Fel

There's a programme on this Thurs at 9pm on C4. It's about one of the few state run schools which specialise in autism/aspergers and features the headmistress and some of the children. Not sure if I'll be able to watch it, but some of you may be made of sterner stuff!

Thanks everyone. Looked at the inspiration which coincidentally a friend said her ed psych recommended for her son. Looks good.

Thanks Karen. I've looked that up and looks useful, so I'll give that a go.

Can anyone help with this? My son is 10 with AS and attends mainstream. Fine with maths, science, history, etc but has to use a laptop as handwriting painfully slow and illegible and his spelling and general English is well below his age. He understands things, but just cannot seem to translate his thoughts into words to put on paper, even when he knows the subject inside out. His teachers and I have tried SO many things to encourage and teach him, but I think we need more specialist help or I just don't see how he is going to get through secondary school. I get the feeling this is quite common with AS, so someone, somewhere, must have the expertise to help him develop some skills in this area. He could have gone to the grammar school if it were not for this (not that I would have sent him - I don't think it's the right place for him), but I would like him to be able to achieve at least some of his potential so he has more chance of an independent life when he leaves school. Would this be something an Educational Psychologist could help with? If anyone knows, I'd be grateful for the advice.

Thank goodness for that Tez. Let's hope the next steps work out and he gets the support he needs. Good luck.

I would agree with this one. He was supposed to be in a safe zone and it clearly was far from safe. I do know what you mean about not wanting to destroy the relationship with the school if it's a reasonably good one, but your son also needs to feel you are on his side if he is in the right and you believe he was, too. If it were me, I'd have far more chance of keeping a cool head whilst putting my views strongly if my son had not already been unfairly punished.

You must be spitting! I agree with Carole. When I first read the list I thought - hang on these aren't about hisneeds - these are about him not being a hindrance or annoyance to others. Surely not the point?

Can't help but just wanted to say how appalling I think it is. Poor child and poor Mum.

Just thought I'd give an update. My son has now been for three sessions. It's hard to define whether it's improved any coordination, but I do really think his general mood has "lifted". He seems to be in a good mood the majority of the time and is quite cooperative about things that he previously dug his heels in and sulked with (like school work for instance). This morning he even said "this is such a happy life". Obviously I can't say whether it is or is not anything to do with the cranial work, it may just be coincidence. His swimming has improved (he got his 20m badge this morning) but again, this could have happened anyway.

Hi Nellie, have you had a chance to read this yet? Approaching adolescence with my son and it's concerning me.

Has she actually known any? I nearly spat my coffee out when I read this one!

Bid, I was so busy being elated for you that I didn't think about the wrench you would also feel at him going. <'> Being a parent is so hard sometimes.

Helen It's so frustrating to be dependent on others to get justice when you know what you know inside. You must feel like you've been winded. So sorry. Fel

No please!!!! This forum saves my sanity! Just my warped cockney sense of humour. In all seriousness Elefan this is the most professionally run, relevant, supportive forum there is out there. I've looked at many and haven't joined. Aserereht, I'm sure you'll find this forum a great help and will be able help others with your experiences, too.

No, she's just going to change it to Fforeggub!

We've started today on some cranial work with a clinic in Southampton with a guy who specialises in paediatric chiropractic. He said if we don't see an improvement in gait, coordination, swimming, etc., in four sessions then it's unlikely we'll see any, but seems positive at this stage that he can help. I'll let you know how we get on. My son makes a great fuss when his hair is being washed or combed as he says it hurts (he's 10), but he didn't make the slightest fuss when the guy did his head. All very subtle and gentle. Just as a by the way, he asked if my son had reached all his normal physical milestones as a baby. He was v. interested in the fact that my son didn't crawl - he completely missed out this phase and went straight from sitting to hauling himself up on things and then walking at 13 months or so. He said that the crawling stage is very important as it is a phase connected with the cerebellum and right/left side coordination. I just nodded knowingly as if I knew what the hell he was talking about ........

So pleased! Well done.

Hi Amy Nelson. Anything by Tony Attwood is a pretty good bet. I also recently read "Martian in the Playground" which is written by a woman with Aspergers. Good luck with the job and also all the best for you personally. Lucas, you are a wit. You always make me smile.

Hi LKU. My son was diagnosed at 8 by the consultant paediatrician. She also had to take into accounts reports from other therapists, like assessment of motor skills, language, etc., so the process wasn't quick. He was diagnosed eventually as being "on the milder end of the spectrum" and consequently attends mainstream school. Like you, I had my misgivings about the label attached to the diagnosis and wasn't sure what to do. Having the label has helped tremendously with the school situation and we are fortunate that he goes to a lovely school where the headmaster and teachers bend over backwards to give us the support we need. I know how lucky I am there by reading some of the other postings and the unbelievable difficulties other parents have with schools. He is able to use a laptop, is allowed not to do homework when he has a meltdown and a situation with bullying was stamped on so quickly by the headmaster that the children didn't know what hit them. The school has also given me a room to use every Tuesday morning in which I have sessions with my son on social skills, which is his biggest problem at the moment. As for leaving school, well that's where my worries are, particularly with talk of ID cards etc. Having Aspergers should not prevent my son from getting a job, but discrimination coming from ignorance of the disorder by prospective employers frightens me in terms of his long term prospects. Having the diagnosis has not helped in any other respect. There doesn't seem to be any provision in my area at least for helping them outside of the school situation. Anything I think he needs has to be initiated by me and researched by me. Hopefully your area will be different. I wish you lots of luck and hope things go well.

Has anyone used/known anyone who has used this programme? It's not available in the UK yet but apparently will be in 2005. Expensive, though www.rdiconnect.com.

Thank you Nellie. I look forward to talking to you and others.

Hello. I am Mother to a 10 year old boy with Aspergers who is, according to the Paed'n, at the milder end of the spectrum. He attends mainstream school but has a number of difficulties. My reason for coming on here today is that although I am well used to my son's AS and have come to terms with it for the most part, I have for some time now had a suspicion that my husband also has it, albeit to a lesser degree. I'm not sure I can cope with them both.