Autism and early intervention

Motherof123

We have just got an autism diagnosis for our son.
Went private to get him early intervention ASAP.
So now we have got this far we have discovered that All the early intervention ASD classes attached to mainstream schools are full.
With lovely long Waiting lists been told he might have a place for 2020 "might" and that place is across the city during peak traffic. Was told you have to apply to them all. Even ones miles away.

He can avail of home tuition where a tutor comes to our home.
But he is losing out in being around other children if he is at home.

Has anyone any other ideas of how you managed the situation that a lot of family's end up in.

We live in cork and even though there is so many places accommodating children with autism there still seems to be a lot of push to get the places.

If anyone has any tips for me to even find a home tutor I'd really appreciate it.
I have to do what's right for my child and not because the system said so.

Thank you

drunkmonkey

Is he capable of going to ordinary school, if so maybe an SNA helping a teacher might work.
Early intervention is anything but unfortunately. Is he still on the public waiting list, keep him on it for assessment.

Motherof123

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Is he capable of going to ordinary school, if so maybe an SNA helping a teacher might work.
Early intervention is anything but unfortunately. Is he still on the public waiting list, keep him on it for assessment.

Got the diagnosis and was recommended to attend an early intervention unit like preschool but tailored to each individual and 6 kids instead
Of 30. He is gone from the AON and on a list for services like OT and SLT.
Be waiting at least a year.
Have to pay for those to get the ball rolling.

He qualifies for home tuition since the schools we have are all full such a change there isn't more private classes.
Some cases teachers come together and make their own and accept home tuition.

Maybe in a few years things will get easier for parents with children who have special needs.

drunkmonkey

What I was asking is he able to go to an ordinary school class room if the teacher had extra help, the reason I ask is he doesn’t need to be in a school with an autism wing if so.
Is he in a crèche/preschool the early intervention should be able to get an sna for him there and get them working with the speech and language therapists.

I’m not sure what your dealing with so hard to advise, as you were recommended an OT(short for get him doing more) and speech therapy those problems can disappear come big school time if worked on.

Get the second opinions from the public system even if it takes a long wait as things do differ from professional to professional.
Had he an eye & ear test before the diagnosis?

Motherof123

drunkmonkey wrote: »

What I was asking is he able to go to an ordinary school class room if the teacher had extra help, the reason I ask is he doesn’t need to be in a school with an autism wing if so.
Is he in a crèche/preschool the early intervention should be able to get an sna for him there and get them working with the speech and language therapists.

I’m not sure what your dealing with so hard to advise, as you were recommended an OT(short for get him doing more) and speech therapy those problems can disappear come big school time if worked on.

Get the second opinions from the public system even if it takes a long wait as things do differ from professional to professional.
Had he an eye & ear test before the diagnosis?

His hearing is fine, had a multidisciplinary Assesment.

DubCount

Home tuition can be great, and I would concentrate on getting that set up as soon as possible. If you get a good home programme up and running, it can be better than a ASD preschool unit. A typical ASD unit will have 1 teacher and 2 SNAs for 6 children, whereas home tuition is 1:1. For development of language, motor skills, behavioural issues etc., 1:1 is preferable. The ability of ASD children to ignore can be amazing, and 1:1 attention can be the only way of assuring attention. The development of social skills through being around other children can be developed through non-school activities, or later on.

Sometimes several parents can club their home tuition funding together to organise mini-units for themselves. If you want to go this route, check out some of the ASD groups on Facebook etc. to find other parents in your area.

Good luck.

Millem

Hi Mother123,

Is there a Jonix near you? I am in Dublin so know very little about Cork.

Is your son doing his ecce? If so could the mainstream Montesorri apply for an AIMS worker? It takes time though

Another option is get the Home Tutor to go into his mainstream Montesorri.

Check though I don’t think you can get 15 ecce hours and 20 home tuition hours. You could get 15 ecce hours and 5 home tuition hours or 20 home tuition hours and pay privately for ecce.
Check the above as I could be wrong!!

