Well the assessment came and went. Friday was the big day.
Long story short.....L is autistic!! Wow huh! Is everyone shocked?!?
After four hours of interviews, assessments and an IQ test, L walks away retaining his diagnosis of ASD. He scored an average/above average IQ score. He also has a secondary anxiety disorder.
All things we knew, but now we get a piece of paper that proves it.
The clinical psych was quite good actually. He was really gentle with L and because he was the one who assessed L two years ago, he was able to see where progress has been made and where it has not.
He is recommending that L does not go into a mainstream classroom without significant support. Unfortunately, without an intellectual disability his access to support is very limited. He suggested that L would do best in a classroom with other "high functioning and Asperger kids with similar intellectual abilities". He believes that L will not cope in mainstream classroom due to sensory issues and anxiety. L also measured as functioning at a 2.5 year old in self help skills. So if anyone knows of the existence of such a magical classroom, please fill me in!
Anyway, I have pushed it all down this weekend. Can't make any phone calls until Monday. Been doing a puzzle to keep it in the moment. Very engrossing and obsessive.
2 comments:
Maybe you could google and find out if there are any in your area? What you might find, as a compromise, is a small school with little classes. Or course, it depends if money is an issue for you and your family but a small indpendent or private school might be a good thing to look at?
Do you get early years finding in Oz? Now is the time to tap into all that help because in the UK it disappears after the fifth birthday and if you aren't already in the system it is hard to find a way to get the help.
I hope the puzzle is helping!
Thank Annicles....
We certainly did tap into the funding! We drained what we could out of it. Here the funding runs out when you are six, or have received two years of funding - whichever comes first.
The problem with schooling is that there simply aren't any small schools with small classes. Unless you live in a remote area. Here you have to attend your local public school, or go private. We are definitely looking at private at this point. Hoping for an understanding principal and teachers who want to work with parents and therapists.
Thanks for reading :)
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