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Transition to college - what support can my son get?
collegehelp16
Member Posts: 7 Listener
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 .
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 .
Replies
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
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.
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
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
I will take a look at the sites you mentioned and post if I find anything myself that provides any help .
Senior online community officer
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