If you do avail of the home tuition your son will be granted the July provision during the summer.

In relation to OT and SLT have you applied for DCA and incapacitated child tax credit? Also I have previously posted before of a vhi health insurance plan than gives 75% back on OT, SLT etc. it is a day to day benefit so no waiting periods. It is well worth getting.
Also check out Sensational Kids.

I know you said the distance was too far but you are entitled to free transport if you live a certain distance from the early intervention class.

Best of luck

heldel00

Keep in mind that if he does go to mainstream he will only get access to a SNA. He won't get one specifically for him. They will be shared amongst the other child with additional needs in the school and he will have past of the day where he more than likely would have to manage by himself (obviously with help of the class teacher.)

It is absolutely disgraceful, IMO.

Motherof123

DubCount wrote: »

Home tuition can be great, and I would concentrate on getting that set up as soon as possible. If you get a good home programme up and running, it can be better than a ASD preschool unit. A typical ASD unit will have 1 teacher and 2 SNAs for 6 children, whereas home tuition is 1:1. For development of language, motor skills, behavioural issues etc., 1:1 is preferable. The ability of ASD children to ignore can be amazing, and 1:1 attention can be the only way of assuring attention. The development of social skills through being around other children can be developed through non-school activities, or later on.

Sometimes several parents can club their home tuition funding together to organise mini-units for themselves. If you want to go this route, check out some of the ASD groups on Facebook etc. to find other parents in your area.

Good luck.

Thank you so much for taking time to reply we only got in touch with the Ncse Seno last week and she never told me any between the lines only pick either or.

So my seno leads me to believe I have to cancel ecce pay them €75 for him to partake still and claim 20 hours home tuition.

Then I do some research online and discover you can do for example let's say 4 days ecce and claim the latter with home tuition which would be ideal for him and us!

So if I tell the playschool do 12 hours ecce I can apply for 8 home tuition.

He has only recently stopped crying going into playschool so this is why I thought he would benefit from staying in since it too so long for him to settle.
He comes out happy now he used to come out in hysterics.

He's learning songs very quickly in playschool he can now sing merry Christmas and a happy new year. And he is singing jingle bells from start to finish in his own little game.

His main issues are communication and focus he cannot use gestures or words to ask for things I have become his mind reader.

His Behaviour is fine he's quiet by nature and extremely affectionate he would come to me for hugs and kisses.

He just really needs one on one to get to the level of engagement and if I did send him to playschool and did 4 hours home tuition a day he would be burnt out and would never reach the engagement level with 1:1.

I will keep looking for a home tutor which I'm finding impossible.

Thanks for your help

Motherof123

Millem wrote: »

Hi Mother123,

Is there a Jonix near you? I am in Dublin so know very little about Cork.

Is your son doing his ecce? If so could the mainstream Montesorri apply for an AIMS worker? It takes time though

Another option is get the Home Tutor to go into his mainstream Montesorri.

Check though I don’t think you can get 15 ecce hours and 20 home tuition hours. You could get 15 ecce hours and 5 home tuition hours or 20 home tuition hours and pay privately for ecce.
Check the above as I could be wrong!!

If you do avail of the home tuition your son will be granted the July provision during the summer.

In relation to OT and SLT have you applied for DCA and incapacitated child tax credit? Also I have previously posted before of a vhi health insurance plan than gives 75% back on OT, SLT etc. it is a day to day benefit so no waiting periods. It is well worth getting.
Also check out Sensational Kids.

I know you said the distance was too far but you are entitled to free transport if you live a certain distance from the early intervention class.

Best of luck

There is no Jonix in Cork.
He is currently doing his ecce I was under the illusion that he could only do either or.
Seno is great but she never told me I could do both! She actually said you can't do both so I went to the playschool to give notice to cancel the ecce and said I'll pay and we were told it's €75 a week.

So after thinking about it and doing some research I think 12 hours ecce and 8 hours home tuition would be fantastic for him.

My husband has switched his shift so he is around during the day and we give him as much 1:1 ourselves as we can.

