Learning about Autism and SLD - Where do I start?

[donkeyderby]

DS (13) has SLD and was given a ASD diagnosis a couple of years ago by a CAMHS psychiatrist. However, his school disagreed with the dx at the time saying DS is too sociable. I contacted the local AS society at the time and they said they didn't deal with SLD After that, I was left wondering whether he is ASD or not and I kind of let it go.

Went back to the psych this week and she clearly stated he has ASD. So now I want to know more and after looking at books on Amazon, I thought the best place to ask would be here.

Can anyone recommend good books that deal specifically with SLD and ASD? I am especially looking for stuff on obsessional and challenging behaviour and promoting self-care (e.g. toiletting). Also, is it worth joining the NAS or is it really just the National Aspergers Society as has been suggested before?! I know I've asked before about books but hope you don't mind me asking again.

There is a good toiletting book - hang on, and I'll find it...

this is it

I used it with dd1, and found it helpful

I haven't bothered wiht the NAS, as each time I have spoken to them they haven't been any use whatsoever for me or dd1. dd1 is 5, and I would describe her as moderate-severe ASD.

Jessica Kingsley publishers tend to have a lot of books on ASD - maybe browse their site?

The local NAS here run social groups for Aspergic teens trying to make friends - they don't do non verbal autistic preschoolers YMMV.

"Autism for Dummies" is quite a good book as well, has the basics of it all. Not sure if it coveres SLD though.

I couldn't fathom out the NAS website, didn't find it that useful tbh. I've found this board and other parents more helpful.

I would recommend joining Cerebra and browsing their library (its all free).

I do agree with you - there seems little literature aimed at children with both LD and ASD, however books aimed at classic severe autism are usually helpful. Jessica Kingsley have a very broad selection of books many aimed at sn teachers. Unfortunatly I cannot recall any titles. Unusually our main county library has a couple of books aimed at carers of adolescents with autism. I have found the local Mencap helpful - more with playschemes and as Waitingfor has said the Cerebra library.
My son has mod/sevLD and received an autism Dx in middle childhood. He enjoys company (on his terms) so the autism was overlooked by the professionals dispite classic early signs of autism. We are lucky in that he has developed some language.
I have attended some of the seminars held by the NAS. I have found most helpful but have to pick and choose as I am commonly surrounded by parents of children with AS and communication! Last time I enquired they said they were planning a help2 session aimed at toileting needs (and other sessions aimed at the needs of so called LFA) so it might be worth ringing them (I am not a member either). Is there an autism outreach resorce in you county?

Magso, your dS sounds a bit like mine. It took me years to work out things like the reason he got aggitated in the car was because we were going the 'wrong' way home. Doh. A bit of ASD ed would have been helpful.

I didn't know Cerebra had a library - very useful to know. Our LA ASD parent group concentrates on - guess what? - HFA/AS but I may go along to a meeting to see what's on offer and just register my presence as a mother of an SLD child.

Me and another couple of mums have bugged various professionals to train parents in managing challenging behaviour/SLD including physical restraint (not quite SCIP but nearly), and a 2-day course is due to trial next term. Parent-power rules!

Going to an NAS roadshow in spring. What's a help2 session? Is that online or local to you? Do they put on seminars all over the country?

Yes a lot of things fell into place once I recognised my son had autism! Things I did - or avoided instinctively could be explained logically to others. It took alittle longer to get a Dx. I read a real boy- Stevens, and it was all so similar (except the ASD was un diagnosed so we got no support)
The NAS run seminars ( 1- 2 shortday courses) all over the country. I think The Help seminars are aimed at the newly diagnosed (although because of the delay in diagnosis I did not attend this). Help 2 are the next stage with specific seminars. I went to the ones on sensory needs and managing anger - there are others which are more specific to HFA. I was hoping for a managing challenging behaviour and toileting issues which were in the pipe line. Books and equipment were also available.
I think it is helpful to get on the email list of the local ASD group.

Btw, the psych basically said that most of the kids in DS's SLD school display autistic tendencies. Just cos they are SLD doesn't mean that we don't need ASD advice!

Yes apparently almost all the children at ds sn school are somewhere on the spectrum - the school is brilliant. And they are all so different and individual dispite having some common difficulties!!

Most Help courses not very useful if your child has SLD's. I have brought it up with the NAS and did not get a very satisfactory response. Eventually I let my membership lapse, I think they've lost the plot with SLD's and autism tbh.

I do have an information blog (very neglected at the moment) but although it isn't exclusive it is aimed at the severe and SLD end of the spectrum. It has an Amazon bookshop attached (hit store from the blog) - which again, isn't exclusively aimed at severe autism but is definitely biased towards autism and SLD's as that's my experience. Lots of Jessica Kingsley ones there, sometimes they're faster to order from Jessica Kingsley herself.

Are you a member of the challenging behaviour foundation already? They're very helpful.

Saintly, your blog is great and I'm going to go through the booklist when it's not so late at night (with a day of cancelled school and possibly respite ahead of me)

Yes, I'm a member of CBF and the CBF forum which I find really excellent.