Thread: Autism Spectrum Disorder - top resource

Thanks all,
I follow this thread as we have a 16yo diagnosed Aspy at 6 so we have ploughed the field!
Lionglee sent me some updated info early in the year as we are entering another critical phase of our sons upbringing. That said, every step is critical! We were lucky to have friends who were being seen by Tony Attwood's people (although he was not our sons psychologist) so considered ourselves well informed.
The current phase is the most challenging and believe me it is hard going. My wife copes better than I with the continual challenge.
My son is nearly 17, and in Yr 11. Typical for teenage boys he does not want to study and it can be the source of many arguments convincing him to do so. Luckily, the public school we chose has very good support - we are grateful for that. That and by default, I am relearning Yr 11!
On the subject of jobs and post school life, he has no idea and cares even less (IMO). I do believe the previous post about size of workplace and number of employees will indeed ring true for him as well.
Whilst we are pushing him to devote time to school work, I have tried broaching the subject of a part time job...just for his own growth and pocket money. He refuses to entertain the idea at this stage.

I know we will get there and he will survive life ok, but bloody hell it's hard!


Ralph

[QUOTE=tonic;1948[I]575] My biggest fear is the bully, he sees no bad in anybody, he cant catch a ball, has red hair and he's smart, keep telling my wife he is going to get smashed [/I]

G'day Tonic,

There is a book published about bullying and Asperger's It is called Perfect Targets: Asperger Syndrome and Bullying--Practical Solutions for Surviving the Social World. It is a book that is good for people with the condition to read and also parents and professionals like teachers.

The review states the following: A 2002 study from Comprehensive Issues in Pediatric Nursing found that 94 percent of students with Asperger Syndrome face torment from their peers. Indeed, some of their behaviors and characteristics that others see as different make many of these children easy targets for frequent and severe bullying. This book takes a frank look at the different types of bullying and what adults must do to curb bullying, helping prevent the often lifelong effects of this behavior on its victims. Practical strategies and solutions at the school, class and individual level are presented. Perfect Targets and it is written to give people with a diagnosis, parents and teachers to look out for people who have been bullied.

I have no connection to the author - it is simply a very good book which helped my son with Asperger's to get through a bad period at high school. While I took on the school to get it to clean its act up. Something which I should not have had to do - all the stuff about the school having an anti-bully policy was just a load of crap which they had previously not bothered to enforce. They did see the error of their ways - something I again should not have had to do.

Kind Regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

[all the stuff about the school having an anti-bully policy was just a load of crap which they had previously not bothered to enforce. Lionel

Most of this stuff is, it's like JSA's, we all write them but hardly ever use them. The fact that they had to write one was probably why you were ablt to get a result.

I will look up the book, thanks Mate

Originally Posted by Ralph1Malph

Thanks all,
I follow this thread as we have a 16yo diagnosed Aspy at 6 so we have ploughed the field!
Lionglee sent me some updated info early in the year as we are entering another critical phase of our sons upbringing. That said, every step is critical! We were lucky to have friends who were being seen by Tony Attwood's people (although he was not our sons psychologist) so considered ourselves well informed.
The current phase is the most challenging and believe me it is hard going. My wife copes better than I with the continual challenge.
My son is nearly 17, and in Yr 11. Typical for teenage boys he does not want to study and it can be the source of many arguments convincing him to do so. Luckily, the public school we chose has very good support - we are grateful for that. That and by default, I am relearning Yr 11!
On the subject of jobs and post school life, he has no idea and cares even less (IMO). I do believe the previous post about size of workplace and number of employees will indeed ring true for him as well.
Whilst we are pushing him to devote time to school work, I have tried broaching the subject of a part time job...just for his own growth and pocket money. He refuses to entertain the idea at this stage.

I know we will get there and he will survive life ok, but bloody hell it's hard!


Ralph

Having gone to a few of Tony Attwoods lectures,- quite some years ago- I would highly recommend attending one. You are never quite "there" with Autistic kids. Try having a 29 year old stand over merchant (severe autism) , a 26 year old mute escape artist ( profound autism) & a 12 year old Aspy.
Should mention the 17 year old daughter who is a high achiever,- should get a DNA test on that one !!

Originally Posted by DeeJay

Venting is good !!

I would strongly suggest you document all your expenditure & dates, medical costs etc. In the case of a disability allowance, make sure you get it backdated to the first signs, or at least till the first diagnosis or assessment. This could be thousands of $$ & you/he is entitled to it, after all if he has a disability & the "labelling" process takes months & months its their procedures, not your fault & he is going to need those $$. Don't be shy about it either, I think of all the spongers I meet in society, people with abilities & physically fine, who just want to bludge, getting our tax money, so the little that goes to people who can't speak for themselves is not worth thinking about.
My turn to vent !!