Also I'm a SAHM so I'm constantly trying to find new ways to enagage by mixing up games like all around the garden on his hand and he loves the tickles and now he's trying to do this to my hand.

The July provision sounds brilliant it would help him a lot.

So
Once you apply for the home tuition for 8 hours I wonder would I have to reapply In the summer to change it to 20.

We got the VHI it's fantastic! 75% returns also have booked OT for him and will be using the vhi.

The problem with the transport and the schools if they are far he has travel sickness and if the journey is over 30 minutes in the car he would feel sick.

I also had travel sickness as a child but grew out of it.

Thanks for your advice

Motherof123

heldel00 wrote: »

Keep in mind that if he does go to mainstream he will only get access to a SNA. He won't get one specifically for him. They will be shared amongst the other child with additional needs in the school and he will have past of the day where he more than likely would have to manage by himself (obviously with help of the class teacher.)

It is absolutely disgraceful, IMO.

That's is a disgrace I totally agree, I know when the time comes like all other parents face with their children with special needs that there will not be any place when it is time for school and your left with the option of home tuition. Or mainstream with sna which could undo all the hard work we did.
And cause a major regression with the stress of it all.

It's very backwards the whole system and it's nothing new i have found same stories online from 2009.

The same things are happening 10 years later parents having to fight for a school place.

All schools should have an autism class attached.
I don't know why they don't have them already.

I was given a list of early intervention ASD classes and it's a disgrace only 2 suit and I was told you have to apply to most of them and don't worry about distance! But they are wasting money paying for taxis and busses?

This is all new to me it's hard already without having to chase people for a school place!

And then having a Seno as the middle man!

Thanks so much for your reply

Millem

Motherof123 wrote: »

There is no Jonix in Cork.
He is currently doing his ecce I was under the illusion that he could only do either or.
Seno is great but she never told me I could do both! She actually said you can't do both so I went to the playschool to give notice to cancel the ecce and said I'll pay and we were told it's €75 a week.

So after thinking about it and doing some research I think 12 hours ecce and 8 hours home tuition would be fantastic for him.

My husband has switched his shift so he is around during the day and we give him as much 1:1 ourselves as we can.

Also I'm a SAHM so I'm constantly trying to find new ways to enagage by mixing up games like all around the garden on his hand and he loves the tickles and now he's trying to do this to my hand.

The July provision sounds brilliant it would help him a lot.

So
Once you apply for the home tuition for 8 hours I wonder would I have to reapply In the summer to change it to 20.

We got the VHI it's fantastic! 75% returns also have booked OT for him and will be using the vhi.

The problem with the transport and the schools if they are far he has travel sickness and if the journey is over 30 minutes in the car he would feel sick.

I also had travel sickness as a child but grew out of it.

Thanks for your advice

Just double check with the hours. I think you can use the balance of hours with home tutor eg 20-15=5

It’s better value to pay ecce yourself €75 and get the department to pay the home tutor. Home tutors can get €34-€46 per hour.
You should get the full July provision during the summer again check this out.

I find email the best when dealing with them as you have a record!

Motherof123

Millem wrote: »

Just double check with the hours. I think you can use the balance of hours with home tutor eg 20-15=5

It’s better value to pay ecce yourself €75 and get the department to pay the home tutor. Home tutors can get €34-€46 per hour.
You should get the full July provision during the summer again check this out.

I find email the best when dealing with them as you have a record!

The Seno doesn't offer much extra advice other than her job.

So she told me you cannot get both ecce and HT but a lot of people have split the time.

Now unless this is a new rule where you can't split (I hope it's not a new rule) because I really want to share his time between socialising and one to one.

It's my only option to take the home tuition as the early intervention ASD preschools are free and far between and FULL!

It's a juggling act and no one can give a straight answer as to where the child is on the list.

We cannot afford the €75 per week we have a low income and have booked OT for the month of January and February once a week for 1 hour.
I totally understand what you mean about the HT being worth a lot more. But I don't want to cut his days down for a lack of cash.

