childminders and asd

[namey]

(Have namechanged for this)I just wanted to get your thoughts re minding children with asd. I have recently given up a child due to behavioural problems, has just been diagnosed asd but is having massive sensory issues. Am looking to possibly take child back for before and after school at some point, but i suppose what i am asking is, are other minders with several other children able to cope?

I'm not a childminder but do have experience of caring for children on the autistic spectrum. So I would say that it depends hugely on the individual child and their individual needs. You need to consider the other children, are they at significantly increased risk of say physical injury. Should say that a lot of children on the spectrum are very placid most of the time, it's when something kicks off that problems arise.

Also consider if the child can cope in your home environment... such as coping with the noise of the other children.

You say you have cared for them in the past, so you know what they are like. Having a dx makes no difference to that... they will be just the same.

It's not really about if other childminders can cope... it's about if you can cope. Only you know that, you've cared for the child in the past, so you know what to expect.

Thanks NN, I spose I knew that really, I have no other experience of asd and no, i didnt and they didnt really cope. I am being told that because they are now getting help that they will be hopefully be able to verbalise when there is a problem, but my own thoughts are, if they say 'its too loud' for example, I cannot remove then from the situation, and i also cannot explain to younger mindees why (again for example) that child doesnt get time out when misbehaving. Just thinking out loud here

The dx may mean the child gets extra help at school, but you are not being offered someone to help provide 1:1 support are you?

While you can try to be inclusive, your resources are limited. They are not a toddler... they have a lot of strength and can do damage to those around them, even though they don't mean to do so. You need to risk access the situation... is the child a risk?

If they did a term at school and didn't have any incidents at school, would you then consider having them before/after school?

With a dx they may be on some kind of medication - that can help during the school day but it does wear off.

Perhaps ask over on the special needs board about care for children on the spectrum. Ask about what parents feel needs to be in place for care to be suitable, to minimise risks. Some children cope fine with small group things, so say 2 to 4 children... while others need 1:1.

End of the day you are running a business. You need to consider the impact on that business. If parents of other children feel that a child at your setting poses a risk to their own child, they may terminate contract.

Thanks NN