David

Hear Hear

I was at first concerned about the offer of funding. I thought that perhaps there were other people in society that could better do with it.

I went and saw my GP about the conflict. He is also a mate of some 20 years and his wife has a Disco 4 so they are good people. He advised that the help would make sure Jack would become a more rounded young man with the help we would recieve.

Combined with my GP's thoughts I then found out it was not cash and could only be used on approved whatevers, I then felt much better about it. My wife and I doubt we will use all the funding as we will not be doing some of things his speach therapist told us happens.

Once I found out what things a speach therapist does I was very greatfull for the extra help, they dont come cheap, hey folks.

In our case she has given him exercises which help him use the words he knows how to read in the correct syntax. It turned out that some of his tantrems were frustration because he could not get his words out, we would never have know without her.

Yes he can read like an 8-9 year old and at a BBQ a couple of months ago he was out spelling 11 to 12 year old girls who started a game with him, but he is 4, he still needs the maturity to use all the words, especially if things are going wrong, like sudden loud noises or something breaks.

Get what you can and use it the best way you can.

Originally Posted by Ralph1Malph

Thanks all,
The current phase is the most challenging and believe me it is hard going. My wife copes better than I with the continual challenge.
My son is nearly 17, and in Yr 11. Typical for teenage boys he does not want to study and it can be the source of many arguments convincing him to do so. Luckily, the public school we chose has very good support - we are grateful for that. That and by default, I am relearning Yr 11!
On the subject of jobs and post school life, he has no idea and cares even less (IMO). I do believe the previous post about size of workplace and number of employees will indeed ring true for him as well.
Whilst we are pushing him to devote time to school work, I have tried broaching the subject of a part time job...just for his own growth and pocket money. He refuses to entertain the idea at this stage.

I know we will get there and he will survive life ok, but bloody hell it's hard!


Ralph

Hi Ralph,

Does your sons school have access to programs to get children with disabilities doing work experience. I know here in WA they had programs for this. It helped a bit with our son to get him thinking about his future as he was being offered jobs like spending one day a week in a car dealership putting stock on shelves with a view that he may be able to complete a traineeship later. The wake up call for him was that he was already working as a checkout operator at Coles and he knew he had the capability to do more challenging work.

I hear you about how hard it is. Every time you think your over a tough spot they find another way to challenge you.

They do eventually grow up it just takes longer. Make sure you take time for yourself and your wife in all of this.

LR

Hi

At last we were called in for the report and they have made it official. He is autistic which now helps clear the way for more help at last. He met 8 off the twelve criteria two of which he did not meet due to no language and the other was to do with toy play. That was a long step from December until now. Next step is onto the autism advisor if wa waiting for a call back. I wonder how long the next step will be?

On another note anyone have any ideas to help stop running from one wall in the house and crashing into the other while screaming. He will do this all day even when it height of summer we have tried numerous ways but have now run out of ideas.

One other thing with the main regression he had last year we realised there was possibly an earlier one when he was 2, we originally put down to a change in Childcare we are hoping that there be no more regressions in the future.

Regards Jon

Originally Posted by INDIE2002UK

Hi

At last we were called in for the report and they have made it official. He is autistic which now helps clear the way for more help at last. He met 8 off the twelve criteria two of which he did not meet due to no language and the other was to do with toy play. That was a long step from December until now. Next step is onto the autism advisor if wa waiting for a call back. I wonder how long the next step will be?

On another note anyone have any ideas to help stop running from one wall in the house and crashing into the other while screaming. He will do this all day even when it height of summer we have tried numerous ways but have now run out of ideas.

One other thing with the main regression he had last year we realised there was possibly an earlier one when he was 2, we originally put down to a change in Childcare we are hoping that there be no more regressions in the future.

Regards Jon

Hi Jon, re the running around from your very brief description and my very limited knowledge he is or sounds hyperactive and needs to burn his energy so you can get a rest, buy or rent a trampoline and see if he will bounce away on it, if he likes it he might spend lots of time just bouncing and burn some of that energy out!!!
Our boy is hypo active and can use a tramp to get him going by 5 minutes jumping and is away learning again. I am guessing your wee fella is frustrated and not being able to express himself as its all locked up in there and cannot get out yet!!Most autistic kids are visual learners so you have to start at the beginning and use visual cues and relate them to words like this program we used
Boardmaker Plus! v.6 - Boardmaker | Mayer-Johnson
( I might be able to help you "aquire" a copy for use on windows 7 or XP, I will let you know)
go to Sue larkeys seminars in Ozzie, she is very practical and full of great ideas:

Teaching Students With Autism and Aspergers Workshops
use your speech therapist to outline what she is trying to achieve so you understand what you can do as well on a day to day basis
Most important look after yourself and your wife as well as you need to be on your game to really help
the very best of luck
regards Simon