Special Needs

My autistic son has had dozens of doctors, therapists, intervention specialists, teachers, aids, coaches and camp counselors, and most of these individuals and their programs have been very helpful for Tommy. Nine years of special attention have been good for him. He went from an anxious child with behavior problems, with average grades to a more confident 12-year-old who won the citizenship prize at school, with straight As and an Honor Roll certificate. In getting Tommy “up to speed,” it took many helpers.  My husband and I owe much to them.  In fact, there is no way to repay them.  They chose to help Tommy because they saw promise and good in him.  They nurtured him, and he bloomed in their presence.  These people were so fine that they enabled Tommy to be mainstreamed in school with so-called “normal” children. But there were some programs and “helpers” who were counterproductive.  These, in many ways, are more compelling to examine than the ones who contributed to Tommy’s success. Where and with whom did Tommy fail? And what did Tommy fail at? Tommy didn’t do well at extracurricular places that were designed for typical kids. In the end, this is not a bit surprising. For instance, he attended a local summer camp when he was about six.  This turned out to be a disaster because there was no one there who knew how to handle a child with special needs.  In short, he misbehaved, and they kicked him out.  There was zero tolerance for children who made ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Aspergers Autism Caregivers Children and Teens Parenting Personal Students Success & Achievement Treatment Autism Spectrum Disorder Education Learning Making Friends School Social Skills Special Needs Source Type: blogs