Elefan

Hiya, The school should be having an 'input' from some professional in Feb on teaching ASD children. Prior to this, they have had none. I hope there is a marked improvement in their understanding after this, though credit where it is due, the teacher this year has been very open and willing to help! Phew!! I have printed off your quote and included it in the entry I have made in the home-school book about last night. Thanks again, Nellie. Elefan xx

What a lovely thing for him to say! Hope the weekend is salvaged for you all now. Elefan xx

Thank you, Nellie. I had not really considered the potential problems with homework as the work had not been too challenging to date. She has had a major melt down tonight, which has only just settled. I think it is something that I am going to have to monitor closely. I will be writing in the home-school book for Monday to share tonights problems. If I record the more severe backlashes in the book, then maybe they will agree to help find some solution. Your quote from Rita Jordans book was very interesting indeed. You are incredibly knowledgeable, Nellie. Thank you so much for all your helpful links, tips and resources. Love Elefan

http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...opic=89&hl=eyeq Have a look at the above link and there are a couple of references to EyeQ. Hope this or someone else can help more. Elefan

Thanks kaz! Seriously, it helped me just to write my message,..and even more to have a reply. So sorry to hear about Daniel. Please update us on how he is later this evening, if you can. I chuckled (in an incredulous way,...because it is similar to my experience this week) when you said that he got given his work to do at home, under exam conditions , because of how he was at school!! My NON ASD girl, who they thought was very subdued and tired on Monday, was given her uncompleted classwork to do at home instead!!! The irony would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pushing the children and us to the brink at times!! Good luck tonight, Kaz. Love Elefan xx

Sorry folks,...I need to moan!! Been an awful week! It seems that the pace at school, in anticipation of the Year 2 SATS has suddenly intensified. This has thrown my little girl into orbit. Of course,..none of this is shown at school really, but at home,...quite a different story. She is very restless at night again, ties me up in knots with her questioning, doing 'things on purpose' and says she doesn't care. She is full of irrational fears and sleeping with two bedroom lights on and the hall light!! On Monday,... the first day back at school, her twin was almost sent home for being so tired and subdued!!! Is it any wonder!!!? Not only that, but the toilet flushing that occurs at night (latest thing), is through the wall from her long suffering sibling. Anyway, with that off my chest, my real query is about homework!!!! I have noticed a big increase in the amount and difficulty of their homework. Whilst both my girls are very able and the teacher confirms this, my ASD girl has been in tears tonight because of it! Mega tears!! She has written an answer, then rubbed it out,...not once,..not twice,... etc etc. She asked for my help, but has a fit when I start to explain. The result has been a melt down for all three of us. Its at times like this that we really feel isolated and being a single parent after ten years of marriage is a struggle. Don't worry, I will count my blessings in about an hour or so maybe, but for just now, I am wallowing in very unattractive self pity!! How do others cope with homework issues? Is it a major stress? Is there a solution? can the school help? Can I?!!!!!! Love 'miserable', Elefan xx

Hi Vicki!! Really glad that you have found the site now and hope it can be of some help. You can feel rightfully vindicated now that you have a diagnosis. Now hopefully, once you get over the initial range of emotions that will follow this, you will be able to channel all your energies into getting the help your family deserves. Very best of luck. Kind regards, Elefan PS Thanks Simon, too!!

Thanks all! Something I may look into in the new year then, when things are a little less frantic!! BAS did send me the benefits details and I have kept them....somewhere!! Elefan

Cheers Jericho. Trouble is,...with my little girls diagnosis being 'ASD' but not pigeon holed into any one condition on the spectrum it may make us illegible. She misses the criteria for Aspie because she does not have an obsessional hobby/interest. Elefan

Are these benefits 'means tested'? Does it matter what you have in savings, for example? Thanks, Elefan

We use Phenergan on our NON-ASD daughter,...for her awful travel sickness. It works like a dream! However, I have been told my my GP that anything that causes drowsiness in most children can have the opposite effect in ASD children!! The Psychiatrist for my ASD girl was not at all surprised the vallergan failed!!! (It was prescribed by our local GP whilst we awaited our first consultation). Take care all, Elefan

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5021401.html I have found a similar article in another scottish newspaper!! Elefan

Hi all, Unfortunately, I don't have the date of the article I am about to refer to, but it appeared in The Herald (a scottish newspaper) recently. It details a 17 year old boy being named Scottish School Candidate of the Year. He was diagnosed with Aspergers only last year. He achieved 5 Highers (A-levels in Scotland), including 4 at grade A band 1's!! He is not only happy and well adjusted, but a tireless campaigner for the rights of young people with special needs! What did make me chuckle was the newspapers column describing the problems of Aspergers,..and their sweeping statement that it is 'probably hereditory'!! Well, there you go!!! Elefan

Hiya, My little girl was prescribed vallergan, with it being described to me as a sedative to help her sleep and let her switch off. I was unaware that it was what was used pre-ritolin! We tried it, not telling her what it was, but saying it was for her hayfever (which she had at the time also). I knew she would refuse it if I told the truth. Regardless, she 'worked through' the symptoms of drowsines it caused, only to go off the rails completely instead!! We tried it about a further two times, but decided it actually made things worse. It was sad seeing her tired little body so badly crying out for sleep, but being deprived of it by her anxiety ridden and over active mind. Glad it worked for you though. Can I just take the opportunity here to remind everyone to speak to their GP's regarding medications and perhaps even some of the over the counter stuff too, as it may clash with anything else your child is taking. I am acutely aware that medications can be sold over the internet, but please never be tempted to 'prescribe' yourself. Sorry, not intending to state the obvious, but whilst the subject is being discussed, we have a responsibility as forum hosts to ensure that we emphasise the dangers. Hope you understand. Elefan

Lisa, Lisa, Lisa,.....no, no, no,.....YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME, whether you or anyone else has AS also!! We torment ourselves if we try to aportion blame for every quirk and medical twist our families share. In the same way that we may torment ourselves trying to find a 'cause' for the condition, when even the medical professionals cannot say for sure. I know and totally understand where you are at right now,..and I think many forum members will too. Lisa,...Chris is lucky that the most important person to him can atleast understand him and relate to him, where perhaps no-one else truly does. My little girl was so frustrated at her Dads lack of understanding of her and being treated as a naughty girl. It is because of messages like yours, that this and other sites on the internet where communication is encouraged, prove to be invaluable. You are not alone. Please, please take a step back and look at your relationship with Chris. He is still able to show you how he feels. Being able to do that will ease his burden. And you must find a way to ease yours, be it on here, or whatever works for you. I hope my message does not come across as patronising or condescending in any way, because I truly can relate to your sense of failure (though for different reasons) and frustration at not being able to wave a magic wand to make things better for Chris. My kindest regards and very best wishes to you both. Please feel free to PM me if you want to scream more privately, but I reckon you are amongst friends here!! Don't forget about NAS helplines for moments like this too. Elefan xx

Welcome baack!! So sorry to hear your family have all been having a rough time of things. Hoping this will now be the start of a more settled period,...just in time for Christmas!! Take care, Elefan xx