Here's a news clip of a similar problem:  news.myspace.com/health/autism/item/10326258 
In Shane's first year of school, the teacher used to make him sit in a restraining chair and would nag and pester him and call him names.  They claimed he tried to bite one of the aides.  This behavior was completely out of character for Shane.  After talking with the aides and teacher for a while, I realized they were describing a totally different child!!  It could not have been Shane!  They claimed that while at school he was completely noncompliant and even mean!  Noone we knew could believe it!  I soon realized it was the teacher and the aides that were handling Shane all wrong and caused him to act out.  I have further proof of this because he changed classes and even schools and never acted out again.  He used to hate school and now he runs to the bus! 
Anyone have other questions or concerns about this?

[Lefty]

That sounds terrible!  It is stories like this that make me wonder what really happens at school that I do not know about.  I have not ever had any complaints about my son's behavior and my son seems to like school ok, but I know there are people out there that just don't like the career they have chosen and can make the whole school year hard to deal with.  I hope things are going well for you now, Heathery...
Lefty

[LINDA]

Ok I am concerned. I have had the feeling that the school my sons goes to  is doing what they can to prove he does not need to be in public school. Because of his behavior problems. He  hits ,kicks and bites. Not all the time but when he gets aggitated. Although I see improvement I am not sure they feel that way. They keep saying to me about they are afraid he is going to hurt one of the other kids. Today the princaple said something to the effect if he hurts one of the other kids it is not going to be good for you or for him. I am not sure what that means. I wished  we lived closer to WF so he could attend the school there. I cry because I know Josh has his outburst but where is the help. And I am afraid of what the princaple meant.

[Dustin]

Does your district offer any kind of Occupational Therapy. My son has not had that problem but there has to  be something that is setting him off causing him to act that way. By Law I think they are required to offer Occupational therapy. Does he ever does this at home?

Thanks Dustin

[LINDA]

Yes they have OT come in. i am not sure how often. I know our Dr. said he need it more than he was getting it. I think they upped what they were doing. We also went to have him tested at a therapist and she recommended that the OT  person that came to the school teach his aid things to work with him so that he could get it daily. Yay that has not happened. The lady that suggested it  is the OT terapist for the FT Worth school district. So she must know alittle something.
JOsh  has PDD with someother developmental dis abilities. He is high functioning. He has came so far from where he was when he first started school. So I think if he had all he could  he would be so much better. There is no telling what sets him off. The problem is there is no training or proper training on how to handle him. They do a wonderful job with him though. Buthow much better would he be if they were trained. His teacher this year said this is the first one she has had like this, and she would like training because  Autism is growing so much there probably will be more. I am tryiing to get someone from UNT to come to our school to train all of us. They have something called BATTS program. It sounds like an real good program.
Back to OT I have not found any outside of school. The doctor said that would be great.
I just found out that JOsh's one on one aid  turned in her 2 weeks notice. SO things may get alittle  rough in a few weeks with him.

[LINDA]

WELL !! nothing seems to go right for my son. He just got into a routine and had a good aide,then his aide made a big personal boo boo  in life but it did cost her her job. SO he no longer has an personal aide and he ended  up back in the special ed room. which I hope he will go back tomorrow and stay there with his class. This change will effect his behavior . this all comes about as  some doors are opening that will  be helpful to him. I  am not sure about some people anymore. Do any of you have any suggestions on how to help him through this ??
                                                     

[Dustin]

Change is always tuff on these kids. I really don't have any good answers. I know we are working on some positive reinforcers for my son to try to get him to cooperate more. SOmething like that might work for Josh too. Maybe a favorite food or a toy he only gets when he does well in school. You just have to be very strict and specific. Pauls teacher is going to work on this at school too. Just let me know if you think this will work and I can give you some more info.

THanks Dustin 

[LINDA]

That probably would work. I am just not sure if he would handle the  if he does not behave not getting the toy.I am just wanting to avoid a big melt down. Tell me more. ANY  input I can get would be helpful. ty

[Dustin]

I am not really an expert on the issue. But the basic idea is use small bits of something he likes to get the behavior you want out of him. That can be food or toys or movies anything that he likes. My son likes to play games on the computer with me. So we make him count before he can play computer games. He has that down pretty well so I think we are going to move on to something else. The key is just not to give in unless the task or behavior is fulfilled. They say even just once that the child knows you will give in again. My son has went to bed crying because he would not count in order to play his computer game. Now he will count almost every time. That is a very small thing but we hope it will lead to bigger ones.

Thanks Dustin

[hefermaye]

Okay everybody pray for us tomorrow we go back to ARD at 11:15..... We have to discuss what the OT thinks Paul needs, plus we need to add  the dietary changes that have taken place since October at our last ARD.  Then Monday morning at 9:00 I take Paul to the dr for an appt to discuss what the decisions are from the ARD so the dr can determine if he wants to get further services outside the school for Paul, plus he wants to check on his behaviors. When we went in October (before the diet), his teachers were complaining about not being able to get his attention in class, still not getting any speech out of him; however that has completely changed in the last month, as I said yesterday his folder has went from x's to checkmarks everyday, He is waiting his turn, asking and answering questions for the teachers, major improvement I think since our last visit. His peditirician was discussing medicating him for ADD and we both agreed to wait till this visit to discuss it to see what the OT 's decision and output was, I am glad we did wait now. He will sit through church and he is very calm not constantly up and down out of his seat like before, I dont see the ADD in him anymore... YEAH. Thanks so much Tara and Tiffany for doing the class on the diet it has made great improvements!!!!!!!!!!

[tarahmom]

Awww, that gave me goosebumps! I am so happy to hear that! You don't have to EVER thank me. It's me job as a mom to share what info I have learned

[TiffyTiffy2]

I am glad things are going well with Paul. We all rejoice when one of our kiddos makes progress. We are all rejoicing with you and praying for your ARD! No need to thank us, we are in the boat with you! 

[hefermaye]

anyone else having problems this week?? Paul has been very distracted at school and not able to get his work done.. dont know if it is weather or what??