Any parents of Aspergers Kids in Mainstream Secondary

[TinkTatoo]

We've just been told that DS's special education school will not offer him an appropriate secondary education. They have decided to only offer a very basic secondary level that does not include the option to take O or A levels (Junior and Leaving Cert as they are called here)

Ds is very bright and with the right support would be able to take both O and A levels but I am really not sure that he will cope in a mainstream environment. At the moment he is doing very well but that is in a autism specific class with only 5 other students and 2 SNA's. He puts himself under an enormous amount of pressure as it is and I can't see how he will cope in a class of 30 where he has to change class for every lesson. Anyway - would you mind letting me know how your child copes (or not) in mainstream and what, if any supports help.

I am on a bit of a downer at the moment as I can see this being a major cause of stress and upset for him :(

[ali-s]

Sorry I can't help with the secondary school as we haven't got to that stage yet ourselves, but I am wondering if the schools in Eire do the same as here - most secondary schools have a 'special needs unit' , often like a mini school within the school , my neighbours child attends one which I am hoping we can get DS into , he doesn't have to enter the main school buildings unless he feels he can cope with the 'mainstream' lessons, the classes in the unit are very small with a good teacher / pupil ratio. Like you I have been stressing about DS moving onto highschool ( though he doesn't go until next year ) but talking to my neighbour has helped & the head teacher at DS' primary is going to take me on a tour of special needs units after half term, so we can decide which to apply for. Hope this is something you will be able to consider, I don't know what the situation is in Eire.

[TinkTatoo]

Thanks Ali - that would be the ideal situation but unfortunately there is nothing like this anywhere near us :(

Good luck with your tour

[alison1963]

I can't help through personal experience but I do work in a main stream school with a good Special Needs Department. A great variety of children receive help there and there are some with autism / aspergers. One particular child is in the same Year Group as my children and he has a dedicated Special Needs Assistant who supports him in all lessons and also when moving around the school and between lessons. He copes very well - the staff and students are aware of his needs and do what they can to make things easier for him. We also have a child attending our school who attends a special needs school for for part of the week and joins us for the rest - this could be an option?
I don't know if this helps much - it is obviously going to depend on what schools are available to you - you know your son best in terms of his needs and capabilities.
Our SEN Coordinator is very approachable - I would suggest contacting your local schools to see what they can offer you.

[NurseHelen]

My Asperger DD is 16 years and is now in the middle of her GCSE's. She is in mainstream school. She has a lot of support, within the class, she has a support worker who actually looks after about 2-3 'specials'. With the right set up and smaller classes he may be able to cope. However he will need provision of supervision at 'break' times. DD is able to go to a special room at these times and is able to play games or sit quietly. One of my community consultants says the school she goes to is the best she has seen, so I count my blessings.

Any specific questions please PM me, I will try to help.....if I dont know...I will find out for you!!!!!

Helen :wave:

[CarolDel]

My aspie lad ( now 14) was in mainstream secondary school, and the positive side was that it was an autistic base, the ethos was that the base was there to offer additional support and somewhere that had a chillout area and that it would be there to use whilst attending mainstream classes.

The downside was that ( for my lad anyway) ( really don't want to make you feel more despondent, cause I know what it is like) my lad could just not cope with mainstream at all and the catch 22 was that he is very capable intellectually to cope with the lessons but the size of classes was too overwhelming for him and he could not cope emotionally.

In saying that as you well know it comes down to how good the actual support is, in consistency, understanding competency, and attitude - in our case we had a very bad experience in these areas and the resulting explosions when he came home ( on the very rare occasions he actually made it) were having a catastrophic effect on the family.

So, without trying to sound negative, I know that there are good autistic bases out there and it comes down to individual placements I think, so if I was you I would put loads of feelers out and make appointments to go into any school with special units and ask a barrage of questions.

on a positive note for me, my lad now attends a residential private school and comes home for weekends and holidays and he is doing fantastic and this has had a knock on effect with the whole family and he is finally getting a chance to access an education.

Carol
xx

[BarryandCaron]

Sorry to hear of this situation Jakki.

As you know Joshy goes to an Autistic Specific school run by the NAS. It used to be a secondary school so it is laid out and used just like one ie. the pupils move around for lessons and cope remarkably well with support. Some of the pupils take GCSE's and A'level as well as attending the local college part days.

It is another case of lottery; depending where you live. We are extremely lucky that we only live 15 minutes drive from Joshy's school, some pupils commute a long way each day and others board weekly.

I can imagine that you couldn't think about Aodahn boarding just as we do. Has the Special school explained why they are not offering the courses as I thought it is your child's right to be educated to his ability.

Do you have a local ASD society that you could enquire what is available locally? has Aodahn expressed his own preference?

I do know just how you are feeling right now and feel for you deeply. {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

Take care
Caron

[TinkTatoo]

.........so if I was you I would put loads of feelers out and make appointments to go into any school with special units and ask a barrage of questions..............

Carol
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Unfortunately Carol there are currently no provisions for children with autism in secondary schools within about a 100 mile radius of where we live :( There may be some units in Dublin but as that is a 2 hour drive away its not really an option.

I can leave him where he is and he would get a very basic O level education and would not be intellectually challenged in any way. Or give him the opportunity to achieve his full potential educationally but then be faced with his inability to cope in a mainstream setting and all the challenging behavior that goes with it. It's a no win situation.

I am meeting with our local SENO (special education needs organiser) to see what options we have and it won't be for another 3 years so perhaps things may have improved by then (doubtful but you never know)


.........I can imagine that you couldn't think about Aodahn boarding just as we do. Has the Special school explained why they are not offering the courses as I thought it is your child's right to be educated to his ability.

Do you have a local ASD society that you could enquire what is available locally? has Aodahn expressed his own preference?...........

Caron
Take care
xx

Boarding wouldn't be an option Caron and we are waiting to speak with the principle to see what she has to say but she is "very busy" at the moment and will ring us next week with a appointment.....

The local ASD society isn't much help but I have a couple of people I can speak to - to get more info. Aodhan hasn't expressed any preference - he'd go where ever we suggested, he has had no experience of mainstream so doesn't realise what it involves


Thanks to everyone who has replied