https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:29:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1095642 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 18:14:03 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1095642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CraftyMom13: It sounds like you are doing wonderful things for him! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1095610 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 18:00:40 +0000 CraftyMom13 1095610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the advice and kind words! We currently have an IEP in place and thankfully he has amazing teachers! He receives speech therapy everyday at school righ now. I want to try therapy before meds but I am not opossed to meds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1094107 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 07:43:14 +0000 looch 1094107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brother is high special needs and my parents are both nothing short of amazing. My mom's view on things is that basically the diagnosis is done by process of elimination. You know something is not right, but what it is could be a cocktail of things. The important thing to do is get an advocate that knows the system so that you can get the most services possible. In most areas, if the public schools can not provide the services, then the state will step in and pay for private services...this has happened with my brother. He attended a private high school until he aged out (at 21) that would have never been on my parent's radar if it wasn't for the advocate.</p> <p>Also, with meds, I understand the hesitation. Part of it is the trial and error, rarely is the first dose the final and most effective one. It's hard to see your kid go from highly active to sedentary, but it's the art of the dose that needs to be worked out in some cases.</p> <p>Hang in there, you're doing awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093827 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 23:35:53 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1093827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just wanted to agree with Mrs. Jacks regarding ADHD medication. I totally understand not wanting to medicate, but I do think it has value at times. I took a class in college (at UCLA). My professor spent her whole career trying to prove that Ritalin didn't work. After dozens of years, she had to reverse her belief. And today there are meds with much fewer side effects.</p> <p>I am so sorry you are going through this. I have a very close friend whose son has a sensory processing disorder and I worked with kids with autism after college. I know how difficult it can be. My advice is to seek lots If support from people who truly understand as well as consider all options to help you and your son. Wishing you the best!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093817 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 23:23:47 +0000 Kimberlybee 1093817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My godson was diagnosed with ADHD early on and his mom also declined meds for him. She wanted to first try therapy. If it didn't workout she would try the meds. She was able to get therapy for him and also a speech therapist. I am not sure the extent of his disorder but he is now a thriving junior in high school. There are a lot more programs for children and adults with special needs now. Here is a good example <a href="http://www.npitx.org/About.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.npitx.org/About.htm</a> and more programs like these are opening all over the country. Hopefully you can find the right resources and good help for your LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093801 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 23:10:25 +0000 skibobrown 1093801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a special needs kid, but just wanted to say that I'm a professor at a fairly competitive college, and I have several students who were almost certainly considered "special needs" when they were growing up. These students all currently have disability accommodations (like extra testing time or a designated note-taker) through our ADA office to support whatever their specific conditions are. That being said, they are some of my favorite (and best) students, so there is certainly hope. I think what all of these students have in common, and what allowed them to eventually get into such a competitive college, was a lot of support (and special programs and schooling) as they were growing up. It sounds like you are very in tune with your child's needs, and with the right resources I'm sure he can have a very fulfilling school career and future! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093785 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 22:37:12 +0000 deactivated_account 1093785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know how your school district is, but where I live public schools have the ability to offer fabulous resources to kids with special needs. My sister is a moderate-to-severe special ed teacher for kindergarteners. My husband was also an autism specialist teacher at a high school until very recently. There are so many different therapists that come into the class each day for these kids. And as others have mentioned above, IEP will be fabulous for your boy. Best of luck to you. I can't imagine how scary it is, but you will navigate your way through this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093774 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 22:22:54 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1093774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry that you are going through this. I think so many people are afraid of medication. I know that someone really close to me was. She came to her wits end when her son was kicked out of his final school option she was forced to consider ADHD medicine.</p> <p>Well, it completely changed their life. All the other co-morbidities seemed to fall away. He could focus, stay in school, began learning, started being able to maintain friendships.</p> <p>I'm not saying that's what is right for you and your family, but I am saying that getting the medical and psychosocial care that your child needs might be really helpful.