HBOT

LanChi

I had reservations about meds for my boys (ADHD) but am so grateful now that we are using them. It may be that your son will be more able to express his needs and emotions if he is on medication. If the medication helps him to focus, he may be better able to learn communication strategies, and be more apt to tune in to his emotions and how to deal with them. To facilitate communication, a picture schedule might be beneficial for your son. Children with autism often do well using picture schedules for daily routines and tasks.

What is your son's current method of communication?

Is your son receiving services now? Does he have an IEP? What support will be in place for him when he attends school in the fall? Has he had experiences with groups of children, away form mom and dad, in the past? How did this go?

I am a parent of 5 boys, including one with special needs. I hold two "Education Specialist" credentials - California's credential for teachers of children with special needs. I teach 14 amazing students, each of whom has specialized learning needs.

Keep me posted, and I look forward to talking with you.

Karen

ps... Is the FAS diagnosis based on medical fact (pos-tox, known alcohol usage during pregnancy) or based on features / behaviors? Just wondering how the diagnosis was made, considering the autism piece.

My son was not diagnosed with FAS until he was four after numerous doctors and specialists. Even wihtout knowing that he has FAS, he was tested for developmental delays and had been in therapies since he was 18 months old. His speech is OK but he still a bit delayed in expressive language. His gross motor is getting there but his fine motor skills is very delayed. He did speech and ABA but the therapists feel that he is done with those. Right now, he attends pre-K and has PT (2 hrs/wk), OT (2 hrs/wk), pragmatic (2 hrs/wk, sensory integration with academic skills in a group setting (6 hrs/wk) and in an indivisual setting (3 hrs/wk). His ADHD and impulsiveness are preventing him from being more suceesful in his work but he is one of the hardest working 5 yr olds I know.

With being divorced with 50/50 shared time, I have to put him in all these therapies because I don't trust his dad's nanny to work with him in these areas.

My son does have an IEP. It was a long hard battle due to the budget cut but I was able to get him in a regular environment with a para-professional. They want to put him in a self-contained class (EBD) to save money. I am very involved with University of Miami Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) and through that, I had three amazing advocates on my side. Thank God!!!!

My son was adopted from Russia at 9 months. We knew that FAS could be a potential problem so my ex-husband hired a team of professionals including taking a doctor to the orphanage to check my son out before the adoption but no one came up with anything. Now, knowing what I know, my son physical and behavior traits are text book FAS. Though, I thank God everyday because if the professionals that my ex-husband hired would have found something, he would have never proceeded with the adoption. My son is my greatest joy in my life even with all his corkiness. He is a very sweet, loving child who manages to make me a better person everyday.

Lan Chi

Thank you,

Lan Chi