Hi! I'm the aunt of a special needs child in rural northern California. I live in Portland, OR, so I am trying to be helpful at a distance. My sister has no resources financially, is a high school drop-out, and a single mother. Her six year old son has recently received several overlapping diagnoses, including a PDD, tourette's (which his father has as well) and some impulsivity/compulsivity disorders. My sister is a great mom, but she _really_ could use an advocate in dealing with the school. This child has been suspended a handful of times, had classroom's evacuated around him, and is currently on "independent study" for eight days due to a rash of incidents. He just had his first IEP meeting 2 weeks ago! I'm worried about this whole situation, and I don't really know how to help my sister. She doesn't have internet access, a drivers license, a lot of things that high-functioning people take for granted.Â
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I guess the bottom line is: can anyone help me identify a low/no cost special needs advocacy group in CA that can help my sister organize her interactions with the school and maybe help her with understanding the steps to getting this situation under control? I feel so impotent!
