Hi, everyone. I've been a lurker on this site for years, posting only sporadically. Now I'm finding myself in need of some of your thoughts/comments.
I have a 7 year old son, my youngest and last child at home. I threw his bipolar, double amputee father out this past fall for beating our child with a wooden backscratcher. No second chances. I have become very unforgiving when it comes to abuse and my children.
It was suspected that my son had ADHD, along with being intellectually gifted, before the abuse. When my child was beaten, it was like something inside his mind snapped. He is in 1st grade, and now has zero self-control. He is obsessed with Star Trek, to the exclusion of everything else. After numerous bus citations, and school suspensions of one to 5 days, he was finally suspended from school for 365 days. I was told that if he had a REGULAR IEP, this couldn't be done. He had a "gifted" IEP, which apparently does not follow the same guidelines/rules.
We met at the school to modify his IEP. All 12 of us. Teachers, counselors, psychologists, the head of gifted ed, an assistant school super, the principal and assistant, and me and son's dad. The head of gifted ed asked the most questions. After her line of questioning, she indicated very strongly that, along with testing my son for other emotional disabilities and disturbances, she would like to see him tested for Asperger's. From what I have read on Asperger's, it fits.
My son has been at home for a month. I am a full time student, and failed 3 out of 5 classes this semester because of everything going on. I was lucky to get approved for financial aid for spring. The school has promised in-home instruction 3 hours a week. So far, nothing. I have been trying to get therapy for my child since July. I finally got him in to see a doctor, who prescribed 3 medications. I'm not happy about the meds, but at least my son is somewhat manageable now.
I cannot find a "therapeutic" daycare for my son, nor can he return to school at this point. I do not have the luxury of homeschooling him. My income for the month comes to a grand total of $142, from welfare. I have no relatives or friends who can help me, either financially or with babysitting. And my son does not get any financial assistance from his dad. Human Services is wanting me to fulfill 20 hours a week of activities, down from 30. Any combination of school, work, or community service. Daycares will not take him due to the fact that he is a school aged child, and should be in school.
I'm about out of creative ideas at this point. I'm up for any suggestions, or comments, about my situation, my son, Asperger's, ADHD, etc.
I have a 7 year old son, my youngest and last child at home. I threw his bipolar, double amputee father out this past fall for beating our child with a wooden backscratcher. No second chances. I have become very unforgiving when it comes to abuse and my children.
It was suspected that my son had ADHD, along with being intellectually gifted, before the abuse. When my child was beaten, it was like something inside his mind snapped. He is in 1st grade, and now has zero self-control. He is obsessed with Star Trek, to the exclusion of everything else. After numerous bus citations, and school suspensions of one to 5 days, he was finally suspended from school for 365 days. I was told that if he had a REGULAR IEP, this couldn't be done. He had a "gifted" IEP, which apparently does not follow the same guidelines/rules.
We met at the school to modify his IEP. All 12 of us. Teachers, counselors, psychologists, the head of gifted ed, an assistant school super, the principal and assistant, and me and son's dad. The head of gifted ed asked the most questions. After her line of questioning, she indicated very strongly that, along with testing my son for other emotional disabilities and disturbances, she would like to see him tested for Asperger's. From what I have read on Asperger's, it fits.
My son has been at home for a month. I am a full time student, and failed 3 out of 5 classes this semester because of everything going on. I was lucky to get approved for financial aid for spring. The school has promised in-home instruction 3 hours a week. So far, nothing. I have been trying to get therapy for my child since July. I finally got him in to see a doctor, who prescribed 3 medications. I'm not happy about the meds, but at least my son is somewhat manageable now.
I cannot find a "therapeutic" daycare for my son, nor can he return to school at this point. I do not have the luxury of homeschooling him. My income for the month comes to a grand total of $142, from welfare. I have no relatives or friends who can help me, either financially or with babysitting. And my son does not get any financial assistance from his dad. Human Services is wanting me to fulfill 20 hours a week of activities, down from 30. Any combination of school, work, or community service. Daycares will not take him due to the fact that he is a school aged child, and should be in school.
I'm about out of creative ideas at this point. I'm up for any suggestions, or comments, about my situation, my son, Asperger's, ADHD, etc.
