My son has Aspergers with very high anxiety. Over last 4 years he moved from mainstream primary to Primary special school and now at lovely very small Independant special school. Despite CAMHS input, medication, therapy and both special schools bending over backwards to help, he simply can't cope with going to school each day. His taxi has been dropped as he couldn't cope with leaving the house each morning and rarely went into the taxi. I now drive him each day (1 hr journey) but he freezes up on arrival and can't/won't get out. We've tried everything including shorter days, fun games in the car, distraction, relaxation techniques, alternative school entrance and process. He keeps saying how much he loves his school but that he doesn't know why he can't go in. Even on the very rare dates he does, he often blanks of or refuses to move from his classroom, even at lunchtime. It's heartbreaking to see him go through the agonies of such extreme anxiety every day. I can't home educate as I'm not in the best of health (having had a breakdown only 6 months ago) and he is so incredibly bright and interested in subjects I simply don't know enough about like Computer Science, astrophysics, philosophy and music! He needs a place where he could chat to experts in their field on a 1:1 basis, as an equal, at a high level (A level minimum, even though he's only 12), in an informal environment (nowhere that feels like a school). We live in Kent and I don't know what to suggest next. Are there very small, very intelligent/nerdy schools that might take him boarding? He is emotionally young, so they would have to be very caring. Can anyone help or give me some alternative ideas? Of how can I help him to overcome his fear and get him to leave the car and attend his current school?
