Ds started yr 7 at an independent school this week. It's been a shaky start. He very likely has ASD but funding issues in our area mean that only the most severe cases are referred for diagnoses (despite junior school senco & school nurse requesting referral). Camhs were useless so we went private but ran out of money after the first consultation/report.
Anyway that's for background.
Since a very small child he has had an irrational fear of naked flames. Birthday cakes were a huge problem. He totally freaked out at fire alarms. He's been working on this over the years & has got to the stage where he can actually blow candles out.
Today he had Science. They were learning to use Bunsen Burners. He was naturally very apprehensive not helped by the fact that his classmate managed to set her ruler alight!!!!!
He explained to the teacher his fear & how he used to be even scared of candles. & she told him he just had to get over it. So my question is how? I mean over time yes as with the candles he may improve but in the immediate present he's terrified. I think it's the suddenness/intensity of the flame. He did manage in the end to turn it on but he was very jumpy etc
So sny strategies.
Whilst I'm at it I also need strategies to help him organise himself around school as on Day 2 he was told off for being late to English when he got lost (& probsbly distracted). He also was dispirited with the mark he was given for his writing (something he finds very hard, common in children with ASD). I don't want him to get dispirited this early when he has so much going for him.
He loves his form tutor & really enjoyed Spanish at least.