HE for child with Asperger's

[MissJacksonIfYourNasty]

My DS is 5 yrs old and has AS. He is not getting on at all well at school. Well, that is an understatement, really. School is really not working out for him at the moment, and that is even with a really supportive, pro-active school and 17.5 hours a week 1:1 support. He is not yet statemented, but we are going through the process. However, the SENCo at the school (who I get on well with) recently confided in me that he wonders whether mainstream schooling is appropriate for DS.

He is a very bright boy (fluent reader since age 3 yrs old, naturally very quick at maths, really interested in all science-related stuff) but has behaviourial problems (typical Aspie meltdowns, really) which become much worse in a class room environment / large group.

I freely admit to thinking HE was a barmy idea until very recently. However, I am now considering it.

What do I need to know? How do I even gop about making this decision and doing it properly?

All advice gratefully received.

oooh how exciting!!!!

Well, the big resource you need is the HE special needs mailing list

they will be full of good advice.

there is a forum about aspie home ed, which I've not really explored but came across a day or two ago: here

and there are lots and lots of aspie home edders who blog. e.g. six home ed in kent or the family voyahe that's just two off the top of my head.

And get yourself a copy of this book about HEing children on the spectrum.

hth

as the mum of an aspie i do sympathise - but before HE i would just look at all your options - including specialist schools equipped for kids with ASD. i wish id done this.
if he qualifies for a statement you could look into it - they cost the LEA alot so you might have a fight but it could be worth looking at. once you take your child out then you lose the statement, may have to battle to get it back again if it doesnt work out.

a friend HE her aspie but he just became more and more socially isolated, until now at 19 he has no qualifications, no job, no prospects, lives at home with her. im not saying this is wrong and she felt it the right thing for him.

my son really did go through hell in school as the school wasnt very supportive, but i dont think HE would have been right for him either - but obviously you know your own son and whats best for his particular needs.

for info on home edding try googling Education Otherwise.

HE for children with aspergers can be incredibly successful-I know very many home educated children on the spectrum who are very happy.
The beauty of home ed is that you can make it fit the child-instead of making a square oeg fit a round hole, you make your own square hole!

I can think of very many home educated children who would be so very miserable forced into a school social setting. School is the lonilies place on earth if you don't fit in, IMO. It was for my son.

Many home ed children with Aspergers do find a social situation that they are comfortable with-and socialising can take place at their own place-and with like minded people, not just a bunch of children from the same area who happen to be the same age.

I second everything Omward said-especially about HE Special needs emailing list-you get the real experts on home edding AS children on there-the parents who are actaully doing it!

TBH however it had turned out socially for my children, Home Ed was literally a life saver for two of mine and I sadly have been on the end of too many phone calls from parents of suicidal children, not to promote HE as a positive lifestyle choice for children with AS.

Several past and present members of our EHE robotics team have had AS, including one of the new members who joined last summer and spent weeks under a table. He now goes off and plays with the others and will be joining us at the competition in Istanbul.

EHE allows young people (with ASD or not) to participate in activities to the extent to which they are comfortable, without being forced to deal with things they are not ready for. If they are overloaded, you can decide not to go to a particular activity or to leave early - which is not usually possible in school.

H all.

Sorry for late response. This is all incredibly inspiring and useful - thank you.

I'm going to take some time to have a look at your suggestions and digest. I'll be back.

An alternative is to look for a Special school which specialises in Aspergers or ASD.
Ask your Local Authority if they know of any Special Schools nearby.