My 12 year daughter referred for assessment

Think that's the one, here is the link for it 

https://www.autism.org.uk/professionals/training-consultancy/online/women-and-girls.aspx

It's free at the moment, as they are trying to raise awareness that girls can present differently. The also have other modules that you can purchase. 

I wish more professionals could understand that girls don't always tick all the boxes and stop misdiagnosing them or refusing to help full stop! 

Good luck to you 

Oh brilliant- on the autism.org.uk site? I’ll look into it! Thank you  

Also check this site they are offering free training on autism in women and girls it is quite enlightening! Good luck x

Hi

We have always been very oopen with him and have always told him that we want to find ways to support him and make life easier for him. Unfortunately it’s been a very long journey which we started when he was 10 and only really came about when he his stress and anxiety brought on mental health issues. Because we persevered in trying to find him help we have had to go through many assessments and discussions and he has had to re tell his story on many occasions as we’ve worked our way through the various NHS & local authorities! 

Thanfully he is much better now and gets regular CAMHS support and has an ECHP at school which helps  him access support. 

Its  all a journey but you’ll get there in the end, they are definitely worth the effort. 

Good luck x

@bechster what a lovely way of celebrating your daughter’s diagnosis, it brought tears to my eyes! I’ll definitely follow your positive example.

i agree there is more information about boys with ASD - I’m trying to read up as much as possible and it’s great I found this group online. I just want my daughter to get all the help she can. 

With regards to the school, my daughter is part of the library club and I’ll ask her if she wants to join another. She mentioned she’s like to start horse riding but it’ll depend on costs!

thank you for all your help. I’ll also look into possible books about girls with ASD.

Interestingly it was our school nurse who suggested I get my daughter assessed for Autism so my daughter was aware of what was going on at the time. She was interested to know, but had read a little about ASD in advance so I think she understood. This was all in year 8 so it may be worth just saying to your daughter that you are going to meet someone who may be able to help her to understand herself more and that autism is something they are thinking about. Keep it light and leave it at that unless she asks for more details. You may find she will look for more details herself (my middle child definitely did).

When my daughter's results were given I was invited to get them on my own. I bought her her favourite cake on the way home and I told her that we had discovered why she was so special and so great at art etc. Kept it positive. She enjoyed that!

You will find a lot of the reading material and facts to a certain extent are geared towards boys as in a lot of ways girls mask their autism, this is interesting to me. Girls try harder to fit in I think because of the way female friendships are so much more significant (dramatic?)  than with boys.

With regards to school are there any clubs your daughter would be interested in joining as she will meet people with similar interests at clubs for particular things?

Thank you for your advice @beckster, I’ll speak to the school about anything else they can offer  my daughter in terms of support. She is finding it extremely hard. Today she came home saying she’s always the last one to be picked for class activities and a couple of girls seem to be picking on her - I will flag these up with the school first thing tomorrow. I will also ask if all teachers have been made aware of her re assessment and needs.

I’m looking into out of school activities. Also If you can share any further advice on how to discuss  with my daughter that we are waiting for an assessment for her (I don’t want her to get really upset about it so not sure how to broach subject).

thank you!

Hi, I have 3 children, 2 have had a diagnosis through CAMHS and I am awaiting an assessment for my youngest - it's approaching a year now but with him I am just assuming he has ASD at this stage.

My 2 eldest didn't have obvious issues in primary school either and it was about year 8 when my daughter (now 16) started to struggle and we were first referred to CAMHS. 

I would suggest it is probably not worth paying to get a diagnosis any faster because effectively what you get with a diagnosis is a bit of paper confirming it. It does sound like your daughter has traits of ASD and I personally suggest reading about it as much as you can at this stage.

The school sounds great if they are offering a social skills course already. You will probably find the school has a nurse attached to it as well as a counsellor, your daughter may find these people useful to talk to if/when she is struggling at school.  It will also probably become obvious fairly quickly which of the staff are aware of SEN needs - at the school my children are at some of the teachers have gone above and beyond with helping my 3 cope.

While your daughter is awaiting assessment I would imagine the school will make her teachers aware and they should put things in place for her with that in mind.

My daughter has found closer friends in out of school activities in line with her interests. It's definitely worth looking into extra curricular groups etc which may help.

Thank you for your reply and advice, yes, will Look into recognised assessments only. sorry you had to wait 18 months for an assessment- have you discussed his diagnosis with him (I’m asking as I don’t know how to broach the subject with my daughter).

regarding other interests my daughter does drama out of school and will look into other activities such as a cycling club. I agree I should encourage more out of school activities  that she enjoys - thanks for the tips!

Hi 

I’m a mother of a yr8 boy who has ASD and have only just had his diagnosis afte 18mths of waiting. My only advice about assessment is too ask your local authority if they would recognise the diagnosis if you went private, some authorities will not recognise it officially.

As for the friendship issue have you tried focusing on her special interests and finding activities out of school where she can mix with like minded individuals, this worked well for my son and helped build his self esteem. 

Just a thought hope it helps.