Comments for The Coffee KlatchThe Coffee Klatch - A virtual cup of coffee for parents of special needs children. http://thecoffeeklatch.com A virtual cup of coffee for parents of special needs children. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:01:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on Raising Rebel Souls – Autism by Terri Mauro http://thecoffeeklatch.com/raising-rebel-souls-autism/#comment-1691 Terri Mauro Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:01:45 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=3481#comment-1691 This is an excellent piece, but I did not write it, just tweeted about it. It is by Heather Clark from her blog Raising Rebel Souls at http://raisingrebelsouls.blogspot.com/. This is an excellent piece, but I did not write it, just tweeted about it. It is by Heather Clark from her blog Raising Rebel Souls at http://raisingrebelsouls.blogspot.com/.

]]> Comment on Dancing In The Rain – Learn to let it go by Marianne Russo by Mary Mazzoni http://thecoffeeklatch.com/dancing-in-the-rain-learn-to-let-it-go-by-marianne-russo/#comment-1624 Mary Mazzoni Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:59:36 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/dancing-in-the-rain-learn-to-let-it-go-by-marianne-russo/#comment-1624 Today, you and your children taught me anew - to let go. Tears flow, like rain. Hope moves, like air - to fill the places open to the rain dancing in my heart. Thank you! Today, you and your children taught me anew – to let go. Tears flow, like rain. Hope moves, like air – to fill the places open to the rain dancing in my heart. Thank you!

]]> Comment on Sportsmanship and Mind Blindness – Autism by Jenise Phillips http://thecoffeeklatch.com/sportsmanship-and-mind-blindness-autism/#comment-1607 Jenise Phillips Fri, 16 Mar 2012 02:59:58 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=1964#comment-1607 What about if you flip a coin and your son is not able to guess the right outcome every time. He is high functioning with a very high I.Q., understands probability and the random nature of flipping the coin, but cannot accept the inability to get heads or tails correctly each time such that he bursts out in inconsolable tears. Is his reaction to an essentially impossibility poor sportsmanship? What about if he wins ten of the forty awards the school gives out to a student body of 300, but burst out crying inconsolably in profound sadness each time one of the thirty he did not win are awarded to someone else? Is his reaction to an essentially impossibility poor sportsmanship? How about when you start a board game, with the highest dice thrower going first, and he does not get the highest dice throw and is unable to continue to play the game due to a meltdown of inconsolably crying. Is his extreme reaction to a most basic contest poor sportsmanship? It's easy to claim an person on the spectrum is a bad sport because we understand what a bad sport, but don't understand what a person on the spectrum is. We have yet to find an answer on what to do and, yes, we've tried the above because no one else has any other suggestions. What about if you flip a coin and your son is not able to guess the right outcome every time. He is high functioning with a very high I.Q., understands probability and the random nature of flipping the coin, but cannot accept the inability to get heads or tails correctly each time such that he bursts out in inconsolable tears. Is his reaction to an essentially impossibility poor sportsmanship? What about if he wins ten of the forty awards the school gives out to a student body of 300, but burst out crying inconsolably in profound sadness each time one of the thirty he did not win are awarded to someone else? Is his reaction to an essentially impossibility poor sportsmanship? How about when you start a board game, with the highest dice thrower going first, and he does not get the highest dice throw and is unable to continue to play the game due to a meltdown of inconsolably crying. Is his extreme reaction to a most basic contest poor sportsmanship?

It’s easy to claim an person on the spectrum is a bad sport because we understand what a bad sport, but don’t understand what a person on the spectrum is. We have yet to find an answer on what to do and, yes, we’ve tried the above because no one else has any other suggestions.

]]> Comment on Two Steps Forward One Step – The Setbacks by Two Steps Forward One Step – The Setbacks | Oxygen Mask Project http://thecoffeeklatch.com/two-steps-forward-one-step-the-setbacks/#comment-1546 Two Steps Forward One Step – The Setbacks | Oxygen Mask Project Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:11:53 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=2101#comment-1546 [...] post originally appeared HERE and was published on our site with [...] [...] post originally appeared HERE and was published on our site with [...]

