**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.

[bella_again]

Gosh I guess I can blame myself Kiwi because if she was in the school system apparently she would have access to that service.

Only when she was she never did. One of the only times a speechie came to the school it was me who made up the goals and when asked when DD would get one on one they said they do not do that anymore that the teacher overseas it all. yeah right lol

Wish we were closer too. One thing I will do though is find out about the autistic kids on my area. Maybe between us we could start something.

[witches*wol]

CCG why do you think I have done all the therapies myself? Our school system here promises the earth and delivers nothing. Or says "Yes your son needs help but he doesn't qualify" Like when the told me he needed the reading recovery program but there were older kids than my son who still couldn't read and they needed to be seen first. And that was despite my child repeating grade 1 and the RR program only being offered to kids in grade 1!

The whole bloody thing in education sucks, but it is what it is and we just have to deal with it. I have sought and paid for private speech therapy, private auditory therapy, private vision therapy, private OT and next term we start private tutoring. It has cost us a bloody fortune but we qualified for the Carer Payment (that $105 per fortnight Centrelink pays) and we have used that for his therapy as well as the $1000 that they give carers every year and although it certainly doesn't cover all the costs it does at least pay for some of it.

[mapalarkin]

That is so true witches.The education system is crap.Out of all the aides at our school only 2 have qualifications.the others are mothers of children from the school.The reading recovery teacher told me 2 years ago that my son had ADD and he needed drugs.I told her to go back to Uni and do a refresher course and learn how to deal with kids with attention problems.I mean you cant put 5 kids together in a room and expect them to sit quietly while trying to help 1 at a time with reading.We also pay private for everything for both our boys.

And Darcy has started walking home from school again.He has only asked me once to pick him up this week and yeasterday i went up to get him because it was starting to storm and he is scared of thunder.He made the decision himself to walk again with no pressure from us.YIPPEE

[sheepy_1-4]

hey witches - look into the kumon program for math/english tutoring. it is only $100 a month per subject and the results are incredible. It doesn't suit every child, but over the last 7 years I have seen many from all walks of life, some with difficulties and other s not...... just depends on the child.

Once you start, be prepared to commit to at least 2 years - cos then you will see amazing results - especially in Math (My ASD boy went from repeating grade 1 to 2 years ahead of curriculum by grade 3) he is now so far ahead, that he only has to sit the end of semester tests and gets to take other subjects of his choice during Math time. Next year, he should get to study Math at Uni - and he will only be 14. This is from a kid who failed grade 1 at 6 and they put into special education unit.

oh, we also had a few girls with downs syndrome. one stands out. she had to work harder than anyone else and her progress was slower than usual in the program, but in grade 6 she was keeping up with grade 6 work if not a bit ahead. she had been doing the program for 4 years.

My boy finished the english program in 4 years and the math program in 6 years. there is no set time - each child progresses at their own rate - some are fast - some are slower, but they all get there with discipline and perserverence

[bella_again]

Hey Witches...

Reading that I feel your pain lol I was sourcing out OT and speech on a private basis. Fortunately it was only 80 a session for the OT and the speech would have turned out similar (I was on a waiting list).

Now I have moved to a new area there are even less therapies available, so with scope for example you have to purchase blocks of therapy here. Which comes into the thousands. The other private therapies in the area all have a 12 month waiting list. So no one private or otherwise can take the girls on.

I have in the past done a lot of it myself with more success than any of them. But I feel that its important the girls have others in their lives teaching them skills and strategies as well.

I went this week to see if I could get them into a skills based program and they offered me the job to take the group locally. But heck that defeats the purpose really lol.

Oh well back to the drawing board. The funny thing is that most of us parents would probably do a better job anyway.

[islandretro]

Oh the wonders of Melatonin!

Mr16 is into his mock (trial) Yr12 exams - 2 weeks ago he was a falling down mess with stress, lack of sleep, you name it - so I got another script for the wonder drug (he had been off it for a few months and apparently gradually slipping back into the old sleep patterns) and within 2 days I had a different kid. Sleep is SO important, you just don't realise until it all goes pear shaped without it.

He has 2 exams left this week - he has been calm, alert, coping and positive - wonderful in fact. He will staying on it until after his final exams in November.

He has his Yr 12 formal on Friday - I will post a pic of him in all his formal glory for you next weekend 🙂

Hope all is going well for you all at the moment
cheers
Rae

[mapalarkin]

Evening All

Meltdown day today.Got a call from the school telling me that darcy was again in the office crying because he was confused about walking home.Turned out the boy he walks with was walking home with another friend and his mum and darcy didnt think he should walk with them.I let him know that it is ok to walk home with them as they have to walk past our house and we know the family.He was ok then.He went out to tend to his chickens and be by himself for a bit.I have decided that I will walk down to the crossing every afternoon now and wait for him and we can walk home together.Sometimes I would love to get into his head and see how it all works.
Tomorrow his aspie friend is coming home with him so it should be a fun filled full on afternoon.Best start baking cakes for them.
Cheers all

[islandretro]

mapalkarkin, I hope it has all settled down for him now and the afternoon with his friend went well.

Our thread keeps disappearing pages back, hopefully all is quiet because all is well with every one.

Mr16 had his Yr 12 Formal on Friday might and had a wonderful time. He looked gorgeous as well, and was hugged to bits by fellow students and teachers from the time he got there and inundated with compliments, it was lovely. Parents went for "pre formal" drinks at the venue. I forgot photos before we went - this is when we got home. He did get photos taken through the night as well.



cheers
Rae

[mapalarkin]

Evening all

Mr 16 looks very handsome and very happy.I hope he had the time of his life.
Darcy had a lovely time with his friend.They did get into trouble for putting the chickens on the trampoline lol But all in all they had a great time and are helping each other with different problems they have.
This week is the school concert and Darcy is playing a policeman.He has to be on stage in front of over 500 people.He is looking forward to it.
I have to tell him this week that our sitter (the only person I realy trust with the boys) has breast cancer and she needs to have surgery.Ive spoken to his teacher about the best way to tell him and she said to be truthful and answer all questions.So thats what I will do.
Im throwing my sitter a Bye Bye Boobie party with freinds and family to show her she has us all to support her and to keep her smiling.I will let you all know how it goes.
Cheers all.
Michelle

[mapalarkin]

Evening all

Has been very quiet in here lately.I hope you are all enjoying the school holidays.
Nicholas had a Griffiths behavour test today.Tentative diagnoses is A-Typical Autism.We find out more in 3 weeks when we go back for full report etc at the doctors.
Feeling a bit lost with the diagnoses as I did when Darcy was diagnosed.Think its just all got to sink in now and then start with whatever is suggested.
Cheers all Michelle