'Asperger's' Syndrome

[Pigeonho]

Love this forum, absolutely fucking love it. Was aprehensive at first, as I didn't know who would have heard of it, but the PM's i've had and the posts on here are all really helpful and whilst we have gone out of our way to find out about the condition and what to expect, its always good to see if anyone has any actual personal experiences of it.<br /><br />-- Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:45 pm --<br /><br />

Will be open from the off. My 11 year old lad is on the Autistic Spectrum with a form if Autism called Asperger's Syndrome. To talk too and look at you would not think anything was 'wrong' with him. The syndrome basically makes certain social skills more difficult, but not impossible as with a severe case of Autism. Having had the diagnosis 3 years ago, me and his mum have read extensively into it and it is alot more common than we thought. Robin Williams has it, Bill Murray and a few other well-known faces too. Does anyone on here know of anyone with this condition? PM me if you don't want to go public on it. The main reason I am asking is because my lad is due to start Senior School in September, and one of the main aspects of the condition is a tendency to worry, and I can tell just by looking at him, and by his behaviour, that he has the weight of the world on his shoulders at present, and we are after any advice or help anyone knows of. He is registered with various bodies who help to an extent, but its almost as if certain authorities like to lessen the severity of it and concentrate more on cases of actual autism, rather than just this condition which barely touches the spectrum.

My wife is a social worker and deals with autistic women with learning difficulties.. she has done awareness courses on aspergers as well. Some of her 'clients' have aspergers and she says that whilst they do exhibit a certain lack of social skills at times, they are generally very bright or artistic and tend to excell in these fields? I will ask her for a bit more info.

This is it see, we could never understand why he played up so much cos he was always top of everything academic wise. He would finish his work a goodd 15 mins before everyone else, get bored, mess about and get into trouble. To say the teachers were tearing their hair out would be an understatement. I am just hoping that with a school like Failsworth, which is a sports college and full of new equipment, he should have opportunities to put all his academic brightness into something constructive and not get bored. We chose that school for convenience, but also because starting next year they unbelievably, (for us timing wise), have a pilot scheme going on for year 7 starters with autism. Like a blessing in disguise.

 

[bluemonkey71]

Good to hear people are helping you.

I've got an issue with pre-school and my 3 1/2 yr old at the moment.
Lots of insuations about Dyslexia/ADHD etc but nothing actually concrete. Treating him like an outcast etc. My wife is in a terrible state and refuses to even speak to the teacher now.

I could have knocked the teachers lights out at the last meeting.

Anyhow rant over...all the best Pigeonho

 

[Trigger]

Hi mate, my son James is 16 and autistic with poor communicating skills, he is in a special needs class in a mainstream school. Please feel free to PM me if you feel like a chat or would like any advice, James is in the process of selection for a further education school in September.

 

[IFeedGoats]

Hi mate, the missus is a special needs teacher specialising in ASD if you any specific questions let me know and I can put them to her.


might be worth pm'ing Fbloke see below

I provide 2 days a week of my time to charities and schools for those with Autism and Aspegers for free.

I have written a coaching programme for families living with Autism/Aspergers that has helped possibly thousands of people in the last few years. Of course I don't charge for that either.

 

[stony]

Hi mate, the missus is a special needs teacher specialising in ASD if you any specific questions let me know and I can put them to her.


might be worth pm'ing Fbloke see below

I provide 2 days a week of my time to charities and schools for those with Autism and Aspegers for free.

I have written a coaching programme for families living with Autism/Aspergers that has helped possibly thousands of people in the last few years. Of course I don't charge for that either.

What thread is fatblokes quote form ?

 

[IFeedGoats]

Hi mate, the missus is a special needs teacher specialising in ASD if you any specific questions let me know and I can put them to her.


might be worth pm'ing Fbloke see below

What thread is fatblokes quote form ?

here you go Stony

http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/Foru...t=autism&sid=b642f20dd38599280df23a68e2951a78

 

[MCFCinUSA]

I know a highly functional artist/composer in her 40s who lives in HK with it and you'd never know or realise anything 'was up' with her. She is highly intelligent and extremely capable - so much so that I would suggest Aspergers is a very personal sort of thing and so are its effects on people.

personally speaking, I'd be more worried if your kid turned out like Buzzer1 - but I hope he (like me) can take this tongue in cheek but I'd be more worried about being in a room with him than with my Chinese friend; she's a damn-sight better looking than he is too I'd imagine.

;o)

NB: if you'd like for me to put you guys in touch with Joy, and you need not speak Cantonese/Mandarin, she is a native English speaker, just PM me.

take it easy... (your son too)

 

[without a dream]

My uncle and a couple of my cousins have this. My cousin is incredibly bright but was getting himself in a lot of bother at school getting into fights and the like and they didn't seem interested in helping him deal with it. He went to a 'special school' for a bit but is back in mainstream education now. He had some sessions with a behavioural therapist and my Mum helped out a fair bit, (she's was a special needs teacher at the time) but he's fine now. I would imagine with the program that's starting at the school he'll be given as much support as he needs.

 

[Second Skin]

I having spoken to my girlfriend about this. She is a secondary school teacher and has experience of dealing with kids with special needs of all kinds.

I have picked out a few things she recommended which may prove useful.

All kids worry about going to big school. You always here stories from older siblings or friends, which worry any kid of that age (blue goldfish anyone). So for him to worry about it is not out of the ordinary.

You may want to see if the secondary school has an open or induction day prior to starting (usually around June). These help the kids get accustomed to their new environment and helps them settle in. Sometimes they also do mock lessons, which may prove useful as he will be moving from having one single teacher to multiple ones. If the school doesn't do this it may be worthwhile asking if you can take him along so he can see the environment he will be in.

Also, try not to show any concerns you have, as he may feed off this and this may add to his worrying. (although he could be concerned with who we should be playing at right back) :)

Hope this helps and good look to him, I am sure he will be fine.

 

[fbloke]

As has already bee pointed out I am pretty deep into ASD/ASC and have been for a few years now.

My own 10 year is 'on the spectrum' so i like to feel that as I live with autism as well as work within it I have a better feel for the problems families like ours face.

I know of a number of people on here who also live with as ASD and it is more common than many know.

It is estimated that about 1.5% of the population is/should have a diagnosis.

I would also point people with kids who are struggling in school to the really important legislation that this government has enacted, namely Every Child Matters which allows all parent s and carers to make a case for help in all manner of ways.

When it comes to a mainstream school not supporting a kid with ANY disability never accept anything other than the very best. The system is geared to put barriers in the way but you have to stay strong and fight the bastards who dont necessarily know your kid and certainly dont care as much as you.

If there is anything anyone would like to know in general or has specific question I will do all I can to help.