FINAL DIAGNOSIS FOR BONKERZ DS.................................

[bonkerz]

DS has AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER!!!!!

ADOS test DS scored highly in all 3 areas, in 2 areas he scored double the cut off and in the thrid area he scored one point above the cut off.

Will come back later and update.

Well done, indeed. Hope it opens the door to helping him get the help he needs.

As others have said, be kind to yourself now as DX is indeed bittersweet.

thanks guys, it really has been a massive fight BUT it looks like FOR NOW things may settle for a while.

As you all know DS got the DX of autism 2 weeks ago. last week i sent to the LEA and SENDIST a list of emails from 50+ MS school in our county all saying DS would not cope and they would not meet his needs. SENDIST appeal is booked for 16th Sept.
After recieveing the DX report and the things from me the LEA went into panic, stopped the PRu talking to me and got DS case back to panel yesterday.

Apparently at panel it was agreed that MS would not meet DSs needs, it was also agreed that a special school would not cope with DSs high acheivement academically and that a unit attached to MS would also struggle with the gifted part! The case worker said the panel were discussing DS for 3 hours yesterday afternoon and it was decided they had no option but to agree to our demands as the priory school is THE ONLY SCHOOL that would meet ALL Dss needs! (i bet that hurt!)LMAO

The case worker is busily re drafting DSs statement and has to make a visit (formality apparently) to the priory school. Then DS can start reintergration ASAP!!!!!! Also have been told that whilst his statement will be reviewed yearly his plcae at the priory school wont be reviewed untill DS is Secondary School age. So for now DS has his place for the next 3 years!

Im in total shock! At no point did i dare believe we would get the priory school let alone get it without going to SENDIST appeal!!!
I cannot wait till Ds gets home to tell him that he can go to the nice school he looked at with me that has the swimming pool and the trampoline in the garden!

Absolutly brilliant!!! Well done Bonkerz (pat on the back from Magso) Perfect solution - so pleased for all!

Told DS and first thing he said despite me almost jumping up and down with excitement was "is that good mummy?"
Im still in shock TBH.
Rang PRU to tell them about the decision and head had already heard and asked if was going to push for ETON when DS turns 11 as apparently its cheaper! All this was said in a very patronising and annoyed manor so i think this decision has embarrassed certain people who up until a month ago all said DS was normal and could easily cope in MS!!!!
Have a friend coming over tonight to cut my hair and give me a little pampering and my sister is coming over for some wine to celebrate!

Cheeky fucker. Not like you're pushing for Priory just for the sake of it.

Still, sod 'em. You've done it!

I have havent I!!!

Wow, that is fantastic!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!Fab!!!!!!!!!!!!That's all that I can say!!!!!!!!!!!

Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is absolutely fanatastic new bonkerz I'm so pleased for you and ds. Well done you

Am still over the moon! Cant quite believe it TBH. DS finally understood what all this meant this morning and skipped out to the taxi telling the driver he is going to a new school thats veyr expensive because he is special and it has its own swimming pool and trampoline!

That is wonderful news. Well done [massive pat on back]!!

SS are funding the saturday play scheme till christmas which is amazing and hopefuly by then we could maybe look at other things for him outside of school. Revised statement came today with priory named on it and alot of extra parts to it about DSs needs etc too which is brill.
Have also signed onto a course to find out more about how to help DS at home, i know bits a pieces but will be good to actually find out info and meet people in my area too.

Well done! Many many congratulations.

Your DS is a very lucky fellow to have you as a mummy fighting his corner.

Hope you glug lots of champagne.

visited the priory school today, took Dh to look round as he hadnt been before! DS will be starting after OCT half term and it has been decied its best he just goes straight in with no slow intros or anything! DS will be the 11th pupil!!! He will be in a clas with 2 other children, one has ODD and ASD same as DS and one has aspergers and ADHD, all are key stage 2 age but DS will be the youngest by a year!
I absolutely love the place! DS will be swiming in the private pool twice a week and he will get 2 hours of SALT and music therepy every week! All meals and snacks are provided in the fees (paid by LEA) and cook will make whatever he wants! The day starts at 8.30 and finish at 3030 which means DS will be out 8-4! They have also offered me a training course to learn TEACCH so i can use it at home as that is the system he will be using at school!
I definately think im more excited than DS!!!!

bonkerz, I have only just ready this tonight and I have to say that there are real, heartfelt sobs coming out of me right now. I too have to go to Tribunal for my son and I hope upon hope that my LEA crumble before our Tribunal in December. I wish your little ds the best in the world and I hope he now thrives in the right educational environment. WELL DONE TO YOU! xxxx

thanks candlewax, keep going, honestly a few months even weeks ago i would never have dreamed we could have won and was prepared to give up fighting if we didnt win tribunal. Keep going, you can make a difference.

Excellent news that you've finally got you dx for ds Bonkerz. I must've missed this. Great news too about the school - sounds perfect for him.

Dd had a follow up appointment today and a dx of ADHD combined with ASD is looking very likely. Not sure where we go from here (still in shock that my instincts were right and I'm not imagining it all), but I'm relieved that she will now be able to get the help she'll need to get through schooling!

Aero, relieved to hear the DX is round the corner for your DD. Doors do start opening once the ASD label is there.

Thanks Bonkerz. Still hits you when they tell you, even though you know anyway, doesn't it? I was at a point where I thought I was making it all up in my head. (Todays first big temper explosion of the school year told me different though!)

I hadn't thought about any of it really over the summer as that's our most relaxed time of the year.

Still reeling a bit from yesterday (will probably start a new thread for advice etc). Dd's symptoms are probably not bad enough to get her a place in a school unit as such, but she will continue to need help at school. More importantly though, i'd like to be in toouch with parents and children (esp girls for her) who are going thought the same. She desperately needs friends who understand her and are non threatening to her emotional wellbeing iyswim.

I know what you mean. The social group thing is my biggest concern. Obviously before the ASD DX it was hard to know who would be appropriate peers for DS BUT we followed our hearts and he attended a play scheme for ASD children which included some physically disabled children too and DS fitted in well. Before now in MS DS has been alienated from his peers because of his behaviour and labeled naughty but at the playscheme he was seen positively for the first time in ages, this helped his self esteem and also his behaviour became less aggressive. this really reaffirmed my views that DS should be educated with children who had similar issues as himself.

I'd love that for dd too, although because her behavoiur is good in general (i.e. she wouldn't stand out in a crowd), and because she is learning ok, albeit verrrrrrrrry slowly, this is unlikely and she will stay in MS. I guess somehow we'll just have to work on strategies to help her cope and find ways in which she can make herself 'fit in' better.

The doctor she saw yesterday has given us lots to read about and digest and the SENCO is putting us in touch with local support groups, so I think we have some sort of starting point at least.

Thank goodness for MN and all the support/advice/info etc - that's a real blessing!

What great news.

Start date confirmed as 27th OCtober for DS at the priory school! Cheek LEA rang today and asked if i could take DS to and from school!!! Ofcourse i said no way as DD is at pre school in opposite direction and i expect taxi and escort to continue!!