dana

Hi, my ds (year 7) told me that he has been bullied at school by 8 children, called names and was threatened. He tried to tell the teachers about it but nobody wants to help him, either they don't want to believe him or they openly say that they don't care, this is secondary school and he has to manage those children by himself! Tomorrow I have a meeting with SENCO and probably some of the bullies' parents will be there as well. I want to talk about the whole thing with them. Does anybody have any sugestions what to do tomorrow and how to deal with this? I have a feeling I am up against the whole school, including the bullies' parents!And I am all alone! Ani advice appreciated. Dana

Hi Tally, If you got one page for DLA renewal where they state the amount you will get- this could be all they needed to send. If there is more they wouldn't send two letters about it. So, probably nobody else received your letter, not even your nosy neighbour. I wouldn't worry about that too much. You do not have to answer her questions, make yourself busy when she is around and try not to give her any attention when she does that. Your life is not her business! Danaxx

My son often mixes the real world with his dreams and he is not distressed about it apart when he has a bad dream and transfers it to the real world. For example, he had once a bad dream about spiders and now he kills every spider he sees because he is afraid of it. The second example is that once he dreamt that the picture from a coaster somehow covered his favourite picture. Since then he always terns the coaster upside-down because he is afraid that the same will happen in reality. I don't think you could do much more about it than what you are already doing. Danaxxx

I would add to the previous posts just that the fact that her parents want to speak with you on their on initiative to me shows that all this is genuine and I doubt that they will be willing to give you their phone home number because to them you are a complete stranger as well. I think that Skype is a good idea to speak about this visit for all. I understand your worries. However, I wouldn't say no to your stepson on the basis that the girl is from the other continent even if you had a bad experience once. Still agree with the previous posts that B&B is better idea than your home, just as a precausion. Your stepson shouldn't pay for this visit. It is for HER parents to decide if they are going to let her go and if they do, they should pay. I think it will be a good idea to speak with her parents anyway and take it from there. If your stepson really likes that girl I wouldn't deny him a possibility of meeting her. Danaxxx

Hello and welcome to the forum. Danaxxx

Hi and welcome to the forum. Danaxxx

Hello and welcome to the forum. Danaxxx

Hi Goldenben, I've just seen your post today although it stayed here,indeed, for quite a while, without anybody answering. I haven't oberved it earlier because I am not looking in Medication/Diet/Vitamins/Supplements section often. I suppose the same thing happened to others from this forum. I am sorry nobody replied. You said you have tried this 'focus formula'. Is it still working? How do you feel now? And what is it, anyway? I am musician myself (piano teacher)who likes to write, meditate, and is interested in spirituality. All this also helped me over the years when I felt lonely and through difficult times. I have a son (11) with ASD and trying to expand his own world as well because he has no friends and feels lonely. I believe it is very important. Well done for your success in song writing. It is also fantastic that your world is so rich. Danaxxx

You can buy them, just look on the internet. We order them from Kirkman (USA). One bottle of 100 chewable tablets costs $17 (included p&p). Danaxxx

Happy Birthday, Smiley! Danaxxx

Sorry, Tally. <'> Danaxxx

I am really glad. The whole thing should have never happened. Well done campaigners. danaxxx

Happy holidays to evereybody! Danaxxx

I am sorry you are not very happy with your new job. <'> Still, I think it is a good idea to wait a bit longer before you decide to give it up. Maybe this is how it is at Christmas time. Probably after the holiday the things will be different. Wish you good luck. Danaxxx

I am sorry, Chriss54, if my question is too personal but which change to present DLA may help your wife qualify to get it? Maybe I missed it. Bid: The problem is that the goverment has already decided about the way the assessments will be done and who will do them, they haven't consulted any of us about it. And ,of course, they don't want to do that. More impersonal it is done (assessor not knowing the full picture, taking into account only the assesment day results)-more likely it is the claim will be rejected. In the present system we have to give the evidance of the proffesionals closely working with the claimants. What is wrong with that? Why is it not enough? Why give £100.000.000 to the firm to assess people when that money could be more wisely spend on, for example, improving the services for disabled people and children and ultimately help them become more independent? I would be the happiest in the world if my son when he grows up manage to fnd a job and is able to live independent life. We would gladly give up DLA if this happens! However, I don't know if this will happen and, without any support of SALT and OT if his DLA stops, it is unlikely it will ever happen. Danaxxx

