My child has been rejected by his peers, ridiculed and bullied !!!
Social rejection has devastating effects in many areas of functioning. Because the Aspergers child tends to internalize how others treat him, rejection damages self-esteem and often causes anxiety and depression. As the child feels worse about himself and becomes more anxious and depressed – he performs worse, socially and intellectually.
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How to Prevent Meltdowns in Aspergers Children
Meltdowns are not a pretty sight. They are somewhat like overblown temper tantrums, but unlike tantrums, meltdowns can last anywhere from ten minutes to over an hour. When it starts, the Asperger's child is totally out-of-control. When it ends, both you and the Asperger’s child are totally exhausted. But... don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. At the least provocation, for the remainder of that day -- and sometimes into the next - the meltdown can return in full force.
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Parenting Defiant Aspergers Teens
Although Aspergers is at the milder end of the autism spectrum, the challenges parents face when disciplining a teenager with Aspergers are more difficult than they would be with an average teen. Complicated by defiant behavior, the Aspergers teen is at risk for even greater difficulties on multiple levels – unless the parents’ disciplinary techniques are tailored to their child's special needs.
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Older Teens and Young Adult Children With Aspergers Still Living At Home
Your older teenager or young “adult child” isn’t sure what to do, and he is asking you for money every few days. How do you cut the purse strings and teach him to be independent? Parents of teens with Aspergers face many problems that other parents do not. Time is running out for teaching their adolescent how to become an independent adult. As one mother put it, "There's so little time, yet so much left to do."
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Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism
Two traits often found in kids with High-Functioning Autism are “mind-blindness” (i.e., the inability to predict the beliefs and intentions of others) and “alexithymia” (i.e., the inability to identify and interpret emotional signals in others). These two traits reduce the youngster’s ability to empathize with peers. As a result, he or she may be perceived by adults and other children as selfish, insensitive and uncaring.
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Highly Effective Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Children with Asperger's and HFA
Become an expert in helping your child cope with his or her “out-of-control” emotions, inability to make and keep friends, stress, anger, thinking errors, and resistance to change.
9 comments:
I am at wit's end.
My son is 17 with Asperger's. His entire life he has been teased, made fun of, been the blunt of jokes etc.
This past year he has been bothered by a boy named "Billy" constantly. Mike, my son has come home and complained about this boy repeatedly bothering him and many other students in the class. In listening to his stories I have realized that this boy also must face some behavioral difficulties. Having a son on the autism spectrum I tried to explain to my son that Billy must have some issues and that the best thing to do is walk away from him and ignore his behaviors because he obviously needs help. My son has been in counseling for the past year and a half and is doing extremely well. He finally is taking ownership of what he does wrong and is controlling his temper much better.
Yesterday, I receive a call from the principle stating that my son has received a three day out of school expulsion and formal charges will be filed against him because he hit Billy.
Evidently, Billy stood by my son and on four occasions took my sons things and threw them on the floor. Mike repeatedly asked him to stop, cut it out, leave him alone. The fifth time Billy did it, my son punched him in the back of the head.
I do not in anyway condone what my son did but come on, how angry would a normal person be if someone kept doing this? As an adult I would have punished this child's behavior now. As a teen boy, what would you have done?
The teacher was evidently at his desk busy with something and didn't see what was going on until Mike punched Billy.
Mike took full ownership of what he did. He said he made a bad choice but was pushed repeatedly. He has held it together this past year so well until now.
My question is.....can I file harassment charges against this billy for bothering my son all year? What can I do legally for my son? Can my son be expelled and charges filled for this? Is there any advocates that can help or lawyers? We can't afford to put out thousands of dollars right now. Will this permanently go against my son's record?
He is supposed to go in front of the magistrate who will decide his fate of charges, fines, community service etc..... this is for York County PA. My son goes to York County School of Technology in York, PA.
I can't believe there is one week of school left and we are dealing with this now. Sigh... I am so frustrated, scared, worried.......you all know the feeling. Advice, similar stories, help please!
Stephanie Eckert Evans I made the school act when my son was being bullied.
Amanda Huckabee Zent Honestly we've tried most of those suggestions and they didn't work for us. I've called and just gone up and sat in the office at the school also - still didn't work. So we pulled our son out of that school, and he's currently attending private school. Not an option for everyone I know, but just know that you're not alone if you feel like you're banging your head against the wall on this one.
Tom Wyrick
Amanda: Sounds like you did the right thing. IMO, schools pay more lip service to the idea of caring about bullying than they do constructive things to solve the problem. (The fact is, most bullying goes on outside the view of teachers anyway. It's their job to teach and run a controlled classroom -- not play detective all day long to find out if Jimmy really did threaten little Johnny on the sidewalk on the way home, etc. etc.) Sometimes you just need to escape the whole situation. (It's like working at a job where you're around miserable people and an unfair boss. Do you fight to fix the workplace, or do you simply quit and find a better job?) Eventually, when enough people vote with their feet, leaving a given school, it sends a much stronger message they have a problem that needs fixing than any complaints to the principal would ever do.
2 hours ago · Like
Debbie Roenneburg
Document the incidents in writing. Always be sure to report the incidents in email even if you phoned someone follow up with a email expalining the incident in detail again in writing. The school must keep emails also be sure to ask in the email that it (the email) be placed in your childs perment record, that way there is a definate paper trail. The school will quickly get the message that this is an ongoing problem and you are not going away and should step up to interveene. Also be sure your letter is calm and explains the incidents so that if a complete stranger read it they would be able to understand it.
2 hours ago · Like · 2 people
Sherri Caldwell
I would (and have) demanded action at the school, starting with the principal, asst principal, school counselor and teachers -- cc everybody! I would keep my kid home (safe) until the abuse is dealt with and my child has some recourse and protection so that he/she feels safe -- even just a plan with the school for who to go to/trusted adults/how to avoid problem situations. Do not wait for something really bad to happen, we have all seen the end result of bullying when the adults don't get involved. Advocate!
2 hours ago · Like · 3 people
Star Malczewski
I agree with Sherri. I'm a teacher and a mother of a boy with Asperger's and have seen bullies try go after the 'weak' targets. Insist the school do something about it. It is the school's responsibility to make sure that your child is in a safe and productive learning environment. If the school refuses, take outside action (superintendant, school board, etc...). Speak to the teachers, counselors, principal, dean of students....don't stop until they stop the bully. Your school probably has a zero-tolerance policy. Make them enforce it.
about an hour ago · Like · 1 person
Stephanie Eckert Evans I'm lucky with our school the moment I got involved things changed
Diamond Language
Talk to your child about bullies and teasers. Let him know they want control and power. They are looking for a kid who responds with lots of anger and gets upset. That is what they want. Instead, roleplay teasing with your child and have him respond to you by calmly saying "So" and walking away. It is the bullies bad day not your child's. My book Social Rules for Kids can help. It has a whole chapter on bullies and what to do. There will always be teasing on the playground. Let's give your child the tools to succeed.
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