AboutTim Runner Expertise Questions concerning autistic student special education: IEP, assessments, Due Process, mediation, resolution conference, federal law, state law, qualifying for services, residential treatment, special day classes, resource specialists, procedures, having your child assessed, adaptive PE, speech & language, non-public school, FAPE, tuition reimbursement for private schools and treatment centers .
Experience I have been an education advocate representing students and parents for six years. My experience includes: representing my clients in IEPs, SSTs, Due Process, review assessment results for my clients and for other advocates, and mediations. I have represented clients with learning disabilities, autism, Downs Syndrome, cognitively challenged, emotional problems, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, and physical disabilities. I have also represented clients to County Mental Health Departments and Regional Centers. My clients range from pre-school to college students in California and various other states.
Education/Credentials I have a degree in Mathematics from the University of California with minors in Psychology and Physics. I also studied applied statistics in the field of psychology at both the undergraduate and graduate level. I have taught college classes, conducted seminars, written articles for various publications, and testified as an expert witness.
Question During the summer my 14 year old son was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Previously he had been diagnosed with speech/language impairment. Upon his declassification from speech/language impairment, I had him evaluated by a pediatic neurologist who determined he had mild/moderate Asperger's -- his pediatrician concurred. He has now started high school at a private high school and has an IEP. He is currently signed up for and taking Music Theory. He is having difficulty with this class (he does not really have any strong interest in music). It concentrates a lot on reading music, identifying notes and rests, etc., so he's struggling. Is this common with Asperger's? As I said, in the past he was diagnosed with the language disorder -- is the concept of reading music the same principle as reading and comprehending words?
Answer I represent a number of students diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Often they have areas of high interest in which they excel. Many also have areas in which they have low interest resulting in them doing poorly. I have to assume Music Theory is an elective, one that he should get out of right away and transfer to another elective class in an area in which he is interested. It is not uncommon for students that are having reading challenges to also have challenges in reading music. It depends on the source of the reading disorder and the interest level in music. I have students with great natural music ability that never read the music, they just hear it and play it.
I wish you and your son the best,
Tim Runner
Advocate
Advocates 4 Kids
email: timrunner@cox.net
web site: www.special-education-answers.com
