Thank you all for your input. DeeDee correct, we are not in the USA. Australia, small private school.
He is doing OT, and it has made a big difference to him. I credit a lot of his increased performance at school this year to the work we have done there. We have not concentrated as yet on handwriting issues though, I will discuss this with his OT when we see her next week. I think the ideas given about using a scribe & computer are very good ones.
It's been a label that's accessed him a lot of help
What kinds of help is he getting? It sounds like not much at school.
DeeDee
Essentially, lots of funding for non-school based services - he's been doing speech therapy (though we're on a break now), psychology, OT. He's made a lot of progress. Unfortunately the way the govt funding works here he is no longer eligible for much help when he turns 7 at the end of this year. Next year will be expensive, so I'd rather start getting more help through school organised.
School is a sore point. I was promised the world last year, still waiting for it to be delivered. On the plus side his teacher is one of the good ones, she works really well with him. She has experience with ASD children. She has a well ordered and controlled classroom that suits him so much more than the chaotic classroom he hated last year.
And no, he wasn't included in the gifted program. They tell me that due to limited budget they only have space for 6 children in the program from each year, and he was number 7. Considering most of his results are at worst top 3 across all subject areas (except sport & written expression) I strongly doubt that is the truth. If I thought the program was worth it I might fight, but having had two daughters go through it before I'm not convinced he's missing out on enough to make the battle worth it. Though I do think the small group would be good for him, regardless of the subject matter. I eventually moved the girls out of the school to access an outstanding gifted program elsewhere. He will move when he's old enough (& trustworthy enough) to endure the bus travel.
Does your DS do as well with comprehending fiction as nonfiction?
He does pretty well considering. Some things go completely over his head, particularly all the social ideas as you mentioned. I found that happened even with my older girls though, as they're reading a text designed for a 10yo with the eyes of a 6yo, lots of life experience is missing to help gain meaning. My 9yo is re-reading texts she read at 5 and has been telling me how much better they are the second time around
