Warning: Long, Boring, Personal reply (was Re: MCSE Salary Query)

From: Frisbee® (billLASTINIT_at_dasi-software.com)
Date: 05/28/04 

Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 14:54:13 -0400

Sandworm wrote:
> Neil and Laura,
>
> My son is what would be termed as high functioning, he goes
> to a private school (because the state school system in FL. sucks
> and they were just doing nothing for him, ie-setting low standards).

Eek, please don't scare me about the FL state school system. I can't afford
private.

Ed, you and I have a lot more in common than I thought. I have twin sons,
who turned six last March. While they don't have Down's, they are
developmentally delayed. I was out from work yesterday because they're
undergoing yet another battery of exams, in the hopes of determining what
label will be slapped upon them.

We first noticed problems with out boys when they didn't walk until fifteen
months. My wife's son from her previous marriage walked at nine months.
This set off a few alarms, but nothing major. Then at age two, they still
had virtually no spoken words. Twin B actually had a couple of words at
about 1 1/2 ("Bear Book") but only used them for about a month, then nothing
again. We were terrified that our boys might be autistic (and still haven't
completely ruled that out). At my wife's urging, our Ped finally arranged
for them to have an evaluation at the age of 2 1/2, and they were deemed
"developmentally delayed" and entered into FL's program(s). They attended
the ARC (which I think is the Association for Retarded Citizens) at that
time, and until the age of three, when they were evaluated again (same
results) and were admitted to the regular FL school system (pre-K). We'd
seen a neurologist (who seemed rather annoyed with us - no help at all) and
a geneticist, who told us he was certain that their problem was genetic, he
just didn't know what, and wanted us to come back in a year, and Twin B has
had an MRI and been diagnosed with mild PVL (periventricular leukamalasia
(or some similar spelling)). They spent two years in pre-K and are now
finishing their last days of Kindergarten, and both boys will be admitted to
1st grade this fall (mainstream). Scares the hell out of my wife and I
because we know how far behind they are. They've been getting speech and
occupational therapy for years now, and are improving, but we really wonder
if they can keep up at all in 1st grade. Both boys know their numbers,
colors, ABC's, etc. that kindergarteners need to know, they can even
sound-out words to some extent. Both are verbal, but so far behind the
others, it's painful.

Their speech therapist recommended them for this summer program at the
University of Florida, and we've been going to meeting after meeting where
they're being seen by hearing and speech specialists, psychologists, and
another neurologist (this one is good, though). We think that come this
Tuesday, we will FINALLY get some kind of answers as to what is causing our
boy's delays. We already learned something from the hearing exams - that
Twin B apparently has an auditory processing disorder. He hears fine, but
it's not being processed correctly.

Funny thing is, before my boys were born, I was totally uncomfortable around
people with "special needs." To be honest, they gave me the creeps! That
all changed when my kids were born, and there were some classmates in their
pre-K who did have Down's Syndrome. I just want to hug those kids now
(okay, I'm getting too mushy here).

Give your son a big hug for me. Where in Florida are you? Maybe we might
could meet up one day. I'll teach you disc golf! 

-- 
Fris "Disc golfers never lose their balls" bee®, MCNGP #13
The MCNGP Team - We're here to help!
http://www.mcngp.tk
Certaholics
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/certaholics

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Warning: Long, Boring, Personal reply (was Re: MCSE Salary Query)
    ... >> to a private school (because the state school system in FL. ... My wife's son from her previous marriage walked at nine months. ... Twin B actually had a couple of words at ... We were terrified that our boys might be autistic (and still haven't ...
    (microsoft.public.cert.exam.mcse)
  • Re: My sons friend
    ... If you're getting notes from the school then you should probably talk ... behaviour reports on your son and the way the other two boys (your ... concerned about these notes and I'd like the boys to get on better" ... made new friends and didn't over-burden any one child. ...
    (misc.kids)
  • Re: I couldnt believe this
    ... When I say boys will be boys, ... I sure don't tolerate them being mean to each other or other kids. ... I suspect your school is much smaller, in a smaller community, so it's ... My son took his day of suspension because ...
    (sci.med.transcription)
  • Socialism Update - Dad Says 6-Year-Old Classmates Forced Son Into Sex Club
    ... Dad Says 6-Year-Old Classmates Forced Son Into 'Sex Club' ... Three six-year-old boys ran a sex club at a Brisbane, Australia, state ... The outraged father alleged Friday the school did not bother to tell ...
    (alt.politics)
  • Re: My sons friend
    ... If you're getting notes from the school then you should probably talk ... behaviour reports on your son and the way the other two boys (your ... concerned about these notes and I'd like the boys to get on better" ... My son, J, doesn't really want to play with this boy, C, but C won't leave ...
    (misc.kids)