In 2002, I moved to Florida, from North Carolina (for a "better" life), with my family who consisted of myself, my mom and my son, Austin. He was four years old at the time. We lived in Kissimmee, Florida (Osceola County) for a little over three years. Then moved, temporarily, to Clermont, Florida (Lake County) and then moved to Davenport, Florida (Polk County) in December of 2005. Austin first attended school at Reedy Creek Elementary in late 2002. He was supposed to enter into Kindergarten, but was retained to a "special" pre-school class for disabled and retarded children. They just did not think he was ready for Kindergarten yet, because he "hugged" and was "affectionate" toward the students. He was doing great in Kindergarten grade but starting having difficulties in the first grade. He was having what we thought to be "anger issues" and his attention was limited. At first, they considered putting him into "an alternative school.” After pulling up and seeing barbed wire around the school (like a prison for children) and meeting with the staff, we agreed that this was not the best placement for him. He was tutored at home, by his prior special education teacher, for about eight hours a week. A service provided by the Osceola County School system. During that time, he started showing some symptom of what we believed to be Huntington's disease. A genetic brain disorder that we thought was passed down from his biological father's side of the family. We made the assumption, due to the fact that he was twitching like the father. For many years, we were lead to believe that my son's father, uncle, grandfather and great grandmother had all been diagnosed with the disease. His biological father was diagnosed with the juvenile variant, in which they could pass away within ten to fifteen years after being diagnosed. In March of 2005, we took Austin to see Dr. Juan Sanchez-Ramos, a neurologist at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, with concerns about Austin’s odd behavior and the possible diagnosis of Huntington’s disease. He, then, tested Austin for Huntington’s disease. The test came back negative, which not only meant that Austin did not have it, but the “ancestor’s” before him didn’t have it either. It was good news, but we were still seeking answers. The Doctor prescribed Austin a drug called Risperidol, as a trial, to try to curve the behavior he was displaying.
Shortly thereafter, we moved to Clermont, Florida (Lake County). He started the school year, in second grade, at John's Lakes Elementary School. Before the school year started, we sat down with the Principal and explained Austin's behavior; technique's to control the situation (if it were to arise) and rewards that have work for teachers in the past. We have always done that before every new school. About a week into the school year, Austin stabbed the principal with pencil he found on the play yard, something we told them might happen. Due his action and the fact they were not equipped with a special ESE class, he was then transferred to Pine Ridge Elementary School. Halfway through the year they split up the class and he was forced to move to another formed class. That seemed to be traumatic for him. He started receiving in-school counseling, one hour twice a week, through a local mental health center, Lifestream Behavioral Health Center. During this time, I was called to pick up my son sometimes four days a week, because they did not know how to deal with his behavior. So while we were still searching for a diagnosis, in September of 2005, my mom and I brought Austin's biological father, from North Carolina to Florida, to do a genetic blood test which was sent to John Hopkins University, in addition to Austin blood also being tested, to see if either of them had a disease called Huntington’s Like 2. It is a disease similar to Huntington’s, but had a different repeat (gene). The tests came back negative for both. In December of 2005, we “regretfully” moved to Davenport, Florida. A move many of people had warned us about because of the reputation Polk County has. My son continued to attend Pine Ridge Elementary School and finished the school year out in June of 2006. A few months prior, in April of 2006, my son was “officially” diagnosed with Asperger’s Disorder, "an Autism Spectrum Disorder". He was diagnosed through, Mary Johnson, an ARNP, at Lifestream Behavioral Center in Clermont, Florida. During the time between June and August, Austin was Baker Acted a couple times.
Shortly thereafter, we moved to Clermont, Florida (Lake County). He started the school year, in second grade, at John's Lakes Elementary School. Before the school year started, we sat down with the Principal and explained Austin's behavior; technique's to control the situation (if it were to arise) and rewards that have work for teachers in the past. We have always done that before every new school. About a week into the school year, Austin stabbed the principal with pencil he found on the play yard, something we told them might happen. Due his action and the fact they were not equipped with a special ESE class, he was then transferred to Pine Ridge Elementary School. Halfway through the year they split up the class and he was forced to move to another formed class. That seemed to be traumatic for him. He started receiving in-school counseling, one hour twice a week, through a local mental health center, Lifestream Behavioral Health Center. During this time, I was called to pick up my son sometimes four days a week, because they did not know how to deal with his behavior. So while we were still searching for a diagnosis, in September of 2005, my mom and I brought Austin's biological father, from North Carolina to Florida, to do a genetic blood test which was sent to John Hopkins University, in addition to Austin blood also being tested, to see if either of them had a disease called Huntington’s Like 2. It is a disease similar to Huntington’s, but had a different repeat (gene). The tests came back negative for both. In December of 2005, we “regretfully” moved to Davenport, Florida. A move many of people had warned us about because of the reputation Polk County has. My son continued to attend Pine Ridge Elementary School and finished the school year out in June of 2006. A few months prior, in April of 2006, my son was “officially” diagnosed with Asperger’s Disorder, "an Autism Spectrum Disorder". He was diagnosed through, Mary Johnson, an ARNP, at Lifestream Behavioral Center in Clermont, Florida. During the time between June and August, Austin was Baker Acted a couple times.
