Anyone here have experience with WCPSS teachers and an Autistic kid?

[rockinmomma]

I assume your son is mainstreamed.
Teachers have every right to have their students (in a mainstreamed class) behave like students. My DSS is ASD, very much like what you describe. We expect him to participate in his education. Yes, there are times when we have to take a different path to his education, but he is capable of "behaving like a student". If he weren't he wouldn't be able to be mainstreamed.
What do you see in your son's future? Do you expect future employers to bend their job requirements to his specific needs? The way the teacher approached it is a little blunt and harsh, but the sentiment is right on. My DH just spent two hours in an IEP meeting.... laying out all kinds of modifications needed for his social needs. DSS is very intelligent and his schoolwork isn't an issue. Yes, he needs adaptations for his quirks, but DSS is going to learn that he needs to conform to the outside world, not wait for it to conform to him.
The teacher also has to set an example of what is acceptable behavior to the rest of the class. How is she supposed to motivate the rest of the class to learn if they see your son not participating and not getting called down for it?

[jln69]

Originally Posted by kickchick2000

As a high school teacher I can understand the fustration all around. It's VERY difficult when you have 35 kids in the room, 5-7 with IEP's, and no real help( there is no support unless your teaching math or english). The statement about marking your child late is WAY out of line. In fact I'm pretty sure your child's teacher can't do that legally anyway. If your childs teacher does mark your child late for not doing work check with your case manager or principal and get that sorted out.

As for your son, is there something that motivates him? If so, communicate that with the teacher, or maybe he needs to complete his assignments in a different room so he isn't distracted.

When you ask him about the assignments what does he say, does he remember to do them, is he lost and does not know how to do them? You need to find out why he isn't participating. Not doing classwork AT all is a real issue and a recipe for disaster as your child isn't learning which is the ultimate goal.

If the public school setting isn't working. I'd pull my child out and home school or find another alternative. That might mean moving to a smaller home, doing without some things, my child would come first at all cost.

Originally Posted by rockinmomma

I assume your son is mainstreamed.
Teachers have every right to have their students (in a mainstreamed class) behave like students. My DSS is ASD, very much like what you describe. We expect him to participate in his education. Yes, there are times when we have to take a different path to his education, but he is capable of "behaving like a student". If he weren't he wouldn't be able to be mainstreamed.
What do you see in your son's future? Do you expect future employers to bend their job requirements to his specific needs? The way the teacher approached it is a little blunt and harsh, but the sentiment is right on. My DH just spent two hours in an IEP meeting.... laying out all kinds of modifications needed for his social needs. DSS is very intelligent and his schoolwork isn't an issue. Yes, he needs adaptations for his quirks, but DSS is going to learn that he needs to conform to the outside world, not wait for it to conform to him.
The teacher also has to set an example of what is acceptable behavior to the rest of the class. How is she supposed to motivate the rest of the class to learn if they see your son not participating and not getting called down for it?

Autism is a social disorder that affects communication and socialization. Most of the time the higher functioning students with Austism aren't discipline problems at all. If they don't participate in class it's not because they don't want to or are being rude or disruptive. They have a disorder that affects their ability to do so and express themselves. Also when these children are in large classrooms or in any situation that is over stimulating they shut down, become very quiet and do not speak.

The above teacher that told the parent to ask their child why they aren't participating obviously knows nothing about children with Autism. They aren't participating because they have Autism and cannot communicate or be social like the rest of the children in the class. These children do not know why they don't participate so asking them is not the answer all the time and sometimes if they do know why they will have trouble talking about it because Autism affects their ability to communicate. Sometimes we take this for granted because communicating comes naturally for most of us like we are doing now.

The above parent that stated that the child needs to participate so the teacher can motivate the rest of the class has no idea either. How can you call down on a poor child that has absolutely no idea of what is happening. This is the worst thing you can do for these children. Anyway, since when is not communicating a discipline problem. The discipline problem children get more attention. It's the children with Autism that get ignored and swept under the rug because they are too quiet. This is why it is so important to have educated teachers regarding this and a school system that has resources in place to help these children.

