kirstie

What a breath of fresh air to know a teacher is doing what they can to help their AS pupil. My son is due to start a language and communication unit after summer so i'm pretty new on the School side of things. I would just say the same as the other guys, just listen. Theres some fantastic books around too for you to swot up on. I hope all goes well and that you let us know how you get on. Take care, Love Kirstie.

Hi all, Lewis has always been a prolific swearer i'm sorry to say! Unfortunatley he is only 5 and it rolls out of his mouth, particularly when he's upset or frustrated. I have tried everything but his temper gets the better of him. I started intensive behavioural therapy sessions at the start of the year because he was completely off the scale with his temper and i just couldn't cope with it any longer. I was too embarressed to take him anywhere. I had my reservations that any of it would work but i have to say i am so proud of how well hes responded. He will sit at task for an hour or more, will do nice asking, good sharing and accept that he WILL sit in his time out chair should the need arise. We had to do it all bit by bit and it was HARD work initially but he has his behaviour chart (10 smiley faces = a comic) and his time out chair (I love that chair!) and i decided to start using it for the swearing too. (And enlisting the help of Nursery, swimming teacher family should an expletive slip) I have to say he knows i mean business and i can actually see him stop hikmself from swearing. So he is learning self control. I'm not saying that the odd word doesn't still slip out especially if he's losing the plot but he's come on so well. I hope that helps even a little bit, i know how hard it can be. Love Kirstie.

<'> I'm with everyone else here missus!!!! Don't you go anywhere! I really hope your getting your head around things and taking all the time you need before coming back to us. You are so valued by me, and everyone else here. This forum has been a godsend to me and i thank each and every one of you for that. As Lil me said (really can't do the quotey thingy) all of our children are special and they all have differing needs, please don't feel alone. Will be thinking of you, Love Kirstie.

Lewis loves Cartoon Network and has 'adopted' some of the characters as his very own imaginary friends! It's great, we have to put seat belts on them, pull their chair out at the table and the like, but don't ask Lewis what they'd like for tea, because out will come, "They can't eat Mum, they're not real!" He has also discovered Jetix lately and loves Monkey business, which is on early in the morning.

I'm so glad it's not just me!!!! I was thinking folk must talk about me, cos i'm logged in for days at a time!! Pretty nifty how we just 'disappear' after an hour!! Baddad.......... What are we to do with you???? Take care, Love Kirstie.

Aw Bid, How wonderful! You must be bursting with pride. I love hearing about it when our amazing kids do well! Auriels school sounds great. HUGE big hugs to you both. (PS How're you doing just now Bid? iKnow you've been having a tough time of it. Just wanted you to know im thinking of you ) Love Kirstie.

Asereht, I'm sorry you're having a tough time of it. I know it's easier said than done, but try not to be too hard on yourself. We have all done it when we've been under extreme stress.We are, after all only human and as parents of children on the spectrum our limits get stretched on a regular basis. I hope your Psychologist can help out in some way, i know how draining the violent rages, lack of sleep etc are. Im sending you a huge big <'> and don't beat yourself up you're doing a graet job. Take care, Love Kirstie.

My eldest is James, But heaven forbid i call him that. Its Jamie because James is SOOOOOOO embarresing......Well, he is nearly 13!!! He isn't on the spectrum, thats his little brother Lewis!

Hey Guess what, We've only gone and done it!!!!!!!!!!!! Lewis was extremely phobic of the hairdressers for almost 2 years now, after the last Barber told him, "Stay still now, or i might cut your ear off..." with a snigger thinking he was being hilarious .... As you can all no doubt imagine this sent my son, coupled with the sensory thing to boot into total meltdown, and needless to say has never gone near a Barber since (the poor mite made me hide the scissors that day!! ) well, i bought him a little power ranger action figure thingy today, a little blackmail you understand , as he was due to visit his new language unit and i wanted him to co-operate. I slipped in the "Why don't we go for a haircut first and then you can open your present?" to my utter astonishment he agreed!!!!! He did talk incesantly about teradactyls and the like and said his tummy felt funny but he was a little star and voila, we have found Lewis under all of that hair ( Am no good at cutting hair while he's asleep i have to say!!) I just had to share it with you all as i didn't think he would ever darken the door of another Barbers shop again! Take care Love Kirstie.

