Great wise MNers, what are the REAL pitfalls of year 7 - for a (PFB) child with AS?

[MrsS3]

We're doing the obvious stuff, uniform (done) numerous visits done and ongoing, form / tutor group with a few familiar faces (done) and photos of the teachers he'll need to remember.
However, I can't help but feel that it's like buying a cot and a pram for a new baby before realising you've not got a clue how to deal with it in reality and the actual practicalities are a whole lot different. Possibly a rubbish analogy but it makes sense to me . I don't want to have got the kit and the book but entirely missed the bits that will really matter. Any tips?

Not sure about wearing his keys all day. Won't they be annoying?

What about spare keys in his other bag?
Or a checklist on the door?
Or a checklist in his head?

DS just had a great transition day.

Made an impression - for all the right reasons :)

DH handled SENCO well, who seemed much better than when we looked round on open day. Said she'd meet with us once he'd been at school 3 weeks.

So, seems really good and real

Good to hear that indigo

The little round retractable keyring thing looks like a good idea, the one I had looked similar but wasn't very good quality, (aka pound shop!) wouldn't recommend cheap versions. Someone suggested lanyard earlier - ds wouldn't put up with that or would strangle himself but still working on possibility of lanyard attaching to rucksack. Awaiting inspiration...

Might need some altering but maybe this worth a look
Black Metal Carabiner Clip Big Size Key Chain Keyring amazon.co.uk/dp/B0053OQLFG

Perhaps in combo with this?

Or even might have found THE THING

Nothing's simple, is it?!

My top tip would be to invest in a second planner! They get one given to them at my DCs school, and are expected to have it with them at all times. A rule not to be broken :o The first time this was lost in Y7 my ASD DS2 got into a real state.

They do find their way back providing the name is written in, but it can take a few days. So having two that can be rotated to cover the missing period is worth the few quid IMO!

It took a long time for my ASD DC to settle, nearly to Easter in one case, but they do get there in the end!

I'm not on the SN board all that much these days but try to look in if I have a spare few minutes.

I found that the school blazers have a lot more inside pockets than they used to. Ds1 has an inside pocket with a zip, and there's a looped tag inside it. He has his keyring clipped to the loop and the key stays in the zipped pocket.

It's a spiral keyring similar to this one:

www.amazon.co.uk/LM-K1-Spiral-Elastic-Keychain/dp/B007A5QK3Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1341998736&sr=8-4

The coil is long enough for him to open the door without having to unclip the keyring, and means that he won't be able to accidentally leave the key in the door when he goes inside.

Coppertop, you genius. (off to investigate the dozen or so pockets on new blazer)

We fitted a keysafe as a back up to lost keys

Safe stash of another set of keys made.

Order for item from Coppertop's link made. When buying a blazer (can be bought for anywhere) will bear in mind the need for a suitable key pocket.#

Indogo, DS normally goes through life relying on lists in his head - and he is very successful at this, to the point of 'passing as' NT when in a well-worn groove.

However, if something happens that is NOT on the list (e.g. the day he locked himself out, he had DD with him, whereas he normally leaves the house alone) then everything is COMPLETELY derailed. While I have spent years helping him to create 'subroutines' for the most common 'things that might happen which are not on the main list' we cannot foresee everything that might happen. Hence the need for a physical solution to make the consequences of derailment less disasterous!

DS struggled with organisation when he started secondary school. I got a lot of the good advice from MN that you are getting. Somebody also said to have a spare pencil case in your bag. This is not only good when you lose your pencil case, but is also good if somebody else loses theirs and your DS can be genuinely helpful by lending them one. Obviously, a cheap pencil case with some bics and cheap pencils in case you don't get it back!

