All About Autism
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Kagillus:
Hi all, can someone share abt pathlight school? I know it is for high functioning autistic kids n learnt thru website. Does the sch provide challenging curriculum or teaching main stream like primary classes? Are the kids group acc to iq n behavioural issue. My therapists kept saying it is a v special sch that suits iq high kids. I am juz concern if my boy follows the wrong behaviour eg throw tantrum cos he is dx w asperger syn. Sorry if it sounds offensive. But my boy can argued why he cant do but others can. Afraid hard to change him if he encounters tt at sch. He behaves perfect at home n I may not know wat happen at sch. I really need insider story. Thanks.
From what I know Pathlight is the only special school that teaches both mainstream curriculum (from Primary to Secondary mainstream curriculum) and vocational skills. It is a highly sought after special school by ASD kids. So far, I only hear good feedback about Pathlight school and hardly any negative comments. The students are taught mainstream curriculum in small groups. Each class has about 8 students with 3 teachers. In case u don't know, Pathlight produced a top PSLE scorer last year, a P6 boy who has aspergers and ADHD scored 276 for his PSLE and went on to enrol in NUS school of maths and science.
I met some students from Pathlight two years ago, I am very impressed by them especially the knowledge that they have and they behave like any typical primary school children. -
Kagillus:
Hi all, can someone share abt pathlight school? I know it is for high functioning autistic kids n learnt thru website. Does the sch provide challenging curriculum or teaching main stream like primary classes? Are the kids group acc to iq n behavioural issue. My therapists kept saying it is a v special sch that suits iq high kids. I am juz concern if my boy follows the wrong behaviour eg throw tantrum cos he is dx w asperger syn. Sorry if it sounds offensive. But my boy can argued why he cant do but others can. Afraid hard to change him if he encounters tt at sch. He behaves perfect at home n I may not know wat happen at sch. I really need insider story. Thanks.
My doter is only going into PL next year so I would not have any insider story at this point.
Besides what Double E has shared, would like to share that PL is not a school for high IQ kids. I recall there used to be a cut off of 70 but I am not sure whether this still applies. But because its key pathways accesses the mainstream curriculum leading to PSLE, the children need to be assessed to be cognitively ready to attend the school. Hence the psychological report is one of the pre-requisites in the application process.
The downside that I have heard from my friend whose doter is in higher primary in PL is that it can get quite stressful academically.
HTH. -
oceanluv:
oceanluv, by affordable you mean at the same level as Leapfrog?Hi,
My gal is 21 months and she has ASD with speech delay. Other than Leapfrog, where can I go affordable OT & ST?
I am totally new to this but I need to get my gal into early intervention.
Thanks all.
If so, then there are many private ST and OT that are charging about the same level as LF. There are usually mixed reviews of these therapy centers, and you would be able to find a lot of information at this thread, so you may want to visit a few centers before you decide.
If you are looking for services that are charging even lower, then one area could be KKH Rehab. My doter is currently on ST and OT there and I am paying about $60 per session as a subsidized patient. But of course, the therapy sessions are about once every 3 to 4 weeks, as compared to once a week which is possible at private centers.
We used to see private therapists when we wanted more intensive therapy about once a week. But as she progresses and as we learn to apply the techniques ourselves, we find that once every 3-4 weeks suits us well at this stage.
So it really depends on the current needs of your child. Hope this helps. -
Hi,
Has anybody heard of Nature’s Glory? Apparently, they use Nano Energy Booster Patch Therapy which they claim help children with autism. I was skeptical at first, but my colleague told me her friend said it really helps with her autistic nephew.
Do let me know if you have any experience!
Thanks in advance -
No, autism is a DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER. Please.
And what "road to recovery" are they talking about? This isn’t a disease. It’s something to be proud of. -
oceanluv:
Hi,Hi,
My gal is 21 months and she has ASD with speech delay. Other than Leapfrog, where can I go affordable OT & ST?
I am totally new to this but I need to get my gal into early intervention.
Thanks all.
if i am not mistaken, there is Thye Hwa Kwan Moral Early Intervention and Therapy Hub.
it should be in the affordable range. -
Saw this somewhere, and think its quite apt in certain ways. Not that I am being self-righteous here though …
(Quote) If you’re sick of hearing about all the "deficits" challenging people on the autism spectrum, join the club. But for every down side to autism, there seems to be a positive – an unusual trait that rarely appears among the "typical" community, but shines out among autistic folk. These plusses are well worth celebrating.
