Re: seeking advice for course of action to take...

[Guest guest]

Do your best to secure the various therapies he will probably need at some

point, and try to find people experienced with kids on the spectrum. Generally,

the quicker you get it the better. He can probably use OT (occupational

therapy), ST (speech therapy), ABA therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis), and work

on getting him as much socialization as reasonably possible. Even if you don't

use them immediately, you want to know who you can go to. I'd probably start

reading a few books on social skills training.

Find out what support groups are in your area, and what services they provide.

Start attending a few. Generally, they will have some educational meetings and

provide you with a chance to meet other parents.

Then, find out the reputation of your school system in regards to Asperger's

kids and what programs they offer for kids like your son. For example, do they

provide ABA? The reputation is important because it could be the difference

between caring and committed staff and people simply doing their job. If your

school system has a crap reputation, either move to one that has a good

reputation or find a private school that would be a good fit for your son.

-

>

> Hi:

>

> My son is almost 4yo and we're rather new to this (diagnosed 9mo ago). I was

just wondering if any of you can share what I should be focusing on to help my

son get on the right course, to give him the best chance for a good life. Is

there anything you wished you had done or known that would have made a

difference, that you can share. I really would like to learn from more

experienced parents.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Treat anxiety, address social skills and be positive with your

child (see Temple Grandin's book).

In our case and everyone has different severity of issues,

we should have treated the anxiety/panic first.

Perhaps in retrospect I should have listened to the neurologist

in first grade.Anxiety has shaped my daughter's thinking into

seeing a negative spin on life and people's intentions. I finaly did

something about it at age 11. But she had quit going to school at

that point. There is so much fear I think in myself in using

medication. I may have made a big mistake with that thinking.

Social skills, OT, PT are all helpful.

Temple Grandin's book on social skills is written from her

perspective as a autistic person. I recommend it as a way

to get a sense of how our kids see the world. She coped with

anxiety her whole childhood. She explains how to teach social

skills.

Pam

>

> Hi:

>

> My son is almost 4yo and we're rather new to this (diagnosed 9mo ago). I was

just wondering if any of you can share what I should be focusing on to help my

son get on the right course, to give him the best chance for a good life. Is

there anything you wished you had done or known that would have made a

difference, that you can share. I really would like to learn from more

experienced parents.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Do as much as you can early. He may become resistant to the various therapies

later so do it now. It's much easier to do occupational therapy on a 4 year old

than a 12 year old. I so wish my daughter had been diagnosed early instead of in

5th grade. By that time she was resistant to change.

>

> Hi:

>

> My son is almost 4yo and we're rather new to this (diagnosed 9mo ago). I was

just wondering if any of you can share what I should be focusing on to help my

son get on the right course, to give him the best chance for a good life. Is

there anything you wished you had done or known that would have made a

difference, that you can share. I really would like to learn from more

experienced parents.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ditto that…OT is essential as early

as possible. Make sure the OT is experienced in the areas that your son needs

Good luck

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of gaaspiemom

Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010

7:23 AM

To:

Subject: ( ) Re:

seeking advice for course of action to take...

Do as much as you can early. He may become resistant

to the various therapies later so do it now. It's much easier to do

occupational therapy on a 4 year old than a 12 year old. I so wish my daughter

had been diagnosed early instead of in 5th grade. By that time she was

resistant to change.

>

> Hi:

>

> My son is almost 4yo and we're rather new to this (diagnosed 9mo ago). I

was just wondering if any of you can share what I should be focusing on to help

my son get on the right course, to give him the best chance for a good life. Is

there anything you wished you had done or known that would have made a

difference, that you can share. I really would like to learn from more

experienced parents.

>

> Thanks,

>

>