You're lucky to have gotten a diagnosis at the age of 4.  My cousin's son wasn't diagnosed until the age of 7 because his speech was fine, it was his written english, the fact he could not "play" with the other kids, and he could never make eye contact that gave it away.  One doctor she spoke to, he was a GP she saw when he was just over 3, told her there's nothing wrong with him all he needs is strong discipline! I still can't believe he said that, my cousin had 2 other children and knew something wasn't quite right with her son.  So yeah at the age of 7 he was finally diagnosed.  He attends mainstream school but goes to the Special Education Unit for some of his classes and is going well.  He'll be independent one day they think.  I think he could grow up to be a great scientist or mathemetician! Just because it's called a "disability" does not mean it should be seen as a downfall.  We can turn our weak points into our strong points by looking at it from a different perspective.  And help the kids with special needs do the same thing.

Yes, I was very lucky, but I also had a clinic sister come up when Matty was three and say that she couldn't see what was wrong with him, which made things awfully difficult for me.  I had my in laws basically saying that he was just a "naughty child", and also I had been toilet training Matty for over a year and he still was going and I really wasn't sure if he was just being plain lazy as some days he would be great, but other days it was impossible.  He was willingly going when I told him to go, but wouldn't go on his own accord as he didn't understand when he had to.  My breakthrough was when I took him for his orientation for kindergarten.  As I had a baby AND a toddler, I didn't even bother taking Matty to playgroup, but the kindergarten teacher noticed it straight away, so then I got onto a specialist and got a diagnosis.  He also did mainstream school for all his primary years, and they wanted him to also go to a mainstream high school, but when he was assessed in Grade six with a mental age of only three years old, I was totally against it.  He still carries soft toys and other little toys around with him, so how would he manage??? He is so much happier now he's in a school that has people just like him in it.  He has made his first TRUE friend...it will be sad when she  leaves next year as she will turn 17.

Wow yeah I'm not sure what my nephew will do in high school as he has really good math/science skills but in other areas is like a toddler still.  He also has a toy he takes everywhere with him and we have the same problem with people who don't know him calling him a naughty boy and they don't believe he has any problems because it's not a physical disability.