JeanneA

Hi, just wondered if your child like mine who has ASD sometimes hits himself on his head several times. Glen (15) does get extremely anxious if various situations and this can result in him hitting his head, but there are other times like yesterday when he was just sitting there colouring and he suddenly hit his head several times.

Hi Jonathan I do feel for you, I am having my own problems with CAMHS at the moment. I'm not sure what to suggest but perhaps go to your GP, or paediatrician to see if either one of them can speak to CAMHS on your behalf. I do hope this gets sorted very quickly, I know what its like living with a young person who is aggressive, as my own son Glen who is ASD can be very aggressive at times. Keep in touch and let us know what happens.

Hi I will check both these programmes out, set up my sky plus for tonight!

Well we had no callers last night thank goodness! There were loads of bangs from fireworks though but like you said we can't avoid that! No loud music wouldnt' work I'm afraid, Glen would be really anxious with loud music in the house.

Hi Maria it must be a nightmare for you I can well understand why you only get the tree out on Christmas Eve and put it away on Boxing Day. My hubby would like to do that every year, he hates Christmas full stop!

I couldn't agree more Tally!

Hi gang sorry to spoil the fun but I always dread when halloween and fireworks times come around. As you all probably know by now, my son Glen 15 is autistic and gets scared with certain noises etc. I have downloaded a poster from the Essex Police to put on my door later saying: Sorry no trick or treaters. Glen isn't great with strangers particularly people coming to the door that keep knocking which happens on halloween night so I'm hoping the poster will do the trick and we will not get any callers, fingers crossed!

Thats ok, my hubby hates occasions particularly Christmas so its not the best of times here!

Hands up all of you who will be glad when Christmas has come and gone. Sad I know but true, Glen has never shown any interest in occasions, i.e birthdays, christmas, typical autistic child I know. I have to keep things very low keyed as not to distress Glen. It is such a shame, my other 2 kids loved Christmas when they were younger it was such a special time seeing how excited they were. I feel so sad that Glen could never and will never experience what they have.

Hi J's Mum you are so lucky the your child is very interested in Christmas. My son never has shown interest in any occasions, i.e. birthdays etc., mind you thats typical autism I guees. In fact I have always had to keep things very low keyed here every year, the less fuss the better. I have to admit I am so relieved when its all over and things return to normal, sad but true.

Hi ladies thanks for your comments. I do feel Glen has got sensory issues, he is on a waiting list for a sensory assessment with the local Outreach Team. They are very short staffed so I can't see that happening for a while.

Hi, I've just heard from the children legal centre and a solicitor is more than happy to take on my case, she said I cannot be forced into sending Glen away. In the next few days I will be receiving info from her and if I want to take this further then she is more than happy to plead my case. I am going to see the Clinical Pyschologist first to see what she has to say then will take it from there.

Hi Schools, yes I can relate to how you are feeling. My School will not admit they could have done more to help my son over the years, they have in fact blamed my son's behaviour on his home life. I'm in the situation now where I know they want my son out thats why they are supporting the psychologist's view of sending him to a mental health hospital for 3 or 4 months, over my dead body!!

Hi Lisa yes I do feel they are drumming into me every time I see them, social worker, psychologist etc. We will not be forced into doing something which is totally against our wishes. We await to hear from the psychologist as she would like to see me and my hubby to discuss exactly what the treatment etc would be at this hospital. Whatever she says I am certain our answer will be NO.

Yes Lisa I also think the same as you that professionals have their own agenda for referrals! I do feel the school have had a big influence on the psychologist's decision. I am also so disappointed in Glen's social worker in going along with all the other professionals with out hesitation.

Hiya quite agree, in fact it has already been said by the clinical psychologist that medications may be tried whilst Glen is at the hospital! medications just don't work with Glen he has already been tried on various medications in the past and they have all made his behaviour far worse rather than better.