Yes i too thought Eugene is an Aspie. I really felt it for him when he was in the diary room in tears explaining how he is naturally geeky and hopes he doesn't run out of things to say! I am worried though that the others will be mean to him as he is a very sweet guy. I just get the feeling as every year passes with BB its more about the freak show factor and i hope to god they haven't put him in there to exploit his sweet, and different nature. I wondre sometimes when i got so cynical?!! But i think you guys will relate..... Take care, Love Kirstie.

Hmmm Lewis' fave colour at the moment is Black! Dunno if this is a Darth Vader thing or not. But i would also say he is rather morbid!

Hi Guys, I just wanted to share with all of you our fabby news! After the visits in November to all of the language units (within the mainstream primary schools) and the emotional battering we took we decided on a particular unit for our Lewis. Well, i say decided, rather the one i was hell bent on getting him into!! We had to make a placing request as it is outwith our catchment area (Its never simple is it?!) And FINALLY we heard this week that Lewis has been offered a place there. I know it will be fantastic for him. There won't be as many triggers for his behaviours there as a pose to his mainstream nursery where its packed to the gunnels with children and the staff have found themselves out of their depth at times. In recent months he has made massive strides forward with the support and intervention of the multi disciplinary education department called SPECTRUM. They are there for the early intervention and are expanding so that when the kids do move on be it mainstream school or not they will keep visiting them at school, which is excellent. The staff have done intensive work with Lewis with amazing results. He's learning self control, and educationally he's doing Primary school work! I don't know where we would be right now if i hadn't fought for all of these people to be involved, or indeed like some parents, didn't have the diagnosis for many years. I know where i was a year ago.........on my knees, begging for help. It just goes to show, you have to have thick skin and a bit of a gob, but for us it has paid of tenfold.Things are looking up, and without the wonderful advice and support on this forum i would still be scratching my head (or tearing my hair out) Thank guys you're all amazing!! <'> take care, Love Kirstie.

I was really shocked to hear your boy had been prescribed Temazepam. I know that a lot of the 'pams' are highly addictive and have seen the effects of withdrawls (on an adult) Intrestingly this person is quite a manic hyper sort and the particular 'pam' had the reverse effect on her, which led to her abusing it and practically overdosing at times, hence the addiction. Sorry, i know thats probably too much information, but please be very careful!!

Lewis's nickname is rent-a-gob! Once hes in the mood to talk thats it he rabbits on and on and you catch the odd snippet where you know what it is hes talking about but other than that we just let him carry on. He finds himself very amusing sometimes!! He also does the same with his PS2 with all of the sound effects and animal noises, we just chuckle to ourselves when we hear him but sometimes he will launch into phrases hes heard from TV or cartoons full pelt with sound effects and funny facial expressions on the bus, somewhat embarresing! still, he finds it really funny so i shouldn't complain really. His latest is his imaginary friend Jimmy. He chats to him and has him sat next to him when hes eating or doing basket work and he wears pink pyjamas and has hair like a rooster i'm told (i think hes a cartoon character personally) and everyone indulges him. Its only when you'll say, "would Jimmy like to have a bath too?" Lewis will say "No Mum he's not real" Take care all, Love Kirst

Thats graet Drift!! No wonder you're walking on air right now. Thats fantastic having such an understanding GP. I hope your little guy is feeling a lot more chilled out too. Love Kirstie.

My God, what sort of people are in charge of making such policies?! Who are these people?!! I bet the child (and every other who has suffered this horrific abuse at the hand of these animals) was completely traumatised. Poor baby, i am so close to tears just thinking about it. It frightens me so much, my boy is due to start all of the transitional visits etc when he starts his Unit. Up here in Edinburgh (I'm unsure of techniques used elsewhere) the teachers are trained in CALMS. My Mums cousin works in a special school and shes shown me one or two of the techniques they use and are trained in. I felt it was more caring and comforting way of calming the child without being too invasive, so i felt quite relieved at that, but this just knocks the wind out of you........ I hope you nail the rotten pigs, keep us posted. Love Kirstie.