1. Autistic People Rarely Lie
We all claim to value the truth, but almost all of us tell little white lies. All, that is, except people on the autism spectrum. To them, truth is truth – and a good word from a person on the spectrum is the real deal.
2. People on the Autism Spectrum Live in the Moment
How often do typical people fail to notice what’s in front of their eyes because they’re distracted by social cues or random chitchat? People on the autism spectrum truely attend to the sensory input that surrounds them. Many have achieved the ideal of mindfulness.
3. People with Autism Rarely Judge Others
Who’s fatter? Richer? Smarter? For people on the autism spectrum, these distinctions hold much less importance than for typical folks. In fact, people on the spectrum often see through such surface appearances to discover the real person.
4. Autistic People are Passionate
Of course, not all autistic people are alike. But many are truly passionate about the things, ideas and people in their lives. How many "typical" people can say the same?
5. People with Autism Are Not Tied to Social Expectations
If you’ve ever bought a car, played a game or joined a club to fit in, you know how hard it is to be true to yourself. But for people with autism, social expectations can be honestly irrelevant. What matters is true liking, interest and passion – not keeping up with the Joneses.
6. People with Autism Have Terrific Memories
How often do typical people forget directions, or fail to take note of colors, names, and other details? People on the autism spectrum are often much more tuned in to details. They may have a much better memory than their typical peers for all kind of critical details.
7. Autistic People Are Less Materialistic
Of course, this is not universally true – but in general, people with autism are far less concerned with outward appearance than their typical peers. As a result, they worry less about brand names, hairstyles and other expensive but unimportant externals than most people do.
8. Autistic People Play Fewer Head Games
Who was that woman, and why were you looking at her? I know I TOLD you I didn’t mind if you went out, but why did you believe me? Most autistic people don’t play games like these – and they assume that you won’t either. It’s a refreshing and wonderful change from the Peyton Place emotional roller coaster that mars too many typical relationships!
9. Autistic People Have Fewer Hidden Agendas
Most of the time, if a person on the autism spectrum tells you what he wants – he is telling you what he wants. No need to beat around the bush, second guess, and hope you’re reading between the lines!
10. People with Autism Open New Doors for Neurotypicals
For some of us neurotypicals, having an autistic person in our lives has had a profound positive impact on our perceptions, beliefs and expectations. For me, at least, being the mom of a son on the autism spectrum has released me from a lifetime of "should" – and offered me a new world of "is." (Unquote) -
iHerb has VIP offer again during september.
iHerb Info: http://iherb-info.blogspot.com/ -
asking on behalf of a friend, who is considering enrol her child in Pathlight school.
Can any Pathlight parent (with kids studying inside from p1 to p6, or had already graduated) kindly share (Thank you) ?
- how many p1 classes, are there in Pathlight primary school ?
- how many pupils (per p1 class) ?
How many teachers per class, take turn look after these kids ?
- academic wise (from p1 to p6) :-
a)
for Mathematics :-
do Pathlight follow the same Maths curriculum, as in mainstream schools ?
Or do Pathlight skip teaching pupils certain Maths topics ?
example
do Pathlight skip / or still teach Maths modeling, and at which level ?
b)
for English :-
heard that Pathlight do not have show & tell.
True or false ?
Do the kids learn spelling ?
Then, at which level do the pupils -
start writing composition ?
c)
how does Pathlight school group the pupils together, to form a class to teach ?
is it by cognitive behavior / intelligence level ?
d)
any other useful info to share -
regarding academic training or social wise ? -
Hi parents! I’m new here but have been following this thread for quite a long while. I must say I really salute to all of you for doing so much for your kids, while I didn’t even do this much for my DS, not in the earlier years, or even now… guilty
I’ve a 11-yr old son who is now a P4 student in Pathlight. He has been there since Preparatory class. So I thought I might just share some of my experiences about Pathlight, since recently there are more parents enquiring about the school.
Pertaining to phtthp’s questions:
- how many p1 classes, are there in Pathlight primary school ?
I’m not too sure about current number of P1 classes as my DS is no longer in Campus 1, but during his time there were 6 P1 classes. So I guess it should be more classes by now since the population has increased double.
- how many pupils (per p1 class) ?
How many teachers per class, take turn look after these kids ?
The class size varies from 6-13 students with 2 teachers. Of course there are other subject teachers too, but rest assure there are always 2 teachers around. Those pupils of bigger class size are usually more independent who can take instruction and carry out tasks well, with minimal supervision.
