openyoureyes

thanks for all the comments, I agree with Cat as my son does say that he knows its not real but when he watches anything to do with Aliens or the weather this really scares him where a horror film does not move him at all. Also the agression seems to be taken out of him when he has had a dose of WWE and he always seems a lot calmer once hes watched a few matches. Think I will see how it goes and monitor him more. As to the question where is he buying them, he gets lots from car boots and charity shops as they seem to sell anything to anyone!!!! Oh well, thanks again and Hi Suze hope you are well must catch up with you soon, try and get over to one of our meetings soon would be great to see you again

Well I have not been here for some time, but feeling down and out today, probably the after shock of Christmas. Just a question, my 13yr old aspie son has been obsessive about WWE wrestling for 5 years now (as he pointed out the other day) so much so he sets my mobile alarm (only alarm he trusts) to wake him up in the middle of the night to record it. Its never bothered me before all the violence etc in WWE as he has always said that he knows its not real, however, over the past year he has got more into horror films. I now most teenage boys love horror & death etc and the more goory the better, but I find myself questioning my parent responsiblity. Should I be letting him watch this really terrible films??? will it have an affect on him when he is older??? He is totally obsessed with buying the latest dvd to come out (as he is too young for these films at the cinema) and spends all his paper money each week on them. I counted the other day how many films of wrestling and horror films he has and he has over 200!!!! When I watched a film with him the other night (not very often I can stomach it) I was terrified and he said he dosn;'t know why I get so frighted as its only a film and the outside world is a much scarier place, this did sort of put it into perspective for me, but I want to know other peoples thoughts on this. Are any of there children this obsessed. thanks for listening, made me feel slightly better getting it off my chest

Well I have now written and taken in a letter for the SENCO, just to give them a chance before I steam in with the LEA!! so lets see what happens. If no joy I will contact LEA and state my concerns cheers guys for your help, I am so tired today as not much sleep again last night due to mind mulling over and over, you know what its like

thanks Kathryn You have been a great help tonight, carnt sleep what with the school for the 7yr old and the Aspergers with the 12yr old, not felt like this for ages. Oh well best go and get some sleep otherwise I will feel worse tomorrow thanks again for your support <'> <'>

logged in as myself now, was using hubbies so hi again everyone On his statement it says that his school he is at now and his new school will liase for integration to start as possible. I am really confused as I thought the LEA would be sorting all this out, as it stands I have had to ask his school to get in touch with his new school to sort out integration!!! is this right?? I have just typed a letter to the head master of the new school stating my concerns and that I would like to meet him and the SENCO asap and for Tom to go and at least look round the school before hand, Also that a couple of mornings or afternoons would also help. Can someone put me straight is the LEA supposed to do all this or is it left to the parents? cheers

Hope I have spelt Dyslexia right? my 12yr old son dx Aspie, was wondering how I go about getting him dx with Dyslexia? have mentioned this to the school but a brick wall would have been better. Do you have to pay for this or can you refer yourselves somewhere? cheers guys, I know someone out there will know.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the SENCO at the schools just has the title to earn a bit more money!!!! At a support meeting the other night we discussed the need for at least the SENCO to be clued up on ASD, out SENCO has absolutely no idea, just seems to fob you off with words like "all the work I put in", your not the only parent who has a child with difficulties" etc etc It makes me so mad that these people are given such a huge responsibility with our kids when a lot of them are only doing it for the title, I am sure there are some SENCO's who are excellent and who really care, but upto now I have not met one. Our SENCO comes across as a bit of a bully, at our last meeting it just ended up with him shouting at myself and hubby, saying he would not be threatned!!! (just because we said if nothing was done for our son we would take our case to the governers of the school) he even had me in tears, as if we have not got enough stress in our lives. Oh well, rant over, but if anyone has any ideas how we can get the government to make sure at least one person in the school has some form of education themselves on ASD let me know!!!

got my political head on again go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Autismtraining/sign and sign up for every teacher to be trained in autism, you never know it may happen one day!!!

Just had to share this link with you. I found it very interesting yet very worrying, see what you think http://www.mercola.com/2007/feb/15/shockin...es-for-good.htm hope it works

thanks for that, always wanted to know how to do it

HI all My AS son who is now 12 (going on 23!!) still finds the whole idea of food let alone restaurants really traumatic, so much so, we very rarly take him as its not worth putting him through the stress of it all. He has very high sensitivity to smells so taking him into anywhere with food is a no go area for him. We get by at home as he will eat on his own or he can sit with our youngest ASD son, but apart from that he finds the whole foodie issue a problem. He has always been the same its not just something that has got worse the older he gets (thought he may have grown out of it!!). He tells us that the food stinks and the way people (including us) eat is discusting and it makes him feel sick. When he was younger he did used to shout at people to close there mouths etc, but now he tries to keep this in and will either look at the ceiling or the floor if he is put in that situation. Oh well, we cope with it now but it has been difficult, always think of how your child is feeling in the situation rather than how you think they should be behaving. I love seeing other kids enjoying sitting at the table in a restaurant with there mum and dad, but its not to be so we just get over it, even Christmas day when I would have loved him to sit with us, we all sat round the table with grand parents etc and he just sat in the living room eating on his own. I used to feel quite sorry for him not being able to join in, but in truth he likes his own company when eating anyway. Must go now as he is hovering round the computer, eager to get on it (as usual) bye for now and hope this helps