Thank you for that, Isn't it lovely?! it does sound like Lewis too. You have wings??! how cool are you! And thank you for keeping that one clean am eating my chinese right now!!!!! Love K.

Thanks Badders, I think i will just have to give it a bash with the blood tests.his SALT is great when i need her to knock me up a social story so i might give that a go too! As for the dairy foods, well it does ring alarm bells with me, although my young man doesn't eat too much he does drink vast amounts of milk. You know i think the landing light has just come on!!!!!! duh! Lewis was so sick as a baby always the projectile vomiting, i wish i had had him tested long ago. Looks like some magic cream a social story and more kleenex is the order of the day! Take care, Love Kirstie. p.s- erm, may i ask you something? Half butterfly half donkey????????????!!

Hi all, Lewis's OT asked me if i had anything like an old gillet type thing as she was going to experiment with putting something in the seams at the bottom to weigh it down.She also suggested that i fill a kiddie rucksack with bits n bobs and let him wear it as the deep pressure on the shoulders is quite calming for him, even letting him wear it while doing tasks/basket work. I did this but the nursery complained that it can't be one rule for one and another for the rest hmph (don't ask, they still think his refusal to wear his coat outside is his own difficulty and refusal to comply with nursery rules ) Lewis's OT has suggested loads of games to like the roly poly one in a blanket etc. These weighted blankets etc seem so expensive! Lycra tops (like the cycling tops or the swim outfits) was another suggestion she gave me! Hope this helps. Take care, Love Kirstie.

Hi Loulou, Thanks for the suggestion of spatone.Lewis is permanantly pasty faced and terrified of needles too! He also has big dark circles under his eyes (lack of sleep maybe?!) I spoke with a clinical psychologist lately and he said he wanted to do some tests to see if Lewis is deficient in Iron and other minerals as they can have a huge impact on behaviours if he is. Its got to be worth a try but as for the blood test i dont know if i can put him through it as he is totally terrified.Lewisis to have skin urine hair and bloods done. I will let you know how it goes. Good to hear this spatone has no effect on the constipation as Lewis was born constipated!!! Thanks guys, Take care Kirstie

Hi Carol, I haven't heard of scorg but am interested to know about it! Will have to ask around. I have heard of the PAG (Professional Assessment Group) where a group of professionals from Health and education departments and a few others (parents maybe?) meet in February to assess all of the applications for Special Schools and Language Units and decide where would best meet the individual childs needs. Taking into account all of the reports from anyone involved with the child and the parents views and choices. I am myself waiting to hear where my son will go after the summer. I hope that helps but if you hear anything else i'd be keen to hear about it. I'm really sorry to hear your boy is having it so tough. It is so heartbreaking isn't it. It makes me so mad to think that our kids suffer needlessley. Keep us posted and i wish you all the luck in the world, and loads of these to your son <'> and to you too. Take care, Kirstie.

That is excellent news Loulou!! Well done. Its so refreshing to hear that things are working out for people. How is Kai feeling about it all? How exciting . I wish you all the best and keep us posted as to how he gets on. Wicked news!!! Take Care, Kirstie. P.s i have kind of nicked your Sons name for my baby if he's a boy, hope you don't mind, but i love it!!

Thanks Nellie, I am going to print it off and give it to Lewis's learning support assistant at Nursery who has very little knowledge on ASD's . I have given her a couple of books to read so i know she is keen to learn. Kirstie.

Brilliant. It is inspiring to know that it really does work out! I dunno, i bet you look very fetching in your white lab coat, oooh er missus! Let us know how you both get on! Take care, Kirstie.

Here i am, late as ever to say i think it's really brilliant that all is going well for you guys. It must make such a difference to you Auriel. I'm glad you're enjoying it. and pupil of the week no less how excellent!! This is what i hope for when my son starts school later in the year, to enjoy his school career. hows the book coming along? Keep us posted. Take care kirstie.