bid

Hi fly62, Welcome to the forum! My son will be 16 this summer. He was diagnosed when he was 7, and also came out of mainstream last year when he was in Year 10. He started at a specialist residential school for AS and HFA in November and is just thriving in this environment He has funding for an extra year at this school, and then we hope he will go on to the associated Special College for AS. PM me if you want to know the name! Where is your son now?? Looking forward to hearing from you! Bid

Hi I agree with Loulou about minutes...the same thing happened to us at a multi-agency meeting when Auriel was little But we were able to challenge the minutes and they were ammended. If one of you possibly can go I would recommend that you do. It's also a really good idea if someone can go with you to take notes, etc. Good luck <'> Bid

Hi Danny, Good places to start looking for a school are the NAS website and Gabbitas...sorry, I've lent my Gabbitas handbook to a friend and I can't remember the website, but I'm sure Nellie will magic it up! Have you talked to your LEA's Out of County Placements Officer? Our's was very helpful, providing me with names of schools to look at. It's awful to have all this responsibility, I know <'> I just worked my way methodically through the NAS list, and suggestions from the LEA. I found that by ringing the school I was soon able to find out if it was suitable, then I could ask for a prospectus. In the end I only visited 3. Good luck, and let us know how you get on. Bid

Hi Tina, So sorry this has happened to your son...it must have been very upsetting <'> This is not good enough, but hopefully it was carelessness, and the school will be mortified when you tell them. Good luck, Bid

i notice no difference

Hi It really sounds as though things are coming together for you I just can't imagine that the LEA will go to Tribunal with this...just keep your nerve for a little while longer! Same LEA...our EP's report forms the basis of my son's whole Statement, so to have the EP on board is great! You could try writing to the DOE again...recent developments might focus his mind somewhat! Keep strong, and don't let the b******s get away with it...just imagine the satisfaction when a certain LEA employee (I'm mentioning no names!!) has to let you know that the LEA has caved in We're all behind you! Bidxx

<'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> Kathryn, I've sent you a PM... Bidxx

Hi to all the new dudes!! Bid

My son is older and at a Special School, so I'm afraid I can't really give you any advice, just lots of <'> <'> <'> I'm so sorry you are feeling so down and that everything is such a battle. There is sure to be someone along soon who will be more help Take care, Bid

YES!!!! That is just so brilliant I'm so chuffed for you both...well done! Bid

Hi Loulou, My son was put on Ritalin when he was 8 by the specialist centre we have spoken about via PMs. It was introduced in conjunction with a very intensive behavioural therapy programme, with a Child Psychologist visiting us at home to work with us. This Intervention Programme cost the Health Service several thousand pounds I believe, and when the prescribed number of visits were finished we were referred on to a specialist at CAMHS who continued to work with us. We carried on the therapy for many years, adapting it as my son got older. When he was 14 he decided he didn't want to take Ritalin anymore, and he came off it with no return of his extremely hyperactive behaviour. It might be worth asking if you could have some kind of behavioural therapy to use with the Ritalin. For my son it seemed to give him the 'mental breathing space' to take in the therapy that he wasn't able to access before. It's hard, I know, and last summer we took the difficult decision to take him off Sertraline as we felt it was not helping him at all. There were no adverse side effects, and now he is in a specialist environment he is doing so well without any meds. I'm so glad I listened to my instincts over this. Good luck, Bid

Hi Viper <'> You could try contacting your son's consultant or the people who diagnosed him to back you up with written evidence on this issue. They will be aware that it is nothing to do with you! My AS eldest was clean and dry very young, but my youngest (waiting for Child Development Check) was well over 3 before I got him out of nappies and at coming up for 4 still wears them at night. He just would not do anything on the loo...you can make a child sit there, but there is no way you can make them produce anything! His record was 12 hours without a nappy, refusing to go Then just when I was in despair, he suddenly did it...so there is hope <'> Good luck, and it is not 'you'!! Try and get as much written stuff as possible from his consultant/EP, etc before trying for a statement ...LEAs in my experience only listen to them, not us parents Bid

Excellent news! I bet you will be amazed at the progress your son will make once he is in the right environment. Bid

Welcome to all the new members! This is just the best place for friendly advice and support. Bid

This is a difficult issue. My son was on different meds from the age of 8 until he was 15...essentially I now believe to 'enable' him to muddle through in mainstream. Even with heavy duty meds he finally had a complete breakdown and came out of school. During the 6 months he was at home we made the difficult decision to take him off all medication. He is now at a specialist residential school for AS, achieving and very happy...and still on no meds. It makes me extremely sad, and angry, because I believe my son was given these meds to make him 'cope'. Now that he is in the right environment he doesn't need them. But I am equally angry that we have just been fortunate enough to get this school place. For reasons that I still don't understand our LEA gave him this support while other youngsters in the same LEA in near identical situations have got nothing. It is an absolute lottery, and I feel we are often put in a position where we feel medication is the only option...simply because we can't get the right provision for our children I now wish I had fought harder when he was younger to get the right provision, rather than accepting the advice of the(well-meaning and caring) professionals who saw medication as the only option. Bid I really hope I haven't upset or offended anyone by this post. I am just talking about our situation, not making any judgements about anyone else

Wow, I didn't realise whole LEAs get Ofsteded! Serve them right if they get knobbled! Bid

Auriel Update! I'm so proud! After just 4 weeks at his new school, Auriel has already completed the first module of his GNVQ in ICT! He had his exam on Monday. His is also now doing a full range of GCSEs, to be taken this summer and next summer. Bid

Oh Beverley <'> <'> I'm so sorry. What if there aren't any specialist day placements in your area? Everything I can think of to say seems totally inadequate <'> Thinking of you and Ryan, Bidxx

After thinking about this issue it seems to me to be more discrimination, in the sense that Autistics are being denied ownership of Autism. In other words, the 'experts' decide who is 'allowed' to be 'Autistic'. It is more of the same refusal to listen by the professionals. Bid

That is just the best news!! Going to a specialist school has been wonderful for my son. Congratulations! Bid

Welcome to the forum Adam You will find that there is loads of excellent advice and support here! My son is 15, and was diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD and Dyspraxia when he was 7. He started at a specialist residential school for AS just before Christmas, and it has been like a dream come true for him. He is finally happy. Keep on posting! Bid

Hi As far as homework goes, my son (15) always believed school work was for school, home for relaxing! At his specialist residential school for Aspergers they do not have homework. There is a 20 minute slot at the end of the day to 'finish off' any work, but that is it. The evenings are full of activities to develop social skills, confidence and self-esteem. So that SENCO is just displaying her ignorance! I just wish every youngster with AS had the option of going to a specialist placement, perhaps a Base attached to a mainstream school. Bid

Everything crossed for Friday! I know what you are going through, as we were in the same situation in the Autumn <'> Good luck, Bid

That's brilliant news, Pooks! <'> Bid

You know you are morally and legally in the right! Don't give them the satisfaction of giving up now!! We are all supporting you <'> Bidxx