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Nellie is right the school should be doing something about this. No way would my child go to a school for five years just so that they could get a GCSE in Science - for goodness sake he could do that at home - loads of Home Educated children do them every year and pass them to. I am not suggesting you HE just pointing out that there is more to school than exams. The school could at least try to solve the problem. It does appear to become more obvious as our children become older and more aware. Already Matthew aged 9 is begining to understand that he does ot quite fit in and he does not even go to school. I know that it would get much worse if he was in school so I am truly pleased that he will not have the constant reminder of his difference every single day - it's so hard <'> Oracle

Dennis Debbaudt is a brilliant guy he came to speak in Sunderland once - I drew the short straw and had to stay home - hubby says he us amazing. Oracle

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It should not be included in the next newsletter it should be an official letter to all parents so parents understand that the school means business. When I was COG at Matthew's school this happened on one occasion and the Head actually involved the LEA at once because he said that parents must never think that they can do this within the school grounds. On another occasion a woman grabbed hold of a child who was kicking a ball and the Head had her excluded from entering the school grounds even with her own child. The LEA supported his decision.This may sound shocking but the parents all knew where they stood. This man sounds awful and no way should he get away with accosting - because that is what he did - a four year old. Oracle

That's so long as you don't mind a long wait or being seen by someone with no ASD specialism. Oracle

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Adam has kindly given me permission to post this here. I thought it was quite timely given a recent discussion here. Oracle Did anyone catch the recent news story about a couple in Hampden Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, who allege in a federal lawsuit against their local School District that their son, who has Asperger's syndrome, was repeatedly bullied and harassed by students and teachers from 1998 to earlier this year? The lawsuit describes the 14-year-old boy, who can't be named because he is a minor, as "a strikingly handsome young man, talented with a brilliant mind, particularly in the area of maths." The suit says that fellow students taunted and humiliated him, ransacked his backpack, took his school supplies, stole his lunch box, covered the back of his head with spit and filled the hood of his jacket with spit balls and paper and, because some of his peers threatened to break into his house at night and steal things from his room, he slept with the lights on for a year. To escape the abuse, he hid under his desk in the classroom and spent an "inordinate amount of time in the bathroom," the suit states. The parents claim that his teachers were unfamiliar with Asperger's, punished him for behaviour associated with the disorder and sometimes physically restrained him. An aide restrained him once to remove from his pocket a caterpillar that he claimed was his "only friend," according to the lawsuit. Does all this sound familiar to anyone out there? Best wishes, Adam Feinstein

Paula is in court tomorrow to see if they are going to try and take her children off her tomorrow is a BIG day for her. Oracle

No matter who it is to can we all say a prayer for Paula tonight. There but for the grace of whoever go may of us here. If you read this Paula there is nothing left to say so <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> Oracle

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Been there - still going - done that - will do it again -and will continue to wear the T shirt. Hope Martyn gets a result. Oracle

Martyn I have been having a go now for 6 years. Had 6000 parents sign up in support of changing things. My husband did a 2500 miles tour of the UK in 2002 to support our 'Call for Action' We bash on the doors of the powers that be - have even been let in. Speak to these bods on an almost daily basis. Apply pressure until it hurts - are again engaged with these bods re MSBP and related issues - will it change - I doubt it. What is needed is 6000 parents to arrive at Downing Street and to refuse to move and they need to do this every week until they actually do something. 6 years on I am battered and bruised have a HUGE following of parents and do not give up. It is a human rights issue in my opinion try and find someone to make it one though? Good Luck Oracle

Smiley no mater how long it takes get an appointment to see your GP. It could be many things - for example your thyroid could be out of sync. Most of your symptoms could be mine - really - and they have ruled out all sort including thyroid and now I am awaiting the results of an EEG begore they move on to look for things like MS. My sick feeling is down the right hand side of my head and I know just what you mean because I get migrane to. I drag my right leg most days now and my words either come out backwards or I just can't remember them. Thyroid can do this to you but they have ruled that out with me. It could even be a trapped nerve - buy hey we are not medics are we? Go and see someone who is!!!!! <'> Oracle

fiorelli, <'> <'> It's 30 years today since my Nan died and I have been thinking about her all day. She loved a good party so maybe she is with your FIL. Oracle

Changing your name may not change the way you feel inside. If you have been reading here then you will have read the posts from someone else who has AS and moved to Australia and it's not quite working out the way it was meant to. Sometimes the reality does not live up to the dream sadly. You can have your clean slate and still be you I believe but then we are all different. Oracle

Adam told me today that there are 64 papers but they are not all printed on the front page of the conference. If you go into the Conference and into the sub headers you will find many more there. Hope this helps Oracle

Thanks Kathryn for the link can you tell I am sleep deprived It's a throat virus and high temp and he feels pretty grim at the moment Oracle

Most of the papers are already available to read at Awares now. Just spent a mind blowing two hours reading in between seeing to youngest who is poorly at the moment. Oracle

Four things spring to mind. 1. You could ask your Consultant to write to CAMHS again saying that this is now at crisis point. The word crisis is the buzz word. You need crisis intervention along with the school. 2. School writes to CAMHS and says that they are also at crisis point and need help and intervention now not in six months time. 3. Ring CAMHS yourself and tell them you are at crisis point with this - have a good cry on the phone. I know that I now sound like my usual broken record but the word that needs to be hammered home here is crisis. It's not my buzz word it come from the Government. The things is they are supposed to act before it goes that far. Crying often works isn't this dreaful what you need to do to get the help you need. The other option, and one that works here, is that you go to CAMHS with your son and refuse to move until someone sees you. We have had parents do this on quite a few occassions and while they may not have been seen on that day they have all walked out with an appointment to be seen within a few days. Desperate times sometimes take desperate measures I am afraid. Oracle

Both of mine operate on what I call a trip switch and you never know when the switch is going to trip There were times when Matt was younger when I was convinced that he actually gained pleasure from hurting things - including people. That really did worry me. David also has rages and flies off the handle for no reason but I think what you are describing goes one step further than where my two ever go. What is your CAMHS like? Do they have an ASD specialist team. If not then I would seek out someone who is and ask to see them. Don't let anyone who does not really know there stuff add to his dx - eg mood disorder (never heard of this one before and that worries me) I don't know where you live but there must be someone who can help you? As you say he is only 5 and he will get bigger and stronger. We had the knives bit with David but he was 14 plus when this happened and going through puberty. It appears that he has no fear even of doing things to himself - you have to take that seriously. Oracle

You are her Mum not her punch bag. There is no excuse for violence. Is she upset with herself after the event? May I ask how old she is? Puberty can be hell and yes we had the knife threats and holes in the wall but not physical violence but it came close. Make someone listen to you are there any awareness/anger management groups specifically aimed at young people with ASD near you - probably a ###### stupid question but some Authorities do have these. SS should be offering help. Is there anyone that can help you access the support you need. Sorry to ask so many questions I know that you basically came here to sound off <'> <'> <'> Oracle

If nothing else it will be on record that the police were involved an will have a record of the incident. Let's hope it never happens again but just incase it does the police will know. Oracle