Please excuse the essay ;)
Hi, I am a mother of 5 children ranging in ages from 12 years to 13 months. My 8 year old son is in the process of seeing the local mental health unit for behavioural and sensory issues. We are yet to get a formal diagnosis, but they have mentioned they believe him to have Aspergers and A.d.d. They started him on Ritalin back in November 2015 and more recently changed his medication to Concerta in April 2016 and Melatonin in April 2016 for sleeping issues. Before he started any medications he was a regular in detention at school, he didn't seem to care about anything, yet educationally he has always been bright. He was extremely disruptive in and out of class. As time progressed he became a danger to himself and others, often threatening to kill himself or his family. Purely out of frustration, due to not knowing how to express his anger and emotions. He lacked empathy and didnt grasp concesquenses to his actions.
Fast foward to the present and he is still thriving educationally, but socially has become worse. He believes everyone at school hates him. He has only had 2 detentions this school year, 1 for running on the concrete and 1 after another child said he did something he didn't do. Teacher's and school staff have on numourous occasions spoken to my husband or myself and said how amazed they are in the changes in him. They say he is like a new kid. Completely focused on his school work. And his behaviour is "model student" kind of behaviour. And yet not one member of staff has expressed this to him. No positive reinforcements at all. It is like everyone to do with the school still believes him to be the "naughty disruptive" boy he was last year. He doesn't seem to have any friends at school, children actually tell him they are going to dob on him for something he didn't do (And staff then tell him off). He is being teased and bullied, with no real action taken to prevent or stop this. We have spoken to the school numourous times, still with no action taken.
More recently he has been suffering anxiety and panic attacks about going to school. He no longer wants to attend school at all and has spoken to my husband and I about homeschooling. We are now in the process of trying to find as much information as possible on homeschooling. The school doesn't support this decision, but his teacher does. Sorry for the long rant/essay, but what I am hoping for is any information on home schooling at all. Ie: What happens to family payments, the right places to get information, where and who do I register with etc.
I don't know if this is the right decision to make for my son, but parenting is kind of trial and error and for his mental health, I need to try. It is tormenting seeing him struggle so badly every morning. TIA for any info and once again sorry for the long read x
2 Replies
Depends what state you are in. But basically you contact your states education department.
You can homeschool in two different ways. One you set the program, write the lesson plans etc or you have a distance education school send you the school work and you just help/guide your son through it.
The second way is by far the less labour intensive and fantastic if your son is on par with his peers academically.
I homeschooled my son with autism for a number of years. It takes a few hours in the morning to get through the school work. The education department will give you a list of groups you can contact in your area to access as a social outlet. I'd also advise plugging into a social skills group (for kids with ASD).
It shouldn't effect your Centrelink payments at all.
Have you considered schools with a different education philosophyand behaviour management system. Im a teacher and iknow well that my daughter just would not learn from me, and fear she would miss out on that student teacher connection and feeling of belonging in the community. I also understand if schools not working, you need to look at other options. Is it feasible for you to be a parent helper in his classroom each morning to support him?