What support is available for aspersgers preschooler?

[rosiejoy]

Ds is 3.6 and goes to preschool 2 mornings a week. He has only been going since Januray and we are about to move so the preschool leader asked me to come in for a chat.

We discussed all the things she had noticed about him, and pieced together with what we'd noticed at home are both convinced he has aspergers. (although of course she was very professional and wouldnt commit to a 'diagnosis' as such)

So......am just wondering what next?
We move at the start of next month. I dont have any preschool lined up for him, but I wont have a job to go to so am completely open minded about what he is going to need from me. I currently work part time (16 hrs over 3 days) and he is very happy at the childminders he goes to, so I really feel if I can find the right place for him he will be fine.

I think what I am really wondering is where do I go from here? If it was down to me I would avoid gps and the whole medical route, and persue this through the education system ultimately. He attends a preschool at a children's centre now, and if we were staying I think he would have access to support through there, but there isn't an equivalent place where we are moving to.

How did others go about getting a diagnosis- and what for if that's not a stupid question? ie. what did the diagnosis achieve? what sort of setting do your children attend, do they get an 'extras' eg. at nursery, or preschool, or outside help?

thanks in advance!

My son's Asperger's was sort of picked up at pre-school, but he slipped through the net there. It wasn't picked up properly until he went to school, proper. The school referred him to a paediatrician, and he was diagnosed that way. Because of his diagnosis, he gets extra support in school, which helps keep him focussed and on track. We looked at statementing, but to be honest, the school did so much with him, and he is a bright chap, that a statement is looking less and less likely. He has an IEP with the school, which we review regularly, and I feed into that.

Outside of school, he gets no help at all, other than me, and I find it all very frustrating. To the extent that I got a diagnosis for myself as well - I have Asperger's too. I use this to show I understand what I am talking about when I make recommendations for my son. People still make mistakes though, and it is frustrating!

I recently emailed the NAS and they have a number of suggestions for me. Once the kids are back at school, I'll look at how feasible they are.

Thankyou

I'm not far enough into this yet to know what statementing is or the implications (although I have heard of it).

Glad you are happy with the help you get with your son.

Interesting that you have Aspergers too- I suppose that could be very helpful in giving you insight into your son's needs?

All I want is for my son to be happy and the opportunity to fulfill his potential in lfe.

I'm interested in hearing other people's stories about how they have achieved this for their children if anyone else is out there????

mine had a home visiting teacher from the early years team visiting 3 times a week, and she stayed with them until they started school.

Now they're 9 & 10 and I don't really think we do anything. We just live. They have the support, we fight the fights that need fighting, but it's just our life. We get on with it in the same way I assume parents with nt children live. You just parent. You do what you have to do to meet the individual needs of each child. and day to day you just do - day to day stuff.

Sorry, I am not helpful at all, it's just hard to put into words. You just get on with life. You know?

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