Messages By: lisa1017

To all of you who are raising children on the autism spctrum, 

         I have tears in my eyes. Reading the boards that there are others out there  that have the same struggles. I have a six year old daughter with aspergers and a nine year old son with a major anxiety disorder learning disabilities and pdd.  MY husband is in the National Guard and is gone a lot.  Every day is a struggle.  From IEPs to fits my children may through because they are upset because of sensory issues or lack of being able to communicate.  To all thoughs perants who struggle with IEPs and getting the right help in school I do ahve one bit of advice ..KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!!!!!!!!......  Have a good relationship with the school dont stop till you find the right place.  My husband gave up a job so that we could live in the right school system he now makes a 1/4 of what he did before.  I believe with my whole heart it was worth it.   It helps me to read other perants struggles to know I am not alone.  I have been BEGGING Dr. Phils crew to do a show on this to find some research that helps pearants.  Poeple dont understand waht it takes to raise these kids and the HUGE HUGE struggle to get the right help for them.  I live in Michigan there is only one hospitol and nueroligy department that will see my kids My son is in desperate need of nuero testing I belive from his birth he has major frontal loab damage .  We can not get an appointment till late summer of 2006.  It is so sad to me I just feel like screaming why doesn't any one care!!!!!  Help me!! But no one wants to touch it because it is autism and there is little expierence in it.  Please if any one has any suggestions for navigating the medical fields please help.  For that matter if any one has any suggesting on raising children with these disorders it would be a great help to me Thank You,   Missy 

I am so sorry for your situation. It is really had raising these kids and to raise them as a step child relationship well I bow to you.  Frist of all I would ask for a new evaluation at his school.  I don't know what kind of costudy you have but I am pretty sure either perant can ask for a new evaluation because it is obvious that what they are doing with him at school is not working.  The school legally has to give him a new evaluation.  Then you can tell them that you are not stopping until they include the OC in his curriculum.  And if the mother moves away I would frist get some legal help there.  There may be a way to keep him in your area.  Please PLease read the perants rights you can get one at any school office.  Also you can usually request a perant advocate.  The school usually doesnt like to make it known they are available but they are.  Have them help navigate your system.   

       I would also look up what is known as play thereapy I have been to seminars where they taught it because it is so expensive to actually have a play therapist.  I had Dr. Richard Solomon He was wonderful he use to have a website I dont know if he does any more.  This has helped my kids more then anything.   

       If I had to hear Oh they will grow out of it one more time I swear I was the one who was going to through the tantrem.  Find a good doctor dont stop till you find one that will help.  Write any time I would be happy to help it gives me encouragement if I can help some one going through this.  I pray for the day when they can give us ansewers to why all these beautiful children have to go through this but I will tell you this the faster you get the right help the better things will get.  It will be night and day difference.  I challenge you to really find out what makes him tick what his limits are and where he can be pushed to do better and where he needs time.  Thank you I will be thinking about you Missy