HI all not been here for a while, but have got my 6yr ASD son's review in 2 week. At the moment he attends a unit school attached to a mainstream in Macclesfield (which is great). When he moves upto Junior school in September the school is changing there policy (or so we are led to believe) to only have children in the catchment area attend the unit/mainstream. My son really no longer needs the unit and is included in mainstream for most subjects. We need therfore to find him a new school in Poynton, Cheshire for next September. Any of you out there know which one is good with ASD?? I have no idea, but obviously I will have to go and visit them all, but what they say at visits is sometimes completely different in practice!!! Any help would be appreciated. thanks

Hi I went along as a helper to the Help programme in our area and I must admit it was really good and I am sure helped all the parents that attended. I think you would be ok to get on with your daughter even aged 13 but best to speak to them direct. But yes its well worth it.

what a brilliant idea about getting parents/carers to bash on Nos 10, I am all for that. Lets make a start NOW. Martin you are definately up for the challenge and good on ya mate. I would definately be interested, and any way I can help let me know email me on ricksimpson@totalise.co.uk I have had enough about authorities SAYING that they are going to help and government SAYING that they will look into causes and help with education etc etc etc etc BUT NOTHINGS HAPPENING. Go for it and I will be there at Nos 10 with you. keep me informed.

HI Hedders both my 2 sons youngest 6 dx asd and 12yrs dx aspergers both copy/immitate, especially the youngest. He copies how his friends speak down to a tee and I know which friend he is being by his actions and voice, hes brilliant at it. In play I believe that both my sons copy other childrens behaviour rather than actually making up play on there own. My youngest said the other day that he likes to play on his own in the playground, when I asked him why he does not play with other children he just said, I like playing on my own, it dosnt' bother me. I get the feeling that there play is too difficult for him to understand therefore playing on his own seems a much better option. Shame really as I would like to think that the teachers at school would help out with this, but he seems happy enough and likes to invite his school friends home, but when he does he either copies them, following exactly what they do or just leaves them and goes to play on his own anyway. I cannot belive that you have been told that ASD children cannot copy, its seems to me that all there play is copied.

isn't it great to see so many others with all variations of Stimming. My As 12yr old flaps, jumps, itches nose, clicks wrists, hits himself, spins on his bum, does a kind of ballet periot in the air, pulls his hair, draws boxes all over his legs and arms (only when in school - bored I think), throws himself around the floor (and the furniture when we are not looking), rolls around the floor when watching tv, all in all he is constantly doing some form of stimming. As Suze says we have just got used to it so don't bat an eyelid now. He does control it more when out of the house (thank goodness). Our 6yr ASD son is not as bad, he just flaps, jumps, rolls around, winks with his left eye, not much else at the moment.

[Good Luck Suze, and tell J we are thinking of him. Hope you have a wonderful day, if tubes a nightmare (which I know Ben hates) then there is always the buses, Ben enjoyed these more than taxis as we sat up top so he could see all the sights. Let us know how you get on LOL

HI I have just applied for my 12yr old AS son, was knocked back the 1st time but then wrote a 10 page week in the life of!!!! I only got to the 3rd day so after 10 pages thought I had better send that off. It worked and within 2 weeks he got lower care and lower mobility, which we are pleased about. Its only when you sit and do a diary that you really see what you go through everyday. Its very difficult to just fill in the form. Remember you can send lots of other information as well as the form so get writing. Good Luck

Hi all I wrote a few weeks ago to say my son 12yrs AS was being put onto School Action rather than School Action+, and over the past few weeks its all I have been able to think about. I have contact PP and they have send me loads of info and also you lot out there had some great pointers. I am going to make an appointment with the SENCO when they go back to school to discuss this and hopefully will be able to take a PP supporter with me. I just need some information on anyone that has been there done it and got the t-shirt. My son has no statement (as they are hard to get now!!), and I really feel that he needs one so the school can get more funding for him and not have to use there own funds. I think this is one of the reasons why they want to move him to school action. To be able to get a statement do I ask for a re-assessment of his needs, and do I direct this question to the school or the LEA or the EP? I am totally confused as to what to do and obviously want the best for Ben. Ben has said that he will also attend the meeting (if they let him) to put his point across, as the SENCO feels that Ben is doing really well, and is well organised etc etc, however, Ben says himself, that in lessons he just shuts down as he is not understanding what he is supposed to be doing. When I told the SENCO this he seemed to think that Ben was understanding and there is no problem. Please help as I am sick of feeling so helpless, especially as its school holidays and I have to wait another couple of weeks till I can get a meeting. thanks

