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Autism/school work problems

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Expert: - 11/18/2011


Question
Mr.Runner,


  My 7 year old has austism asbergers/adhd,He is brilliant but since he had some behaviors issue at school they have sent him to an alternative school. Since he has been there he has just stopped trying to do his school assignments. The work has gotten harder, it is first grade. He reads well,and i know he can do most of the work.He has no real problems with ABA there are times when he does'nt work for them either.How can i motivate him to participate in class and enjoy learning? He seems happy for the most part only when we talk about school or he has done something wrong does he say things like I'm a stupid boy,I can't do anything right,and i'm a slacker which is a new one.I have talked with his teacher and i know they don't say those things to him and we do not say those either. Could you please help?     Thank you, Veonica

Answer
-- Veronica,

I represent a number of students with Aspergers' Syndrome. They tend to not be served by the schools because they earn good grades. Only when their lack of social skills and pragmatics cause them to get in trouble for behaviors, do the schools address them by punishing them. ABA is only a mall part of what they need. In extreme cases, the students must be placed in private therapeutic schools that serve Aspergers students. I have many Aspergers' students that are in advanced classes in their home schools.

Your son is probably bored because he is not being challenged in the alternative school. He needs to be placed in an academic challenging environment and given social skills training as well as pragmatics help. He needs to be assessed in these two areas by the school district using a Speech Pathologist. He will also need counseling as well as a safe place to go when he is beginning to loose it. Lastly, he will probably need a Behavior Intervention Plan.

Moving him to the alternate school is not meeting his unique needs.

I wish you and your son the best,
Tim Runner, Advocate
Advocates for Kids
Email: timrunner@gmail.com
Phone: (949) 582-3601
You can learn more at my web site:
www.special-education-answers.com

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Tim 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.

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