About Michelle 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)
Question My so is 9 yrs. old, and was diagnosed with PDD/NOS at 7 yrs. old. He was having difficulty in school since kindergarten, Pushing, hitting, yelling, and being noncompliant with teachers and authority figures. He was asked to leave his private school in second grade in April. I put him in the public school, and he was only there a month when they said he needed another school with an autistic support classroom. He is smart and tested well, so they decided to put him in the third/fourth grade class. The class was full, so after only 1 day he was then put into a reg ed. room till the end of the year. The next year he started in the autistic support classroom, but soon began mainstreaming for reading and then math. By Jan. he was in 4th grade reg ed. full time. He is now in 5th grade, with a full time TSS. His behaviors have improved, but he still has noncompliant behaviors. He gets frustrated very easily, and tries to avoid tasks that are challenging to him. He is capable of doing the 5th grade work, but constantly complains that it is too hard. Although when he was doing grade level work he constantly said it was too easy, and for babies. He just started a sensory diet in school, and it seems to be having a positive impact. He fidgets less, stays more focused, but is still being aggressive when frustrated. He was tested by an OT at the school last year, and there were minor things that affected him,but besides movement breaks she did not reccomend more. Should I have him tested again, or by someone else. Does he sound like someone who may have SPD?
Answer Sensory processing difficulties are often a part of PDD/ASD, and can contribute greatly to meltdowns and noncompliant behaviors. A good checklist can be found at:
