urgent review

Hi Busymum

My son has Aspergers syndrome but is in a mainstream school. They have been really good with getting additional help for him and he has an assistant on a one to one basis , within the main class, for various subjects. It only amounts to a few hours a week, mainly in english, but this has really helped his school work.

Unfortunately for these kids its not just in the lessons that they need help but in the whole 'school life'. He is an student librarian in lunch times which enables him to 'queue jump' the lunch queue, which really helps as he cant deal with the hustle and bustle of the canteen when its at its busiest. I must admit his school have been excellent in the time and effort they have put in and when he takes his GCSE's later this year it will be in a class on his own with extra time allowances.

I dont know how old your son is, but I know that in mainstream primary and senior schools, a learning assistant can be provided which will give help on a one to one basis but still in the main classroom. This not only helps the child on a learning basis but on a personal level too. As far as sticking to regular routines go this helps with that also because they can build up some sort of relationship with their keyworker. If he doesnt already have a keyworker it might be worth asking for one, I'm not sure but I think the education authority have to agree to fund this, but as I say I'm not 100 % sure, so dont quote me on it !!.

Have you tried contacting the National Autistic Society , they have some excellent advice on their website (Ithink its ) They even have leaflets that you can print out to give to the teachers. The Special Needs Education Coordinator at my sons school printed off some literature and sent it to the whole school with a list of all the kids on the Autistic Spectrum attached to it and asked the teachers to take 5 mins to read it. It can make the difference between your child being labeled as 'difficult' or the teachers realising that they need more, or , different help than they would give a 'normal' pupil. There is a NAS helpline they might be able to give you more advice as to what help the school can give you .

I wish I have some more contstructive advice to give you, but each situation, and each child is different, and the school should be aware of this and treat your child as the special individual person that he is.

Best of luck and let me know how you get on .

In love and light
Bluebelle xx

thanks bluebell,

I think thats my problem, my son is 14yrs but the school are not really wanting to make any additional effort and refuse to diferentiate. Which I find totally outragous considering it is a special school. They wont even stick to routines or show any understanding when his routines have changed and he flips. Its a good point you made about a key worker as he has no one. I have asked for an advocate for him.

Thank you for all of your suggestions.

busymum.

I have just had another health professional say they can attend the meeting.

At least I won't feel so alone and have it all negative and they can challenge some of the more outragous comments I get from the school.

thrilled.

busymum.

begining to panic now. :eek::banghead:

At least this time tomorrow it will probably be over.

Have you thought about having your son home educated, where the LEA provide a tutor? The reason i ask is that i knew someone who did this until they won their appeal to get their child sent to a special needs school.

Re your meeting, write down any questions you would like answering, and if possible, take a family member or friend for moral support.

Good luck for tomorrow :hug:

Warmest wishes- calla lily x

Thanks calla lily,

My son would not like to be home educated and he already is in a special school, its just he has a dual diagnosis so it is very difficult to get all of needs met in the one school. I am requesting advice from other professionals so I hope this may work. He has always had school difficulties and we only have 1 more year to go.! I just need to get him support where he is if I can.

Thanks for the good luck, I think Im going to need it.

busymum.

Hi busymum

Just wanted to wish you lots of luck for the meeting today.

Claire x

thank you clareybear.

Well, I had a very tiring, 2 hour meeting. Was thrilled that everyone attended. It was really positive. Instead of them telling me how naughty my son had been, like the head teacher was expecting! the ed phsyce declared how upset and unhappy he is and that it was too late to move him, it would be more upsetting for him. My son wants to stay but school are loathe.

They LEA discussed a support package that would help him stay. like a day placement at college, or work experience a week. Also activities for teenagers. Which he would love. I hope he gets that.

Im not sure if it will work as the headteacher is still loathe and doesnt want my son to have anything positive as he thinks he will be worse at school, then. 😡

Anyway, thank you all for your good wishes.

busymum.

Tips for Autims ?

Hi Busymun,

I'm having an urgent review for my son, with Autism, who has been struggling in his special school. ...I now need to make sure I make the most of this meeting.
...
Tips please...
...Have you any ideas? .

Your son is a trully special person.
His sensibility is of a very particuliar nature.Maybe do you know that all the emotions he has are trapped inside.
He simply do not know how to express them but he is far from feeling nothing.
To give you an image: try to remember all the feelings you have ever feel...Mixed them in one huge feeling, make this100 time violent (and painfull) ... and you will be far still far from what is inside your son.
No wonder why he rather like to keep them inside and have no clues on how to express all this.

Your son is not a living person, he is a feeling person.
Have you ever think about giving him some flower remedies?
Bach remedies are amazing 😮 and I strongly advice you to try them with your son.

Bach remedies are really easy to choose :p but Autism is something no so easy to deal with.So if you do not know the Bach Flower remedies but think this could deserve a try, I would be more than happy to help you find the fews one that may help your son.

Lobellia

Hi Busymun,

This email is just for check.
I have posted an quite (long and detailled) answer on this discussion fews day ago but I do not see it.
As all posts I write this morning came on line in fews seconds.... I am wondering if something in this ghost post have motivate to put it under moderation? or anything else? :confused:
I have not do a back up of this post but can write something again, but as I have spend some time on it I do not want to start again if it was for something to disappear again because of anything I wasnt allow to write .

Thank you 😮

ASD spectrum

dear everybody,
i have been browsing autism sites because my 26 yr old is aspergers. take heart. he has 10 gcses and a degree. not incredible grades, but he got there. took a lot of love, patience and real understanding. understanding was not too difficult as i recognise traits in myself and very much so in my mother. it has been a hard life! bitter?who?me?
my son has recently been diagnosed with a brain lesion. nhs is being less than helpful. i am wondering if all asd members should have an mri scan? he has had a couple of fits - connection?
with regards to the educational side of things - i am just resigning from the post of senco because i cannot stand it any more. the school is flooded with special needs children since the local sn school was closed. i love them, but not everybody does, and i am banging my head against brick walls all the time trying to get the right help. one child with aspergers has been waiting for 4-5 yrs while i try to get past 'external professionals' who drag their heels.finally, we have found a way through, but it has involved hours and hours of my own unpaid time, and much unhappiness for the child and parents. read your rights. go on the website of your local authority and find the special needs section. go to social services. go to your gp. demand to see the county educational psychologist. some areas have parent partnerships. write to the chief education officer. keep at it. a statement and a special helper are not the cure, but they help no end. don't believe professionals who tell you a statement is a burden.and, yes, change school if necessary - schools who don't understand are a menace.
get 'how to be a velvet bulldozer'. book written by a wonderful mum.can't remember full title or author - my copy is presently borrowed by a parent.
i've gone on too much - that's the trouble with those of us on the gabbling end of the spectrum. good luck to all of you and your very special children.