Aspergers - Spring,TX

My daughter is in the work program for the school, King High School, right now and we are very happy with it. She was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 5 yrs old, that is why she qualified for the work program in school and she will be graduating May 2007. I like the program. The school helped her get a job working for TCBY. She also has 3 books: math, budgeting & health, that the school sent home with her that she has to work on to get 3 credits so she will have enough when she graduates. If she has any questions about the book work all she has to do is contact the school and they will tutor her on any subject. Also I was told that she may qualify with a program they have for the work program students that will pay 100% for her to go to college. They will pay for her books and everything. I don't think it is a bad deal.

I don't think they can make you do that since she has a "disability". My sister is 14 and has AS as well. She is in a private school called TECLARC (The Exceptional Children's Learning And Resource Center) www.teclarc.org ###-###-####. They are a private school for AS, ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, etc. They are here in SA (actually Universal City). I know your e-mail said you live in Spring. TECLARC helps with home schooling as well. You might want to call them and ask if they know anything about this. Maybe they can help you find some resources.

Hope this is of some help!
M.

If I am right about my geography, you are in Texas, correct? I'm in Louisiana, but the IDEA laws are federal and apply to all states. The law says they must give her an education, so that's what you must fight to make them do. My son is 7 and has Asperger's also. We are fighting the school right now about putting him in a special education class. We do not agree with ostracizing him into a "special class" and want him included in regular education. You see, they can't put them in a special education class, the law says they must give him his education in the "least restrictive environment", which is with his peers in regular ed. I know an advocate in Texas (and she is a BULLDOG, believe me!) if you need someone who knows the laws there and can help you out. But maybe getting in touch with your local Families Helping Families group and the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) can point you in the right direction.

I am glad to meet others who have kids with Asperger's. We felt so alone for such a long time. Keep fighting and don't let them do anything that you do not feel is right for your child!

Hi J.,

I am a Rehabilitation Counselor and I work for Louisiana Rehab Services. We are a state agency which helps individuals with disabilities to find employment and become successful in their chosen goals. We help with a lot of different services, such as training, job placement, job coaching, etc. I would suggest that you call and refer your daughter for services and see what we can do to help. The number for our Baton Rouge office is ###-###-####. Just call and tell the receptionist that you are interested in applying for services and someone will take your information over the phone. Good luck!

-T.

Good luck with this school district...I have been fighting them for 3 years now with my step-daughter. They have done all kind of OT and PT testings and she is boarder line Aspie, ADHD, has developmental and pragmatic language problems among a whole host of other issues but the school won't do anything because she is able to keep good grades.

Anyway, I would call the Department of Education's office instead of dealing with the school If that fails call the disablity rights center. Infact I have an extra book that they sent me I could send it to you or meet you somewhere depending on where you live. It had a lot of good info in it.

I wish you lots of luck.
J.

OK, My husband and I sued a school district over a huge fight on children with disabilities...
BOTH of our children are PDD children(the umbrella term for Aspergers) and the school was violating their rights under the IDEA(individuals with disability education act)...
I do not know speciffically about high schools, so my suggestions is this...
Complain, Complain, Complain!!!!
Usually the chain goes something similar to Councellor, Principal/VP, Sp Ed Coordinator, Administration...
When all else fails go to TEA!!!
Now...
Can the child be in Home School? This is your decision, not the schools! We faught hard on this one, Arlington ISD tried to make us look like delinquent parents when we removed our kids and began to home school them for 6 months while we settled the Law Suit. They had even tried to sue us to remove our parental rights!!! All because we didnt agree with their choices in our kids lives. During this time my boys became SUICIDAL, WITHDRAWN, and suffered serious REGRESSION! In the end we settled out of court for an undisclosed ammount. The school ended up having to hire a Autistic Specialist, re train all its teachers and compensate us for councelling our children for the dammage they caused...
Fight!!!
We are in a area of education that is constantly changing because our kids are constantly changing. Aspergers, and other PDD diagnosis' are fairly new among schools and to education.
They dont know how to deal with it!
If you have any more questions with the steps please feel free to email me at ____@____.com
I have no problem helping you!!!
~J. K.

Good luck with the school system. I always thought that our school system was way behind from the rest of the states. There only reaction to children with disabilitys is to just set them in a special ed class and shuffle them through the school. Then when they get old enough ship them to a handicapped work enviroment. I have a 16 year old and he has gone through the school system here in Arkansas all his life and all they want to do is make sure he is on meds and don't have to realy deal with him. I would home school him but atleast I can admit that I am not qualified to help him unlike alot of the profesionals around here. All I can tell you is that if you don't like what the school has to say or do just contact the Arkansas School board in Little Rock. Hopefully you will get some sound advice. You do have alot of rights, more than they want you to know. Good luck. K.

Hi, you may need to speak with an advocate to work with you and the school to achieve with your daughter. I can give you a name if you are interested. please email me privately if you would like the information. It sucks but without a professional on your side you may not see the results you want.

Good luck
C.