Aspies For Freedom

Hi there

I was wondering if any of you could possibly help me with a project I am doing for Uni?

I am writing a portfolio for the module "what is disability" for University-and my nephew is my focus.  My nephew is 9 years old and has been diagnosed with "Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHD" He is being "treated" with Ritalin for ADHD and shows some really aggressive and destructive behaviour at times, this isnt mild, this takes the form of kicking, biting, spitting, swearing, punching and it doesnt matter who to- his most recent attack involved his 3 month old brother.... In addition to this he has a marked problem with his language and educational development.  
I asked his mother about whether she perceives J to have a "disability" and she said that yes she did feel that he had a disability but that J would never be aware that he has one....
What are your thoughts on:

Is a diagnosis helpful?

Education- should someone who is violent like J be made to attend mainstream education when he simply cant abide being there and the work they are doing is potentially inappropriate for his educational "capabilities" or indeed may be taught in an incorrect manner for his personal needs ?  

If you believe J should attend a "special needs school" how will this help him?

Does J have a "disability"?

How can his Mum help him or help her family (she has 4 children all younger than him) to all get along?


I asked his mother whether J was always "disabled" by this I meant did she feel that there were times or activities that J does where his "disability" is NOT an issue: She didnt seem to interpret the question as I meant it ... do you feel that there are or could be situations where J's "problem" of communication is not an "issue"?

I think my thoughts still lie within that Aspergers and related "conditions" are actually to do with wiring and Im still not sure that others should interfere... a child like J can kick off aggressively because he is being MADE to do what he doesnt want to do and to conform where he has no interest in conforming.... we dont ask geniuses to dumb it down why do we insist on people with "different wiring" to interact... who should be the judge on what is deemed to be a "normal" life?
I can understand that in J's case that others and children around him should be protected but as 90% of the time he only kicks off when being made to do something surely less "intervention" could be more useful to him and perhaps working with him on areas that he expresses interest would be a better way of going about things?

I dont know I dont know anything really - Ive accepted that! But over to you guys if you can possibly help
Id really like your opinions

Many thanks (she says hopefully!!)

Rosie

An interesting issue.

I agree that he has an disability or at least difficulties, but not all people with the same diagnosis is as disabled as this guy.

There seems to be some tips in how to overcome aggression at the parents' forum. One of them is to make the child attend non-interactive sport activities like climbing.

I don't know if special school could help him or the ones he has to interact with.

Thank you for your views Erkolos and the note to look at the parents forum.

Your response is very much appreciated.

Rosie

Does anyone else have anything to say on this?

Heya!

I am also interested in different respones!

Yes, it does seem that this boy's behaviour is disabling him and that he'd be better in a special school setting. Teachers in the regular school system are often simply not equipped to deal with children with special needs of this sort.

If he is academically advanced, he should be able to do harder work instead of being held back. That would make him less frustrated and less likely to lash out. If he's attacked his baby brother, he'd always have to be supervised around him.

Hey Tenacious CJ
Thank you so much for your response.  I would agree with you that state schools are not always best equipped to deal with this sort of behaviour when class sizes are so large...

J has been referred to special needs school to start in september his class size will be 8 and teachers/support workers in each class will be 3.  This shows such a marked difference in how the special needs system and state school inclusion system work - or perhaps how realistic they are?

You have both been so helpful THANK YOU

Is there anyone else out there that wishes to express a view on this particular case, any one who doesnt agree that J has a "disability" or any one who can think of any situation in which J would not be "disabled" by his "problems" with communication?

Still hopefully

Rosie

In the United States since about 1975, we have had the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  Means all children have to get the education they need, least restrictive environment.  Public school systems have to make provisions for students with disabilities including ADD or Asperger.  I know I started special education in 1976, first in Montgomery County, MD, and ended it in Charles County, MD, in 1983.  My original diagnosis was MBD (ADD, or ADHD as I was known to be hyperactive), and eventually at 25, 26, and 28, Asperger, along with severe or major depression at 26.  I may be on the maximum human dose of Welbutrin, plus some Lexapro, indefinitely.

In our current society, yes, I think he has a disability, and that diagnosis and some form of special services are helpful.  In my idea of a "perfect world," there would be no need for diagnoses or special services or labeling of disabilities, because rather than categories of "autistic," "learning disabled," "attention deficit," "neurotypical," we would all be recognized as being individuals, part of the vast continuum of human ways of being, with unique individual needs, and all education and services would be individualized.  

But, in the absence of my perfect world, the disability labels may be helpful.  I think most "treatment" does more harm than good, though, so maybe it's a push.  

I guess that's not a very helpful answer!