Reply from CAMHS

[streakybacon]

I recently requested my GP to refer ds (12, AS) back to our local CAMHS for some specific support with emotional literacy. I know several parents (not in my area) who have had such a programme for their children, sometimes delivered by OT/SALT through school.

Have had this reply today:

'Unfortunately we are unable to offer a service to help J recognise emotions as this is a fundamentally intrinsic aspect of the condition he has, namely Asperger's Syndrome.'

Now, that sounds to me a bit like "He's got Asperger's, he won't understand his emotions, tough" and there's nothing anyone can do so I should just accept that. Yet he IS learning about emotions, albeit slowly, and I think he'd do better with some professional support. It also doesn't explain why some children DO get emotional literacy programmes.

Does this sound like a cop-out to you, or AIBU?

It may be because of the cuts

Our local CAMHS have stopped diagnosing children with ASD over 7 as they only ever apparently did this out of the goodness of their heart, they were not paid to do so and so have pulled out. Leaving parents with no dx route as paeds locally need a psych to assess before they can diagnose.

A local group challenged them and CAMHS reply was that they will see children with ASD AND mental health problems but no longer see children just for ASD, even to diagnose them - and then said children can access all they need through education etc without a dx.

I suspect its the same issue they will see a child for significant mental health issues eg self harming, need anti depressants etc but not just for ASD anxiety etc. ie as they never got funding for ASD support they will only deal with the mental health aspect not the ASD from now on.

In our area CAMHS don't deal with ASD at all. They wouldn't even take DS on for anxiety becuase they said it was a symptom of ASD (which of course it is.)

However, your SENCO might be able to deliver a program about emotional literacy. (Especially if you research it, find the one you like, buy the book, give it to the SENCO and ask her to deliver it....)

But yes, in our area, the ASD team are very good at supporting the school. And so the SENCO would ring up the ASD team, and they would either deliver the program, or advise school on how to do so....

That might be it, I expect.

A significant part of the problem is that ds is home educated so we don't have access to school-based services. It was the main reason we deregistered in the first place, that he wasn't getting any relevant support so I doubt he'd have been allowed an emotional literacy programme even if he were still there. I've tried for years to find something of this type in our area but there just doesn't seem to be anything, from any agency or service . I do work with him myself and he has made significant progress, but he could do with professional input if he's to achieve his potential.

Does anyone here have any recommendations for you?

I know there is: Teaching Children with Autism to Mind-read

But there must be heaps others I haven't found yet....

Thanks Indigo, I've looked at that one before and many others. The thing is, I don't have the space in my head to do any more than I already am, and I really feel he needs someone else to work with him on this.

I'm meeting with Autism Outreach in a couple of weeks to see what they can suggest, but again it's a one-off meeting and there is no practical support to be offered.

To be fair, he's doing quite well in developing his emotional understanding for real-life situations, albeit slowly, but a major concern is the way his deficit is impacting on his academic learning, especially in English. He needs help to understand implicit meaning, as in "Why did X behave in such-and-such way" and "How do you think Y felt". He just doesn't have that capability and I think an emotional literacy programme (or similar) would help him along his way.

I realise that I may have to just continue plodding on in my own amateur way, if I can't find the professional support he needs, but we really could do with some 'proper' input if it's out there.

Would an Ed Psych be able to help? Can you access them (without paying) if you HE?

quietlysuggests - he is overwhelmed with social opportunities! Has never had such a range of groups to meet with and he does well in them. He's just finished a fixed-term social skills group with Barnardo's aimed at teens/pre-teens and did well, but he would benefit from something continuous.

He was part of a special needs drama group for a few weeks till last summer but it's been on hold because of staff sickness and doesn't start up again till mid-Feb. I'm looking at a more mainstream group for him (with the help of Barnardo's sponsor) because I think he's ready for the move.

Indigo - Ed Psych is on my list to ask Autism Outreach, but I think it's unlikely as funding is for school-educated children only. Head of Access and Inclusion has told me so .

Like I said, we can take our time in developing his emotional literacy in a social context, but my main concern at present is how it impacts on him academically. That's where we really need help.

Thanks for suggestions, really appreciate the input