Hi Michelle, I am a volunteer parent advocate and also mommy to a 7-year-old high-functioning/high-maintenance PDD-NOS boy! You need to request (in writing) that the IEP team hold a "manifestation hearing" which will determine whether your child's behaviors are the result of his disability. If it is agreed that the behaviors are stemming from the disability, they CANNOT continue to suspend him. Instead, they must work on developing a "Behavioral Intervention Plan" which addresses the antecedents and consequences of his behaviors. In other words, they must investigate to find what triggers his behaviors and work up ways to address and extinguish the behaviors. You may want to request (again, in writing) a "Functional Behavior Assessment" which is where the school takes actual data on setting/participants/triggers/outcome over a period of days. (NOTE: You also might want to consider bringing in an outsider to do this as most school personnel are not truly qualified to take this data objectively in my opinion.) Each state has Parent Information and Training Centers to assist you in this process, with volunteer or paid advocates. Try doing a google search for your state and PITC and see what comes up. If you have problems finding your center, I will be happy to help you locate. -BJ

Thanks Kristin, I'll definately take a look at that.

Michelle, Hi, as far as I know your son can't be suspended from school because of his disablity. I would fight the school for an aid for your son. If they are not following your son's IEP, then you need to ask to have it reopened. Fight them!! A good friend of mine has a web sight and is pretty up on the laws. www.autismlink.com I wish you all the best!! Kristin

I am new to the site and have a nine year old son with AS. The school phsych kept telling us he had ADD, which he doesn't. all AS kids show forms of OCD and impulse control probs. We use Neurofeedback therapy, which immediately took away night terrors, migraines, and bed wetting. He now takes such care with his three year old brother, that they are sometimes inseperable. We just discovered an Occupational therapist in our are for AS kids. He went for his consult appt and we are waiting to find out what type of therapy she will use, but in the meantime she's using tactile sensory therapy called "brushing". You've got to try this. You brush certain areas of the body deeply with a surgical brush, then put your hands on your head and jump up and down 10 times.8-l

I have not talked to the dr who will do the surgery, but my regular dr thinks that the lap band will be good for me AS does get misdiagnosed very often, or so it seems