Mums of children on autistic spectrum - can you help me to help a mum at ds2's nursery?

[popsycal]

A little boy at ds2's nursery is being assessed and it is clear that he is somewhere on the autistic spectrum. They are applying for a statement, he has funding for support until October and they are pushing for diagnosis. Probably Aspergers I think.

I had a long chat with the mum today and was asking how the assessment was going as we have talked briefly before and she just talked and talked.

She is pleased he is getting all the support now and feels lucky that it is happening when he is 3 and not 5 more years down the road. But she said that she feels there is no support for her.

I teacher upper end of key stage 2 so rarely go through this side of things - pupils are often diagnosed and support is in place before I teach them - and just wondered what words of wisdom I could offer her.

I said I would try to find out some information for her and have even considered doing something I have never dared to do in real life - introduce her to Mumsnet.

I would be really grateful for your advice.

think thats hardest thing
i felt was alone with it all, and hard to find somoneto talk to mums net helpedso much

She could approach her local authority and find out if they run either the Hanen More Than Words course or one of the National Autistic Society Earlybird courses. These courses give you strategies to help and understand your ASD child, but more importantly they take place with 6-8 families and it is a great way to meet people and share experience.
Pops are you still in the north east? If so the Toby Henderson Foundation in Morpeth is amazing and should be your friends first post of call.

I m in the north east]#will note these down, especially the Morpeth one

thank you Phoenix and nikos

just found the website for the toby henderson trust - that looks ideal!

I will atlk to her on Monday

if you don't want to tell her about MN, netmums has a decent special needs board where people have kids on the spectrum, and also a separate board for kids with language problems. or there's a board called asd-friendly for parents/carers of people with ASD.

I live in north east and have a 3 year old child with autism, just send her my way I could do with a friend who has a similar child to ds2.

In all seriousness, here are a few things she can access...

Newcastle Toy library. They have a stay and play at Hadrians school for families with children disabilites.

Heaton Community Centre have an ASD playgroup every Sunday.

Depending on his age (if preschool) there is a group called busy bees, but invitation only. We got invited at ds2's dx meeting.

And I think telling her about mumsnet is a good idea as well. This board has been a fountain of knowledge for me.

thank you ttalchaos and 5inthebed - that is all really helpful

I think I may tell her about MN - she really needs it which is beyond my need for anonymity

the local info is fab - just down the road from where we live - roughly where are you 5inthebed?

Do I have to give my location away? I live around the Gosforth area. DS1 goes to a gosforth school and ds2 goes to Thomas Bewick, which is a new(ish) school for children 3-19 with ASD and AS.

not too far from me then

Does your friend live around here as well? Seriously, if she needs someone to talk to, I'm more than happy to talk to her via email/msn or on here.