All About Autism

[helplessmum3]

I worried my son will become robot. N rigid.

U think is good ?

[ImMeeMee]

helplessmum3:

I worried my son will become robot. N rigid.

U think is good ?

helplessmum, if I may be candid.

When we were searching for a EIPIC school for my doter two years ago, we visited a few centers, Rainbow and my doter's current EIPIC school included. We saw for ourselves what were the programs that the centers were offering and how they were run.

At the time when we visited, Rainbow had a program to group all ASD kids together, and the daily program involves compartmentalizing various tasks with the support of picture cards. In that sense we assessed that it was more structured among the rest.

Its true that structure will help our children, thats why EIPIC in general will be beneficial to our kids when compared to a pure mainstream environment. But we decided that we did not want too structured a program for our doter, cos we hope that she can learn to eventually blend into the mainstream environment if possible. So we ended up not choosing Rainbow.

That's not to say Rainbow is no good. I think it all bores down to various factors such as the severity of the ASD - its not a one size fits all. Please dont get me wrong where I think my current EIPIC center is perfect - it too has its share of challenges.

I am not trying to discourage you, but merely to lay down the facts based on my experience. Rule of thumb could be to give yourself 6 months and then do your own review. Do give your child and the center some time before coming to a conclusion. If possible visit other EIPIC centers and see how their programs are run. Trust your gut feel if you think changes need to be made by then.

Hope this helps.

[ImMeeMee]

nugget:

ImMeeMee:

I just brought my doter to the KKH Rehab for OT a few days ago. I asked about services availability for children beyond 7 yo. Therapist informed that Rehab will continue to see patients beyond 7 yo. But they have recently introduced a new policy where patients need to go for doctor's review after every 5-6 therapy sessions.


Anyone has heard about this?

So meaning the doctor will assess and see any improvement at regular improvement from 3rd party perspective? Else why would they want to see?

Actually I also not too sure what is the intention of the doctor's review in between. Did not have a chance to learn more cos that was our first visit and we were addressing other issues.

Hope will get more info when I next visit.

[helplessmum3]

Imeemee,

What is yr eipic centre name ? I check them out.

[ImMeeMee]

helplessmum3:

Imeemee,

What is yr eipic centre name ? I check them out.

helplessmum, I have pmed you. You may also like to check out other EIPIC centers - CEL website has a full list.

Again I like to stress that my sharing is not an exercise to say which center is good or no good. Each one will have its fair share of strengths and weaknesses. Its simply a case of individual fit based on individual needs, and I am purely with the intention to share my own experience which may be of help to fellow parents where possible.

In the meantime do keep an open mind and do all you can to make things work at your current arrangement.

[nugget]

Helplessmum,


I think you should give time for Rainbow to work on your child. I was skeptical when I send my son to EIPIC as well. My son’s class is not solely ASD children. They have ADHD, GDD and other developmental issues. I was also wondering how effective the lessons will be. I only saw results after 6 months. Its not a miracle session where you will see tremendous results after 1-2 sessions.

I know that you have a lot on your plate right now. Dun be so stress up. Take one thing at a time. Dun give yourself so much work and keep changing schools. You will burn yourself out and too much changes for your boy cos he need to adapt again.

[nugget]

There were a few posts back talking abt allergy test and diets.


I admire mummies who do GFCD diet for their sons. I tried and it so expensive and so hard to keep up. Not to mention the stress against the older folks who say why cannot eat this or tat… I really got to give it to the mums who persist.

I have known of a friend’s friend son benefited from allergy test by cutting out certain food from his diet (i do not know a lot of details), and he went acupuncture as well. Now this boy is diagnose as PDDNOS. The mother quit her job to look after him full time and send him EIPIC 4x per week, cook special meals and send him for acupuncture.

Sometimes I feel so guilty not doing all these for my son. I cant quit my job cos I need to plan for all my kids future and to support the family. But if I am at work, I cant do all extra things for my son. End up sometimes I dunno how to strike a balance as well. And I still got 2 other younger kids to attend to.

But whatever it is, I feel I give it my best shot. Just hope my son gets better and better. I am glad we have this support group. Else I will be so so miserable.

[helplessmum3]

Imeemee, Slimkhoo.

My son is doing very well in the smaller group mainstream childcare.
So I just worry the structure method teaching in rainbow may make him fall back into.
Ok I try to monitor the progress
Thanks for all your sharing.

ImeeMee,thanks, recd yr pmed.


Nugget, im not looking at result. jus worrying. ok i will try to relax now,thanks

[nugget]

helplessmum3:

Imeemee, Slimkhoo.

My son is doing very well in the smaller group mainstream childcare.
So I just worry the structure method teaching in rainbow may make him fall back into.
Ok I try to monitor the progress
Thanks for all your sharing.

ImeeMee,thanks, recd yr pmed.


Nugget, im not looking at result. jus worrying. ok i will try to relax now,thanks

Helplessmum,

If you have the bandwidth then can continue to enroll him into the mainstream CC.

I also feel EIPIC pace is much slower cos they break down steps, slowly teach the child. But its good, cos they absorb more.

I think a balance of both will be good. But you need time and support and money to achieve all these.

Hang in there. U are already doing your best.

[ImMeeMee]

nugget:

There were a few posts back talking abt allergy test and diets.


I admire mummies who do GFCD diet for their sons. I tried and it so expensive and so hard to keep up. Not to mention the stress against the older folks who say why cannot eat this or tat... I really got to give it to the mums who persist.

I have known of a friend's friend son benefited from allergy test by cutting out certain food from his diet (i do not know a lot of details), and he went acupuncture as well. Now this boy is diagnose as PDDNOS. The mother quit her job to look after him full time and send him EIPIC 4x per week, cook special meals and send him for acupuncture.

Sometimes I feel so guilty not doing all these for my son. I cant quit my job cos I need to plan for all my kids future and to support the family. But if I am at work, I cant do all extra things for my son. End up sometimes I dunno how to strike a balance as well. And I still got 2 other younger kids to attend to.

But whatever it is, I feel I give it my best shot. Just hope my son gets better and better. I am glad we have this support group. Else I will be so so miserable.

Nugget, I went from FTWM to now a PTWM with the main objective to support my doter. Even with this arrangement, I still find that I do not have enough time to attend to her, what with her many things to follow up on, and with two elder gals with heavy homework almost everyday.

Truth be told, with the beginning of the new year, and new logistics arrangements to work on for my elder gals, plus additional mainstream childcare center for my ASD doter in the afternoons, all I do almost everyday is to monitor the time so I know who to fetch from where to where. Like a headless chicken running all over the place. Its just three weeks into the new year and I can already feel the toll.

Then there are so many things to follow up with my #3 and only so little time. If I focus on handwriting I cannot do story retelling. If I do fine motor skills I cannot do social activities. And all these are areas that are being requested by the therapists/schools to focus on.

And now with part-time work also not easy, new projects will be coming along soon. Worse still, dh scheduled for overseas trips this year. Its scary even thinking about it.

No choice, one step at a time, I also wont be able to think too far. There will always be constraints no matter how hard we try. You are right, try our best and stay positive.