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245mcl

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    10
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About 245mcl

  • Rank
    Salisbury Hill

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Female
  • Location
    Belfast
  • Interests
    Reading, musicals and the opportunity to get a night away from my three children.
  1. Hi Kath, I was very fortunate that with both my children they were referred and diagnosed within 6 months, which I believe is the expected time frame, the only communication I got was a questionnaire to complete and the date of the appointment. The assessment itself took place in a family centre with three members of the ASD team, one engaged my son in a number of activities, or I should say tried to, and another observed in the room and the third observed with me behind a two way mirror, with my younger son I was able to stay in the room. The diagnosis was made after they had all consulted with each other and they went through all the points they had observed that indicated my sons were on the AS. I have to admit even though the reason we were all there was for a diagnosis, it was still a shock to hear the diagnosis confirmed so much so that when they asked if I had any questions, I could think of none, though now I wish I had written a list just in case. I hope you hear news soon and hopefully some other members can point you in the right direction as what to do next. Regards MC
  2. Thanks for the responses, I think I was hoping that 18 months later my friend would start to accept the diagnosis and start rebuilding their life, its just some days its a struggle for them to get up, they are receiving counselling but had a really difficult time accessing this but it's now on a regular basis, I'm hopefull this will help.
  3. Hi Sally , I actually spoke to the EP who diagnosed my younger son and the only reason she took my call was because she knew me, but she herself said they couldn't do anything without a referral from the school. I had offered to pay for a private assessment, though its not a sum of money we could easily afford, but the problem we have here in Northern Ireland is that they are not recognised by the school, I don't know if you have the same problem? The good news is they have offered additional support in terms of teaching him literacy and numerousy in a smaller group, but I am concerned that this is another barrier to him being referred as my understanding is if the school feels they can meet his needs then they won't refer him, is that correct? Thanks for the input, letter already away to SENCO , I'll keep you posted. MC
  4. I have a friend who received a private diagnosis of aspergers last year, before this diagnosis they were a very capable and competent worker, they were responsible for managing a team of people and worked in a highly sensory environment in terms of number of people, noise as well as the need to make decisions quickly and accurately. After the diagnosis they felt that they were no longer able to work full time or work at the same level, they now have sensory issues in terms of light and noise as well as difficulties dealing with people. I know that adults with aspergers develop strategies to help them cope with situations but its like they have let all the strategies go. I have worked with this college for 4 years and I can't help feeling saddened that the person I knew is no longer the same person. Is there anything I can do to help them. If I thought they were happy I would leave them be, but they are not.
  5. Hi Sally, thanks for the advice, going to get started today, this has been going on for too long. I'm so frustrated because my younger son was diagnosed in October 2011, had an EP assessment in January 2012 and had a statement in place providing him with one to one support from his first day in school in September 2012, yet I've got nowhere with his brother, except reports on his unacceptable behaviour, which I appreciate can be difficult for the teacher to manage in a class of 26 other children. Starting to rant again, better go and do those letters. Thanks MC
  6. 245mcl

    hi im new

    Hi Kath I'm new to this myself but have found the other members to have been really helpful, I have a son who is turning 5 in two weeks and who was diagnosed with autism last year, all children are different but I recognise similarities between your son and mine. In school my son has a special cushion he sits on to provide sensory stimulation, as well as a specially designed pencil to help with his writing, he is also allowed a small object to "fiddle" with during listening time, as for his behaviour which can be at times challenging, the school uses rewards ie for completion of a piece of work he will get 10 minutes on the computer as well as a visual activity chart to let him no what is happening next. I use the term "first" and "then" quiet a lot as well as "good choice" "bad choice" cards and I have a timer which I set for 15 minutes to let him know when an activity is coming to an end or when he is playing with his sister and they need to take turns, he still screams and half the time he will throw he object he has been asked to share, but at least now he is attempting to share. I hope some of this was helpful and I hope you hear soon with regards his assessment.
  7. Hi I had my HV out to assess my son due to his speech when he was 2.5 as his 1 year old sister was surpassing him and like your child everyone was mummy, during the assessment my son did sit still and could say what 50% of the objects were when pointed to, but he did not engage in conversation or sentences or even incoherent ramblings like other children do, he mostly didn't speak at all. On the basis of his assessment the HV seemed to think he was ok until I informed her my concern was also raised due to his elder brother having been diagnosed with aspergers. The outcome is my son did receive a diagnosis of autism, he did receive a years speech and language therapy which brought him to the level of his peers, he still doesn't speak as much as his siblings but at least now we can understand him.
  8. Thanks for all the advice, it's nice to know what to do next, kept thinking I was some sort of neurotic mother.
  9. It is the SENCO I have been having the meetings with and she has said he is on the list, but when I asked the education psychologist, she said he wasn't. He has had an IEP for 3 years and support from MASTS for his social and behavioural skills but even they have raised their concerns with me regarding his disposition since going into P4, they asked me had there been a death in the family because he is so deflated in school. I know he gets different work in school because he tells me him and another boy are "stupid" and teacher says he is "special". I am not saying the school haven't been supportive because they have, they realised my son needed assessed as soon as he entered P1 and they did put strategies in place to support him but I can't keep going through the same tears and tantrums every night at homework time and my son hitting himself and calling himself stupid, I feel like stopping homework altogether but I am worried this will be detrimental in the long term. My apologies for the rant. Thanks for the advice I found it really helpful.
  10. Hi, I have an 8yr old son with a diagnosis of aspergers and a 4yr old son with a diagnosis of autism, the 4 year old is statemented and has a teaching assistant whereas the 8 year old is struggling in school, his writing is illegible, he doesn't want to read and when he does he forgets words from one page to the next. I have been asking for two years for him to be sen by an ed psych, I even phoned her myself and was told she can't do anything unless the school refers him. Can anyone give me advice on how I can get my son assessed?
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