So with €75 for playschool and €85 for OT we wouldn't have money for groceries.

downwesht

Hi Op,there are various Autism groups in the Cork area,these provide information and support.The Rainbow Club and autism West cork are 2.CoAction also may help.You should apply for a tax credit for your child too and there are other financial supports too.Your local citizens advice centre may help.

Motherof123

downwesht wrote: »

Hi Op,there are various Autism groups in the Cork area,these provide information and support.The Rainbow Club and autism West cork are 2.CoAction also may help.You should apply for a tax credit for your child too and there are other financial supports too.Your local citizens advice centre may help.

Thank you so much I will have a look now for the rainbow club, autism est cork and Coaction.
I'm just starting to find my feet and figure the right way to go.
Was referred to brothers of charity Marion house day one but never heard anything from them yet they only offer the Hanen course first Im in a waiting list for that.
There's so many departments to chase up with after diagnosis I'm finding it very overwhelming and wanting to focus on my child more.
We will post off the DCA application tomorrow
And apply for the tax credits thank you for taking the time to reply ❤️

Millem

Motherof123 wrote: »

The Seno doesn't offer much extra advice other than her job.

So she told me you cannot get both ecce and HT but a lot of people have split the time.

Now unless this is a new rule where you can't split (I hope it's not a new rule) because I really want to share his time between socialising and one to one.

It's my only option to take the home tuition as the early intervention ASD preschools are free and far between and FULL!

It's a juggling act and no one can give a straight answer as to where the child is on the list.

We cannot afford the €75 per week we have a low income and have booked OT for the month of January and February once a week for 1 hour.
I totally understand what you mean about the HT being worth a lot more. But I don't want to cut his days down for a lack of cash.

So with €75 for playschool and €85 for OT we wouldn't have money for groceries.

Ok that’s great so you Defo can split them. I thought you could but always best to check

Is your child toilet trained? If not you can get nappies free off your PHN.
Also now your child has a diagnosis they should get a medical card.

I know carer’s allowance is means tested but maybe you might qualify?

Motherof123

Millem wrote: »

Ok that’s great so you Defo can split them. I thought you could but always best to check

Is your child toilet trained? If not you can get nappies free off your PHN.
Also now your child has a diagnosis they should get a medical card..

I know carer’s allowance is means tested but maybe you might qualify?

Not potty trained at all and I have tried to many ideas I even got a soft book with a story and a little boy wearing a nappy but to no avail but he was enjoying the story!

I have applied for DCA Carers and IC tax credit all ready to be posted off tomorrow
He has a medical card but he is never sick thankfully! He has been to the doctor twice.
Thanks so much for your help I should ring the PHN about the nappies.
I will ring them anyway and ask for any supports of books they may have to assist me & him.

Is he not gone off the public health nurse list over being 3?


I am only going On what I have read online but seems like you can split the hours between ecce and HT the seno won't give any extra information. I had to figure that out for myself

hickory

Has the playschool said he cant cope with playschool? They can apply to aims and get different resources with level 7 being an extra resource. The aims worker will even incorporate speech and language work from speech therapist into the table work and it can be really good as it becomes a game for all the kids. The aims person over the area gives the class aims person different strategies and work dependent on the child. If playschool is happy to keep him it would be good for social side of it

Motherof123

hickory wrote: »

Has the playschool said he cant cope with playschool? They can apply to aims and get different resources with level 7 being an extra resource. The aims worker will even incorporate speech and language work from speech therapist into the table work and it can be really good as it becomes a game for all the kids. The aims person over the area gives the class aims person different strategies and work dependent on the child. If playschool is happy to keep him it would be good for social side of it

They were reluctant to apply for Aims and they are not familiar with it and have never even come across it.
I gave them a leaflet about it.
I'm going to print and sign the consent form and leave them do the rest.

It would be great if they did get it.

He wasn't coping well at all he cried a lot of the time and I was called to
Collect him early a lot.