As for coats, DS has always worn a coat to secondary school, as do his friends. He has a black berghaus waterproof coat (possibly similar to what you are thinking of getting). That is great as it folds up small and can be stuffed in a bag. He also has a dark grey pea coat for the winter.

we had ds's (just coming to the end of Y7) annual review this morning - bearing in mind his annual reviews at primary started off with a "Weelllll....." before launching into a string of problems the contrast couldn't have been greater

he's done fabulously well academically (can I just have a small preen? 7S in maths :)), is very well-behaved, the head of year said he was a 'lovely boy', he's a very popular member of his class and he brings a 'unique perspective to lessons'

Just over a year ago he would be crying most of Sunday and for the last bit of every holiday at the prospect of going back to school so for him to be happy and settled is huge progress. I've told him he should be feeling very proud of himself. So hang on in there ... it's perfectly possible for an ASD child to have a successful transition to secondary

Basildon, that's not fair! Maths is my dS2's (ASD) 'thing' and he got a 6C in his report (Y7) which I am very proud of. His 1:1 TA is impressed and finds she can keep him on track during lessons but can't actually help him!

Woo-hoo - DS1's blazer has an inner pocket, though sadly no key loop! Reckon I can attach it somewhere though < off to Amazon>

I just ordered the keychain

www.amazon.co.uk/LM-K1-Spiral-Elastic-Keychain/dp/B007A5QK3Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1341998736&sr=8-4

What a fantastic idea for DS

sphil - can you get at the other side of the pocket or is it inside the lining? Am thinking safety pins?

Pet shop for the keychain thing - the sort you get for dog leads! Mini timetable (credit-card size) attached to the end with or without the keys.
Zippy A4 wallets for EVERYTHING!
'Triathlon' style elastic laces on PE shoes.
Tie cut at the back and velcro tab added - well-hidden under shirt collar.
A small stress ball - DS likes the keychain size smiley face ones.
'Exit' card with where to go written on it, in an attempt to get him out of the room before meltdown. Toilet card likewise.
My DS is just finishing Y9, doing really well in everything except understanding metaphor and writing 'in character' in English (one is illogical, the other is lying "because I'm not that person"!)
As for the coat...well, you can't have everything....he's known as 'Nick the Neek', a usually affectionate combo of nerd and geek, and the black jacket is always zipped up to the top with the hood up; BUT his hair is often carefully spiked - yay!!
How do you know the right rucksack? It's the one they've sold out of at Argos/John Lewis/Sportsoccer/JJB!
And at home - there's a laminated A4 timetable on the wall and a 'what I need for school' laminated A4. He ticks it when the things he needs for the next day are ready in the hall the night before. School trips can be written over the timetable, so he knows there is an 'oops' day (off routine) coming up.

Beyond that, I'd suggest you make sure your Aspie has a 'key worker' assigned in school, maybe an LSA, who communicates with him/her and you to keep the anxieties and stress levels as low as possible for all of you!

Oh, and the same sandwich filling every school day is NORMAL!!!

Great list, cat. Maybe we need a Master List of all these awesome ideas

Does the locker have a padlock like ours? If so get a combination one, not one with a key - nothing to lose. Keep a pound in his pencil case in case there's a cake sale or something.

I hate to say this PJ, but padlocks are a personality thing (never thought I'd ever say that...only Aspies could make you even consider this stuff!!) DS has a compulsion to jeep changing the numbers - so nobody else can find out, of course - virtual having a dyslexic aspie brain he can't remember a sequence of numbers correctly for more than two seconds
He's having a lock with a key (and a dozen spares!!)

Ffs I've been auto-incorrected
jeep = KEEP
Virtual = BUT (?!)
bleepin phone!!

Only combination padlocks allowed at ds school next year. Hope he doesn't want to keep changing it, MrsS3!

teacherwith2kids MrsS3 Sphil

A metal ski pass holder, such as this one? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless-Steel-Retractable-Key-Ring-Ski-Pass-ID-Holder-/130719227563?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e6f791eab

Oops just realised that the question's been answered about six times already!

Ahh but we need all available options with these fussy discerning Aspies