[katy]

i've 4 children still at home,2 at special schools[ youngest at mld and an older one at ebd] both these 2 have been living with me for 4 yrs but still have no diagnosis. with the 12 yr old camhs are involved at tier 3,but i'm told that a diagnosis wouldn't benefit them ,just label them.various professionals have quieried asd,adhd and rad.when still at mainstream,there was a massive discrepancy between how my child was introduced to the school and supported and how a girl with asd diagnosis was treated dispite mine having a statment for more hours and more problems socially and with sensory overload.she is still there and doing fine,mine was hiding in bushes,cupboards,running round giggling,unable to talk to anyone or make eye contact.
due to this experience, i have serious concerns about the boys adult life and finding support for them when they turn 18,i'll be happy for them to still live at home,but will i be all they need or want?

[magily]

Hello and welcome.
You certainly have got a lot on your plate. I avoided having my son labelled for years as I was told it would not be to his advantage, he is undiagnosed also. My son was in mainstream school with his own assitant until he was 11yrs and then he went into a special needs class which is part of a mainstream school. I can only say I wish I had done it sooner, I like the fact that more emphasis is put on life skills which is better for him. I too worry about the future, not sure how it works in England but for me my son will be in school till 21yrs and then hopefully he will be able to get a job working a few hours each week, that is what we are striving for.
I am sure you will find lots of support and advice on this forum, they all seem very helpful.

[paula]

Hi and thanks for joining our Forum.

You are certainly busy! Our two are 8 and 6 (in 2 days!!) and I am worrying even now about what will happen when they are older. It sounds generally that there is a lot of support when they are at school, but this changes when they leave? Michael will most definitely need life long care but Elise, I think, may fall more inbetwen the gap, which worries me as she will be very vulnerable but able to live in mainstream society to a point. Aagh!

Anyway, there are some lovely people here and a lot of support. Paula x