General Chat

Hi Kaye - sorry if I forgot speaking to you before - names are my worst thing lol!! Just keep strong and keep them on their toes. Make sure that the class teacher is aware of the situation - ask in the first couple of days if you could have 5 minutes of their time after school. If they are aware of the situation, then she should be on what is called 'school action' - a register of those children who need special 'help' but don't have a statement. The school should draw up an IEP (Individual Education Plan) for your daughter to set out some targets for her first term. I too am very nervous about this school year - have heard some 'things' about the teacher and also it will be harder for him this year - juniors has a bit of a different focus to infants. Good luck!! Maz. XX

Kaye, my son was the same in nursery - he only had a handful of words and phrases - I had to do a phonetic crib sheet for the teacher! If they don't do an immediate referral to a speech therapist, then get your GP and/or Health Visitor involved and they will arrange the referral for you. Off to bed now :-)) speak soon!! Maz. XX

HI MY NAME IS DOTTY DOT I HAVE TWO SONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THE YOUNGEST ONE IS 23 AND IS ALSO SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, HE HAS NO SPEECH SO COMMUNICATES BY SHOUTING AND SCREAMING,WE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING HIM DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AS THEY WOULDN'T RECOGNISE IT IN SHEFFIELD. WE FOUND IT REALLY HARD WORK WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER, BUT NOW HE IS IN A HOME FOR AUTISTIC YOUNG PEOPLE VERY NEAR TO US AND HE HAS COME ON IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS HE HAS 1TO1 AND IS GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY.OUR OTHER SON HAS ASPERGERS SYNDROME AND LIVES IN A HOUSE WITH 24 HOUR STAFFING, HE WAS ONLY DIAGNOSED LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS 24. HE HAS MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AS WELL, BOTH OF THEM SELF HARM. WE HAVE THEM BOTH HOME REGULARLY AND TAKE THEM OUT FOR THE DAY TO DIFFERENT PLACES THAT IS WHERE IT IS VERY HARD (NOT TAKING THEM OUT ) BUT THE UNKIND COMMENTS AND STARES FROM PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND, IT DOESN'T BOTHER THEM BUT IT UPSETS US, WE ARE THEIR PARENTS AND ONLY WANT TO PROTECT THEM. BUT THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND THINGS DO GET BETTER EVENTUALLY. DOTTY (NEW MEMBER)

Hi Dotty, nice to meet you too! You certainly have been through the mill. So glad your sons are getting the help and support they need now. It is wearing enough with just one little one with a few problems, you must have been absolutely drained when yours were younger. I know what you mean about other people - these 'invisible' disabilities are so difficult in public. I heard once of a family who put their child in a t-shirt reading 'I'm not naughty - I'm autistic' to deal with other people's stares and judgement. I think you have to develop a very thick skin and just concentrate on handling the situation in the way you know works - sod everyone else - they know nothing about it! Hope to see you about on the boards soon. Maz. XX

Hi Dotty welcome to the boards and Kaye keep pushing and you will get the help when she starts school as quite a few on this board have had to do

that is terrible but keep pushing and it will come, I do know how you feel took them till my eldest boy was 15yrs and 6mnth for them to tell me his reading and writing was for a 10yr old got information day of his last exam I had been trying for 4yrs

I am fine Kaye but David was in hospital with a liver infection

hi maz nice to talk to you thanks for welcoming me onto the board. i love the threads especially the poems. am mostly on the board about this time. you are right we have been through the mill a bit when the kids were younger, that's when you can't see a way out but honestly things do get better. hope to talk to you again soon. dottyxx

hi val thanks for the welcome. dotty

Yes he is a lot better and he is 19yr old today and you are most welcome Dotty

nudge for Debs Also - how is everyone getting on now they are back at school? New teachers etc? So far Jamie has settled very well apparently and he has just signed up to play the Clarinet - should be interesting lol!! Maz. XX

Hi Kaye, glad to hear the school are getting their finger out lol! Don't worry - they will soon call you in if there are problems, sometimes no news really IS good news! Maz. XX

Kaye I am really glad the school is helping you. Damien started Vranch house yesterday and John has started lighting paper in his room once last week and last night as well

Val, have you got a smoke alarm in his room? Maybe you could rig something up to protect it so he can't turn it off - you would then be alerted quickly to the danger. Perhaps the Fire Safety Officer at your local fire station could give you some advice - I think they will even talk to individual kids if asked. Maz. XX

Thanks Maz we do have a smoke alarm in the hall upstairs but not in his bed room though I am thinking about it very seriously

I thought it was about time this had an airing!! How is everyone doing?? Please let us know!! I am STILL waiting for Jamie's new statement showing that he has Asperger's - unbelievable! We had quite a few sessions with the psychiatrists to help with behaviour and some toilet problems and it was a huge success. The main problem I have at the moment is how much Jamie misses his dad - it comes out in some strange ways. Karen, can you put up here please what you were told about statements and college/6th form?? Maz. XX

Maz my 7 year old son was diagnosed in Dec with Autism and severe Dyslexia and we have been told that he can not have a statement although we can still go to panel for his special needs and have help in some areas put in. He needs help from speech and langue groups and help with his schoolwork. He should also have help from the out reach team at the local Autistic school. We have been attending a 6-week course from the autistic spectrum disorder group to help us identify and help Andrew with his problems; I have to say it has been a real eye opener and a very helpful course. Julia ps Maz have you tried social story’s with him to help understand what’s happing with his dad?

Hi Maz just to let you know John has calmed down a bit at school though he has to write in a behaviour book every day and Damien is getting more help at school though we had to go in and have a word as one of the helpers told him she was fed up with him so he was not wanting to go to school but we got it sorted and so far the past couple of weeks he has been fine

Im just curious why Julies child cant have a statement?! BTW everyone with these probs and kids with these probs - do join adders.org

I was thinking that my self on the way to pick my youngest son up, I wonder if they are fobbing you off I would demand a statement and you should get your doctor behind you