Hi all DD has been out of school since February 2023 when she suffered autistic burnout. We've had periods over the last two years when she couldn't leave the house, and now are at the stage where she will go for a drive with us and is doing online A levels.
However she is desperate to have friends in real life and insists the only way to do this is by going to school.
I will list the things she won't do:
Continue with online school
Go to a school in our town
Go to college
Try to get friends through work or hobbies
Go to boarding school (we can't afford this but if it would work I'd sell what I can to pay the fees)
Contact her old school friends
Contact any of the girls we know in our local area
Let us move to a new area so she can start fresh (yes we really are that desperate now!)
Realistically I think online school is her best bet and making friends through other activities. She insists that's not possible.
I wondered if the hive mind of MN might have any suggestions? Have you faced similar and been able to persuade your autistic teen to do things?
If you don't have an autistic child please don't reply because believe me I've tried everything you might try with a neurotypical teen. I am hoping for advice from people who have been here and moved on.
It is killing us - I had a cry in a cafe at the weekend as there were a group of teens having a chat and DD was at home in her room as always