Aspies For Freedom

Mainstream.  I was mainstreamed gradually between grades 6 and 8 and graduated out of emotionally disturbed.

Could possibly ask mods to move it.

I don't think moving it would change the amount of people that would find it, do you? If noone else responds it will just drop off the active lists, and die a normal threads death.  No? (it's me atypical)

Ivar T - do you have an opinion, how did school go for you at around age 11? Did you have enough intervention in your opinion?

Yes and no.

I got no intervention and went to mainstream where I was bullied psychologically daily for 6 years until I was moved to a different class, bullying was virtually no more since then. Problems with getting homework done in primary was not recognized and I still have that problem today.

Another local aspie with a very similar story as mine who did get alot of intervention from social services got messed up badly by the system, unlike me she dropped out of school and has a grudge against these services' intervention.

I got no special intervention because of chaos within the local social services.

This person also suffered bullying and problems with getting homework done, it wasn't any better for her.

I'd say to listen to what your DS has to say on the matter...

Maybe it looks a lot easier looking back 25 years- I am a computer professional now (even if the first career, the Master's, never fit at the job interview time)

you know if someone offered my son this option I would grab it with both hands

anything is worth a try isnt it?

oh darn i wasnt clear .. if someone offered me the option to give my son a set class with a LOT LESS children in it and a very structured routine and environment where EVERYONE is properly trained and has the time to deal with him in the right way I would move him to that class/ environment immediately
have just moved schools because of tripe going on at previous school he is on half days at the moment and still having full on meltdowns daily he isnt severe enough for a "special school" but I so wish the school had a unit as your childs does

Hi Atypical ...sorry I didnt reply last night... was tired lol

Ok My son is 8 now, he is on his fourth school and its still a nightmare.  He is scared of school still doesnt understand routine of 5 days schools 2 days off... is exceptionally tired yet cant sleep and cries and wails each morning growing steadily more depressed as the week goes on .  He is still absolutely befuddled with other children at school and tells me that he doesnt understand what is going on in the classroom without a woman sitting with him.  I am going to continue to push for a 1.1 for him although probably the 1.1 will probably only repeat to him what was said stage by stage on what to do ...giving him 3 stranded instructions does not work in any way .. he needs it step by step .... and if i could put him in an environment where other children would accept him as he is without needling him for some of his "stranger" responses then I would ... his latest one is an absolute issue with children asking him "who are you and where do you live" .. .a usual question from children unfortunately they have already worked out he cant bear answering it and therefore from what he says at playtime in the morning they are constantly asking him for the unusual reaction and sport of it .....

I really think as a parent you do know best, sometimes you have to let your child work through the battles and sometimes I feel you need to literally "uproot" and change direction.  The children who you mention as already having breakdowns I would argue as already having been failed by an educational system that is still in infant stages and therefore changing way too much .. thus the children feel failed or feel that they personally have failed and dont know why....

I have been told in the past by an ed psych that my son MUST have an attachment disorder because he is able to "empathise" .... (old boy, old school of thought bless his totally detached from the current times 65 yr old heart!- yes I AM being sarcastic) Im interested to see that your son is able to do that too and able to stick up for others

a recent example of this from my own son was on 2nd day of his new school he came home and said "mummy, x told me that no one plays with him and never have, they call him fat boy and smelly, he has had to play crayons and comics every day ..... " we then spoke about it and he said "oh mummy when he told me that my heart cried inside for him"   I told him that was a lovely thing to say and that perhaps he would be a good chap to hang out with at school and he said he would look after him! It feels better that he has someone else extremely gentle to hang out with at playtime but still pushing for this extra help... and re the shortened day it was supposed to be only for 2 weeks but unless this week is incredibly different I will be asking for this arrangement to be extended and will undertake work with him at home so he doesnt miss out on the other topics covered in the afternoons

I really wish you luck in this please let me know what you decide and how it goes for you all

Rosetta, as you said : "Ok My son is 8 now, he is on his fourth school and its still a nightmare.  He is scared ... *****
I know how you feel and what you are going thru. (it's me atypical) I am mon to honestjohn, At the beginning of this school year my son was 10 and due to a school closing at the end of 3rd grade.  By 5th grade - his current school is his third school.. not counting the school that closed. We see (obviously or we wouldn't have even attempted this current placement) potential here.  The school system has the money, in NJ 1 in 80 boys are in the spectrum 1 in 94 kids, but the amount of stereotyping and buerocracy is astounding - I won't have my other kids in public school - no matter that it is a "blue ribbon " school and has won "governors awards for excellence", they treat kids like cogs in the wheel, my two more school typical kids are in a great private catholic school (that is too hard./too many kids per class) for our aspie.  

So I ask more people for an opinion on whwther it will "hurt" my kids confidence more to #1 switch to self-contained NOW, #2 switch next year or #3 forget this new school/Quit.

Ever mindful that he has switched schools alot already..

I have not commented as I think it is such an individual thing.  

But with all of the information you have given me about this situation, I would pull him from the school.  I think that possibly a homeschooling program through the public schools would be a good idea.  I am not sure if they have them there, but they do have them here.  

I would not continue with the public schools.

Hey Honest John/ Atypical

I am in the UK so prob not best placed to meet up or whatever but I do have MSN if you pm me on here.  
re your last post where you are asking whether it will hurt your sons confidence if you move him to self contained ... I feel that you should talk about it with him, explain the benefits to him and that you feel that long term this will be the best place for him? I think it does shakes Kids confidence to know that they have been diagnosed with "something" but then its how you as a parent explain it to them that counts ..... I also believe that it is more damaging to a childs confidence for them to have to conform as is the case in mainstream education ... conform or be bullied usually....
Id love to chat with you though so please do pm me
I really hope more people reply on here so that you can gain other insight into this very important decision you need to make
at the end of the day tho I think your son is 10... thats still so little for him to have the weight of conformity on his shoulders... you must all make the decision that will make him happiest and sod the rest of the worlds opinion
Rosie

That is why the option Try it for this year as opposed to pulling up stakes right now is there, due to the potential, now that we have figured out the system and that we have to tell the school EXACtly what to do every day.  IF they can't "get it" this year... korriagn you  were involved with me on the homschooling thread, you know we will do that.
thanks ladies...

By the way, last weeks IEP - THEY suggested (they know they blanked up) a totally new (and trained) aide and that they will do anything we ask for... and start the new classroom on MAy 5th, if we approve - we are going to meet the new aide and the new tacher - and observe her classroom.

SO, self-contained: 5 kids in there, plus the teacher and her Aide, Plus ds's new (trained) aide(enhanced support), plus differentiated instruction, plus, DAILY home communciation on a communication template, plus praise and consistency, plus he can leave for art/gym/shop/social studies.... instead of mainstream and 2 resource room classes, and trips to the locker between 8 periods...

Only trouble is, I could hand John a bad of money and he would resist taking it because it is not part of his routine, well not the only trouble, the main trouble is to believe that they can actually implement it.