- academic wise (from p1 to p6) :-
a)
for Mathematics :-
do Pathlight follow the same Maths curriculum, as in mainstream schools ?
Or do Pathlight skip teaching pupils certain Maths topics ?
The school uses "My Pals are Here" textbooks and workbooks for Math. They don’t skip topic and the pupils learn exactly what the mainstreams kids are learning. Even the exam format is exactly the same with Section A being MCQ, Section B is short questions and Section C is problem sums. The pupils are also taught using models to solve problem sums.
b)
for English :-
heard that Pathlight do not have show & tell.
True or false ?
The school has its own sets of STELLAR readers. Yes, there is show & tell in lower primary. The pupils may even showcase during assemblies or even on Parents Communication Night! You will be truly amazed how these small kids can talk so well with such confidence.
Do the kids learn spelling ?
Yes, they do, and dictation too. From P3 onwards there is even Science spelling, just like the mainstream. In P4 you can expect unseen dictation too.
Then, at which level do the pupils -
start writing composition ?
If I remember correctly, my DS started compo writing in P2. Anyway since PP (Preparatory), they already have had journal writings.
c)
how does Pathlight school group the pupils together, to form a class to teach ?
is it by cognitive behavior / intelligence level ?
They are grouped according to ABC.
A - Academic
B - Behaviour
C - Cognitive
Though the school says the pupils are not streamed according to academic results, but if you are there long enough to notice, you know the "top class" does exist, where the pupils in that class all can score high A or distinction results. Of course, there are other behavioural issues to deal with in every classes. The P4s are also having streaming end of the year, as whether taking Standard or Foundation course in P5&6. It’s the same practice as in mainstream schools.
d)
any other useful info to share -
regarding academic training or social wise ?
Just to highlight that Pathlight is an unique special school that offers mainstream curriculum and life skill. They follow MOE curriculum since ultimately the pupils are going to sit for PSLE. For Science the school is also using "My Pals are Here"textbooks and workbooks. There is no Mother Tongue lessons, instead it’s replaced by Daily Living Skill and IT lessons, which I think it’s more applicable to our ASD kids.
For those more academic biased parents, you don’t have to worry as Pathlight conducts 4 exams in a year- 2 Practice papers (similar to CA in mainstream) and 2 SA. It can be quite stressful I must say… Just like the mainstream, Pathlight also has English Paper 1 (compo writing), Paper 2 (written paper with grammar and vocabulary MCQ, cloze passages, compre passages with MCQ and open ended), Paper 3 (listening compre with note-taking and unseen dictation from P3 onwards), and oral exam. Whatever the mainstream kids are going through, the pupils of Pathlight too are going through the same thing. Many of my friends thought that Pathlight students are probably taking modified PSLE papers, but no this is not true. The Pathlighters are taking the exact same PSLE papers just like all the others mainstreamers. That’s why Pathlight’s curriculum follows exactly the MOE curriculum. The only difference is probably the method of teaching. As ASD kids are usually more visual, hence the teachers are using a lot of visual aids. On my side, I use a lot of drawing and photo showing to help my DS to understand the concepts taught in class.
For Campus 1 lower primary students, they have integrated recess at Townsville Primary School, while the upper primary students at Campus 2 have their integrated recess at Chong Boon Secondary School. My DS loves going over to CBSS as he likes the roti prata sold there!
I like the school’s term outings! The pupils get to go to interesting places like S.E.A Aquarium, River Safari, and the most recent one being the Mummy exhibition at MBS Art Science Museum. Sometimes they go to watch play too. Even my 14-yr old DD is very envious that the brother gets to go to these places, she always says that she also wants to study in Pathlight…
I must say that the teachers of Pathlight are very passionate and patient. They work very closely with parents, and usually response very fast via email or handbook communication to address the parents’ concerns. Those who personally fetch their kids from school can get to talk to the class teachers too during dismissal, when they bring the kids out to the caregivers.
My DS was quite non verbal and was always in his world when he first attended Pathlight. But now he is really a chatty and cheeky boy, and is pretty aware of the happenings around his surrounding. He is quite k-po and his antenna can even stretch beyond his class. So some of the mummies always like to ask him for their children’s behaviour in class, or even the exam results!
I hope I have given a rough idea of what life in Pathlight School is about. This is my own experience and knowledge, it does not speak for all parents of Pathlight School.
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