My daughter doesnt like being touched

To "momuv2," yes, "sensory integration," that's it.

This topic was discussed on a recent episode of "A Place of Our Own" (aplaceofourown.org), an EXCELLENT TV show produced by the local PBS affiliate, KCET in Los Angeles. (It also airs in Spanish as "Los Ninos en Su Casa" with its own Web site, losninosensucasa.org.)

I'm not certain, but sensual overexcitability may be a component of the larger category known as sensory integration. It's either that or the terms are synonymous. I've only begun to learn about all this.

I appreciate the comments made by "marcsdad"; it's always helpful to hear from someone on the inside, particularly when that person is both a district employee and the parent of a child attending a school in that district.

You know, there are now SO many emotional and psychological conditions identified today that we should be insisting on the publication of a list of all known conditions requiring special services or heightened awareness. Such a list should be included in the enrollment packet given to ALL new parents and guardians.

As it is, the only way a parent learns about a particular condition is when their son or daughter receives a diagnosis. Then the parent must become virtually an expert on all facets of the condition diagnosed. Heaven help them if the diagnosis later turns out to be wrong or incomplete!

Also, it's important for parents to understand that "special needs" does NOT apply only to those kids in wheelchairs or receiving various intervention counseling. This term also applies to gifted and talented students. I feel strongly that we must acknowldege the entire spectrum of childhood characteristics -- abilities, disabilities and the infinite combination of both -- in our discussions of what it means to be a "special needs" student.

To "jada_m," I hope you will fill us in once you get more information on your daughter's condition. You mentioned that your niece is a "dual exception" student; that sounds like what in my district (LAUSD) is called "twice exceptional." It's too bad that educational terms are apparently not consistent from place to place.

I have come across this same problem; I had interacted with a student as an 'auxillary' employee at my son's school. He is very intelligent. friendly and a well mannered child, but became distraught when I put my hand on his shoulder when giving him praise for something. (I know two of his sibilings who are quite the opposite and I interact fine with them)
I feel that I can contribute positive feedback as someone on the other end.
I learned through discussion with others regarding the problem; My learned opinion is that the child should be taught to speak freely about his/her feelings about physical contact. To teach your daughter to say, perhaps, "I don't like being touched' or something along that thought, would give your daughter the strength and the authority to communicate respectfully on making her personal boundries understood.
I hope this is useful.
By the way, I teach my son to speak freely when someone is in his 'personal space'. I teach my son to keep a respectable distance from others as a general rule of thumb and this keeps opportunity for personal contact at a distance anyway.

My son had the same problem, and it took some research on sensory intergration from some university studies to help me with his problem. This is something practiced by occupational therapist eventhough my son did not pass their assessment for therapy. That was some time ago and there should be a lot more being done now for this issue. There is a solution so don't give up.

Thank You. That help me some, but Im still feel overwelmed with all of this. I am goin to look into the GATE program. I wish there were more people that I know that has gifted children. My sister-in-law helps me alot. My niece is duel acception student. She is gifted and has dislexia, so we both have alot on our plates. We try to help each other out. I'll tell her about GATE. Thank you again.