13 years and Struggling

by Teresa
(Fairbanks, Alaska)

My son, has had sensory issues, since I can remember, My concerns were ignored whenever I brought up to his teachers. Every time I suggested how to help him they were ignored.

The school system tried to tell me he was ADHD, and I told them if my son was ADHD then he would have it 24/7, and I told them if he was ADHD I would not medicate him, that when I was a child going to school the teachers adapated to each child in their classroom, and taught the children how they learned, instead of 20+ students adapting to one teacher.

I read the book "The Out of Sync Child" and as I was reading I was like Oh my God this is my son to a T, I brought this information to his teachers and administrators at his school, I was ignored once again, They would of rather labeled him a "Problem Child" and me a "Confrontational Mother".

This has been going on since my son entered the school system, he is now 13, and I am still being ignored as a parent, they won't listen to the ways of how to help him, they would much rather give him Discipline Reports on his "Bad" behavior.

I am at my wits end with the school system here. I can be blue in the face, or I could be talking to the wall when I speak with them. They don't want to help my son, they would rather see him struggle, and not be the student I know he can be.

Luckily, my friend who is a nurse noticed his behavior the other night, and said "Oh he has Sensory Issues", I was like "OMG you can see that too, its not just me!!!"

I now have a Parent Advocate, that will go with me when I AGAIN meet with the staff at my son's school. Hopefully this time I will not be ignored, and actually listened too.