Messages posted by: Anilise

Connie,

Thank you for the link and the support!

~Anilise

I have had nothing but bad luck when it comes to our school. My son has been in speech therapy since he was pre-school at our public school's early childhood education program for children w/ special needs. We do have an IEP in place. They are working w/ him for sound system disorder. Since my son has been in kindergarten I have been saying "there is something other than speech going on." Jackson often is behind in subjects, has trouble learning the other kids names, doesn't play w/ the others very much at all. Being that Autism runs in our family and I could see so much of my lil' brother in my son I kept pushing for other tests to be done. However, behavioral wise Jackson is the perfect student. Teachers would look at me in shock when I would explain his behavior at home. Even Jackson's speech teacher went as far as to say that his behavior at home was do to a lack of attention from me. Everyone would say...."Jackson makes eye contact, he is just behind and it is all because of his speech." It has been my experience that teachers have a cut and dry percepetion of what Autism is. They are not, however experts. There really isn't anything cut and dry and about. That is why there is a spectrum.
We have obtained an official diagnoses of Asperger's this summer and I will be the first to tell ya...I can't wait to give a copy of the diagnoses letter to his speech teacher.
~A

I have been struggling for years to get someone to listen to me about how I thought my son had Aspergers. Just as of Monday we OFFICIALY received our diagnoses. My son, now 8, is thrilled. He feels validated.
Aspergers is a very open topic in my family. My 18 year old brother and 8 year old neice also have the same diagnoses. Jackson, my son, told the Dr. the other day. "I know I have Aspergers b/c I am just like my Uncle Sean."
I can't even imagine having the diagnoses and not letting him in on the information. Not saying that it was wrong for you. Every situation is different. For example, My Mom knew for years that my brother was Autistic. They, the Dr.s, had been medicating him for years for Bipolar disorder. After almost 10 years of mood swings, changes in meds, and distructive behavior she had the Dr.s take him off of all his meds. He now hardly takes any. Why? Because he is not Bipolar is has Aspergers. A light shined on my brother that day. All those years in termoil and now he feels like a new person and he is doing great!
My son knows he is different. I think if I kept him in the dark even for a year it would hinder his development.
We too have already heard the excuse "I can't do that, I have Aspergers" We quickly corrected that.
I am at the piont where I am rambling.
I hope you get the answers you need and that your son is doing well.

~Anilise