All About Autism
-
Hi Schweppes
Many Thanks for responding.
Actually my son also just started w AAS@ simei - so far so good. The teachers & principal are all very nice & patient & full of love. I cannot comment on the effectiveness since my son only just began.
Do u mean your friend's kid attend AAS twice a week, & mainstream kindy 3 times a week? Or is it mainstream kindy 5 days a week in the morning & AAS twice a week in the afternoon? Is your fren's child verbal?
At the moment, my arrangement for my boy is to attend AAS twice a week & mainstream kindy 3 times a week.... My boy needs his nap on all afternoons.... hence i can't let him attend AAS in the afternoon. Apart from that, my boy is also attending private speech therapy.... he is non-verbal. And of late, he \"scares\" me as he is displaying more autism traits, eg body-rocking, arms flapping, eyes darting to the side.... and his temper tantrums kind of \"intensified\" ... which worries me...cos it becomes quite \"hazardous\" bringing him out...cos if anything doesn't \"seem right\" to him , he starts SCREAMING v loudly & in v scary tone; much to the disgust of many onlookers i believe.
I actually wanted to ask for \"alternative\" (just in case). and how i can \"treat\" his \"social mannerisms\" such that he doesn't scream at his whim & fancy. As it is, he social mannerisms are quite bad.... sometimes when we bring him out for social gathering (eg BBQ) he screams & i can tell my friends \"kinda pity\" me cos it is quite hard to handle him. So, i really can't imagine if he gets any worse....how life would be like .... one of my fren thought maybe he is \"still in the terrible 3 phase\" ; and with time (ie once he turns 4) he will calm down....
Anyone with similar experience care to share? ie does your super cranky autistic 3 year old becomes \"more manageable\" when he/she turns 4-5 years ?
Cheers to all kind parents -
Wa Wa, I’ve PMd you.
-
WaWa:
If not mistaken, my friend sends her son to kindy every morning (Mon - Fri) and attends AAS twice a week, in the afternoon.Hi Schweppes
Many Thanks for responding.
Actually my son also just started w AAS@ simei - so far so good. The teachers & principal are all very nice & patient & full of love. I cannot comment on the effectiveness since my son only just began.
Do u mean your friend's kid attend AAS twice a week, & mainstream kindy 3 times a week? Or is it mainstream kindy 5 days a week in the morning & AAS twice a week in the afternoon? Is your fren's child verbal?
I remembered her telling me that her son was not very verbal in his toddler years but he is gradually improving. He is able to communicate and manage his emotions better with early and regular intervention.WaWa:
Sometimes, well-meaning friends may do more harm them good, especially since they are non the wiser.As it is, he social mannerisms are quite bad.... sometimes when we bring him out for social gathering (eg BBQ) he screams & i can tell my friends \"kinda pity\" me cos it is quite hard to handle him. So, i really can't imagine if he gets any worse....how life would be like .... one of my fren thought maybe he is \"still in the terrible 3 phase\" ; and with time (ie once he turns 4) he will calm down....
At parties and gatherings, if your son has a meltdown or what some people see as \"bad behaviour\", it may not necessarily mean that he is \"super cranky\", \"naughty\" or \"bad\" or \"going thru a phase\".
IT cd be a sensory issue. For example, at the BBQ, the smoke may be irritaing him. Also, at parties or in a strange environment, the poor child has to cope with sensory overload. An ASD child needs structure and order. At parties, there is NO structure and order - too many strangers/ people and activities going on. So he as to deal with transitions, which an ASD child will find it difficult to cope with.
Also, you may need to consider dietary requirements/ restrictions. Some kids may be overly sensitive to sugar, sweets, chocolates. Observe his behaviour to see if he has a meltdown if he takes certain foods.
Take heart. I know it is easier said than done to manage a child with special needs. There will be days where you wonder, \"why me?\". \"What did I do wrong?\" But there are also days where your child will bring you so much joy and happiness. And those days of joy will bring you a sense of peace.
Believe and know that things will turn out for the better. The most important thing is NOT to give up - on him, on yourself and on the situation.
