Advice

[lando_norris_4]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me.

My friend is doing her GCSEs but is finding it very overwhelming and I'm not sure how best to help her. She is waiting on an ASD diagnosis however; this may take years (unfortunately) and I want to do something now to prevent her feeling worse.

Do you have any resources or advice which may help?

Thanks in advance. Any advice is much appreciated.

[kenster1]

Hi can she speak with her school because they might be able to offer some form of support.

[lando_norris_4 in reply to kenster1]

Hi, thanks for responding! They are unable to do much due to her lack of diagnosis unfortunately which is frustrating. But we will definitely keep trying. Thanks!

[QuietButBold]

Hi, this article (National Autistic Society - Preparing autistic children and young people for exams) may not be quite perfect for you supporting your friend preparing for her GCSEs, however, it might help give you ideas about potential things which might be unfamiliar or unpredictable (which might be a couple of key features of anxiety becoming overwhelm).

(Really, it is an article intended for a helpful and supportive Teacher to read).

My thought was that these topic prompts might help the two of you to write a list of questions or requests for guidance with which your friend might be able to seek guidance from a trusted older relative or Teacher - so that you might understand more about the process of preparing for GCSEs, breaking the journey down into knowledge to acquire and steps to achieve along the way.

One extra thing of which to be aware: as your friend may be Autistic - some of the non-Autistic adults at home or school might not always quite realise how worried your friend might be at the moment - she might need some help to find a safe way, time and place to have that conversation with those trusted adults. (Other non-Autistic students may also be anxious too - but it might be easier for people to notice that in those other students - before they reach their version of their personal overwhelm).

autism.org.uk/advice-and-gu...

[lando_norris_4 in reply to QuietButBold]

Hi, you've been a great help. Thank you so much for your response. Take care.

[Lizzo30]

Your post highlights a lack of services

[Bee-bop]

Hi there, I am assuming that the school knows your friend struggles with things? My own daughter didn't have a diagnosis either but, had been having problems since year 7 and had a reduced timetable and one to one support. Does your friend have any support at school? If not can they talk to pastoral care?

[lando_norris_4 in reply to Bee-bop]

Hey, thanks for your response. Hope you and your daughter are doing well! She's been in contact with pastoral care but at the minute it's just about figuring out what will work best for her I suppose.

[Bee-bop]

Thank you,. My daughter is in her 2nd year of University now. She is lucky to have support from disability services.

For your friend, the school could look at doing an Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) if she hasn't already got one. This would look at what your friend struggles with etc. People with an EHCP can get extra time with exams and depending on level of need, can sometimes get a separate room. My daughter got this and I know other asd students who got this too. I really hope the school can support her so she can do her best in her gcse's.