Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone … I have a son with ASD he is nearly 13 and he attends a high coin specialist secondary school .. His school is nearly a hours taxi ride away and then a hour home again …. As soon aa he leaves our house his impulsive behaviours start he can be rude inappropriate just general impulsiveness … His head teacher referred him to social services (purely for his impulsiveness) and we were given a youth worker (who we adore) … The summer holidays finished and the 3rd day back at school and the impulsiveness started again and his head teacher wanted to do another report but since we have a youth worker she didn’t need to … It’s been identified the support my son needs isant at home it’s in school.. He has an annual review for his echp due so our youth worker is going to use the opportunity of having his ehcp case worker there and have a TAF meeting at the same time … I’m so nervous about the TAF. Meeting I don’t know why I keep thinking Omg am I bad parent do they want to take my son etc I’m a massive worrier ! … My son has verbalised many times to Myself and his dad and his youth worker and other family members he hates going to school that far he hates the taxi and he can’t control himself … Has anyone else had experience with Taf meetings?? it’s going to me my sons school my sons echp case officer and his youth worker attending….
many thanks xxx
You say your son has issues with impulsivity - has he been assessed for ADHD? For some reason this common co-morbidity is often not diagnosed during ASD assessments. The treatment of choice for ADHD, according to NICE, and many child psychiatrists, is a combination of medication and psycho-education support like mentoring and coaching. The medication affects the prefrontal cortex which is the "brake" in our reactions. Medication helps the executive functions of the brain to work properly. Then the other interventions enable us to "re-program" new habits.
(I've been there, done that, taken the Ritalin and lost the tee-shirt. The good new is that whilst we don't 'grow out' of ADHD, we can develop coping skills over time, just like we learn to mask our autism.)
Well this is what myself and his youth worker think he needs because a assessment because it’s quite clear he also had ADHD… His school is purely a school for autism I really think he is in the wrong setting.
ADHD is >very< common with ASD - I've seen figures that quote up to 60%. Any good special school should be able to deal with ADHD, especially one specialising in autism. It sounds like the stressor is the hour-long taxi ride ... I don't know if anything can be done about that. Presumably you gave tried the usual distractions such as music, games etc.. Good luck!