All About Autism
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mitogal:
Hi!! I'm new to here.... Can I check what is procedure for enrolling in pathlight? What are the things required and when can we enrol?
mitogal
My gal just got a place in PL. She will be joining PL in Jan 2014. The following is based on my personal experience.
PL application form is divided into a few sections. The first is the application form to be filled up by the parents on the usual biodata. The other sections are largely as follows.
1. Psychology assessment report. This report is usually done when the child is about 5 to 5 and half yo. We did ours in KKH CDU. As PL closes its application submission by June, do consider the timing so that your child's psychological report will be ready for submission before June of the year.
2. Medical report. This is to be filled up by the medical doctor. We got the KKh developmental Pediatrician to fill this up for us. If you were to inform KKH CDU that your purpose of visiting the doctor is to do a psy report for SPED school application, the team will by default prepare this report. We did not have to make extra trips to see the KKH doctor for this. It was part of our first consult.
3. School Report. All reports are required for the schools that you declare your child to be attending. My doter is attending EIPIC in the morning, and a mainstream childcare in the afternoons. We declared both in the application form, but made the mistake of only submitting the EIPIC school report. Subsequently we had to ding-dong with PL and the mainstream childcare center to get this done. So do avoid this mistake.
The full application has to be submitted to PL before end of June. There seems no fixed procedure on who submits the report - so far I have heard of the EIPIC center social work department, or the hospital social work department, or parents themselves. We did ours through our EIPIC center. The key is to monitor and track and make sure that the application reaches PL before the deadline. I was thick-skinned in this and bugged almost everyone to make sure things were in place.
After application closes and that PL has screened the applications, it will call for a face-to-face assessment with the child. This is done in group setting - the kids were grouped in about 8s and brought to their classrooms to do some classroom tasks. About one month after that, we got the outcome of our application. As far as I know, P1 enrolment starts every academic year, just like mainstream.
This is pretty much what to expect in a nutshell. Where you have specific questions, I can try to provide more information.
HTH. -
Heart sinking at the thought of going through the whole long process again. :faint: Last submission was 71 pages long not to mention spending more than $600+ for the psychologists' report to meet deadline.
Gotta stay positive x 10.
Anyway wanna ask parents here to share on wholesome activities and places of interest which would be a safe environment for 6 yr olds. Boys love animals and we go to the zoo very often. Other than that though, we stay at home most of the time due to my younger boy’s behaviour in public. He has the tendency to hit adults, usually male, in the tummy area and also quite rough while playing, not to mention public meltdowns which can be extremely trying. Partly our fault that we have become recluses at home coz we don’t want to explain or deal strangers. But recognise it is not healthy for kids to be cooped up at home staring at the TV all day. They unfortunately do not have cousins or playmates at the same age group other than at school.
Was thinking of going to museums since it’s free for SCs now. But am afraid some fragile exhibit gets destroyed in their hands. Anyone can give some feedback on these places? And if there are dino exhibits which we can go to? -
belachanbabe:
Don't go museum if your kid likes to run around when playing. We got scolded by some elderly people when our kids were running around. They were not loud, but 'cos the place was v quiet and the flooring was wooden, the thumping sound was quite loud as the kids ran around the place.
Was thinking of going to museums since it’s free for SCs now. But am afraid some fragile exhibit gets destroyed in their hands. Anyone can give some feedback on these places? And if there are dino exhibits which we can go to?
You can try the beach like East Coast Park/West Coast Park. Else can go to those indoor playgrounds like Go Go Bambini, Polliwogs, etc. My kids like to go to the aquarium at Underwater World in Sentosa, and you can catch a dolphin show too. We are members of the Singapore Science Centre, so we also there quite frequently. We used to go to the Bird Park too, but stopped going since our birdpark membership lapsed.
If your kid is prone to public meltdowns, just keep your trips/outings short and try not to go on days where there is likely to be a lot of people, like public holidays. -
Gifts from Heaven:
Thanks for the suggestions Gifts from Heaven, looks like museums are out for sure. Crowded places are a big no no but everywhere in S’pore is packed regardless of PH or weekends (all thanks to the 6.9mil pop policy ah). Beach is out coz am scared they’ll jump into the sea. My younger son ran into the botanical gardens pond once, had to waddle in to retrieve him. URGH. Agree the aquarium is nice but the entrance fees don’t justify going often.
