curb drop-off
June 5, 2009
One of the things the school strongly encourages during 1st grade is to get the kids independent enough that they don’t need their parents to walk them into the classroom. So, we’ve had to set up programs and practice to get to that point. We got there pretty early in the year actually.
By 2nd grade, the parents are strongly encouraged to not even walk into the school building but to drop the kids off at the door. So, my son’s teacher started to warn me about this a couple of months ago, that we should start working toward that. I basically dismissed it, and told her so. I said “when he’s ready, he’ll let us know, in the meantime, i’m more concerned with his emotional well-being, and if he feels more confident walking into the school with his mom at his side, then so be it”. Well lo and behold, without us even bringing it up with him, he suddenly decides that not only does he not need me to walk into the school, but he wants me to do a curbside drop-off. He saw how much fun one of his 1st grade friends had doing this and from that moment on, he made his decision. Of course, now I’m trying to discourage the curbside drop-off and start smaller, like let me at least walk you to the door so I’m sure you made it in the building.
Fortunately, his teaching assistant was able to meet him at the curb and walk him in. There have been days when he has run out of the building and back to the car, usually when he just really doesn’t want to go to school. So, we’ll see how this all pans out.
Study says drug for autism not useful
June 4, 2009
I didn’t even know they were trying to use these drugs for autism. Just glad to see they have definitive studies so doctors will stop using drugs that are harmful to kids.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009288763_autism02.html
Study says drug for autism not useful
An antidepressant commonly prescribed to help autistic children control their repetitive behaviors is no better than a placebo, according…
Los Angeles Times
An antidepressant commonly prescribed to help autistic children control their repetitive behaviors is no better than a placebo, according to a report published Monday. It also caused nightmares and other side effects, the research found.
Roughly one-third of all children with autism take citalopram, the antidepressant examined in the study, or others that are closely related.
The results of the nationwide trial, published in Archives of General Psychiatry, have some experts reconsidering the appropriateness of not just antidepressants but many of the mind-altering drugs used to treat kids with autism spectrum disorders.
About 1.5 million Americans are estimated to have autism, a group of poorly understood developmental disorders characterized by problems with communication and social interactions. One of the hallmarks is obsessive, repetitive behavior, such as flapping one’s arms or hands or memorizing car makes and models. When those routines are interrupted, severe tantrums can result.
Only one medication — the antipsychotic drug risperidone — has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of irritability and aggression in children with autism.
But doctors, frustrated by their limited options, haven’t shied away from giving other pharmaceuticals a chance. Worldwide spending on drugs to treat autism is estimated to be $2.2 billion to $3.5 billion annually.
Because few medications have been tested on autistic children in large, rigorous studies, doctors have looked to drugs that treat similar symptoms in other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
That’s what led physicians to a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, that help adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Their repetitive rituals, such as counting, cleaning or hand-washing, are reminiscent of the behaviors seen in autistic patients.
Doctors were also hopeful because the serotonin system is known to function improperly in people with autism.
But the medications will work only if the root causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder and autistic repetitive behavior involve the same biological pathways in the brain. The new study strongly suggests they do not.
“It just begs for a more careful understanding of the neurological underpinnings of the disorder,” Mandell said.
Dr. Bryan King, director of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at Seattle Children’s Hospital and leader of the study, said he was shocked citalopram didn’t help patients.
Not only was the placebo slightly more effective, but the drug’s side effects — such as impulsivity and insomnia — - were at least twice as bad.
Citalopram is sold in the United States under the brand name Celexa.
autism center opens in new mexico
June 3, 2009
I think by now you know my views on the schools capacity to deal with kids with autism. I also am clear that I don’t think it is only the schools responsibility to deal with autism. Schools exist to teach academics first and foremost. Schools (and I am really generalizing here) can likely teach kids with autism if they have the correct staffing, facilities, medical and behavioral assistance, and if the medical and behavioral therapies are covered like any other health condition - by insurance! Not too much to ask, is it. Schools shouldn’t be required to provide medical and behavioral assistance to a child. That is the health care industries role.
Anyway, take a look at this article announcing a new autism center in New Mexico. Did you know that this type of residential treatment/education center cannot exist in the State of Washington? It cannot exist because the State of Washington prohibits residential facilities that both house people and provide services. Sound stupid? Well, it is.
http://www.koat.com/health/19651100/detail.html
NM Autism Center Opens
Camelot Of New Mexico Offers Residential Center For Kids With Autism
POSTED: 6:42 pm MDT June 3, 2009
UPDATED: 7:22 pm MDT June 3, 2009
New Mexico has its first residential treatment center for kids with autism and other developmental delays and their families.
A ribbon cutting marked the official opening of the center Wednesday in Albuquerque.Camelot of New Mexico offers education for kids with autism other learning disabilities.It’s the first treatment facility and school in one location in New Mexico.Yvonne Gurley, the director Camelot of New Mexico, said, “We have needed a treatment center and school for children on the Autism spectrum for years and years and years.”Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez said he first learned of the need for such a facility two years ago at a town hall meeting after families told him about a lack of services for them in the Land of Enchantment.”A mom or a dad can’t just say call the kid down the street and say, ‘Come watch Junior, we’re going to go get a pizza.’ It doesn’t work like that it impacts whole families and whole communities,” Chavez said.The facility has beds for 39 kids between the ages of 5 and 17.Officials said it’s designed to provide a safe environment as well as give children real-world experiences.”We take them into the community and teach them living skills, how to interact in the community as well as their academic skills and their behavioral and psychological needs,” said Gurley.Teachers from Albuquerque Public Schools come to the facility to teach the kids on site.The facility caters to kids with autism, Asperger’s, autism spectrum disorder and children with other developmental delays.
the win-winnie song
June 2, 2009
My son had created this song for our dog, winnie. It has two words, win winnie, throughout the entire song. But, it is a cute song.
Well, my son apparently had free choice in music class today. So, he got to perform his win winnie song in front of the class. He got them all singing along.
He had a field trip today to Zeek’s Pizza, which I attended. I was talking with his teaching assistant and suddenly I hear the entire class break out in the win winnie song. It was pretty hilarious. They all love the song and they love having my son lead them in the performance. Go figure!
siblings
June 1, 2009
I have started thinking about my daughter and what all of this means for her. This is a good read.
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/04/21/inside-the-world-of-siblings/2940/