]]> Comment on The DSM-V by Dave Hommel http://thecoffeeklatch.com/the-dsm-v/#comment-1512 Dave Hommel Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:11:45 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=3213#comment-1512 On behalf of Dr Ankenman, I reached out to you this evening over on twitter. I am his personal assistant, and due to his Parkinsons, it is necessary for me to carry out a lot of his communication. What Dr Frances warns can happen with DSM-V already happened with DSM-IV; a 4000% increase in diagnoses of bipolar disorder in America, due to the additions of many symptoms to new BD categories and symptoms in it. In his clinical work the past few decades, Dr Ankenman identified a subset of such misdiagnoses which can be treated under a very different diagnosis and treatment. Without psychotropic drugs. It is not specifically addressed in any DSM yet, and he calls it adrenaline system overreactivity. (There are two types of it.) Please visit him at his new website to learn more, and let me know if I can answer any questions, or arrange some talk time with Dr Ankenman. www.HopefortheViolentlyAggressiveChild.com Thanks, dave On behalf of Dr Ankenman, I reached out to you this evening over on twitter. I am his personal assistant, and due to his Parkinsons, it is necessary for me to carry out a lot of his communication.

What Dr Frances warns can happen with DSM-V already happened with DSM-IV; a 4000% increase in diagnoses of bipolar disorder in America, due to the additions of many symptoms to new BD categories and symptoms in it.
In his clinical work the past few decades, Dr Ankenman identified a subset of such misdiagnoses which can be treated under a very different diagnosis and treatment. Without psychotropic drugs. It is not specifically addressed in any DSM yet, and he calls it adrenaline system overreactivity. (There are two types of it.)

Please visit him at his new website to learn more, and let me know if I can answer any questions, or arrange some talk time with Dr Ankenman.

http://www.HopefortheViolentlyAggressiveChild.com

Thanks,
dave

]]> Comment on The DSM-V by JB MvD http://thecoffeeklatch.com/the-dsm-v/#comment-1503 JB MvD Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:30:57 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=3213#comment-1503 This is my new favorite blog. I'll be following closely as I teach Special Education just East of Seattle. This is my new favorite blog. I’ll be following closely as I teach Special Education just East of Seattle.

]]> Comment on Ten Reasons Caregivers Should Not Fear Therapy by Chynna Laird by Michelle O'Neil http://thecoffeeklatch.com/ten-reasons-caregivers-should-not-fear-therapy-by-chynna-laird/#comment-1381 Michelle O'Neil Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:03:35 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=3205#comment-1381 An occupational therapist changed our life when she explained what it might feel like to be inside our daughter's body. At this point she was four and had been screaming almost non-stop for two years due to sensory issues and associated anxiety). Finally someone wasn't telling me it was bad parenting or to be more "firm" with her. It was only through understanding her that we could help her. A good therapist is worth their weight in gold and should not be feared! (But don't be afraid to fire a bad one). Thank you Chynna for reminding me I am more than a special needs parent. An occupational therapist changed our life when she explained what it might feel like to be inside our daughter’s body. At this point she was four and had been screaming almost non-stop for two years due to sensory issues and associated anxiety). Finally someone wasn’t telling me it was bad parenting or to be more “firm” with her. It was only through understanding her that we could help her.

A good therapist is worth their weight in gold and should not be feared! (But don’t be afraid to fire a bad one).

Thank you Chynna for reminding me I am more than a special needs parent.

