**AUTISM / ASPERGERS SUPPORT GROUP**

[doll*obsession]

A safe place for all members with friends or family with ASD

Come and have a cuppa, share your joys, and vent your problems with other people who understand.

[catsnknots]

Lisa, are they working on a way to integrate him back into class? If not then they really should. He not only has the anxiety of going back but the fact he was suspended. This is a big deal for him...

[aphroditebathandbody]

Yes I know, huge deal. I will be seeing the principle before he goes back and have a nice long chat. I just hope they actually listen this time.

[catsnknots]

best of luck.. don't forget to come and tell us when the time comes and we can give you lots of moral support...

If you like we could also email the principle for you as well... 😉

[aphroditebathandbody]

that would be lovely...haha

[azureline**]

Good morning. Kindy has it's own issues....after 2 days it has been decided to keep her home this week until more discussion is had. Safety.....supervision....are 2 of the issues.
Miss says an incident occurred, described it in detail and has not wavered, I saw the evidence of it when she got home on day 2. (20cm sized bruise on cheek and a smear of blood) The communication book had 4 lines written on it. Nothing about the incident. Mum phones and asks about it. They deny anything happened.
So....she ate nothing on day 1......ate a small square of fruit bread on day 2...and her food and drink stay in her bag and come out at 11 am and 1 pm. ? no refrigeration? no drink?
Autism Qld suggested a dietitian could be accessed, using the funding available (pot of gold?) allocated for this year. So....a phone call discovers that the cost will be $6000....that is the funding allocation for the entire year, so would mean no speech therapist, no OT....no other therapies. It doesn't mean she won't get them, it just means there is an added cost to the yearly budget for her parents...around $24,000 extra.

[catsnknots]

Sorry this has been a rough start. It makes the task ahead seem so much more difficult to navigate if they have a traumatic experience because then they will associate that experience with school forever. Keeping her home this week is a good idea.

Have a look into a health plan through the doctor. It is like the mental health plan but it involves the use of a dietitian and other specialists instead of all psychology visits. If she has the diagnosis then she will be able to go on one of these plans. I am sure there is even an option to see a speech therapist for a few visits which might help reduce the costs.

I find it rather disturbing that they say it will cost that much to see a dietitian, she should only need a few visits. My sons have seen one and within a few visits we got some good tips and guidance. If there is an intolerance involved then it may take a few more visits.

I wonder if the specialists see the "pot of gold" and think that they can take advantage of it?

[azureline**]

I wonder lots more now...we have just returned from a playgroup specific to ASD kids. What a wasted time, nothing I have seen so far lives up to it's written spiel. A room full of toys.....an adult size toilet......
It is run by Autism Qld, to be fair she was alone today with no helper.......but...she sat the whole time. No organised activity at all. Some of the mums sat and chatted to her as it is also about getting info and learning about services. I had to referee constantly
I think you may be right about accessing services via Dr, cat.

[nouveau_retro]

I wonder lots more now...we have just returned from a playgroup specific to ASD kids. What a wasted time, nothing I have seen so far lives up to it's written spiel. A room full of toys.....an adult size toilet......
It is run by Autism Qld, to be fair she was alone today with no helper.......but...she sat the whole time. No organised activity at all. Some of the mums sat and chatted to her as it is also about getting info and learning about services. I had to referee constantly
I think you may be right about accessing services via Dr, cat.

Hi Az :-x You'd be astonished at the amount spent on these ASD children, most of it from the parents. I'm the first to say that the govt shouldn't pay, but thats also what our not-unsizeable taxes have been for, or thats what we're told :^O Will send you a message if thats ok.

[sheepy_1-4]

ah hah - so we really have discovered that magical pot of gold..... It's in the hip pockets of the parents.

[azureline**]

Got it, will reply later if that's ok, sitting on the couch just now with my pendo that I have not set email up on yet. 🙂
I think that the funding is there..... and while I don't expect anyone else to pay, Gov inc, ...it really should be more usable? otherwise what is the point of providing it? There does seem to be a lot of wasted resources and people employed, who don't appear to do anything?