All About Autism

[Double E]

Wiggles,

Just curious, why would u think an all boys sch hv more special needs kids?

[woggles]

Hi Blokus,

Thanks for your encouragement. That's a good idea.. will perhaps explore and ask about possibly waitlisting. As for transferring mid way if DS can't cope, I will also explore that as a last resort whilst I monitor his progress.
Thank you!

Hi Double E:
Well... we actually approached both schools earlier this year and spoke with the HODs to understand the support that is available for children with ASD. The HODs were pretty open and gave us general statistics of percentage of special needs children in their respective school. It was then that we had a confirmation of sorts that the all-boys school had a higher percentage of special needs children (incl ASD, ADHD, Dyslexia etc). This view was also substantiated by our OT, ST and ed psych who have many clients from all-boys school, but not as many in co-ed schools esp elite co-ed schools. Of cos this are their views and I'm only comparing between 2 specific primary schools, which does not reflect the national school situation.

[belachanbabe]

Thanks for sharing your fears and worries Woggles. From your tone, can feel that you have remained strong for a long time and the pent up emotions just overcame you. :hugs:


Similar to your situation, we just secured a place in a SAP primary school under the 2A registration in this super competitive year against the advice of his kindy principal. We also declared his condition to the AED officer there and consented to releasing his info from KHH (was thinking if he will be 'marked' if we did this) Ah well, too late.

Even for NT kids, the adjustment to formal schooling is tough. However, if you never throw them into the deep end, you’ll never know if they will sink or swim. Let your DS try first and can always apply for PL or one of the alternative schools if he unable to cope. If anything, the discipline is what I look forward to.

Double E, think what she meant since there are more ASD boys than girls ratio wise, so boys’ schools tend to have more ASD cases? I had the same advice too

[woggles]

Thanks belachanbabe :hugs:

U are very intuitive! The last time I really burst out sobbing & crying over DS's condition was when he was diagnosed at 2yo. Moving on from that, I've just focused on getting the support he needs and work on his weak areas while celebrating his strengths. Still, I've always had this phobia about some \"elite\" primary schools and have not much faith in the school system. I guess the fact that my sis and my in-laws are teachers (in other schools) kinda aggravates my phobia worse! :faint:

I like what you said about letting the kids grow and cope... yes, I've been rather protective :slapshead:
Thank you all again for listening & sharing. More optimistic now :thankyou:

[ruru cat]

Hi hi, I actually wanted to finish reading all the 478 pages before posting anything here. My son is 21 months old and the psychologist said he has suspected ASD. I am in the midst of searching for therapies for him.


I am also looking around for a suitable eipic for him. Saw Eden children’s centre program starts at 2 years old but need to q to see nuh cdu route. I enquired at 3 private eipic but the classes only start at 2.5- 3 years old. Anyone has any places to share w me?

[ruru cat]

Through reading the previous postings (I am halfway thru!), I witness the ups and downs of being a autistic child’s mommy. I am still in my grieving stage (got the suspected ASD diagnosis last Thursday). V sad (never slept well for the past few days), tearing up often. Sigh… Overwhelmed and not sure what to do. Psychologist only recommended OT for him to improve his joint attention. Then see her in 6 months to do assessment.


While reading thru the postings, I saw that most mommies do more than that. OT, ST, ABA etc, join eipic as well. Haiz… Any advice?

[ruru cat]

Hi Double E,


I read thru the old posts and understood that your son is in SPD eipic, but you mentioned you want to move him to a private eipic? Is it ok to share with me the reason y? I am considering SPD because it has afternoon slot and I don’t want to withdraw my son from his morning 2hrs playgroup class. Another nearby eipic (5mins drive) timing is not so suitable.

I want him to continue with his playgroup as his teachers are very accommodating towards his condition and tries to involve him as much as they can.

[Double E]

ruru cat

I have pulled my son out and he is now with Leapfrog, private Epic.
SPD was good initially until they kept changing teachers and I slowly find that the so call individual learning plan didn’t seem to be implemented well for my son. Instead, the lessons became generic and my son’s progress became stagnant.

Another boy who was in the same class as my boy also withdrew to join another Epic centre.

Woggles
U can also see it from another angle. If the school has lesser special needs kids, then at least the AED can focus more on your son? If there are more special needs kids, your son being high-functioning will be the lowest on the AED’s priority as they will look out for the more severe cases.

[woggles]

ru ru cat,

Hang in there :hugs: u are on the right path by starting intervention as early as possible. For my son, we did the following: ABA (2-3.5yo), ST (3yo - 3.8yo), GFCF diet (2 -4yo), Social grp therapy (4-5yo), OT (3.5yo -present). OT definitely helped him in his regulation issues and overcome his various sensory issues. GFCF diet is debatable & hard to say. ABA helped jumpstart the process and established boundaries & discipline but would not be helpful to DS past age 4 esp once he became more responsive. From my experience, I've come to realise that the therapy/approach has to change/modify as my son's profile evolved.
You are at the start of things which is understandably overwhelming... you are not alone

Double E:
You have a very valid point and I'm going to seize on that \"advantage\"! Yah - will go in with open mind and support DS best I can. Rest of stuff I cannot control anyways and will just try to continue to advocate for him.

[ImMeeMee]

ruru cat:

Through reading the previous postings (I am halfway thru!), I witness the ups and downs of being a autistic child's mommy. I am still in my grieving stage (got the suspected ASD diagnosis last Thursday). V sad (never slept well for the past few days), tearing up often. Sigh... Overwhelmed and not sue what to do. Psychologist only recommended OT for him to imphjointattention. Then see her in 6 months to do assessment.


While reading thru the postings, I saw that most mommies do more than that. OT, ST, ABA etc, join eipic as well. Haiz.... Anyadvice?

ruru cat, when my doter was diagnosed with ASD back in 2010, I was devastated too. She was 3 yo then and considered moderate to severe as she was non verbal.

We started her on speech therapy and OT almost immediately and in between added on literacy and handwriting. Now she is 6 yo and verbal and ready to access the primary school curriculum next year.

It is only human to feel the grief and the pain, and at times feel that you can't go on. But don't lose heart, its not the end of the world. Early intervention such as speech therapy and occupational therapy have been shown by evidence to help ASD children improve, so you may want to try these therapies. There are parents that work on other techniques and you can check out the thread for more information.

Tell yourself to take small steps one at a time, and slowly you will find a path. That's what I and a lot of other mummies here did, so you can too. I learnt recently that there is a term for this - tragic optimism.

Hope this helps and come back and tell us how things have worked out for you.