HI Sam Sam our 6yr old is the same, we have just bought some ear defenders from a web site, they are just for kids and he seems to like them. Not tried them out yet, but got them because we are going to Isle of Man to see his beloved steam trains and last time we tried in north wales he just freeked out at the noise, so hopefully these will work web site where I got them is www.safetysupplies.co.uk cost was 20.00 but if they work its money well spent

Hi Madme on the subject of Alton Towers, we went the other week just for the day, remember to go to customer relations just inside the entrance, if you take your statement you will be issued wrist bands so you don;t have to que, it was brilliant, funny looks from other people but who cares, the boys loved it. Have a great time and hope the weather shines

Just thought I would let you all know we tried camping overnight for the 1st time last weekend in North Wales. Both boys were really looking forward it. Set up the tent on a great camp site within walking distance to the beach. Spent all day on the beach and in the sea, it was wonderful. Went back to the beach later on in the evening and lit a fire and had marshmallows and toast. I forgot all about the problems the boys have as they were really great and having a ball. Went back to the tent and got into our sleeping bags, still all really excited and behaving really well. Told some stories and I said to my husband, what a great time the boys were having. From there it went downhill!!! All went to sleep ok then at around 2.30am I was woken up by Ben (12yrs AS) saying that he couldn't sleep because the wind had woken him up. Then Tom (6yrs ASD) also was awake but very quite. Ben asked to swap places and sleep next to his dad which I did. I snuggled upto Tom only to realise he was petrified by the wind, with this hands over his ears whispering for it to stop. The wind then really picked up and Tom was inconsoluble, screaming and probably waking up the whole site. I decided to put the boys in the car to sleep as thought it would be quite there. So we tiptoed out of the tent and put both boys in the car. I told my husband he had better stay in the car with them (don't want them escaping). So I was left in the tent on my own. The wind did not really bother me but lying there on my own in a field under canvas was really spooky, so I too decided I would get in the car. At around 5.30am both my hubby and I had had no sleep so we decided to get up and pack up the tent etc and drive home whilst the boys were still sound asleep. Got the tent and everything else into the car trying not to wake everyone up (again). 6.30am turned the key in the car and yes youve guessed it the car would not start, the engine had got damp from the sea. My husband by this point was about to blow but I calmed him down and said we would have to wait for someone to wake up and help. At last 7am a great bloke came over and sprayed some WD and hooray we set off for home. When I asked the boys would they go camping again they both said yes but not when its windy!!! Oh well, at least it was an experience and to be honest I really enjoyed myself. just thought I would share this with you incase you were thinking about camping.

I thought it was just my son 11yrs who did this because of his age, but thinking about it, hes always done this and now my 6yr old seems to be following. I know the feeling of constantly telling them to put things in the bin, but to no avail!!! I find chocolate wrappers, crisp wrappers and any other wrapper just left where they have eaten it, sometimes when the bin is only behind them. Do you always shout, I'm not the b....y cleaner!!! I know I do, but it still never seems to make a jot of difference. Sometimes I don;t pick them up for a day or two thinking that they will notice, but again, they never do and then it takes me longer. Never mind, nice to see its not only my house that looks like a pig sty Like the cats by the way, we only have 2 and thats enough in our house, along with the fish and guinea pigs. bye for now

thanks so much for your help and support, I really feel strongly that B has more help in Yr8 not less, his report from school said that his organisation was good, however, I wonder how good this would have been if myself and his support teacher did not check his bag every day and remind him what he was doing each day. Some times I wonder whether to let B just go about his business without help for a week to show the school just how much home help he gets, but then this would be very cruel on him. I will defo contact parent partnership and others as you say during the holidays. I too believe that B needs more help in yr8 not less, he really does not seem to be understanding what he is learning and his English teacher did say at his parents evening that he really needs one to one in English, so I cannot believe that the SENCO feels that he requires less support next year. When we asked about getting one to one in English we were more or less turned down and given more English lessons rather than a second language!!! Oh well, at least I know where we are going now, just got to get my head around it and make sure we get what we want this time. thanks again for all your help it means a lot to know there are others out there

Need Help again My son 11yrs came home yesterday (last day of school) with a letter to say they are putting him from School Action Plus to School Action. He will start year 8 in September. I am absolutely fuming over this, typical that they give the letter on the last day of school so I cannot go in a wring there necks. Does this mean that he will get less help next year? his school report was ok on the effort front, A's and B's for effort which is great but his results were appalling in the exams (what we expected really, as I knew he was not taking in much learning all year). Where to I go from here in the school holidays, is there anything I can do whilst the schools are off? I am so sick of having to battle with the school and sick of shouting and seemingly not getting anywhere. I wondered if Parents Partnership could help. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.