Diamondmask

I would suspect its more likely to be close to 1 to 1, although the statistics dont reflect that. Girls are harder to dx, they are naturally social creatures even if AS involved which flies in the face of the stereotypical aspie. But although they are social creatures, their social skills are immature and quite often will be clumsy in their attempts at friendships; but NT little girls tend to be more forgiving (not talking teens here) whereas as boy would stand out as being alone.

Technically the NAS school would be the more expensive option. The EP has already helped to cost this out. The NAS have already said that to meet his educational needs they would need to get in tuition for him to teach him to the level he needs. He is currently following GCSE maths, science and IT at Y11 level, whilst still in Y7 through the adult education center at his school, he is due to take the exams at the end of this year and is predicted to get A*, so then he would need access to an A level curriculum which the NAS cant provide; they cant really provide GCSE level in anything other than maths. The problem with that is that is that he would continue to be educated in isolation, as he is now because there would be nobody else at his academic level. He cannot access mainstream so all his lessons are in the unit where he follows the GCSE courses via the school intranet, this would probably continue at the NAS because usually their pupils who can do subjects to GCSE have dual placements there and at a mainstream school which will not work for my boy. It is not an ideal situation. So the school fees for the NAS would be 65K plus extra tuition plus transport; then SS's costs for the respite they would have to continue to provide. The Quaker school is 91K a year, plus weekly transport of course. He would need no extra tuition as they can provide to his level onsite, respite would not be required as he would be away most of the time. I do not really want him to live away from home and if I thought that the NAS school + tuition +respite would work then I would be happy with that, but I am not convinced it would, neither am I convinced that despite the NAS's excellent social skills input, that he would progress socially when he would be getting his education in isolation. At the Quaker school he would live away from home which to be honest breaks my heart but at least he wouldnt be in isolation.

Ah have been a fan since Jon Pertwee, which probably shows my age........ However MY Doctor can only be the Ninth, his tenure was too short and there was sooo much more to tell....

Oooh Doctor Who in your sig..... I'm a bit of a Whovian.... (understatement of the year)

Hello, just been in meet and greet; seemed to be the right thing to do... Anyway; I do know a couple of members here but for those that are thinking 'who on earth is that', I am Diamond, mum of a boy age 12 (asd, ADHD, dyspraxia, severe anxiety, severe challenging behaviour and recently PDA) and a girl of 7 (asd, sld's, adhd, cp, partially sighted, sad). My daughter is in mainstream, but hopefully for not much longer. Its her annual review in a couple of weeks and I will be pushing for a rather excellent local special school that would suit her down to a T; her current school support this as she is completely overloaded and not coping and will not cope in the slightest in KS2. My son is an an ASD unit and has been since he was 5. He transferred to the seniors unit last september and things have gone downhill ever since. After multiple exclusions and lots of deterioration in his behaviour, which wasnt brilliant to start with. Puberty is not helping either. Anyway his placement has been deemed as 'failed' and we have just had an emergency annual review, called for by me, to try and move forward. I have requested a change of placement to either the local NAS school, or a Quaker independent special school in the north of England. The NAS school would meet the boy's needs autistically, but, he is quite profoundly gifted so that brings its own problems. Most of the kids at the NAS school have LD's. The EP did suggest a joint placement with the NAS and the local FE college but it wont work; the boy cant cope in a mainstream environment. The Independent school takes boys who are on the spectrum, with challenging behaviour and who show at least average promise, if not higher, in at least one area. These are boys who cannot be placed elsewhere. The school would suit the boy down to the ground and give him the chance to succeed and be in a place where he doesn't feel abnormal and where he is understood. IMHO, its the only school in my county that can meet all his needs, academically and his needs related to his disabilities. The EP agrees so I know I can prove that. But it is 80 miles away from home.... weekly residential... We appear to have SS on our side too; they are currently paying for respite so its possible they could be persuaded to joint fund the placement. However the principle EP who is the panel chairman is the boy's old EP; who I completely shamed at tribunal 7 years ago.... Could be good, could be bad.. It's taken me a while to accept that residential is necessary; if only for the girl; she is the target frequently of the boy's frustrations.

Hello, I am a lurker, sort of. I read most days and want to reply but only though searching the forum did I remember my username.... Anyway I am diamond, mum of 2 auti's, pretty much on the spectrum myself too....

My daughter isnt a visual learner, but she cant be, she is partially sighted so cannot make use of visual prompts such as pecs. Instead we have to use hand over hand and tactile prompts. How old is your son? How severe are his LD's? It might be that he doesnt understand what you want of him yet, or it could be that he isnt, like you say, a visual learner. A tactile approach might work better for him.

Who for? Your child or the school staff LOL! Sounds to me like its the staff that need the training more! Sarah

Both my kids have done, both are ASD mind. They have both eventually grown out of it as they have become toilet trained, but now and again when they are going through a tough time they will revert to smearing and other delightful behaviours! I have to say though I have never heard of an NT child doing it, only ASD ones. Sarah

Both my kids and my hubby do it. It doesnt matter how late they go to sleep they are still up at the crack of dawn every morning. The only suggestion I can make is buy a TV and DVD player and put it in their room! My son isnt bothered about toys, other than Dr Who stuff that is, so he has a subscription to cable TV every year for his birthday and Christmas. If he wakes up too early (by that I mean before 5am) he watches Cartoon Network which is thankfully on 24/7! HTH Sarah

You know I think that is the worst part of ASD, the inability to see anyone else's point of view. It drives me nuts sometimes, I can cope with a certain amount from my son, even NT 11 year olds arent exactly endowed with empathic ability, so I cant expect too much for a lad with HFA. But it drives me crazy with my husband. He is soooooooo AS! Makes me want to reach for the nearest lump hammer! No advice, but lots of sympathy. Sarah

I am presuming it means a specialist ASD unit attached to a mainstream school. Is there one in your LEA? Sarah

oh goody! Another *expert*! If she *knows* all about AS and ASD's then surely she knows all the interventions available to cope with 2 ASD kids???!!! Sarah

I am pretty sure this would be covered by the DDA. However before you push this, you might want to ask yourself if you really want your son to attend a club where the only way he can get in is if you wave the DDA in front of their faces. Personaly I would fire off, all guns blazing at them, get in touch with the DRC and the Scouting organisation and report them. Then find another Beaver Pack and join that one. Sarah

Sorry, but this is very cynical of me but ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will beleive it when i see it for myself. �340m over 3 years is a drop in the ocean, beleive me. I was involved in AIM several years ago now, with another member here, goes by the name of Oracle if she is still around. Anyway we did the whole thing, campaign, petition, publicity, early day motion in parliament, the whole capoodle. 6 years on, b*gger all has change, only for the worse. 6 years ago we were told that the national autism plan for children would mean we were entitled to 4 weeks respite a year. I am still waiting for mine.... Not holding my breath. I'll be quite honest with this. Dont hold out for the governemnt to help you. They wont, simple as that. If it wasnt for groups and online support such as this, I would have been in the psych unit years ago. Sarah