invent 10 things b4 breakfast

Is there really no groups for kids that anyone knows of? I am looking for something for a child of around age 11. If anyone knows of any online groups I'd love to know. Thanks.

Hi, thanks. Not been on here for some time... things have actually been going smoothly (quick, touch wood!) Someone I know is interested for their child, they want to be in touch with other kids with similar issues to understand themselves better. Would be great if such a thing exisited, anyone know of any?

My son had it when he was about 6 and has still got a few on his chest - he's now 12! I was told they were highly contagious and that it was invisible to the bodies immune system, hence the suggestion to pick the spots, apparently it triggers the bodies defences into fighting it. I found that picking the spots as they came up was easier as they never formed the hard white ball inside and were instead just watery. The ones on his chest still are hard but not raised too much and not very easy to get at, so have just left them. Was never told about it being linked to the immune system. My GP had had it too and showed me the scars on her legs!

Does anyone know of a website forum just for kids? For them to talk to others about how they feel etc? Thanks.

My son was creating something during art at school this week and the other kids all crowded round telling him his model was "sik". apparently he got really upset and thought they were saying it as rubbish, when in fact they thought it was really cool. The SENCO luckily was taking the lesson and managed to sus out what was going on, but had she not this would of troubled him for a long while. I have tried googling for a list of the current slang kids are using but the slang dictionany is VAST! How are our kids suppose to understand their peers when they can't even get to grips with the "English" language! Anyone else found this or anyone got a short list of the most common recent words?

Yes I am worried about that too everytime I see the repeat! My son will NOT throw anything away, shiny paper, stones, cable ties, shiny bits from the art room floor, buttons, cardboard boxes - mostly cereal - and all the snippings from the bedroom floor ...EVERYTHING! I have to wait until he's at school to clear it up but he still knows and goes mad. I threw away an old magic set the other day as there were bits missing and you know what happened, he asked where it had gone because he had to learn a magic trick for school, it was only the day before it went off to the black sack in the sky! His latest obssession is Pokemon... FOR 2 YEARS! I am desperate for him to discover something different, he makes Pokeballs out of cereal boxes, they are very good and he has them perfected now, but please just throw things in the bin!!!

Is this a new system? I went last year and they just gave wristbands, an orange one for the disabled person and put on and 3 or 4 more yellow ones for the rest of their party. No card system. However they did have a "disabled" queue whereby they would only let one party on at a time, so on things like the log flume at Chessington you did have to wait a while because they had a designated boat just for that queue. Legoland - Did you know that if your received carers allowance and take your letter as proof they will give you a free carers ticket into the park! They keep this bit quiet.

Bumped again and just signed

Hi, I am currently on the 6th week of this course and so far have found it of no benefit to my Aspergers son - the whole reason for trying the course! However, if you have any siblings who are supposedly NT and who's behaviour is causing you concern I would recommend this course. My AS son is 10 and my NT son is 5. I am using the techniques of the W.S. course on the 5 year old with some amazing results! ie. Getting him to dress himself for school, sit at the mealtable without getting up and down the whole time and being able to wipe his own bottom! This only took about 3-4 weeks to achieve and is already making life easier. This is, of course, only my own opinon and others may have found it useful, but so far I would say not for AS kids - however I will keep you updated because I have a few more week to go on the course yet.

I know someone with NT girls, 9 and 12. She's a bit house proud and has now redecorated and got rid of the girls toys! There are no pink fluffy pillows or a doll in sight, their bedrooms are all decorated like an adults room. It made me very sad to see My boys are 4 and 9 and the place is awash with stuff, I can't wait to get rid of some clutter, but I'm not wishing it away either.

I voted yes to the 2nd question - However, I did not know at the time and only found out afterwards from PP that they have to put it in writing and you do NOT have to comply. This happened many times when my son started in reception year as he could not sit still in silence and eat his lunch so they made me pick him up for lunch and take him back afterwards... All with a 3 week old baby in tow! Lovely caring school, NOT! He only lasted there a year, thankfully.

