ASD Assessment and schools.

[RuRed]

Hi, so I don't know if this is just a vent and it would be nice to have POV's.

my son is going through neurodevelopmental assessment for autism and adhd. He is 8 nearly 9.

we have had his one to one appointment and I have had the parental consultation all forms have been filled in by myself and his school.

Today was his school observation, I wasn't supposed to know but he came out and told me there had been an inspector that had watched him so I put two and two together. I emailed the school after 3:30 to get confirmation as his teacher was off sick.
Got back a shi**y email saying yes it was and that I wasn't supposed to know and that they would give feedback to the lady that came as his teacher was off sick.

I'm now worrying that the teacher being off will of messed everything up, my son will of reacted differently to his 'normal self' with a stand in, and no proper conversation will of been had about his needs in school.

anybody else been through this!? I think I just need to chill and stop overthinking. I just don't want anything to disrupt the process.

My son is diagnosed with ASD and ADHD.
The assessment process for both has many different parts. Other than the school assessment, I think there was a further 9 hours of assessments for ASD, some me and him, some just me, some just him, although this may vary depending on your NHS trust.
If the school is supportive of him being assessed (which it sounds like they are) they will have made sure the assessor got the right information.

If anything, the fact he acts differently will be proof of masking. Please don’t worry. I don’t understand why the teacher was so rude to you though.

What is masking? Thanks.

What is the standard process of getting your child assessed for ADHD or ASD?

Thank you - yes we've had a number of different appointments for myself and for him - hours of it and that's why I'm frustrated that this last hurdle might be jeopardised by the school which have been helpful up until new Sendco who doesn't know my son at all. I'm gonna check with the clinic that they knew the usual teacher was off. Thanks

Thank you, I did think that he might have been extra spicy for a stand in lol. I suppose it's just wait and see.

The process I've been through is referral to a right to choose clinic through GP .

Masking is kind of like acting to appear like neurotypical - my child does it to fit in better with his peers and not to get in trouble at school x

For my son's diagnosis the teacher has lots of forms to fill in. Possibly they spoke in the phone I don't know but the observation was just observation. The teacher was teaching so it wasn't chat time

What is a neurotypical?

What happens after the school observation? I find I don't really here much from the senco at all. I saw they report and some recommendations they'd made but I've no idea what's happening next and if they are going to be doing anymore assessments 🤷‍♀️

1. not displaying or characterized by autistic or other neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behaviour.
2. "neurotypical individuals often assume that their experience of the world is either the only one or the only correct one"

it might be different in different areas we have gone down the 'right to choose' pathway and the school observation was the last bit of the overall assessment so the clinic who we are with will now have a meeting and contact us with a report and diagnosis if he has one - it sounds simple but it has taken 11 months from referral

That’s interesting as our right to choose provider did an observation at their clinic, not at school. I also find it odd that you’re not supposed to know; why is that?
Im sure if you contact the clinic they can phone the teacher if they feel they’re missing information. For my DC I think her needs would be more evident with a stand in teacher so for me that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

So no such thing then!

Sorry I don't understand what you're saying, no such thing as neurotypical? Or neurodiverse?

NT as there is no typical brain - the term ND was created to talk about all brains being different.

are we going there!!! Really? Are you ok? have you commented to try and get a reaction instead of giving a point of view on my post?.

You by your comment are the definition of Neurotypical. Literally.

“Neurodiversity” is a word used to explain the unique ways people's brains work. While everyone's brain develops similarly, no two brains function just alike. Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person.

Would you prefer it if I didn't explore options for my child whose brain has a unique way of working?

I am autistic! Shows how you do not accept those who do not think and behave differently to what you 'expect'.

Nope I am commenting on the fact that using terms that do not exist wrongly labels ppl.

There is no NT as we are all ND. There is no average brain or person.

As no two brains function alike then there is not typical way of a brain functioning. Meaning all are ND as no brain functions the same as another brain. You just contradicted yourself by saying no brains are alike but being ND is a brain working differently to those who are alike....but they are not alike by your own words. There is no typical brain so there are no NT people.

No, I never said there was. I am also autistic so forgive me as I may come across like I'm not excepting, but that is not what I was saying.

I just understand through many years of education the difference between neurotypical and neurodiverse.
Maybe it just helps me to understand my own condition to know typically how the brain works and how mine does not.

i think we will never agree so probably best just to leave it.

ATB

You just did say typically how the brain works and there isn't one typical way and you were not accepting of me as you labelled me and also suggested I was mental which is not ok.

I understand it from the person who created the terminology and that to me is the root of the terminology and the meaning behind it was clear it was to include all purposely to highlight differences for all.

We can agree to disagree but I prefer to accept that all humans are different and should be treated as such. I hope as you go forwards you are also inclusive when dealing within the school and offer the same adjustments you would push for your child for all those in the assessment process.

Good luck going forwards and hopefully the assessment process is supportive and you are supportive in return.

There’s this amazing site called www.google.com. You can literally type in any question and find the answer! HTH.

Next week: the dictionary.

This thread has taken a turn. @RuRed I'm sure that any observation will be useful, even if the regular teacher wasn't present. They will have been able to observe your DS's interaction with peers, ability to cope with changes in activity, etc.

I did not suggest you were mental.

But I do think you have issues, this post was about my son not you or what your beliefs are about NT and ND. Maybe you just needed a chat.

Maybe you were just trying to educate me in your point of view, because that's what it is. You do not know the person that created the terminology, nor do you understand it. The terminology was created for people to understand the difference between the diverse and the typical - which there is one and as a fellow neurodiverse person (it will be in your diagnostic report like mine) I thought maybe you would have better understanding. My bad.

like I said, we have different opinions - and we probably would never agree and I wish you well x

Hi, please try not to worry. You sound like an amazing Mum.

I am neurodivergent and I work with neurodivergent children. If your son is on the spectrum, it's very likely this will be picked up from school observation, regardless of who the adult was teaching. As others have mentioned, there are several other parts to an ASD assessment to ensure all areas are covered.

Best of luck x

Thank you - it's just hard not to over think every detail. I appreciate your response and agree I just need to trust the professionals xx