KezT

I blame Rain Man And more recently Big Bang Theory, which shows a fantastic Aspie adult, but of coursehe's a physics genius Nothing you can do other than try to educate those around you that Hollywood isn't always right!

E is very funny about wearing socks. He wears them, but has strong likes and dislikes claiming many are uncomfortable and "squish" his feet! So after many arguments about the last set I bought, I gave in and bought new set last week. The best value set was one with the days of the week printed on. E thinks they are wonderful - his socks go on 1st thing ion the morning now and stay on until the very last thing at night The only problem is - he shows them to everyone, and reads the day all day! And - what happens when i wash them and the right day is not available on the right day? I think I may have a problem brewing.....

Glad they're doing something - even if a bit late. My son still hasn't got a SW. I phoned in tears when he was suspended for violent behaviour at the end of last term - didn't know how we were going to get through the summer hols. We've got two little girls too, and hubby is physically disabled & can't chase/restrain etc (as well as not being terribly good and coping with sons aspergers). i work 3 days a week & I really thought someone might be murdered. SS ignored my messages until i finally sent aletter to the head of a dept. then I got a curt call, it lasted about 30 secs, told I should contact NAS & hung up!!! I haven't bothered to follow it up tbh, although i will have to find the energy sometime.......

Not much help, but FYI: SS don't have to take a child into care becos the parent requests it, but they do HAVE to if the child requests it. what is his view on it all?

My son (aspie) is 8 now, and is definitely starting to develop a gait. He's never been very co-ordinated (gross motor skills), but tbh, nor have I I know he's behind - he still can not skip - but he can walk, run, throw, catch, kick and even cycle, so he's not massively physically disabled. When I mentioned my concern about the gait to his LSA (who is lovely) she asked if we were seeing a physiotherapist. we're not. Should we be? And if so, how do I get the referral? And how hard will I have to push for it? Does anyone have any experience of this?

We moved schools at year 2, so E had a fairly rough couple of months while he settled in - hiding under tables, screaming, throwing stuff around But the school were great- he has his own LSA (a diferent one each year so far tho) who stays with him. They gave him the time & space to hide under a table when it all got too much (his previous school weren't so understanding) and he settled down fairly quickly - by the end of that school year he was sitting in the class all day, and participating in the majority of the lesons to some extent - he even sat his SATS! It sounds like your son is finding the whole experience overwhelming. he needs somewhere to go "hide". Where/what that is will depend on him. E went under the table outside the classroom, but your son might prefer running outside, or playing with his yo=yo, or listening to dolphin song or whatever is his sancturary. Make sure you speak to the school - have an actual meeting booked in with the SENCO, his teacher and the head - don't try to grab a few seconds at the end of the day! Ask your local NAS if they do Early Bird plus sessions - its a course for parents & schools to attend together and is really useful in understanding ASD's and ensuring the same management techniques are being used accros the board. Also, talk to son at home when he is calm. explain about the importance of school, find out what specific things are bothering him (you'll probabloy have to go through a list). sometimes it can be the smallest thing, easily changed. i know of a child who screamed & headbanged for a whole year, and it was only after he moved into a new classroom and settled they discovered that he had been sat next to a dripping tap and the sound had driven him nuts!!!!

That's OK - we bought E his own laptop so we could have time on ours He thinks I'm being unfair when i tell him to stop playing after five hours or so......

Is there any chance that you can set up a special children's forum board? i am a member on another forum were they have an u/18 section and it is sooooo useful. Obviously adults still have to be aware that all boards are family friendly;-) But some of the stuff on these boards are fairly unintresting to kids and, frankly, rather off-putting (just take a look in the education one and think of it from a 8 yar olds perspective!) the u/18 section would be for kids only, to talk about kid stuff - school, friends, exams, relationship, medication, diets - the whole lot, but without adults getting all technical at them (although adult moderation is needed, obviously). My son is 8, and I would love him to be able to talk to other Aspies safely and freely, but can't find anything online that seems to fulfil this for him.

Thanks Jannih and Nic, but we do already get DLA and Child Tax Credit. I'm pretty certain we get all the benefits that we're entitled to - I've spent enough man-hours researching it!!! as well as checking in with the CAB:) The benefits cover the food & clothes and my salary covers the mortgage. Our total income puts us beyond income support (Husband gets Incapacity benefit) and therefore any of the DWP grants, which don't take into account expenditure for a family of 5, two disabled, just look at household income. We're better off tha we have been in the past, but there is no way we can afford even a second hand scooter, so I was wondering if anyone knew of any charites that might help out. I'll keep researching - I'm sure there must be one out there somewhere!

Does anyone know of any charities we can try applying to for some funds? Son has Aspergers, and is nearly 8 years old. Husband has various disabilities, including fairly severe arthritis. We do not qualify for income support, so can not claim any of the government grants, but equally I only work 21 hours a week and the money barely keeps the family in food - there is certainly none spare for major purchases (there are two other children as well)! We would really like to buy a mobility scooter for husband so that he can "walk" son to school rather than driving him each day as he currently does. We feel this is wrong in so many ways - but equally, school has explicitly stated that son must be accompanied to and from school. Just wondered if anyone knows of any charities that may help? Thanks.