Lautre

Just like the others, dont feel selfish I think we all feel like this at times, some for longer periods than others, it's perfectly normal. I found joining a group called Contact a Family for people with children with disablities a godsend. We meet up once a week have tea/coffee, talk cry laugh together. Sometimes we do art activities and this year some going out days have been arranged (lunch or evening)Oh and pamper days too! See if you can find an organisation in your area and dont be afraid cos we're all in the same boat (in a way). Good luck!

I often use this site to read about peoples experiences and many times have had valued advice just reading others reponses. However this time I have decided to be brave enough to ask for some advice myself. My elder son (10 yrs aspergers) has been at a PRU since last april due to lots of problems at his previous school and two other schools in the area not accepting him. Before Christmas I finally found a school that has accepted him but he started going only one half day a week, the rest of the days he goes to the PRU (that he actually hates going to). Any last week he was going to start his first full day last wednesday, but on tuesday on his way home on the school bus he had an accident. A boy sitting behind my son started pulling his hair, my son told him to stop. The child continued and then got up to get off his stop,( the bus being stationary now) my son undid his seatbelt stood up on the bus to confront the other child. The lady supervising the bus told my son to sit down and the child got off the bus. My son was very cross because as far as he was concerned the child had done something to him and had not been told off for it. he was being very defiant and refused to sit down despite the lady on the bus telling him too. The bus driver started the minibus again with my son still not in his seat and the seatbelt on, a car came out of a side road and the bus braked suddenly. Ths caused my son to go flying forward and fall on some metal seat runners and split his knee open. An assistant from the school drove to where the bus was parked and drove my son to the hospital (taking the scenic route- he got lost on the way!). After having xrays to check the bone/tendons werent broken my son had to have 8 injections to numb the pain, then have thirteen stitches. He was ever so brave. I would have screamed more than him if I had to go through what he did. Any way the head of the school then phoned tme to see how he was then to tell me "you know it was your son's fault for not sitting down with his belt on" and the bus lady was so traumatised she may be giving up her job" AND "the bus company may not let you son back on the school bus". Anyone else been through anything similar? Any advice on what to do or say to the head?? My son should be getting his stitches out on Tuesday, but then he has to have physiotherapy for I dont know how long. Ta.

CONGRATULATIONS! Well done to anyone taking/taken exams of some sort or another. Im sure we all remember the feeling. Excuse for a big party no????

Has the cycle completely finished? No water in the bowl? This has happened to me b4 and when I couldnt get it out I just put it on another wash, waited for the click sound and opened the door. Try it. Or call an emergency plumber and ask 4 advise over the phone...

Had very similar things with my son plus the bullying and TA's speaking to him in a demeaning manner, SENCO not understanding his needs, staff not understanding his sensory issues, Head denying he had needs, denying his DIAGNOSIS!!! Loads of exclusions, then a PERMANENT just when I had taken him out over an incident which left him with a very bad bump to the head and a sprained ankle caused by a TA... Do everything you possibly can to make sure he is happy because after my son's experience he doesnt want to go back to any school and to be honest I can understand how he feels, because as mum I have to deal with all the emotions from each experience and I would not wish it on any child or parent.

Hello Lauren, Nothing is trivial when it comes to wanting the best for your children. Sounds very similar to some of the things that my son went through the past year, but some of my stories would make your hair curl (if it isnt already). He's now out of his NON-UNDERSTANDING school and today we went to a pupil refferal unit where he will stay part-time until the school we have chosen for him makes the decision to let him go there. The headmistress seemed very understanding, classes small (6 kids) and small building. I too had thought about home schooling, but after researching and thinking more about it I realised economically I would not be able to afford it and would I really , honestly be able to be with my son 24-7. I have a hard enough time in the holidays! Good luck to you and I hope it works out for you as there is no point in your son being anxious or depressed about school. They are after all supposed to be the "best time of a child's life" as quoted in a magazine article I once read.

Hello Hailey, I too (as Im sure many of us) have 'been there'. Im also on ADs, felt and sometimes continue to feel like a failed mum and I couldnt even get that right! I know in my heart it's not the best way, but sometimes I feel there is no alternative. Everything is an uphill struggle, one thing comes after another, but then there are happy occasions, when the kids have been nice to each other and no one has got cross for part of the day,when theyve tried being helpful around the house or even going to bed on time (even if they arent sleeping!). I am learning not to keep looking at the negative, but when there is little support it is very difficult. Just knowing there are others that feel like me does make it feel better in a strange way. It just makes me feel like im not the only one who cant cope. Im sorry to drone on, but unless someone has been in a persons shoes they wouldnt even begin to know how one is feeling. As for "coward", well I cant write what I think about that comment as it would be unprintable.

Hello. Ive asked our PPS people for help on several occasions. The first time the lady advised me to start the ball rolling with the statementing process as she told me if I left it to the school we could be waiting forever for them to even fill in the relevant information. This is exactly what happened the first time I filled out the SA1 form. On the next occasion I needed support from the PPS was at a governing body disciplinary hearing, when my son got excluded from school for his heightened sensory issues (he covered his mouth and nose with his school sweater when the TA sat close to him after having smoked a cigarette, was told it was rude and not to do it, he refused, was sent to head for disobeying and hurting the TA's feelings when he said her mouth stank), back to the main issue. The PPS guy told me he had the school phoning him and he was told he could not attend to be my advocate. I had to find someone else. It was not until I attended an autism workshop, that had guest speakers, I met the same guy I spoke to on the phone. He told me the head had threatened to call the police if he were to attempt to enter the building to support me. I was flabbergasted! Because, in my eyes he showed the cowards way out and did not attempt to overide her ridiculous decision, I decided I would never bother to ask them for any help or support again. They are also based in the LEA building, Southwark London.

I know how u feel. Mines in the "middle" of being statemented for the second time. He's been excluded from the most non understanding school in the universe (I know, I know there MUST be more) and about to start in a PRU tomorrow. He's extremely anxious and I'm extremely nervous...

Hello all, Im new to this. I too can relate to you. But my thing is you can never do enough. I am on my own, (kids father hasnt been in pic for 7 yrs, he doesnt even know my eldest has AS) have attempted to leave everything several times. Have been on AD's for 6 months now, but it's still ever so difficult. My eldest has been excluded from school 3 times, last time a permanent exclusion. We have to go to the PRU tomorrow to speak to the head there and be shown around. Im dreading it cos after his experiences at his last school with both the kids and staff, my son suffers extremely from anxiety (as I know most of ASD kids/adults do) and he thinks everyone will be the same there. I've tried preparing him all through Easter, but he wont be convinced until he sees it for himself. I hope they are understanding...