Welcome to Social Star Academy

After two years, my husband and I adopted our five-year-old foster daughter. Despite her traumatic past, she adjusted beautifully into her new life. Until she went to first grade. Her teacher reported that she was having social and learning issues.

I took her to a mental health practice that specialized in academic and psychological testing. After many hours of testing, the results came back. My daughter was diagnosed with a long list of mental health issues, the most prevalent being Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Her cognitive scores came back as average but she had trouble writing and spelling. For these reasons, she was labeled with a general learning disability.

I took her to a psychiatrist who started her on medicine for ADHD. After trying several ADHD medications that did not alleviate her symptoms he told me that she had been misdiagnosed by the doctors at the other clinic. Consequently, he changed her mental health label to pediatric bipolar disorder. My daughter's biological mom had bipolar disorder and knowing that there is a genetic component to mental health issues I trusted the psychiatrist's new diagnosis.

He prescribed my daughter Risperidone, an antipsychotic drug used to treat mood disorders. The drug caused my daughter's weight to skyrocket to unhealthy proportions, and her self esteem went down the toilet. As my daughter got older her personality changed from quiet, sweet, and compliant, to loud, angry, and aggressive. Whenever I talked to the doctor about my concerns he told me her moods were a normal part of her disorder.

When my daughter was in fourth grade I attended a Special Education Conference for parents hosted by our local school district. One of the breakout sessions was titled, "Parenting an Irritable Child," taught by a researcher from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). He explained that psychiatrists nationwide were misdiagnosing children with pediatric bipolar disorder at alarming rates. During the presentation, as the doctor described the true nature of bipolar disorder it dawned on me that my daughter had never displayed any true bipolar symptoms. 

After the lecture, I spoke with the presenter and told him that I was concerned my daughter had been misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder. He invited me to bring her to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland so his team could assess her.

A few weeks later, my daughter and I went to NIH and a team of mental health professionals evaluated her condition. They diagnosed her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Attributing her mental health issues to the distressing events she had experience from birth to three years old before coming into the foster care system. 

Once I had a proper mental health diagnosis for my daughter I had the power to set things right. I switched her to a new mental health provider. I made sure she was placed on the correct medications.  I also put her in the appropriate public school environment, with specially trained teachers. 

So why am I telling you all this?

Even though my child has different special needs than your child, I know first-hand about the joys and frustrations that come with raising a special needs child. I also know that finding, effective, research-based treatments as well as engaging, and fun learning activities for your child amid the sea of advice online is daunting.

These are the reasons I started the Social Star Academy.

I have taught children, teens, and young adults with special needs for the past seven years. My blog is meant to provide useful advice and high-quality learning activities for all special needs children who want to improve their social skills, especially those on the autism spectrum.

Disclaimer: The information on this blog is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure children on the autism spectrum.