STRESSEDTOMAX
Member
Hi All -
I haven't posted on here in months because things were going so well with difficult child. Should have known I'd be back and thank you so much for being here for me. I'm going to try and update in as few words as possible. difficult child was in fifth grade last year and had a horrible year. He was basically either in the office or home. We requested in January I believe for him to go into a self-contained classroom. That request did not come through until the last six weeks of school and it was at a DIFFERENT school. That was so hard for difficult child. We moved him. He had a problem the very first day but after realizing that he wouldn't be able to get away with his actions like he did at the previous school, he had no other discipline problems the entire six weeks there. I don't believe he learned much because he was surrounded by kids who seemed to have greater problems controlling themselves than he did. He di not like being in this type of classroom and I felt that he didn't belong there but did not really know where he belonged. There seemed to be no self-contained classroom for him except the one for behavioral problems.
The summer was really great with difficult child. Whether it was the fact that we weaned him off the Depakote or that he just matured somewhat or both, I don't know. Whatever it was, we had very few meltdowns and everyone remarked how he was so much better behaved. I was very worried about him starting Middle School at a NEW school once again in a SBS (Special Behavioral Support ) Classroom. Well, I was right to be worried. He came home every day not wanting to go back because he was scared of the kids and their behavior. To make a very long story short because right now I am severely depressed and find it hard to write...He was at school for 6 weeks. Beside being extremely anxious every day and night he has NOTHING in his notebooks besides drawings. I had a meeting with the teacher who admitted that it is a "challenge" to teach a lesson in this environment and that the first twenty minutes of a ninety minute period is used just to get the kids calmed down. On Mon Oct. 1 a kid poked difficult child in the bathroom. We went in to school on Tuesday and spoke to the vice-principal about it. That very afternoon one student tried to choke another student throwing difficult child into a panic. That was the last day I sent him.
I wrote a letter requesting an IEP meeting. All I got was a meeting with the Vice-Principal and a teacher/Easy Child rep who told me my only two choices were to send him back to that class or exit the Easy Child program entirely. I have an Easy Child parent advbocate who told me NOT to exit the program - He needs support - and that they have to find a more appropriate place for him. I still have heard nothing. I just called The Council for Children's rights so I'm sure they'll be getting involved. He is on the autistic spectrum. He does not belong in that type of class. The teacher's don't even know what he's doing there. Basically, he has not gotten an education for years. I'm pretty beside myself. Having a very time coming out of this depression right now. thanks.