G'day from the outback, searching for advice.

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G'day all, I am a mother of two children 4 and 5, my 5 year old son having only months ago been diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, at a low - medium level, has a slightly high IQ and social interaction problems. He is at Year 1 level Math (though he's still in reception for another 12 months) but behind in his reading skills. I'm sure this is all sounding pretty familiar around this forum

I have been approached by a charity group that wants to help a child from this area, and as there are very few children IN this area, they want to purchase something for Harry to help him with his Aspergers, I am completely at a loss! I always fairly well ignored mine, as I was diagnosed so late, and was also only a mild case, but I want to get him the best start I can of course, but having so recently been diagnosed I am not sure what is available. Someone suggested to me a computer program that takes dictation, I beleive it was called Dragon, but would that be the best program of that type for my son? I have no idea what is available!

So my question is, where do I find out about the various tools (products) available to help someone with Aspergers? how do I find unbiased reveiws? does anyone here have any suggestions on what has REALLY helped them? and... remembering that he is only 5, what can really give such a young child a boost in confidence?

Any help is GREATLY appreciated, as I am terribly lost at this complicated time of endless forms and doctors reports and random repetative information

To WrongPlanet!! !

Check out the Parent's forum.

When they are old enough they should chould check out the "Kid's Crater".

Hi from Tasmania,

Welcome to the site. I'm considering buying Dragon voice recognition software, but mainly because of RSI problems. We had a little discussion about it recently.

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt90667.html

and there's a link in that thread to a site that sells it and other software.

Thanks! very helpful how did you go with it yourself?

btw I'm Flinders Ranges SA, was wishing I was in Tas 2 weeks ago that's for sure!

oh i haven't bought it yet, just researching it because there's 3 grades of product, you know like a low/medium/professional, so i'm not sure if the cheap one will do what i want. I think i'll end up calling them to ask.

It might be a good idea to ask the same question on the Parents forum here too, they might have some ideas about other stuff to buy. It's nice that the local fundraisers want to throw some money at you. I wonder if something in the social skills line might be more useful but I think the parents would know better than me, I'm too old to know what would benefit a kid.

I'm an ex mainlander (NSW and WA) so I know how it is in summer, you just want to go to Tasmania or NZ. Flinders Ranges is pretty nice though... I drove thru SA when I shifted over here from WA. There's quite a few aussies on this site generally.

Hello, and welcome to the Wrong Planet community, Ratbag.

Welcome to WP!

Hi welcome, as your children are so young I would suggest a large trampoline does wonders for relieving anxiety in children, and a happy child always learns.

Education wise as just started I truly feel enjoying at this stage is so much more important than over worrying on education, and seem a little young to have a computer program that takes dictation unless a real need, if at that age need help with reading find the time now, as extra one on one with parent makes a huge difference.