Pixie dust for my Aspie son

[2RussianAngels]

Marshall University (WV) and Landmark College (VT) both have programs for students identified with Aspergers. Landmark's program is exclusively for those identified with learning differences (including ADHD, etc.) seems expensive and is more like a junior college, but they say they have great transfer rates to top schools. Marshall's program is a special program within the larger university setting. Hope this helps.

 

[Tam1067]

I feel for you.

I want to second the recommendation for community college. I am a professor at one, and I'll tell you that we have lots of students with Asperger's and other issues. As open enrollment institutions, we are open to everyone, and we offer great opportunities for students who for various reasons are not candidates for four year colleges and universities.

Also, I would research the assistance available at your local community college to students with special needs. We have a large office that offers assistance with everything from preferential scheduling to hiring notetakers.

Wishing you the best--

 

[disneycruising]

from another mom with an Aspie DD 16.

If you lived close, my DD could go to the prom with your DS.

 

[donalds friend]

from another mom with an Aspie DD 16.

If you lived close, my DD could go to the prom with your DS.

Too bad we are on the opposite coast!

 

[MommyBell08]

Saying a prayer now

 

[J'aime Paris]

My BFF's son is an aspie. He's in middle school, and has had some difficult moments. It's heartbreaking for any parent. My best wishes to you and your son.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

That blows my mind about the College Board, they are usually pretty good about accomodations!

Just keep working with DS, maybe find some practice interview questions. Do you have any friends (like a supervisor/boss per se) that would be willing to give practice interviews with your son so he can practice?

I would think a boss would LOVE to hear a young man likes to stick to a schedule! I was upset to read that you feel that may have taken him out of the running.

I work with 2 blind kids (a senior and a junior) and we see on a daily basis most of the stuff you are seeing too. I can only hope your boy gets a break soon. There is a college somewhere that will find him to be an asset to their student body. Keep working at it. You're going to get a lot of no's, but keep your chin up and keep going. Show him that perserverence will prevail.

Best of luck!

 

[DisneyDorkORama]

I am so sorry you both are going through this. My nephew is 8 and is autistic and he goes through so much at just 8 years old, I worried about how its going to be when he is in middle school, and high school, and even as an adult. He is such a sweet kid with a good heart, I hate seeing people treat him so bad.

I wish I had some advice for you, but I don't. I just wish people wouldnt judge a book by its cover!

 

[Schmeck]

That blows my mind about the College Board, they are usually pretty good about accomodations!

Actually, I've witnessed the opposite - College Board wants to maintain its reputation of a standard testing procedure. With all the talk about some colleges not even looking at SAT scores, one would think CB would be a bit more pro-active or else they may soon be out of business.

I also know of some high schools that allow accommodations during SAT testing that CB wouldn't allow - of course no one reports this to CB, as both the student and the high school would be in trouble.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

Pixie dust to both of you! For you for being such a great and caring mom, for him to get the things that help him live a full and happy life.

 

[auralia]

I understand how he wants that 4 year college... i was a 4.0 high school student, took the senior level math class in 9th grade got to go to college full time my senior year of highschool (community college funded by the school because i didn't have any classes left there that i could take). and when i did graduate high school i alraedy had over 40 college credits done and my parents would have nothing to do with me going to a 4 year school when all of my friends were so i understand how that is but he will get over it and it will save LOTS of money.

 

[rodeo65]

Dear Donald's Friend,

Hugs and pixie dust are headed your way. I am a former teacher who just loved my special kids. Whether it was Asperger’s or dyslexia or ADHD, I really enjoyed seeing my kids with extra challenges succeed. Just an idea, if your son has a teacher who is thoughtful and kind, and by now you know whether that is the case, ask them for a suggestion about who he can ask to prom. When I was teaching I knew which girls were in a position to answer "yes" to a young man, such as your son.

Back in the day I went to my Junior prom with a guy who had special needs. My brother was in special ed, and I had a soft heart for the emotional needs of a guy who just happened to be a little different. When I found out that a really adorable guy had been turned down multiple times, and in a couple of rather cruel ways, I asked him to go with me, and voila I had a sweet date for prom. I made it clear that we were going as friends, and his parents really appreciated my honesty with him.

