Moving back with autisic child
Aug 18th 2010, 3:37 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 50
Moving back with autisic child
Hi,
Does anyone have experience of moving to the U.K. with a child who is on the autism spectrum? Our 7-year old U.S.-born son has an IEP here in California and is in a special day class in an (excellent!) public school. He also receives additional speech and occupational therapy from the school district and behavior intervention from the Regional Center. We'll need to access similar services in the U.K. We know in theory what's involved, but would be interested in hearing from anyone who has actually run the course in the U.K. Are services better in certain areas? We have complete flexibility about areas to live in the U.K. and quality autism support services will be a major factor in that decision.
The whole family have dual US/British nationality.
Thanks!
Does anyone have experience of moving to the U.K. with a child who is on the autism spectrum? Our 7-year old U.S.-born son has an IEP here in California and is in a special day class in an (excellent!) public school. He also receives additional speech and occupational therapy from the school district and behavior intervention from the Regional Center. We'll need to access similar services in the U.K. We know in theory what's involved, but would be interested in hearing from anyone who has actually run the course in the U.K. Are services better in certain areas? We have complete flexibility about areas to live in the U.K. and quality autism support services will be a major factor in that decision.
The whole family have dual US/British nationality.
Thanks!
Aug 18th 2010, 5:04 pm
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Moving back with autisic child
Hi,
Does anyone have experience of moving to the U.K. with a child who is on the autism spectrum? Our 7-year old U.S.-born son has an IEP here in California and is in a special day class in an (excellent!) public school. He also receives additional speech and occupational therapy from the school district and behavior intervention from the Regional Center. We'll need to access similar services in the U.K. We know in theory what's involved, but would be interested in hearing from anyone who has actually run the course in the U.K. Are services better in certain areas? We have complete flexibility about areas to live in the U.K. and quality autism support services will be a major factor in that decision.
The whole family have dual US/British nationality.
Thanks!
Does anyone have experience of moving to the U.K. with a child who is on the autism spectrum? Our 7-year old U.S.-born son has an IEP here in California and is in a special day class in an (excellent!) public school. He also receives additional speech and occupational therapy from the school district and behavior intervention from the Regional Center. We'll need to access similar services in the U.K. We know in theory what's involved, but would be interested in hearing from anyone who has actually run the course in the U.K. Are services better in certain areas? We have complete flexibility about areas to live in the U.K. and quality autism support services will be a major factor in that decision.
The whole family have dual US/British nationality.
Thanks!
Aug 18th 2010, 5:54 pm
#3
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: Moving back with autisic child
Do you know of a support board for parents of Autistic children in the UK?, I bet there is one and that will give you a really good idea of whats available where.
I googled and found some but they aren't board to write question and get answers. http://www.autism.org.uk/our-service...programme.aspx
I googled and found some but they aren't board to write question and get answers. http://www.autism.org.uk/our-service...programme.aspx
Last edited by Mummy in the foothills; Aug 18th 2010 at 5:56 pm.
Aug 18th 2010, 9:05 pm
#4
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 50
Re: Moving back with autisic child
I don't have any help to relate to you, sorry. Just posting that I know California has some of the best special needs services and even with all of the budget woes they still (by the sound of your post) seem to be doing a good job. I hope you find comparable services wherever you go. Best of luck.
Thanks. Funding for special needs services in California schools is largely federal money and so isn't affected by the state budget cuts. The services specified in an IEP are a federal entitlement and (theoretically) entirely portable, which is to say they would have to be provided by any school district we moved to anywhere in the US.
Doesn't help us in the U.K. however...
Aug 18th 2010, 9:16 pm
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Moving back with autisic child
Thanks. Funding for special needs services in California schools is largely federal money and so isn't affected by the state budget cuts. The services specified in an IEP are a federal entitlement and (theoretically) entirely portable, which is to say they would have to be provided by any school district we moved to anywhere in the US.
Doesn't help us in the U.K. however...
Doesn't help us in the U.K. however...
Anyway, sorry I'm hijacking your thread.
Again, best of luck in your search.
Sep 3rd 2010, 2:59 pm
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Up on the Ranches not down on the Springs
Posts: 2,109
Re: Moving back with autisic child
An awful depends on where on the spectrum your child is.
My eldest is 15 and has had a rocky road with education. He has AS and was diagnosed at 3. By the time he was 4 Cheshire had just recognised AS and sent its first teachers on training. He spent his primary school years in a class with other kids supported by a helper for 15 hours a week. This enabled him to build relationships with the kids who are still his friends now. The teachers and head had real enthusiasm and commitment
Secondary school was a bit of a cluster ***** to be honest in the early years but they are getting their act together now so all the kids who have followed my son have benefitted from the experience. Someone has to go first I suppose.
I know of other parents in the same town who transport their kid , with AS very similar to my son, 20 miles to a "special school" South of Manchester. I prefer the thought of him going through the normal school as he will have to work with "normal" people when he finishes his studies so its beneficial to know how those "normal" people think lol
He is studying for 9 GCSEs by the way
So dont believe any educational hype on websites as its the teachers and head that make the difference so you really need to go and visit them before settling on where to live. I could highly recommend the primary school and recommend the secondary school that my son went to however rural Cheshire isnt everyones cup of tea
Good luck
My eldest is 15 and has had a rocky road with education. He has AS and was diagnosed at 3. By the time he was 4 Cheshire had just recognised AS and sent its first teachers on training. He spent his primary school years in a class with other kids supported by a helper for 15 hours a week. This enabled him to build relationships with the kids who are still his friends now. The teachers and head had real enthusiasm and commitment
Secondary school was a bit of a cluster ***** to be honest in the early years but they are getting their act together now so all the kids who have followed my son have benefitted from the experience. Someone has to go first I suppose.
I know of other parents in the same town who transport their kid , with AS very similar to my son, 20 miles to a "special school" South of Manchester. I prefer the thought of him going through the normal school as he will have to work with "normal" people when he finishes his studies so its beneficial to know how those "normal" people think lol
He is studying for 9 GCSEs by the way
So dont believe any educational hype on websites as its the teachers and head that make the difference so you really need to go and visit them before settling on where to live. I could highly recommend the primary school and recommend the secondary school that my son went to however rural Cheshire isnt everyones cup of tea
Good luck
Sep 3rd 2010, 3:00 pm
#7
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Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Up on the Ranches not down on the Springs
Posts: 2,109
Re: Moving back with autisic child
Bahrain is developed in this field as well however my ex wouldnt let my son come and live with me
Just in case you fancy sunshine instead of rainy UK
Just in case you fancy sunshine instead of rainy UK
Sep 5th 2010, 9:51 pm
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 196
Re: Moving back with autisic child
Don't know if this is of any use,
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/
There is a lot of help available but you have to really search for it. My grandson has aspergers and he gets Disabled living allowance. He has always attended main stream school with a few hours a week from a support worker provided by the social services. Now he has started a senior school where there is a special base for children like him where he is in normal classes in the main school apart from PE, religion and art which he refuses to do. At these times he goes to the base for extra science lessons which is his passion and he is doing a government sponsored science course.
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/
There is a lot of help available but you have to really search for it. My grandson has aspergers and he gets Disabled living allowance. He has always attended main stream school with a few hours a week from a support worker provided by the social services. Now he has started a senior school where there is a special base for children like him where he is in normal classes in the main school apart from PE, religion and art which he refuses to do. At these times he goes to the base for extra science lessons which is his passion and he is doing a government sponsored science course.
