Autism Support in Europe

[shadowcloud200]

Hi All,

We currently live in the middle east where autism support, facilities and services are extremely poor and so many people do not even understand what autism is. We have a 6 years old kid who could be an autistic. We noticed he is hyper active, cannot focus, and can only speak a few words at age of 6. Many people are giving different opinions, but in general no one here in the region was able to give us clear diagnosis.

We will be moving to Germany soon for a job offer. I am not sure who is autism support there? We don't speak German, and we are not sure if our kid will cope with it? Will he get included in school? Is this the right move?

Any input will be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Southern Discomfort]

I imagine it's just as good as it is in Britain, honestly. One thing you can be sure of it that the support will be tons more better than anywhere in the Middle East so it is definitely a good move if you do indeed have an autistic child.

One of the main organisations support people there is called Bundesverband Hilfe für das autistische Kind, Vereinigung zur Förderung autistischer Menschen e.V, or Bundesverband help for the autistic child , Association for the Advancement of autistic people E.V. They're based in Hamburg. Their website is www.autismus.de


There's also a international group called Autism Europe, based in Belgium, their website is www.autismeurope.org

 

[StephF]

You are moving to Germany for a job but you don't speak German ? Won't that be difficult ?

 

[shadowcloud200]

I imagine it's just as good as it is in Britain, honestly. One thing you can be sure of it that the support will be tons more better than anywhere in the Middle East so it is definitely a good move if you do indeed have an autistic child.

One of the main organisations support people there is called Bundesverband Hilfe für das autistische Kind, Vereinigung zur Förderung autistischer Menschen e.V, or Bundesverband help for the autistic child , Association for the Advancement of autistic people E.V. They're based in Hamburg. Their website is www.autismus.de


There's also a international group called Autism Europe, based in Belgium, their website is www.autismeurope.org

Hi Southern Discomfort,

Many thanks for this helpful information. Actually, I got the impression that the best countries in the world where Autism is well treated and autistic children/people can be raised, educated and integrated are UK and Canada. Since I don't speak German or French, it is hard to find information about Germany or Europe.

So do you think being about 6.4 years old is not too late? Can he be integrated? Is the system in Germany that strong? because I read that different states have different systems for special needs.

Thanks!

 

[shadowcloud200]

You are moving to Germany for a job but you don't speak German ? Won't that be difficult ?

Well, from society prospective, I am not sure how easy it is.But the work is academic in an English speaking environment!

 

[Southern Discomfort]

So do you think being about 6.4 years old is not too late? Can he be integrated? Is the system in Germany that strong? because I read that different states have different systems for special needs.

Thanks!

You're welcome. I don't know how integrated the system is in Germany but they're just as efficient as us in the UK if not better at most things so it wouldn't come as a surprise. Not to mention that Dr Asperger's papers were written in German, being Austrian, so they probably knew more about it than we did for a while.

Six years old isn't too late at all for anything. Some autistic children don't learn to speak until ten so six isn't a bad age at all. Some children with a speech delay can catch up remarkably fast when they do learn to speak. I myself didn't learn to speak until I was four and I caught up very fast.

 

[clg114]

Hi Southern Discomfort,

Many thanks for this helpful information. Actually, I got the impression that the best countries in the world where Autism is well treated and autistic children/people can be raised, educated and integrated are UK and Canada. Since I don't speak German or French, it is hard to find information about Germany or Europe.

So do you think being about 6.4 years old is not too late? Can he be integrated? Is the system in Germany that strong? because I read that different states have different systems for special needs.

Thanks!

I wish that I could have been diagnosed at 6 years old, I was 62. It seems to me that living in Germany has to be better that almost anywhere in middle east, in many ways. You will find a way to deal with the language issue, others do it all the time.

 

[shadowcloud200]

You're welcome. I don't know how integrated the system is in Germany but they're just as efficient as us in the UK if not better at most things so it wouldn't come as a surprise. Not to mention that Dr Asperger's papers were written in German, being Austrian, so they probably knew more about it than we did for a while.

Six years old isn't too late at all for anything. Some autistic children don't learn to speak until ten so six isn't a bad age at all. Some children with a speech delay can catch up remarkably fast when they do learn to speak. I myself didn't learn to speak until I was four and I caught up very fast.

Wow, this is good news. The problem is I am not sure if he is doing ok or not. He just speaks a few words, sometimes he is not hyper active. In general he understands what he wants and knows what to do, but we are still not sure that besides his hyper activity and not speaking, did he develop the right skills of his age?

 

[shadowcloud200]

I wish that I could have been diagnosed at 6 years old, I was 62. It seems to me that living in Germany has to be better that almost anywhere in middle east, in many ways. You will find a way to deal with the language issue, others do it all the time.

This is very encouraging....so we are still in the right time...

 

[Southern Discomfort]

Wow, this is good news. The problem is I am not sure if he is doing ok or not. He just speaks a few words, sometimes he is not hyper active. In general he understands what he wants and knows what to do, but we are still not sure that besides his hyper activity and not speaking, did he develop the right skills of his age?

This is something a specialist will be able to tell. The sooner he is assessed the better the outcome will be for him. I take it that he's an only child then?

 

[shadowcloud200]

This is something a specialist will be able to tell. The sooner he is assessed the better the outcome will be for him. I take it that he's an only child then?

Nope, he has an older brother, but he speaks well.

 

[Southern Discomfort]

Sounds like there is a bit of a delay there then. It might not be a reflection of his IQ though.

 

[shadowcloud200]

Sounds like there is a bit of a delay there then. It might not be a reflection of his IQ though.

Yes, it could be a delay, but how can we measure his IQ? He seems to be smart, his mom taught him how to write only a few letters of the alphabet and he picked the rest alone. My wife tells me he understands everything, but doesn't express or show

Whenever we go outside, he tries to run, explore any new shop or place and come back. I am in most of the cases not sure if he does this and he does because of delay or he is just being spoiled because we gave him full freedom.

How to differentiate between delay and autism?

 

[shadowcloud200]

And how about the support in US and Canada, if we want to rank them, any idea?
In general, I read that the German health system is one of the best in the world, way better than US and Canada, is that correct? How do we compare it to UK too?

 

[Southern Discomfort]

Yes, it could be a delay, but how can we measure his IQ?

How to differentiate between delay and autism?

A delay would be indicative of autism. And a specialist would be the one who be assessing his IQ. But if he's doing well with school work then chances are there's no impairment in his IQ.

 

[shadowcloud200]

I wish that I could have been diagnosed at 6 years old, I was 62. It seems to me that living in Germany has to be better that almost anywhere in middle east, in many ways. You will find a way to deal with the language issue, others do it all the time.

By the way, how would it matter if you were diagnosed at 6 or 62? I mean you lived a normal life, got a job..etc. What would have changed?

 

[clg114]

By the way, how would it matter if you were diagnosed at 6 or 62? I mean you lived a normal life, got a job..etc. What would have changed?

If I could have been diagnosed at a young age, I could have been counseled. I could have learned how to better deal with my weaknesses and more importantly, learned how to better take advantage of my strengths. I have always regretted that I did not get a formal education. But because of my social inabilities in school, I did not go any further than high school. My life was hardly normal, as a teen and young adult I experienced a lot alienation and isolation. However I have been very, very lucky. There have been two keys to my success, my wife & family and the fact that I always worked alone.