work and children with disabilities

[kitten_uk2]

Hi , my 5 yr old son has finnally had a diagnosis of autism(high functioning). and now i dont know what to do for the best as regards work. i currently work 4 shifts a week(earlies,lates or middles) each week these are on different days. i understand routine is very much important to a child with autism and my job obviously is lacking that. yestaday i had a meeting with my manager to discuss basically what i wanted to do about my job now we had a diagnosis. i said i just didnt know what to do for the best. she commented that my son has been used to mummy working all his life and he will be used to the hours and non routine that we do. but she doesnt really understand autism.,,, my son has not bad autism but i notice it around other people, and i find routine works better for him.,, i cant afford to stop working. any help would be great, thanx

[daffy654]

If you have always worked this type of shift then it will not be a break in routine for your son as this will be all he has ever known,in effect it is a routine to him.
Before you go off thinking that I know nothing about autism let me assure you that I do as I am the mother of a 12 year old son who has Aspergers Syndrome(high functioning autism).

Any carers/child-minders you now employ for your son must be informed of his diagnosis and briefed on any little foibles your son has......for example,my son cannot leave the house without first asking me "have I got everything mum?",he also has to be the last person out of the family to use the toilet before we go out anywhere.There are many more little rituals he has,far too many to list.
Many people don't realise how important these rituals are to a child with ASD (autistic spectrum disorder).
I recommend you buy a book called "Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome?" by Jude Welton and ask everyone who has any contact with your child (family,friends,teachers etc.) to read it. My son's first mainstream primary school bought several copies of it once I had shown it to them and they found it invaluable to both teachers and pupils.

[zzxxee]

can i ask what kind of work do you do?
and would it be possible for you to do nightshifts when he is asleep that way when he goes to school in the day you can sleep???

[katerich48]

My grandson was diagnosed as a high functioning autistic a few years ago ..and as for routine couldn't care less never has - and never will (presumably)... weekends he gets up at all sorts of times no routine or on school days come to that .. And he does love his sleep although some autistics sleep only a few hours a night..Also autistics apparently don't like puzzles - But my Finn loves a jigsaw.. I think probably what my point is that the high functioning type of child are not so rigid in their ways as children who are severely autistic and who have to have the strict routines adhered to ...The high functioning child is more adaptable to change than you think...