Well, the question is not only how often reassesments will be done but my main concern is WHO will do them. Now, the three year contract for assesing and reassesing people with DLA was given to ATOS, the same multinational company which assess people for ESA. Their profit will directly depend on how many people they will put into work program. Tell me, how 'objective' and 'independent' they will be? And how much they will take into account the opinions of the professionals who closely work with the DLA claimants and know him/her best? IMO, they should be the ones to decide about assessments, reassesments and who can get DLA or not. Here is the link for some more information: http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1275-charities-fight-for-scraps-from-private-secto Further more, they are still examining the possibilities of assesing the children who receive DLA and are thinking to take into consideration the other public funds such as Statements. This could mean that statemented children might not be elidgeble for DLA or will get less money? Dana

If someone loses out because of that, it doesn't mean it isn't 'fair'. Of course it isn't fair! If the goverment want 20% people to lose their DLA, the new assesment process WILL be much hursher than now. This means that a BIG number of disabled people will lose out. You didn't have problems, Mumble,(and not only you) because you were assesed by the old criteria. In this economic climate, I wouldn't trust much the language that goverment is using, esspecially the word 'fair'. I just wonder, why everybody talks only about (inevitable) cuts, and mostly about cuts to disable and poor? I haven't heard the goverment's talk about raising taxes for the rich yet!? IMO reassesments will be very difficult for many people and children with ASD. Losing DLA for many children will be very bad. In the area where I live there is no NHS SALT provision for the secondary age children. Without DLA I wouldn't be able to pay for the private SALT and OT for my son. Without it, he wouldn't get any help whatsoever. And for him assesments are very frustrating! Dana

Sorry to hear that. <'> I hope you will be better soon. danaxx

Thank you all for your replies. I sincerely hope that my son's statement will not be affected. However, I have a feeling that in following years we'll see many more cuts in funding of SEN children and it will be used any excuse to do it, ncluding the change of dx. Councils got much less money than they hoped for but what is bad is that they have freedom to decide wheather or not they will take it from SEN children in order to fund other services. Danaxxx

Hi, we had Annual Review Statement this morning. I believe everything went well, they all decided that my son still needs support but until I get it written on paper I won't relax. He gets 21 hours at the moment but he has almost all the time TA with him (he is year 7). However, my son's pediatrician, who was present at the meeting, told me that the previous specialist poediatrician for ASD left and her new boss is now examining all his dxs of ASD, considering majority of them wrong! My son' poediatrician gave a clear dx of ASD to my son (she had EP, SALT, school reports)and she is known to my NAS parents' group for NOT giving easily dx of ASD. I've just asked her for additional support from one member of Autism team but her new boss will give the answer to that only after he goes through all my son's papers. I just hope my son will not have to go again for assesments because he finds difficult to cope with them (interuption of his routine). Just to say that I was one of the parents who didn't want my son to be 'labeled', and believed (naively) that 'he will grow out of his difficulties' until he went to year 5 and I voluntared at his class and actually saw how different from all the other children he was. And only then when everybody, his teacher, SENCO etc. raised the flag my husband and I decided to go for dx. I just wonder wheather this move of her new boss is the beginning of something much wider in the current economic crises and that it will be done many more reassesments in order to save money. Danaxxx

It would be nice to meet again. We can try before Christmas but maybe January is indeed more realistic. I like the idea of Covent Garden and Pizza Express, like the last year but also don't mind if there is a change of a vanue this year. Does anybody have any other suggestion? Danaxxx

Well done, Tally. I am sure you will get used to it quickly enough, especially if you already had eperiance in doing this kind of work. It is scary a bit to start a new job, I've been there myself but soon you will relax once you acctually start doing it. I wish you all the best with your new job. <'> Danaxxx

Hi JsMum, I am sorry I cannot give you any advice on this but wish all the best to you and ds and to get the place in the school you chose for him. <'> >< <'> Danaxxx

Congratulations! Danaxxx

That's really great! :thumbs: Danaxxx