WelcomeIf you are new to Poms In Oz and migrating to Australia or currently living in Australia feel free to say hi to all the other either in or moving to Oz.
Hi everyone, completely no idea what I am doing or what button to press, so bear with me on this one.
Im married with twin 6 year old boys who have very mild aspergers syndrome and dyspraxia (high functioning autistic). Very unhappy with the english schools and way of life for children and families with this problem. Heard a lot of good reports about schools in Australia and understanding for autistic children but have no idea which area is best to look in. My husband is motor mechanic and train mantainer and can do carpentry so hopefully will have a chance if we apply. So is there anyone out there who has similiar situation with children to me or knows anyone who can give me some advise please.
Im trying to find out a town or part of Australia which would suit my children the best. Anyone moved there and have child or children in school with similiar problems or at least a school with english accent children would help. Im already worried they wont be able to handle the move! Best regard Julie
no help im afraid but bumping this thread as we have an 8yo with aspies and im after infor as well.
i can just imagine jack telling them all they are not "speaking properly" LOL
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tj medical 24th oct PASSED, x ray 14th oct PASSED( front loaded so i can get pregnant again and not have to worry about the x ray)
457 visa discussion with company. waiting... still
I have an 11 year old with Aspergers and was told this shouldnt be a problem as he isnt statmented and goes to a main stream school, does anyone know if we will be knocked back for our visa on medical grounds?
__________________ tony 38, michele 36, josh 13, aaron 11 & daisy 9 tra finally sent 14/10/08 tra passed 27/10/08
woudl statementing cause a prob then? the school want to get our boy statemented and so far we are going along with it but first meeting is tomorrow, do we try and talk them out of it?
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tj medical 24th oct PASSED, x ray 14th oct PASSED( front loaded so i can get pregnant again and not have to worry about the x ray)
457 visa discussion with company. waiting... still
A child with a disability could pose a problem to getting a visa - it all depends on the potential cost to the tax payer of providing for that child. It does seem that children with Aspergers Syndrome are managing to get through but children with Autism, because of their generally higher needs, are more likely to be knocked back. The tendency seems to be that if they are in a special school they are more likely to be knocked back.
Generally children with Aspergers Syndrome would not be in a special school - in some states they wouldnt necessarily get any additional support at all if they were high functioning unless maybe their behaviour was a problem. Some states, like NSW have special schools run by the Autism Association but in general the children who get into those schools are children with Autism and not Aspergers - you would have to wonder whether you would want to put a high functioning child with Aspergers into a group of children with Autism who could potentially be non verbal with very stereotyped behaviours.
Most states have supported integration but it isnt always great - it could be an hour or two a day but very rarely full time support, and that would most likely be the support of a teacher's aide. Some states, like Victoria are particularly strict about the eligibility and many children with Aspergers get no additonal support at all.
If you do get a visa and have a child with a disability, bring along all the reports you have - a clear statement of diagnosis is important (try and get a diagnosis of one of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders by name, not just ASD because the diagnosis can be important as to the likely level of support or placement options) and it needs to be backed up by appropriate objective assessments if you possibly can - this is increasingly important. Bring along also an IQ test, a test of adaptive behaviour from their current school, any skills assessments and any IEPs.
I thought UK actually had some High Schools for children with Aspergers Syndrome - I vaguely recall seeing a brochure about one at least at an expo in London a few years ago. AFAIK we dont have any although some states may have units which may have kids with Aspergers in them. If you talk to the parents of children with any of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders they will usually say that their kids are not getting enough support, no matter how much support they get and that is, unfortunately, a result of finite resources and an increasing cohort of children with a disability label.
Good luck with it!
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woudl statementing cause a prob then? the school want to get our boy statemented and so far we are going along with it but first meeting is tomorrow, do we try and talk them out of it?
When we spoke to a few migration agents they where under the impression that as long as Aaron isnt statmented or go to a special school we wouldnt have a problem as he is high functioning and has a very high iq if that helps you any in getting youre child statemented
__________________ tony 38, michele 36, josh 13, aaron 11 & daisy 9 tra finally sent 14/10/08 tra passed 27/10/08
I spoke to some people at coventry on Saturday as my 11 year old has aspergers and is in main stream school and they were certain there would't be a problem with medicals. so a bit more reassurance for you
Nicola
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Why would a statement necercerally cause a problem with a visa application?
As Julieb and any other parent with a child with a statement will know is that it sets out there Childs problems and educational and non educational needs that will be provided usually by the councils education department. A statement can say as little or as much help of any kind that is needed ranging from "child A needs some help with reading" to "child A needs constant supervision all day and help going to the toilet and feeding" A statement is not something to be feared and if it is written properly can really help your child get a suitable education.
To be told that a statement will affect a visa application is in my opinion a sweeping generalization and sounds to me like someone not knowing what they are talking about.
Saying that you still may not get the same level of help you receive in the UK.
As for TJ it was one of the best things we did for our son, don’t be put off as a statement is a legally binding document and you can use it to your Childs advantage to get the provision put in place for your Child a well worded statement is a good thing.
I agree with almost everything Quol says apart from the finite resources, that can be overcome by having whatever it is needed written into the statement and quantified.
My opinion comes from that of a parent of a deaf child and we have gone through the statement process.
John.
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John, Christine, Peter (10), Katie (6)
John - my remarks about finite resources were actually referring to the way things are done in Australia - it would be great if we had a scheme which expanded the budget according to the needs of the children but AFAIK all the states have a fixed special ed budget which has to accommodate all the kids who are identified. If statementing is budget independent then I think that is a terrific way to go.
I agree with you too - I dont think statementing per se is the issue rather it is the extent of the support which is required that is the issue when applying for a visa.
John - my remarks about finite resources were actually referring to the way things are done in Australia - it would be great if we had a scheme which expanded the budget according to the needs of the children but AFAIK all the states have a fixed special ed budget which has to accommodate all the kids who are identified. If statementing is budget independent then I think that is a terrific way to go.
I agree with you too - I dont think statementing per se is the issue rather it is the extent of the support which is required that is the issue when applying for a visa.
Ahh..... Sorry about that...
It always comes down to a budgets somewhere along the line and I am sure there are fixed budgets here as well, it's just when you get something written into a statement the council have to find the money to pay for it from somewhere even if that means making a cut elsewhere.
John.
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John, Christine, Peter (10), Katie (6)