Don't go museum if your kid likes to run around when playing. We got scolded by some elderly people when our kids were running around. They were not loud, but 'cos the place was v quiet and the flooring was wooden, the thumping sound was quite loud as the kids ran around the place.
You can try the beach like East Coast Park/West Coast Park. Else can go to those indoor playgrounds like Go Go Bambini, Polliwogs, etc. My kids like to go to the aquarium at Underwater World in Sentosa, and you can catch a dolphin show too. We are members of the Singapore Science Centre, so we also there quite frequently. We used to go to the Bird Park too, but stopped going since our birdpark membership lapsed.
If your kid is prone to public meltdowns, just keep your trips/outings short and try not to go on days where there is likely to be a lot of people, like public holidays.
The point that you brought up regarding your kids being scolded…. that’s WHY we seldom go out. It’s not like we can hang signs around their necks declaring ASD and ask for leniency for their behaviour. Am sure we all know how tiring and trying it is to explain. Worse if someone gets hurt or property gets damaged unintentionally. It gets tougher as they grow older and become less cute.
What about music or art/drama classes? Any such programs to recommend? Was told of drum therapy at Balmoral but their timings aren’t suitable and are closed on Sundays. Not looking for enrichment/tuition classes as they are already attending… along with 97% of all kids in S’pore apparently.
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belachanbabe:
Don't let your child's condition prevent him from exploring the world or lead a near normal childhood like other NT kids.
Thanks for the suggestions Gifts from Heaven, looks like museums are out for sure. Crowded places are a big no no but everywhere in S’pore is packed regardless of PH or weekends (all thanks to the 6.9mil pop policy ah). Beach is out coz am scared they’ll jump into the sea. My younger son ran into the botanical gardens pond once, had to waddle in to retrieve him. URGH. Agree the aquarium is nice but the entrance fees don’t justify going often.
The point that you brought up regarding your kids being scolded…. that’s WHY we seldom go out. It’s not like we can hang signs around their necks declaring ASD and ask for leniency for their behaviour. Am sure we all know how tiring and trying it is to explain. Worse if someone gets hurt or property gets damaged unintentionally. It gets tougher as they grow older and become less cute.
What about music or art/drama classes? Any such programs to recommend? Was told of drum therapy at Balmoral but their timings aren’t suitable and are closed on Sundays. Not looking for enrichment/tuition classes as they are already attending… along with 97% of all kids in S’pore apparently.
Whilst ASD kids have their sensory issues, some activities may or may not suit some ASD kid. For example, I'm not sure about drum therapy - the loud noise can actually \"hurt\" the auditory sensitive child.
Still the best way to find out is to go for a trial class.
it's good that you want to expose your child to different activities. These are some you can try:
West Coast Park/ Pasir Ris Park/ Jacob Ballas => the huge playground is like an OT play area; good to get the child to run around and exercise
Or any playground or park at your housing estate is also good. Good for the child to run around and enjoy; release pent-up energy.
Gym classes => like a playground but in a more controlled setting and supervised
Dance classes => useful for girls, but if a boy is interested, why not. Helps with coordination and body awareness. It improves the child's sense of rhythm - must listen and dance to the music
Art classes => can try Clay Cove at Centrepoint. The people in charge are very patient and nice. It's a pottery class and kids learn to mould and manipulate clay to craft into an object. Clay Cove will arrange to fire it in the kiln and you get to take your clay sculpture home another day.
This will help your son with his fine motor skills. The other gratifying reward is that your child will make something on his own - boost his self-esteem and gives him a sense of achievement.
As for art lessons - guess u can ask around for an art class near your home.
Music class => depends on each kid. But generally, music is good. Can consider piano or violin (I hesitate at learning drums). Helps with left/right brain integration, which in turns help with eye-hand coordination. Helps to fine-tune the auditory processing part of the brain too.
