please help don't know what to do next-teacher told me son has as.

[frazzledazzle]

I've always thought there was something a bit different about DS1 and when he started school the teachers said they wanted to get an educational psychologist in to assess him because they had noticed odd behaviours too.

When we got the report back it screamed out aspergers to us and when we mentioned this to his teacher she said yes we definately think this is his diagnosis but he's coping ok in school for now and they can handle his behaviour.

On Monday though she said she doesn't think that the school is the right environment for him to learn as he can't concentrate in a class full of pupils and there is no quiet room for himto go to.

I've tried to contact the ep 3 times in order to see what he thinks we should do about improving DS1 concentration and just so we can get his insight on DS1 but he hasn't returned my call.

What should I do? Should I go to gp and try to get an official diagnosis or leave things be for now.I'm still trying to come to terms with what aspergers will mean for my son and feel a bit lost atm.

My son is autistic and highly non-verbal, but is able to cope in mainstream as he has a 1-to-1 helper. We only got this after a lot of fighting and going through the statementing process though. The teacher is quite wrong to be saying things to you like "school is not the right environment for him", as they need to try different things so that he can adapt to the environment - that is his right under the 1996 education act. Sounds to me like she just had a bad day given what she had said on a more positive note before. If I were you, I would definitely visit a GP and request a formal diagnosis, or have you money to go private (which is a lot lot quicker, the wait for an NHS diagnosis can be very long)? I would also set in motion a process of assessment for a statement of special educational needs - you may not end up actually getting one, as sadly nowadays if your kid is "too able" they are not giving out statements, and lots of aspergers kids (if he is aspergers) fall into this trap. But simply the act of asking for a statement will set things in motion, and your child may end up getting the extra help he needs in class. Send a letter to the LEA's head of SEN assessment (look up the name on the council's website) saying "I would like to request an assessment of my son for special educational needs under the 1996 Education Act. Then mention what the teachers have said and your own long-held suspicions. Mention also that you are in the process of having him formally diagnosed. Copy it to the SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator) at your son's school. If nothing else, this will set the cat amongst the pigeons and you may end up getting some school action plus help for your DS. I think you will also find that the EP returns your call once you have sent that letter to what is effectively her boss! On a more positive note, if he is coping in school even a little bit, he is probably only mildly affected - there is no way my son would cope for even 10 seconds in a classroom alone! Good luck! NB - if you cannot face all the above, just ask for a meeting with the SENCO and perhaps she can get the ball rolling with the Ed Psych (who is crucial to any help you are going to get)

Go to your GP and ask for a referral to the ASD diagnosing team in your area and explain what school have said to you.
Ask for a meeting with the school SENco and explain what the teacher has said to you.
Ask the school to arrange the EP to visit and ask the ask them what they have done so far to help your son. They could do an IEP or contact a inclusion advisor's. Really though the teacher is not qualified to diagnose-get an experts view.

The EP cannot make any official diagnosis either; they can only make recommendations re schooling.

GP should refer you to a developmental paediatrician as a matter of course as these people can properly diagnose.

Do not leave things for now, go for the official diagnosis and apply for a Statement of special needs for your son on his behalf.

You are your child's best - and only - advocate. Never forget that.

www.ipsea.org.uk have model letters you can use to write to the LEA re requesting statutory assessment.

Given a choice between CAMHS and a developmental paed I'd go for the developmental paed option. CAMHS certainly have their place but ASD is certainly not their main specialty.

RE-the statement: my son who is in reception is being assessed for ASD and Dyspraxia and he has aqn IEP because his teacher thinks he needs extra help that she can't help him with Outside agencies also visit the school for him. Sould I wait until he has a diagnosis or apply now or wait for the school to say he needs more help other than IEP help? His main difficulties from the schools view seem to be with his writing skills, communication and concentration.

In the meantime suggest to the school that he should be given the opportunity to try a desk with high sides for the work he is finding it most difficult not to be distracted by.
The school's caretaker built one and painted it white for my DS While he participates alongside his classmates for most activities, he can work at his own desk occasionally and they also manage this in a way which doesn't exclude him fom the others.

Thanks everyone.
I've made appointment with the gp.I'll ask the teacher about speaking to the EP.
DS problems seem mild compared to some peoples experiences but I don't want his education to suffer because they're not equipped to handle his needs.