School Update - Part 3

In case you’re wondering, we haven’t stopped looking for the right school for our son! This week I talk about what we’ve found so far, what are the differences between all the various schools out there, and which one is potentially the best one for Dylan.
Please write in the comments below if you have any thoughts on what you are looking in a school.
Lots of love x
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[@angeldolopei2013]

Hi Honey, just want to tell you the information in this video is gold. My ASD son ( age 9) was homeschooled for two years and just went back to public school. He's in a mainstream class but is struggling. The school thinks this is what's best. My instincts tells me something just is not right. Thanks to the information you provided in this video, I'll be well prepared for our next educational plan meeting. I plan on hiring an educational advocate and will discuss these points with her. I might even let her watch this video. Thank you so much for sharing Dylan's education journey. You are so wise and helpful. Cheers to the great work you and your husband are doing with your son.

[@sanahussain2832]

I am watching your videos like crazy trying to help a friend who’s not sure if her child needs to go to special need school. I hope your guidance help clear out the way for her 🙏🏻

[@ComingHometoAutism]

Your a great friend x

[@LoonyJaffa]

A special school sounds vital and I can totally appreciate the difficulty in making the decision. My son has just started at a special school that runs through primary and secondary. He is so much better understood, it’s changed our lives. Sorry, I hate being a corrector, so please don’t think I mean this negatively. I was corrected about this too- but it’s an EHC plan or an EHCP. When you say EHCP plan you’re technically saying plan twice. ☺️ I really enjoy watching your content, you’ve made me feel like I’m not alone. It can feel so isolating!

[@ComingHometoAutism]

LoonyJaffa 🤣 thanks for the correction x

[@Cackle77]

Thank you for your channel. My son was diagnosed yesturday aged 9. After many years of being told its just me, he's fine.... your content is a ray of hope for us. Love from London x

[@ComingHometoAutism]

hey there, i am so pleased you got the diagnosis finally i bet in some weird way that was a relief for you. Hope you get the help that you need to support yout family now. sending lots of love x

[@eringreen3200]

I been to SEN schools and traveled long distances because my local area couldn’t meet my needs. For my primary school was a hour and half away and would be in a taxi. For my secondary school I was at a private SEN boarding school and that was two hours and half away from home. My local council refused to provide transport so my parents were doing all the journeys driving me 5am to get to school for 9 clock and picking me up at 3pm on a Friday and getting home at 6pm. I return home for my last year of secondary school to a local Sen school because of difficulties with being so far from home. Now in future education no SEN based college just mainly mainstream and I only part time. I did full time but that got too much. I hope that your journey with Daylen is going to help him! I just wanted to share of what my experience was and how hard it was just to the right support but unfortunately miles away from home. The question I have for our education system is? Why are you sending children miles away just to get the support they need even in a SEN school. Why can’t they be local as any other child in a mainstream school. 😊

[@foz2071]

Everything you are saying makes complete sense to me in terms of the advantages of special school. I am fighting to get an EHCP just so that I have the option to send my son to a special school specifically for children with ASD. You are right about the huge size of secondary schools. I was lucky that my son's secondary school kept the year 7's separate from the rest of the school but am worried that he will struggle in year 8 when he has to mix with the other year groups. The school have already asked that I collect my son 10m before hometime because he bullies the other pupils on the way out. But yet I am told that there is no chance that he would get an EHCP because academically, although he is behind, he is making progress. But like you said, the grades are not what matters to me. A mainstream school will not teach him life skills and this is what our kiddos need to be able to survive. My son needs to learn how to have a conversation. Also being around other children like him will hopefully make Dylan like he doesn't stick out. Thanks for the uploading this video x

[@nikki-qm9wz]

Thankyou soo much yes we are still waiting for school to push his diagnosis however it’s hard he needs one to one It breaks my heart when he says mummy I want a nice teacher to look after me Harrison does not understand and the teacher app gets mad he has left school crying and I have had to ring up it’s crazy we know give them wings they can fly that’s all we want to do but it still sets schools out like it’s one way only and it’s not. A school should be everything that our child needs from the moment they step foot in good morning feel really welcome and caring and happy set up for day confidently knowing supported and not just like you said not bothered with cos they don’t understand . He is a whizz on computers ,plus he had a brace fitted due to cleft lip and palette and due to sensory all the pulling in the mouth really does traumatise him he will lay and say nothing like a deer in headlights but I know it effects him. just love your your honesty and thoughts and you won’t leave any stone unturned when it comes to your amazing Dylan and what an amazing mum you are can’t forget dad too 👍🏻💜

[@ComingHometoAutism]

nicola richardson thank you xox

[@rebeccaw9656]

I speak to so many parents who have moved their kids into our (my kid’s) special needs school, after years of mainstream school, and their kids are doing so much better, because they are finally getting the supports they need. And you’re right, special schools are more about teaching our kids how to live independently. I’m so glad you had the chance to get perspective from an adult autistic. I’m a reader, and I’ve read several books with adult autistic characters living independent lives, and I realised early on, that That was going to have to be my end goal for them, because they will grow up into men who deserve to lead contributing lives and even have families.

[@ComingHometoAutism]

RebeccaW Thank you so much for your message it’s so nice to get some validation that I’m doing the right thing because even I get out sometimes so it’s nice to hear other peoples stories x

[@abbystephens9766]

I am looking at going to a specialized setting for the USA because my college hasn’t been super accommodating.

[@MN-it3tv]

The situation in Ireland is very different. It is very hard to find one to one support in mainstream schools.

[@ComingHometoAutism]

i know the situation over there is not good. this is something id like to help with and change eventually x

[@colleenc1993]

U made the right decision for Dylan 😀

[@ComingHometoAutism]

Colleen Caddick thank you x

[@wolfine6339]

whith the substitute thing I will get so stressed but the other kids will just say im over reacting

[@voicefrommehedihasan192]

Good decision

[@enaaddae312]

The special Ed classes are horrible in my part of the United States they want to put my daughter who is high functioning verbal social and they have support in school all of her services in a mainstream school she models and it won’t help her to model children that won’t help her thrive so I’m fighting for her to be mainstream thanks for sharing your journey

[@amyb1337]

My son had to go to Special Needs school for his speech and language.

[@ComingHometoAutism]

Amy B how was he doing now? X

[@amyb1337]

@@ComingHometoAutism he has come along loads and I thought lockdown would set him back but it's not been. Xx

[@suryamethala]

My son diagnosed with autism, Can I ask u a query, what age he started to talk

[@ComingHometoAutism]

5 years i have a video on his mile stones and taking as well if you want to check it out x

[@suryamethala]

Thanks for ur reply lol

[@autismmom3058]

My son was in a special needs program but I wish he'd gone to a special needs school. I didn't know it was such a thing.

[@kazemali592]

Can i take dylan's contact informations i really obsessed with computer actually i'm a web developer and i'm also 14 years old and actually i don't have friends so i think dylan and i will be good friends