peaches

R aged 6 changed schools this summer, had plenty of visits etc, settled in reasonably well, a few outbursts but nothing unusual. He is happy to go to school in the mornings and has made a friend. He was pleased to find out that the school were going on a trip to Flamborough Head. He knows Flamborough because his great grandma and grandad live there. School has done a lot of work around the lighthouse/the coast etc including all the lighthouse keeper stories. This morning DH got him up for trip and he didnt want to go. He said he was scared of falling off the cliff. Got upset and went back to bed. When I asked him, he was scared of seeing someone he didnt know. Im getting the feeling he has a fear of this change in his routine and cant put a name to it so he is saying the first thing that occurs to him. He also refused to go on a trip to Skegness in the summer with his playscheme, similar circumstances, just got up in the morning and wouldnt go. He has been on school trips in the past, to a couple of farm type places and was OK then. Obviously I didnt force him to go, and Im just not sure what to do on this one. Any ideas?

We found that when our lad got the support he needed in school (i.e. a statement) his meltdowns and violence really subsided. I also found using a 1-2-3 technique at home effective. I got this from a book I borrowed from CAMHS. When he offends, he gets counted. I say "thats 1 for hitting your sister" (no negotiation or debate) then " thats 2 for tripping her up" Then "Thats 2 for ..... whatever". When he gets 3 he has a choice. He can go to the foot of the stairs for 5 minutes time out or have no computer or electronic entertainment for the rest of the day. He used to hate time out until I pointed out that the option was no computer/Wii/DS etc and then he did his time. I used an hourglass. He used to be in time out a lot at first, but I havent had to put him in time out for ages now.

R has been going to the children's hospital for about a year regarding his eyesight. He was referred at a routine check up in reception class. He was borderline for glasses for a while, but they decided to give him a prescription, as he was astigmatic. The last two times he has refused to have the eye drops at his appointment. He has his glasses, wears them, has had a normal sight test and his current prescription is still good, but he wont have the eye drops in. You can imagine the sort of bribing and cajoling that both myself and the nurse at the Childrens hospital had to do. No way were we getting any where near him with the eye drops. I dont know if it was a freudian thing, but his last appointment was last week and I genuinely forgot all about it. I was relieved when I didnt have to take him so havent made another appointment. I am happy enough with his eyesight, and happy to visit our local friendly optician when necessary, but I cant bring myself to pester the Childrens hospital for another appointment and face the eyedrops. 1. Why are they necessary at every visit? 2. What will happen if we miss the eye drops? 3. Anyone else had this and got round it?

http://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Welch...|1087|1272|2335 Is this any good? Our kids like it but I know the grape might be a problem. If not try health food shops. I used to buy fruit drinks from them which had no additives in but they were concentrates in a bottle. I cant remember what the brand was though. Failing that, write to Sainsbury's explaining your problem and ask if they can locate some from any of their branches. Write directly to Justin! Some baby juices also have peach in http://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Cow--...|2557|1127|3082

Im glad your employer compromised, I do believe that under EU law they are supposed to give serious consideration to requests such as yours. When I read through this I thought of my daughter, now aged 23. She wasnt diagnosed until she was an adult, but we knew she was different as a child and had difficulty with social situations, so I used to worry a lot. I worked part time and we had 3 different childminders before we found one that worked out. It worked because she was very flexible and also took another child from the same school. I used to spend hours agonising about the childcare, so I ended up packing up work and becoming a student. Then I was around for her and felt better about it. Now Im getting to the point, my daughter was asked about her childhood when she had her assessment for Asperger's. She said she had the feeling she was loved and cared for and that mum was usually around when she finished school although she could remember going to a childminder at some point. This made me think, well what was I worrying about, she can hardly remember being with a childminder. It obviously didnt have a lasting effect on her, nor did it worry her like I imagined it did.

Good luck. We used to do a bit of caravanning (but as a couple, no kids). I think the only thing I would advise is if its a tourer, make sure you are well acquainted with setting it up and you have a contingency plan to keep the son occupied/safe whilst you are doing things like getting it parked in the spot (not as easy as you think) and lowering legs, setting up electric and fridge etc. If its a static, you will probably be OK, it was just the noise and jumping about on the beds we had to put up with.

Just got back from Fuengirola with First Choice, flew from Doncaster Sheffield (Great Airport, quiet, no problems) to Malaga (hell on earth). The airport at malaga was really busy, huge, not enough trolleys, too long queues, no one wanted to help, couldnt get double buggies through check in desks and security or x ray machines (just a normal sized double buggy!!! not huge!!! Im sure they have them in Spain too). Hotel was good for kids and we managed kids club without too much of a problem. We had to intervene regularly over disputes in the pool of course but thats about normal - some of the other boys were worse than ours. What upset me was the ones that wound him up, I just didnt get chance to explain to their parents about ours with other two small kids in tow. Ive come home feeling like a holiday to get over the holiday. I try to explain to my other half that its no good, we cant have the sort of holidays we used to, but its just not sinking in. He keeps on booking them. arrgh!!

You dont sound as if you need it, but I have just discovered this start-rite measuring and ordering service: http://www.startriteshoes.com/fitting/meas...ction:clicknfit We have a shoe shop nightmare, so when we wanted some sandals for the holiday, I used the above ordered some sandals, they came next day delivery, fitted great, jobs a good un! When its back to school time I will be doing this again because not only am I sick of the behaviour in the shop, but Im also sick of the Yotoy shoes that Clarks do, R wont have any other type and breaks the toy before we get it home. Then of course his sisters want one with a toy in too! Others may be interested in this service.

