elainem

lady with 4 ds - 2 had measles when young and no effects and the 2 younger boys had MMR - both suffered a severe reaction immediately after and both now have autism and serious bowel disorder. no-one will admit MMR caused. Fiona Phillips had a bit of an argument with Dr Hillary because he berated her for saying she has not given her kids MMR - told her it was not right that she should say that (assume he meant as on live TV) and argued with him. I think it was on because of the latest report saying their is no link. Only a very short article in the prog but quite interesting. Elaine

on now Elaine

Hi Viper, really pleased for you that it's all over. I know you must be furious about the head but I was thinking the same as Malika, do you think it is worth the stress complaining about the head. Just a thought, but I know sometimes you have to pull back and choose your battles. Best wishes with whatever you decide. Elaine x

My twin sons are 5 M is ASD J is NT (but keeping an eye on him) Elaine

Waccoe, I just remembered another exercise that OT gave us for better handwriting, have to say had forgotten myself to use it but will start now! so many bloomin things to remember Anyhow, she suggested the child lies on the floor to write and as their arm is resting on the floor this foreces them to write with just their hand rather than whole arm. My ds does write with whole arm and that is why control is poor. Also, we use a sloping board at school. Zemanski, I wll def be using some of your ideas, thanks. Elaine

well done to you, really pleased to hear everything worked out for you. Thank you for sharing. Elaine

The NHS have targets for referral times Hi Jaded, re the above statement, try as I might I cannot find out the above information and our waiting list is 2.5 years - do you know where I might be able to get hold of the standard. Thanks in advance. (sorry to hijack your thread Waccoe) Elaine

hi sorry this is quick, very busy twin birthday morning! one of my twins age 5 has dx of ASD but he is also v. dyspraxic. he has extremely poor pencil grip and find motor skills. we had a private o/t assessment has waiting list here is 2.5 years. however we have also asked the NHS to fund the private therapy, they cosidered and said no - but they have asked the OT NHS team to do an assessment on M - might not lead to therapy any earlier, but who knows. The private OT is not cheap - assessment was �350 and each hour consultation �75 so we are having only limited therapy. we have a programme we do at home. we are also going to be using a handwriting programme called handwriting without tears - LEA have funded this and in-service training for the TA by the OT so pleased about that. We are doing some basic handwriting exercises as part of the therapy - to develop pencil grip, strengthen finger muscles, and pencil group. have been seeing some small improvments. If you want me to tell you the exrecises let me know. Def see your GP for a referall, ask what the waiting time is. If you can afford it and waiting time to long go for private as these early years are important - I heard it's important to have intervention before age 7? sorry if long and waffly. email me if you want to. Elaine

a drama series starring Alan Davies (jonanthan Creek) as a defence lawyer. The defendant on Friday is a boy with AS. Elaine

Hello Dobbie, Just out of interest my ds has dx of ASD and he has excellent imaginative skills. His good role playing skills are singled out in the Ed Psychs report. He is nearly 5 and in mainstream with support about to comence. He also has severe dyspraxia. Does your ds have a statement? Elaine

Hi, <'> <'> sorry you are not feeling good at the moment. I have had many periods of feeling down and also have taken prozac. My worst times were when we had no diagnosis. Things are a little better since then and also things are quite settled at the moment. But I know it can't last so bracing myself! I also drink a lot of wine Elaine

Hi, just a thought - does your ds have a statement specifiing a modified curriculum. If so then his homework shoud be differentiated accordingly too. If he doesn't have a modified curriculum may you could consider thinking about asking school. It seems very unfair to get him to learn 50 words a week if he can't yet read. Elaine

Hi Suze, <'> <'> so sorry this is happening. Don't really have any advice just I know what other kids are like and I can see this happening with my little one who is in Reception. The older boys and girls come over and mimic if he makes an odd noise and then when M asks them to 'o away they tease all the more. So far M has not been violent but I fear it won;t be long as they are pushing him to his limits. It's not that they are malicious, they are very young too and they think M is funny and then when he says things like buzz off they think it's even funnier, and then he shouts even more Hope you get it sorted. Elaine

Hi just a reminder this will be showing at 12 noon Elainex

Hi, our twins are 5 (one ASD) in a few weeks and we feel M is probably ready to manage a party. We have invited class mates to a do in the churchhall with entertainer (bubble machine and snow machine) and a bouncy castle. so there will be lots of M's fav things. Prob is that on top of the 16 kids I've asked (that sound's a lot but I have to manage the other one's feelings in this too) I realise that often a lot of parents stay around too. Plus 4 grandparents. see how the numbers are building. So I have had to ask 5 of sisters/partners not to attend to try to reduce the volume and I feel like poo. I know they will understand but I know they will be upset too as this is like a real milestone we have reached that we feel able to have the party and everyone has been through it with us. We got our dx in May and I have been managing really well, but this and a couple of minor issues have really upset me this week. I have to do the best for M but then upset others. I end up feeling cr*p from worrying about everyone. Sorry I just needed to write it down Elainex

My twins had the same packed lunch all through nursery, they used to bring the dinner trolley over to nursery and the smell used to make M sick. Now they are in Reception they eat in the big hall and I was so worried M would not cope with the smells but he has been great. They still eat the same thing M - ham sandwich, sausage roll, pear, tub of chopped up ham, a biscuit/cake and bottle of water J - dairylea sandwich, banana or apple, sausage roll, tub of chopped up ham, a biscuit/cake and a bottle of fruit shoot. I don't worry anymore that they eat the same thing every day, there's no point I just can't change it. J is (supposedly) NT but he's even more set in his ways than M ASD. elaine

so sorry to hear you had such a horrible day. is there any way you can plan in something nice for yourself in the next few days - a nice lunch with a friend, a relaxing treatment like a massage or something - just something to make you feel special. Elaine <'>

great news Sallya, ours go back today. twins one asd one nt (?). Unsure which one to worry about . They are starting reception - No statement in place yet however school have support available Will report back later on how it went. Hope others going back today goes well Elainex

Hi it came through this am but don't know why they bothered. It has not been to the funding panel so there is no mention of what provision will be made. Caseworker is not there today but her admin said they had to send it out like this to meet the legal deadline, but to me it's not a propsed statement - how can it be if is doesn't even tell me what they are proposing . The rest of it is drivel nothing specific or quantified. The admin said the only difference will be is that it will say �x funding. Surely it has to specify more than that eg how many hours support and any money for specific resources/training etc. Will know more later in week after funding panel, but can't believe the rubbish they have tried to disguise as a statement. Elaine

Hi, following on from my handwriting without tears post I am sorry to have to ask for more help. We are at a bit of difficult time right now and mostly we seem to manage but I would appreciate any input. Our statement is due this week for our ASD ds starting reception on Tues. He also has severe dyspraxia and we are hoping Occupational Therapy and Handwriting Without Tears in included in the statement. We know this is v.unlikely. My question is, if we get the final statement and we have to appeal, then does that mean that nothing of the statement is implemented eg if ds is awared x hours LSA support and we appeal on the OT issue then would that mean the LSA was not provided until the completion of appeal process. I hope that makes sense. My thinking is that it would hold up the whole statement and that would prob mean we would decide not to appeal. Elaine

Hi our OT has recommended this handwriting programme for our ASD/very dyspraxic ds. It's from USA - does sound good but am worried because inital focus is on capital letters and I am unsure how that would fit in with phonics and concentrating on forming letters in lower case. Does anyone have experience of this programme. I have also gone back to OT for her view on how we might make this work. Thanks Elaine

you sound as though you have all had a really lovely day. Well done Kieran. Elainex

Hi Viper, My ds was the same he's nearly 5 and only started pooing on the toilet around April this year. It was a real struggle, like Ben he would only poo in a nappy - he used to wait until he had his bedtime nappy on. We did the sticker thing, chart on the toilet door - he hated it at first - one sticker for sitting, one sticker for sitting and delivering and BIG sticker for just going by himself. I honestly was so sceptical and thought he would never do it. The whole poo thing was taking over my life but then it just happened. I am sure when Ben is in school and sees the others it will make the difference. It's easy to say but try not to get too stressed about it as it will happen. Elaine

I was hoping someone could help. My twins, one ASD, are starting school properly next week (been in nursery b4) they will have reading books and although you can buy book bags from school I wanted to get them really nice character ones eg Thunderbirds or whatever. Ages ago I found a website with lunch boxes and book bags all character ones. Can't flippin find it now thou' and have been searching ages. Anyone any ideas? Thanks Elaine

I love House on Hallmark and Ch 5, getting warmed up for X Factor - had such a laugh last Sat watching it with the kids. They (twins age 4) are now convinced we are going on (all 4 of us - mum dad and kids ) and we are either going to sing Batman or Amarillo Elaine