Since we are two weeks into 2012 it may be a little late for New Year’s resolutions, but I have a few plans for the year and almost all of them relate to Joe.
Last year Joe’s needs took a temporary back seat— quite rightly I should add— to those of his eldest brother, who sat his Higher School Certificate. That’s all done and dusted (with a surprisingly good outcome) and Big Brother is off to uni in 2012. Middle brother’s senior school years don’t commence until 2013, so 2012 will be The Year of the Joe.
I regard my youngest boy, who turns eleven in a few weeks (where did the time go?) as a work in progress. For Joe 2011 heralded steady progress in some areas (academics, language) and regrettable setbacks in others.
On the downside he developed some behavioural issues, related to anxiety in the school setting, as I alluded to in my previous blog. As a result he has just commenced sessions with a child psychologist, whose primary aim, at least in the short-term, will be to teach Joe coping strategies to manage his anxiety and support his social development. I have a feeling we may go on to have a long relationship with this young woman.
I came across this psychologist when Joe attended social skills group at her clinic late last year. I was pleasantly surprised by how well he participated in these sessions (conducted with four other boys). To tell the truth, I’d long had reservations about social skills training, being aware of research that has found that the skills learnt in these sessions rarely generalise well to the real world. Notwithstanding that, I do think that Joe’s ability to maintain a conversation has improved recently, which may be a direct result of social skills training. It’s certainly an area they focussed on in the sessions. Coincidence or not?
As I mentioned, on the language front Joe made steady progress in 2011, with more question asking and increased sophistication of language. Thus far Joe has completed two modules of Fast ForWord, the computer-based language and literacy program based on the principles of neuroplasticity that I wrote about last year. Once again I suspect Joe has attained subtle language benefits from the program, but, alas, no miracles have been forthcoming.
This year we are about embark on another sort of brain training, called Cogmed, which can improve working memory by up to 20%. For the unenlightened ‘working memory is necessary for staying focused on a task, blocking out distractions, and keeping you updated and aware about what’s going on around you.’ In children Joe’s age, working memory training can help with maths, reading and peer interactions. For older children it assist the ability to stay on task with homework. Its primary target market is children with attention deficit disorder, but it has been used successfully with kids with ASD as well. (Joe has both, lucky us). I checked Cogmed’s credentials with a development paediatrician and apparently it’s the real deal. It’s not yet widely available in Australia but that may change. I promise to report back on Joe’s progress with this program.
Oh, and music lessons may also be a possibility in 2012. Watch this space.
But the biggie for my family will be finding an appropriate high school placement for Joe for 2014. Yep, it’s probably going to take that long. I know the reality—the perfect school for our son does not exist, at least in Sydney, so it will be a case of finding the school that offers the best fit and will accept us ( by no means a given) . We need a placement that will offer Joe intellectual challenge (that is, not pure special ed) in a well supported environment (not pure mainstream). A supported class in a mainstream school is probably what we’re looking for. Wish us luck!
What plans do you have for 2012?
