Transition to college - what support can my son get?

collegehelp16

Hello new here and seeking advice please
My son is just 16and due to leave his specialist school where despite the wonderful Care he receives can only manage to attend 3 days per week on a reduced time table of 10.30. - 12.15 .
He has aspergers and high anxiety...
I'm scared because after this summer holiday he is expected to start college full time and truly will never be able to achieve this.
How can he be expected to suddenly go from special education to mainstream????
Is there any other options? Help?support that is available??? I have no idea what to do next 
Any advice gratefully received.. I'm scared we will fail to attend college then drop out and waste his talent trapped at home .

JennysDad

Hello @collegehelp16, and welcome to the community. Glad to have you with us.
I am writing mostly to acknowledge receipt of your message, and to reassure you that there are experts here who will be along to offer you advice and help asap. Bear with us, in the meantime.
Your son is finishing at a 'specialist' school, but has only been working a part-time curriculum? Has any reference been made to the sort of support he can look for at college? 
I ask because I used to work in the Department for Autism of a high school and I'm interested in helping in any way I can.
Warmest best wishes to you,
Richard

collegehelp16

Thanks so much for your speedy response.
He has a statement of educational needs detailing his need for one to one support and how severely his anxiety impacts his life and ability to access their specialist surrounding.. Even there he can't attend the small classes (8 pupils per class) he has to be taught in the nurture room...for transition to college he is expected to attend a large mainstream class on a full time basis!!!!!!
They have an area he could access if in difficulty but its not appropriate for him they won't allow to work from home.... So destined to stress and certain failure.... I want him to start part time to adjust or distance learn.

JennysDad

Hello again, @collegehelp16
Sorry, I signed off for the night before you sent the last message, and I'm going to be out for part of today too, but I wanted to get back to you.
As I indicated before, I think there will be others better qualified who will comment on this but, for now, you could take a look at some of the ASD forums and see if there is anything there that you can relate to. There is this one, under Talk about specific conditions https://community.scope.org.uk/categories/learning-disabilities-and-autism and there is the 'Ask an ASD advisor' https://community.scope.org.uk/categories/ask-an-asd-advisor. Your own post may well be moved to the latter forum in due course, to bring you closer to those familiar with the subject.
I'm still here (less the odd break ), and still listening, and am genuinely interested. I spent close to a decade trying to get my last school to develop its online managed learning system (often referred to as an MLE or VLE) to improve learning opportunities for youngsters on (and off) the spectrum.
I do believe we will find ways to go, however, and you will find me firmly in your corner.
Again, warmest best wishes to you,
Richard

collegehelp16

Thanks for your time I very much appreciate it.
I will take a look at the sites you mentioned and post if I find anything myself that provides any help .

Sam_Alumni

@melaniethorley can you help at all?

collegehelp16

I'm due within the next 2weeks to meet with the teacher at my sons school tasked with helping transition from school to college... And also the special needs advisor from the college... I'm going to find out all options offered and then check that information against what the legal requirements are for our area....fingers crossed I can find some understanding..... It blows my mind that with a SEN and EHCP in place... While my son clearly struggles to access his wonderful specialist school that just because he has turned 16 somehow he now is expected to be able to attend full time mainstream college!!!!!!

melaniethorley

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Special-Needs-Legal-Entitlement-Second/dp/1849057060/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Excellent timing for this question. The book in the link has been recommended by a colleague. It was published in January 2018. This should help with the legal perspective.

Practically, you could look on my work website as we have tips for transition. Even though the tips are for university, some of them are also going to be useful for college:

www.gre.ac.uk/aap.

One other thing I would recommend - try and visit the college with your son out of class hours. They can be really noisy places which may unsettle him, and possibly deter him from the college altogether. 

I understand how frustrating the education system is for parents such as yourself. It might be worth having a look to see if their are only local groups or Facebook groups for parents such as yourself. Good luck