Kicked out of summer camp

[Anonymous]

To date, my 10 yo has been kicked out of the Fairfax therapeutic rec camp (a common event apparently!), a social skills group, a rec center basketball class, Pump It Up, 2 preschools and a general Ed K class, a special Ed preschool camp in Arlington, a therapeutic riding program, and this random roller rink in Manassas.

We also had a psychologist who told us she couldn't help him and to find someone else. This was after paying her $160/week for over a year.

I feel like at this point there are warning posters with his picture on them up all over northern Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To date, my 10 yo has been kicked out of the Fairfax therapeutic rec camp (a common event apparently!), a social skills group, a rec center basketball class, Pump It Up, 2 preschools and a general Ed K class, a special Ed preschool camp in Arlington, a therapeutic riding program, and this random roller rink in Manassas.

We also had a psychologist who told us she couldn't help him and to find someone else. This was after paying her $160/week for over a year.

I feel like at this point there are warning posters with his picture on them up all over northern Virginia.

LOL He's lucky to have you as a parent. You have a good sense of humor that no doubt helps you keep things in perspective. You sound like a great parent.

[Anonymous]

We've gotten quite a few calls recently and am sure The Call is right around the corner and am trying to prepare both psychologically and practically.
PPs, what are you doing if your child has been kicked out of camp? Are you keeping your DC home with you? Trying other camps? How are you addressing the reasons why your DCs got asked to leave?

How do you deal with this without feeling like crap? I'm feeling like all those hours of interventions and therapies are failing DC and feel absolutely sick about it.

[Anonymous]

I'm the poster who mentioned several posts back about getting kicked out of school -- didn't mean to sound preachy -- its more of a been there and while it totally sucks at the time its usually for the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To date, my 10 yo has been kicked out of the Fairfax therapeutic rec camp (a common event apparently!), a social skills group, a rec center basketball class, Pump It Up, 2 preschools and a general Ed K class, a special Ed preschool camp in Arlington, a therapeutic riding program, and this random roller rink in Manassas.

We also had a psychologist who told us she couldn't help him and to find someone else. This was after paying her $160/week for over a year.

I feel like at this point there are warning posters with his picture on them up all over northern Virginia.

ha - I want the story re the roller skating rink. My son has been rejected by a SN school and a camp for being in need of "too much individual attention"/being crazy hyper, basically. It makes you feel like such a pariah - too SN for the SN places.

[Anonymous]

Not a camp, but we were "fired" by DS's Wilson tutor. I took it hard at the time but we've actually found my tutoring him is working well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I wish I knew you so you could come over for some wine. I could tell you all about how my dd was kicked out of social skills camp for...having poor social skills. True story!

Ha! My kid, ASD/ADHD, got kicked out of social skills class even before attending. It was Ivymount's Unstuck and On Target program and he was accepted after the required play date (received an acceptance letter in writing) then they must have had second thoughts bc they made us come in again "to see what kind of supports he'll need" and rescinded their acceptance!

This was in second grade. Now he is a rising 4th grader and attends mainstream camps without supports in his hobby where he excels and is rated among the tops kids in the entire USA. So take that Ivymount!

Wow, that's so unprofessional of them.
Glad you're telling this story.

Re-telling it. PP, be glad you don't really need to spend the money on social skills group if your kid can cut it at mainstream camps.

Actually, what happened was that we told his public school (where DS is fully mainstreamed with IEP) what happened with Ivymount and his IEP team decided to put in more social supports including a social skills class using the Unstuck and On Target curriculum with the school counselor. Also, DS had a full neuropsych with Dr Black and the school put in all his recommendations into the IEP: DS was diagnosed with ADHD, combined type, in addition to the ASD and medicated. Dr Black referred us to a great psychiatrist. After DS was medicated for his ADHD, the school found that DS already knew most of the things taught with the unstuck and on Target curriculum and so used Superflex which helped greatly with his rigidity so much so that he no longer has difficulty trying new things. We had a great year...


So I guess Ivymount did us a favor.

[Anonymous]

Which psychiatrist did Dr Black refer you to, PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which psychiatrist did Dr Black refer you to, PP?

Dr David Chen in Bethesda. He has been wonderful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine has been kicked out a music class, and I took it very personally. Especially after hearing the instructor harp on about how great she was at working with children on the spectrum. Ugh. It's so hard to see other kids thriving while yours is miserable and you know how much they really want to be there, but just need someone to work with them. Lots of hugs, wine, and good wishes your way.

Oh, that pisses me off so much! If you can't handle kids on the spectrum, don't say you can do it.

[Anonymous]

Preach! ^^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which psychiatrist did Dr Black refer you to, PP?

Dr David Chen in Bethesda. He has been wonderful!

We see him too for ADHD/Anxiety. He's done a good job managing meds for us.

[Anonymous]

PP, what is the med that helped your child so.much??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, what is the med that helped your child so.much??

I am the pp whose child got "unaccepted" by Ivymount. DS is on Focalin XR, 15 mg, which he takes in the morning just before he leaves for school/camp. He takes it every day including summers and weekends. Honestly, it isn't ONLY the medication that helps but the additional supports he gets at school through his IEP including the social skills lessons and a really awesome Sp Ed teacher, his mainstream teachers, school counselor, OT, SLP, etc. - basically the entire IEP working as a team that looks out for his best interests. DS does not have academic issues, is 2-3 grades ahead in reading and math, and is fully mainstreamed in an inclusive classroom with a head teacher and a Sp Ed teacher providing supports as needed. They LIKE DS and want him to do well and this year he has surpassed everyone's expectations including Dr. Black and Dr. Chen's. DS has become a "risk taker"! DS's neuropsych shows he is very bright and with the right supports, Dr. Black felt DS can achieve anything even with his ASD/ADHD and his school and teachers agree: No diminished expectation at all with an ASD/ADHD diagnosis. DS attends an immersion language school since preK4.

DS is a prodigy in his activity and that gives him a lot of self confidence that helps with everything else including things he is not good at. DS only became interested in his hobby after he was medicated but he can compete in tournaments when the medication has worn off just as well bc he hyperfocuses. He has made friends though his activity throughout the country and has a group of friends at school including a bff who does not share this particular interest. He loves camp too and has done really well in them including making new friends.

DS's meds usually run out around 3 and he functions fine doing his hobbies and activities without a booster. For school and camps, however, he is medicated although his private coaches for his activities including a sport can deal with him, one-on-one, even when the Focalin has worn off in the late afternoon after school or camp.

I guess what I mean to say is that medication is not a cure all but just a part of the supports that helps DS do well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I wish I knew you so you could come over for some wine. I could tell you all about how my dd was kicked out of social skills camp for...having poor social skills. True story!

Ha! My kid, ASD/ADHD, got kicked out of social skills class even before attending. It was Ivymount's Unstuck and On Target program and he was accepted after the required play date (received an acceptance letter in writing) then they must have had second thoughts bc they made us come in again "to see what kind of supports he'll need" and rescinded their acceptance!

This was in second grade. Now he is a rising 4th grader and attends mainstream camps without supports in his hobby where he excels and is rated among the tops kids in the entire USA. So take that Ivymount!

Wow, that's so unprofessional of them.
Glad you're telling this story.

No, it really isn't.