Thanks Karen, Ive been awfully busy. We will be moving house shortly and baby number 4 is moving in next month. Raph seems to have settled down a bit as he is having a lot more one to one, but I dont think he will get quite so much when we move, as he has way over the amount of hours in his statement at the moment.

Go to www.graze.com add this code M1M41HJ Then start choosing your favourite snacks. Your first box is free (YES!!) and the second is half price (£1.49). The boxes have a portion of fresh fruit, another box with a snack in like dried fruit or seeds and a smaller box with nuts in. You choose your favourites and they send you a "balanced" snack box out. What I couldnt believe is even the kids loved it. Mine came today, through the letterbox, but you can have them delivered to your workplace.

I have been told today by our nominated officer that they have got until 14th March to issue a proposed statement and because there is a panel on the 13th it is unlikely to be done before then. So basically this process really takes the best part of an academic year. That sucks doesnt it? Mind you I suppose its been the same for all of you so me grumbling is really nothing new!

All our evidence is in from the Statutory Assessment, including the crucial report from the Psychologist and Psychiatrist. So I phoned the Education Department up and said whats next. They said they were going to issue a proposed statement shortly. I pressed and said how shortly, they couldnt tell me. I thought all this was to a certain time frame. But it seems not. The SENCO said it could be another two months. Is this true?

Moving house is going to be almost inevitable soon, and it will be at such a distance that commuting will take too long at that time in a morning, especially with two younger siblings in tow. I am happy so far with what might be our new school, having visited, chatted, and also done some research with a local. I have also chatted to our clinical psychologist about it. Her opinion is, if you keep his routine as similar as possible he may not mind so much. However, last year he got really attached to the classroom assistant and it was difficult when he went up a class with different staff, so Im expecting some problems. Long term, the prospects are good as there is a secondary school with an autism unit nearby, as well as a special school for 7 and over ASD children, and a NAS school in easy reach in new area. http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1024 But I had thought we would keep him in mainstream if possible. I just wondered how your ASD child coped with a school move. Any horror stories or surprises?

Well, despite our best efforts it makes good financial sense to move areas, so I am looking into possibilities with LEA and new schools. I dont want to move him, but it might be better in many other ways as he will have nicer, roomier surroundings (more space to play Wii!!).

I have decided to go all out to try and afford a house round here.

Next time I go to CAMHS we have to talk about medication for R's ADHD. I feel uneasy about it, particularly any long term side effects. There is also another problem. This child refuses to take any medicine at all. Not even calpol. We managed to get his first lot of antibiotics down him when he was 5 and a half and this took a lot of doing. I managed it by putting a Haribo (had to be Haribo) gum in his mouth and then giving the medicine, but since then he has refused calpol and ibuprofen by the same method. So even if I do decide we can try it, I dont think he will take it! Anyone else have this problem?

The statementing process is nearing its end and it will be at least a couple of months before we move, even if we sign tomorrow so Im thinking that we will get our statement before we move. No one (school nor LEA) knows we are moving because we are not, so far. Nothing has been signed or even applied for. I am hoping the statement comes soon then I will know what to do! I am going to check all my correspondence for the timescale again. Thanks all!

Family sized council houses are like rocking horse poo round here. We have tried to get one previously when we first got the residence orders and despite all the letters from social workers and cafcass guardian we didnt even get priority. To be honest, if a council house becomes vacant around here it is always in the absolute worst area. We have had problems with anti social behaviour before when we were with a housing association and there is no chance I would risk it again as it made all our lives a misery. So thanks for the thought, but we want to buy really. However, there are some shared ownership homes coming up soon which are within our authority. They are not near our current school, but the drive would only be 10-15 minutes so Im looking into that now. Trouble is, the house furthest away (another LEA) is really the nicest house of all of them. But if it meant starting again with the statement I wouldnt do it.

I think that I found I couldnt get it because I am on Incapacity Benefit, but will look into it again. Husband wont get it because he is working. Also, we got the diagnosis yesterday and although it wasnt really a surprise I was surprised that his problems are so complex. So of course I had a sleepless night, like ya do! I cant work out if to move area or not.

Also, the link has now changed to different news. Could you provide me with info about the NAS branch in Rotherham please?

I have PM'd Westie, but would be very grateful if you could get in touch if you know what the services are like in Rotheram for children with autism. We are contemplating a move there from Sheffield, where we have just received a diagnosis.

If youre going for a meeting and a discussion with the head or the staff, dont take him. You can always take him at another time to just show him the place and see how it suits him. I know what theyre like when youre trying to have a meeting with someone, they compete for your attention and then you end up being too stressed to take anything in and forget to ask those important questions. When I changed school with our eldest child (NT) husband and I went to first meeting alone, then made arrangements with school for visits.

We are just nearing the end of the Statutory Assessment, I think all the evidence had to be in by end of last week. I know its just a matter of waiting, but something has come up. We may be moving house. We need a bigger house, we have been privately renting for a while, biding our time, and all of a sudden we might actually be able to afford a 4 bed house to buy about 15 miles away. This is another education authority. What happens if you move schools and (a) you get a statement or ( you dont get a statement and your child is supported though school budget. All the houses nearby are out of our budget or very small or absolutely dire. We have found one nearby but its not that good, its obvious why it hasnt sold yet. I know it will be disruptive for R to move school, but I am hoping to keep this thread centred on the impact on statementing when moving house etc.

Thread here: http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...c=19836&hl=