Hi I’m feeling very low these days and feel like a bad mother. I have three kids and one of them is on the spectrum. This year he refused school and we found out it was because he was being bullied. I tried to do a form of homeschooling (distance education) but that didn’t work for us so we moved states to be close to family but turns out my family have been making my mental health deteriorate due to their increase amounts of whinging and complaining about literally everything including my kids. I feel stuck. We left for a better life but it turns out hubby can’t even get work here so we have to return home. I feel so scared that my son won’t settle into a school as the school we have him on now is going well but not an option long term. Atm I can’t find any schools that can offer ASD support and that will take him as most are at full capacity or won’t take him as we aren’t in the catchment area. I feel like im in a corner and no matter what I decide it will be the wrong decision. Should I look at home schooling again as an option?
2 Replies
No not if it’s going to limit his social side. Keep ringing those schools that do have the extra support or maybe move to another area/ city where there is more work and support and look at it as a fresh start for everyone. Good luck!
Have you been looking at the local catholic schools? Our Catholic school has a special ed centre attached where children with all sorts of disabilities are supported. They have specifically designed it. A gorgeous play area. And they also are able to attend mainstream classes where they are capable or would like to. They are also able to play in any playground in the sense they are not limited to their own. However their own has lots of equipment to help with tactile experiences etc they are included in all the special events run by the school.
It is not limited to autistic children, those who need a little more support with reading etc get specialised tutoring there. And also children who suffer with anxiety etc have a safe place to go when feeling overwhelmed.
The support the teachers have in the classroom is amazing! Our class teacher has a full time aid as we have 5/21 ESL children. And we have 1 little man who suffers terribly with anxiety and he has his own aid and is able to come in and out of class as he feels comfortable.
People always said that catholic schools have larger class sizes etc butvthat hasn’t been my experience at all.
My mum teachers in the public system and she has 1 non verbal austistic child in her class 12 ESL children and gets 1.5 hours of support via teachers aid a week.
Don’t let the cost influence your decision too much as you can also apply for help with the fees.