openyoureyes

HI Bid thanks for that, my son has not got a statement but is on school action plus, so does this still apply?

Scary isn't it, I read this article the other day and I am sure there is something in it? will get the book soon

there brilliant, anymore????

Hi everyone Not experiences this before but my 11yr old AS is about to have his 1st exams at the high school. Should he automatically be given more time over the papers? or do I have to ask for it. Nothing has been said at the school so I presume he is just going to have to sit with the others and have the same amount of allocated time. Any advice

HI Cillathefish Well, nail cutting, whats that???? I have 2 ASD sons the youngest is 6 and nail cutting (let alone hair cutting) is a nightmare. The only way I have achieved this is either sitting on him (not very good) or I have been able to make a game at bath times. I show him exactly what I am going to do then have a go, if he lets me then I make a big fuss and show him what I have cut from his 1st finger and ask will he let me do another, still not easy but seems that if he knows and can see the result he feels better, he still screames the place down (don't know what the neighbours must think)

yes it looks like the AlphaSmart, but how does it work? I have never actually seen one in the flesh "so to speak". Would this help him in the classroom and how?? if anyone knows I would really appreciate it, also does anyone know where you can see one in action?? thanks

Hi all Had a conversation with a lady yesterday and my son 11yrs is struggling with litracy at school, she asked if he a Smart Board. Obviously he has not, could anyone tell me what they do and where I could go and see one in action? or any web site that has details thanks

thanks for all your nice comments, nice to know I am doing something right!!!!! Went for my 6yr review today, thought I was going to be up for a battle but was quite surprised the school is on our side. As you are probably aware the government are rolling our there "inclusion for schools" prgramme from September 2007 therefore our son will move from the ASD unit he is at in Macclesfield to the ASD unit at the choosen school in Poynton, they don';t know which one yet. So lets just see how that goes!!!!! as long as the staff are on board!!!!!!!!! fingers crossed got to go as my hubby has dinner ready - yum yum

Just received a poem from a friend and it reminded me of a poem I did some time ago when we found our son had ASD just thought I would share this with you - what do you think? A Poem written by a Mother through the eyes of her 4 year old son who suffers with Autistic Spectrum Disorder MY WORLD My World is Great, Energetic and Exciting Sometimes I Fear its Confusing and Frightening My World is Organised, Routine is a must Sometimes people don?t understand me, I need people I can trust My World is like a Beautiful Summers Day But when the Sun goes in it becomes Cloudy and Grey I don?t understand Change and Your World moves so fast Give me a little time so I can adjust My World is full of friends and people I see But I love being on my own contented and ME I can speak very clearly and can hear just as well I just need time to work out the things that you tell My World is different without communication So when speaking to me don?t expect a conversation I don?t understand what you are trying to say I may just ignore you and go out and play My World is best when I know what I?m doing I need guide lines to know exactly where I?m going Its? hard to conform when you don?t understand It?s My World, I love it, but need your helping hand. Written by Cheryl Simpson Hope you are all well and smiling

Well said Suze, everyone should have an opinion, isn't this what this site is about, saying what you feel? ps - your up early!!!!!!!

Hi all I live in Poynton, Cheshire and some months ago along with some friends we set up a parents/carers support group in Macclesfield. As the tragic news unfolded of Alison and Ryan Davies my heart went out to all those parents/carers who suffer the day to day battle to get help and support for not only them but for their children who suffer with ASD, ADHD etc etc etc. Our group meets up on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Boarhound Public house in Macclesfield at 7.30pm for around 2 hours. Just being able to talk to other people about our struggles and get advice from people who experience 24/7 what its like living with an autistic child/adult certainly helps. We occasionally have speakers and the 1st one was a lady who came to talk to the group about "STRESS". Even though we all get stressed about the usual day to day things it did seem that the group on the whole were hiding their feelings until the lady asked us to write down what we really feel like and what brings on the stress. One lady from the group wrote loads, and they all related to a depressive state, ie she felt depressed, stressed, useless, out of control, etc etc. This lady attends the group regularly and up until then I had no idea she had these feelings and in the past we all sit around the table smiling and chatting. Its not till you really ask the right questions that people really open up. I think that Social Services try to give help to some lucky people but they never ask that vital question, not just how are you coping? because your answer will always mostly be "OK" but the question needs to worded better. I went to the doctors last year with a thoat infection and felt really down. When the doctor sorted out the throat infection diagnosis, she then asked was everything else OK, I of course replied "yes", but then she asked me, are you sure as you seem a bit down. This opened the flood gates, I sat a cried my eyes out as this question made me immediatly think, NO, I'M NOT ALRIGHT. She was great and we talked about all sorts and that the underlying problem was that I felt so alone and needed just someone to talk too who really understood how I felt about the whole Autism thing and how to try and cope. Its ok to cry but sometimes you need someone to cry with. I came out of the doctors determined to help other people who felt the same way. This site is excellent to have a good old moan and the more people who know its hear the better. I have already picked up some great ideas from the site and will now be visiting every day - thanks Suze Should any of you live in East Cheshire please try and attend our group as its a great place to meet people in the same boat and chat, we also arrange days out for the whole family, the next one being on Sunday 15th May at Tatton Park if you are interested email me at info.space@hotmail.com we would love to see more members. thanks for all your time in reading this and lets hope that the death of Alison and Ryan does not just fade away, we must be positive and think of anything that will highlight our plight as parents to do the best by our children and get the help they need without having to fight all the time with schools, social services etc if we all pull together life can and will get better. When I heard about this tradgerdy I got onto Radio 5 Live, then the BBC rang me up, then our local newspaper wanted to write a piece, so if we all got intouch with the media I am sure we could get more publicity about the appauling help we receive - go on get out there and SHOUT

I was listening to a song the other day and thought all the words were truly what my kids must feel "its a mad world" cannot remember who its by but its been done recently by someone? I just thought the words said it all, think this should be the NAS song Had a sleep over last night with my kids and 2 friends so this morning I am on the ceiling, one of the boys decided to undo our bean bag and now I have snow all over the lounge (polystirine to be correct but cannot spell it!!!) oh well, hoover out, kids upstairs before I turn it on keep smiling

Hi everyone 1st time here got your info from Suze who says this site is excellent. I was the lady who spoke about the terrible news of Alison and Ryan on Radio 5 live and BBC north west. Cannot wait to have more time to read the mails and get involved bye for now