All About Autism

[Ms tay]

nugget:

specialboymum:

In fact, most of the publication or educational material tried to 'promote' special need school. I also got the impression that the materials imply that parents who insist for their kids to be in mainstream are either in denial of their kids condition or too concern about the 'face value' and are doing more harm to our kids then helping them. This is something which I'm not happy about.

Actually, there is no perfect choice for our kids. If I have sent him to special school, the curriculum/teaching method will suit to his needs and he may learn better. The school may also take care of other needs like OT, good work habit and self help skill. I also don't have to worry about potential school bully or problem like being socially awkward. However, one thing which I think special school will have difficulty in providing i.e to learn to integrate into world of NT and learn to deal with others who might not understand his condition. I think we cannot just beg people to understand or show empathy to our kids condition, our kids do have to learn what is accepted by the NT and make effort to fit in.
I wish there is a Pathlight in every single mainstream schools rather then having all kids on the spectrum in one school,separated from other kids. Since this is not possible, we just have weigh the pros and cons and make the decision. We do understand that when we made the choice for mainstream, we, as parent or caregiver, must put in lots of effort to source for additional help (like OT, SLT, behavior management etc outside schools) in order to help him to cope with school

I am with you on this. I also feel that no doubt special school will benefit them more in terms of pace and environment, but they are still not integrate to the NT world. That is why I want my boy to go to NT school.

I feel the earlier he get used and learn how to manage NT World, the better it is for him.

Totally agree wif u :hi5:
we should expose them to harsh reality in order to train them to adapt and integrate into society because one day we will leave them....

[Double E]

Agree, if our kid are not the severe kind and hv so far able to survive mainstream cc or kindy, we should continue to send them to mainstream Pri to let them try. Is not about face value or we are in denial, we just hv to let them try unless they hv proved that they can’t fit at all or are not learning, then we can send the kids back to special schs.

[J.029523SEMBAWANG]

Dear Mummies,


My church is holding a Miracle Service for Autism coming 1 Dec(Saturday) at 7pm.
The location is at Woodslands & Tampines. Pls see below for information.
If you need any information, pls PM me.

http://www.lighthouse.org.sg/hopeforanoutcast.asp

God Bless

[GabyEn]

Hi All


In case anyone is interested, there is a free seminar for parents with Special Needs kids By Fast ForWord Singapore. They held one sometime in Sep and this is their second run. If you are looking for some programs which you can do with your kids at home, you may wanna check this out. Here's the link:

http://www.fastforword.com.sg/news/parent-seminar-on-8th-december-930am-1130am-oasia-hotel-courtyard-3-basement-1/

[specialboymum]

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/11/29/autism-therapy-peers/14528/

[helplessmum3]

USA they don't segregate ASD w NT in school ..


ARC n pathlight n rainbow should also update on these right ?

Are they outdated or too focus on their usual way n stop researching new findings ? Or they not enough $$ .. I know govt may not wholly responsible for our ASD so maybe these areas for ASD to be in mainstream cost alot $$ to support ?

Hiaz.. Like u said how I wish too every mainstream has a pathlight ..

All I can do now is just depend on ourself to help our ASD at our best w social or govt or public pressure as much in various area one example is govt keep empathize ASD to go special needs school

[Double E]

Mummies

This forum is quite quiet recently. Hope I can still get response and advise from some of the more experience mummies here.

I am in a dilemma of whether to send my boy for a formal ASD assessment now.

The background is this. My boy is currently with SPD’s EIPIC but I wanted to transfer him to Rainbow and thereafter ARC as the last two EIPIC centres are more experienced and hopefully can help to improve his social communication skills. However, Rainbow and ARC will need a formal assessment report of his ASD status which I have been postponing as I don’t want him to have the label so early. His KKH doc too has also been telling us that we can wait till he is 5 to do so since we are already doing what is required to help him i.e EIPIC and therapies. Hence, no hurry to ‘label’ him.

We consulted my boy’s OT on the need to assess him. Instead, she asked if we think he is ASD. We told his OT that he is likely to be one but perhaps PDD-NOS or high functioning which she agreed. While she did not give us an answer if we should send him for assessment, she said that there are parents who chose to send their children to private EIPIC because they do not want to label the kids too early too. And today, I consulted my boy’s private psychologist and she said will be good to diagnose him now so that the therapists have a better understanding of his weaknesses. And she too said that ARC is more experienced in handling ASD kids.

Mummies, what would you do if you are in my shoe? Below are my two schools of thoughts.

Not to go for the full assessment:
Hubby and I are now more inclined to not send him for full assessment as we don’t want him to be labeled at such a young age. Also, like what the KKH doc said, my boy is already receiving all the necessary therapies now so whether to diagnose or not, makes no difference. And therapists, after working with him for sometime already know his weaknesses and are working on it.

But if we do not send him for full assessment, he can’t be transferred to Rainbow or ARC where he can probably learn more in terms of social communications as the current SPD EIPIC doesn’t seem to help much in this area. However, we can always go to the private route and send him to Weecare again but at a higher costs. Though we can still afford that, it will no doubt post a strain on our finances.

Not sending him for full assessment is also not about face-value as I have been
pretty open with his condition be it with my friends, family or his teachers in CC and enrichment classes.

To send him for full assessment:
The obvious benefit for doing so is that he will be able to enter Rainbow and start his queue at ARC.

Apart from the two schools of thought, we are also toying with the idea of pulling him out of government funded EIPIC and put him in private EIPIC which again does not require a formal assessment report.

Hope to hear your views. I really hope God can guide me on this as I don’t want to make a wrong decision that would affect my boy’s progress for life.

[Blokus]

Double E


It’s quite an easy choice for me. I think sending him to a suitable school is more important than fear of putting a label on your child. What’s more, you already more or less know & have told most of your friends. In A way, you have sort of your labelled your child by telling your friends, no? Honestly, I think This ‘label’ thing is no big deal. You will have to go through it sooner or later right? Unless, you are sure if you delay the assessment & give him more time to develop would help avoid the diagnosis then I say, delay it.

[Double E]

Blokus

Thanks for the advise. Another reason for us to delay it is insurance issue cos we just bought two policies for him not long ago, we are worried that the insurance company will void the policy as there’s a window period which we need to comply.

In any case, hubby and I have decided to proceed with the diagnosis as we see more benefits than harm especially we are really keen to get him into ARC.

And after thinking through this, I think my relunctance to send him to a formal assessment is probably because I don’t want to face the reality. Is like although I already know he is ASD, having a specialist, a report in writing to tell me that he is indeed one is still a hard pill to swallow. But I know I can’t let emotions take over me and have to be rational in my decision making.

[Blokus]

I understand. Same for me. I am reluctant to put it on black & white not so much for the label but coz I can still hold on to that dim hope that my son is not on the spectrum.