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I would have thought private schools would be better able to get extra help and would have more money ? That's terrible he'll get nothing- mind you we are having so much trouble getting teachers aides at the moment and trained ones are like gold dust.
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I would have thought so too, but it isn't the case unfortunately. I'm taking D out of an independent school at the end of this year and into a public school, as they have a lot more support for kids like ours. Our school is so dumb, that they dont even have sports teams to play against other schools. Our school has a FT psychologist, yet has done nothing for kids like D. I really don't know what she does with her time!
I got the Out of Sync Child book yesterday from the local bookshop, it was on sale too. D knew that it was a book about him as he read parts of it whilst we were in the car. I told him that it was about him, and that i wanted to learn more so i could help him be the best he can be. He was okay with that.
As i read the first few pages, i was almost in tears and blaming myself as to how i could not see it all these years. Also, D had several sessions of OT last year and the paed OT specialist, didn't tell me anything about SPD or pick up anything really out of the blue. She just said that he had a delay with his fine and gross motor skills and thats about it.
I'll be going back once i get all the testing done.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds.
Yep, that's a big misunderstanding. It's a tiny independent school run by the parents. There is only 65 students and yes I do pay higher fees - but lots of that goes on care of the animals etc (and frankly that's how I'd like to see the money spent) and maintenance etc. I dunno how those huge big hoity toity places with indoor pools manage to get so much govt support. It makes me SICK.
DS keeps running off and his behaviour has escalated so much that it's not fair on the other students or the teachers. The teachers like him and can see how beautiful he is, they were telling me of lovely things he has done.....but at the end of the day you never know when he is going to go off and they are spending so much time looking for him and pulling him out of trees
He just can't cope with too many people in the room. One on one he is amazing, but they just can't do that and even if they could get an aide it won't be till next year and something has to give before then.
They have found another school that only has 5 students in each class and is specifically for the kids that aren't coping with school. Plenty of sensory kids etc, and it has an amazing track record. One year at this place then they go back to their own schools with a whole set of new tools
They also do lots of family support and I really need that. I said a month ago that if I could give him a full year of intense help he would be ok - at least I got something right. I just didn't know this was available.
So it's good in the end, I've been crying all day yesterday worrying about my boy. If anyone knows of any financial assistance that available (other than carers payment etc) can you let me know. I won't be able to go back to work properly for a long time, it's already killing me financially.
Turk - see if you can get a copy of All Cats Have Aspergers - you will giggle your butt off.
Last edited by Lulu; May 25th, 2010 at 09:21 AM.
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oh Lu.... I have tears in my eyes and stomach in my mouth.... I can't imagine how hard this is for you! How hard to hear that he isn't fitting in to the best place possible for him! BUT I LOVE the teachers attitudes, that they love him and want him back, what an awesome place.
See, we would be in a similar position if M reacted the same way at her school, they just don't have the ability to have one on one time with these kids all day. They are nuturing and more involved, but they just don't have the capacity that larger schools have. I'm so glad there's somewhere he can get some intense help NOW.
My BIL used to have teachers pass him around all day in Primary School. My friends mum was one of the teachers there & he used to get passed around because the teachers would bring him into the next class and say "I've had enough, I can't do this". My MIL has no idea that this happened to him in primary school. My friends mum used to take him all the time with her, she thought he was a lovely kid with heaps of energy and enthusiasm for what he liked, but he was misunderstood" Unfortunately, she wasn't there his entire education.... but she remembers him well. My BIL has asperger's and only got diagnosed this last year, he went through most of his life thinking that he was "evil" or "bad" because that was what adults tended to label him as.
Thank goodness mindsets are changing and people are becoming educated.... for our kids sakes.... they won't be thought of as "evil" or "bad" just because they struggle with different things than "normal" kids do.
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Lu, the mum in my class gets funding for her DS with aspergers from DADEC (I think its changed names again this week but its dept for disability and aging) she also gets FACSIA (can't remember what that stands for!!) She seems to be right on top of all funding available so I will ask her for advice for you if you like. She has been awesome with advice about Riley.
Riley is going to see a new OT who is heaps cheaper (I know it shouldnt be about money but sadly it is) and she is going to chat to speechie he saw a year ago, his previous OT who was great but as I said exxy and only did 1 hr sessions and was a 30 minute drive away, and also send a questionaire to his FDC lady. She will then see him and decide if he needs a referral to see a behavioural psyc. who is fab at diagnosing spectrum disorders. I finally feel like all the things are lining up and I may find out finally whats going on with him. I am pretty sure he has some kind of language disorder but the speechie didn't even test for that, she just kept saying how hard he was to work with- um der he wasn't yet 3 and he obviously had issues or he wouldn't have been there!!! Needless to say I didn't last longer than 3 sessions with her.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds.
thanks for that mrsmac! I think DADEC is a NSW thing....will try to chase it further though.
xxoxoxo
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Sp how has everyone's week been??? Mines been up and down. I've been sick still with this stupid head cold that won't go away, then it travelled to my chest and I've got an infection nowI had to take today off work in order to rest... and I slept 4 hours.
M's been.... well up & down. Some days she's unbelievable, but then days like today, she's trying so hard and yet can't control herself... but you can see her trying. Its hard for everyone I suppose.
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Hugs Christy, hope you get better soon. We have to catch up Riley still asks about you and Erin loves M!
The EI teacher from school has been observing R when they are playing with the pre school kids ( he is at preschool and the EI unit usually goes and plays with them in the yard) She thinks he may have verbal dyspraxia so we will investigate that.
My ASD boy at school used to go to Lifetstart and his mum said that they had a meeting last night about school integration and that both she and the lady in charge of the program gave me a great rap for being kind, caring and making T's transition to school so easy. I got all teary, its nice to be appreciated and I feel so happy that his experience with maninstream schooling is so positive. (sorry to blow my own trumpet but I felt so proud)
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