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Post by Jodi on Jan 20, 2011 20:47:09 GMT -5
My son has a speech disorder in addition to having ds. He also uses vantage. His 4th grade teacher just put it on the shelf everyday. After I pitched a fit, he had a new placement and is now using the vantage daily because it is expected of him.
Each child progresses differently. Goals should be specific to the child. I do not like generic goals! My son made little progress, then he makes a large leap. That's just how he works.
Don't forget, speech output is not just verbal. Gestures, grunts, and unintelligible noises all count! As long as you see progress, keep at it.
Jodi
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Post by Jodi on Dec 14, 2010 18:06:44 GMT -5
I feel so sick... this was just posted on the LA Times "LA NOW" section... Child porn 'club' posted photo of Down syndrome boy being molested December 14, 2010 | 2:35 pm The FBI announced the indictment of 16 domestic and international suspects in a child pornography ring who are believed to be part of an Internet-based, members-only bulletin board called "Lost Boy." The various defendants used the names "HarryPotter," "Bottles&Cans," "Undy12" and "WoodenDoll" to post explicit pictures on the Texas-based bulletin board. Authorities said the men were initiated into the password-protected site by posting graphic photos of child pornography and had to continue posting pictures to maintain access. "This network was reserved for your most serious traders of child pornography and boy lovers," said U.S. Atty. Andre Birotte Jr. Birotte said one of the most disturbing items investigators found was a "handbook project," a forum used to groom adult men interested in pursuing boys. Another disturbing find included a picture of a 9-year-old boy with Down syndrome being abused. The "Lost Boy" group is charged with the "advertisement, transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography," according to a federal indictment. The defendants, some of whom are from Southern California, include a Phoenix-based pediatric anesthesiologist and a Michigan man who admitted molesting two boys and photographing the abuse. The initial tip came in October 2008 when European law enforcement officials approached FBI agents in Copenhagen with information that a North Hollywood man had been communicating with a Danish man and an Italian national about how to obtain child pornography and engage in child sex tourism in Romania. The website began operating as early as Sept. 1, 2007, and was shut down in January 2009. What a bunch of pigs! grrrrr!
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Post by Jodi on Aug 2, 2010 3:44:33 GMT -5
Oh my goodness Steff... Prayers that Jeff continues to improve.
Jodi
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Post by Jodi on Aug 2, 2010 3:39:43 GMT -5
Oh that is so cool!!! I bet Abby is so happy!! Upload a picture when you can.
Jodi
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Post by Jodi on Aug 2, 2010 3:37:00 GMT -5
Thanks Barb! It is nice to hear from someone living with it! I am thinking of getting checked for thyroid issues too. I have not felt like I have any energy for a while now. Of course it could just be I am getting older Jodi
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Post by Jodi on Jul 26, 2010 11:32:47 GMT -5
We are in the San Gabriel Valley and are part of the San Gabriel Valley regional center. Most of our services are with the school district. Whenever we try to get additional services, rc is always saying funding has been cut. However, if you are resourceful, you can challenge this. Funding has been cut and a lot of services are not being funded and I really have been bummed about the lack of social services in my immediate area. We have to drive quite a bit to participate in different programs.
Best thing I can recommend is to check out which areas you are interested in. I know the orange county has a pretty good regional center and additional community support, but that is an expensive county.
Jodi
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Post by Jodi on Jul 23, 2010 21:26:23 GMT -5
Rys doctor was getting suspicious of his thyroid so ordered some tests. So after some tests and consulting with an endocrinologist at children's LA, they confirm he has Hashimotos thyroiditis. I've done lots of reading but wanted to hear from any parents that may have had some experience. We test again in 6 mos and no drugs yet.
By the way... Any DCI fans here? Oldest son is in so cal drum corps and they just left today for tour.
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Post by Jodi on Jun 15, 2010 2:26:04 GMT -5
When things don't go right, it's best not to blame yourself and focus more on what is going on. When my guy went to kindy, I thought he was very smart and should be fully included. The trouble was that they did not really include him, he had an aide that basically was a babysitter, and he developed horrific behaviors. Not saying this is your situation, just sharing what I went through. It was a tough 2 years that led to behaviors that went on for years.
Taking off shoes, hiding under the desk, shredding socks, throwing items, taking other people's items, etc... these are all behaviors that happened. We started monitoring the situation. Non-preferred activities led to negative behaviors. When that happened, he would be removed from the class for a "break". We later realized this reinforced the behavior because it was a reward of sorts. We ended up changing classrooms altogether, and have been is a SDC class since. The teachers in SDCs just are a better fit for our son.
It is best to focus on what is going on with your child. What is triggering the behavior? Are there natural consequences? Is there a plan (official or otherwise)? You can request a behavior evaluation. Are the teachers/aides trained in this area? Do you have a behavior specialist on your IEP team?
We supported our teachers by following up with our child at home. When he had a bad day, he lost certain activities at home as well (movies or video games, for example).
It takes a lot of work to get through some of the behaviors. I would suggest that you try not to expect your child to not have any behaviors. For us, behaviors come and go. Being consistent with how you handle the behaviors is what I believe is the most important factor.
Good luck to you on this... hope you get some good answers and help for this situation. I'm sorry about your separation, but maybe this is a factor in your child's behavior too. Maybe he is feeling stress?