I am getting confused now... I put into the LEA the change I wanted in the Statement to reflect the level of support required and they have taken the opportunity to sneek a bit in! It used to say "xxxxx requires support for school trips" which I guess would cover ALL trips, yes? but now I asked for a bit to be added about being no more than 3 kids in a group and the TA to responsible for his safety etc and the LEA have "slipped" in a very small word which changes EVERYTHING. Basically they have put "curriculum". Meaning that if the trip is not educational and is purely a treat then it does not count and support is not provided. Now of course I am going to dispute this little word as it was not there before, I have mentioned to them that I'd spoken to the DRC and IPSEA, so they are aware that I know what I want, they will just wait for our response to the proposed statement, which of course is going to be NO. Anyone able to help on the issue of whether they can discriminate between curriculum and non-curriculum trips?

Ah that's great news! I like the name Flossie! The kids love pets don't they. We have just got a kitten last week, a Bengal he looks like a mini Leopard, our eldest boy named him Teatoe. Apparently because he's always there at tea time and he REALLY bites your toes!

Right... have spoken to DRC and basically the 1995 Act does not cover auxilary cover. However the schools do have to make "Reasonable Adjustment". I am in a bit of an advantagous position though because I have cover for school trips written into my sons statement it is a bit vague (isn't it always). Luckily I am still in the proposed stage of the Statement and was about to finalise it when this happened so I have spoken to IPSEA. They have advised tightening the statement wording, (which I have just sent across to his caseworker for review) and then the school/LEA will HAVE to provide the cover! sneeky but hey, they'd do the same to us! So a word of advise to anyone in the proposed stage of a statement, get something in there regarding school trips! and make sure it's nailed down.

Thanks Phas, I have contacted the DRC via their online form, could take 3 days to respond, so may ring them too. Where did you find that quote? Will probably need to be quoting it to his Caseworker on Monday morning I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with the school but equally why should my son miss out. We have already said to him that he probably can't go and he is devistated It such an experience for them and I really don't see why he shouldn't enjoy it along with everyone else in his year. Lorraine, I think all school trips are optional? not sure. The trip he's going on at the beginning of November I still had to sign a slip to say he could go and pay �6 towards it. I bet it is the money again, lets face it it usually is! because the London trip is �190. Now some parents will not be able to afford this trip and the choice is their to make but because I am prepared to pay the �190 he should be allowed to go, but I am not prepared to pay �380, our family could go on holiday for 2 weeks camping for that kind of money. Ultramum, will email the AWARES 06 contact you sent me, be interesting to hear their take on it.

Jen, My son had 13 hours a week 1-2-1 support when he started school, he did not have a statement, infact the school actively tried to discourage us from filing an MDA because he may end up with less hours, as it was we went ahead and got a 20 hour statement. I think that was what the school was afraid of because they knew they would legally have to provide more support.

Our son has just moved to Middle School, age 9, last month. We deliberately got his statement updated ready for the change in structure and one of the things we had inserted was him needing support on school trips. There is a big trip coming up next year which is very expensive and they need a non refundable deposit by end of next week. I asked about the support our son would receive on this trip and was told that we would have to pay for a TA to go with him because that was what an AS parent had to do the previous year on the trip. There is another trip at the beginning of next month which I am told there will be TA support for. Would it have anything to do with maybe one is more educational that the other as it's a bit of a treat? It involved a 2 night stay in a London hotel and various trips out to places like the Theatre, Aquarium, Hamleys, London Eye, Science Museum and a couple of restaurants. He is desperate to go but we really are unsure because it would be a group of 1 teacher to 9 children. I would like to know if anyone knows the position on this before I go barreling in at his new school (not wishing to upset the applecart etc) as this seems a bit discriminate?

