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. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:30:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= 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.

]]> Comment on Understanding and Surviving Your Defiant Child or Teen by Precy Dain http://thecoffeeklatch.com/understanding-and-surviving-your-defiant-child-or-teen/#comment-1263 Precy Dain Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:57:41 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=1300#comment-1263 Thank you for this encouraging post. It helps to know that most of those who are <a href="http://www.mytroubledteen.com/parenting_teens/" rel="nofollow">parenting defiant teens</a> can still hope to achieve a positive result without acting too hostile against their own children. It's easy for our patience to run dry once we're struggling with parenting our troubled teens but as it was suggested, effective communication with our teens is one way to provide the solutions to why they are acting and behaving negatively - listening with empathy, as they say. Thank you for this encouraging post. It helps to know that most of those who are parenting defiant teens can still hope to achieve a positive result without acting too hostile against their own children. It’s easy for our patience to run dry once we’re struggling with parenting our troubled teens but as it was suggested, effective communication with our teens is one way to provide the solutions to why they are acting and behaving negatively – listening with empathy, as they say.

]]> Comment on Behavioral Plans For Children With Autism by Steve Levinson, Ph.D. http://thecoffeeklatch.com/behavioral-plans-for-children-with-autism/#comment-1192 Steve Levinson, Ph.D. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:53:47 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=2856#comment-1192 In order for a reward to be effective, a child has to think about it. The problem is, children may not on their own think often enough about an available reward to make that reward as effective as it potentially could be in influencing the child's behavior. A private prompting device like the MotivAider can help make rewards more effective by making certain that a child will stay actively aware of the availability of a reward. In order for a reward to be effective, a child has to think about it. The problem is, children may not on their own think often enough about an available reward to make that reward as effective as it potentially could be in influencing the child’s behavior.

A private prompting device like the MotivAider can help make rewards more effective by making certain that a child will stay actively aware of the availability of a reward.

]]> Comment on Parent Counseling and Training in an IEP by Michelle R. Davis http://thecoffeeklatch.com/parent-counseling-and-training-in-an-iep/#comment-1186 Michelle R. Davis Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:09:38 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=2427#comment-1186 Another great article, Dennise! I plan to list you as a resource in the publication for my COPAA conference presentation in May 2012. It's about how to obtain Parent Counseling and Training in your child's IEP. Another great article, Dennise! I plan to list you as a resource in the publication for my COPAA conference presentation in May 2012. It’s about how to obtain Parent Counseling and Training in your child’s IEP.

]]> Comment on The Fine Art of Walking On Eggshells by Lillian Carilo http://thecoffeeklatch.com/the-fine-art-of-walking-on-eggshells-2/#comment-1143 Lillian Carilo Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:19:50 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=2431#comment-1143 Wow! Eye-opening and heart-soothing... "the language of constant positives." My mom did that. A single mom, w/ third grade education cared for her mentally ill child - me - as best she could... to the best of her ability. Thanks for reposting this, Marianne. Wow! Eye-opening and heart-soothing… “the language of constant positives.” My mom did that. A single mom, w/ third grade education cared for her mentally ill child – me – as best she could… to the best of her ability. Thanks for reposting this, Marianne.

]]> Comment on The Bean, The Lil’ Guy and The Cuz by Colonel http://thecoffeeklatch.com/the-bean-the-lil%e2%80%99-guy-and-the-cuz/#comment-1104 Colonel Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:01:12 +0000 http://thecoffeeklatch.com/?p=1884#comment-1104 Damn, I wish I could think of soehmtnig smart like that! Damn, I wish I could think of soehmtnig smart like that!

]]>