introducing myself!

Hello, I have three children. My eldest son who is 12 has Asperger's Syndrome and adhd. My daughter who is 10 has Non-verbal Learning Disorder. I have been homeschooling my son for about 18 months now as we had ongoing issues with mainstream schooling and he was not eligible for special education placement. I am really interested to find out about services available throughout the south-west although I live in the great southern region of WA. It is also good just to be able to connect with others who are travelling on this same journey of discovery! I spend alot of time researching autism so I can understand my son better and make daily life a little less stressful for all of us. Recently I have got up the courage to start an autism support group for parents in our area (there was a time when this would have been out of the question, as surviving every day was enough!). Looking forward to meeting others on the forum and thankyou Del for the oppportunity.

Suzie

Welcome Suzie,

Things are pretty quiet around here just now.

I know lots of people are reading but perhaps "are they too shy to post or just don't think they have anything to say". We all want to hear from others.

I often say to people, I learnt more from other parents than from anywhere else.

Well done getting a support group going down there, please send us the info so we can share it on our e-Newsletter, sometimes people hear about things on a grapevine/network rather than directly from the source. And feel free to post info on this forum about your group and other things you come across in your area.

Bye for now
Del

We also live in the country and are finding it difficult to source support. My grandaughter is 3 and was diagnosed with high functioning autism back in January. I'm doing all I can to help my daughter, but feel quite helpless sometimes. She also has an 11 month old as well.

I'd love to find out what support is out there for us. She's still going through the process to get funding. We are fortunate that her sister in law is a developmental therapist, but she is in the city. Currently we are doing the ABA therapy with her.

And as I'm am studying natural medicine, we have her on all the gluten free casein free diets, and supplements.

I guess I'd love to get my daughter some more support if possible. We are really isolated.

Many thanks for listening..

Janine

Hi Janine
Do you know if they have been allocated a Disability Services - Local Area Coordinator? If not, I can find out the name and contact details of the local office for her to ring them and get the ball rolling. DSC LACs know a lot about what's availalbe locally, can assist with applications for respite funding, can put her in touch with other families and services locally, be a sounding board.
They should also be allocated an Autism Advisor as part of the Federal Gov't helping Chidlren With autism Package. here in WA they are from the Autism Association, so she/you could call there and ask to speak to them.
Bye for now
Del

Hi there, yep, I know where you're coming from too....I moved to Perth from Collie...as there were just not the services available for my son. He's 6..non-verbal...Autistic.
Since moving here, I have found the most fabulous school for Shaun....it's what we all refer to as the 'special school'....and special it is...there is NO bullying....NO discrimination...NO pushing into the too hard basket.
He has full time, all day every day Early Intervention.
They take him out in a group twice a week at least to the shops, to the library, on the bus, the train, they have visited PMH...my goodness...the list is too long.
I know I am seeming to harp on...but before starting my son at this school, life was almost unbearable for me and my other two children...now we can all go on outings together...we are supported 100% in and out of the school....
And....he's learning Makaton....liking it...and trying to talk.
xox

Forgot to add....I travelled from Collie to Perth (Subiaco) once a week for a full two years to take my son to the Autism Association....all they could focus on was PECS...thats all.
It never worked for my son and they never tried anything different...just kept pushing the PECS.
Sometimes PECS just isn't the right thing.
Makaton worked.
Different strokes for different folks.
Autism may be an overall diagnosis....but the lifelong means of survival can be varied.

Hi Michelle, WELCOME!!!!!
My dream is for this forum to become very busy so I am doing a bit more rousing on my Facebook and through our email newsletter. Hopefully it will not be so lonely soon.
I'm so delighted to read about your son's school, it sounds fabulous!!! I might just have to come for the drive one day and visit it, it would be so good to be able to share it's essence with lots of other schools I hear about.
Did you move to Collie for the school or were you just very fortunate it was there when you needed it?
Do you know any other families down that way?
What about a Disability Services Local Area Coordinator?
And what about respite?
I better pop off for now, internet is so addictive, expecially when I meet anyone new
Best wishes and please keep posting,
Del
Mum to 2 gorgsous boys on the spectrum 14 and almost 11

Hi everyone
I am Nova and we have a blended family with 5 kids, I have 2 daughters 3 and 5yrs, a son 15yr and 2 stepdaughters 17 and 20yrs.
My son has severe autism, epilepsy, is non-verbal and can be quite challenging.
He goes to Malibu special school (fantastic school) and has just started in their Post-compulsary class.
We live in Rockingham.
Looking forward to sharing info and tips and just knowing their are other families out there who 'get it'.

Hi Nova, great to see you here, thanks for coming along.
Del
Mum to two gorgeous boys 14 and almost 11 (both on the spectrum)

Hi everyone,

Just an update on our situation. My daughter had a melt-down and ended up at rural mental health services. We are still going through the system and have still not yet received any support. Only heaps of promises. She gets counselling as she was so grief stricken when she turned up on their doorstep about 2 months ago. She is doing an absolutely amazing job doing all the therapy herself. Her hubby works hard and tries to help out when he can, and I try to be there every day for her.

We finally have been given a coordinator, but that was about 6 weeks ago, and still no actual therapy. Just more empty promises. My grandaughter was diagnosed back in January, and if it wasn't for a friend helping in her own time and my daughter and myself researching everything we could possibly find - my grandaughter would still be non-verbal. As it is, she is now talking and is social and does imaginative play. She had an assessment from the paediatrician today and she said that it was difficult to find the signs of autism, even though she knew they were there. She said if we could move to Perth for at least a year, her progress will be so immense it will be difficult for people to notice any signs of autism.

Unfortunately it is so sad that country people cannot get the support they so urgently need.