AboutTrey McGowan Expertise My primary expertise is in the area of the social, psychological, and mental development of Aspergers Syndrome and other high-functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders. I am also very knowledgeable in the communication disorders and common co-existing issues. I'm well-read on most of these as well as having experienced it myself. Other aspects of autism, I can do fairly well at as well, from the oversensitivity to the recognition of it.
Warning: I am *not* a medical professional, and while I can research answers through books and online, I can not give direct medical expertise.
Experience I am 14 years diagnosed Asperger's Autistic, and have been reading up and studying it, as well as taking 'first hand accounts' for most of those 14 years. In addition, I have had three children, adopted elsewhere, all of whom are varying degrees of autistic from mid to high functioning. My mother has done some research on the subject as well, and passed some of it on to me.
Education/Credentials I have completed grade school and most of high school, and achieved a GED. I've also received home schooling.
Question Hi, My son is in a public school and is in a contained autistic classroom. He was suspended for 5 days this past friday. He had a meltdown because the sub teacher took a book from him. During the meltdown he threw a pencil at the teacher and then cursed and tryed to throw a block at the principal as well. I just think that their approach could have been better. Do you have any suggestons? Thank You Karen
Answer Hi there, Karen!
In a public school situation, the first thing that has to be considered is the health and well-being of all the students. If one student is attacking teachers, then the health and well-being of the students ,as well as the teachers, is being endangered. Therefore, the suspension of the student is the best idea for everybody. Including the student who is presently lashing out.
Now, here's something you have to consider: your child had a meltdown because a teacher took a book from him. You don't explain the situation behind taking a book, so I have no frame of comparison as to *why* the teacher took the book, and will assume it is because the child was reading it when he should not have been reading it. Thus, the teacher was only doing what he should have been doing: trying to get your child to pay attention when he should have been paying attention. The fact that something this simple brought on a full-on person-attacking meltdown suggests to me that this is a child who should potentially not be in public school at all. It is simply too stressful for him and he hasn't the self control, discipline, or personal awareness of safety to be considered 'safe' in an environment like a public school. A five day suspension, thus, seems like an excellent sign that this situation needs to be addressed.
Unfortunately, while I understand that you feel the situation could be better handled, in the area of public school there is only so much that the teachers are able to do. Looking into special education, private schools, or at least public schools who have experience in dealing with autistic students. Speak directly with your school not about how unfair they were, but about what can be done on both your parts and see if something can be arranged. I think, in the long run, both the school and your student will be better for that than in fingering and throwing blame.
Questions, comments, feedback, follow-ups? Feel free to ask!
