Diagnosis At Last - Classic Autism - What happens Now?

[JAKEJEM]

Hi everyone, I have posted a few times on here and would like to thank everyone for there wonderful help and advice I have received through this difficult time. We finally received a formal diagnosis of classic autism at the beginning of this month and were given a bunch of leaflets and showed the way out. I have now come to my senses and requested an urgent appt with my DS Paed tomorrow - WHAT SHOULD I BE ASKING FOR NOW? What are the next steps? Just need a bit of advice and guidance about what help my little boy should be receiving.
Nikki X

How old is your DS? You need to find out what is available re SN nurseries (pref ASD specific) or m/s nursery with support. Also ask about Portage, communication training, e.g. PECs and/or Makaton. Maybe an OT assessment re sensory issues. Sure I'll think of more or others will have ideas.

Hi Davros, thanks for your reply, DS is 4 in July. We are a military family currently serving in Northern Ireland so he will be starting Nursery this year (as they have an extra year for July/Aug birthdays). He is getting OT/SALT. His poorest skills are social skills i.e. If someone says hello to him, he cannot respond (just turns away) so I have been asking about social skills groups/who can help with this - NO-ONE SEEMS TO KNOW! It just feels like we were told - yes it is autism - get on with it.

Hi.

Davros seems to have covered most things! Is your son getting any SALT [speech and language therapy]? do you have contact with a clinical psychologist, ours has been the most help ways around the really bad behaviours and laid out a very strict set of guidlines for potty training, which after 9 months are slowly working.

You need to consider education, settings, statements who's involved, how they're involved and so on
You also need to know about support services/groups for yourself, benefits you are entitled to, playshemes, and yes where you go from here, what next because Autism isn't the end of the world its a beginnign of a rollercoaster... but let me assure you its nothing like going to holland

Hi EmmaLou, thanks for your advice. We waited so long for a diagnosis, even though everyone concerned knew it was autism - now we have this diagnosis and everything seems to have stood still. Yes, we are getting SALT/OT, have been waiting for a behavioural nurse to help with potty training/feeding issues etc for 11m now. Just wondered if there are any kind of guidelines that I can say to the paed tomorrow - RIGHT - THIS IS WHAT WE NEED AND WE NEED IT NOW.

Hi trefusis, thanks for that advice. I called PAPA as that was the leaflet that was bunged to us straight after diagnosis - To be honest, they were really lovely, but not much help pratically. I was after some info for summer playschemes in the area and they gave me a number for a local PAPA lady but I have called every day for 2 weeks and there is no answer!!!
I also feel like we could do with some kind of support/counselling as we have had such a tough couple of years. We feel as though we have just been "left".