ASD Assessment Results

After my son's assessment yesterday, the doctors gave us their feedback.  It wasn't a big surprise, it only confirmed what we have suspected for awhile.  He IS on the autism spectrum, although the doctors (two really nice ladies by the way) say he is remarkably high functioning.  He is basically a sweet little boy with some quirks and a few struggles, especially in the areas of language and social skills.  Really, nothing is going to change the way we treat him. We will still be working with him at home as we always have and he'll still be going for speech therapy and occupational therapy.  They won't diagnose him with a specific syndrome until he is 6, if then.  The main thing that has come out of this assessment is the magic letter that we can use to get him into programmes, and other help, etc IF WE WANT THAT.  I'm not sold on the idea, as I mentioned in a previous post, but that option is now open to us.  I would rather not stick a label on him that he has to carry around with him for the rest of his life.  Our plan of action is pray, watch, & wait - for right now at least.  Thank you to those who have been praying for us - we appreciate it!

Thanks again for visiting!

ASD Assessment Part Two

Today we take our son for his actual assessment.  The appointment is a couple of hours long.  The psychologist and the paediatrician will take turns working with him to evaluate his situation.  I'm fairly nervous about this one because there will likely be some news after the doctors have conferred.  By this afternoon we should have a good idea of what we are dealing with.  I would appreciate prayer.  I think I have prepared myself for the worst and I'm not giving up no matter what the doctors have to say.


Deuteronomy 31.8 - And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. 

Good Intentions

Have you ever had the experience of someone giving you advice that you never asked for and insisting that their advice is what you should do no matter what?  I've had that experience lately.  It really bugs me that people (who are NOT "experts") dish out unsolicited advice and make you feel like a bad parent.  Then you feel bad that you're cross with them and then you just feel anxious and guilty.  I think people mean well but... grr.

I homeschool because I think it is the best thing for my kids and my family.  I am doing the best I can.  I am also doing the best I can to help my son with his problems.  The doctors (the "experts") say we are doing a great job and that he has made remarkable progress.  So why would someone tell me I need to do more?

We were talking about my son's upcoming ASD assessment.  I said all we really wanted to know was what we were dealing with.  The comment?  "Oh, but you want to get him into a programme!  You make sure the doctors get him some help.  He needs so much help with his socialisation (that's the wrong word to say to a homeschooler!).  You don't want him to... this, that, and the other thing.  You want the best for him..."

Yes, I want the best for my son.  What IS the best though?  Success in worldly society or to be the person God made him to be (whatever that might look like)?  I don't want my daughter in public school for various reasons, some moral and some scholastic, so why would I send my son to some kind of public programme?  He is our child and we have to raise him "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6.4), no matter what problems he has.

ASD Assessment Today

Today we go for the first part of our son's autism spectrum disorder assessment.  We are amazed and grateful that we got these appointments so quickly.  We had initially been told it would take at least a year.  Also, we got the paperwork 3 days before the postal strike/lockout shut down the postal system.  It is amazing how God works these things out!  The appointment today is 3 hours long and the one next week is 2 1/2 hours long.  After all this, we may have a better grasp on what's going on.  Prayer would be appreciated!


  "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  John 14.27

Disabled or Differently Abled?

My son is 4 years old.  He is a sweet, energetic little guy.  He is also almost certainly autistic.

Getting that news was really hard at first, but it was something we had suspected for a long time.  The professionals told us "He's never going to develop more than what he has..."  The funny thing is, we see positive changes just about every day - things parents of "normal" 4 year-olds don't get excited over.  Every new word, moment of independent eye contact, instruction followed is a victory for us.

When we have to explain to people (particularly people we don't know) that he is autistic, you can sometimes see a look come into their eyes like "Oh, he's disabled..."  That's not how we see him.  He is different, certainly, but we are all different (you might even say we're all weird in some way!).  God has created each of us uniquely for the unique purpose He has for us.  We are all "differently abled".  The highest ambition we have for our son is that he would be able to understand his need for a Saviour and to belong to Jesus Christ.  In the long run, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.