Teenage son with tourettes and low-end autism

Anitta - posted on 06/18/2010

my son has adhd, odd, ocd and tourettes with autistic and aspergers traits, he is a hard worker, and would do great in the workforce...if he didnt tic so much and wasnt so impulsive. maybe your son could do some yard work for friends and family until he gets some experience, when he is old enough pay for driving lessons, he may surprise you

Ali - posted on 06/15/2010

Hello Becky,
I know your frustrations, these are the things we go to bed worried about with our children. I don’t go to bed worrying my son may get some girl pregnant. I don’t go to bed worrying that my son may wreck my car while out joy riding. My worries are just different and you have every right to be concerned about his future. My son is 17 going on 18 this October. He is nothing like most boys these days. He is not interested in driving or dating. He would rather play his computer games and watch TV with me and his dad. He is very much an indoor person, hates the hot weather and cold. Fall would his favorite if it didn’t rain or storm so much. He will most likely be in school till he is 21. After that we have a great Vocational Rehabilitation Center here that he can work and earn some money and feel like he is doing something he can be proud of. Just keep in touch with his teachers and school system. I am sure they can help you when the time comes for your son to move on after school is done. Good luck to you and your son.

Sheila - posted on 06/14/2010

Hi Becky,



If you are in Ontario, you would approach community and social services. In Ontario, children do with special needs can stay in high school until their 21rst year.



I am not sure if by low end autism you mean that in terms of he is functioning at the lower end of a scale...OR if autism is a pool, your son is at the low end and children impacted with severe autism would be at the deep end. Sorry for the confusion, I am just not sure what you mean....



Either way,



I would think that your school guidance counsellor at high school might be of some help. Lots of growing up happens between 14 and 18. I don't know about driving, but motorized scooters seem like they might be an alternative for some of our kids...speed is rather restricted on the smaller models, and if your son has mastered riding a bicycle, the scooter might be a good compromise.



I think you might want to look into a social skills group for him to help him "learn" conversational skills. It might help. As well, if he has any interest in a topic that can lead to an organized group meeting, that might help him with socializing and focus (think model trains, rockets, airplanes...my typical brother LOVED model rockets when he was a teenager, and there was a lot of socializing and gatherings involved with these rocketeers...there were people of different abilities in his group and the rocket launches were fun!)



He might respond well to a VERY structured work environment with direct supervision. If, for example, he is given a job stocking shelves at a grocery store and there is a mentor to help him then you might find he is more capable than you thought.



Take it one goal at a time. Break it down, and talk to him about what he wants THE MOST...and then focus with him.



When I taught special education classes, each child was like a mountain if you looked at the totality of every single thing that you wanted to accomplish with them...a HUGE undertaking and completely overwhelming. So, I developed the personal philosophy that I would never look at the mountain...I would keep my eye on the path that would lead us forward.



So, together, you climb the mountain. Separate the child from the issues that you face. Set a goal, a single goal, and follow that path. Reach that goal, and set a new one. If we think of it all, it is too much.



At 14, he could look into part time work/volunteering. Start there....set a financial goal (I want $150 to buy a Nintendo DS) Create a chart to track his savings...Make it a shared project.



Good luck



Sheila

Cindi - posted on 06/14/2010

Becky,I hope you can find a counselor-they do have some who work on a sliding scale for fees-they could probably give you some clues on how to deal with your sons unique situation.He does sound like a lovely person and that has got to help.There are doctors who deal with multiple disorders in many children so if the person you are seeing is not managing to help,perhaps he could steer you towards someone.I wish you and your son the very best-
cindi