Donna,

Thank you so much for your very quick reply! As you probably know, one of the hardest things about being a parent of a special needs kids is how frustrating it is to be in the midst of a problem!

I didn't give you much info in my previous post, so this may clear things up a bit: my son (Ethan) does have an IEP, and we have been working closely with the school to meet his needs. He currently starts his school day at 3rd period (9:25am), and the school is a 10min bike ride away. The problem is, when he gets depressed he sleeps/retreats to avoid thinking about what is depressing him. Then he feels that he has "failed", and things just get worse. Today he didn't go to school at all. Once he gets up & out the door, however, he is happy & usually comes home from school in a great mood.

To make it worse, now he refuses to see the psychiatrist, and of course we can't change/increase his med. without seeing her (or even renew the current medication).

So, what I need is some ideas of getting him up at ~9am (or 10am if he skips 3rd period, which is OK). Taking away privileges (eg computers, DS) turns things conferentational and doesn't work well at all. We've tried loud alarms, talking to him, singing to him, shaking him (gently), picking him up (he fights us), putting water or ice on him, having his older brother talk to him (worked for while). Any other ideas? Or any other resources you can think of?

Again, thanks for your help & your input!

-- Buffy

NOt really the only thing I can honestly think of is to pick up any and all homework he misses. And to sit him down and say this is what you are
doing now because you missed it. Take away all things he would rather
do untill all the homework is done.

Even going to bed. I would also take the option of going to the psychiatrist
out of his hands. Tell him its just like going to the doctor. When your sick
you have to go. So if he can't make himself get up and get going then the
appointment is made, and he has to go. Have a standing appointment
say every Wednesday at a certain time. Make sure someone can be off to
take him. And if he goes to school say 4 of the 5 days, let him out of the
appointment for the first month. Then in the 2nd month tell him, he has
to go to school 5 days of the month for 2 weeks and he can miss one period
the other two weeks if he has a good reason, and gets his homework caught
up with no problems. THen he can miss this one appointment. But the next
month its still all month all 5 days no exceptions or something like this.

YOu have to show him that you are boss not him. also research the meds
that are available for him. THen go in with ideas which one you would
like them to try. Period, have them let you have a say.

My email is dmom3005@yahoo.com, if you need more help.

I'm a parent advocate in Indiana.

Donna