General Chat

Just had a meeting with someone from the Autistic spectrum board and he has but my son forward for a full assessment as he thinks the is a strong need for an assessment to be carried out. Next available appointment is Nov so things are finally moving! Julia

Julia, Just keep pushing for results, or you might not get the help you need. As I said, my son has Asperger's Syndrome, but if they are only looking for that and decide he hasn't got it, they might miss something else. They did that with my youngest daughter, as she is so much like her brother, and has even contemplated suicide and she is only 13. Through my work as A Special needs Assistant, I now know that she has Dyspraxia, which is something that makes the sufferer seem very clumsy & disorganised. She does also have a lot of traits that my son has, but didn't start showing signs of problems until she was 9. Each case and each child is different. That is why many children are diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder ( ASD), but many other disorders are associated and inter-linked with it.The main disorders which are more noticeable seem to affect more boys than girls. Push for a Special Needs Statement- even if your child only gets one hour a day on a one- to- one basis, it really will help. Believe me, I know. These include: Dyspraxia ADHD Asperger's Syndrome Dyslexia ODD

Thanks Marly, had forgotten about that!

Hi everyone, Just been reading all the messages. I have a daughter, 7 years old who has Downs syndrome. she is in mainstream scvhool in year 2, and although she is behind in her learning is still doing very well with her reading and writing. She does however have her moments with behaviour. Funnily enough she has got on really well with all her teachers since starting school, however her teacher has just gone on maternity leave and the school SENCO has taken over the class. Amazingly all i keep getting is the SENCO calling me in after school saying Emily's done this, Emily's done that. Surely if anyone should be showing her a little understanding you'd think it would be the SENCO. Anyway, sorry to rant on a bit. Has anyone used OMEGA 3 for a Down's child? I have started to use it for Emily about 2 weeks ago (i know it wouldn't start working yet) but wondered if anyone else had tried. Thanks, Sandra

Maz there is a web site I was told about called RAVIV you might have a look on it. I had a look and it is for kids with special needs like Dyspraxia/ADHD and other problems it is about a new way of helping the kids and they tell you if there is anyone in your area that deals with our kids conditions

Can I please ask if anyone has any experience/advice specifically for asperger's and family break-up?? Thanks. Maz. XX

Hi Meercat (nice name!!), I would say that panic attacks and agoraphobia are very likely in a child with asperger's. Lots of them cannot cope with things like crowds, loud noises, excessive visual stimulation etc. I would recommend that your nephew's parents talk to the Senco (special needs co-ordinator at the school) about getting him seen by the Educational Psychologist. Talk to GP/Health visitor too. Especially if he is not yet diagnosed. Maybe others may have some experience of this too. Hi Julia, As far as I know, once the assessment process has been started it will be carried through. I would think that it could only be 'cancelled' by the person who made the referral in the first place. Maybe talk to the Neurologist about your worries? It is not up to the school to diagnose, it is up to your LEA to hear all the evidence and then decide if a SEN is appropriate. We were turned down 3 or 4 times by the LEA and had to go to a tribunal in the end. Just be firm and be informed. Contact the Department for Education and Skills and get a copy of the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice - this tells schools what they are supposed to do, your rights in other words. It is quite a thick booklet, but written in plain english. Also talk to your local Parent Partnership, who should also be able to tell you about the procedures involved. Hope some of this helps! Maz. XX

Hope you don’t mind me butting in lol but I was wondering if any one could help My 7 year old son has a few problems he is epileptic has moderate learning diff and is dysphasic. I have a meeting tomorrow with a man from the Autistic board to begin a assessment for Aspersers we have waited 5 years for this assessment (his developmental doctor has been telling us for 5 years she thinks he has Aspersers) now his epilepsy is better controlled and he is settled on his meds his neurologist has said he has a language and communication disorder and he is the one who has pushed for this assessment now. His school has him on a IEP action plus and don’t think he needs a statement of educational needs ( I disagree) and totally dismiss that the is the possibility of Aspersers. from what I read here it seams that a lot of children with aspersers seam to be gifted in certain things I have not noticed this with my son all he seams to do is get wrapped up in a certain topic ( at the moment it is the grate fire of London) and is so pre occupied with this nothing else matters. What I was wondering will the assessment team stop the assessment if the school disagree and what happens at these assessments. Sorry it is so long winded! Julia

Thank you Juliette! I agree entirely. We are the ones who know our children best. I would advise anyone to stick to their guns - no-one else is going to do it for you. I am certainly much more assertive on behalf of my son than I ever was for myself! It gets results believe me - the more of a nuisance you make of yourself, the better! Maz. XX ps congratulations to your hardworking son and good luck to him in his exams - you must be very proud

I agree with every word if the doctors would listien to mothers they would know quicker that something is wrong instead of fobbing us off who is the one that is with them from day 1 we know our kids and we know when something is wrong

I have a view point on both sides. I have a son who is 16, and after much pushing, from his School and myself, he was diagnosed with Aperger's Syndrome, when he was seven. If I hadn't asked for a second opinion, He might have just been treated as a naughty boy and his life would have been so different. Children used to describe him as the naughtiest boy in the School, but that was because he was so afraid of so many things then. He was terrified of crowds and of loud noises, so Assemblies were an absolute nightmare for him. With help from a local support group, I applied for a Special Needs statement, which has meant some support for him and people realising and recognising that he is a bit different, but not bad. Over time, he has learned to cope with School, ( as routine helps them to settle).He is now a very quiet boy, who has managed to stay in mainstream School and I am proud to say he will be taking his exams from next week, like all the other children in his School. I have been a Special needs Teaching assistant for over five years. I know that most of the children that have a Special Needs Statement, do so because they have pushy parents. Parents that don't like to be fobbed off, and who will do all that they can to get the best for their child.I am glad that I knew a lady that worked at my son's Primary School, who identified my son's condition, as I'd never heard about it until then. I knew that my son was different, from the age of two, but it took five years to get a diagnosis. Don't despair though, and keep pushing if you want the best Education for your child.The good thing about these children is that they are very intelligent and if given the right encouragement, often go on to have very successful careers. Sir Patrick Moore has Aspergers, and it is strongly believed that Einstein also had it.

I do try keeping sane but very hard lol I just send to there rooms to calm down thats why John's door was his hinges and a hole in the wall but we tried to mend them

Val Yes, however do you keep sane? I'd find that horrendous. Liz

Liz it is very hard when they start kicking of but it is the damage they do

- should have added 'and ADHD' in that last paragraph. I just can't begin to imagine how anyone copes with those hyperactive states. Liz

I'll be watching tomorrow as well - a great nephew has Asberger's. His mum has been through it all 'pushy middle-class mother who can't accept that her son isn't bright' - fighting for statement, etc. He's doing three A-levels now and has just been accepted into his county youth orchestra so we're all very proud of him. My son has Down's so I've been into the mencap world for 34 years - very little inclusive education when he started (in fact they'd only just started calling junior training centres 'schools' and acknowledging that our kids could be educated at all!!) He's taking part in the Special Olympics in Glasgow in July. Autistic spectrum is a different ballgame, I know. It must be very, very tough for you all on this thread.

Thanks Marly - didn't know the final was tomorrow, will look out for it now :~)) Maz. XX

I didn't see that Marly - wish I had! Asperger's kids tend to have an 'obsession' so I suppose he used that as his 'specialist subject'?? Is it repeated at all do you know?? Maz. XX

No problem Maz will let you know and have a good sleep lol

Some info on that Raviv System is at http://www(.)thelearningsociety(.)com/en/raviv/index(.)aspx Don't forget to take out the brackets! Thanks Christopher! Maz. XX