My nephew, who is 8 was just diagnosed with Asperger’s.
I have a bunch of questions about his rights in the school and his education. My sister is trying to learn everything she can about it right now and is feeling a bit overwhelmed. I know less than she does at this point, but a few things her school has told her so far are concerning.
He is very bright with the three IQ scores in the 130’s range. Academically, his report cards are inconsistent and don’t reflect his ability, yet in all the standardized testing, he aces them. For example, in the fall report card, his reading level dropped a year versus where he left off end of last year. When my sister probed the teacher more, this grade was based on the fact that this teacher requires the kids to read aloud in class and he refuses. But surprise, surprise, after the school did the testing that reflected his IQ, on this month’s report card, he miraculously jumped up a grade level in reading (what a wonder boy to be able to accomplish this in three months, right? forgive the sarcasm here).
In addition to social problems, he has become a bit of a discipline problem during the last few months (goes to “planning room” 2X week for small infractions and has even been suspended - long story I won’t get into) at school. The school not being able to read him correctly (e.g., he has trouble with eye contact which affected him during the suspension inquisition from the principal) appears to be further contributing to his problems. Beneath all his “external” problems, he is of course, a really sweet boy.
My questions are:
Based on your experience, what kind of academic environment (high structure, small class size, Montessori, etc.) works best for kids with Aspergers? For example, should my sister consider a parochial or private school that would be better suited to his needs, whatever they are? It seems unfair to let a kid who will have a few problems along the way in life not live up to his academic potential.
There seems to be limited understanding at his school of Aspergers. While the principal told my sister a month ago that he would get an IEP, now the school Psych is saying he doesn’t qualify for anything because there he is performing at grade level according to standardized tests, although his report cards may not reflect that. I think this is unfair because they are applying the LD formula to his case. If they wanted to, he could get OHI as the Aspergers is significantly affecting his academic performance. Am I right? (I have an ADHD Inattentive w/ dyslexia daughter who is clasified under OHI). But, what could they do for him? Put him in inclusion classes (where he was in 2nd grade as one of the non-special ed kids and he did very well)? Any suggestions?
I think he needs something - 504, IEP - for at minimum the “discipline” problems he is developing. This kid shouldn’t be ridiculed, bullied, labeled, etc. if he is miunderstood. What is the best way to deal with both the academic performance and behavioral problems w/i the school? For my own daughter, a fellow parent in the district told me to fight for classification/IEP since based on her experience, unless you got the classification, the child wouldn’t get proper help. Also, IEP’s seem to have more legal benefits and safegueards versus 504’s.
Please help. Any advice would be appreciated. All kids deserve a fair shot at life and it sounds to me that this child needs some sort of protection. Thank-you.
Re: Aspergers (long)
>>>> In addition to social problems, he has become a bit of a discipline problem during the last few months (goes to “planning
room” 2X week for small infractions and has even been suspended - long story I won’t get into) at school. The school not
being able to read him correctly (e.g., he has trouble with eye contact which affected him during the suspension inquisition
from the principal) appears to be further contributing to his problems. Beneath all his “external” problems, he is of course, a
really sweet boy.
Do other kids who are “discipline problems” go to planning room, especially for “small infractions”, or just this boy? If it is just him, then your sister may have a claim of discriminatory treatment if he does not have an IEP which indicates that will be the method of discipline. He should be treated just like other kids. But if he needs accommodations because his behaviors are “small infractions” and not really requiring “discipline” but more like he needs to learn to modify them, then he should not be disciplined at all, he needs to learn other ways of behaving that are acceptable.
My questions are:
>>>> Based on your experience, what kind of academic environment (high structure, small class size, Montessori, etc.) works best
for kids with Aspergers? For example, should my sister consider a parochial or private school that would be better suited to
his needs, whatever they are? It seems unfair to let a kid who will have a few problems along the way in life not live up to his
academic potential.
In general, AS kids do better with higher structure and smaller class size, because they like to know what to expect [no surprises] and they are generally easily distracted. However, not all AS kids are the same, this boy may not have these difficulties, or perhaps he does have them but not to a great degree.
A private school may or may not be a better option for him, but if it does not accept federal/state funding, it would not be required to make any accommodations for him either, altho it might do so voluntarily, depending on how much it wanted this boy enrolled there.
>>>> There seems to be limited understanding at his school of Aspergers. While the principal told my sister a month ago that he
would get an IEP, now the school Psych is saying he doesn’t qualify for anything because there he is performing at grade level
according to standardized tests, although his report cards may not reflect that. I think this is unfair because they are applying
the LD formula to his case. If they wanted to, he could get OHI as the Aspergers is significantly affecting his academic
performance. Am I right? (I have an ADHD Inattentive w/ dyslexia daughter who is clasified under OHI). But, what could
they do for him? Put him in inclusion classes (where he was in 2nd grade as one of the non-special ed kids and he did very
well)? Any suggestions?
