Feel like Im going mad

Hi to all Im new here and as I write this I cant stop crying.My son was excluded from school in Feb and now the secondary school he wants to go to doesnt want him. He was diagnosed with ADHD in Aug 10 after me saying for years he was different in his actions and now yesterday he was diagnosed with autism. I feel so alone and everything is such a battle to get any professionals to help or listen to me. They talk over me like Im stupid or not there. Sorry I feel so low today. Does life get any easier for me and my boy?

  • Thank you for those links. I feel calmer today and ready to get focused

  • Hi Marina, 

    Sorry to hear how overwhelming things are for you, hopefully you'll find some comfort chatting here. I just wanted to take some time to point out a couple of our services, in addition to the more general helpline. 

    Our Education Rights Service offers information, advice and support for people facing issues in finding appropriate education support. It's staffed by trained volunteers and ties into our services to provide tribunal support. You might want to consider getting in touch and arranging a chance to talk through your situation -
    http://www.autism.org.uk/educationrights 

    We also run a Parent to Parent service which offers ongoing support over the telephone from parents. In addition to support here it could be a good place to let off some steam and discuss how overwhelming everything seems to be a the moment -
    http://www.autism.org.uk/p2p 

    Hope those services and the community bring you a bit of comfort right now, sorry to hear how difficult things have been for you and your son.

  • Thank you for your replies. My son is not in school at the moment. He is being looked after by a mast team. It was actually a person from this team who suggested to check for autism. I have written to the LEA weeks ago but no reply and cant get anyone on the phone to speak to. I need to have a plan of action for myself to get myself focused to help him but it seems so overwhelming that I dont know what my plan should be. Im going to ring the helpline today as I feel there is no one I can explain my feelings to and I just keep crying which definately is no good for my son and other children. Just cant seem to get myself together today.

  • Hi,

     

    I know how you ere feeling as when we received our sons diagnosis of Aspergers it was mixed emotions.......if you need to cry then do so.

    No school is allowed to turn down an application due to a disability or anything that relates to that disability.

    Is your son currently out of education?

    A SENco is a Special Eduacational Needs co-ordinator that every school should have. This is the person who you would discuss your sons educational needs with.

    If you have applied for a secondary school and they have denied to en-role him you can challenge them by taking out a claim through SENDIST.

    http://www.justice.gov.uk/tribunals/send/appeals

    If you click on this link it will take youto their website. Click on the link for Disability discrimination in schools.

     

    I would also cotact your local authority and explain your situation and ask for their advice.

    Mummawilson

    P.s.

    hang on in there!!! it does get easier...........

     

     

  • It's so overwhelming to finally get a diagnosis isn't it - though probably a bit of relief too?

    Do you have a Health Visitor at all - can you ask her to visit and see what she/he can suggest. Their job is to not only help with issues in respect of your son but to support you too. Now you have a diagnosis you should definitely push for a Statement. 

  • The dislike of crowds and noise is probably a sensory overload issue, rather than a social phobia.

  • Hi sonia

     I have applied for a statement so I should know soon if they will agree. I dont have a senco and I never met the one at his previous school. He does get very anxious which comes over as an excitable state and then hard to calm him down. He doesnt like crowds and lots of noise. His cams nurse says hes not eligeable for a special unit

  • Hi, it sounds like now you have a diagnosis you need to push for a statement. Your senco should help you with starting that process. Then maybe a special needs school would be less traumatic for him as children are really cruel. Does he have social phobia?