General Autism Question...

[mollyk99]

I'm going to apologise in advance for being underinformed about autism and for anything I might put in a way that parents of autism children might not think is PC.

I have a question that is bugging me and was hoping others might have some advice.

A friend of ours has a son with ASD, high functioning.

His handwriting is so bad, as is his use of cutlery and scissors and all those things. My friend, his father, was talking to the school - he goes to a special school only for ASD children- asking about occupational therapy or other techniques to help him improve.

They told him that it is a total waste of time, that there is nothing that can be done to help his fine motor skill problems, that he expends too much energy trying to write to be able to write meaningfully, and that his father should be thinking about a laptop because he'll be able to type better than write as he gets older. (He is 9.) They have said they dont really bother too much about his fine motor skills and don't think OT would help.

To put this into perspective (for me) he plays the Nintendo DS extremely well with both hands, plays the WII extremely well (both handed) and makes and builds small lego shapes and toys with what looks like dexterity.

Has anyone else come across the 'it's not worth trying to do anything about it' scenario? Is it worth trying something to assist in his improvement?

Molly.

[sam's mum]

we are sort of the opposite.

DD1 has shocking handwriting and is not so good with cutlery, was quite old when she learnt to tie her laces etc.

her first school with mainstream teachers and little asd training thought it was very important that she learn to write neatly. I told them to get over it that she will be typing when she gets older. Her second school wasn't so worried about it, but didn't tell us it was pointless.

even now the paed is trying to get me to send her to OT to help with it. I just don't see the point in it really. there are just so many other things that we need to sort out it is pretty far down the list.

I think it is a bit bad that they are saying it isn't worth it.

from what you have said he has dexterity when he wants to though. in her handwriting book DD1 could write neatly, but as soon as it was a regular class, she just wasn't focussed on it anymore.

[kiwibird27]

I work with children with autism and that sounds like a load of rubbish... he needs OT

[Butterfly Mummy]

my little boy has autism and has a great deal of problems holding his pencil to draw it is really hard for him.

He also had problems with holding a spoon etc we ordered special spoons and forks which had a bend in them to help him with the feeding himself which thankfully he can now do well.

But this was only done through OT,

[MyFourCubs]

Uh.... ok. Sounds like just pure laziness imo.

I shudder to think what my ASD boy would be like without OT etc.

*shudders*...........

[lis123]

hi all, my son adam has just started big school this year. he was diagnosed with autism earlier this year. he is going to a main stream school, and is yet to start OT. but it has been recommended......in saying that, the school themselves have bent over backwards to assist adam and help him learn how to hold pencils properly, use scissors etc.....and he has improved 10 fold! I agree with the earlier post, I think the school is just being lazy and taking the easy way out! to me, anything is worth a try to help these kids!

[mollyk99]

Thanks for your insight on this, everyone.

I truly think that no matter how hard/long/fruitless it SEEMS... could OT possibly NOT help? Could it be a waste of time?

I don't think so. I think anything, however little, is sure to be helpful in the long run.

I'll let my friend now, maybe he will look at something privately if the school aren't willing to take steps to work on it.