Sarah K. Groseclose

Shellley,
I would like to address your concerns with having Jacob formally
assessed for Autism Spectrum Disorder. My daugher, Amanda is 12 1/2. When
she was in third grade (began homeschooling in fourth grade) she was
assessed for ADHD and Autism Spectrum. She was officially diagnosed with
ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome. At the time, being that she was in school,
she needed the assessment for special accommodations. When it became
apparent that the school was not accomodating her, I brought her home.
(homeschooling was always something I wanted to do for her but couldn't
being a single mom with no support...at the end of third grade I became
disabled and was able to bring her home). Now that she is being
homeschooled, the only benefit to an official diagnosis is that she receives
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Yes, I believe unschooling is
the best approach for her. She has blossomed in the freedom that she has at
home. I did not work with an Early Intervention because I did my own
reading up on both disorders. I didn't feel like her idyoscyncracies were
detrimental to her. Actually, by not addressing the Austitic stims since
bringing her home, they have lessened. I really don't know what to
attribute that to. If I was not in need of the SSDI, I would not have
worried about the official dx in hindsight. I use the SSDI to buy her
learning games/toys, books, etc. Whatever she expresses a desire to study,
we find the materials and buy them with her monthly benefit. Just by doing
alot of reading (Tony Attwood's Asperger's Syndrome, The Out-of-Sync Child,
and various books on Sensory Integration Disorder), I began to understand my
daughter and see her unique attributes as a huge part of who she is. I
certainly don't need the label now that we are homeschooling. I found,
through trial and error, that unschooling is what works best for Amanda.
She is a very curious preteen and unschooling allows for the curiousity,
even encourages it. Bringing her home was the best thing I could have done
for her. Both her teacher and the pyschologist supported me in bringing her
home. We don't have issues with loud noises, bright lights, bullies.
Amanda's stims are not made fun of. She has not been on medication for the
ADHD since coming home four years ago. Our family is happy with our
homeschooling/unschooling life. I think what I am trying to say Shelley, is
think carefully before you decide. In some states, once you have a
diagnosis, you may be required to have your son in rehabilitation and have
home visits, etc.
Peace,
Sarah

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[email protected]

Sarah,

What are stims? Is it an achronim?

~Kelly