ds 5 diagnosed with austism.

[mumofapirate]

re-posting as I put the original on the wrong board!

My ds (5yrs) has just been diagnosed with austism. His physiologist is coming to see me in a couple of weeks to go through his report and explain everything. I'm just wondering what happens now? she told me to get in touch with early bird parenting classes which i have but there courses are full until jan but they are sending me more info. any tips welcome

Hi mumofapirate. It's a difficult time, just post DX. What's your DS's communication like? What are your main concerns ATM?

I found early bird useful to a certain extent, more for meeting other parents than anything else.

What's happening about support at school? Is he in reception ATM?

thanks for the reply. I think on the autistic scale he'd only be around mild. He is good at communicating, processing what you've said or asked is very poor and will often come across rude which can be frustrating. Main concerns are what happens next, will he get extra help at school? he does really well at certain things (number and writing) but really struggles with reading and social skills like school plays, p.e, assemblys etc. He gets mad and upset when ppl move his things at school. At home he hurts his brother alot but doesn't understand feelings which also worrys me.

sorry if that sounds jumbled.

So he's just going up into Y1? I would be talking to the SENCO because even if he's been coping in reception, y1 is much more formal. Is he on school action or school action plus? Has the school got an ed psych in to assess him yet? You can request statutory assessment for a statement yourself, and doing this yourself is preferable but it helps if the school is on side and supportive. The whole statutory assessment process takes at least 6 months. You don't need a diagnosis (DX) but it doesn't hurt o have one.

educationandrights.blogspot.co.uk/

You might find this blog a useful read. It's been written by another mumsnetter.

Hope you're ok Mum.
Even if you're expecting a dx, to get it officially can be a hard time, so be kind to yourself.
Ellen is right get onto your SENCO, establish what they mean by coping, how is he socially and academically? Is there much difference with his peers - I know there will be differences, but just establish how much of a gap there is.
My ds is 8yrs now, and had his dx in Y1, we had a good SENCO who drove through a statement and really worked hard for us. My ds is unrecognisable from that little fella in Yr1.

There's still a gap socially with his peers but academically he's holding his own and is social skills improve every day, and the statement has definitely helped with this. My ds used to get really upset in assembly, PE, dance, music, drama but with support he attends and enjoys all these things.

Thank you, he's on school action, he has been since nursey. He is currently in Y1 but has only just settled into the routine of it all. Senco have been to see him a few times but I feel a bit brushed off by them to be honest. So much information to take in at the min.

That's why you need to be kind to yourself - something about the official dx just takes time to get you're head around.

BUT you have a dx, which means the SENCO can't brush you off, you have more ammunition with the dx should you want more support for him. If SENCO says he's coping ask yourself do you want him to cope or thrive - obviously you want him to thrive so SENCO needs to be telling you how the school are going to help him do that, to reach his full potential.
Remember you have the same expectations as any of the other parents at the school, his dx just means he'll follow a bendy road instead of straight one and he'll need some help to navigate the road.