We have a son who has been evaluated as Gifted and Diagnosed as Child BiPolar With Asperger’s Syndrome. His frustration level sometimes leads to outbursts in class which the school does not tolerate. We have given them information on Asperger’s and Child BiPolar and Gifted as well as specific applications to our son yet the Self-Contained class he is in has mostly ADHD and ODD and the motivation, behavior modification and discipline strategies are totally wrong for our son. The school district (public) seems unable and unwilling to accomodate us given this diagnosis and further, seem very unfamiliar with this combination. Any suggestions for appropriate accomodations for them? Advice from professional teachers would go a long way to convincing them of what our son needs. Thanks!!!
Re: Asperger's Child BiPolar Gifted
Have you read “The Explosive Child” by Dr. Ross Greene? Excellent book. I just attended a seminar where he addressed strategies for working with explosive, easily frustrated kids in the school setting. He has a website, explosivechild.com , it also links to a parent support site explosivekids.org
Re: Asperger's Child BiPolar Gifted
Frank:
Do they have an IEP plan in place for him? If not you need to get one going for him. Get on the internet, and do some research under IDEA 97, and if you’re not getting any satisfaction within the school, you will need to go to the school district. Just don’t give up because you’re the only one that can fight for your son’s rights.
Re: Asperger's Child BiPolar Gifted
All I can say is ,”Wow.” I am overwhelmed with all that your child is dealing with. I agree with all the previous messages….and now for my lengthy input!
As background, I am teaching a 3rd grade Aspergers child in my resource room and there is no doubt that he qualifies for the IEP that has been written for him. Gifted children usually have an IEP written, too. (I have taught several children who were identified as SLD as well as Gifted. Each had two IEPs written for them.)
In adidtion it wasn’t until I was in my 30s that I was diagnosed as bipolar I. As they were taking my case history, it was pretty evident that I was probably bipolar as a child… it just had never been diagnosed before. It definetly impacted my learning. (I do so hope that your child is on medication.)
Your child deserves the very best education….and the very best advocate(s) that he can have. I am sure that you have a tremendous amount of knowledge about Aspergers (the characteristics and needs), the impact that bipolar has on a child (mood swings, etc.) and some behavioral strateges that have worked in the past. I have had the most success with parents who have approached me with,” How can we be a team? What can I do to help? Can I give you some literature about these different areas? I really appreciate what you are doing (Find at least something that is working.)” Positives work really well in making it a team approach. Neither the teacher or parent wants to be adversaries. Everyone then ends up feeling resentful with the child being put in the middle, fielding all this resentment. And that only disables the child in one more area.
The best of luck. G
Re: Asperger's Child BiPolar Gifted
Yea, well, call me Learning Disabled….I know that I have picked up a lot of the characterics while teaching these kids!
What I am referring to is not remembering (before I responded) that you had already gone the information route. (I must have a memory processing deficit!)In addition, your child obviously has an IEP if he has been placed in a self-contained setting.
I guess my one suggestion as a teacher is, as I said, to find at least some positives that they are doing in your son’s class. The best scenario is for the teacher and you to have that “team approach” that I was talking about. A piece of my job as a special educator is doing PR work with the parents and teachers who teach the children that I am serving. I also carry that (PR) attitude when I am dealing with my son’s own teacher. (Sounds silly, but baking “Friday treats,” donating stickers and books, offering to help grade papers…. all of those little ideas make a big impact by helping my son’s teacher who is overloaded and stressed with all the responsibility that she carries. It shows my care and respect and it cements our relationship as a “team.”)
It sounds like you have given lots of literature to the teachers, so they obviously have access to the info with regards to the characteristics and strategies that are the most effective in teaching your child. Dealing with disabled children requires lots of love, patience and the deep appreciation that each child grows in their own unique way. My hope is that your son’s teacher has those qualities. If not, all is not lost: You can model respect, care, enthusiasm and appreciation for them as well as your child. Let us all know how your child progresses.
Frank, are you using any of the medications that are helpful for bi-polar? If you are not, have you consdered this?