Jodi
PS - Try not to confuse being a good parent with having children that are well-behaved. Being a good parent means that you teach your children, and that you don't give up on them when they still get it wrong.
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Post by Jodi on Jun 10, 2010 18:29:54 GMT -5
Hi Dolly,
We do not have the autism factor, so I'm not sure if this advice will help. Have you tried using consequences for his behavior? Also, before he engages with other children, prompt him to be gentle up front. Another idea is to read social stories about how to treat others. Maybe you can have the kids model the behavior too instead of you doing it. Maybe seeing the kids do it will help.
Jodi
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Post by Jodi on May 15, 2010 23:29:02 GMT -5
Laura, We bought it, and used it for a while but it is the kind of system that should be used both at school and at home for it to really work. We couldn't get the school on board so we ended up dropping it. We did, however, started using touchmath, and Ryan has been very successful with that system. Both systems go with a kind of visual and memorization approach. Just like learning anything, making it fun is part of the program. You should be able to do a search on touchmath and find sample sheets to download. Touchmath is a "dot" based system. Dots are placed on the number. The number "1" has one dot placed on it. If you have ever moved a pencil in the air as you are counting, that is the very idea behind touchmath. Eventually the dots are removed, but the "dots" are in the mind to help with solving the problem. Ryan started using touchmath a couple of years ago. When he transitioned to his new placement, we pushed harder this time to keep the touchmath system going. Although they refused to put in it his IEP (that would have really forced the district's hand), we negotiated enough to have it established in his classroom. MB taught me to pick my battles The district purchased the classroom program for Ryan's class. He has learned how to add and subtract up to 3 digits with regrouping. They have just started multiplication. I think that both systems are good so long as there is the appropriate support at home and at school. Jodi
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Post by Jodi on May 15, 2010 21:31:48 GMT -5
Hi A... been reading and hoping for good news to come out of all of this. You said "I think the waiting and stress is getting to me" - you think??? I think you are holding it together pretty darn well!!
How 'bout we have a "2010 sucks" party?! I have never been one to take anything for stress, but that changed about a month ago... I think we get so used to operating at a higher level that when more gets shoved on an already over-flowing plate, we wonder why the stress gets to us. I'm gonna just say it... nope, it's just not fair! Not for Russell, and not for you or your family. Just stinks.
I will be praying that things turn around for Russell, and that you have some peace while going through this new waiting game.
Hugs to you and your family!!!
Jodi
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Post by Jodi on Apr 23, 2010 19:45:50 GMT -5
Thank you all for your prayers and support! Great news!! No cancer!! I may take medications to help prevent breast cancer, but it is actually a choice at this point, which is another great sign. If my risk numbers were higher, they would have automatically placed me on a medication. The doctor went over the pathology report with me, and there were no further signs of abnormalities. YAY! I still have ADH, and I will be monitored more closely now, but that is the best news I could have gotten. This was the scariest thing I have ever experienced. It sure made me reevaluate a lot of things... Thank you all again for your support! I can breathe again! HUGS! Jodi
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Post by Jodi on Apr 20, 2010 11:25:53 GMT -5
No news yet. Still waiting for the results. Hopefully I will know on Thursday.
I haven't talked with Ryan about my dad's passing yet. I started by telling him he went on a big trip to be with God. I'm still trying to figure out how to explain it to him without scaring him. I'm fine with him being sad about not seeing his Papa, but I just don't want to scare him.
We rescheduled Ryan's IEP for about a month from now.
Thanks for the prayers.
Jodi
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Post by Jodi on Apr 16, 2010 20:49:23 GMT -5
Thanks A! - looks like a trial version but we are all downloading it now as I type!!! Can't wait to check it out!
Jodi
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Post by Jodi on Apr 16, 2010 20:45:33 GMT -5
Prayers please!!!! On March 25th, my dad had gone into the hospital for an infection. They were treating him and were planning to send him to rehab to finish up his recovery. They had a hard time getting his pain under control, but there wasn't much else they could do. It has been almost a year since he was diagnosed with leukemia. To make a long story short, on March 27th we decided to move him into hospice care in hopes that he would finish his recovery there and go home - much nicer facility! I was talking to him in the hallway at the hospital and he was fine just before they transported him by ambulance. 15 minutes later when we got to hospice he was virtually in a coma. He passed away about 36 hours later. Although he was sick, it still came as a shock. My dad was tough tough and tough, but Ryan melted his heart! At this point I told Ryan that Papa went on a big trip to visit with God and he will not be coming back... It was the best I could do under the circumstances. He kept telling people at the ceremony (held at my house) that Papa was on a big trip... people were like "what?" so I was constantly explaining, but it was alright. Two days later I found a lump... six days after that I had a mamo, ultrasound, and a biopsy... which led to today... the lump was removed and they are running tests to make sure it's not cancer. Preliminary results show I have ADH (Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia), so at minimum I am at a higher risk for breast cancer. I'm hoping that is the worst of the news! I know Uno knows how to pray and send positive thoughts. I'm going to try to remain calm until final results are in next week. Oh - had to rescheduled Ryan's IEP which was set for Tuesday... LOL there's no way I can do that right now! Thanks Uno Family Jodi
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