Published on 12, July, 2020
Firstly hello to everyone using the group. I'm new to this so no idea what I'm doing yet.
My name is Claire and my son frey has recently been diagnosed with asd. Even though I have always known he was different to his brothers it still came as a shock. He is awaiting an assessment for adhd as well. He is 7 and it's been a very long battle to get to this point, I also have a 12 and 4 year old. Frey has had numerous delayed developments, plus needing speech and language therapy and occupational therapy for motor skills. But despite now having his statement I still feel his school do not believe he has it. I've just come out of a meeting with them to the usual looking at me as if I'm lying. How does anyone else feel about their child's school? And if anyone can help me to understand more I would be very grateful. Thank you
Well done on getting a diagnosis. It can be a huge relief but it is the start of a big journey. I have two sons with aspergers who were diagnosed their first year at high school.
Since then it has been hard work.
The best thing you can do is to find out as much as you can. Become an expert, read books go on NAS courses, which are wonderful and can give you confidence. Always follow your gut, get advice from disability rights experts, but follow your own instincts as you would as a parent of any child.
Some schools are better than others and it can take along time to sort out how to make them happy at school. If staff won't follow through or cooperate, quote the disability education rights at them, or take a knowledable person with you to help you insist.
My eldest son has just got 5 grade As at scottish higher level and is off to uni, but he spent the 1st 2 years of high school shouting and having meltdowns every day after school. It took time to work out what was best for him, to enable him to cope in school, but we did it in the end and in general he has been happy at school.
My younger son is now home schooled as he simply can't cope with the stresses of school, though I have insisted on local authority help with this and they pay for an online school and we have regular meetings to discuss his progress.
don't forget to ask for help from NAS. Many educational experts in local authority have no understanding of autism, but you are NOT ALONE!
good luck and don't forget to look after yourself too.