Truth be told, we had a great time. He brought me flowers, held the door for me, and DANCED. So many guys wouldn’t dance with their dates, or only to certain music. My date boogied with me all night long. We did the fast dances, the slow dances, and I had more fun than I thought possible. He didn’t get drunk and try to grope me or puke in the car (like one of my "friends" who had laughed at my date choice) and he didn’t spread any rumors about taking any liberties with my virtue (like another girl I knew whose date told everyone about their private romantic interlude that evening, classy).

There are still nice girls in high school, and I hope your son finds one of them for prom.

As to higher education, community college is nothing about which to be ashamed. It is not baby college or lesser college, it is a real college where he can earn real college credit in much smaller classes and with instructors who are more likely to build a relationship with him and accommodate any of his special needs. It can be hard to give up on the dream of going away to school, but with the money you save by doing community college, he can take some amazing trips or indulge in a passion, like Disney.

Hugs, hugs, and more hugs.

--Eeyore’s Wife

I just have to jump in and say you are EXACTLY the kind of teacher I pray for every year!! I have a DS with ADHD who we have chosen not to medicate after several disasterous attempts, so it takes a teacher with exactly your outlook and a huge bucket of patience to help him succeed. For the past two years we've been very fortunate, but every summer I have anxiety hoping he'll have a teacher who "gets" him in September.

OP - Hugs your way for your DS and your family. I know it can be difficult with a literal thinking child. My DS would be the same way waiting for an answer if he heard "I'll let you know." He is very black and white so maybe just does not compute.

 

[DisOkie]

No doubt about Eeyore's Wife! You definitely get it. My son is a 13 yr old aspie as well.

Gosh my heart just aches for these kids. It HAS to get better.

 

[DisOkie]

An Eagle Scout WOW! That is so incredible it just makes me proud for him.

Dawn I saw that your son loves Scouts and feels very accepted there. I have a 13 yr old son with Aspergers and a 10 yr old Cub with Autism. I am also the Troop Committee Chair for Troop 267 in Midwest City, Oklahoma.
We have 3 boys with Aspergers in the troop and another whose parents refuse to get him diagnosed. (That's another story) Plus we have several with ADHD. My question for you is what is it about your troop that has made your son feel so accepted?

I see so many of our boys who are left out at election time when they really wanted a position and would have done a good job if given the chance. I also see some of the Scouts sometimes being cruel and not living up to the Scout Law. Have the Scoutmaster's done any training or said anything to the boys to get them to be more accepting?

We are dealing with a situation tonight that is going to be quite difficult. I have a committee meeting to lead and our Scoutmaster and some Assistant Scoutmaster want to ask a boy to leave the Troop because they can't keep him "in line."

I don't know what I'm going to do other than just stick up for him. But anyhow, I wish my son could be in your troop. You are very fortunate.

 

[donalds friend]

I always heard Eagle Scout would open doors, but it must not carry much weight at Disney. The hardest part for my son was the swimming and overcoming the fear of the water. We actually found another boy to join the troop with mild Asperger's as well. I can't say that everything was smooth sailing. There was more than one instance where the other boys did not act like scouts. After he got older he figured out that he really didn't have any friends (other than the one who we got to join) and quit going shortly after he got his Eagle. The eye opener was when he fell asleep in his tent and the others left on a hike. They didn't even notice that he wasn't with them. He woke up all by himself at the campsite. I asked the leaders what happened to the buddy system they harp on and they said in this type of camp they didn't use it because the boys were older and they continuously went in different directions. I quit encouraging him to go after that.

 

[CheshireSmile]

If he does decide to apply to Disney again, check out the College boards here on the DIS! There's lots of great CP and CS alums who'd be happy to give you some pointers to help him with the interview, and let you know what sort of questions he can expect to be asked. I'm a CP alum myself, and I had such a wonderful experience that I'm always recommending it to people! It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing, even though I know several people who've done it 2+ times!

 

[cm8]

,, I hope someone comes along and takes him up on his offer, I'll be thinking of him tonight when I pray.........

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Adding some more Pixie Dust...

 

[chrisw127]

Hugs to the OP, her son and all the other moms on this thread.

 

[schatterjee]

Nothing is harder than when things are hard for our kiddos. Hang in there and we'll be hoping something wonderful is right around the corner!