This district now has an AS child in its system, the teachers and staff who work with this child are now required to receive training.
I will be politically incorrect and give you my opinion that I am against labels and IEPs unless they will provide a benefit for the child. Otherwise I would say to NOT get a label OR an IEP, because it may affect the child unnecessarily. If he is performing at grade level, then I would say do NOT pursue an IEP. However, your sister should consider one which addresses any accommodations or behavior issues her son has. I will discuss my opinion on this under another of your questions.
He may not “qualify for anything” ACADEMICALLY if he is performing at grade level, but it does sound like he does qualify for at least a behavior plan, and as he gets older he may need academic accommodations depending on if his AS affects his performance in later years. Altho you do say his AS affects his academic performance, but then you say he is performing at grade level, so I am confused. However, he absolutely DOES qualify as AS if he has a dx, and the school must train its staff and teachers in AS, so he is treated fairly for his AS, for example, not treated as a discipline problem if it is simply manifestation of AS [altho he does need to learn how to control his negative behaviors, but if his behaviors are NOT negative, then he should not be disciplined for them, just taught ways to modify them.]
I would say an inclusion class would be good for him, as his behaviors would not “stand out” so much, and perhaps the teacher and other staff would have more experience and patience with differences, but because he is performing at grade level, be sure the school has placed him there as a regular ed kid, and not a special ed kid.
>>>> I think he needs something - 504, IEP - for at minimum the “discipline” problems he is developing. This kid shouldn’t be
ridiculed, bullied, labeled, etc. if he is miunderstood. What is the best way to deal with both the academic performance and
behavioral problems w/i the school? For my own daughter, a fellow parent in the district told me to fight for classification/IEP
since based on her experience, unless you got the classification, the child wouldn’t get proper help. Also, IEP’s seem to have
more legal benefits and safegueards versus 504’s.
No kid should be ridiculed or bullied, no kid should be “labelled” in a public way [altho your sister may decide to use his label in an academic/behavior/IEP way], especially not for misunderstandings.
I would recommend your sister discuss his dx with the school people and tell them what she wants for her son. If he needs academic accommodations, she would know about them [for example, the reading issue]. He appears to need a different form of behavior modification than he is currently receiving. Altho I am generally against labels, I would say that if your sister believes an IEP is required for this boy to receive beneficial treatment at school, then your sister should pursue it, and fight for it if necessary. Nothing is ever easy, but if your sister believes her son needs something different than he is currently receiving, then definitely she should fight for it. However, if she simply wants him disciplined in the same manner as other children [not sending him to planning room, for example, but using the “regular” form of discipline], then she should insist he receives equal treatment as the other children, but this would not require an IEP.
>>>> Please help. Any advice would be appreciated. All kids deserve a fair shot at life and it sounds to me that this child needs
some sort of protection. Thank-you.
You can get a lot of good information at OASIS — Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support.
http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/index.html
Re: Aspergers (long)
I came across a message board a few weeks ago that may be helpful for your sister. She can post questions on aspergers. It is www.autismchannel.net
Re: Aspergers (long)
My son has NLD, which shares many traits with Asperger’s. He is also bright, and because of this, has never been below grade level. Still, when I allowed them to take him off the IEP he’d had (at school request) from Kindergarten through 2nd grade, he had a HORRIBLE 3rd grade year. He still wasn’t below grade level, but he was clearly losing ground academically, and worse, was showing real signs of emotional stress from the effort of holding it together in school. He started having mild behavioral problems at school, and worse at home, something that had NEVER been a problem before.
It took 15 months of fighting, and a private neuropsych eval to get him back on an IEP, but it was well worth it. Sometimes kids like this can, with superhuman effort, remain on grade level without help, but at great personal expense. Now, back on a reasonable IEP, and in the classroom of a teacher who has made it her business to learn about NLD, he’s not only doing well academically, but he’s my happy, sunny kid again.
Just because a child is performing on grade level doesn’t mean he isn’t struggling mightily with problems that need to be addressed.
Karen
Your sister and nephew are being treated very unfairly. Since you have a diagnosis from a Medical Doctor, it does not matter what the school psychologist says. Aspergers is a spectrum of autism and IDEA requires your nephew get and IEP. In a certified, return receipt, letter your sister should state (kindly) when her request was made for an IEP, the diagnosis , her understanding of the conversation with the school psychologist, and under IDEA this is a violations of her son’s rights. Let me know if I can be of any help. This is a travesty for any child to go through. Best Wishes, Sharon G.