I had this same problem with my child. He is in another public school. The schools have special needs classes including 2 Autism which my son is in one. The class has 9 children and 2 teachers so he doesn't get overwhelmed and gets the attention he needs. They also work on communication skills to help them overcome the social deficiencies that they have. The attend the mainstream classroom for a few hours each day to transition them. If they start getting too overwhelmed, shut down and don't participate then they will go back to their special needs class.

[Shelby1234]

To JLN69, I broke down in tears reading your post here. Thank you for understanding exactly what it's like to have an autistic child. You were spot-on with your comments. I've sent you a PM.

[rockinmomma]

Originally Posted by jln69

The above parent that stated that the child needs to participate so the teacher can motivate the rest of the class has no idea either. How can you call down on a poor child that has absolutely no idea of what is happening. This is the worst thing you can do for these children. Anyway, since when is not communicating a discipline problem. The discipline problem children get more attention. It's the children with Autism that get ignored and swept under the rug because they are too quiet. This is why it is so important to have educated teachers regarding this and a school system that has resources in place to help these children.

Maybe "call down" would be better worded as addressing the issue. How will an ASD child know that they are behaving improperly if they aren't told what is expected of them? My comments are geared to children who are able to be mainstreamed. Yes, Austism is a spectrum disorder. This is my experience. Yours very likely is as different as the places on the spectrum. If a child is unable to be mainstreamed, there are adaptations that can be made to their education plan. Our son is a very logic oriented child. If he has things explained in steps and with logic, he "gets it". If he were unable to participate in classroom activities, then we would expect that he not be in a mainstreamed classroom. My oldest is in high school, I know what is in store for DSS. There are group assignments and changing classes in his near future. If he is to continue to be mainstreamed, he will need the tools to deal with this. By holding him to the same expectations (with modifications as necessary) as the rest of the students, he will be better prepared to deal with the instability of middle school without having a meltdown.

My DSS has had great teachers, this year's is phenominal. There are ways that ASD children can be held accountable for their actions without being berated into a meltdown. I agree the OP's experience was harsh. I suppose wh have ben blessed with teachers who know how to uphold expectations without harming DSS's love of learning.

[Shelby1234]

I agree that my son should be told what's expected of him, and we don't just give him a "pass" to do what he pleases. There are consequences for different actions which we feel he should already have enough experience with now to understand. But there is a real hurdle out there with getting teachers to "get" that the way he "is" is not something he can fully control. He simply does not have the same behaviors and reactions as a "normal" child. He learns differently and he communicates differently. He may look like a typical young teen but when you talk to him and get to know him, you see that he carrys himself a little differently. He doesn't give eye contact (except for some fleeting seconds of it here and there), he eats differently (hand coordination with utensils), he can't put his thoughts about a subject on paper... And on and on. His brain is wired differently. But he looks like most kids so he gets lumped into "lazy" or "oppositional" category by teachers who think they know more than they do about such disorders. Autism even today is very misunderstood.

[rockinmomma]

Yes, it is very misunderstood. The falsehood that really irks me is when people assume that because my DSS isn't (traditionally) emotional is that he doesn't feel emotions. My DSS and others who I know feel emotions very deeply but they cannot express themselves in the traditional manner.

What is your son's school's approach to ASD? Do they have an ASD person... counselor, LD specialist?

My DSS's school has one and she trains the teachers as well. DSS will be going into middle school... I will tell you, I love the middle school's approach!!!! When my oldest had his 8th grade graduation there was a student who got an award. He was obviously LD. The kids all cheered for him. Not in the my teacher is making me cheer, but in the genuinely happy for someone cheer. It is impressive to have such compassion that the students (middle schoolers can be brutal) learn it too.

Talk to the ASD liason.... maybe the teacher can be trained in ASD behaviors.

[uncgal4]

We have a son with Aspergers at Durant Middle who will be going to high school next year, either Wakefield 9th Grade Center or Sanderson. Can any of you who have posted in this thread give us some feedback about either of these high schools? We have been told that Sanderson has an Autism Support Teacher whereas Wakefield has Curriculum Assistance. We like the smaller setting of the 9th Grade Center but wonder if the autism support at Sanderson is better?