Sensory Integration Disorder Support Group

I taught in Atlanta but now live in Savannah. I believe that the behavior of the principal and others at the school is out of line. If your child has already been diagnosed an IEP is required and accommodations should be made. I'm not teaching now but am close with many Savannah-Chatham teachers. If you don't mind I'll ask them what steps you should take.

Hi Mary Beth, HUGS and welcome to the board!

I agree w/ past poster I think it is rude and out of line for a school district to suggest you spank our DS, especially since he has SID.

Not sure if its the same for your son but as an adult w/ SID when I was his age rough touching like spanking sent me into extreme emotional overload to the point of hysteria. Not to mention that to me spanking a child isn't the only effective form of discipline, I think time outs can be just as effective, especially for the sensory overload.

Also, has your OT suggested using the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol? I've tried it but it was just too rough on my skin and made my body hurt

There's also books like The Out of Sync Child and if I'm not mistaken one that might be called How Does Your Engine Run. It explains a child's perspective of having and dealing w/ SID and how to help parents cope. There's also a book for adults w/ SID called Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight, which has really helped me a lot.

Also, since your DS has an OT you could ask her if scheduling some individual and small group playdates w/ kids you or DS knows a couple of times a month would help your DS w/ social behavior.

When I was your DS's age, I used to isolate myself the exact same way. For me I couldn't take the noise of the music, the other kids crowding me too close and trying to touch me. All that light touching and bumping was just too much to take emotionally and physically having SID (SID effects all five of my senses). .

Having playdates a few times a month did help me out. I even remember getting to spend the night at a classmate's house once.

Also, as an adult w/ SID who has been where your son is and has gone through all the emotional highs and lows that go w/ having SID as both a child and still as an adult , I can tell you from experience he ISN"T undisciplined at all, but rather his behavior is a coping mechanism from so much sensory over stimulation all the time. It makes the body shut down and at times lash out. I've been there too.

Having gone through years of school and then college what I wish teachers would have understood about having SID is that a little extra love. better communication and encouragement as well as a little extra patience can really go a long way in helping someone w/ SID cope.

Lastly, I think its very commendable as a parent that you're not willing to spank your son. If his SID symptoms are similar to mine, spanking him is only going to make him worse, since it wouldn't be solving his discipline problem, but rather overloading it. KWIM?

Well, I hope your son's IEP plan goes through. I wish such a plan was available when I was growing up.

GOOD LUCK! :D

I don't know if this will help because I am in a different state, but I will throw it out there anyway! My son's school (he just started Kindergarten and has SID and dyspraxia) told me basically the same thing...we have to observe him for several weeks, blah blah blah! But, the guidance counselor told me that if I could get his medical records and a letter detailing his diagnosis from his doctor, that they could skip the several weeks observation and get to it.

Well, that is exactly what I did. I drafted a HIPPA release and got records from his pediatrician, his speech therapist and his occupational therapist. As the letter had to be from his pediatrician, but his OT knew more about his diagnosis/how it would affect him in school, they conspired to have the OT fill out the form and the pediatrician to sign it. That is what we did and I had everything to the school within a week.

That cut out the time substantially and we were able to get a plan in place almost immediately! Hope this helps some and the best of luck to you and your baby boy!