Emigration with a child who has ASD

[KarlosKKrinkelbeim]

In light of recent events and impact on my prospects of maintaining my prosperity, am starting to think seriously about leaving the uk. Am a lawyer and could look for work in any common law jurisdiction.
Ds has ASD. High functioning, in mainstream school with support. My impression has always been that most countries will not be keen to welcome a family where a member has this diagnosis. Would like to hear from anyone with relevant experience, good and bad.

Bump

mainstream schooling quasi impossible in Asia if you were thinking HK, Singapore etc...
There are always options though Private and expensive. But you can also get full time live in help.
Can you cope without family support?

I think you will have to resign yourself to the fact that you will be paying school fees for an international school as local schools are rarely well set up to support ASD.
You then have the option of whether you want to go for a British curriculum or IB/IPC/US type curriculum school. Some fees can be eye-watering though, and waiting lists long. In general, depending on the level of support your DS already has in school, the UK system often offers better support than schools abroad (generalisation as it's not true of all schools and quite scary when you think about the quality of some UK schools' provision!)
If you have a preferred area of the world, look up the international schools in those cities and check out their websites as to the information they post of Learning Support. You will generally find very little! Any school which will have the support in place for your DS, will make mention of their Learning Support team/policies on the website.
You can also find good expat forums for various countries/cities where parents will feedback on schools that they find supportive.
Sadly in many parts of SE Asia (where I currently live), learning needs are considered shameful. My DD with ASD, however, is currently in an international school where she is better supported than at any time in her entire school career. Feel free to PM me if you'd like more details. I can also feedback on a few other schools I know in the region.
FatOwl is another user who has been in SE Asia for a very long time and is a school governor so might be worth contacting also (see threads on Marlborough College Malaysia)
If you're looking to other parts of the world, I'm afraid I can't help you there!
Good luck.

I would be very cautious of the Middle East.
Schools, even the most progressive international ones are not all welcoming when it comes to supporting learning needs.
Those who are best set up will be impossible to get into due to being oversubscribed as others point blank refuse to accommodate.
You could be faced with paying school fees and additionally paying the salary of a shadow/support teacher to support.Children with learning challenges are often sent to special schools or even stay at home.
The only gulf state I haven't experienced in Saudi and I can't imagine it is more progressive educationally than the others,

Habibi I think you're well behind the times when it comes to provision in international schools in at least one of the Gulf States you have experience of.

Thanks for replies. The Middle East is out of the question. I'd rather stay here and be unemployed!
We do not rely on family or state support. Ds has an ABA programme - I know people do run these overseas using U.K. Providers so there's a logistical issue to be managed there.
I was thinking more of immigration restrictions. I have heard that many countries will not admit people who may become "a burden on the state".

Also check that the country will allow your child in. We have found australia and canada wouldnt.

Immigration would not be a problem at all in Asia this is not something you have to disclose at all.
Happy to answer questions about Singapore Hong Kong and bangkok.

Australia and Canada unlikely to let you in I believe. And Ds being on an aba programme means you cannot really argue that his needs are low end.

I would love a recommendation of mainstream schools that have exceptional SN provisions anywhere in the gulf ,MrsPeelyWaly.
We are personally struggling to find a place.

Canada would let you in if you can show he is high functioning. America will also let you in. We live in New Jersey and the care for autistic children is amazing in certain towns. DS is 4 and in an ABA program and will continue in that program until he is ready for an inclusion class.

I would strongly consider East Coast between Washington DC and Boston if you want your son to be well provided for. The care in Ontario, Canada is not as extensive as the care here in New Jersey/ New York.

I would avoid the middle east and far east.

Agree with Laptop on immigration to HK (i.e. not an issue) but slightly disagree on provision - there are several students with ASD statements in both ESF and Kellett- possibly in other schools too but I dont know about those. It would hinge on how much support was required- for example if he needs one on one, then you'd have to pay for that in addition to the school fees. Those schools are international (private) schools, but I doubt you'd be considering the public school system anyway as an expat in HK, as that would be fairly unusual (although it does happen and you're entitled to use it if you want to ). Other benefit of HK is that the legal framework (at present.......) is not dissimilar to the Uk so an easy transfer.

HTH

Habibi, sorry, I just saw your message. I'll PM you.

Hi
We live in Australia and have done since our son was born. The medical assessment for entry is very very basic.
1/ will you son go to main stream school?
2/ will he require multiple inpatient hospital admissions?
3/can you fund extra support like it etc?
4/ will he be able to work as an adult and add to society? To the best of your current knowledge?

Our son was younger. I think 3? When we went for pr. he was however completely non verbal. Not toilet trained, missing a large part of his brain.. but on paper only had an asd diagnosis. Hadn't had extended hospital stays, was thought to go to mainstream school ( he does but on a significant iep.. at a lovely small Christian private school) he probably won't in the long run add financially to Australia financially but we will secure his future.
I wouldn't automatically close off ideas .. many things are possible. We did it.

Also agree with Laptop and Cantsee re HK.
Our DS was on med for epilepsy and came with an SEN from U.K. When we arrived here.
Our closest ESF primary said they did offer provision for kids with SEN. They offered 3 places in a school of 900 primary school pupils.
According to friends of ours the sister school has spent the past few years attempting to oust their son who has Aspergers.
So it's pretty clear that they don't invest at all. Despite all the claims on their websites.

DS is in a school here. In mainstream without a helper. It's tough for him sometimes, but whilst we are here he needs an education. There's a lot of pushing and pulling between the school and ourselves.

I do know kids here with ASD and Down's syndrome, but the families are either wealthy or spend all their time and money on their children with constant frustration.

Caring domestic helpers ease home life, but schooling is expensive, sadly.

So, getting a package that makes allowances for your child with be a top priority for you.

Good luck.

Hi.

We lived in Malaysia for several and then South Africa for a couple with our son who is on the spectrum. We have ended up moving back to the UK as we just couldn't find the right schooling option for him. He is not as high functioning as your son sounds though and would not cope in a mainstream class. He is currently in an asd unit attached to a mainstream primary and thriving.

If you are interested in Malaysia However I have heard good things about garden international school learning support in KL, nexus also has learning support according to its website. The Australian school in KL also will allow high functioning kids in. I do however think that you will need to pay yourself for any shadow teacher he may need, in addition to school fees.

Good luck!

Faranagatang, school you are referring to is in Singapore ,PLEASE let me know!!

OP, SEN provisions in Singapore are improving but it is tricky finding the right spot. My son has ASD and ADHD and is currently (mostly) coping in a mainstream British school in SG. But the school fees, plus therapy, meds, and his Paediatric psychiatrist's bills means we are not saving a cent

On the positive side, plenty of work for Lawyers over here!!

Get in touch if you head this way.

Freddo - sorry, school isn't Singapore. I have heard Dover Court is good for some SEN, but that is old info and it may be different now that NAE have taken over.

Oh thanks farang. Yes, Dover Ct is where we are at the moment