bid

Hee hee hee... The last time I heard Greek like that was when I was digging in Makedonia 16 years ago! Happy memories! Bid

So glad for you <'> Take a little time off now to enjoy Christmas! Bid

Kathryn <'> <'> This sounds like really good advice from Lisa. Keep fighting! Bidx

There is a flurry of sparkley spangles and Fairy Godmother#2 sidles onto the stage. She teeters slightly on her Emma Hope silver velvet embroidered kitten-heel mules, and adjusts her big knickers unobtrusively (wot, no thongs??). Her Amanda Wakely(?...it's late, I've been on the gravy...Running Gag 4) silver, bias-cut sateen dress swirls delicately around her shapely ankles, and the strains of 'I'm evryyyyy womaaaannn!' billow forth Cinders, I'll help you get to the ball But it won't really help at all You may get off with Prince Charming But I know something quite alarming When you are clad in just your trousseau Charming will obscure the view so You can't see (and here's some shockers) 'He' has got a pair of... CURTAIN DOWN (Can I just state that this last piece of doggrel had nothing to do with me at all!!!! Thank you Jesty!) The Female Inquisitor

Hi Bevalee, I think Nellie has a very good point...I would worry that he would then 'stick' in this unit. You know you've found the right placement for him at the specialist AS school. If it were me, I would hold out for that. Good luck, Bid

Oooohhh! Fairy Godmother!! I'm so excited ...off to think up a stunning costume for this one! The Female Inquisitor Do Fairy Godmothers wear thongs??!!

You have done a brilliant job in really difficult circumstances Good luck, we're all rooting for you! <'> Bidx

Lisa <'> You have absolutely every right to get DLA for both your children!! If children like ours were in care or had to be fostered because we couldn't look after them, it would cost the tax payer far more than the DLA and Carers that we get!! If you look at the fees for specialist ASD schools they are huge, and a good proportion of that is the care element...again, far more than we get, I bet!! Someone else on the forum said the government get off lightly considering the level of care we give our children...absolutely true! As for people who question us...just let them take over for an hour, never mind 24/7 Rant over! Don't let ignorant people get you down...you are doing a brilliant job! Bid I wonder if you can get an extention for the DLA appeal?

Oh Lisa <'> <'> When we had my son's DLA taken away (long story involving well-meaning social worker and miserable old witch of a Head Teacher...) I appealed. I got every professional I could think of to write in my support, and we did get it back, at the higher rate of personal care, too. This was many years ago, but it would be worth asking for this sort of help. I got letters from the Special Needs Health Visitor and his Consultant. I also got the Head to write a letter 'qualifying' what she had said Do you know if your daughter's school was approached? Our problem was that my son's school was sent a form, and because he is passive at school, the Head filled it in as though he was perfectly OK Good luck...I know how devastating these things are. You have to wonder how some of these people sleep at night... Kindest regards, Bid

We hereby give you the Super Dudette name of 'The Resucitator'!! No job too big, no rodent too flat... The Female Inquisitor

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts! As you may have noticed, he is home for the weekend, with his sense of humour still in good shape! He seems to have had agreat couple of weeks Bid

Just wanted to let you all know that I had the call today to confirm that Auriel has got funding for his extra year at his new school This really is the best Christmas present ever!! Bid

Had an email from Auriel today to say he is 'Pupil of the Week' in his class!! We are so proud of him, not just for this but also for the way he has joined in all the new things at his school Bid

I have PM'd you <'> Bid

Just got an email from Auriel, which read... hulloo it is good Bid

Thank you everyone for all your kind thoughts, and also the lovely PMs I've received <'> I do know how very, very fortunate we are...but leaving Auriel at his new school yesterday evening was one of the hardest things I have ever done But I know that by going there he has got his future back Thank you so much again, Bidx

Well, he went this evening Bid

<'> Helen <'> I'm so sorry to hear this. Bidx

Thanks, Nellie and Tez! I've just heard from the school that he will be going on Sunday evening, to start on Monday, which is just what he wanted. The LEA have been good and said the paperwork can follow him later. I'd better get started with the name tapes!! Bid

Mmmm...I have mixed thoughts on this one. Auriel's mainstream school tried to get an email link going with a LSA to do an ICT course with him. It didn't work, because I think it was too 'nebulous' for him...no concrete contact as it were. Whereas he loved his 1:1 home tuition. Bid

Well, we got back on Thursday evening after Auriel's day-and-night visit to ******** *******. I feel funny posting this after reading all the awful things that have happened since I've been away! The school said he did really well, mixing with the other pupils and joining in the classes. They were really pleased with him. Auriel just loved it. He had a brilliant time! He has already started work on GCSE English, and he did some more stuff for his GCSE Art, and some GCSE Maths which he said was challenging (which is good, as his home tutor says he is a grade A pupil, so the school have obviously taken that in). In the evening he went to the cinema with some of the guys from his residential unit, and rounded off the evening with a Donner Kebab! Today the school is ringing to say which day next week he can start properly! He has been full of things that happened during his visit, and is so excited...he wants to start on Monday!! The care staff were just lovely, and his particular care worker was such a nice guy. I met his Form Tutor, who is also his Maths tutor and his Art tutor...they are just the lovliest teachers you can imagine! I just wish all our children could have this kind of specialist help and teaching Just to stop you all from hating me...when I came to pay for my B&B it turned out that they didn't accept cards, and I only had my credit card and not enough cash!! I ended up having to borrow petty cash from the 6th Form College that we visited on Thursday to pay my bill!!!!!! Oh, the shame! Bid

Hi! to all the new members! You've finally come home here <'> Bid

Kathryn, I have PM'd you. <'> <'> <'> Bidxx

Thanks again, everyone! I think it has been a bit of a team achievement, because without the advice of friends like Helen and Nellie, the support of other 'member-friends' and the sheer generosity of spirit of all the members here...we would never have got this far! You are all a great bunch Bidxx

If you get a chance to read the book, I think it is more implicit that the lad has AS than in the film. I liked the book more, because the film misses out quite a lot...although it is still great! Bid