Comments on: And a New Goat http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/ A view of autism from along the spectrum Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:26:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Jake Joehl http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7251 Jake Joehl Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:30:53 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7251 I don't have autism and in fact have a visual impairment, but I would like to comment. Regardless of whether or not Ms. Portillo had any training in dealing with people who have autism, I think this was a horrific event and she definitely needs to be reprimanded somehow, perhaps even fired. What Alex and the other students need is counseling by a trained professional in that field. It's absolutely shocking to me what people can get away with sometimes! Those of us with disabilities are not just inanimate objects--we're human and we have feelings just like all other humans do. I think that the school district in question should be sued for letting such an event happen and then trying to candy-coat it. I don’t have autism and in fact have a visual impairment, but I would like to comment. Regardless of whether or not Ms. Portillo had any training in dealing with people who have autism, I think this was a horrific event and she definitely needs to be reprimanded somehow, perhaps even fired. What Alex and the other students need is counseling by a trained professional in that field. It’s absolutely shocking to me what people can get away with sometimes! Those of us with disabilities are not just inanimate objects–we’re human and we have feelings just like all other humans do. I think that the school district in question should be sued for letting such an event happen and then trying to candy-coat it.

]]> By: Oengus http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7250 Oengus Fri, 30 May 2008 14:07:53 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7250 The school is negligent, if the child was diagnosed as having special needs then the teacher is required to have training in dealing with those needs. That is crucial to Alex, in that defining who he is will stay with him, is his disruptive behavior emotional or neurologically related. Doing that takes time, to go further society has a systemic problem as to who takes the responsibility for diagnosis. It should begin outside of school signals should be apparent and testing should be done before age five and kindergarten class. The systemic problem is that of insurance often, since neurological is covered and emotional is not. To go further yet if the child does not have or gets a diagnoses of Aspergers then treatment and counseling is required for the family and not covered often under standard insurances. Keep an open mind, the child is disruptive, the reason is not yet defined. A diagnosis of Aspergers is that of neurological damage or dysfunction and takes the responsibility or cause to development from the point of conception. In common, terms had been born that way. If the disruptive behavior is emotional then the child was not born that way, both are environmental, however, the later is do to the environment within the household. If the child demonstrates signs of neurological damage or dysfunction that has to be done by a licensed clinician or doctor not a parent, they are not objective since the alternative cause of the problem could in fact be them. Then since most parents are not able to handle or address a neurological issue, they them selves are contributors to the developmental problems. Is the parent that takes the wrong approach in addressing the child’s special needs considered abusive? What this teachers did was not that outrageous if the child is not Asperger, if she had been informed that the child was clinically diagnosed then that a different scenario. It not the teacher it is the school, they should have had the child tested and in so much the teacher should have had special training to address it, the teacher is also victim of the systemic problem. It’s a lack of funding and lack of accountability, keep in mind that Aspergers is harder to detect than lower level autism, if the child is devoid of symptoms they could be emotionally damaged and it could be the home that is causing that. The school is negligent, if the child was diagnosed as having special needs then the teacher is required to have training in dealing with those needs. That is crucial to Alex, in that defining who he is will stay with him, is his disruptive behavior emotional or neurologically related. Doing that takes time, to go further society has a systemic problem as to who takes the responsibility for diagnosis. It should begin outside of school signals should be apparent and testing should be done before age five and kindergarten class. The systemic problem is that of insurance often, since neurological is covered and emotional is not. To go further yet if the child does not have or gets a diagnoses of Aspergers then treatment and counseling is required for the family and not covered often under standard insurances.

Keep an open mind, the child is disruptive, the reason is not yet defined. A diagnosis of Aspergers is that of neurological damage or dysfunction and takes the responsibility or cause to development from the point of conception. In common, terms had been born that way. If the disruptive behavior is emotional then the child was not born that way, both are environmental, however, the later is do to the environment within the household.

If the child demonstrates signs of neurological damage or dysfunction that has to be done by a licensed clinician or doctor not a parent, they are not objective since the alternative cause of the problem could in fact be them.

Then since most parents are not able to handle or address a neurological issue, they them selves are contributors to the developmental problems. Is the parent that takes the wrong approach in addressing the child’s special needs considered abusive? What this teachers did was not that outrageous if the child is not Asperger, if she had been informed that the child was clinically diagnosed then that a different scenario.

It not the teacher it is the school, they should have had the child tested and in so much the teacher should have had special training to address it, the teacher is also victim of the systemic problem. It’s a lack of funding and lack of accountability, keep in mind that Aspergers is harder to detect than lower level autism, if the child is devoid of symptoms they could be emotionally damaged and it could be the home that is causing that.

]]> By: arlene http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7249 arlene Thu, 29 May 2008 19:56:27 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7249 I know Mrs. Portillo she was my sons teacher last year.I agree she is a wonderful person and teacher. And I hope that she is around next year to teach mt next child that will be starting to morningside. My prayer are with her. I know Mrs. Portillo she was my sons teacher last year.I agree she is a wonderful person and teacher. And I hope that she is around next year to teach mt next child that will be starting to morningside. My prayer are with her.