Hi Karen, there is no team in my area that specialises in ASD unfortunately this is my concern, they just want to send Glen to a mental health hospital even though he has severe autism and needs to be treated accordingly which worries me will not happen, it could bring on all his negative behaviours. Over the past 7 years I have continually said Glen's problems are school related he needs the right class with the right struture and this has only happened in 2 of the 7 years. When they get it right they for some reason change and put him in a most unsuitable class! At the moment he is in a much more suitable class where he will remain unless I send him to the mental health hospital until next July. After then he should be going into F.E. for 3 years which to me will be just want Glen needs, but it seems others have their own ideas and I am not getting the support I expected. I didn't think that Glen's social worker who I have know for a number years would be so convinced that Glen should go to this hospital as she has known over the years what Glen has been like. The school have never owned up and said 'we have got it wrong' regarding Glen and they never will.

Thanks very much Karen. Glen has ASD, he can talk but chooses not to most of the time. He has severe learning difficulties. I agree with you I don't think that sending a ASD young person to a mental health hospital is appropriate, which has been my argument. When Glen's behaviour is at its worst then the School cannot cope, and I think they are concerned that although Glen is fine at the moment what about if his behaviour deteriorates again. I do not appreciate being pushed into something that I am not happy with.

Thanks for your comments Karen, I will let you know how things progress.

Hi Sally, I know Glen's problems are and always have been school related. The school are saying that Glen's behaiour as in: wetting, pooing, exposing himself, stripping off, physically aggressive is all bizarre behaviour. However I know for a fact that autistic kids can behaviour in this way its their only way of trying to tell you somethings wrong. At the moment Glen seems to be in a more suitable class, but year after year they keep getting it wrong but instead of owning up to it they would rather blame the parents, the home etc, when I knew this simply isn't true.

Hi J's Mum thanks for your comments I will take them on board I had already written to the social worker saying why we against the idea. I need to talk to the psychologist though and like you say probably go and visit the hospital but I don't think my mind will change.

Hi guys thought I would give you an update on the situation. Glen's social worker came to see me yesterday as the so called professionals had a meeting on Monday. Anyway I cannot be forced into the residential hospital, I already knew this as I have been in contact thanks to your guys on here with several places so I do know my rights. However the social worker thinks that it would be a good idea if hubby Carl and I were to go and visit this mental health hospital to see what it is like for ourselves before we definately decide that it is not what we want. The hospital is a long way away for us, as well as Glen we do have ourselves to think of (without sounding selfish), it would be difficult to commute regularly backwards and forwards due to other commitments. Also, she did say obviously there are no guarantees, Glen may or may not benefit from this place. It does not specialise in autism which is another concern for us. I think it is obvious the the psychologist is supporting the school by what they are suggesting. Carl and I intend to stand firm, we will not be pushed into something that we are not convinced will be of any help to Glen in the long term. The social worker said that the psychologist would like to see us to have a chat about it and she would give us more detail into what the whole placement would consist of.

Hi J's Mum thanks for your message. I to hope this gets finally sorted out very soon. I am supposed to be hearing from my social worker any day about coming to see me to have a chat about the whole situation. I was hoping to hear from her today but no, so I may ring her myself tomorrow.

Hi just wondered if anyone had any knowledge regarding obtaining a residence order for a child with special needs. My hubby Carl wanted to adopt my 15 yr old son Glen but Glen's dad said 'no'. Carl wants to go for residence instead which means he would have equal say in Glen's welfare etc alongside myself and Glen's dad over Glen. In case anything happens to me, I would want Carl to look after Glen and not Glen's dad. Normally a residence order is for up to 16 years of age but is this different in the case of a special needs child? If anyone can help me then that would be great.

Hi just to update you folks, I've been ringing around trying to get advice and to see where I stand. The NAS told me that the psychologist would have to get my permission before Glen could be admitted to a mental health assessment hospital. That has helped me, they are also going to send me some info via email.