]]> Comment on Top Ten Most ridiculous Comments heard at an IEP Meeting via Dennise Goldberg on Friendship Circle by Jennifer Cummins http://thecoffeeklatch.com/top-ten-most-ridiculous-comments-heard-at-an-iep-meeting-via-dennise-goldberg-on-friendship-circle/#comment-1380 Jennifer Cummins Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:57:28 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=3171#comment-1380 Those are whoppers. I have a few more: 1. There is no scientific evidence to prove your suggestions will work (on crossing midline to form alternate connection between and among the left and right brain hemispheres as my son is missing the corpus callosum, the billions of fibers that connect the two and grow into the fourth decade of life) 2. It is unethical to re-test your son (neuropsychological test), after a speech communication test was administered 3 years earlier. (?) 3. Your son must produce some chemical when he is confronted, as he does react (my son adrenal gland does not produce cortisol, the fight or flight hormone, and cannot tolerate physical or emotional stress). Therefore, the reaction is vomiting, dehydration, and death. Yes, that is the reaction. 4. Your son has no speech and language communication needs. (what, his left and right hemispheres don't communicate, and you tell me he has no communication needs? I am frustrated beyond belief. We have lost a due process case when my son was FOUR years old, but the adjudicator said, "I don't disagree with you that your son needs services, I just can't make law." WHAT? he agrees with me, but he can't tell the (Hendricks County, IN) school district to give my son services? My son is the only one, worldwide, with both his diagnoses! He does not FIT into any category, except OHI. This theme has followed him through Shelby County, TN, and now into Naperville, IL School District 203. Those are whoppers. I have a few more:
1. There is no scientific evidence to prove your suggestions will work (on crossing midline to form alternate connection between and among the left and right brain hemispheres as my son is missing the corpus callosum, the billions of fibers that connect the two and grow into the fourth decade of life)
2. It is unethical to re-test your son (neuropsychological test), after a speech communication test was administered 3 years earlier. (?)
3. Your son must produce some chemical when he is confronted, as he does react (my son adrenal gland does not produce cortisol, the fight or flight hormone, and cannot tolerate physical or emotional stress). Therefore, the reaction is vomiting, dehydration, and death. Yes, that is the reaction.
4. Your son has no speech and language communication needs. (what, his left and right hemispheres don’t communicate, and you tell me he has no communication needs?

I am frustrated beyond belief. We have lost a due process case when my son was FOUR years old, but the adjudicator said, “I don’t disagree with you that your son needs services, I just can’t make law.” WHAT? he agrees with me, but he can’t tell the (Hendricks County, IN) school district to give my son services? My son is the only one, worldwide, with both his diagnoses! He does not FIT into any category, except OHI. This theme has followed him through Shelby County, TN, and now into Naperville, IL School District 203.

]]> Comment on The DSM-V by Mary Mazzoni http://thecoffeeklatch.com/the-dsm-v/#comment-1367 Mary Mazzoni Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:13:05 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=3213#comment-1367 Marianne, The interviews and posts you're doing on Coffee Katch about the DSMV are the most helpful I've come across anywhere. By providing information from diverse perspectives, you're helping us to "take a breath, listen to the facts, and make informed educational decisions." Which is exactly what we need to do. THANK YOU! Marianne, The interviews and posts you’re doing on Coffee Katch about the DSMV are the most helpful I’ve come across anywhere.

By providing information from diverse perspectives, you’re helping us to “take a breath, listen to the facts, and make informed educational decisions.” Which is exactly what we need to do.

THANK YOU!

]]> Comment on Proposed DSMV Changes and Autism – What Parents and Advocates Need To Know by Ron http://thecoffeeklatch.com/proposed-dsmv-changes-and-autism-what-parents-and-advocates-need-to-know/#comment-1366 Ron Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:13:17 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=3153#comment-1366 Someone needs to lobby Congress to stop the APA from doing this. This would be the WORST mistake they ever made in regards to people with Autism. This will create just misery for people and families of people with autism. It will also create a further burden on society. What a mistake. Someone needs to lobby Congress to stop the APA from doing this. This would be the WORST mistake they ever made in regards to people with Autism. This will create just misery for people and families of people with autism. It will also create a further burden on society. What a mistake.

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