</p> <p>Hang in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093768 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 22:15:00 +0000 deerylou 1093768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CraftyMom13: First of all, so many hugs. My little one is merely two months, so I can't speak to having a special needs child, but I am a behaviorist, by trade. I have worked with and taught many wonderful children with mild-severe Autism, Emotional Disturbance, ADHD, Sensory Integration Disorder, Down Syndrome, etc. </p> <p>While the diagnostic experience is certainly a frightening one, I promise that it will also open so many doors for your family. Obtaining a formal diagnosis will help determine what kind of services (behavior therapy, OT, PT, Speech, etc) will work to assist him. Moving forward, be your son's advocate; you can never be too pushy or overly inquisitive. If you feel he's not getting enough hours of therapy, fight it. If his classroom placement is not stimulating him, or holding him back in any observable way, request an IEP meeting. Be firm, and confident in your role as his mother; you know him best! Parents so often feel intimidated and pressured into agreeing and signing off on regimens and plans they aren't 100% behind. Remember that it all comes down to you - ultimately, you hold the power and the key to your son's resources.</p> <p>While the future is uncertain, you will see your son blossom and astound you in ways you wouldn't imagine. His potential is immeasurable, and can only increase through support, assistance, and a network of love, understanding and dedication. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093733 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 21:44:54 +0000 MsLipGloss 1093733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Confetti: I was also going to mention Amalah (both her blog and her advice column on Alphamom!). Her blog is pretty detailed about her family's journey. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093724 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 21:39:54 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1093724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I had any valuable experience or knowledge to share with you. Just wanted to recommend a blog, Alphamom.com, where amazing blogger (amalah.com) has an device column that frequently touches on questions from people in your similar situation. The writer, Amy, has a son who went through a similar period of mystery diagnosis and is now thriving in 2nd (maybe even 3rd) grade with an iep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093722 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 21:39:28 +0000 Punky 1093722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a special needs child but I'm a school psychologist, so my job is primarily assessing students with special needs. I agree with Travellingbee that the diagnosis isn't necessarily the important piece. A lot of these disorders share characteristics and there is a lot of co-morbidity between all of them (autism, adhd, bipolar). Now getting a diagnosis won't really hurt anything either so do what you feel comfortable with. What is most important is making sure that whatever services/supports your child receives match your son's needs, rather than his disability. So it's important for all members to gather data for the IEP to determine what supports he needs or where the skill deficits are in order to focus the services towards those needs. Autism is such a big spectrum that not all kids need the same things. I think the key is communication between home and school and making sure everyone is one the same page.<br /> As for being able to go to college, have a job, and a family it is possible. It really varies by the child but I have seen kids learn the life skills that are needed to function in everyday society. Now it will probably always be a struggle and there will be things that will always be hard for him but with the right support you will definitely see progress. And there are programs that continue to provide support for kids and adults with special needs well past high school.<br /> I know it's overwhelming and definitely a challenge at times but it sounds like you're doing a great job right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093689 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 21:24:15 +0000 travellingbee 1093689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So sorry you're having to deal with these worries. I do not have a special needs child but I work with them. The difficulty with a diagnosis in early childhood is that so many of these disorders overlap that it is nearly a guessing game. Very frequently the diagnosis changes as they get older. Many children with severe ADHD look similar to someone with autism. Likewise, Autism and SID share many attributes etc. I guess what I'd advise is that the diagnosis isn't as important as making sure that his skills and needs are accuratley assessed to develop an effective IEP (educational plan). I have seen tremendous growth from students who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. It's hard to say what the future holds for any of our kiddos but having a developmental disorder doesn't mean your child won't be a happy adult. Lots of hugs for you and your boy! You're doing a great job being an advocate for him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-regarding-my-special-needs-son#post-1093655 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 21:03:10 +0000 CraftyMom13 1093655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is almost 5 and currently in a special ed prek program at school. His classroom is a 2-1 student to teacher ratio so he receives a lot of one on one attention in the classroom. He is on his 3rd and last year of prek and I was really hoping next year he would be able to go into general ed kindergarten but now I realize that is not going to happen. I feel it is time to get a diagnoses and I am extremely nervous about it. DS has bits and pieces of various disorders and I am terrified he is going to be misdiagnosed and do NOT want to do any type of medication at this point. We are noticing both in school and at home characteristics of ADHD, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Sensory Integration Disorder, and Learning Delays. I have had a few discussions with DS's teachers and therapists and we all agree he likely has ADHD and that would also explain his bipolar tendencies. He has obsessive behaviors(Autism) and extreme aversions to the way things sound and feel(Sensory Integration). His learning disabilities are more and more noticeable with age. He still cannot identify blue or red, only knows the letter his name starts with, and generally struggles with processing and understanding any new concepts. I guess I am looking for encouraging words and advice from fellow Mom's of special needs children. I am really worried about what his future holds. Will he be able to go to college, get a good job, have a family? It is just all so up in the air and really scary to think about. </p>