Yoda,

I’m sorry to hear that your son is having problems. I have very similar ones with mine, although he’d love to work at Game Stop. That was his goal, but the nearest one is an hour away, and with what he’d pay in gas, he’d earn less than it costs to work there. But he feels that he could be comfortable there. He did work for a summer in a factory after graduation, but it left a really bad impression on him and his anxiety level is very high when it comes to factory work.

A friend recently recommended that I contact Goodwill. They have programs for everyone and a foot in many doors. Try giving them a call. Once my son has his driver’s license that is our next plan of attack. I’m walking the same tightrope you are. I know that he has to be independent at some point in time, but I also know that I am unable to work right now because of my own issues.

I don’t know how the advocacy system works where you’re from. I imagine that it is the same in most places. In Michigan there was an office that I could call and if the school wasn’t listening to me, they DEFINITELY listed to the advocate. Took one call and never had a problem in MI again. We moved to Wisconsin when he was in the 6th grade. The system is awesome here, the state itself appoints an advocate to represent him. That advocate made sure that his IEP was followed to the letter, and if adjustments were needed or a situation came up that we had not covered, it was fixed immediately. He also had some awesome LD teachers. When one of his mainstream teachers was complaining about the adjustments needed, she jumped all over it and problem solved within the hour!

If you’re not up to the fight, talk to his LD teachers, or do a search for the local advocacy office in your area.

Good luck to both of you!