Hi all!
Just after a bit of advice from the more experienced autism parents out there.
I've known my son was autistic from 15 months old. He's now 3 and a half and is quite severe, non verbal, no understanding severe sensory issues etc etc.
From all of my own research all your hear about is the importance of early intervention, blah blah blah, so when he was diagnosed bang on 3 years old I was relieved as believed we would now be inundated with these interventions and help I'd constantly read was sooo important.
How wrong I was!
Since diagnosed 5 months ago there's been nothing. All he gets is a speech and lang appt every 4 months.
Where's the help?
It's like they kind of go "yes your child is autistic, he may or never talk may or may not need care for most of his life, bye have a nice life!"
Oh, and a few leaflets.
Now I know some parents are happy to just ride out the autism train and let their child progress naturally and don't feel the need to intervene in their child's autism, and I respect that.
I, on the other hand, feel as though I am failing him by not trying to get him all the help and intervention I can. I want him to have as normal life as possible, and while I know we will never "cure" him, I can help him come into the world a little bit. But I don't know how.
What treatments/therapies are out there that are accessible? I've an American friend who's child has weekly OT, music therapy, swimming therapy, ABA so on. So many interventions she has trouble fitting them in! I'm not naive enough to know the NHS would provide all that but do they really offer absolutely nothing?
Not one therapy or treatment?
So I figured ok, I'll try and pay for something. I can't even find anything to pay for! It's like there's nothing in this country, or am I not looking properly?
Sorry for the rant but can't find anywhere else to ask!