The last two weeks he is going In ok except for Monday's after the weekends. But when collected he is coming out happy he could switch again but we're just watching his progress after school he's actually started singing songs that he is learning.
He only started in sept of this year.

hickory

My creche weren't familiar with aims either but they were really proactive with completing and the process was really simple. I think within 2 days of submitting the forms we had an apt for the lady to come meet us the following week and a decision in another week or so. I think what is now aims was previously called something else and hence why they are not familiar with it. As far as I remember there is a form that the preschool answers and then parent answers also and I remember going in and we talking through those before we submitted. I told my playschool that early intervention said they had to apply for it, so I didnt give a choice

Motherof123

hickory wrote: »

My creche weren't familiar with aims either but they were really proactive with completing and the process was really simple. I think within 2 days of submitting the forms we had an apt for the lady to come meet us the following week and a decision in another week or so. I think what is now aims was previously called something else and hence why they are not familiar with it. As far as I remember there is a form that the preschool answers and then parent answers also and I remember going in and we talking through those before we submitted. I told my playschool that early intervention said they had to apply for it, so I didnt give a choice

Yeah I mentioned it the first week. Brought a leaflet about it the second week was told twice yeah we are applying for it. Heard no more then he had an awful few weeks and I was getting called to take him home spoke about it again nothing done. Mentioned it again last week.
Its supposed to be fantastic tho a lot of Creche's are looking for it.
But this playschool have never used it.

Thanks for that tho.

glen123

Btw, regarding IC tax credit -the quickest way to apply is through myAccount. You just add the tax credit there and submit scanned forms via My Enquries. You then do the same for each year incl the year when your child was born. This tax credit can be backdated as far as 2015 (if you child was born in 2015, for example). I you paid taxes during those years, especially if more than 3300 per year, you'll get a refund of 3300 for each year.

DCA is hard to get. If you haven't already done so, join DCA Warriors group on FB - plenty of advice there how to correctly do the forms, how to do daily diary, etc. DCA is granted based on extra care, not diagnosis.

Carers allowance is means tested however the means test is such that your family income would have to be in the region of around 60k gross for you to get nothing. Carer's Allowance is only granted once DCA is approved so you need to make sure you get everything right go get DCA asap to avoid going through appeals etc. Carer Allowance application will be on hold until the result of your DCA is known.

Motherof123

glen123 wrote: »

Btw, regarding IC tax credit -the quickest way to apply is through myAccount. You just add the tax credit there and submit scanned forms via My Enquries. You then do the same for each year incl the year when your child was born. This tax credit can be backdated as far as 2015 (if you child was born in 2015, for example). I you paid taxes during those years, especially if more than 3300 per year, you'll get a refund of 3300 for each year.

DCA is hard to get. If you haven't already done so, join DCA Warriors group on FB - plenty of advice there how to correctly do the forms, how to do daily diary, etc. DCA is granted based on extra care, not diagnosis.

Carers allowance is means tested however the means test is such that your family income would have to be in the region of around 60k gross for you to get nothing. Carer's Allowance is only granted once DCA is approved so you need to make sure you get everything right go get DCA asap to avoid going through appeals etc. Carer Allowance application will be on hold until the result of your DCA is known.

Thanks a lot for the info.
The tax we couldn't do online an error was Coming up saying the number of children exceeds the number of children on file or something.
Then when I logged in it was working for me but I didn't want it as I'm a SAHM and not employed.
So my husband posted them Today.
Yeah I heard the dca is a tricky one but I gave a 6 page typed up typical day and family impact summary.
And added reports from
The begining of referral and Report from
SLT and then a letter with future OT SLT sessions booked for Jan 2020.
Hopefully It was enough. The Assesment report I also added.
And this shows the recommendations.
It's all very time consuming it took over a week to complete I had to loose sleep to get that one done with no distractions while they slept I have 3 children.

I hope the tax one is accepted.
And I hope we don't have to appeal I spent ages filling it and checking it twice and again and again until I was happy with it and then registered post