All About Autism

[Double E]

This morning, my son threw tantrums when the Daddy tried to dress him for school. He made daddy so angry that daddy ordered him to wear the clothes himself and asked me not to help him. Guess what, my son actually could do it and he can button up the shirt! I was amazed as he couldn’t do it whenever I asked him to try, he would lose his patience and tell me he can’t do it.


I think when one (in this case my son) is left with no help and choice, he got to suck it up and do it himself. Also kudos to my mother who has been helping me to train him too.

[Couragemom]

Hi Double E,


It is the same for my son. I tried to teach him to wear his pants but due to his poor hand coordination and balancing, he can’t do it properly so every time I force him to try, he will whine and cry. Now I am worried about his toileting when he reaches N2 next year where in general the students are just expected to ask teacher for permission and go toilet by themselves. My son has no problem taking off his underwear and pants but wearing them back is a different story all together. Haiz… Breathe in breathe out.

[Gifts from Heaven]

Couragemom:

Hi Double E,


It is the same for my son. I tried to teach him to wear his pants but due to his poor hand coordination and balancing, he can't do it properly so every time I force him to try, he will whine and cry. Now I am worried about his toileting when he reaches N2 next year where in general the students are just expected to ask teacher for permission and go toilet by themselves. My son has no problem taking off his underwear and pants but wearing them back is a different story all together. Haiz..... Breathe in breathe out.

Is it big business or small business?
If just pee, don't need to take out the whole underwear/pants. Just wear elastic band pants so that it is easy for him to flip out the 'thing' to pee and put back :).
If need to poo, can train him to poo only when at home.

[Couragemom]

Hi Gifts from Heaven,


I mean pee-pee. He usually does big business at home so I am not so worried. His balance is really bad and his low body tone makes things worse. For example, I expect that most N2 boys should be able to just pull down the pants/underwear, pee then wear back while standing right? But not for my son. Haiz…

[Couragemom]

Hi mommies,


Got a question for you all. Financially all the private therapies plus his half-day CC fee in a branded pre-school (I don’t purposely want to enrol him in such an ‘Atas’ environment, but more for the low teacher-student ratio) are taking a toll on the family. If I were to choose, I am thinking of letting him join a PCF kindergarten but continue private therapies (need to scale down some as well) as I deem them more important. What do you all think?

[Double E]

Couragemom:

Hi mommies,


Got a question for you all. Financially all the private therapies plus his half-day CC fee in a branded pre-school (I don't purposely want to enrol him in such an 'Atas' environment, but more for the low teacher-student ratio) are taking a toll on the family. If I were to choose, I am thinking of letting him join a PCF kindergarten but continue private therapies (need to scale down some as well) as I deem them more important. What do you all think?

Courageman
I did that about 1.5 years ago. Changed my son to a kindy from a CC to better manage the finances. At the same time, I also look at the therapies and see if there is any that I can drop or reduce the frequency (but of course has to be that he is more or less much better in that area, and I think no need to be so intensive anymore). But the changing of CC to kindy really helps on the pocket a lot. Furthermore I have two kids. When they were in CC, I have to pay $1400 per mth, after I put them in CC, I pay $1400 for every quarter ( I would have to pay $4200!! per quarter if my kids remain in the CC).

However, you also need to see what's PCF's teacher-ratio since the reason for your current choice of CC is due to the low teacher ratio. Also have to assess if the PCF teachers are patient enough to manage your boy as compared to the current CC. I think while financially is very tight, to me, it is more heart wrenching to see my son not being treated fairly and well at school.

What private therapies are ur son attending? perhaps you can cut on those instead of the CC if you deem your current CC has been doing a good job managing your son.

[Couragemom]

Hi Double E,


Actually his school teachers are quite ok with him and he is used to the environment in general but the school fees is $1100 (after subsidy!!!) for half-day CC! I don’t feel he is ready to go to PCF kindergarten as he probably will be ‘lost’ but if I am to continue the current cocktail of private therapies and atas CC, the family has to dip into our savings for his sake.

I found a good church kindergarten for my NT daughter for K1 next year and it only costs $800 per term! But there is no morning class slot for my son in N2 next year, must be on the waitlist. I will review his progress by Dec and see if I can cut back on his private therapies as well without compromising too much on his progress.

[fluttershy]

Hi Couragemom,


I think your idea sounds good. As long as you are not discontinuing the private therapies, he should be okay and you see how he's progressing with less therapies :snuggles:

Sometimes I wonder too how long I can bear with the finances since we just started private ABA therapies 7 months ago and his daily 5-hour a day ABA costs us S$8xxx.xx monthly and going to hit S$9xxx.xx starting in January 2015 I just keep telling myself that this won't be forever (maybe just for 2-3 years? :xedfingers:), so we're holding on right now and because early intervention is very critical for ASD kids.

I'm sure the higher man up there will somehow provide for us. We cut back on everything, no dining out, no shopping, no branded stuff, no holiday :?: coz right now top priority is for my son to get better, so just do the best to my ability :rahrah:

[Couragemom]

Hi fluttershy,


Thanks for the encouragement. Yah, you are right. I read an article that a US study shown that an ASD child given intensive ABA therapy from age 3-6 has a very good prognosis for future integration back to society. But like you say, the fee is HIGH!

I spoken to my husband and we decided to let him continue his current pre-school for the time being and will probably cut back on the therapies and see if he regresses anot. Keeping my fingers crossed and keeping my faith.

Meanwhile, I try to squirm my eyes while checking the bank account so that cannot see how fast the $ is depleting!

[dreamy79]

Hi


i’m new here. i have a son 3.5 years old being diagnosed mild autistic. to me he doesn’t have any issue other than behavioural issues. Have been sending him to rainbow centre for 2 hours lessons 3 times a week.
Can i know what’s the ABA therapy that i have been reading in this forum? is it good for behavioural issues kids? roughly hw much will it cost and which provider is good?
Sigh his mainstream CC has been feedback he’s quite disruptive in class really worried they’ll kick him out, he love the CC and the teacher and friends there. Any advice?