School Worries and a Wish
December 24, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
I noted that making Charlie’s transition to middle school—-to a new and bigger school, a new teacher, many new students—-was on my Christmas wish list. Disputes about the causes of autism, controversies about how autism is represented to the public, new studies about treatments: These come and go, but what’s constant for me is the day by day of life with Charlie. Will his winter coat last through the season; it already seems like his arms have grown and the sleeves are too short. Who will his teacher be in middle school? There is already an experience teacher for the autism classroom that is currently at the middle school, but I’m not sure if there will be room for Charlie in her classroom.
Charlie happy and learning at school: This is the sine qua non for Jim and me. Charlie unhappy and not liking school—-as he did just over two years ago, when he was throwing his shoes out the window as I drove him to school—-made everything tough for everyone.
Today’s Trenton Times describes the educational, and legal, odyssey of David and Diane Weinstein of East Windsor, NJ, on behalf of their son, 7-year-old Zachary, who has Asperger Syndrome. The school district thought that Zachary could be mainstreamed into a regular classroom without an aide; when he was in the first grade, Zachary was suspended for 45 days. In Racine, Wisconsin, the Journal Times reports that teachers in the Unified School District had improperly restrained an autistic child using a belt and a Rifton chair. The chair is designed to “provide adaptive seating for children with orthopedic impairment who need postural or stabilizing support,” but not to be used with children as a behavioral restraint. Says Hasmig Tempesta, the mother 3-year-old Zachary who no longer attends the school,
“I felt disgusted, honestly. To me, it says [the Rifton chair] was used with children who can’t tell……It makes me think, ‘what else went on there?’ ”
I’m afraid that’s what a lot of us worry about, and why a simple wish for smooth days in school is more than enough.
If only it were a simple wish!!
Wishing right along with you.
Never easy answers when it comes to school. We do our best to advocate and make many wishes along the way. You are preparing Charlie and working hard for this transition. I have a feeling it will go smoothly. Hugs.
The NJ case with the Asperger student has some overlaps with things that happened to us with Charlie: Why does it have to get to such a point, why does it have to get so bad, before the district tries to change things?
You and your husband are so in-tune with Charlie which will ease the transition to middle school as you’ll be able to help the teachers know what works best with Charlie. Charlie will generalize his love for his elementary school and love the new school even more.
I agree with Marla and also have the feeling that the transition will go smoothly. You will not have it any other way. Charlie has fierce and loving advocates in his parents.
Kristina,
Here’s the downside. Middle school is by nature, the ugly destiny for adolescents. Whether autistic or artistic, kids tend to compartmentalize and exclude.
The upside is that more staff is trained and the world at large is more aware of people with differences.
I know I know bloggers will yell that staffers stink and it is not so rosy out there. Nevertheless, given that my kid is now 20, he was quite the guinea pig in middle school. It was not successful. Times have changed, and hopefully for the better.
That NJ story is the very reason why we question everything. 45-day automatic suspension for turning over a chair, and he was in a hostile environment that probably provoked him into that action.
I think it’s disgusting when schools work to get rid of students. Drives me paranoid.
Well, Merry Christmas ans I hope your wish does come true! (Indeed, it is Christmas where you are, I believe, by five minutes).
I can’t say that middle school, on the whole, was a successful venture for me (while 7th grade, while wacky, was good, 8th grade brought a very serious round of depression and anxiety (mostly depression). However, I won’t say that will apply to Charlie (as I suspect my own potential reasons will be different than his, though mine weren’t exactly normal, either). In fact, optimism is the way to go, I think (though perhaps it is the day that leads me to that).
Cliff
I think they may start the transition during summer school/ESY—-Charlie will be with some of the same kids so that will help. Also, I think they may keep some of the same aides with his class, to add some consistency—optimism is my preference! A very merry Christmas…..
My Asperger son is mainstreamed and we had the good, the bad and the ugly with middle school (6th-8th grade). The good? Seven different teachers and short classes (as opposed to our fifth grade “Waterloo” with one horrible teacher all day long). The bad? Seven different teachers which meant lots of follow-up : ) The ugly? Preteens and teens. These years are not for the faint-hearted. This is where the bullying can get out of hand. Looking back, I should have gone in screaming and not stopped until the bullying had been addressed. I know better now (and so does the school). Now we are in high school and despite my fears, my son is doing well. Is it perfect? Nope. Probably never will be considering the ever changing nature of developmental delays. We are now forging ahead into new territory – the Transition Plan. In the New Year, I will be researching our options, websites, blogs, etc. for recommendations and experiences so I can figure out this next step. And to brag a teeny bit – he got an A- in World History! An A!!!! Best.Christmas.Gift.Ever.
Matt turns 12 on June 30th and his triennial/matriculation IEP is next week. I will not be signing it and going to due process for informal dispute resolution to get him into a middle school that is brand new this year. Next week I also find out if we got the grant for summer camp. I have my list of reasons why he needs to go to that school with better hours and a traditional calendar year instead of the one that starts a week after school gets out and then has a month off mid year with nothing for him to do and the risk of dehydration and heat stroke from being in school during summer and having PE.