]]> By: jennyanne http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7244 jennyanne Wed, 28 May 2008 21:15:26 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7244 I believe that Alex as well as his family suffered a great deal of harm, and he should be placed in counseling or therapy to help him regain confidence and self worth. A counsleor should also be brought into the classroom to teach appropriate methods for conflict resolution. I can only imagine how these children value themselves and each other due to this survivor mentality. Also, all teachers are given a general background on special education as well as their needs/ possible classroom strategies, while in college. It is obvious that this teacher has not been trained well as she relies on the t.v. for guidence. This teacher should be let go, as she needs the time to go back to school. This is a horrendous tragedy, not only to Alex but to everyone involved. I believe that Alex as well as his family suffered a great deal of harm, and he should be placed in counseling or therapy to help him regain confidence and self worth. A counsleor should also be brought into the classroom to teach appropriate methods for conflict resolution. I can only imagine how these children value themselves and each other due to this survivor mentality.
Also, all teachers are given a general background on special education as well as their needs/ possible classroom strategies, while in college. It is obvious that this teacher has not been trained well as she relies on the t.v. for guidence. This teacher should be let go, as she needs the time to go back to school.
This is a horrendous tragedy, not only to Alex but to everyone involved.

]]> By: spike of sapphoq.com http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7243 spike of sapphoq.com Wed, 28 May 2008 06:07:16 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7243 I wouldn't let that teacher near my dog, never mind another child. Surely the teacher had or could have developed other options in dealing with [her frustrations over?] the misbehaviors of a five year old. spike q. furious I wouldn’t let that teacher near my dog, never mind another child.

Surely the teacher had or could have developed other options in dealing with [her frustrations over?] the misbehaviors of a five year old.

spike q. furious

]]> By: thewildeman2 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7241 thewildeman2 Tue, 27 May 2008 17:21:06 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7241 I'm sorry, but I disagree with putting him back in that class. As it is, he goes into a meltdown just taking his siblings to school. He will need extensive therapy before he can return to a class setting. As it is, every child in that class needs counseling to unlearn what their teacher taught them that day. The two others are heroes, on that you are correct. Ms. Portillo has become an abuser, and you cannot put the victim back with the abuser. Would you want to go back? We autistics are impacted by the world around us at levels that stymie comprehension. Because of that, a trauma that may be simple to you can seem like the end of the world to an autistic. I am posting a video in Alex's honor, you can find it on youtube (soon) and my username is: thewildeman2 I’m sorry, but I disagree with putting him back in that class. As it is, he goes into a meltdown just taking his siblings to school. He will need extensive therapy before he can return to a class setting. As it is, every child in that class needs counseling to unlearn what their teacher taught them that day. The two others are heroes, on that you are correct. Ms. Portillo has become an abuser, and you cannot put the victim back with the abuser. Would you want to go back? We autistics are impacted by the world around us at levels that stymie comprehension. Because of that, a trauma that may be simple to you can seem like the end of the world to an autistic. I am posting a video in Alex’s honor, you can find it on youtube (soon) and my username is: thewildeman2

]]> By: Hannah http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7240 Hannah Tue, 27 May 2008 15:17:03 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7240 Thank you for your two posts on Alex Barton and Wendy Portillo. I'm so impressed with those two kids who voted "no". If only there was a way to honor them while protecting their privacy. Suffice to say, they make me feel much more optimistic. I think that people sometimes forget that it is possible to sympathize with someone and still hold them accountable for their actions. Although I personally think that Ms. Portillo should be fired, we can still learn a lot by looking at the circumstances surrounding the incident and what could have been done differently, in terms of special needs training and accommodations. Thank you for your two posts on Alex Barton and Wendy Portillo. I’m so impressed with those two kids who voted “no”. If only there was a way to honor them while protecting their privacy. Suffice to say, they make me feel much more optimistic.

I think that people sometimes forget that it is possible to sympathize with someone and still hold them accountable for their actions. Although I personally think that Ms. Portillo should be fired, we can still learn a lot by looking at the circumstances surrounding the incident and what could have been done differently, in terms of special needs training and accommodations.

]]> By: Whitterer on Autism » Blog Archive » Alex Barton http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7237 Whitterer on Autism » Blog Archive » Alex Barton Mon, 26 May 2008 02:01:29 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7237 [...] http://stopthinkautism.blogspot.com/2008/05/im-not-special.html http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/ http://qw88nb88.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/mend-the-link/ [...] […] http://stopthinkautism.blogspot.com/2008/05/im-not-special.html http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/ http://qw88nb88.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/mend-the-link/ […]

]]> By: The Golden Rule « Odd One Out http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7236 The Golden Rule « Odd One Out Sun, 25 May 2008 19:27:03 +0000 http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/#comment-7236 [...] http://stopthinkautism.blogspot.com/2008/05/im-not-special.html http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/ http://qw88nb88.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/mend-the-link/ [...] […] http://stopthinkautism.blogspot.com/2008/05/im-not-special.html http://www.alongthespectrum.com/2008/05/and-a-new-goat/ http://qw88nb88.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/mend-the-link/ […]

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