Mum2one

We haven't directly told our son, who is 7 next month, but he is aware that he is different. He quite often says his brain is different to everyone elses and that nobody else in the school is like him. I would like to actually tell him but I don't know how he would react, would definately have to wait for a good day! I would also like the school to explain to his class and possibly the whole school about autism so that they understand why he does some of the things he does. Maybe it would stop some of the teasing which can wind him up, although I suppose it could also have a negative effect. Has anyone else experience of the other children in school being informed?

Hi everyone Have already posted (only once though) so thought I had better introduce myself and my family. I have a six year old son who was diagnosed 2 years ago with ASD. He also has significant hyperactivity which keeps us on our toes! No other kids just the cat and DH who although he has never been diagnosed we suspect has Aspergers. Since C's diagnosis we have managed to understand DH an awful lot more! Never a dull moment in our house as is probably the case for all of you. Found this website when C was first going through assessments and reading many of the posts helped me to make sense of and understand a lot of things he was experiencing and going through. He is in mainstream and unfortunately the majority of the other parents have not been supportive and don't believe he belongs in the same school as their kids, so it is nice to have somewhere to turn to with people who do understand, as it can feel quite lonely at times. Take care

We went through a similar time with my son last year, he is also in mainstream and the LA has turned him down for statutory assessment so support is minimum and not consistant! He became extremely aggressive and would head butt, bite, throw any object he could find, the list goes on and was being restrained most of the time in school, he also refused to talk and would just growl. For him it was due to lots of small changes over a period of time and then suddenly he couldn't cope. He had just turned 6 but because of how he was we decided that Risperidone was the only way forward and I am pleased to say it made a huge difference for him. Because he has been doing so well we made the decision a month ago to stop the medication and see how he goes - thankfully to date he is doing really well. Good luck

We have tried socks inside out, C choosing his own socks for school and now he wears Disney ones which are pretty much OK when he wears them at weekends but when it comes to school mornings, can we get them right? Not even close! This morning we had tantrums before school, plus screaming and rolling around the floor because the lights and telly were hurting his eyes buts that a whole other issue, and then once I dropped him at breakfast club I had them on and off numerous times trying to sort them. Left school to deal with him having a meltdown then maybe they will start to be a bit more helpful. Roll on the end of today when he is on half term and we, hopefully, have some stress free mornings.

Have tried gym shoes but when he is on one they aren't right either. Have asked the school about wearing slippers if they really don't want him to wear no shoes but the SENCO spoke to the teacher who has said he doesn't have a problem with wearing his shoes, however C is telling me he has and he only wears them because the teacher makes him! They have said they don't want him to wear slippers as that might make him feel different to the other children and anyway we would be making a rod for our own backs for when you goes to secondary school - he is only in year 2!!! I think as well as the comfort issues C is unable to do his thing of crossing and uncrossing his toes, which he permanently does when he is at home sitting down. If you haven't guessed already C loves his feet - likes nothing better than a foot massage, constantly asking us to smell his feet (yuck!) and we don't do high five in house we do foot five!!! Have just heard that someone from the Specialist Teaching Service is going in to review him in March and I have a meeting with them later in the day so I think I will discuss it with them and try to get a solution. Maybe someone else pointing out that just becuase he isn't having meltdowns at school over this, it is affecting him it's just we are getting it prior to school. He has only just come off risperidone (2 weeks ago) and I really don't want a silly thing like this to cause him to to go down hill again. Thanks for your replies.

Hi everyone Have been a member for a while but haven't posted a message before! I have a six year old son (ASD) who hates to wear shoes because it makes his socks 'play-up'. He will take his shoes off wherever and whenever he can (and his clothes given half the chance). His school are being unsympathetic to this problem and making him wear his shoes all day. He is abiding by this rule in school because he says his teacher says he has too but I am having the meltdowns before school, on the way there and quite often once he gets there but still they won't listen. He was allowed in year R and 1 to take his shoes off in the classroom and only wear them to go outside. They also remove them when he is having a meltdown so some issues with mixed messages. I have a problem with his current teacher as her way of making him do what she wants him to do is by saying 'do you see any of the other children behaving/reacting like you are?' Does anyone else have the sock/shoe problem - any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks L