Deedee

Hi Mandyque it sounds like she's doing really well you should be very proud ! It leaves such a gaping hole in our lives when our kids are not there doesn't it?? I suppose it's because we are used to it being so full on all the time..I hope she continues to enjoy her time there as it makes it easier for you knowing she's happy <'>

We're still working on the hello and goodbyes too... He's also never waved at anyone although we got a stiff armed little wiggle when he was trying to explain aloha means hello and goodbye which reduced me to tears *I'm such a wuss* Fortunately where we live everyone knows us (not sure wether thats a good thing lol!!!) so they always greet him even though he's been ignoring them for years.Just a simple gesture such as that means a lot..

Hi Witsend our dentist referred my boy to a SN dentist which fortunately is local to us..Its run by our local Primary Care Trust so it may be worth ringing the PCT direct and explaining the situation to them? HTH Dee

I'm so sorry to hear this MrsP our thoughts are with you and all the family Dee XXX

Cor Blimey Bagpuss I've just read this from start to finish.. feeling knackered now and I haven't even lived it like you What a nightmare to have to go through as if you don't have enough stress going on! Keeping everything crossed that its all signed, sealed and delivered at speed for you.

Hmm this is a toughie..my son is unfortunately a hyperactive version of a tazmanian devil with a bit of a tornado thrown in when we have to go out to the shops with him, and now he's 9 he's not exactly small! When he was younger I used to get upset then like many others here developed a really thick skin...then an attitude !! I had a real problem with M doing his disappearing act even when he was being watched he'd leg it so now we have a discreet little tag which fits onto his zipper.I got it from Ebay and its about an inch high and looks like a red stop sign.It says 'Person with Autism may not respond to verbal commands' which for our boy explains him perfectly! On the back there is also space for our mobile numbers just in case!!!! Noone really looks at it unless he is maybe standing right next to them in a queue *or climbing over the counter to get at them* and I see them give it a little glance usually followed by a smile for him and us,for us it works but I know some don't like their kids to wear things like this. He wears it more for our peace of mind as I say 'just in case'

Sounds like you had a lot of fun can't wait to hear all the details

Kinda thank you so much for posting this and to all those who answered its been very helpful to me. My eldest (NT but with so many aspie traits) came home from school this evening and we had a very long talk about just this,how weird is that? Very informative thanks a lot

Sounds like our lot !! I have 29 cousins most of whom have 3 or more kids(one has 6!) and our family has lots of gatherings so its always chaos..but we're used to that

My other 2 boys definately have aspie traits...my Dad is one of 9 and 3 of his brothers are erm...a little eccentric in their ways as he indeed is but in my generation(their kids) none of us are on the spectrum.However in my kids and my cousins kids generation we have so far...5 ADHD,1 Dispraxic,1 Autism and 2 Aspies!!!!(All are boys too..) Mind you we do have rather a lot of cousins etc

WOW she sounds wonderful Karen.Thats really good to hear she's so on the ball It'll be lovely knowing you have that sort of support available to you when Ben goes and by then you'll have got to know each other better so she'll hopefully be just as good with him What great news !!

Thats really good news well done!! I hope he's very happy there

Hi Elefan just to let you know they plan to actually name a school at our meeting on the 3rd and move him NOW!! *where's the fainting icon??* If we get the one we want named we know its 'full' so will be able to advise on the LEA's stance on this then...hopefully!!

Aw Mumble don't get disheartened <'> He may have studies to get finished? Do you have half term in Uni ? Could he have gone home early for a break do you think? I'm sure he'll be back

Right *cracks knuckles* been on the phone to various advisory lines and up to Camhs and in to see SENCO today Apparently it helps if you can 'prove unsuitability for a school suggested by the LEA' especially if you have professionals who are involved with your child backing this up... I have also spoken to PPartnership who threw a couple of likely LEA suggestions at me today..neither of which his pro's or myself agree is suitable.BUT she suggested I visit them all to save time as I can then say at his review I've been there and its unsuitable due to X,Y and Z then his pro's can also add their objections! Elanten this may help you to say 'NO' to any they offer you in place of the one you need.I'm sure you have already got a wealth of evidence together to prove why your choice is the right school. Quite how it works if there is NO suitable provision apart from the properly full school is something I have yet to find out,but believe me I'm trying!! I've found a human rights law that says we have a right to family life *which we don't have at present due to the LEA's incompetance* and an education law that states his needs MUST be met..how that translate into real life when there's no spaces...I will let you know!! Kazzen thanks so much for the info on the independent schools (all our 3 choices are I think!)

Will do Elefan I'm not giving in lightly I know this one would be perfect and even though it's 'full' someone I know has been told they are getting a place there in September in the year M is in .... bit cross to say the least as the school is primarily speech and language disorders and ASD specific,child in question getting the place has no SAL or learning probs but does have ODD ?? I feel I'm getting increasingly bitter towards the LEA at present their placements system seems all wrong.If they(OR the parents!!) are kicking off at school they are placed immediately in a base or special school but often not in the right type of school for their difficulties..whereas if your child is 'placid' at school they have to have a breakdown first before they consider them in need..sorry for the moan just a bit peed off with 'the system' at present,can you tell lol??? I think if the LEA name the school you want on part 4 the school have to prove it would be detrimental to the other kids there if a place were to be given..I have reams of legislation I have to wade through so will let you know if I find any more loopholes!!

Hi Elefan <'> I'm in the same position as you with regards to placement our ideal school is 'full'... I spoke to IPSEA and they advised there are often 3 stages of full... 1/Token statement used if technically numbers are forecasted to be full in the coming term but there is room for tweaking.. 2/Full but if offered extra renumeration space can be found... 3/Absolutely full dangerous for the children already there to increase numbers.. We have a meeting on 3rd March so will ask this same question sorry I can't be of more help immediately but hopefully others will have had this experience and can advise us how things went!!

Thanks Ian thats really interesting and very helpful for our son too

Hi Spats My son also has moderate autism..we were shocked when they said that as we had always thought of him as HF!! He also has a profound speech and language disorder (the SALT insists on having this seperate label so he gets the best therapy for it.) When he was younger *he's now 9* he never spoke at all,then we progressed to 'Russian' I used to call it as it was words but in no particular order. With intensive SALT he is making good progress and now mainly struggles due to his processing of language,that bit's broke so he'll always struggle with it but he's getting better all the time When he is stressed we revert to either Russian or nothing(or Opera singing!!!)..He often just shuts down as his hearing is supersensitive and its usually due to a sensory overload of some sort.We have lurched on in cycles of this for years but he surprises us every day.. We never thought he would learn to read for example as he just doesn't get phonetics,but he is wonderful at visual processing so has learnt by sight reading.We were gobsmacked when he just suddenly read a subtitle from Spongebob word perfect! We always wondered why he put the subtitles on stuff but it seems as he can't process spoken words very well he follows it better when he sees it on screen

After being refused twice I contacted my MP who brought it up at a meeting in the house of commons with the secretary of state for transport !! I emailed a copy of the letter (to the Head of Parking services) which he sent me from said Secretary stating that Autism is considered a valid reason for my son to have a badge,she also stated there was no need for HRMobility as my council stated...I recieved his blue badge in the next post

Are these any good Mumble?? http://www.infolinks.apduk.org/visual_learners.htm

ooh now I would call that progress too thats great news Mumble are you starting to feel a little more comfortable with him now?

Just wanted to say thanks so much to all those who have PM'd to help,it's much appreciated!! We have booked a few viewings now for after half term, so for future reference if anyone reads this and needs a review I may be able to help them as you've all helped me Thankyou!! Dee XX

Hi mumble I think its great!! You've hopefully found someone who accepts you for who you are by the sound of things.I'll be eagerly awaiting his first words too hope all goes well Dee XX

Now did you have to go and remind me its half term...methinks I'll have to dust off my kevlar and peacekeepers uniform this time around