AboutMichelle Fattig Expertise I can answer questions about educational testing, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Special Education, IEP, Learning Disabilities, Sensory Processing, Parent Advocacy, Response to Intervention, living and parenting with disabilities, parent rights in special education, school psychology, and more. I cannot provide a medical diagnosis.
Experience I am a school psychologist, medical technologist, author of the Annie Books series: Experience Aspeger's Syndrome and Attention Deficits Through the Eyes of a Child, RTI facilitator, ILCD facilitator, parent advocate, presenter, and researcher. My children and I have Asperger's, ADD/ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Organizations National Association of School Pyschologists, American Medical Technologists, Learning Disabilities Association of Nebraska
Education/Credentials Ed.S. in School Psychology, doctoral studies in SPED Law, SPED Systems Enhancement Leadership, and doctoral candidate Education Leadership. MT(AMT) and MLT(ASCP)
Expert: Michelle Fattig Date: 1/13/2008 Subject: Autistic children and visitation after divorce
Question I have a 3y/o daughter and a 4y/o son that are both on the spectrum. Nether one of them can talk, although my son can parrot things when he wants to. My ex-wife and i have been separated for 6 months now. I was not allowed to visit with them for the first month after our separation, it was only after I filed for emergency visitation that I got to spend any time with them. Since then my ex-wife has been using the "special needs" term a lot in the court and has used this to get the court to cut my time with the kids to 2 hours a day 3 days a week. this is supposed to continue for one month then it is supposed to go to 3 hours a day 3 days a week. Then, a month and a half after that, it is supposed to go to one over night and 3 hours a day 2 days a week. the a month to 2 months after that it is supposed to go to 2 over nights. This is what was recommended by the teachers at the school my children attend! and was adopted by the court as what was in the best interest of the children. I was under the impression that autistic children needed consistency. The schedule for visitation they have adopted seems anything but consistent. My ex-wife also says that the children have "fits of rage" when they return home from visits with me, but yet they seem as they always do when they are with me. I know normal children can tend to act out during or after an exchange takes place, but does autism maybe exacerbate this acting out? Any information you can provide me would be very much appreciated.
Answer I can not give legal advice, but my assumption would be that the plan is aimed at gradually working them up to a more regular routine, while maintaining as much consistency as possible. If you do not feel that this is in your childrens' best interest, you may request that a guardian ad litem assess whether or not the transition plan is appropriate for the children. My children are both on the spectrum, and any change can be met with some actiing out, be it a weekend (transition from school to unstructured time), a visit to family, or summer vacation. It is also not uncommon for children who are not on the spectrum to have some acting out after a separation/divorce. The 'fits of rage' may be due simply to the transition from dad to mom's house. Again, I would suggest speaking with your lawyer or a guardian ad litem if you would like the courts to take another look at what is in your childrens' best interest. I wish you well in your pursuits, and hope that the outcomes are best for everyone.
