Hello im new to this and Have a son with supposibly Autism and torrettes

but in my location doctors have no real life skills it looks like to me.Im interested in any and all info that would help me with my son.At the moment my wife and I are having problems getting our son to poo on the potty.any suggestions?Also he no longer listens unless it concerns what he wants like tv or toys or something and hes almost 7 and still cant talk normal.

Hi insanity, and welcome to IAN.

I'm sorry to hear that you are having such a difficult time getting your son what he needs right now. Generally, when trying to find assistance, it's best to look to local advocacy organizations and local parents in the same boat who know the situation where you live and can help guide you. Some possible links to resources:

Autism Speaks' Autism Response Team: http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/outreach/autism_response_team.php

Autism Society of America local chapters: http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=community_chapters

Both organizations also have general resource listings:

Autism Speaks - http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/resources/index.php?WT.svl=Top_Nav

Autism Society of America - http://www.autismsource.org

As far as potty training is concerned, it is probably best to involve your current team in brainstorming about how to make this work. Potty training involves so many aspects - including physical and psychological readiness and sensory issues. Consulting with the pediatrician, occupational therapist, behavioral specialist, etc. may help you to know what factors are standing in the way and how to overcome them.

Of course, a child of 7 on the spectrum generally receives many services through the public schools. We have some wonderful resources on school and the law which spells out the rights or children with disabilities in our "Back to School Report": http://www.iancommunity.org/cs/ian_research_reports/back_to_school_2008

Well hello again i have another question is it normal for my son in 1st grade to be making striaght F's as on his report card hes doing terrible and my wife and I need better help with him and just cant find it its as if he has no brian.saying this seems mean i know but you just have to be with him at times to understand i really dont know if the docters know if this is autism but some more insight would grately be appreciated from all here Thanks.

Hi insanity.

I'm not an expert on education, but I would think that straight Fs on a report card is a red flag that something is simply not working. This would bring up a lot of questions to address with the school.

Has your son had a thorough evaluation regarding cognitive abilities (IQ - and this can be uneven, with strengths in some areas and deficits in others), learning disabilities, attention deficits, sensory issues...? The schools generally will perform evaluations regarding abilities that relate to education - you can request this. If I am not mistaken, the schools are required to perform a thorough evaluation every 3 years, but I'm sure you can request one sooner with cause like this. Remember: you have the right to call an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting at any time.

If not satisfied with what the school district provides, you can also consider going for private testing by an expert in this area. (Sometimes a school will give more weight to a report written by an outside expert.)

Once you understand the issues and needs - basically WHY your son is receiving poor grades -- you and the school can make some decisions. What kind of school or classroom setting, and what kind of educational approach, are most likely to help him succeed? Why is he struggling, and what supports could be put in place to help him?

insanity wrote:

but in my location doctors have no real life skills it looks like to me.Im interested in any and all info that would help me with my son.At the moment my wife and I are having problems getting our son to poo on the potty.any suggestions?Also he no longer listens unless it concerns what he wants like tv or toys or something and hes almost 7 and still cant talk normal.

hi i aspie29, i haves autism,regresseve autism,aspergers,torretes- last yeaur i hads a savere grand mal seizure lasted 10 min. i was unconsicoius for12-15 min. docs sill cant figer out wut caused the seizure,

it sux i a 29 yeaur boywho waers goodnites@nite , i was waering them 24-7 for a yeaur, but now just @nite i even has to drink frum a sippy cup all the time i soooo darn clumsy wen i was yunger i went thru i not many cd players, after the grand mal i haves to drink frum sippy cup now plus i th up alot and haves frqwent diareah too savere arthuritis my joynts swell up like balloons they r days my legs hurt soooooo bad i cant get up to go potty or anything how can i repotty trane myself?????? my adopted mommy sed i too old to waer goodnites, buts i sed mommy i haves accedents seh tolds me i needs to go without goodnites for 4 days and if i sill haves accedents seh will gets me goodnites, u think it good ideah 4 me to sill waer goodnites??wen i had seizure my sleling and speach got kinda bad, my memery is a hole noter ballgame!! my memery is realley realley bad, it used to be very very good,now it bytes!!its upsets me very mush i aslo seep in blanket seepers sill,my behave terapist thinks i may be haveing small seizures in my seep? hes gots twin autistic boys 17 yeaur old, they both haves aspergers likes me, but theres r more savere then me, if u can help me or haves advise 4 me tat b gr8and i haves sensery isseues hypersensetive heering too i luvs musik, but i hates too mush treble, and midrange it hurts me ears,but now i luvs BASS, cant gets enuf of it , i luvs to feel it in me .thnx aspie29

Hi aspie29, and welcome to IAN.

I'm so sorry to hear about how difficult things have been for you, especially since the seizure. That is miserable.

Have you asked your regular medical doctor or your behavior therapist about your difficulties staying dry at night? In your situation, I would think the big question is: Is something physical or neurological happening that makes it impossible to stay dry at night, or has it become a habit or behavior that you need help changing? Or is it a little of both?

There is certainly no shame in using the GoodNites while you need them, until your treatment team can help you get to the point where you don't need them. Having accidents now and then as you try to stop using them is, of course, part of the process, too, and nothing to feel bad about.

Best wishes to you as you work on this!

Hi Insanity,

I too am new here and learning the ropes and hearing everyone to get better insights.
I have a similar situation with my son not progressing as he should in class that to me was a red flag but not to the school and I faught.
My son was in kindergarden last year and was making minimal progress in large time span by time year ended he can still only count to 10 consistantly 12 w/ objects 20-29 great then loops to 1 again cant identify letters or sounds to them only hand full when class knew all but handfull. couldnt recognize name or write and so on. He didnt get F's but allot of incompletes not satisfactory. they wanted to send him to first with little that he knows thinkin he would blow us out of the water this year or grow and mature. To me this is allot of what if's and setting him up for failure. so I had him retained this year. He cant learn in the "standard" way in the general or mainstream class. he quit doing all work,got made fun of "stupid" and school gave up on him.

Voice of recony for you Hes does have a brain a unique one and to learn he needs it presented in a different way. Is he a hands on learner and visual? Mine is. By me working w/ my son I found out how small i had to break things down and use pic cues, word association, and apply his strengths to his weakness's. Such as matching,tracing, and manipulating objects. He just needs more of an Individualized IEP to address modifications to his acadimics and set goals for this as well and there are tests as well to see where he is IQ wise. Mine scores borderline to average but doesnt perform at that level-performs at a lower level. There may be some visual or auditory processing delays as well based off of my experiance. Hope this has helped I have allot of info and testing if you need names. You can request this in school. Would like to know how turns out. My son is awesome in mazes on the computer. They just learn differently and comprehend different as well. GOOD luck insanity and plz let me know if i was beneficial and what else I can do.
thanks parent of ASD