Update. We started meds, an SSRI, after both the psychologist and psychiatrist told me not to even bother trying to bring him back until he was medicated. He had panic attacks in both waiting rooms and was entirely unreachable during those times. Now we're 7 doses in and the change in him is incredible. He hums and sings throughout the day, has lots of happy stims, spontaneously gives me thumbs up and tells me he loves me, and yesterday he not only attended a homeschool rollerskating event, but actually participated, asked to go back, and had lunch and a play at the park with friends afterwards. I've always considered medication to be a last resort, especially for such a young and quirky brain, but I'm really glad I didn't wait any longer. I have my child back.

Yep. That's exactly how and why we're using it.

My DS takes 1.25mg about half an hour before bed. We use 5mg gummies by sundown naturals, which I cut into quarters. It's a dose which makes him sleepy enough to recognise that it's time for bed, but doesn't completely knock him out. He listens to audiobooks in bed until he falls asleep.

Thanks M.

I'll be following this thread and looking our for ideas. With DS' anxiety recently being through the roof, we've stripped our homeschool back to high input, low output subjects. We're in a bit of a holding pattern until he gets back from a visit with his other parent and then starts meds for anxiety. Fortunately the psychiatrist comes highly recommended by the local ASD community. We have our first appt at the end of the month.

I forgot to mention that both phones are android devices. (Sorry. Stressed.)

Can anyone recommend a decent app for this? My ASD 8yo uses a text-to-speech app on my phone when he is nonverbal, but I'd like for him to have the same technology available to him when he's away from me. He has a long visit with his other parent approaching, and he's really anxious about it. I'd like for him to be able to access certain apps (text-to-speech, hangouts, camera, phone, SMS messaging), but not others (YouTube, internet browser).

The regulatory body in NSW: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/home The homeschooling section, including application forms: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/regulation/home-schooling/home-schooling-registration

Me: Would you like a cuddle? DS: Okay, but no gargalesis!

Thanks M. Things are up and down here at present. We spent four days at home then managed to get out two days running. I'm not really seeing a trend in either direction. Waiting on appointments in late June and early July.

I really liked what I've seen of Mystery Science, and I'm happy to recommend it. I hope you gain as much from it as we have! I didn't always put together materials for the activities, but we enjoyed the assessments and found them to be relevant and thought-provoking. DS has already done most of the mysteries, and now prefers to pick topics from Brainpop and give oral narrations (which I scribe for him). We do science twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'm vaguely planning to leave him to his Brainpop on one of those days, and do some marine biology on the other day. I've ordered books from this set: https://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/019437 I'm in touch with a local marine biologist, and I'm hopeful that she'll join us for some labs and field work. We're close to the beach, and marine biology is DS' passion. ?

We always do 30min together, then DS plays 30min of Prodigy Game. For our together lesson, our lighter-than-BA options are kumon books, card games, board games. Current favourites are Prime Climb, Mythmatical Battles, Snap 10 (like regular snap, but instead of pairs of identical numbers, you snap pairs of numbers which sum to 10). We have also used a bit of Miquon with c-rods, though DS has kind of outgrown this.

I'm currently undertaking a math major at university, and some days Beast Academy is too much for me. You are definitely not alone! I keep some lighter math options around for the days when we're not up for the really hard stuff.

Thanks, M. I'm having a look now.

Thanks. Much appreciated.

Yep. I'm on it. We're seeing the paed tomorrow to get the appropriate referral.

It turns out that seeking out small spaces was a sign of things to come. DS now has agoraphobia and can barely leave the house. *despair*

I see that there's a lab book too. Did you use it?

Yes, but thank you for the reminder.

It didn't last. Yesterday was really tough on DS and he couldn't participate in his horse riding lesson, which is usually his favourite time of the week. We gave it a go then left early, rather than leaving him there sitting and fretting. I'm learning though that it's not so much about particular events being stressful, but more that sometimes things are too much for him if he's already in a state of anxiety. I need to keep on top of gently pushing when he's primed for it, and respecting that he's overloaded when he's, well, overloaded!

That sounds lovely, Ravin!

We're still waiting on results down here in Australia.

He's doing it! Chatting away happily with the teacher right now. I'm so thrilled!

He hid under things this *several times* at vision therapy today (our last session for a few months), and every time the VT was able to gently negotiate his engagement with her. I was so impressed! I've sent her an SMS to say thanks. DS and I brainstormed some calming activities on the way home, so he's working on that now, and hopefully he can enjoy his online class later today. I worded up the teacher to say that if he's still very anxious by the time we get started, we'll probably just try it for ten minutes.

What an amazing opportunity!