Lynne I asked my health visitor about this a while back and was told the same that they couldn't / wouldn't test for it on the NHS as there was nowhere to send it. I am in the process of having my sons boosters seperately (one left to go) and use a private company to do this. He has 3 months between each one. I know that they also will test immunity although obviously it will cost. I will PM you with the company name as I'm not sure if I am allowed to endorse it on here I know they do clinics all over the place.

My friend had the OT round last week to see if she would qualify for the grant to have an extra bedroom. The OT said she wasn't hopeful and suggested she put a make shift bed in the lounge for the youngest boy (age 6) so the older boy (age 12) with AS, ADHD & dyspraxia could have the bedroom! "What about when we are down here watching television in the evening?", she said to the OT as they only have the one room downstairs. She didn't really have an answer but still thinks it's a no-go. My friends marriage could be on the rock because her husband doesn't understand or have much tolerance with the older boys condition and he's from a previous marriage, it doesn't help that the husband has to get up and go to work for 5am and goes to bed at 9pm with the older boy wandering around upstairs because he can't sleep - waking everyone else up. I don't know how these councils work it out but it just isn't fair.

We have a hot tub. It was delivered in May and it's GREAT! Although it is true about the noise, if you buy one make sure you hear one running first as some can be VERY noisy, luckily ours isn't. We thought the neighbours would moan because it was under their bedroom window, but after hearing them moan in another sense (can I put that? ) I don't think I'm so worried Anyway back to the hot tub... our son is 9 and absolutely loves it and sleeps so well after being in it, as do we, it's so relaxing. We were given warnings about usage for children because of their smaller body mass the heat can thin the blood and cause them to pass out and drown. On the plus side for us adults one beer is like having 3, so cheap night out! They also need more maintainence than you think because if you don't keep the Ph and chlorine levels right you can get hottub rash (skin infection from bacteria that grows in the hot water temperature), takes weeks to go away and does not respond well to antibiotics. Recommendations to us were no under 5's, 5-10 years only 5 minutes, 10-15 years only 10 minutes and over 15 years 15 minutes. We do turn ours down cooler, nearer to body temperature, about 36.5c and we adults sit in it for 3/4 hour a couple of times a week, mostly at night because it's been too hot during the day! Ironic really. But it's great to see all the stars and satellites going round. Stephanie - you can hire a crane to lift it into your garden, or maybe take down a fence panel. Ours just squeezed through our side gate, though we were going to have to take a couple of bricks out but was ok in the end, the delivery guys were great.

My eldest son had the MMR and booster but I used http://www.healthchoiceuk.co.uk/ for my youngest son, he's now just going through the single jabs for his preschool boosters. However it's not cheap but I guess you already know that! I have paid ?300 for the 3 jabs but feel it's worth it.

My son has been on Smooth for about 2 years now and takes it no problem. It smells really strong (haven't tasted it - too chicken) but suppose to be fruits of the forest or something. I did ask my doctor about getting it on prescription and I was told no. However in certain parts of the country you can apparently but I think it's one of those postcode lottery things again, Dorset isn't a particularly well of County I guess. I looked at the new Chews but when you compare the figures on the side of the packet the chews have less in them so I am sticking with the smooth. At least you don't have to keep the smooth in the fridge like you do the bottled liquid.

I 'm sorry Helen I missed it but I bet you did a GREAT job! Haven't been around lately and only just seen this. Well Done

After taking a look it is the Disabled Facilities Grant. It's not for me but a friend who has a boy with Dyspraxia, Aspergers and ADHD, he shares a small bedroom with his younger brother and it's not ideal, no space of his own, it was just something I'd heard of and couldn't remember where, thought it may be worth them applying. You know you never know until you try Thanks for the info, I'll pass it on.

Phasmid - can you pm me those names too. I'm sure I posted about this a while ago but I can't find it. Last year we went with BUPA because they covered my sons autism. However, this year because I have specified it as Aspergers they now will not cover it!!! So what changed? So I too need to find someone who will cover my son with travel insurance.