All About Autism

[mashy]

helplessmum3:

Pcf is for nomal kids but not for high iq kids...


Our ASD kids need challenges , pcf is not challenging enough for them..

Unfortunately, not all ASD children have high IQ. What they need isn't just about challenges, it's also patience, attention and routine.

[mashy]

nugget:

mashy:

Yes yes! I agree that pathlight is a good alternative to mainstream. If cannot go mainstream, that's the next best place since it also studies the same subjects and can take PSLE. The Pathlight boy who scored 273 went into NUS High! That is my dream sch for my boy!

I also feel my boy will strive very well in pathlight. *i might sound like slapping myself in my next statement* But I want my boy to try to strive in mainstream first.

Cos when he grows up, there is no pathlight working environment for him. Its better he get adapted to mainstream environment if he can. If he really cant hope, they i will slowly queue up for entry into pathlight.

Same lah. If can survive in mainstream, that's best. It's a lot cheaper. My boy's psychology report recommends that if he can't thrive in mainstream school, he can opt for pathlight. I'm happy that he can manage so far in mainstream. Perhaps not the best student but at least average results. There are many NT kids who did a lot worse than him.

[mashy]

slmkhoo:

Even for the high IQ ASD kids, their main challenges are usually in behaviour and social skills, being challenged intellectually is secondary. I rate being able to interact socially and know how to behave appropriately in a wide range of situations as more important than intellectual development, at least in the early years. Once the behavoiur and self-management skills etc is sorted out, knowledge can be acquired more easily.

I agree with you. With my boy, it's not so much of intelligence that's the issue. It's the social behaviour.

[Summer tan]

ImMeeMee:

Summer tan:

Thank you! It truly helps. You have opened my mind. Maybe I should go for the open house. Any this year ?

You can check out the website or call the school to enquire about its open house.

summer, do drop by PL if you can. If for anything, go and browse at the numerous paintings done by the PL students that line the walls within the school premises. ASD kids may not be expressive with their words, but the way they communicate via drawings can be amazing. They never fail to touch my heart.

Ok I will thanks.

[Summer tan]

slmkhoo:

mashy:

[quote=\"helplessmum3\"]Pcf is for nomal kids but not for high iq kids...


Our ASD kids need challenges , pcf is not challenging enough for them..

Unfortunately, not all ASD children have high IQ. What they need isn't just about challenges, it's also patience, attention and routine.

Even for the high IQ ASD kids, their main challenges are usually in behaviour and social skills, being challenged intellectually is secondary. I rate being able to interact socially and know how to behave appropriately in a wide range of situations as more important than intellectual development, at least in the early years. Once the behavoiur and self-management skills etc is sorted out, knowledge can be acquired more easily.[/quote]I agree. That's why I always tell people around me that I would rather my child be quiet and slower than having behavioral issues.

[Summer tan]

helplessmum3:

My son current cc teachers say he is an angel . Totally manageable no behavior issue..


Summer tan, the faults lie on PCF setting really .. Ur son is upset might b the teachers treated him ...

If u read back I too hav problem w previous cc...

Do u mind sharing which cc is your child studying now? Is it church based?

Actually I don't think there's any thing much to share on my son's learning. Cos seriously to me that is not something I'm proud of as his behavior supersedes his knowledge. Nevertheless I don't mind just telling u he watched ur bb can read when he was few mths old n learn a lot from there's.

[Summer tan]

mashy:

slmkhoo:

Even for the high IQ ASD kids, their main challenges are usually in behaviour and social skills, being challenged intellectually is secondary. I rate being able to interact socially and know how to behave appropriately in a wide range of situations as more important than intellectual development, at least in the early years. Once the behavoiur and self-management skills etc is sorted out, knowledge can be acquired more easily.

I agree with you. With my boy, it's not so much of intelligence that's the issue. It's the social behaviour.

Hi mashy, do u mind sharing how you manage his behavior and ensure that he depicts those from home to school? Which eipic centre or OT specislist dod u send him before he was in primary school? Also has he got any AED attached to him? Thks!

[mashy]

Summer tan:

mashy:

[quote=\"slmkhoo\"]
Even for the high IQ ASD kids, their main challenges are usually in behaviour and social skills, being challenged intellectually is secondary. I rate being able to interact socially and know how to behave appropriately in a wide range of situations as more important than intellectual development, at least in the early years. Once the behavoiur and self-management skills etc is sorted out, knowledge can be acquired more easily.

I agree with you. With my boy, it's not so much of intelligence that's the issue. It's the social behaviour.

