I'm sorry for what you are going through. I do not homeschool although his dad is all for it. I had the same problem with sam's school last year. The teachers there had no clue . I would get phone calls at home, "he's not looking at me", "he's chewing paper" etc. Unfortunately there are some teachers who refuse to learn about it; they want everyone to act the way they want. i had that problem back in Kentucky on a person who was autism trained three times and she was caught lying time and time again trying to get sam out of her class to the point that other teachers were coming up to me and expressing concern and that is when i called a meeting and had sam moved to another class and he did just fine after.
to be honest, i prefer the public school. Most of sam's problems are social and I want him exposed to that sort of environment to help him learn from that environment. hope things gets better for you.

julir

I would say that the only thing that saved me was some spec. ed classes just for people with disabilities like high functioning autism, etc. A lot of spec. ed classes are like families and makes the education more correct and actually fun.

Kris

PS: The spec. ed classes can also help ease the overstimulation and also speed of learning, style differences, etc. and the mean kids and even mean teachers.

Kris

there are some decent schools out there, and decent programs within the system.

I've been homeschooling my son since he was six, he's nine now. We have a great local support group, with kids his own age, and very understanding adults.

It isn't easy, but public school was a true nightmare for us. Social progress has always been slow going, and always will, but he had no friends in school and was falling by the wayside academically, because of pressure to "fit". When one thing didn't work, they immediately picked him up and dumped him into another program, further confusing and terrifying him. For us, it was like getting off a nauseating carnival ride and onto solid ground again.

I am considering it. Is the medication working? Evendently not if the teacher is not appreciating his "personality". I suggest if it is stressful for you he will pick up on that. I would challenge the reports from the teacher and request to place your child in another setting just to see. Is that the only spec class in your town? The fact that the only time he has problems is at school is clear and definate evidence the school needs to adjust and they cannot tell you to "dope" your kid. That is a doctors job. Get the best psychiatrist to evaluate the situation. Contact your MHMR but that usually takes time. I would file complaints in writing to get attention with the administration and go to war! But then that's me. You need to find the best thing for yourself and your family. Many families do much better with home school. Oli has issues to control me and I need to place him away from me. I needed to do that with his typical brother at that age for a while(as in full time day care) I admit it is my skill set that is in question, but I am honest in how much I can do and I understand where I need help. If you can manage it, see if the district will accomodate you with related services and I saw somewhere that the schools will pay the parent to homeschool if the system cannot meet the needs. Good Luck and don't let your teacher bully you. Get the records of what and how she determined your angel is such a monster, because he is not that way at home! Get ALL the notes and then use the info to prove YOUR case. If they refuse to give you everything then they are violating his rights and then you really have a case, slam dunk.

Just to elaborate a little Jarrett is in a regular mainstream public school class. No special ed. It's not even an option for us. Acedemically my son has tested above average or higher in every subject. His issues are strictly behavioal, social and sensory. Special Ed would only cause a major acedemic regression and that's no gonna happen. There is no ABA, Occupational or Behavioal therapy avaliable in my area. I've actually gotten the home school thing started ...at least I'm working on it. I will allow my son to return to public school next year when he's a little older. Thanks so much for all your input. It really helped in my decision.

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents even though your have already made a decision. My son had a similar experience last year in Kind. His teacher and aide were nice enough, just not aware of his needs or why he did the things he did. This resulted in lots of notes being sent home as well as a few phone calls. I feel that if he would have had the aide he has now who has worked with other kids with autism he would have had a much easier time last year. Anyway, Eli is very similar to your child, average to above average with social and behav. issues. He is now in 1st grade and although spends most of his day in reg. ed., he is in a special ed. program that only has children who are ave. to above ave. intelligence but have behaviors that get in the way of learning( children with autism, adhd, bi-polar). This room allows the children to take a break and not become so overstimulated. Obviously, I don't know what programs are available in your distict, but this works very well for Eli and the other children in this program.

Heidi,

It sounds like a great program. If Jarrett could be placed partially in a class of children similiar to himself I really wouldn't mind. But around here, they are either mainstreamed or sent to a special school along with moderatley to severly autistic children and other children with mental disibilities. It's very fustrating that they dont have that option for us. And none of the school aides are trained to work with Autistic kids, neither are the teachers. Sometimes I really want to move to give my son better opportunities, but my husband is serving here at the base Honor Guard Instructor and has a two year contract.

The school does not have the right to not meet your child's needs. You need to get real vocal.. Since you're a military family, there MUST be some sort of advocate assistance for you. Do not let them get away with not considering his needs even if you need to get them in trouble. You know what you need for him and you will make the best decision, but HE HAS RIGHTS from acts by congress. DO NOT ACCEPT LESS than what he NEEDS!

I'm sorry about what you're going through, my best advice is work with the teacher and school and over view the programs and outline of work and subjects. I personally don't believe in home schooling a child. I find that doing that you're limiting your child from life experiences and kids. I just feel it's crucial for a child to see it's environment and world. I know many parents who home schooled the kid till grade 8 and then off to regular high school and the child suddenly went mute and crazy once exposed to this cruel society. Many parents have their reasoning. The ones I've met do it cause they don't want the child to be bullied and stuff but it's better for them to see all that now and learn to handle and deal with it rather then they're older.

I place my son with both disabled, disability and reg kids so he understands how we're all different but still very much alike and that just cause he's got autism, don't mean he can't be around as society says "normal kids"

Lisa has a point in that re-entry into the system could be over-whelming, but each kid is different. How is your baby?
You may do the type of home school groups. I had a friend with a boy who had sucess with a home school group where they met like school, but it was just a handful. I think the teacher was very good. Is that the ONlY kindergarten class. It sounds like a sensory and a bit of ocmpulsiveness, whit are common traits to understand and as Lisa said, talk to the teacher to but if there was another school room near you to try?

well, in my situation, I was given a chioce to wait to put my son in Kindergardten next year. you see my son turned 5 pnly a week before school started, so he just barely made the eligible age to qualify for kindergarten. I was warned that children that young may find school overwhelming, and that his autism may add to that already overwhelming experience. I tought he could handle it. But I did warn the teacher that if it was too much for him I would pull him out till the next year.I'm hoping that next year when he's a little older he'll be able to handle it better.

pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee


DON'T UNDER ESTIMATE YOUR CHILD

too much for the teacher?

THATS WHAT THEY'RE GETTING PAID FOR AND WENT TO SCHOOL.

sorry for the caps but I really get touchy when parents feel the kid is doing wrong or a prob for the teacher or whom ever...

FUCK THAT

excuse my french. You want your child in school then he is allowed like any other kid and if he's having some probs then place him in special ed or with an EA teacher. GOD what a joke these kinda teachers make me want to puke. Don't let him win, please. Thats a huge croc of shit and if you'd like give him his number or e-mail so I can personally tell him where to go and how to get there.

your child doesn't have a prob, his lazy ignorant ass does. I dunno about the country you're in but here in Canada, a child starts school at 4 :)

Is there a pre k class he can attend, even if half day?

Olismom, My son has already completed Pre-K so they wont allow him to retake it.

Lisa81,

I want you to know that I do not underestamate my son at all in fact I know how brillant he his. In fact I have gone to bat for him several times, but in this case I just feel a little burnt out. He's not learning anything if he's in the principal's office or In School suspension all the time. I can teach him much better in the comfort and security of our own home at least for the remainder of the school year. Yes, his teacher does seem overwhelmed with my son, but he's MY son and I will gladly take on the responcibility of educating him myself if that will help him.

So there is not another k class with an experienced teacher?