This video breaks my heart but it serves a purpose. When people question things like Emmett’s struggles with sensory issues I show them this. I can’t impress upon you enough that just because you don’t see something in your brief visit with an ASD child DOES NOT mean the problems don’t exist. There is a WORLD of difference in how Emmett would handle the vastly different environments of a special needs classroom and mainstream classroom. Sure Emmett did well in a relaxed classroom setting with 3 or 4 other special needs kids but that’s a far cry from trowing him in a mainstreamed classroom with 19 other mostly “typical” kids. Not to mention more pressures and greater expectations. It’s not about giving Emmett the benefit of the doubt. It’s about providing him with an environment that he can thrive in and reach his potential. His social and behavioral issues are much bigger problems then they are making them out to be. Actually they said he doesn’t have any social issues and only minor sensory issues. Does this look like minor sensory issues to you?
When I recorded this, last week I think, Emmett had been excited the entire morning about going to therapy and then school. So it’s not like he didn’t want to go. When it came time to get him dressed this is what happened. The Developmental Neurologist said we should just force him to get dressed but I don’t know how to do that to him. He’s clearly distressed and not just being “difficult”. We ended up having to call him off of everything because we couldn’t get him dressed. Again, I fail to see how this doesn’t fall under the “things that can and will impact him at school” category. I just want to make sure he gets the services that he NEEDS and not just what the school is OFFERING. If he out grows those needs then we can remove them in the future. We have to fight for our children’s rights to learn. That means often times going head to head with the school. It’s not for the faint of heart but we owe it to our kids to advocate for their needs. Again this video is absolutely heartbreaking for me as a father and we face this type of situation quite often. It’s really hard not to just give up and NOT put him through this. sigh……
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN4vmUS3U34[/youtube]
I have pretty much exactly the same video of my nearly 3 year old two weeks ago over a similar issue. He all of a sudden decided he was not going to wear pjama's, 1 hour later he finally gave in. I don't know whether to be relieved that im not the only one or sad that someone is going thru the same battles lol. Though luckily we aren't going to school yet..
Oh that video was familiar and heartbreaking. I have mornings like this often too and the school district is trying to penalize me for her tardies. REALLY? I would love to see them get a kid out the door during a meltdown.
Good luck in your battle with the school!!!
I'm sorry your facing the same struggles but thank you for connecting and sharing. We are in the same boat.
Best of luck.