Private OT

[devilinside]

Has anyone had a positive experience of using one for their ASD child?
We are desperate.

DS is 7 and really struggling at school, he is barely writing (except for his name which is the same as it was in reception) very behind at reading and on level 2b at maths (although I am expecting this to drop as he can't write and refuses to type).

He had a session with a private OT yesterday, which consisted of him running around, swinging in a hammock and doing loads of sensory seeking stuff. She says his sensory system needs to mature, and until it does he won't be able to cope at school. She thinks she can help, but obviously it's going to cost £££. Does anyone actually know what an OT will do and how will it help? How will something she does in a specially equipped therapy centre, help him at school?

btw, he has no statement, we have applied ourselves, but apparently they are almost impossible to get in our LA

Hi we have a private OT for ds (not asd but SPD).

The OT did a full assessment and put in place a "sensory diet" (personalised sensory integration therapy plan), but the beauty of it is that once the plan was in place and the OT had explained it to us and school, it is actually us and the staff at school, that carry out the therapy, so the OT will only be involved to check on progress from time to time, as opposed to us having to pay for weekly sessions, which is what I was at first envisaging.

We have bought some sensory equipment but actually the majority of the exercises etc don't require any special equipment.

Oh that makes sense, have you seen any improvements?

Early days but yes, some immediate improvement. Two of the most immediately successful things were a bear hug jacket and disco sit* cushion which help him concentrate when sitting down in school; and regular movement breaks.

Oh and ds doesn't have a statement or full time 1-1 support either; the stuff in school is covered between the class TA and his part time 1-1 helper.

• he also has a movinsit cushion, which seems to be the one more often recommended on here, but prefers the disco sit one (round rather than wedge shaped).

He was discharged from the NHS OT, they did give us a few recommendations, some of which we/the school implemented, but here we are two years later with no real improvement. The thing is he can draw beautifully when he wants, but can't write, there has got to be more to it than weak pencil grip.

I shall check out that book, thanks