Day 8- Situation at School

One of our biggest obstacles with our son is over stimulation. That seems to be when we have the worst problem with his behavior. His compensation for over stimulation is to act out. This has taken as a LONG time to realize and I even still have problems with identifying it sometimes.

For the past two days the weather has been so cold here that they have had lunch recess indoors. Our lunch recess is a unique situation this year. His older brother goes to lunch 3 minutes before he does, so they basically share a lunch recess. This has helped the younger boy in that he always has a friend to play with, but it has possibly hindered the older boy in that he always has a brother tagging along thinking he is cool. So far it hasn't been to big of a problem, until this week.

When they have lunch recess they go into a gym that PE classes are held in. It's only for about ten minutes, but there are anywhere from 50-75 kids in this gym at one time. That gym gets really loud! Asperger's children do not like loud noises.

He has had trouble following the rules in the gym for the past two days. Today he was trying to shove his older brother into the wall. Then he tried to line up in his brother's classroom line. When the teacher told him he needed to move, he quickly fired off, "I don't have to listen to you." She told him that he needed to move or he would have to sit in time out. For most kids this would be a quick reminder that they didn't want to be in timeout. But for him, his senses were already over stimulated and he didn't know what to do with himself or with her, so he kicked her in the shin.

Last year this would have all resulted in a phone call to Mom, who would have had to go up to the school to get him calmed down. But as a result of the therapy we have been to, the diagnosis of Asperger's and the cooperation we have with the school to help him, it resulted in the administration talking through and figuring out that because it's so loud in the gym, he is probably getting over stimulated and simply needs an alternative for indoor recess. They put together a plan of action and called me to make sure it was satisfying. On the days that lunch recess is indoors, he is going to be given the option to go into the office and read a book, instead of going to the gym.

When I got the phone call, I cried. It was tears of relief. They have been listening to our concerns and the progress we have made in therapy. A year ago we had no idea what was causing all the outbursts, but now we can take a step back at the situation and realize how his body is functioning in those situations. Now we are able to put all of our resources together and realize that he isn't a 'bad kid'. He just needs alternative activities when things get over whelming!

I think it's extremely important that they know we are supporting them and in return it's important that they support us.

I am so thankful for the relationship that we have developed with his school.