State: CA
Country: USA
Member since: Sep 23, 2007
Last logged in: Oct 30, 2008
I am the mother of five children, the youngest Michael or Mickie as we like to call him, was diagnosed with Autism at 22 months old.After years of early intervention therapy, which didn't work. I learned through trial and error that he had underlying biomedical problems that culminated in Autism like symptoms, including, chronic digestive problems since the age of one, when he received the MMR vaccine.
With biomedical interventions, gfcf and SCD diets, Mickie's body is starting to heal. Some of the most severe symptoms, head banging, night waking, self injurious behaviors are almost gone.
He lost all speech by the age of three. He is now 10 years old and has just started to say mama, for the first time in almost 8 years.
Favorite Compositions (9)
Today was like every other day, Aaron tried to play with another child and was c...Read moreBy Aaronsmom on 01.01.70
Comments(9) After seeing someone's home on CNN yesterday gave me an idea. How does your home...Read more
By slhh130 on 01.01.70
Comments(12) - New closet doors $200
- Repairing four walls with holes - $100 and hours of ...Read more
By stevej on 01.01.70
Comments(5) I am realizing, as I over hear conversations & kind of nod out of other conversa...Read more
By KevinLivsDad on 01.01.70
Comments(15) Recovery's definition is the "returning to normal". What is normal - to anyone, ...Read more
By carmel66 on 01.01.70
Comments(3)
Zurama's Compositions
by Zurama on 06.04.08 - public - 116 visits
What if I check through all the progress reports from the teachers he has had and they all show that Mickie made progress, at least on paper.
On the other hand, what if the so called experts-speech pathologist and the Psychologist making the evaluations and making the recommendations for his educational plan for the last 4 years are to blame for Mickie's lack of progress.
If the people making the assessments and evaluations labeled him retarded, and as having the cognition level of a 1 to 2 year old, then he was being set up for failure and since the recommendations are for someone who was profoundly retarded, according to their so called expertise, then they can claim that he has made progress, but on what level.
I know that he scores low on the CAPA tests, but are those even ethical to use with a non-verbal autistic student?
Their expectations of him are very low, so his goals and objectives are very vague and weak and he is not expected to do much. All this time I would hear from the teachers that he was doing so well, and the progress reports have it in writing that he is doing well to, but I couldn't and can't see it. Does this make any since to anyone.
Comments(6)
Zurama
Posted on Thu, 5 Jun 2008
No, you are not rambling at all. It make perfect sense. For four years he has been matching colors and shapes but if you ask him to show you blue, or the number 2, or the letter b, or write his name, he can't. He can't even pick out the letters of his name. I'm wondering, how long do they think he is going to be matching and doing three piece puzzles?
LisaAKAmom
Posted on Wed, 4 Jun 2008
I think its really something to investigate further...and may give you a clearer picture into what is actually going on with your child. If the Data shows that he is making progress....then its time for the teacher to change the goals. If the Data Shows No Progress...Its time for the Teacher to change the Goals. Something that happened with richie for the longest, is they had alot of Educational like Goals....but they werent really realistic to his everyday life. and what I had to have them do is concentrate more on his Self Help Skills and thing he was going to need to function in everyday...and things that were relevant to his everyday life at home as well. So things could be consistant...that really is one of the biggest things with our kids. Consistancy. So maybe that would be another way to approach his goals...he still had educational goals, like matching etc...but they were now matching things like Socks and Sorting Real Items. Like Siverware. Buttoning and zippers. I'm not really sure where you child is funtioning...but one thing is take things you need in your own home...and see how you can work on those things too. I know I'm rambling...but from the sounds of it...the goals arent appropriate for you child. The other problem like i mentioned is if you have the speech teacher doing one thing and the teacher doing another...that only confuses your child....so with the goals you need to make sure they are all doing things consistantly too. Ok, I will stop rambling...Hope this is helpful some how.
4muskateers
Posted on Wed, 4 Jun 2008
If you go to the homeschooling group, you will find different testing tools that can be used...there is a test that can be done...it is the non-verbal I.Q. test. but it is not common practice...I have found not to many people even know about it.
carmel66
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
We had that issue with my son. He didn't meet many of his IEP goals for two years. So they started to become very weak/general...we asked for the school's help with this. We had a "pre-IEP" meeting with our TEAM. Talked about 'reasonable' things to work on: self care, calming techniques, color recognition, augmentive communication tools (and the teaching to learn how to use) and well as incorporating ABA into learning some of these things. We had a strong, reasonable (low expectations) and well thought out IEP. We started biomed that year and he blew it out of the water and achieved it all - which as I said, was modest...but it was the first time he mastered everything in an IEP. Oh and the IEP had the goals written in steps. For example: Carson will be able to retrieve his coat when requested - that was broken into 1. Carson will be able to retrieve his coat with hand over hand assistance then fade to 2. Carson will be able to retrieve coat with step by step verbal prompting then fade to 3. Carson will be able to retrieve coat with request stated one time. We also usually put in the goal 1 out 5 times up to mastery being 5 out of 5 times. It really helps to have a GOOD TEAM and have an education crew adept at EDUCATING ASD kiddos - not just babysitting. Final note - over and over we find that people don't want to make us CRY. Oh for goodness sake - get over it!! They are afraid to say "didn't achieve goal", or "more realistic goal" or ask you the hard questions...or make you cry realizing that you are sitting there saying your 7 year old still wears diapers or whatever... You need to tell them you can handle the bad stuff, the hard questions - because only then can you get to the root of the issue and fashion a SOLUTION. Best of luck keep me posted.
frogfoot1969
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
It makes sense. I am sorry you are having such a hard time. I wish there was something we could do to help. The school system is so frustrating.
