Tjololo

My ds is also a very oral child; he likes to lick windows, metal and other cold, hard things (door-frames, etc). He is very sensory seeking in other ways too in that he likes to touch and mouth things. I don't think it's uncommon for kids on the spectrum to have these behaviours; my ds is at the lower functioning end of the spectrum. So long as my ds is not licking dirty or dangerous objects, then I let him get on with it - it's good for his resistance and he is the healthiest child I know!

That sounds great! I haven't actually bought any myself as yet but it's good to know that this option exists if we ever need them in the future - my ds wouldn't wear a bracelet or any jewellery so a tattoo would be a safe bet for him!

Came across these recently - quite a good idea if you have a child who hates jewellery: Hi Tjololo - I have deleted the link you posted as it is against forum rules to direct link to commercial sites. The product Tjololo highlighted are temporary tattoos that advise a child has autism and that they may be lost and in need of assistance in finding their parents. Anyone interested in the product can contact Tjololo by PM, and she will forward the link/details. BD

Until very recently, I would've said 'NO', however SS have now recognised that we do indeed qualify for respite care. It's been a very lengthy process to get this far (about 18mths in duration, two assessments and a core assessment) but I would like to think that we're now 'on their books' and will begin to access respite care 'soon'. As everyone knows, it's all down to money and helping only those who shout the loudest, the clearest and the longest.

Mumble <'> what a horrible experience. I think the police should've approached you with a little more sensitivity - perhaps a, 'do you need any help?' type approach instead of an all-out rugby tackle. I'm not surprised you're feeling shook up, I would be too. Thank goodness for the alert paramedic. Hope you manage to get some rest tonight.

'Finally, I sincerely hope that if a child who receives occassional respite is seen as a 'cared for child' then the 'perceived view' isn't that that's a result or indication of bad parenting...' Earlier this year, my ds was referred to a scheme that matches up a SN child with a foster family, who then provide weekend respite care every month or so. We were skeptical that this scheme would work in my ds's case. We have been proved right. We are now looking into him going instead to a residential centre one weekend each month. In my ds's case, I can vouch with 100% certainty that his referral for respite care has ot absolutely nothing to do with how he is parented. Nothing at all! Tbh, this thought hadn't even crossed my mind!

Thanks for posting the link. I think it's brilliant, totally excellent. For any 9yr old to go out and sing on stage in front of cameras, judges and a large audience is pretty impressive but this kid was so composed and seemed very relaxed about it all. I didn't get the feeling that he was doing anything that he didn't feel comfortable with (try getting my ds to comply when he doesn't want to!) so I doubt very much that his parents are coercing him. Although he seems pretty chilled about the attention, I just hope that, when the time comes, he'll be able to handle being voted off the show (don't think he will win!).

Very early on. I would say I noticed that my ds was 'different' well before he was 12mths old. Looking back, I think I subconsciously realised that other babies would engage in joint attention with their parents, would hold eye contact and somehow seemed 'switched on', whereas my ds was not really interested in much. For example, he didn't care if it was raining, coudn't follow points and didn't engage very much. But of course, I had no idea why I had all those feelings because he was my first and I didn't know what babies were supposed to be doing! The next clue came when he was still non-verbal at 18mths ; by then I was convinced all was not right and started doing some reading. My ds was diagnosed when he was almost 3 1/2yrs old.

I have just read JsMum's post about her ds breaking his arm during trampolining. Reading this post has made me think (again) about how my ds would cope if such a thing happening to him. He is severely autistic, is non-verbal, has a reduced sense of danger and has few self-help skills. He is very active (dx for ADHD has been withheld due to his age, he is 5yrs old) and so far, he has enjoyed excellent health. He is very robust and is rarely ill. However, the law of averages predicts that he is bound - one day - to suffer either some nasty illness or else break a/some bone(s), entailing a trip to hospital. Now, this is what concerns me. What would be the procedure for treating a child who cannot co-operate with the doctors (due to a lack of understanding)? He would not lie or sit still for any kind of examination or treatment (when blood was once taken from his arm it took 6 adults to keep him still and this was 2yrs ago when he smaller and lighter) and he would never, ever swallow tablets (even hiding medicine in his milk would be a risk). How long would they keep such a child waiting in A&E? In the event of him ever being admitted to hospital, I simply cannot imagine how they would manage him on an open ward (even a small one!), all hell would break loose! I know I shouldn't plague myself with such thoughts - hospitals must deal with people such as my ds all the time, right? Does ayone have any experience of a child/adult like my ds being treated in hospital, or similar? Do they sometimes have to sedate such patients in order to take X-rays, etc?

Best wishes to your ds for a speedy recovery, hope he doesn't miss his trampoline too much!

Good luck with your impending Tribunal, hope it all goes in your favour....however, I'm not sure I understand why the LA would drop out of a Tribunal the day before? (novice here). If they drop out again, then does that mean that you will get your dd assessed or not? Does the LA drop out like this to stall for more time? How can they get away with doing this so many times? Just curious, if anybody knows

Hope this is permitted...I came across this website today: http://www.mungaimirrors.co.uk/html/kids.php our son is very sensory seeking and likes to lick windows/mirrors/metal/other cold, hard surfaces. I am making him a sensory-board which will include an acrylic mirror so that he has something handy to lick. Some of the designs on the website look great - especially the bendy mirrors!

Hi Shamu, your problem sounds familiar...our ds attends a SN school and they have a hydro session each week. Ds loves it but 98% of the time, he fills his swim nappy (disposable, brand beginning with 'H'). Sometimes (2%!), he doesn't open his bowels but I think this is luck, in that he has probably already been beforehand. I think the reason why he consistently poos in the pool is pure excitement! He enjoys it so much and just lets go, I guess. We've had poos in the bath sometimes too but these are rare and fortunately, it hasn't happened for ages. To answer your query about swimwear, I do not know what the answer is and I dread the day when our ds is too big for the largest size of swim nappy - he is in the largest size now but it is a tight squeeze! I would hate for him to miss out on hydro but I really do not know what the solution will be so I will watch this thread for any advice. On a gloomy note, an outreach worker from a local PMLD school told me that some of the older kids there can't use the hydro anymore because they don't have the appropriate swimwear Not a very positive way to end this post, let's hope somebody out there knows something that we don't...

Sorry, I don't know how much it costs for a LA to go to tribunal... 'I know I dont pay anything (apart from my sanity' but I thought parents had to pay for specialist reports (Ed Psych, SALT, OT, etc) and for specialist professionals (Ed Psych, SALT, OT, etc) to attend? If parents don't pay for such reports/people, then who does?

When does school go back again?