22 Apr 2007, 5:19 pm
You are right, you do need to know what you are dealing with. One of the articles I posted, deals with a lot of the issues facing PDD-NOS kids.
http://www.maapservices.org/MAAP_Sub_Fi ... rticle.htm
What I was refering to, is you need to identify your sons challenges, you are not going to find them in one place, in a neat list, as they very from child to child. You can do research on them, relating to Autism or a co morbid condition, and go advocate for that.
My son has SI issues. This is not related to AS, or PDD's, but is highly co morbid with them. So I am placing accomditations to address my sons particular challenges in the IEP.
My son has social issues. This has been a big focus on the school and me. After the last round, I took him out for 20 days because he was having a nervous breakdown. Now the school VP is giving him one on one social skills lessons and follow ups. Also, they are placing him close to the teacher, avoiding problem students being paired with him, notifiying other teachers who may occasionally supervise him (recess/ lunch) so they will know not to dismiss him, and they are pairing him with role model students to help "look out for him".
My son has some learning challenges, I think he has underlying LD's, an attention deficit, and communication barriers. Dispite being highly verbal, and sounding like he is 32 at times, (mature speech) he has an impossible time understanding the who where what when and whys. So the teachers need to make sure that he truely "understands the task at hand, chunk information, and allow him to repeat tasks if done incorrectly. He also can use a computer, and a recorder to complete assignments.
My son also has extreme difficulty with motor dextarity, particularly fine motor. He is going to be evaluated with an OT, and may recieve therapy. He was recently critisized by a teacher for doing a cut and paste art assignment poorly. I ripped into her via the principle, because I am tired of her speaking rudely to him like he does shoddy work on purpose. He gives everything his fullest attention and tries his hardest.
Relating in a way to the last point, he takes critisizem very hard. He has poor self esteem issues which are adressed in the IEP. I find that the negative attitudes of the teachers need to stop. He needs more positive feedback then most kids, and corrective comments have to be worded carefully. This is my current fight.
So, what I am saying, is it does not matter what PDD he has. His challenges are common for any child with AS / HFA / PDD -NOS / even NLD. However, not all kids have his unique problems. There is no one size fits all way to help all AS / HFA / PDD- NOS kids. You gotta identify HIS problems, and work from there.
Reading articles on social disabilities, AS / Autism / HFA and PDD / PDD-NOS will help you identify all your sons issues caused by whatever PDD he has, and figure out how to best help him.
have a great day! 
23 Apr 2007, 12:19 pm
[quote="equinn"]Is it true that AS is being overdiagnosed? My son's label is pdd-nos although he has all characteristics of AS but psych was worried because he is so subtle, and I think she was being cautious. (Autistic specialist --clinical psych.)
any ideas/opinions? he is seven (almost eight). Will he receive the same services? Will it change to AS when he is older?
What do I call him? I've been educating myself about hfa/AS, because this is where he falls on the spectrum.
When my children's psychiatrist diagnosed them she also took the label issue into account. One of my sons had been labelled with an emotional and behavioural disability and we ended up in a situation that I can only call a nightmare. The Dr. decided that, although he had characteristics that criss-crossed all over the spectrum, we would call it AS because that would be his best chance to access any supports that he may need over his entire life. My other son is coded as gifted and talented. He has also been diagnosed AS because once he started learning about his brother he realized that he too had the characteristics (he is 16) and took it upon himself to find out. We don't access any supports for him right now but he is reassured that as he enters grade 11 he can get the support he needs from teachers and counsellors if he does need it.
I view AS as a personality unique unto itself. Until my children were diagnosed I thought they were just shy and quirky like me and their step-dad. I HATED 
labels. Now I realize that a label is a useful tool as long as you don't allow the school system to stop viewing your child as a person with numerous strengths as well as a few weaknesses. 
23 Apr 2007, 12:21 pm
03 May 2007, 4:50 pm
03 May 2007, 7:04 pm
