By Baffled79 |

I am not sure where to start, nor do i have any idea how to navigate this site. I apologize in advance if I have posted this in the wrong space. I am a young single mother of three, My oldest child has just been diagnosed with high functioning aspergers. It has been confirmed by a pediatrician, we are now awaiting a school assesment, also he is seeing a psyciatrist and she soon will also be doing and assesment. I guess that now I have an answer I am even more lost than before.....what do I do now and where do I go from here????

Hi Baffled79

My son was diagnosed several years ago too. It comes as a shock but there is support out there for all of you and having other parents in a similar situation helps make the journey just that little bit easier. A good place to start may be the Aspergers Syndrome Support Network. Their phone number is (03) 9845 2766. Here is a link to the website: www.assnvic.org.au/ There is a support line you can call for advice and support groups for parents as well as kids. There is a support group meeting this Friday morning at 10am in Blackburn. Other groups meet in different locations and at various times.

The Association for Children with a Disability also provides support and advice for parents. Their website is www.acd.org.au/

There is often some funding available to help offset the cost of speech therapy or psychology to help Aspie kids learn how to manage anxiety and learn social skills. Your gp and pediatrician should be able to help put the paperwork for that in place.

There is a lot to learn after the initial diagnosis but over time you'll find that it does get easier. And when you do come across difficult situations, there are others to lend a helping hand. Let me know if I can help in any other way.