Replies to 'Raising a Special Needs Child'

Quote From: aspiemom13

This is what I posted.....go to www.monarchschool.org   They have a lot of resource links.  I am homeschooling my son (13) and we are doing fantastic.  But wouldn't have it it weren't for the Monarch School.     My son is now 13, noticeable problems began when he was 7 and it was at school.  Things spiraled and got worse every year.  The behaviors he was exhibiting continued and began to change and manifest into more outward behaviors instead of inward.  I am a teacher.  I've taught for 13 years.  I worked with Dyslexic kids and students struggling with Reading.  My son was at my school.  His classrooms were either right next door or just down the hall.  I could hear everything and was called out many, many times to help.  We finally got an AS diagnosis (started with ADHD) in his 4th grade year.  He went to self-contained 100% of the time immediately to reduce his stressors.  He was having metldowns that lasted anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours as many times as 5 times a day.  By the end of his 4th grade year he was mainstreamed into Math and Reading.  In 5th grade he was mainstreamed into Math, Reading, and Science.  Beginning of 4th grade continuing into 5th grade he had a personal aide.  Getting an aide for one child can be difficulty depending on the district and is only good as the training.  AFter 3 months in 5th grade he had regressed.  Lack of training and knowledge was a major issue.  The administration was supportive and so were the regular ed. classroom teachers.  INfact, some went to training.  WE were desparate...our life at home, school, and everywhere we went was nothing but meltdowns.  We were so scared he would have a meltdown.  Luckily his meltdowns were not aggressive towards others.  In desperation, I got on the internet and began searching for special schools for AS/Autism.  We live in Texas and we found THE MONARCH SCHOOL (day school) in Houston, Texas.  We went in October of my son's 5th grade year to visit and knew immediately it was the place for him.  We applied and got in for his 2nd semester of his 5th grade year.  My son and I moved to Houston leaving my younger son and my husband at home.  It was amazing.  Just the change in setting brought my son back showing smiles and laughter that had been missing from for 21/2 years or more.  We hooked up with an excellent psychiatrist in Houston who tweaked our meds which helped., but it was the therapeutic school that gave him the tools.  He began to have self regulation and next thing we knew he was successful.  It was also a terrific education for me.  They work very closely with the parents.  We are now back together as a family, at home and I am now homeschooling him.  I couldn't have done it before The Monarch School.  He is taking karate and participates in the Youth group.  Socialization skills were also worked on at TMS and he is better.  It is tough though watching the other kids and how they treat him even in what should be a safe and accepting environment at church.  But it is also a tough age without AS.  However, meltdowns are practically non existent.  We are better though and all I can say is check out www.monarchschool.org.  Other good resources include Dr. Greenspan.  The Monarch school has links on their website to a lot of great resources.  It can get better!  I am a better parent because of the Monarch School and the education I got from them.  Because of my son, I have returned to school and I am working on my Masters in Special Education with a diagnostician certificate.  This is tough on your marriage,  but my husband and I are actually so much closer because of our son.  Yes, it is tough still, Yes it is frustrating, yes it demanding, but my husband and I can see a brighter future for our son now.  We have a rough, long road ahead and yes we still have alot of things to work on, but we can see the progress and have high hopes.