Stay strong... :hugs: -
Hi Blobbi
Read your PM. Many Thanks I've replied
hi Schweppes
Many thanks for your concern & support
Appreciate it .... i shall cross each milestone together with my son
Right now...i have a very good feel about AAS & i feel very positive abt the centre and am hopeful my son will flourish under their guidance - it would have been better if they run a thrice-weekly programme instead of twice-weekly cos i somehow feel twice a week not quite sufficient but i understand funding is an issue if it is thrice-weekly i hope the teachers will not quit - they are all v v v patient which gave me a lot of hope -
I’m wondering, should parents of autistic child when going out with other families or travelling for vacation together, inform other parents of the autistic child condition?
Or only tell when being question or when a meltdown occur? -
EN:
Depends on your child's condition and his 'history'. I read somewhere that it helps the other party accept your child better.I'm wondering, should parents of autistic child when going out with other families or travelling for vacation together, inform other parents of the autistic child condition?
Or only tell when being question or when a meltdown occur?
For my case, it is so bad, no matter how I explain, nobody can understand, to the point I have to avoid travelling with others. I have to wait till he catches up socially before I can plan anything like that.
Today, the psychologist asked me why I took so long to do all these intervention, because he has learnt so many bad things. Sigh! -
[quote]Depends on your child's condition and his 'history'. I read somewhere that it helps the other party accept your child better. [/quote]
Mine is extremely good. \"Too good\" to be a normal kid. Friends came to their own conclusion. Strict parenting.
But when my child is in an enclosed place, Spore super cute condo with 5 families crowding in the living room, my child gave a blast. Just like Wawa's. Again my friends came to conclusion, that I always restrict my children from mixing around, hence the meltdown. These happen when my child was young (pre-school age). I stopped socialising with my friend if the place is not suitable.
Now that my child is bigger, we are planning to go for a long trip with two other families, snorkelling. I dread thinking what my child will say when faced with extreme fear due to all the readings. Sighhh.. -
EN:
Again my friends came to conclusion, that I always restrict my children from mixing around, hence the meltdown. Sighhh..
People always come to some kind of conclusion whenever they cannot understand. Some people say I am too lenient, true in that I do not scream at my kids for everything. But when they found out many things are not available in my house (TV, computers unless I am watching, keep their handphones until they reach school) etc, they say my son is like that because I am too strict.
Some say my kid is like that because he did not attend K2, but when they found out it is because he started one year younger, they say it is because I sent him to school too early...
Let them say lah... I can never please anyone. I already know I am not a good mother, so it is ok. I'll just go ahead and do my best going forward. -
You mean this?
Support for Students with Mild Special Needs in Mainstream Schools
13Beyond the SPED schools, it is also important to ensure that children with mild special needs in mainstream schools continue to be well supported. To this end, MOE deploys Allied Educators (Learning and Behavioural Support) [AED (LBS)] in mainstream schools and trains a proportion of mainstream school teachers in special needs.
14By July 2010, all primary schools and 31 designated secondary schools will receive at least one trained AED (LBS), thereby meeting the 2010 target of 236 AEDs (LBS). MOE targets to recruit more AED (LBS) to meet longer term needs.
15MOE is also on track to achieve its target of having around 10 percent of the teaching staff in all primary and secondary schools trained in special needs. MOE targets to train an additional 10 percent of secondary teachers, including JC/CI teachers, by 2012 to support the diverse learning needs of students with special needs and provide them with interventions related to academic learning.
16MOE will continue to review and enhance support for students with mild special needs in the mainstream schools. -
In my opinion, if they are the same as the current SNO, having one of two of these helps when students act up, and the SNO ‘come to the rescue’. However, there are cases I have encountered when the SNO’s advice is overridden by the teachers’ and principals’ opinions.
After all, how much can ONE of such resource get to know that 20 or 30 or even 50 special needs children?
My opinion is that ALL school teachers should be given exposure to mild specials needs requirements so that they are less opinionated and more open to changing their ways of handling matters. Also, there should be programs to educate students on how to interact and work with special needs children.
Remember, some of these kids are twice exceptional, and there are examples of such folks who will become geniuses. They are worth investing in. without autism, there won’t be some of the greatest inventions in the world.