Hi mashy, do u mind sharing how you manage his behavior and ensure that he depicts those from home to school? Which eipic centre or OT specislist dod u send him before he was in primary school? Also has he got any AED attached to him? Thks![/quote]He was diagnosed very late. Just a month before starting pri 1 and the formal report only came after pri 1 started. So he didn't attend any Eipic centre. However, we started him on OT and ST from the time he was 4 years old at kkh rehab because he couldn't write well and he has poor articulation. Before the start of P1, he attended a week long class at kkh rehab on school readiness. He was taught appropriate behaviour in class, money management etc. Now, he still has sessions with the OT and ST for social behaviour, speech, handwriting and on task concentration.

I also teach him at home with books on social behaviour and games. He is an avid reader so it helps. I am thankful that he had a good form teacher who was patient with him and came up with reward charts to get him to behave and complete his work. It took about 6 mths before he finally did his school work. Also great that he had very good classmates who helped him along and reminded him when he forgets things. Female classmates are so important IMO. Kekekeke. There is an AED attached to the class for maths and English classes. Mainly coz there are 2 ASD students in the class. She is more of a teacher assistant I feel. Coz I guess you also won't want the AED to solely concentrate on your child and make others think there is something wrong with him. Besides, he doesn't listen to her. He listened to the form teacher however. The form teacher is trained in special needs and the main driver in the class. This year, there's a change in form teacher. The new one is also trained and a senior teacher. So I can only say, I'm pretty happy so far. It's not an acad driven school so we could afford the time to let him settle down and learn appropriate classroom behaviour. I think it is important to meet a good teacher coz she can really make a difference. Previously, he would speak out of topic in class and slowly he began to raise hands and answer appropriately. So I would say, communicate with the teacher. Talk to her about your concerns, your suggestions on how to manage some behaviour etc. coz no one knows your son better than you and you know how best to manage each behaviour.

I can't really ensure that he carries out all the things we taught him since we are not there ourselves. Can only practise a lot at home. There are bad days and good days so I just hope there are more good days. After each inappropriate behaviour, we will tell him why he shouldn't do that. And we praise him when he does something well. He takes praises very well. He now has a best friend in class and I'm happy with his progress.

He doesn't have a violent streak in him so it makes many things a lot easier. At most he will just lie on the floor and go into his dream state. Or do some funny stuff when he is tired. Like 'ling Hun chu qiao' hahaha. My hb and I can tell when he's going all weird but I doubt the teachers can pick that up as easily.

We can only try our best. Some things are just beyond our control and we simply have to accept that it is part of him. We also have to accept that he won't be topping his class or become the class monitor. So long as he is average, we are happy. if he can do better, it's a bonus.

[Summer tan]

Thanks mashy for the sharing. Well done! If my son can be like your boy i will really celebrate le! Yes u r right, good form teacher and good classmates are very important. I also intend to send my son to a non academic driver pri sch if he can go to mainstream. Do you know where to check which pri sch cater to special needs? i cant seem to find it. May I know if he’s the only child? And how much do u pay for kkh therapy? do they have ‘classes’ on social skills?


Actually I was talking to my hb just now abt PL school. He’s very positive. He said it’s ok if he has to go to PL. the most is next time he just be a researcher cos they are the jobs that don’t need interaction. He said I think too much and told me to take a step at a time.

[mashy]

Summer tan:

Thanks mashy for the sharing. Well done! If my son can be like your boy i will really celebrate le! Yes u r right, good form teacher and good classmates are very important. I also intend to send my son to a non academic driver pri sch if he can go to mainstream. Do you know where to check which pri sch cater to special needs? i cant seem to find it. May I know if he's the only child? And how much do u pay for kkh therapy? do they have 'classes' on social skills?


Actually I was talking to my hb just now abt PL school. He's very positive. He said it's ok if he has to go to PL. the most is next time he just be a researcher cos they are the jobs that don't need interaction. He said I think too much and told me to take a step at a time.

All pri schools are supposed to provide support. However, not all are even. Some have more support, some lesser. You can look at those nearer your home first coz ultimately, you still need to register via the normal registration process. No, he isn't an only child. He has a younger sister who is at the opposite end. She's gregarious, talkative and everything he isn't. She is a blessing because she brought him out of his shell and talked more after she came along. She is his best therapy partner. kkh rehab charges $41 after subsidy for OT and ST. If combined then it is $60+. For social classes, we have it with the ST. We had combined ones for social skills. Then sometimes during OT, if there's another kid who is about same age at the same time slot (different therapist), they will have a short social session together.

Men are really the anchor when it comes to this. We as women are worriers. They are so cool and collected about this. My hb is also like him. He is right, he can be researcher holed up in his lab or computer programmer. There is no need for any social skills. Now we just need to help them achieve that. My boy's ambition now is to be a dentist, so I dunno how he is going to do that.