Special Needs Kids Talk Radio

This question seems to be answered for me by my own daughter’s behaviors over the last year or two. It wasn’t until we had a neutral party who could view her behaviors both in school, and out, that we were able to get some back up on our theory.

Here is a case in point;
Last Thursday, Nove had a meltdown at the end of the day when she couldn’t or wouldn’t complete some work before playing with her new found friend (the para teacher’s daughter). It turned into a kicking, screaming, walk down the hallway. Nove couldn’t explain to us at home what had happened until the next morning after she refused to go to school. Then, she could only explain a little bit of the issue.

So, yesterday (monday) she came home from her dad’s house with a stuffy nose and big bad cold. Now, normally, I wouldn’t attribute the cold with the meltdown since they were several days apart, but I don’t know for certain when she actually presented with the physical symptoms since she was with her dad for a few days and I didn’t see her.

But, we saw the same behaviors several times throughout the year last year and had back up from one of the case managers who was made aware of the situations. He was able to see it happen several times before school was out though none of us usually “see” it until she actually presents with a runny nose, fever, or other physical symptom.

Think about it this way, when you get a cold, you feel tired, achey, run down. You can tell someone what you feel. Kids with Autism or other special needs probably can’t. They often have verbal or communications delays or impairments, so when they feel run down, they may not be able to tell anyone what that feeling is. They may not even be aware that they don’t feel good, but only notice their frustration and anger levels are pretty low.

So, do your kids act out, melt down, or otherwize fall apart when they first begin to get sick?

So, in addition to the informal informational meeting we had with the school staff before school started two weeks ago, we also met 2 fridays in a row with the autism team leader to fill out the Zigurat model which will hopefull hehlp the staff help my kiddo. 

Today we had to meet with the case management team to reassess the plan they have for Nove’s support. There were 6 team members, my mom, my daughter and me. 2 people I didn’t know, but the rest were the support personell who have met with my kiddo and my family over the last 6 months and who have helped her in so many ways to overcome her hurdles. 

We went over the previous plan and added a few things to it for her to meet new goals and to tweek a couple of those goals. 

It is times like that, when I realize just how odd my daughter’s behavior can be. She would answer each different question with the same answer though it made no sense in that context. She said she did things that she doesn’t do, like getting herself dressed and toileting on her own. 

She really did not answer questions about what she doesn’t like at school. She’s a very mixed up child. 
I also noted that during the meeting, she was in charge. While she appeared to be playing with the toys that were given to her, she would periodically let them know she had something to say, then single out her favorite case manager and tell him something that had nothing at all to do with the conversation. She was simply exherting her control over the situation. At least she was polite about it which another team member noted. 

The thing is, we are not done yet! We have an IEP coming up with the school in a couple of weeks, then we have to do another meeting/assesment for the case management team, AND they want her to start meeting for one on one sessions with their own psychologist. 

When will I have time? Actually, I’m really happy to have these people in place. Without them, I think my daughter would not be where she is today. She would not have developed the few skills to communicate verbally and emotionally.

I just feel less and less that I’m my own person, but I am becoming more and more my daughters keeper. I doubt that is good for either of us.

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