Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 7/9/2009

Question
I have a 10 yrs old son that was diagnosed with pdd at about one an a half years old. he was in early intervention an some pretty good schools, and also getting full services (which I am very grateful for)  but when he aged out of his school in which he was labeled as  mild. his teachers and I felt he should be in a integrated class because of this. the special education worker did not want to listen to myself or his teachers an had only one placement for him which was an autistic school, and told me I had no time to look around I had to make this decision and get  my sons doctor to make a diagnoses of autism not pdd in order to place him. I don't like him there they treat him like he is low functioning and since he has been there he acts more low functioning an very angry. they try to help me with services there but just in home care workers or sleep away camps. I want real help like diet or helping him to get better like he was when he was mild.

Answer
Hi Tania

I don't know where you live so it is hard for me to know how to help you. Some areas have advocates that help you with your situation in the educational arena. Have you looked around for this? Maybe if you contact your local Autism Society Chapter you can ask them if there is a service like that available in your area. Are you involved with other support organizations that can possibly lead you to the right place to find an advocate?

As far as help with the diet, you are not going to find that in the mainstream. You have to either look on the Internet or find a DAN doctor in your area to help you. DAN stands for Defeat Autism Now. Contact the Autism Research Institute for a list of DAN doctors. I will tell you that going to a DAN doctor is usually very expensive. You haven't mentioned anything about your financial situation, so I don't know if you are looking for free services or if you have some ability to pay for things.

You can write me back and let me know more specifics.