Please or to access all these features

SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Who can help DS?

4 replies

wheredowegonow · 12/02/2013 13:43

Have name changed for this thread, but am a regular poster/lurker.
Background: DS 16 HFA statemented 1:1 25 hrs per week.
Biggest issues at school had been difficulty staying focused on some tasks, habitually doing minor things to deliberately annoy other students, one or two incidents of aggression towards other students and saying inappropriate things to staff and pupils - most of it probably unsurprising for someone with his diagnosis. School have always been quick to jump on his misdemeanours, which is exactly what DS needs but they also spend time explaining to him why what he has done is inappropriate.
Have recently had Ed Psych in school to speak with DS, at school's request, but he didn't make any suggestions, just told school to carry on with what they were already doing.
Following an incident last week, DS has now had a fixed term exclusion for bullying another boy.(DS said this boy was in his group of friends and they were just having a laugh, but school have called it bullying. They other boy had not made a complaint about DS) We had a long chat with DS about why he does the things he does and he says that he doesn't know and doesn't seem to be able to stop himself, no matter how many times he is punished. He is now worried about going back into school as he feels powerless to control his behaviour and thinks he may get permanently excluded next time he does something wrong. He only has 6wks left at school anyway before GCSE's but school have indicated they may not offer him a place at 6th form college and he should look elsewhere. He is predicted to get high grades in most subjects although spending time at home and/or in internal exclusion is not helping this and his results may well be lower than predicted now.

So what can we do to help DS? He feels he needs some sort of 'therapy' or other outside help. Rewards systems don't seem to work, CAMHS don't seem to offer anything appropriate, Ed Psych has nothing to offer school and we are completely lost. DS is frightened of his own actions and is desperate for help before he "f*ks up his life completely" (his words). Any suggestions about who the right professionals to help might be will be gratefully received.

OP posts:
HotheadPaisan · 12/02/2013 13:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HotheadPaisan · 12/02/2013 13:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

utterlyscared1 · 12/02/2013 14:00

Have you tried contacting the Elizabeth Newson Centre (Nottingham) - if you google - there is a contact number. I know that they predominantly deal with PDA, but may have some helpful ideas.

wheredowegonow · 12/02/2013 14:29

Thanks hothead. As far as I know it is still possible to do A levels over 3 yrs. I know young people who have spent 3 yrs in 6th form for various reasons. We just need to find somewhere that will offer him a place (assuming he gets his predicted grades).
I think for us (and him) medication would be a last resort as we have seen the effects that medicating for one condition and causing another has had on another family member.
I will look into CBT. I had at the back of my mind for some reason that CBT wasn't always effective for people with ASD -but I may be wrong. I know some have used it to deal with OCD and anxiety but DS doesn't have either of those - at least he didn't until last week!

utterly will have a look at that contact, thanks. Not heard of them before.

Has anyone had any experience of Transactional Analysis in relation to behaviour? Just something else I came across when trawling for ideas.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page