Swimming => useful lifeskill to learn. Also helps with left/right brain integration, thereby improving overall body coordination.
Martial Arts / Yoga classes => instills discipline and mind-body awareness. Helps one to focus and concentrate better. Yoga helps to calm an active mind and body; good for self-regulation.
Don't restrict your child and the rest of the family at home. I know it's very tiring to bring out a special needs child. Can be emotionally and physically draining. But, you don't want to be a prisoner of ASD.
The more you expose your child to different environments and situations, the better he will learn to cope and self-regulate over time. -
Thanks tabgha
Appreciate the long email on the various types of activities, the pottery one looks interesting! It will definitely hone their motor skills if they take to it.
There many schools of music/art or activity centres out there but prefer if there are specific recommendations from parents here rather than do a cold calling trial and error. All will say yes initially (it is business after all) and then give up after finding them too much to handle. After paying up admin/course fees and then forfeiting $$ a few times, I also have the “why bother” attitude too. Sure there will still be instances where the boys can’t adapt after trial but chances would be better if the centre is honestly receptive to having ASD kids in the first place.
Hope there are such places out there in Singapore which don’t cost too much. -
belachanbabe
I agree with tabgha. Don’t shut out the chances for your kids to be exposed to the world outside because of their condition. The more u protect them from the world outside, they more difficult it will be for them to adapt when they grow up. Just have to be very very thick skin, there’s no alternative except to just suck it up and go through it. I make it a point to bring my son out every weekend, to indoor playground, swimming, zoo etc. I am not too sure how both your boys behave in public but my son too went through a hard period when he had frequent meltdowns and refuses to go to dark places. And when I forced it on him, he will scream murder but I just become very think skin about it and carry him in ( he is close to 20kg, no mean feat). Sure he would cry and scream but usually after about 15 mins or so, he will calm down. I will also prepare snacks to console him.
My point is, if you don’t bring your boys out while they are still young and u can have control over them, it will be more difficult when they reach teenage years and adulthood when they are all strong and mighty.
If u are worried that they will to the sea at the beach, can try to find an area that is not so near the sea? like Sentosa’s beach is wider and bigger unlike East Coast. But if they really like the water, just let them and follow them.
U can also try places like Marina Barrage, is a nice place to rest and relax and see all the beautiful kites flying in the sky and they get to see Singapore’s beautiful city skyline, best of all, is free.
Do your boys like to scoot? Can let them try to take up this sport, it think is a very good sport to train concentration and balancing. My boy loves it and can scoot very well now ( he scoots every day at the void deck). -
Try Clay Cove. It's fun. They have blocks of 4 sessions. I think about 1.5 - 2 hrs each time. My friend's ASD son attended and enjoyed himself. So, can just try a once off workshop for 4 sessions and see if your child enjoys the activity.
http://www.claycove.com/pottery_courses.html#schedules -
For art classes, can look out for NAFA holiday programmes for pre-schooler and primary/secondary school students. Again, these are once off activities which u can expose your child to. Usually abt 3hrs (each day) for 3-5 days.
For pre-schoolers, the activities are either art or craft work. Sometimes there's a Christmas theme. Makes me want to me a kid to join in some of their sessions.
Check out NAFA's website (http://www.nafa.edu.sg). They usually announce end Oct for the students' holiday programmes. -
Thanks once again tabgha, I am signing up for the parent/child session *cross fingers and hopes for the best*. Will share the experience after. Probably art classes for the Dec hols
Double E, I wholly agree that we shouldn’t let ASD stop us. The position I am coming from is to seek more friendly/safe activities for them to do on a regular basis, preferably not to have to justify their condition to others repeatedly and not having to worry about them accidently hurting others and destroying property.
Like the parents here; skin has become fairly thick after apologising and explaining countless times to people. Disapproving looks and thoughtless comments all experienced before. Storeroom full of trial and errors i.e abandoned scooters, keyboards, kites and even ukuleles, lost count of $$ down the drain (and for me its X 2 btw)
Even if you are a strong person, it does wear you down after a while. Fighters don’t want to have to fight all the time even if they have the skills.
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