My family is considering moving to Hong Kong or Singapore for work reasons but I have a 3.5year old son with Autism. We also suspect he may also have ADHD (we were told to reassess after he's of school age). My son does not have a severe case but I am very nervous about school placement as well as access to therapy, medication and other treatments my son may need.
Both my husband and I have much better earning potential in HK/Singapore, but we both quit our jobs and dedicated the past year to our son's therapy in the US. We don't regret this decision given intensive intervention in the early years has the most impact on the child's outcome. However, we are at a point where either my husband needs to accept a lesser paying job in the US or go back to Asia where he will earn significantly more in the long run. We also need to consider the possibility our son won't be able to financially support himself later in life.
I'm hoping to find out anything about any resources available to English speaking children with Autism or ADHD.
In particular I'm looking for the following:
1. Speech and Language services
2. Behavioral Therapy
3. Guidance on interventions or medication available for ADHD (we would only medicate when necessary but would like to know if a range of options are available)
4. Mainstream schools that are accommodative to special needs (schools that will allow shadow therapists on site)
5. Social skills classes
6. Anything at all that may be a good resource including support groups etc!
The following is some background on my son's current condition.
- speech&language - mildly affected. Above average receptive language but struggles significantly with expressive language and appropriate word use.
- social - affectionate with his family but has no interesest in peers. Struggles to engage when topic is not one of his extreme interests. inconsistent eye contact and very socially awkward.
- Repetitive and Restrictive behavior - has intense obsessions/interests (previously fans and now elevators) but is now less extreme and has a wider variety of interests
- Cognitive - He is not affected cognitively and has outstanding memory
- Sensory - He has overcome most of his sensory issues but will occasionally regress. His sensitivities are still there but are now less extreme and he has learned to use his words (used have meltdowns if he had even one drop of water on his shirt but after ABA therapy he will ask for a new shirt instead).